Wak'd with a wench, pretty peat, pretty love, thousand pounds in possibility, and things fitting thy desire in possession. and my sweet pretty pigsnie,* Just by thy side shall sit surnamèd great Huanebango: Safe in my arms will I keep thee, threat Mars, or thunder Olympus. Zan. [aside.] Foh, what greasy groom have we here? He looks as though he crept out of the backside of the well, and speaks like a drum perished at the west end. Huan. O, that I might, but I may not, woe to my destiny therefore !+Kiss that I clasp! but I cannot tell me, my destiny, wherefore? Zan. [aside.] Whoop! now I have my dream. Did you never hear so great a wonder as this, three blue beans in a blue bladder, rattle, bladder, rattle? Huan. [aside.] I'll now set my countenance, and to her in prose; it may be, this rim-ramruff is too rude an encounter.-Let me, fair lady, if you be at leisure, revel with your sweetness, and rail upon that cowardly conjurer, that hath cast me, or congealed me rather, into an unkind sleep, and polluted my carcass. Zan. [aside.] Laugh, laugh, Zantippa; thou hast thy fortune, a fool and a husband under one. Huan. Truly, sweet-heart, as I seem, about some twenty years, the very April of mine age. Zan. [aside.] Why, what a prating ass is this! Huan. Her coral lips, her crimson chin, Her silver teeth so white within, Her golden locks, her rolling eye, Her pretty parts, let them go by, Heigh-ho, have wounded me, That I must die this day to see! Zan. By Gogs-bones, thou art a flouting knave: "her coral lips, her crimson chin"! ka, wilshaw! Huan. True, my own, and my own because mine, and mine because mine, ha, ha! above a *piganie] i e. little pig. (A term of endearment.) 0, that I might,—but I may not, woe to my destiny therefore!] Taken verbatim from Gabriel Harvey's Encomium Lauri; "Faine wod I craue, might I so presume, some farther acquaintaunce: O that I might! but I may not: woe to my destinie therefore!" See p. 64, first note, of the present volume. this rim-ram-ruff] So the copy of the 4to. in the British Museum (King's Library, Pamphlets); while my copy reads "this rude ram ruffe";-the passage having been corrected before the whole of the impression was struck off.-Compare Stanyhurst; "Of ruffe raffe roaring, mens harts with terror agrysing." The Description of Liparen, p. 91. Zan. [aside.] The sot thinks I ask of his lands. Lob be your comfort, and cuckold be your destiny!-Hear you, sir; an if you will have us, you had best say so betime. Huan. True, sweet-heart, and will royalize thy progeny with my pedigree. [Exeunt. Enter EUMENIDES. Eum. Wretched Eumenides, still unfortunate, Envied by fortune and forlorn by fate, Here pine and die, wretched Eumenides, Die in the spring, the April of thy* age! Here sit thee down, repent what thou hast done: I would to God that it were ne'er begun! Enter the GHOST OF JACK. G. of Jack. You are well overtaken, sir. G. of Jack. You are heartily well met, sir. Eum. Forbear, I say: who is that which pincheth me? G. of Jack. Trusting in God, good Master Eumenides, that you are in so good health as all your friends were at the making hereof,-God give you good morrow, sir! Lack you not a neat, handsome, and cleanly young lad, about the age of fifteen or sixteen years, that can run by your horse, and, for a need, make your mastership's shoes as black as ink? how say you, sir? Eum. Alas, pretty lad, I know not how to keep myself, and much less a servant, my pretty boy; my state is so bad. G. of Jack. Content yourself, you shall not be so ill a master but I'll be as bad a servant. Tut, sir, I know you, though you know not me: are not you the man, sir, deny it if you can, sir, that came from a strange place in the land of Catita, where Jack-an-apest flies with his tail in his mouth, to seek out a lady as white as snow and as red as blood? ha, ha! have I touched you now? Eum. [aside.] I think this boy be a spirit.-How knowest thou all this? G. of Jack. Tut, are not you the man, sir, deny it if you can, sir, that gave all the money you had to the burying of a poor man, and but one three half-pence left in your purse? Content you, sir, I'll serve you, that is flat. thy] The 4to. "my." Jack-an-apes] i. e. monkey, ape. a lady as white as snow and as red as blood] Compare the third speech of Madge in p. 446, sec. col. Eum. Well, my lad, since thou art so impor[tu]nate, I am content to entertain thee, not as a servant, but a copartner in my journey. But whither shall we go? for I have not any money more than one bare three half-pence. G. of Jack. Well, master, content yourself, for if my divination be not out, that shall be spent at the next inn or alehouse we come to; for, master, I know you are passing hungry: therefore I'll go before and provide dinner until that you come; no doubt but you'll come fair and softly after. Eum. Ay, go before; I'll follow thee. G. of Jack. But do you hear, master? do you know my name? Eum. No, I promise thee, not yet. [Exit.