Act 4 — SCENE III.

A Street: before the Jeweller’s House.

Enter Knight, two Officers watching for him.

Knight. Adieu, farewell;^[911] to bed you; I to my sweet city-bird, my precious Revenue: the very thought of a hundred and fifty angels^[912] increases oil and spirit, ho!

First Off. I arrest you. sir.

Knight. O!

First Off. You have made us wait a goodly time for you, have you not, think you? You are in your rouses^[913] and mullwines,^[914] a pox on you! and have no care of poor officers staying for you.

392Knight. I drunk but one health, I protest; but I could void it now. At whose suit, I pray?

First Off. At the suit of him that makes suits, your tailor.

Knight. Why, he made me the last; this, this that I wear.

First Off. Argo,^[915]—nay, we have been scholars, I can tell you,—we could not have been knaves so soon else; for as in that notable city called London stand two most famous universities, Poultry and Wood-street,^[916] where some are of twenty years’ standing, and have took all their degrees, from the Master’s side down to the Mistress’ side, the Hole,^[917] so in like manner——

Knight. Come, come, come, I had quite forgot the hundred and fifty angels.

Second Off. ’Slid, where be they?

Knight. I’ll bring you to the sight of’em presently.

First Off. A notable lad, and worthy to be 393arrested! We’ll have but ten for waiting; and then thou shalt choose whether thou wilt run away from us, or we from thee.

Knight. A match at running! come, come, follow me.

Second Off. Nay, fear not that.

Knight. Peace; you may happen to see toys,^[918] but do not see ’em.

First Off. Pah!

Knight. That’s the door.

First Off. This? [Knocks.

Knight. ’S foot, officer, you have spoiled all already.

First Off. Why?

Knight. Why? you shall see: you should have but whirled the ring once about, and there’s a maidservant brought up to understand it.

Maid. [opening the door] Who’s at door?

Knight. All’s well again.—Phist, ’tis I, ’tis I.

Maid. You? what are you?

Knight. Pooh! where’s thy mistress?

Maid. What of her?

Knight. Tell her one—she knows who—her Pleasure’s here, say.

Maid. Her pleasure? my mistress scorns to be without her pleasure at this time of night. Is she so void of friends, think you? take that for thinking so.

Gives him a box on the ear, and shuts the door.

First Off. The hundred and fifty angels are locked up in a box; we shall not see ’em tonight.

Knight. How’s this? am I used like a hundred-pound gentleman? does my Revenue forsake me? 394Damn me, if ever I be her Pleasure again!—Well, I must to prison.

First Off. Go prepare his room; there’s no remedy: I’ll bring him along; he’s tame enough now. [Exit Second Officer.

Knight. Dare my tailor presume to use me in this sort?

He steals, and I must lie in prison for’t.

First Off. Come, come, away, sir!

Enter a Gentleman and a Drawer.

Gent. Art sure thou sawest him arrested, drawer?

Dra. If mine eyes be sober.

Gent. And that’s a question. Mass, here he goes! he shall not go to prison; I have a trick shall bail him: away! [Exit Drawer.

[Blinds the First Officer, while the Knight escapes.

First Off. O!

Gent. Guess, guess! who am I? who am I?

First Off. Who the devil are you? let go: a pox on you! who are you? I have lost my prisoner.

Gent. Prisoner? I’ve mistook; I cry you heartily mercy; I have done you infinite injury; a’ my troth, I took you to be an honest man.

First Off. Where were your eyes? could you not see I was an officer?—Stop, stop, stop, stop!

Gent. Ha, ha, ha, ha! [Exeunt severally.

395