Act 2 — [Scene II.][3015]
Reading edition
[Scene II.][3015]
Enter Mistress Merrythought and her son Michael.
Mist. Mer. Come, Michael; art thou not weary, boy? Mich. No, forsooth, mother, not I. Mist. Mer. Where be we now, child?
Mich. Indeed, forsooth, mother, I cannot5 tell, unless we be at Mile-End. Is not all the world Mile-End, mother?
Mist. Mer. No, Michael, not all the world, boy; but I can assure thee, Michael, Mile-End is a goodly matter: there has been a pitch-field,[3016]10 my child, between the naughty Spaniels[3017] and the Englishmen; and the Spaniels ran away, Michael, and the Englishmen followed: my neighbor Coxstone was there, boy, and kill’d them all with a birding-piece.[3018]15
Mich. Mother, forsooth—
Mist. Mer. What says my white boy?[3019]
Mich. Shall not my father go with us too?
Mist. Mer. No, Michael, let thy father go snick-up;[3020] he shall never come between a20 pair of sheets with me again while he lives; let him stay at home, and sing for his supper, boy. Come, child, sit down, and I’ll show my boy fine knacks, indeed. [They sit down: and she takes out a casket.] Look here, Michael; here’s a ring, and here’s a brooch, and here’s a26 bracelet, and here’s two rings more, and here’s money and gold by th’ eye,[3021] my boy.
Mich. Shall I have all this, mother?
Mist. Mer. Ay, Michael, thou shalt have30 all, Michael.
Cit. How likest thou this, wench?
Wife. I cannot tell; I would have Ralph, George; I’ll see no more else, indeed, la; and I pray you, let the youths understand so35 much by word of mouth; for, I tell you truly, I’m afraid a’ my boy. Come, come, George, let’s be merry and wise: the child’s a fatherless child; and say they should put him into a strait pair of gaskins,[3022] ’t were worse than40 knot-grass;[3023] he would never grow after it.
Enter Ralph, Squire [Tim], and Dwarf [George].
Cit. Here’s Ralph, here’s Ralph!
Wife. How do you do, Ralph? you are welcome, Ralph, as I may say. It’s a good boy, hold up thy head, and be not afraid; we are thy friends, Ralph; the gentlemen will praise thee, Ralph, if thou play’st thy part with audacity.47 Begin, Ralph, a’ God’s name!
Ralph. My trusty squire, unlace my helm; give me my hat. Where are we, or what desert may this be?50
George. Mirror of knighthood, this is, as I take it, the perilous Waltham-down; in whose bottom stands the enchanted valley.
Mist. Mer. Oh, Michael, we are betray’d, we are betray’d! Here be giants! Fly, boy! fly, boy, fly!56
Exit with Michael [leaving the casket].
Ralph. Lace on my helm again. What noise is this? A gentle lady, flying the embrace Of some uncourteous knight! I will relieve her. Go, squire, and say, the Knight that wears this Pestle60 In honour of all ladies, swears revenge Upon that recreant coward that pursues her; Go, comfort her, and that same gentle squire That bears her company. Tim. I go, brave knight. [Exit.] Ralph. My trusty dwarf and friend, reach me my shield;65 And hold it while I swear. First, by my knighthood; Then by the soul of Amadis de Gaul, My famous ancestor; then by my sword The beauteous Brionella[3024] girt about me; By this bright burning Pestle, of mine honour The living trophy; and by all respect71 Due to distressed damsels; here I vow Never to end the quest of this fair lady And that forsaken squire till by my valour I gain their liberty! George. Heaven bless the knight75 That thus relieves poor errant gentlewomen! Exeunt.
Wife. Ay, marry, Ralph, this has some savour in ’t; I would see the proudest of them all offer to carry his books after him. But, George, I will not have him go away so soon; I shall be sick if he go away, that I shall. Call Ralph 81 again, George, call Ralph again; I prithee, sweetheart, let him come fight before me, and let’s ha’ some drums and some trumpets, and let him kill all that comes near him, an thou lov’st me, George! 86
Cit. Peace a little, bird: he shall kill them all, an they were twenty more on ’em than there are.
Enter Jasper.
Jasp. Now, Fortune, if thou be’st not only ill,90 Show me thy better face, and bring about Thy desperate wheel, that I may climb at length, And stand. This is our place of meeting, If love have any constancy. Oh, age Where only wealthy men are counted happy!95 How shall I please thee, how deserve thy smiles, When I am only rich in misery? My father’s blessing and this little coin Is my inheritance; a strong revenue! From earth thou art, and to the earth I give thee: [Throws away the money.] There grow and multiply, whilst fresher air101 Breeds me a fresher fortune.—How! illusion? Spies the casket. What, hath the devil coin’d himself before me? ’T is metal good, it rings well; I am waking, And taking too, I hope. Now, God’s dear blessing105 Upon his heart that left it here! ’T is mine; These pearls, I take it, were not left for swine. Exit [with the casket].
Wife. I do not like that this unthrifty youth should embezzle away the money; the poor gentlewoman his mother will have a heavy heart for it, God knows. 111
Cit. And reason good, sweetheart.
Wife. But let him go; I’ll tell Ralph a tale in’s ear shall fetch him again with a wanion,[3025] I warrant him, if he be above ground; and besides, George, here are a number of sufficient 116 gentlemen can witness, and myself, and yourself, and the musicians, if we be call’d in question. But here comes Ralph, George; thou shalt hear him speak as he were an emperal.[3026]