Act 4 — SCENE II.
Reading edition
A Room in Sir Bounteous’s House.
Enter at one door Sir Bounteous, at another Gumwater.
Sir B. Why, how now, master Gumwater? what’s the news with your haste?
Gum. I have a thing to tell your worship——
Sir B. Why, prithee, tell me; speak, man.
Gum. Your worship shall pardon me, I have better bringing-up than so.
Sir B. How, sir?
Gum. ’Tis a thing made fit for your ear, sir——
Sir B. O, O, O, cry you mercy; now I begin to taste you. Is she come?
Gum. She’s come, sir.
Sir B. Recovered? well and sound again?
Gum. That’s to be feared, sir.
Sir B. Why, sir?
Gum. She wears a linen cloth about her jaw.[851]
Sir B. Ha, ha, haw! why, that’s the fashion,
You whoreson Gumwater.
Gum. The fashion, sir?
Live I so long time to see that a fashion,
Which rather was an emblem of dispraise?
It was suspected much in Monsieur’s days.[852]
Sir B. Ay, ay, in those days; that was a queasy[853] 390time: our age is better hardened now, and put oftener in the fire; we are tried what we are. Tut, the pox is as natural now as an ague in the spring-time; we seldom take physic without it. Here, take this key; you know[854] what duties belong to’t. Go, give order for a cullis:[855] let there be a good fire made i’ th’ matted chamber: do you hear, sir?
Gum. I know my office, sir. [Exit.
Sir B. An old man’s venery is very chargeable, my masters; there’s much cookery belongs to’t. [Exit.