Aso. For love's sake, let me go: you see I am call'd to the ladies. Arg. Wilt thou forsake me, then? Aso. Od so! what would you have me do? Mor. Come hither, master Asotus.-I do ensure your ladyships, he is a gentleman of a very worthy desert and of a most bountiful nature. -You must shew and insinuate yourself responsible, and equivalent now to my commendment. -Good honours, grace him. Aso. I protest, more than most fair ladies, I do wish all variety of divine pleasures; choice sports, sweet music, rich fare, brave attire, soft beds, and silken thoughts, attend these fair beauties. Will it please your ladyship to wear this chain of pearl, and this diamond, for my sake? Arg. O! Aso. And you, madam, this jewel and pendants? Arg. O! Pha. We know not how to deserve these bounties, out of so slight merit, Asotus. Phi. No, in faith, but there's my glove for a favour. Pha. And soon after the revels, I will bestow a garter on you. Aso. O lord, ladies! it is more grace than ever I could have hoped, but that it pleaseth your ladyships to extend. I protest it is enough, that you but take knowledge of my if your ladyships want embroider'd gowns, tires of any fashion, rebatues, jewels, or carcanets, any thing whatsoever, if you vouchsafe to accept 8 Cup. And for it they will help you to shoeties, and devices. Carcanets,] i. e. necklaces, and, sometimes, bracelets for the arm; the word has occurred before, and, indeed, is suffici en ly common in our old poets. Aso. I cannot utter myself, dear beauties, but you can conceive Arg. O! Pha. Sir, we will acknowledge your service, doubt not-henceforth, you shall be no more Asotus to us, but our goldfinch, and we your cages. Aso. O Venus! madams! how shall I deserve this? if I were but made acquainted with Hedon, now, I'll try pray you, away. [To Argurion. Mer. How he prays money to go away from him! Aso. Amorphus, a word with you; here's a watch I would bestow upon you, pray you make me known to that gallant. Amo. That I will, sir.-Monsieur Hedon, I must entreat you to exchange knowledge with this gentleman. Hed. 'Tis a thing, next to the water we expect, I thirst after, sir. Good monsieur Asotus. Aso. Good monsieur Hedon, I would be glad to be loved of men of your rank and spirit, I protest. Please you to accept this pair of bracelets, sir; they are not worth the bestowing—— Mer. O Hercules, how the gentleman purchases! this must needs bring Argurion to a consumption. Hed. Sir, I shall never stand in the merit of such bounty, I fear. Aso. O Venus, sir; your acquaintance shall be sufficient. And, if at any time you need my bill, or my bond Arg. O, O! Amo. Help the lady there! [Swoons. Mor. Gods-dear, Argurion! madam, how de you? Arg. Sick. Pha. Have her forth, and give her air. [Exeunt Asotus, Morus, and Argurion. Mer. Well, I doubt all the physic he has will scarce recover her; she's too far spent. Re-enter ANAIDES with GELAIA, PROSAITES, and Cos, with the bottles. Phi. O here's the water come; fetch glasses, page. Gel. Heart of my body, here's a coil, indeed, with your jealous humours! nothing but whore and bitch, and all the villainous swaggering names you can think on! 'Slid, take your bottle, and put it in your guts for me, I'll see you pox'd ere I follow you any longer. Ana. Nay, good punk, sweet rascal; d--n me, if I am jealous now. Gel. That's true, indeed; pray let's go. Gel. 'Slight, he has me upon interrogatories, (nay, my mother shall know how you use me,) where I have been? and why I should stay so long, and, how is't possible? and withal calls me at his pleasure I know not how many cockatrices, and things. Mor. In truth and sadness, these are no good epitaphs, Anaides, to bestow upon any gentlewoman; and I'll ensure you if I had known you would have dealt thus with my daughter, she should never have fancied you so deeply as she has done. Go to. Ana. Why, do you hear, mother Moria? heart! Ana. Swear! why? 'sblood, I have sworn afore now, I hope. Both you and your daughter mistake me. I have not honour'd Arete, that is held the worthiest lady in court, next to Cynthia, with half that observance and respect, as I have done her in private, howsoever outwardly I have carried myself careless, and negligent. Come, you are a foolish punk, and know not when you are well employed. Kiss me, come on; do it, I say. Mor. Nay, indeed, I must confess, she is apt to misprision. But I must have you leave it, minion. Re-enter AsOTUS. Amo. How now, Asotus! how does the lady? Aso. Faith, ill. I have left my page with her, at her lodging. Hed. O, here's the rarest water that ever was tasted fill him some. Pro. What! has my master a new page? Mer. Yes, a kinsman of the lady Moria's you must wait better now, or you are cashiered, Prosaites. Ana. Come, gallants, you must pardon my foolish humour; when I am angry, that any thing crosses me, I grow impatient straight. Here, I drink to you. Phi. O, that we had five or six bottles more of this liquor! Pha. Now I commend your judgment, Amorphus-[knocking within.] Who's that knocks? look, page. [Exit Cos. Mor. O, most delicious; a little of this would make Argurion well. Pha. O, no, give her no cold drink, by any means. Ana. 'Sblood, this water is the spirit of wine, I'll be hang'd else. Re-enter Cos with ARETE. Cos. Here's the lady Arete, madam. Mor Will't please your ladyship to drink? 'tis of the New Fountain water. Are Not I, Moria, I thank you.-Gallants, you are for this night free to your peculiar delights; Cynthia will have no sports: when she is pleased to come forth, you shall have knowledge. In the mean time, I could wish you did provide for solemn revels, and some unlook'd-for device of wit, to entertain her, against she should vouchsafe to grace your pastimes with her presence. Amo. What say you to a masque? Hed. Nothing better, if the project were new and rare. Are. Why, I'll send for Crites, and have his advice: be you ready in your endeavours: he shall discharge you of the inventive part. Pha. But will not your ladyship stay? Are. Not now, Phantaste. [Exit. Phi. Let her go, I pray you, good lady Sobriety, I am glad we are rid of her. Pha. What a set face the gentlewoman has, as she were still going to a sacrifice! Phi. O, she is the extraction of a dozen of Puritans, for a look. Mor. Of all nymphs i' the court, I cannot away with her; 'tis the coarsest thing! Phi. I wonder how Cynthia can affect her so above the rest. Here be they are every way as fair as she, and a thought fairer, I trow. 9 I cannot away with her.] I cannot endure her. See Bar tholomew Fair. |