RAVEN. Well, put it to me, we'll make a Night on't, yfaith.
DOGSON. Sfoot, I think he receives a more money, he stays so long.
PUT. He tarries long, indeed: may be, I can tell you, upon the good liking ont the Gentleman may prove more bountiful.
RAVEN. That would be rare; we'll search him.
PUT. Nay, be sure of it, we'll search him! and make him light enough.
[Enter the Gentleman.]
RAVEN. Oh, here comes the Gentleman. By your leave, sir.
GENTLEMAN. God you god den, sirs,--would you speak with me?
PUT. No, not with your worship, sir; only we are bold to stay for a friend of ours that went in with your worship.
GENTLEMAN. Who? not the scholar?
PUT. Yes, e'en he, and it please your worship.
GENTLEMAN. Did he make you stay for him? he did you wrong, then: why, I can assure you he's gone above an hour ago.
RAVEN. How, sir?
GENTLEMAN. I paid him his money, and my man told me he went out at back-door.
PUT. Back-door?
GENTLEMAN. Why, what's the matter?
PUT. He was our prisoner, sir; we did arrest him.
GENTLEMAN. What! he was not! you the Sheriff's Officers! You were to blame then. Why did you no make known to me as much? I could have kept him for you: I protest he received all of me in Britain Gold of the last coining.
RAVEN. Vengeance dog him with't!
PUT. Sfott, has he guiled us so?
DOGSON. Where shall we sup now Sergeant?
PUT. Sup, Simon, now! eat Porridge for a month. Well, we cannot impute it to any lack of good-will in your Worship,--you did but as another would have done: twas our hard fortunes to miss the purchase, but if e'er we clutch him again, the Counter shall charm him.
RAVEN. The hole shall rot him.
DOGSON. Amen
[Exeunt.]
GENTLEMAN. So, Vex out your Lungs without doors. I am proud, It was my hap to help him; it fell fit. He went not empty neither for his wit. Alas, poor wretch, I could not blame his brain To labour his delivery, to be free From their unpitying fangs--I'm glad it stood Within my power to do a Scholar good.
[Exit.]
SCENE V. A room in the Marshalsea prison.
[Enter in the Prison, meeting, George and Captain, George coming in muffled.]
CAPTAIN. How now, who's that? what are you?
PYE. The same that I should be, Captain.
CAPTAIN. George Pye-board, honest George? why camst thou in half fac'd, muffled so?
PYE. Oh, Captain, I thought we should ne'er ha laught again, never spent frolick hour again.
CAPTAIN. Why? why?
PYE. I coming to prepare thee, and with news As happy as thy quick delivery, Was trac'd out by the sent, arrested, Captain.
CAPTAIN. Arrested, George!
PYE. Arrested: gesse, gesse; how many Dogs do you think I'd upon me?
CAPTAIN. Dogs? I say? I know not.
PYE. Almost as many as George Stone the Bear: Three at once, three at once.
CAPTAIN. How didst thou shake 'em off, then?
PYE. The time is busy, and calls upon out wits. Let it suffice, Here I stand safe, and scapt by miracle. Some other hour shall tell thee, when we'll steep Our eyes in laughter. Captain, my device Leans to thy happiness, for ere the day Be spent toth' Girdle, thou shalt be set free. The Corporal's in his first sleep, the Chain is missed, Thy Kinsman has exprest thee, and the old Knight With Palsey-hams now labours thy release: What rests is all in thee, to Conjure, Captain.
CAPTAIN. Conjure! sfoot, George, you know the devil a conjuring I can conjure.
PYE. The Devil of conjuring? Nay, by my fay, I'd not have thee do so much, Captain, as the Devil a conjuring: look here, I ha brought thee a circle ready charactered and all.
CAPTAIN. Sfoot, George, art in thy right wits? doost know what thou sayest? why doost talk to a Captain of conjuring? didst thou ever hear of a Captain conjure in thy life? doost cal't a Circle? tis too wide a thing, me thinks: had it been a lesser Circle, then I knew what to have done.
PYE. Why, every fool knows that, Captain: nay, then, I'll not cog with you, Captain; if you'll stay and hang the next Sessions, you may.