Fair Em Part 6

MARIANA.

Trust me, my Lord, I am sorry for your hurt.

LUBECK.

Gramercie, Madam; but it is not great: Only a thrust, p.r.i.c.kt with a Rapiers point.

MARIANA.

How grew the quarrel, my Lord?

LUBECK.

Sweet Lady, for thy sake. There was this last night two masks in one company, my self the formost. The other strangers were: amongst the which, when the Musick began to sound the Measures, each Masker made choice of his Lady; and one, more forward than the rest, stept towards thee, which I perceiving, thrust him aside, and took thee my self. But this was taken in so ill part that at my coming out of the court gate, with justling together, it was my chance to be thrust into the arm.

The doer thereof, because he was the original cause of the disorder at that inconvenient time, was presently committed, and is this morning sent for to answer the matter. And I think here he comes.

[Here enters Sir Robert of Windsor with a Gaylor.]

What, Sir Robert of Windsor, how now?

SIR ROBERT.

Yfaith, my Lord, a prisoner: but what ails your arm?

LUBECK.

Hurt the last night by mischance.

SIR ROBERT.

What, not in the mask at the Court gate?

LUBECK.

Yes, trust me, there.

SIR ROBERT.

Why then, my Lord, I thank you for my nights lodging.

LUBECK.

And I you for my hurt, if it were so. Keeper, away, I discharge you of your prisoner.

[Exit the Keeper.]

SIR ROBERT.

Lord Marques, you offered me disgrace to shoulder me.

LUBECK.

Sir, I knew you not, and therefore you must pardon me, and the rather it might be alleged to me of mere simplicity to see another dance with my Maistris, disguised, and I my self in presence. But seeing it was our happs to d.a.m.nify each other unwillingly, let us be content with our harms, and lay the fault where it was, and so become friends.

SIR ROBERT.

Yfaith, I am content with my nights lodging, if you be content with your hurt.

LUBECK.

Not content that I have it, but content to forget how I came by it.

SIR ROBERT.

My Lord, here comes Lady Blaunch, lets away.

[Enter Blaunch.]

LUBECK.

With good will. Lady, you will stay?

[Exit Lubeck and Sir Robert.]

MARIANA.

Madam--

BLAUNCH.

Mariana, as I am grieved with thy presence: so am I not offended for thy absence; and were it not a breach to modesty, thou shouldest know before I left thee.

MARIANA.

How near is this humor to madness! If you hold on as you begin, you are in a pretty way to scolding.

BLAUNCH.

To scolding, huswife?

MARIANA.

Madam, here comes one.

[Here enters one with a letter.]

BLAUNCH.

There doth in deed. Fellow, wouldest thou have any thing with any body here?

MESSENGER.

I have a letter to deliver to the Lady Mariana.

BLAUNCH.

Give it me.

MESSENGER.

There must none but she have it.

[Blaunch s.n.a.t.c.heth the letter from him. Et exit messenger.]

BLAUNCH.

Go to, foolish fellow. And therefore, to ease the anger I sustain, I'll be so bold to open it. Whats here? Sir Robert greets you well? You, Mastries, his love, his life?

Oh amorous man, how he entertains his new Maistres; and bestows on Lubeck, his od friend, a horn night cap to keep in his witt.

MARIANA.

Madam, though you have discourteously read my letter, yet I pray you give it me.

BLAUNCH.