University of Virginia Library

SCEN 3.

Christophel Atys Hylas Sapho Salomon with an old getterne playing and walking before them.
Christ.
Come on, Mad wench, thy way.

Saph.
Where left you Mr Schoole master? Prey.

At.
On Top of a Nut Tree, Sapho.

Saph.
There let him be.

Hyl.
Gloria in Excelsis.

At.
And haue singeld thee furth to make thee Doe, Sapho.

Saph.
Wey, Atys.

At.

Thou speakest lyke a Chambermayd, that minceth comfits.
Fall into the whole handfull, wench, and say, Corpus
solidum Succi plenum, Flos ipse.

Christ.

Bos ipsa.

Hyl.

Sweet Brown Sapho, Shall wee Three Tabour and
Pipe vpon thy Bum now?

Saph.

I am assured you may not at once so doe.

Christ.

If I but get one Snatch at thy Haunch I shall not
care for more.

Hyl.

Thou knowest the Schoole-master Snorteth at high
Noone voydeth the Salt Rheume by a stalk of Rose-mary, ouer
and aboue that he coruetteth in his sleepe.

Saph.

Do you think? I come so near his wind? Hoa.

At.

Tell vs in good Sooth.

Saph.

Why not in good North.

At.

How lykest thou thy Pursuyuants?

Saph.

Once I serued a Purseuaunt such a Trick, as the Lord
forgiue mee for it, I shall remember it while I breathe.

At.

How? I prithy, how?

Saph.

Being come with a citation from the Bishop.

Hyl.

A Summer, Foole.

Saph.

Puu.

At.

Art curtalld? Sapho.

Saph.

My Tale is ended, therefore not Curtald.

Hyl.

Wordes do signifye nothing of themselues, Therefore
you may take these two wordes now vnder one and self sence
and mark, Sumner or Purseuaunt, Purseuaunt or Sumner.

Saph.

Come with his citation, M
r Schoolemaster inuited him to contract of two his seruaunts, I and one Hodge.

Christ.

Hither I do smell thee, Sapho, vnder the cullour he
maintaineth thee his whoore.

Saph.

Eftsoones wee came furth the vestry all, The Parson of
the Town in his white and cleane scoured Surplis, M
r Shoolemaster my Father in his spruce Batchlours Habit, Tudon the
Tabourer with his Tabour and Pipe, Hodge and I in our

Holiday clothes. Contract being ended, vnder cullour of giving,
according to the Fashion of our Faery weddings, superficiall
Flirts the one to the other, wee so soused the Sumner with Iron
Gauntlets, wee kept hid in our sleeues, he bespattered the whole
Floore with his goare all, lyke vnto a crowned oxe of the
Mast. I do loe here protest it vnto you all, deare Gentlemen
myne.

Hyl.

I troe, thoult not vse vs so, Sapho.

Saph.

No, I assure you.

At.

Wilt to Lodge with vs?

Saph.

I dare not.

Hyl.

I'll giue thee a Belt.

Saph.

I care not.

At.

I'll buy thee a Kirtle.

Saph.

And spare not.

Hyl.

What sayst to a better face?

Saph.

I nill it.

At.

How to a spoonefull of witt.

Saph.

You spill it.

Christ.

How answerst, wench, to a full and well-weighed
Pownd of Faery Butter? Say.

Saph.

Ridde but the Philosopher haue with you straite.

Christ.

Let mee alone with him. Salomon.

Sal.

Sir?

Christ.

I neede not say what a Bugge thy Master is.

Sal.

What sayes your good worship to mee?

Christ.

If wilt be ruld by vs, wee will teach thee a Trick shall
humble both hornes of him in one deuice now.

Sal.

Saye your mind.

Christ.

Peepe but furth that hole in shape of some ill-fauourd
Beast, The Rest wee will doe it our selues.

Sal.

Will not our Master perceiue it? think you.

Christ.

No, I warrant thee.

Sal.

Goe to, I will procure mee a peice of Caruisse shall fit
him so.

Christ.

'Tis good about it thou.

At.

Brown Sapho shall wee haue thee now?

Saph.

You would Riddle me my Riddle you shall, otherwise
you would not molest mee more.

At.

Be it so, Conditionally, in lyke case, thou tellest not ours,
thou wilt be Packsaddle vnto Three.

Saph.

Begin.

At.

Riddle mee Riddle mee what is this. Stiff standing,
Rough Hanging, Betweene a Maydens legges, in a frosty
Morning.

Hyl.
I know from whence thou haddest that Riddle, Atys.

At.
Vide locum.

Saph.
It is a distaff with his Flax about him.

Hyl.
She has flung the Saddle, See.

At.
Burguinon neuer hitted Button better.

Christ.
Nor thou Tumbler the eye of a Needle verily.

Saph.
Now reade you mee.

Hyl.
Thou shalt be rid.

Saph.
A creature tis,
And Part I wisse,
Has hed nor Tayle,
Yet sucks the Male,
Dissolue the Knot,
And haue him not.

Christ.
Zounds it is a Sucking Rabbit, Sapho.

Hyl.
Oedypus would not haue vndone the knot.

At.
Rather would the Knaue haue done furth his eyes.

Hyl.
Now, Sapho, ride thou mee.

Saph.
Come on.

Hyl.

What's that that is neither Rime nor Reason and is
Rime and Reason.

Saph.

I know not.

At.

Nor I.

Hyl.

I will giue thee till tomorrow Sapho.

At.

Michelmas.

Christ.

I found mee not to haue beene Ignoraunt vntill this
present howre, Gentlemen myne.

At.

Thoult not yet fling the Butter in our faces? Sapho.

Saph.

I am not so rude a Huswife, Gentlemen.

At.

For the rest let vs alone with it.

Saph.

A Song yet before wee trusse vp, Hoa.

Christ.

Begin you.

The Fourth Song.