Act 3 — SCENE III.
Reading edition
A Tavern.
Enter Hoard, Gentlemen,[80] and Drawer.
Dra. You’re very welcome, gentlemen.—Dick, shew those gentlemen the Pomegranate there.
Hoa. Hist!
Dra. Up those stairs, gentlemen.
Hoa. Hist, drawer!
Dra. Anon, sir.
Hoa. Prithee, ask at the bar if a gentlewoman came not in lately.
Dra. William, at the bar, did you see any gentlewoman come in lately? Speak you ay, speak you no.
[Within.] No, none came in yet but mistress Florence.
Dra. He says none came in yet, sir, but one mistress Florence.
Hoa. What is that Florence? a widow?
Dra. Yes, a Dutch widow.[81] 51Hoa. How?
Dra. That’s an English drab, sir: give your worship good morrow. [Exit.
Hoa. A merry knave, i’faith! I shall remember a Dutch widow the longest day of my life.
First G. Did not I use most art to win the widow?
Sec. G. You shall pardon me for that, sir; master Hoard knows I took her at best ’vantage.
Hoa. What’s that, sweet gentlemen, what’s that?
Sec. G. He will needs bear me down, that his art only wrought with the widow most.
Hoa. O, you did both well, gentlemen, you did both well, I thank you.
First G. I was the first that moved her.
Hoa. You were, i’faith.
Sec. G. But it was I that took her at the bound.
Hoa. Ay, that was you: faith, gentlemen, ’tis right.
Third G. I boasted least, but ’twas I join’d their hands.
Hoa. By th’ mass, I think he did: you did all well,
Gentlemen, you did all well; contend no more.
First G. Come, yon room’s fittest.
Hoa. True, ’tis next the door. [Exeunt.
Enter Witgood, Courtesan, Host, and Drawer.
Dra. You’re very welcome: please you to walk up stairs; cloth’s laid, sir.
Court. Up stairs? troth, I am very[82] weary, master Witgood.
Wit. Rest yourself here awhile, widow; we’ll have a cup of muscadine in this little room.
52Dra. A cup of muscadine? You shall have the best, sir.
Wit. But, do you hear, sirrah?
Dra. Do you call? anon, sir.
Wit. What is there provided for dinner?
Dra. I cannot readily tell you, sir: if you please you may go into the kitchen and see yourself, sir; many gentlemen of worship do use to do it, I assure you, sir.
[Exit.
Host. A pretty familiar, prigging[83] rascal; he has his part without book.
Wit. Against you are ready to drink to me, widow, I’ll be present to pledge you.
Court. Nay, I commend your care, ’tis done well of you. [Exit Witgood.]—’Las,[84] what have I forgot!
Host. What, mistress?
Court. I slipt my wedding-ring off when I washed, and left it at my lodging: prithee, run; I shall be sad without it. [Exit Host.]—So, he’s gone. Boy.
Enter Boy.
Boy. Anon, forsooth.
Court. Come hither, sirrah; learn secretly if one master Hoard, an ancient gentleman, be about house.
Boy. I heard such a one named.
Court. Commend me to him.
53Re-enter Hoard and Gentlemen.
Hoa. Ay, boy,[85] do thy commendations.
Court. O, you come well: away, to boat, begone.
Hoa. Thus wise men are reveng’d, give two for one. [Exeunt.
Re-enter Witgood and Vintner.
Wit. I must request
You, sir, to shew extraordinary care:
My uncle comes with gentlemen, his friends,
And ’tis upon a making.[86]
Vin. Is it so?
I’ll give a special charge, good master Witgood.
May I be bold to see her?
Wit. Who? [t]he widow?
With all my heart, i’faith, I’ll bring you to her.
Vin. If she be a Staffordshire gentlewoman, ’tis much if I know her not.
Wit. How now? boy! drawer!
Vin. Hie!
Re-enter Boy.
Boy. Do you call, sir?
Wit. Went the gentlewoman up that was here?
Boy. Up, sir? she went out, sir.
Wit. Out, sir?
Boy. Out, sir: one master Hoard, with a guard of gentlemen, carried her out at back door, a pretty while since, sir.
Wit. Hoard? death and darkness! Hoard?
54Re-enter Host.
Host. The devil of ring I can find.
Wit. How now? what news? where’s the widow?
Host. My mistress? is she not here, sir?
Wit. More madness yet!
Host. She sent me for a ring.
Wit. A plot, a plot!—To boat! she’s stole away.
Host. What?
Enter Lucre and Gentlemen.
Wit. Follow! inquire old Hoard, my uncle’s adversary.
[Exit Host.
Luc. Nephew, what’s that?
Wit. Thrice-miserable wretch!
Luc. Why, what’s the matter?
Vin. The widow’s borne away, sir.
Luc. Ha? passion of me!—A heavy welcome, gentlemen.
First G. The widow gone?
Luc. Who durst attempt it?
Wit. Who but old Hoard, my uncle’s adversary?
Luc. How!
Wit. With his confederates.
Luc. Hoard, my deadly enemy?—Gentlemen, stand to me,
I will not bear it; ’tis in hate of me;
That villain seeks my shame, nay, thirsts my blood;
He owes me mortal malice.
I’ll spend my wealth on this despiteful plot,
Ere he shall cross me and my nephew thus.
Wit. So maliciously!
55Re-enter Host.
Luc. How now, you treacherous rascal?
Host. That’s none of my name, sir.
Wit. Poor soul, he knew not on’t!
Luc. I’m sorry. I see then ’twas a mere plot.
Host. I trac’d ’em nearly——
Luc.[87] Well?
Host. And hear for certain
They have took Cole-Harbour.[88]
Luc. The devil’s sanctuary!
They shall not rest; I’ll pluck her from his arms.—
Kind and dear gentlemen,
If ever I had seat within your breasts——
First G. No more, good sir; it is a wrong to us
To see you injur’d: in a cause so just
We’ll spend our lives but we will right our friends.
Luc. Honest and kind! come, we’ve[89] delay’d too long:
Nephew, take comfort; a just cause is strong.
Wit. That’s all my comfort, uncle. [Exeunt all
but Witgood.] Ha, ha, ha!
Now may events fall luckily and well:
He that ne’er strives, says wit, shall ne’er excel.
[Exit.