* Enter the Hostess and JACK, setting meat on the table; and Fiddlers come to play. EUMENIDES walks up and down, and will eat no meat. Host. How say you, sir? do you please to sit down? Eum. Hostess, I thank you, I have no great stomach. Host. Pray, sir, what is the reason your master is so strange? doth not this meat please him? G. of Jack. Yes, hostess, but it is my master's fashion to pay before he eats; therefore, a reckon. ing, good hostess. Host. Marry, shall you, sir, presently. [Exit. Eum. Why, Jack, what dost thou mean? thou knowest I have not any money; therefore, sweet Jack, tell me what shall I do? G. of Jack. Well, master, look in your purse. Eum. Why, faith, it is a folly, for I have no money. G. of Jack. Why, look you, master; do so much for me. Eum. [looking into his purse.] Alas, Jack, my purse is full of money! Jack. "Alas," master! does that word belong to this accident? why, methinks I should have seen you cast away your cloak, and in a bravado dancet a galliard round about the chamber: why, master, your man can teach you more wit than this. Re-enter Hostess. Come, hostess, cheer up my master. Host. You are heartily welcome; and if it * Erit] After Jack's exit, as there was no change of scenery in Peele's days, the audience were to suppose Eumenides already arrived at the inn. See note *, p 446, first col. t dance] The 4to. "daunced." please you to eat of a fat capon, a fairer bird, a finer bird, a sweeter bird, a crisper bird, a neater bird, your worship never eat of. Eum. Thanks, my fine, eloquent hostess. G. of Jack. But hear you, master, one word by the way are you content I shall be halves in all you get in your journey? Eum. I am, Jack, here is my hand. G. of Jack. Enough, master, I ask no more. Eum. Come, hostess, receive your money; and I thank you for my good entertainment. [Gives money. Host. You are heartily welcome, sir. Eum. Come, Jack, whither go we now? G. of Jack. Marry, master, to the conjurer's presently. Eum. Content, Jack.-Hostess, farewell. [Exeunt. Enter COREBUS, and CELANIA,* to the Well of Life for water. Cor. Come, my duck, come: I have now got a wife thou art fair, art thou not? + Cel. My Corebus, the fairest alive; make no doubt of that. Cor. Come, wench, are we almost at the well? Cel. Ay, Corebus, we are almost at the well now. I'll go fetch some water: sit down while I dip my pitcher in. A Head comes up with ears of corn, which she combs into her lap. Head, Gently dip, but not too deep, Comb me smooth, and stroke my head, A Second Head comes up full of gold, which she combs into her lap. Sec. Head. Gently dip, but not too deep, Comb me smooth, and stroke my head, Cel. O, see, Corebus, I have combed a great deal of gold into my lap, and a great deal of corn! Cor. Well said, wench! now we shall have just enough: God send us coiners to coin our gold. But come, shall we go home, sweet-heart? • Celanta] Spelt, throughout this scene, in the 4to., "Zelanto.' tart thou not?] The reader must not forget that Corebus has been struck blind by Sacrapant. Well said] See note *, p. 453, sec. col. § just So the Museum copy of the 4to.; while my copy has "test": see note 1, p. 455, first col. G. of Jack. Come away, master, come. Eum. Go along, Jack, I'll follow thee. Jack, they say it is good to go cross-legged, and say prayers backward; how sayest thou? G. of Jack. Tut, never fear, master; let me alone. Here sit you still; speak not a word; and because you shall not be enticed with his enchanting speeches, with this same wool I'll stop your ears [Puts wool into the ears of EUMENIDES]: and so, master, sit still, for I must to the conjurer. [Exit. Enter SACRAPANT. Sac. How now! what man art thou, that sits so sad? Why dost thou gaze upon these stately trees Re-enter the GHOST OF JACK invisible, and takes SACRAPANT'S G. of Jack. O, sir, are you gone? now I hope we shall have some other coil.