Beggars Bush Part 22

_Bo._ Yes, but she's No woman yet: she should have been this night, But that a Beggar stole away her Bridegroom, Whom we were going to make hue and cry after; I tell you true Sir, she should ha' been married to day; And was the Bride and all; but in came _Clause_, The old lame Beggar, and whips up Mr _Goswin_ Under his arm; away with him as a Kite, Or an old Fox would swoop away a Gosling.

_Hem._ 'Tis she, 'tis she, 'tis she: Niece?

_Ger._ Ha!

_Hem._ She Sir, This was a n.o.ble entrance to your fortune, That being on the point thus to be married, Upon her venture here, you should surprise her.

_Woolf._ I begin, _Hemskirk,_ to believe my fate, Works to my ends.

_Hem._ Yes Sir, and this adds trust Unto the fellow our guide, who a.s.sur'd me _Florez_ Liv'd in some Merchants shape, as _Gerrard_ did I' the old Beggars, and that he would use Him for the train, to call the other forth; All which we find is done--That's he again-- [_Holla again._

_Woolf._ Good, we sent out to meet him.

_Hem._ Here's the Oak.

_Ger._ I am miserably lost, thus faln Into my Uncles hands from all my hopes, Can I not think away my self and dye?

_Enter_ Hubert, Higgen, Prig, Ferret, Snap, Ginks _like_ Boors.

_Hub._ I like your habits well: they are safe, stand close.

_Hig._ But what's the action we are for now? Ha!

Robbing a Ripper of his Fish.

_Prig._ Or taking A Poulterer Prisoner, without ransome, Bullyes?

_Hig._ Or cutting off a Convoy of b.u.t.ter?

_Fer._ Or surprizing a Boors ken, for granting cheats!

_Prig._ Or cackling Cheats?

_Hig._ Or Mergery-praters, Rogers, And Tibs o'th' b.u.t.tery?

_Prig._ O I could drive a Regiment Of Geese afore me, such a night as this, Ten Leagues with my Hat and Staff, and not a hiss Heard, nor a wing of my Troops disordered.

_Hig._ Tell us, If it be milling of a lag of duds, The fetching of a back of cloaths or so; We are horribly out of linnen.

_Hub._ No such matter.

_Hig._ Let me alone with the Farmers dog, If you have a mind to the cheese-loft; 'tis but thus, And he is a silenc'd Mastiff, during pleasure.

_Hub._ Would it would please you to be silent.

_Hig._ Mum.

_Woolf._ Who's there?

_Hub._ A friend, the Hunts-man.

_Hem._ O 'tis he.

_Hub._ I have kept touch Sir, which is the Earl of these?

Will he know a man now?

_Hem._ This my Lord's the Friend, Hath undertook the service.

_Hub._ If't be worth His Lordships thanks anon, when 'tis done Lording, I'll look for't, a rude Wood-man, I know how to pitch my toils, drive in my game: And I have don't, both _Florez_ and his Father Old _Gerrard_, with Lord _Arnold_ of _Benthuisen_, _Cozen_, and _Jaculin_, young _Florez_'s Sister: I have 'em all.

_Woolf._ Thou speak'st too much, too happy, To carry faith with it.

_Hub._ I can bring you Where you shall see, and find 'em.

_Woolf._ We will double What ever _Hemskirk_ then hath promis'd thee.

_Hub._ And I'll deserve it treble: what horse ha' you?

_Woolf._ A hundred. That's well: ready to take Upon surprise of 'em.

_Hem._ Yes.

_Hub._ Divide then Your force into five Squadrons; for there are So many out-lets, ways through the wood That issue from the place where they are lodg'd: Five several ways, of all which Pa.s.sages, We must possess our selves, to round 'em in; For by one starting hole they'll all escape else: I and 4. Boors here to me will be guides, The Squadron where you are, my self will lead: And that they may be more secure, I'll use My wonted whoops, and hollows, as I were A hunting for 'em; which will make them rest Careless of any noise, and be a direction To the other guides, how we approach 'em still.

_Woolf._ 'Tis order'd well, and relisheth the Souldier; Make the division _Hemskirk_; you are my charge, Fair One, I'll look to you.

_Boo._ Shall no body need To look to me? I'll look unto my self.

_Hub._ 'Tis but this, remember.

_Hig._ Say, 'tis done, Boy. [_Exeunt._

SCENA II.

_Enter_ Gerrard _and_ Florez.

_Ger._ By this time Sir I hope you want no reasons Why I broke off your marriage, for though I Should as a Subject study you my Prince In things indifferent, it will not therefore Discredit you, to acknowledge me your Father, By harkning to my necessary counsels.

_Flo._ Acknowledge you my Father? Sir I do, And may impiety, conspiring with My other Sins, sink me, and suddenly When I forget to pay you a Sons duty In my obedience, and that help'd forth With all the cheerfulness.

_Ger._ I pray you rise, And may those powers that see and love this in you, Reward you for it: Taught by your example Having receiv'd the rights due to a Father, I tender you th' allegeance of a Subject: Which as my Prince accept of.

_Flo._ Kneel to me?

May mountains first fall down beneath their valleys, And fire no more mount upwards, when I suffer An act in nature so preposterous; I must o'ercome in this, in all things else The victory be yours: could you here read me, You should perceive how all my faculties Triumph in my blest fate, to be found yours; I am your son, your son Sir, and am prouder To be so, to the Father, to such goodness (Which heaven be pleas'd, I may inherit from you) Than I shall ever of those specious t.i.tles That plead for my succession in the Earldom (Did I possess it now) left by my Mother.

_Ger._ I do believe it: but--