A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 64

STUDY.

Go, that go list, I will at home remain, I have more need to take a nap in my bed.

WILL.

Do so, and, hear you, couch a cod's-head! [_Aside_.

INSTRUCTION.

Well, since it will none otherwise frame, Let us twain, Study, return[410] from whence we came.

STUDY.

Agreed.

[_Exit_.

WIT.

And let us three bestir ourselves like men; Unlikely things are brought to pa.s.s by courage now and then.

My Will, be always prest, and ready at an inch, To save thyself, to succour me, to help at every pinch.

Both twain on either side a.s.sault him, if ye can, And you shall see me in the middes, how I will play the man; This is the deadly den, as far as I perceive, Approach we near, and valiantly let us the onset give.

Come forth, thou monster fell, in drowsy darkness hid, For here is Wit, Dame Nature's son, that doth thee battle bid.

ACT IV., SCAENA 2.

TEDIOUSNESS, WIT, WILL, DILIGENCE.

TEDIOUSNESS.

What princ.o.x have we here, that dares me to a.s.sail?

Alas, poor boy, and weenest thou against me to prevail?

Full small was he thy friend, whoever sent thee hither, For I must drive thee back with shame, or slay thee altogether.

WIT.

Great boast, small roast: I warrant thee, do thy best, Thy head must serve my turn this day to set my heart at rest.

WILL.

And I must have a leg of thee, if I can catch it.

TEDIOUSNESS.

First I must quite this brain of thine, if I can reach it.

[_Fight, strike at Will_.

WIT.

Well shifted, Will; now have at thee, sir knave.

TEDIOUSNESS.

These friscols shall not serve your turn for all your vaunts so brave; Ho, ho! did I not tell thee thou cam'st to thy pain!

DILIGENCE.

Help, help, help, our master is slain.

WILL.

Help, help, help, &c.

TEDIOUSNESS.

Where are these l.u.s.ty bloods, that make their match with me?

Here lies a pattern for them all, to look at and to see.

To teach them to conspire against my force and might; To promise, for their woman's love, to vanquish me in fight: Now let them go and crake, how wisely they have sped, Such is the end of those, that seek this curious dame to wed.

[_Exit_ TED.

ACT IV., SCAENA 3.

WILL, RECREATION, WIT.

WILL.

Rub and chafe him: For G.o.d's love, haste; see, lo, where he doth lie.

RECREATION.

He is not cold, I warrant him, I.

SING.

_Give a leg, give an arm; arise, arise.

Hold up[411] thy head, lift us thy eyes,

1 A leg to stand upright:

2 An arm to fight amain,

1 The head to hold thy brains in plight,

2 The eyes to look again.

Awake, ye drowned powers.

Ye sprites, for-dull with toil: Resign to me this care of yours, And from dead sleep recoil.

Think not upon your loathsome luck, But arise, and dance with us a-pluck.

[Both sing, Give a leg, as is before.

2 What, though thou hast not hit The top of thy desire, Time is not so far spent as yet To cause thee to retire.

Arise, and ease thyself of pain, And make thee strong to fight again_.

SING BOTH.

_Let not thy foes rejoice; Let not thy friends lament; Let not thy lady's rueful voice In sobs and sighs be spent; Thy faith is plight, forget it not, Twixt her and thee to knit the knot_.

SING.