-Now, master, how like you this? the conjurer he is dead, and Vows never to trouble us more: now get you to your fair lady, and see what you can do with her. —Alas, he heareth me not all this while! but I will help that. [Pulls the wool out of the ears of EUMENIDES. Eum. How now, Jack! what news? G. of Jack. Here, master, take this sword, and dig with it at the foot of this hill. G. of Jack. Master, without this the conjurer could do nothing; and so long as this light lasts, so long doth his art endure, and this being out, then doth his art decay. Eum. Why, then, Jack, I will soon put out this light. G. of Jack. Ay, master, how? Eum. Why, with a stone I'll break the glass, and then blow it out. G. of Jack. No, master, you may as soon break the smith's anvil as this little vial: nor the biggest blast that ever Boreas blew cannot blow out this little light; but she that is neither maid, wife, nor widow. Master, wind this horn, and see what will happen. [Gives horn. EUMENIDES winds the horn. Enter VENELIA, who breaks the glass, blows out the light, and then exit. So, master, how like you this? this is she that ran madding in the woods, his betrothed love that keeps the cross; and now, this light being out, all are restored to their former liberty: and now, master, to the lady that you have so long looked for. The GHOST OF JACK draws a curtain, and discovers DELIA sitting asleep. Eum. God speed, fair maid, sitting alone,-there is once; God speed, fair maid, there is twice; God speed, fair maid,-that is thrice. Del. Not so, good sir, for you are by. G. of Jack. Enough, master, she hath spoke; now I will leave her with you. [Exit. Eum. Thou fairest flower of these western parts, Whose beauty so reflecteth in my sight Leaving fair Po, I sail'd up Danuby, To find me out and set my brothers free, *For thy sweet sake I have cross'd the frozen Rhine, &c.] This and the next three lines are found, with slight variations, in Greene's Orlando Furioso: see p. 90, first col., of the present volume. Jack; thank him, for he is the best friend that we have. Re-enter the GHOST OF JACK, with SACRAPANT's head in his hand.* How now, Jack! what hast thou there? G. of Jack. Marry, master, the head of the conjurer. Eum. Why, Jack, that is impossible; he was a young man. G. of Jack. Ah, master, so he deceived them that beheld him! but he was a miserable, old, and crooked man, though to each man's eye he seemed young and fresh; for, master, this conjurer took the shape of the old man that kept the cross, and that old man was in the likeness of the conjurer. But now, master, wind your horn. EUMENIDES winds his horn. Enter VENELIA, the Two Brothers, and ERESTUS. Eum. Welcome, Erestus! welcome, fair Welcome, Thelea and Calypha + both! servest To have our favours; so let us rejoice G. of Jack. So, master, now ye think you have done; but I must have a saying to you: you know you and I were partners, I to have half in all you got. Eum. Why, so thou shalt, Jack. G. of Jack. Why, then, master, draw your sword, part your lady, let me have half of her presently. Eum. Why, I hope, Jack, thou dost but jest: I promised thee half I got, but not half my lady. G. of Jack. But what else, master? have you not gotten her? therefore divide her straight, for I will have half; there is no remedy. * with Sacrapant's head in his hand] But where did the decapitation take place? Perhaps when (p. 457, sec. col.) "the Ghost of Jack drew a curtain, and discovered Delia,"-the curtain was at the same time so drawn as to conceal the body of the conjurer. + Calypha] Spelt here in the 4to. "Kalepha." in other's] Qy. "in the other's"? (unless "joy" be a dissyllable here.) Eum. Well, ere I will falsify my word unto my friend, take her all: here, Jack, I'll give her thee. G. of Jack. Nay, neither more nor less, master, but even just half. Eum. Before I will falsify my faith unto my friend, I will divide her: Jack, thou shalt have half. First Bro. Be not so cruel unto our sister, gentle knight. Second Bro. O, spare fair Delia ! she deserves no death. Eum. Content yourselves; my word is passed to him. Therefore prepare thyself, Delia, for thou must die. Del. Then farewell, world! adieu, Eumenides! EUMENIDES offers to strike, and the GHOST of Jack stays him. G. of Jack. Stay, master; it is sufficient I have tried your constancy. Do you now remember since you paid for the burying of a poor fellow? Eum. Ay, very well, Jack. G. of Jack. Then, master, thank that good deed for this good turn: and so God be with you all! [Leaps down in the ground. Eum. Jack, what, art thou gone? then farewell, Jack! Come, brothers, and my beauteous Delia, We will to Thessaly with joyful hearts. [Exeunt all except FROLIC, FANTASTIC, and MADGE. Fan. What, gammer, asleep? Madge. By the mass, son, 'tis almost day; and my windows shut at the cock's-crow. Fro. Do you hear, gammer? methinks this Jack bore a great sway amongst them. Madge. O, man, this was the ghost of the poor man that they kept such a coil to bury; and that makes him to help the wandering knight so much. But come, let us in: we will have a cup of ale and a toast this morning, and so depart.+ Fan. Then you have made an end of your tale, gammer? Madge. Yes, faith: when this was done, I took a piece of bread and cheese, and came my way; and so shall you have, too, before you go, to your breakfast. [Exeunt. |