 | The Royal Merchant |  |
31
SCENE IV.
The Wood and Bush.Enter Hubert, in a Huntsman's Dress.
Hub.
Thus have I stol'n away diguis'd from Hempskirke,
To sound these people, for my heart yet tells me
Some of these beggars are the men I look for.
Thus sure they cannot know me or suspect me;
This is the wood they live in, where, till Fortune
Crown me with that I seek, I'll dwell among them.—
They come—I'll couch awhile, and mark my time.
[Retires.]
Enter Beggars and Boors.
Prig.
Come bring 'em out—That ye are rogues
I take it is confess'd.
Boors.
We are rogues, sir.
Prig.
And why did ye this upon the proper person
Of our good master? Were ye drunk, when ye
Did it?
Boors.
Yes indeed were we.
Prig.
Ye shall be beaten sober.
Hig.
Has not the gentleman (pray mark this point
Brother Prig) that noble gentleman reliev'd ye
Often, found ye means to live by, employing
Some at sea, some here, some there, according
To your callings?
Boors.
'Tis most true, sir.
Hig.
And as ye are true rascals, tell me but
This—Have ye not been drunk often at
His charge?
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Often, often.
Hig.
There's the point: then, they have cast themselves
Brother Prig.
Prig.
A shrewd point, brother! Can ye do these
things, ye most abominable rascals, ye turnip-eating knaves?
Boors.
We are truly sorry.
Prig.
Knock at your hard hearts, rogues, and presently
give us a sign you feel compunction. Now
hear your sentence.
In revenge of this deed
This award is decreed,
That each villain shall punish his brother;
With a smack and a thwack
Upon sides, head, and back,
Fall aboard, fall aboard one another.
This award is decreed,
That each villain shall punish his brother;
With a smack and a thwack
Upon sides, head, and back,
Fall aboard, fall aboard one another.
[Boors beat off each other.]
During it, enter Clause.
Clause.
So, so, I see the punishment you've laid
Upon your prisoner-rogues—'twas well conducted.
What of the gentleman, the rascal gentleman,
Who set 'em on?
Prig.
We have him close confin'd, sir; and in this
Paper, which we found upon him, you may,
So please you, sound the bottom of their knavery.
Clause.
But soft—who have we here?
Enter Hubert.
Hub.
Good even, my honest friends!
Clause.
Good even, good fellow!
Hub.
May a poor huntsman, with a merry heart,
Get leave to live among ye? true as steel, boys,
That knows all chaces, and can watch all hours;
And with my quarter-staff, if the devil say, stand,
Deal such an alms, shall make him roar again.
Rouze you the lofty stag; and, with my bell-horn,
Ring him a knell, that all the woods shall mourn him.
AIR.Get leave to live among ye? true as steel, boys,
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And with my quarter-staff, if the devil say, stand,
Deal such an alms, shall make him roar again.
Rouze you the lofty stag; and, with my bell-horn,
Ring him a knell, that all the woods shall mourn him.
I rouze the game with hound and horn,
With chearful cries I wake the morn,
That rising with her rosy face,
Enjoys the glory of the chace.
See! the swift stag flies o'er the ground,
And hills, and dales, and woods resound;
While health and joy lead on the train,
Provoke the chace, and scour the plain,
And join the jovial huntsman's cries,
Till the stout prey, o'ertaken, dies.
With chearful cries I wake the morn,
That rising with her rosy face,
Enjoys the glory of the chace.
See! the swift stag flies o'er the ground,
And hills, and dales, and woods resound;
While health and joy lead on the train,
Provoke the chace, and scour the plain,
And join the jovial huntsman's cries,
Till the stout prey, o'ertaken, dies.
Clause.
A goodly fellow; if we take thee to us,
Into our clan, dar'st thou be true to us?
Prig.
Ay, and obedient too?
Hub.
As you had bred me.
Clause.
Answer me this.
As earnest of thy faith and resolution,
Wilt thou undertake to keep a rascal prisoner?
One who basely contriv'd to undermine
A noble life, dear to the state and us?
Hub.
I can, and will, sir.
Prig.
What learn you of him, sir?
Clause.
This paper says his name is Hempskirke,
A follower of earl Wolfort's—
Hub.
Hempskirke—a villain!
[Aside.
Clause.
Sent a spy-knave, to find out certain gentlemen;
Whom, should he find, if failing by persuasion
To bring 'em back, by poison to dispatch 'em.
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Indeed!
[Aside.
Clause.
One Hubert too is join'd in the design;
But for an honest end, so it appears,
Whom, when he has done his service, Hempskirke here
Is charg'd to kill, for he is set down dangerous.
Would I might see that Hubert!
[Aside.
Hub.
Treacherous rascal!
[Aside.
Sir, let me have him, venture, sir, to trust me;
For I have kept wild dogs, and beasts for wonder,
And made 'em tame too—give into my custody
This crafty villain, I shall hamper him—
O! he smells rank o' th' rascal!
Clause.
You shall have him.
But if he 'scape—
Hub.
Hang me, sir, in his stead!
Clause.
'Tis well; we take you to our favour: first,
According to your antient forms, enlist him
Into your brotherhood—and then proceed we
Unanimous to business.
AIR. TRIO.
Prig.
Yet ere you're admitted to live as we,
Answer us bold twice questions three.
Hub.
Expound to me speedily what they are,
Then hear me my answer with truth declare.
Prig.
First, can you steal well?
Hub.
Featly, featly!
Hig.
Ven'son, and dress it?
Hub.
Neatly, neatly!
Prig.
Eat it when done so?
Hub.
Sweetly, sweetly!
Hig., Prig.
The answer is honest, bold and fair,
So bow to the king, for his subject you are.
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Next, can you drink well?
Hub.
Guggly, guggly!
Prig.
Treat a fair wench well?
Hub.
Smugly, smugly!
Hig.
Kiss her on straw too?
Hub.
Snugly, snugly!
Prig., Hig.
The answer is honest, bold, and fair,
So bow to the king, for his subject you are.
All Beg.
Your answers are honest, bold, and fair,
So frolick with us, for our brother you are.
[Exeunt.
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