The London Prodigal Part 25

FRANCES.

Lead away my maid to prison! why, Tom, will you suffer that?

CIVET.

No, by your leave, father, she is no vagrant: she is my wife's chamber maid, & as true as the skin between any man's brows here.

LANCELOT.

Go to, you're both fools: Son Civet, of my life, this is a plot, Some straggling counterfeit preferred to you, No doubt to rob you of your plate and jewels.

I'll have you led away to prison, trull.

LUCY.

I am no trull, neither outlandish Frau.

Nor he, nor I shall to the prison go: Know you me now? nay, never stand amazed.

Father, I know I have offended you, And though that duty wills me bend my knees To you in duty and obedience: Yet this ways do I turn, and to him yield My love, my duty and my humbleness.

LANCELOT.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d in nature! kneel to such a slave?

LUCY.

O Master Flowerdale, if too much grief Have not stopped up the organs of your voice, Then speak to her that is thy faithful wife: Or doth contempt of me thus tie thy tongue?

Turn not away, I am no Aethiope, No wanton Cressida, nor a changing Helen: But rather one made wretched by thy loss.

What, turnst thou still from me? O then I guess thee woefulst among hapless men.

FLOWERDALE.

I am, indeed, wife, wonder among wives!

Thy chast.i.ty and virtue hath infused Another soul in me, red with defame, For in my blus.h.i.+ng cheeks is seen my shame.

LANCELOT.

Out, hypocrite. I charge thee, trust him not.

LUCY.

Not trust him? by the hopes of after bliss, I know no sorrow can be compared to his.

LANCELOT.

Well, since thou wert ordained to beggary, Follow thy fortune; I defy thee, I.

OLIVER.

Ywood che were so well ydoussed as was ever white cloth in a tocking mill, and che ha not made me weep.

FATHER.

If he hath any grace, he'll now repent.

ARTHUR.

It moves my heart.

WEATHERc.o.c.k.

By my troth, I must weep, I can not choose.

UNCLE.

None but a beast would such a maid misuse.

FLOWERDALE.

Content thy self, I hope to win his favour, And to redeem my reputation lost: And, gentlemen, believe me, I beseech you: I hope your eyes shall behold such change, As shall deceive your expectation.

OLIVER.

I would che were ysplit now, but che believe him.

LANCELOT.

How, believe him?

WEATHERc.o.c.k.

By the mackins, I do.

LANCELOT.

What, do you think that ere he will have grace?

WEATHERc.o.c.k.

By my faith, it will go hard.

OLIVER.

Well, che vor ye, he is changed: and Master Flowerdale, in hope you been so, hold, there's vorty pound toward your zetting up: what, be not ashamed; vang it, man, vang it: be a good husband, loven your wife: and you shall not want for vorty more, I che vor thee.

ARTHUR.

My means are little, but if you'll follow me, I will instruct my ablest power: But to your wife I give this diamond, And prove true diamond fair in all your life.

FLOWERDALE.

Thanks, good Sir Arthur, Master Oliver, You being my enemy, and grown so kind, Binds me in all endeavor to restore--

OLIVER.

What! restore me no restorings, man. I have vorty pound more for Lucy; here, vang it: Zouth, chil devie London else. What, do not think me a Mezel or a Scoundrel to throw away my money: che have a hundred pound more to pace of any good spotation: I hope your vader and your uncle here wil vollow my examples.

UNCLE.

You have guessed right of me; if he leave of this course of life, he shall be mine heir.

LANCELOT.

But he shall never get a groat of me: A cozener, a deceiver, one that killed His painful father, honest gentleman That pa.s.sed the fearful danger of the sea, To get him living and maintain him brave.

WEATHERc.o.c.k.

What, hath he killed his father?

LANCELOT.

Aye, sir, with conceit of his wild courses.

FATHER.

Sir, you are misinformed.

LANCELOT.

Why, thou old knave, thou toldst me so thy self.

FATHER.