Of Jeremy the butler. I' the mean time, Do you two pack up all the goods and purchase, That we can carry i' the two trunks. I'll help him Off for to-day, if I cannot longer; and then, 740 At night, I'll ship you both away to Ratcliff, [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. A Street. Enter LOVEWIT and Neighbours. Lovewit. HAS there been such resort, say you? 1 Nei. Daily, sir. 2 Nei. And nightly too. 3 Nei. Ay, some as brave as lords. 4 Nei. Ladies and gentlewomen. 5 Nei. Citizens wives, and knights in coaches. 2 Nei. Yes, and oyster-women. 1 Nei. Beside other gallants. 3 Nei. Sailor's wives. "Love. What should my knave advance, "To draw this company? He hung out no banners "Of a strange calf, with five legs, to be seen? "Or a huge lobster, with six claws? L 1 "Of teaching i' the nose, that e'er I knew of. "You saw no bills set up that promis'd cure "Of agues, or the tooth-ach? "2 Nei. No such thing, sir. 20 "Love. Nor heard a drum struck, for baboons, or puppets? 5 Nei. Neither, sir." Love. What device should he bring forth now? I love a teeming wit as I love my nourishment. Pray, Heav'n, he ha' not kept such open house, That he hath sold my hangings and my bedding; I left him nothing else. If he have eat them, A plague o' the mouth, say I. "Sure he has got "Some bawdy pictures, to call all this gang." When saw you him? 1 Nei. Who, sir? Jeremy? 2 Nei. Jeremy, butler? We saw him not this month. Love. How! 4 Nei, Not these five weeks, sir. 6 Nei. These six weeks, at the least. Love. Y' amaze me, neighbours! 5 Nei. Sure, if your worship know not where he is, He's slipp'd away, 41 6 Nei. Pray, Heav'n, he be not made away. [He knocks, Love. Ha! It is no time to question, then. 6 Nei. About Some three weeks since, I heard a doleful cry, A cry, say'st thou ? 6 Nei. Yes, sir, like unto a man That had been strangled an hour, and could not speak. 2 Nei. I heard it too, just this day three weeks at two o'clock Next morning. Love. These be miracles, or you make 'em so. A man an hour strangled, and could not speak, And both you heard him cry! Love. Thou art a wise fellow. Give me thy hand, I pray thee. What trade art thou? 3 Nei. A smith, an't please your worship. 60 Love. A smith! then lend me thy help to get this door open. 3 Nei. That I will, presently, sir; but fetch my [Exit. tools. 1 Nei. Sir, best to knock again, afore you break it. Love. I will. Enter FACE. Face. What mean you, sir? All Nei. Oh, here's Jeremy! Face. Good sir, come from the door. Love. Why, what's the matter? Face. Yet farther; you are too near yet. Love. I' the name of wonder, what means the fellow? Face. The house, sir, has been visited. Love. Stand thou then farther. Face. No, sir, I had it not. Love. Who had it then? I left None else but thee i' the house. Face. Yes, sir, my fellow, The cat that kept the buttery, had it on her Love. How! Face. Purposing then, sir, T' have burnt rose-vinegar, treacle, and tar, 80 And ha'made it sweet, thatyou should neʼer ha’known it. Because I knew the news would but afflict Love. Why, this is stranger ! you, sir. The neighbours tell me all here, that the doors Have still been open Face. How, sir! Love. Gallants, men, and women, And of all sorts, tag-rag, been seen to flock here In threaves, these ten weeks, as to a second hog's-den, In days of Pimlico and Eye-bright. Face. Sir, Their wisdoms will not say so! Love. To-day, they speak Of coaches and gallants; one in a French hood In a velvet gown at the window; divers more 100 Face. They did pass thro' the doors then, Or walls, I assure their eye-sights, and their spectacles For here, sir, are the keys, and there have been, In this my pocket, now above twenty days. "And for before, I kept the fort alone there. "But that 'tis not yet deep i' the afternoon, "I should believe my neighbours had seen double "Thro' the black pot, and made these apparitions:" For, on my faith to your worship, for these three weeks, And upwards, the door has not been open'd. Love. Strange! Nei. Good faith, I think I saw a coach. Love. Do you but think it now? And but one coach? 4 Nei. We cannot tell, sir; Jeremy Is a very honest fellow. Face. Did you see me at all? I Nei. No; that we are sure on. Love. Fine rogues to have your testimonies built on! Re-enter 3 Neighbour. 3 Nei. Is Jeremy come? 1 Nei. Oh, yes; you may leave your tools; We were deceiv'd; he says he has had the keys, And the door has been shut these three weeks. 3 Nei. Like enough. Love. Peace, and get hence, you changelings, 120 |