Beggars Bush Part 18

_Hem._ Then let me never live more.

_Hub._ Then you shall see Sir, I will do a service That shall deserve indeed.

_Hem._ 'Tis well said, Huntsman, And thou shall be well thought of.

_Hub._ I will do it: 'tis not your setting free, for that's meer nothing, But such a service, if the Earl be n.o.ble, He shall for ever love me.

_Hem._ What is't Huntsman?

_Hub._ Do you know any of these people live here?

_Hem._ No.

_Hub._ You are a fool then: here be those, to have 'em, I know the Earl so well, would make him caper.

_Hem._ Any of the old Lords that rebel'd?

_Hub._ Peace, all, I know 'em every one, and can betray 'em.

_Hem._ But wilt thou doe this service?

[_Hub._] If you'l keep Your faith, and free word to me.

_Hem._ Wilt thou swear me?

_Hub._ No, no, I will believe ye: more than that too, Here's the right heir.

_Hem._ O honest, honest huntsman!

_Hub._ Now, how to get these Gallants, there's the matter, You will be constant, 'tis no work for me else.

_Hem._ Will the Sun s.h.i.+ne again?

_Hub._ The way to get 'em.

_Hem._ Propound it, and it shall be done.

_Hub._ No sleight; (For they are Devilish crafty, it concerns 'em,) Nor reconcilement, (for they dare not trust neither) Must doe this trick.

_Hem._ By force?

_Hub._ I, that must doe it.

And with the person of the Earl himself, Authority (and mighty) must come on 'em: Or else in vain: and thus I would have ye do it.

To morrow-night be here: a hundred men will bear 'em, (So he be there, for he's both wise and valiant, And with his terrour will strike dead their forces) The hour be twelve a Clock, now for a guide To draw ye without danger on these persons, The woods being thick, and hard to hit, my self With some few with me, made unto our purpose, Beyond the wood, upon the plain, will wait ye By the great Oak.

_Hem._ I know it: keep thy faith huntsman, And such a showr of wealth--

_Hub._ I warrant ye: Miss nothing that I tell ye.

_Hem._ No.

_Hub._ Farewel; You have your liberty, now use it wisely; And keep your hour, goe closer about the wood there, For fear they spy you.

_Hem._ Well.

_Hub._ And bring no noise with ye.

[_Exit._

_Hem._ All shall be done to th' purpose: farewel hunts-man.

_Enter_ Gerrard, Higgen, Prig, Ginks, Snap, Ferret.

_Ger._ Now, what's the news in town?

_Ginks._ No news, but joy Sir; Every man wooing of the n.o.ble Merchant, Who has his hearty commendations to ye.

_Fer._ Yes this is news, this night he's to be married.

_Ginks._ By th' ma.s.s that's true, he marrys _Vandunks_ Daughter, The dainty black-ey'd bell.

_Hig._ I would my clapper Hung in his baldrick, a what a peal could I Ring?

_Ger._ Married?

_Ginks._ 'Tis very true Sir, O the pyes, The piping-hot mince-pyes!

_Prig._ O the Plum-pottage!

_Hig._ For one leg of a goose now would I venture a limb boys, I love a fat goose, as I love allegiance, And------upon the Boors, too well they know it, And therefore starve their poultry.

_Ger._ To be married To _Vandunks_ Daughter?

_Hig._ O this [pretious] Merchant: What sport he will have! but hark you brother _Prig_, Shall we do nothing in the foresaid wedding?

There's mony to be got, and meat I take it, What think ye of a morise?

_Prig._ No, by no means, That goes no further than the street, there leaves us, Now we must think of something that must draw us Into the bowels of it, into th' b.u.t.tery, Into the Kitchin, into the Cellar, something That that old drunken Burgo-master loves, What think ye of a wa.s.sel?

_Hig._ I think worthily.

_Prig._ And very fit it should be, thou, and _Ferret_, And _Ginks_ to sing the Song: I for the structure, Which is the bowl.

_Hig._ Which must be up-sey _English_, Strong, l.u.s.ty _London_ beer; let's think more of it.

_Ger._ He must not marry.

_Enter_ Hubert.

_Hub._ By your leave in private, One word Sir, with ye; _Gerrard_: do not start me, I know ye, and he knows ye, that best loves ye: _Hubert_ speaks to ye, and you must be _Gerrard_.