A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vii Part 68

SIR RALPH. Is Will there?

MR BAR. No. Philip?

MR GOUR. Frank?

SIR RALPH. No, no.-- Was ever man deluded thus like me?

I think some spirit leads me thus amiss, As I have often heard that some have been Thus in the nights.

But yet this mazes me; where e'er I come, Some asks me still for Frank or Philip, And none of them can tell me where Will is. [_Aside_.

WILL. So ho!

PHIL. So ho! [_They hallo within_.

HOD. So ho!

BOY. So ho!

SIR RALPH. Zounds, now I hear four halloo at the least!

One had a little voice; then, that's the wench My man hath lost: well, I will answer all. [_Aside.]

--So ho!

[_Enter_ HODGE.]

HOD. Whoop, whoop!

SIR RALPH. Who's there? Will?

HOD. No, sir; honest Hodge: but, I pray ye, sir, did ye not meet with a boy with a torch? he is run away from me, a plague on him!

SIR RALPH. Heyday, from Frank and Philip to a torch, And to a boy! nay, zounds, then, hap as 'twill. [_Aside_.

[_Exeunt_ SIR RALPH _and_ HODGE _severally_.

MR GOUR. Who goes there?

[_Enter_ WILL.]

WILL. Guess here.

MR BAR. Philip?

WILL. Philip! no, faith; my name's Will--ill-Will, for I was never worse: I was even now with him, and might have been still, but that I fell into a ditch and lost him, and now I am going up and down to seek him.

MR GOUR. What would'st thou do with him?

WILL. Why, I would have him go with me to my master's.

MR GOUR. Who's thy master?

WILL. Why, Sir Ralph Smith; and thither he promis'd me he would come; if he keep his word, so 'tis.

MR BAR. What was a[410] doing, when thou first found'st him?

WILL. Why, he halloo'd for one Francis, and Francis halloo'd for him; I halloo'd for my master, and my master for me; but we miss'd still, meeting contrary, Philip and Francis with me and my master, and I and my master with Philip and Frank.

MR GOUR. Why, wherefore is Sir Ralph so late abroad?

WILL. Why, he meant to kill a buck; I'll say so to save his honesty, but my Nan was his mark [_Aside_]. And he sent me for his bow, and when I came, I halloo'd for him; but I never saw such luck to miss him; it hath almost made me mad.

MR BAR. Well, stay with us; perhaps Sir Ralph and he will come anon: hark! I do hear one halloo.

_Enter_ PHILIP.

PHIL. Is this broad waking in a winter's night?

I am broad walking in a winter's night-- Broad indeed, because I am abroad-- But these broad fields, methinks, are not so broad That they may keep me forth of narrow ditches.

Here's a hard world!

For I can hardly keep myself upright in it: I am marvellous dutiful--but, so ho!

WILL. So ho!

PHIL. Who's there?

WILL. Here's Will.

PHIL. What, Will! how 'scap'st thou?

WILL. What, sir?

PHIL. Nay, not hanging, but drowning: wert thou in a pond or a ditch?

WILL. A pestilence on it! is't you, Philip? no, faith, I was but dirty a little: but here's one or two ask'd for ye.

PHIL. Who be they, man?

MR BAR. Philip, 'tis I and Master Goursey.

PHIL. Father, O father, I have heard them say The days of ignorance are pa.s.s'd and done; But I am sure the nights of ignorance Are not yet pa.s.s'd, for this is one of them.

But where's my sister?

MR BAR. Why, we cannot tell.

PHIL. Where's Francis?

MR GOUR. Neither saw we him.

PHIL. Why, this is fine.

What, neither he nor I, nor she nor you, Nor I nor she, nor you and I, till[411] now, Can meet, could meet, or e'er, I think, shall meet!

Call ye this wooing? no, 'tis Christmas sport Of Hob-man-blind[412], all blind, all seek to catch, All miss--but who comes here?