_House_.
_Enter the_ LORD MAYOR _and_ Master SCOTT.
_L. Mayor._ Good Master Scott, I have been bold with you,
To be a witness to a wedding-knot
Betwixt young Master Hammon and my daughter.
O, stand aside; see where the lovers come.
_Enter_ MASTER HAMMON _and_ ROSE.
_Rose._ Can it be possible you love me so?
No, no, within those eyeballs I espy
Apparent likelihoods of flattery.
Pray now, let go my hand.
_Ham._ Sweet Mistress Rose,
Misconstrue not my words, nor misconceive
Of my affection, whose devoted soul
Swears that I love thee dearer than my heart.
_Rose._ As dear as your own heart? I judge it right,
Men love their hearts best when th’are out of sight.
_Ham._ I love you, by this hand.
_Rose._ Yet hands off now!
If flesh be frail, how weak and frail’s your vow!
_Ham._ Then by my life I swear.
_Rose._ Then do not brawl;
One quarrel loseth wife and life and all.
Is not your meaning thus?
_Ham._ In faith, you jest.
_Rose._ Love loves to sport; therefore leave love, y’are best.
_L. Mayor._ What? square they, Master Scott?
_Scott._ Sir, never doubt,
Lovers are quickly in, and quickly out.
_Ham._ Sweet Rose, be not so strange in fancying me.
Nay, never turn aside, shun not my sight;
I am not grown so fond, to fond[59] my love
On any that shall quit it with disdain;
If you will love me, so--if not, farewell.
[59] Found, set; a play upon fond.
_L. Mayor._ Why, how now, lovers, are you both agreed?
_Ham._ Yes, faith, my lord.
_L. Mayor._ ’Tis well, give me your hand.
Give me yours, daughter.--How now, both pull back!
What means this, girl?
_Rose._ I mean to live a maid.
_Ham._ But not to die one; pause, ere that be said. [_Aside._
_L. Mayor._ Will you still cross me, still be obstinate?
_Ham._ Nay, chide her not, my lord, for doing well;
If she can live an happy virgin’s life,
’Tis far more blessed than to be a wife.
_Rose._ Say, sir, I cannot: I have made a vow,
Whoever be my husband, ’tis not you.
_L. Mayor._ Your tongue is quick; but Master Hammon, know,
I bade you welcome to another end.
_Ham._ What, would you have me pule and pine and pray,
With ‘lovely lady,’ ‘mistress of my heart,’
‘Pardon your servant,’ and the rhymer play,
Railing on Cupid and his tyrant’s-dart;
Or shall I undertake some martial spoil,
Wearing your glove at tourney and at tilt,
And tell how many gallants I unhorsed--
Sweet, will this pleasure you?
_Rose._ Yea, when wilt begin?
What, love rhymes, man? Fie on that deadly sin!
_L. Mayor._ If you will have her, I’ll make her agree.
_Ham._ Enforced love is worse than hate to me.
(_Aside._) There is a wench keeps shop in the Old Change,
To her will I; it is not wealth I seek,
I have enough, and will prefer her love
Before the world.--(_Aloud._) My good lord mayor, adieu.
Old love for me, I have no luck with new. [_Exit._
_L. Mayor._ Now, mammet,[60] you have well behaved yourself,
But you shall curse your coyness if I live.--
Who’s within there? See you convey your mistress
Straight to th’Old Ford! I’ll keep you straight enough.
Fore God, I would have sworn the puling girl
Would willingly accepted Hammon’s love;
But banish him, my thoughts!--Go, minion, in! [_Exit_ ROSE.
Now tell me, Master Scott, would you have thought
That Master Simon Eyre, the shoemaker,
Had been of wealth to buy such merchandise?
[60] Puppet: derived from Mahomet.
_Scott._ ’Twas well, my lord, your honour and myself
Grew partners with him; for your bills of lading
Shew that Eyre’s gains in one commodity
Rise at the least to full three thousand pound
Besides like gain in other merchandise.
_L. Mayor._ Well, he shall spend some of his thousands now,
For I have sent for him to the Guildhall.
_Enter_ EYRE.
See, where he comes.--Good morrow, Master Eyre.
_Eyre._ Poor Simon Eyre, my lord, your shoemaker.
_L. Mayor._ Well, well, it likes yourself to term you so.
_Enter_ DODGER.
Now, Master Dodger, what’s the news with you?
_Dodger._ I’d gladly speak in private to your honour.
_L. Mayor._ You shall, you shall.--Master Eyre and Master Scott,
I have some business with this gentleman;
I pray, let me entreat you to walk before
To the Guildhall; I’ll follow presently.
Master Eyre, I hope ere noon to call you sheriff.
_Eyre._ I would not care, my lord, if you might call me
King of Spain.--Come, Master Scott. [_Exeunt_ EYRE _and_ SCOTT.
_L. Mayor._ Now, Master Dodger, what’s the news you bring?
_Dodger._ The Earl of Lincoln by me greets your lordship,
And earnestly requests you, if you can,
Inform him, where his nephew Lacy keeps.
_L. Mayor._ Is not his nephew Lacy now in France?
_Dodger._ No, I assure your lordship, but disguised
Lurks here in London.
_L. Mayor._ London? is’t even so?
It may be; but upon my faith and soul,
I know not where he lives, or whether he lives:
So tell my Lord of Lincoln.--Lurks in London?
Well, Master Dodger, you perhaps may start him;
Be but the means to rid him into France,
I’ll give you a dozen angels[61] for your pains:
So much I love his honour, hate his nephew.
And, prithee, so inform thy lord from me.
[61] Coins worth about 10_s._ each.
_Dodger._ I take my leave. [_Exit_ DODGER.
_L. Mayor._ Farewell, good Master Dodger,
Lacy in London? I dare pawn my life,
My daughter knows thereof, and for that cause
Denied young Master Hammon in his love.
Well, I am glad I sent her to Old Ford.
Gods Lord, ’tis late; to Guildhall I must hie;
I know my brethren stay my company. [_Exit._
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