Wind horns. Enter a Lord from hunting, with Huntsmen and Servants. Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds: Brach Merriman,-the poor cur is emboss'd,4 And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd brach. Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault? I would not lose the dog for twenty pound. 1 Hunt. Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord; He cried upon it at the merest loss, And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent: Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet, I would esteem him worth a dozen such. 1 Hunt. I will, my lord. Lord. What's here? one dead, or drunk? See, doth he breathe? 2 Hunt. He breathes, my lord: Were he not warm'd with ale, This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. Lord. O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies! Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image !— Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man. What think you, if he were convey'd to bed, Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers, And brave attendants near him when he wakes, 1 Hunt. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose. 2 Hunt.It would seem strange unto him, when he wak'd. Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worthless fancy, Then take him up, and manage well the jest :Carry him gently to my fairest chamber, And hang it round with all my wanton pictures: [4] Emboss'd is a hunting term. When a deer is hard run, and foams at the mouth, he is said to be emboss'd A dog also when he is strained with hard running (especially upon hard ground,) will have his knees swelled, and then he is said to be embuss'd: from the French word bosse, which sig nifies a tumour. T. WARTON. And if he chance to speak, be ready straight, Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers; And say,-Will't please your lordship cool your hands? And ask him what apparel he will wear; It will be pastime passing excellent, If it be husbanded with modesty." 1 Hunt. My lord, I warrant you, we'll play our part, As he shall think, by our true diligence, He is no less than what we say he is. Lord. Take him up gently, and to bed with him; And each one to his office, when he wakes. [Some bear out SLY. A trumpet sounds. Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds :Belike, some noble gentleman; that means, [Ex. Serv. Travelling some journey, to repose him here. Re-enter a Servant. How now? who is it? Serv. An it please your honour, players That offer service to your lordship. Lord. Bid them come near: Enter Players. Now, fellows, you are welcome. 1 Play. We thank your honour. Lord. Do you intend to stay with me to-night? 2 Play. So please your lordship to accept our duty. 7 Lord. With all my heart.-This fellow I remember, Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son ; 'Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman so well: [5] Kindly, means naturally. M. MASON. [6] By modesty is meant moderation, without suffering our merriment to break into an excess. JOHNSON. [7] It was in those times the custom of players to travel in companies, and offer their service at great houses. JOHNSON. I have forgot your name; but, sure, that part 1 Play. I think, 'twas Soto that your honour means. 1 Play. Fear not, my lord; we can contain ourselves, Were he the veriest antick in the world. Lord. Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery, And give them friendly welcome every one: Let them want nothing that my house affords. [Exe. Servant and Players. Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew my page, [To a Servant. And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady: That done conduct him to the drunkard's chamber, And call him-madam, do him obeisance. Tell him from me, (as he will win my love) [8] Him is used for himself, as you is used for yourself in Macbeth. STE. Shall in despite enforce a watery eye. See this despatch'd with all the haste thou canst; Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman: I long to hear him call the drunkard, husband; SCENE II. [Exeunt. A Bed-chamber in the Lord's House. SLY is discovered in a rich night-gown, with Attendants; some with apparel, others with bason, ewer, and other appurtenances. Enter Lord, dressed like a servant. 9 Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale. 1 Serv.Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack? 2 Serv. Will't please your honour taste of these conserves? 3 Serv. What raiment will your honour wear to-day? Sly. I am Christophero Sly; call not me-honour, nor lordship: I never drank sack in my life; and if you give me any conserves, give me conserves of beef: Ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear; for I have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, sometimes, more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the overleather. Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour in your honour! O, that a mighty man, of such descent, Of such possessions, and so high esteem, Should be infused with so foul a spirit! Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burton-Heath; by birth a pedler, by education a card-maker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask [9] From the original stage direction in the first folio it appears that Sly and the other persons mentioned in the Induction, were intended to be exhibited here, and during the representation of the comedy, in a balcony above the stage. The direction here is-Enter aloft the drunkard with attendants, &c. MALONE, 2 VOL. III. Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, if she know me not if she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me up for the lyingest knave in Christendom. What, I am not bestraught: Here's 1 Serv. O, this it is that makes your lady mourn. 2 Serv. O, this it is that makes your servants droop. Lord. Hence comes it that your kindred shun your house, As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. O, noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth; Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment, Wilt thou have music? hark! Apollo plays, Or wilt thou sleep? we'll have thee to a couch, [Music Say, thou wilt walk; we will bestrew the ground: 1 Serv. Say, thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are as swift As breathed stags, ay fleeter than the roe. 2 Serv. Dost thou love pictures? we will fetch thee straight Adonis, painted by a running brook: And Cytherea all in sedges hid; Which seem to move and wanton with her breath, Even as the waving sedges play with wind. Lord. We'll show thee Io, as she was a maid; And how she was beguiled and surpris'd, As lively painted as the deed was done. 3 Serv. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny wood; Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds: And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep, [1] Wilnecotte is a village in Warwickshire, with which Shakspeare wa well acquainted, near Stratford. The house kept by our genial hostess, still remains, but is at present a mill. The meanest hovel to which Shakspeare has an allusion, interests curiosity, and acquires an importance: at least, it becomes the object of a poetical antiquarian's inquiries. T. WARTON. |