A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 6

For as soon as I speak to him again, I shall turn his mind clean, And make him follow my school.

IGN. Then bid him rise, let us hear him speak.

SEN. Now, rise up, Master Huddypeke, Your tail toteth out behind!

Fear not, man, stand up by and by; I warrant you rise up boldly!

Here is none but is your friend.

HU. I cry you mercy, master dear!

IGN. Why, what is cause thou hidest thee here?

HU. For I was almost for fear, Even clean out of my mind.

SEN. Nay, it is the study that ye have had In this foolish losophy hath made you mad, And no other thing, i-wis.

IGN. That is as true as the gospel!

Therefore I have great marvel, That ever thou wilt follow the counsel Of yonder two knaves.

HU. O sir, ye know right well this, That when any man is In other men's company, He must needs follow the appet.i.te Of such things as they delight Some time among, perdy!

IGN. But such knaves would alway have thee To put all thy mind and felicity In this foolish cunning to study; Which, if thou do, will make thee mad, And alway to be pensive and sad; Thou shalt never be merry.

SEN. Merry, quotha? no, I make G.o.d avow!

But I pray thee, master, hark! one word now, And answer this thing: Whether thought you it better cheer At the tavern, where we were ere, Or else to clatter with these knaves here Of their foolish cunning?

HU. Nay, I cannot say the contrary But that I had mich merrier company At the tavern than in this place.

SEN. Then if ye have any wit or brain, Let us go to the tavern again, And make some merry solace.

IGN. If he will do so, then doth he wisely.

HU. By my troth, I care not greatly, For I am indifferent to all company, Whether it be here or there.

SEN. Then I shall tell you what we will do; Master Ignorance, you and he also Shall tarry both still here, And I will go fet hither a company, That ye shall hear them sing as sweetly As they were angels clear; And yet I shall bring hither another sort Of l.u.s.ty bloods to make disport; That shall both dance and spring, And turn clean above the ground With friskas and with gambawds round, That all the hall shall ring.

And that done, within an hour or twain, I shall at the town again Prepare for you a banket Of meats that be most delicate, And most pleasant drinks and wines thereat, That is possible to get, Which shall be in a chamber fair, Prepared point-device[21]

With damask water made so well, That all the house thereof shall smell, As it were paradise.

And after that, if ye will touch A fair wench naked[22] in a couch[23]

Of a soft bed of down, For to satisfy your wanton l.u.s.t, I shall appoint you a trull of trust, Not a fairer in this town!

And when ye have taken your delight, And thus satisfied the appet.i.te Of your wits five, Ye may say then I am a servant For you so necessary and pleasant, I trow none such alive!

HU. Now, by the way that G.o.d did walk, It comforteth mine heart to hear thee talk, Thy match was never seen!

IGN. Then go thy way by and by, And bring in this company, And he and I will here tarry, Till thou come again.

HU. And I pray thee heartily also.

SEN. At your request so shall I do.

Lo! I am gone, now farewell!

I shall bring them into this hall, And come myself foremost of all, And of these revels be chief marshal, And order all things well.

IGN. Now, set thy heart on a merry pin, Against these l.u.s.ty bloods come in, And drive fantasies away.

HU. And so I will, by heaven's King!

If they either dance or sing, Have among them, by this day!

IGN. Then thou takest good and wise ways, And so shalt thou best please All this whole company; For the foolish arguing that thou hast had With that knave Experience, that hath made All these folk thereof weary; For all that they be now in this hall, They be the most part my servants all, And love princ.i.p.ally Disports, as dancing, singing, Toys, trifles, laughing, jesting; For cunning they set not by.

HU. I see well such company evermore, As Sensual Appet.i.te is gone for, Will please well this audience.

IGN. Yea, that I suppose they will; But peace, hark! I pray thee be still, I ween they be not far hence.

[_Then the dancers without the hall sing this wise, and they within answer, or else they may say it for need_.[24]]

THE DANCERS AND SENSUAL.

Peace, sirs, peace now! peace, sirs, all!

HUMANITY AND IGNORANCE.

Why, who is that so high doth call?

THE DANCERS.

Silence, I say, be you among, For we be disposed to sing a song.

HUMANITY AND IGNORANCE.

Come in, then, boldly among this presence, For here ye shall have good audience.

Time to pa.s.s with goodly sport, Our sprites to revive and comfort, To pipe, to sing, To dance, to spring, With pleasure and delight, Following Sensual Appet.i.te, To pipe, &c.

IGN. I can you thank; that is done well; It is pity ye had not a minstrel For to augment your solace.

SEN. As for minstrel, it maketh no force, Ye shall see me dance a course Without a minstrel, be it better or worse; Follow all: I will lead a trace.

HU. Now have among you, by this light!

IGN. That is well said, by G.o.d Almight!

Make room, sirs, and give them place.

[_Then he singeth this song and danceth withal, and evermore maketh countenance according to the matter; and all the others answer likewise_.]

Dance we, dance we, prance we, prance we, So merrily let us dance ey, so merrily, &c.

And I can dance it gingerly, and I, &c.

And I can foot it by and by, and I, &c.

And I can prank it properly, And I can countenance comely,[25]

And I can croak it courtesly, And I can leap it l.u.s.tily, And I can turn it trimly, And I can frisk it freshly, And I can look it lordly.

IGN. I can thee thank, Sensual Appet.i.te!

That is the best dance without a pipe, That I saw this seven year.[26]

HU. This dance would do mich better yet, If we had a kit or taberet, But alas! there is none here.

SEN. Then let us go to the tavern again, There shall we be sure of one or twain Of minstrels, that can well play.

IGN. Then go, I pray ye, by and by, And purvey some minstrel ready, And he and I will follow shortly, As fast as ever we may.

HU. Therewith I am right well content.

SEN. Then will I go incontinent, And prepare every thing That is metely to be done; And for lack of minstrels, the mean season, Now will we begin to sing.

Now we will here begin to sing, For dance can we no more, For minstrels here be all lacking; To the tavern we will therefore.

[_Et exeunt cantando, &c_.

HU. Now if that Sensual Appet.i.te can find Any good minstrels after his mind, Doubt not we shall have good sport.

IGN. And so shall we have for a surety; But what shall we do now, tell me, The meanwhile for our comfort?

HU. Then let us some l.u.s.ty ballad sing.

IGN. Nay, sir, by the Heaven King!

For methinketh it serveth for nothing, All such peevish p.r.i.c.k-eared song!

HU. Peace, man, p.r.i.c.k-song may not be despised, For therewith G.o.d is well pleased, Honoured, praised, and served, In the church ofttimes among.

IGN. Is G.o.d well pleased, trow'st thou, thereby?

Nay, nay, for there is no reason why, For is it not as good to say plainly, Give me a spade, As give me a spa, ve, va, ve, va, ve, vade?

But if thou wilt have a song that is good, I have one of Robin Hood, The best that ever was made.

HU. Then, a' fellowship, let us hear it.

IGN. But there is a burden, thou must bear it, Or else it will not be.

HU. Then begin and care not to ...

Down, down, down, &c.

IGN. Robin Hood in Barnsdale stood,[27]

And leant him till a maple thistle; Then came our lady and sweet Saint Andrew.