A BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON. PERSONS. MILDRED TRESHAM. Guendolen TRESHAM. THOROLD, Lord Tresham. AUSTIN TRESHAM. HENRY, Earl Mertoun. GERARD. Other Retainers of Lord Tresham. TIME, 17-. ACT I. SCENE I.-The interior of a Lodge in LORD TRESHAM'S Park. Many Retainers crowded at the window, supposed to command a view of the entrance to his Mansion. GERARD, the Warrener, sitting alone, his back to a table on which are flagons, &c. 1st Ret. Ay-do—push, friends, and then you'll push down me. -What for? Does any hear a runner's foot, Or a steed's trample, or a coach-wheel's cry? Is the Earl come or his least poursuivant? But there's no breeding in a man of you Old Gerard! Ger. Save your courtesies, my friend. Here is my place. 2d Ret. Now, Gerard, out with it! What makes you sullen, this of all the days To ask our Master's Sister's hand? Ger. What then? 2d Ret. What then? Why, you she speaks to, if she meets Your worship, smiles on as you hold apart The boughs to let her thro' her forest walks, You, always favourite for your no-deserts, You've heard, these three days, how Earl Mertoun sues To lay his heart, and house, and broad lands too, At Lady Mildred's feet-and while we squeeze One congee of the least page in his train, 3d Ret. I'll wager he has let Both swans he tamed for Lady Mildred, swim Over the falls and gain the river! Ger. Ralph, Is not to-morrow my inspecting day For you and for your hawks? 4th Ret. Let Gerard be! He's coarse-grained, like his carved black cross-bow stock. Ha, look now, while we squabble with him, look! Well done, now-is not this beginning, now, To purpose? 1st Ret. That's comfort! Our retainers look as fine Lord, how Richard holds himself With his white staff! Prick him upright? 4th Ret. Will not a knave behind He's only bowing, fool! The Earl's man bent us lower by this much. 1st Ret. That's comfort. Here's a very cavalcade! 3d Ret. I don't see wherefore Richard, and his troop Of silk and silver varlets there, should find On high days, holy-days! Would it so disgrace In my right hand a cast of Swedish hawks, A leash of greyhounds in my left?— Ger. The logman for supporter-in his right -With Hugh The bill-hook-in his left the brushwood-shears ! 3d Ret. Out on you, crab! What next, what next? The Earl! 1st Ret. Oh, Walter, groom, our horses, do they match |