Oh--he stirs--he stirs again--look, Gentlemen, he recovers, he starts, he rises.

SHERIFF. Oh, oh, defend us!--out, alas.

PYE. Nay, pray be still; you'll make him more giddy else:--he knows no body yet.

CORPORAL. Zounes: where am I? covered with Snow? I marvel.

PYE. Nay, I knew he would swear the first thing he did, as soon as ever he came to life again.

CORPORAL. Sfoot, Hostess, some hot Porridge,--oh, oh, lay on a dozen of Fagots in the Moon parlor, there.

PYE. Lady, you must needs take a little pity of him, yfaith, and send him in to your Kitchen fire.

WIDOW. Oh, with all my heart, sir. Nicholas and Frailty, help to bear him in.

NICHOLAS. Bear him in, quatha? pray call out the Maids, I shall ne'er have the heart to doo't, indeed la.

FRAILTY. Nor I neither, I cannot abide to handle a Ghost of all men.

CORPORAL. Sblood, let me see: where was I drunk last night, heh--

WIDOW. Oh, shall I bid you once again take him away?

FRAILTY. Why, we're as fearful as you, I warrant you--oh--

WIDOW. Away, villains; bid the Maids make him a Cawdle presently to settle his brain,--or a Posset of Sack; quickly, quickly.

[Exeunt Frailty and Nicholas, pushing in the corpses.]

SHERIFF. Sir, what so ere you are, I do more then admire you.

WIDOW. O, aye, if you knew all, Master Sheriff, as you shall do, you would say then, that here were two of the rarest men within the walls of Christendome.

SHERIFF. Two of 'em? O wonderful. Officers, I discharge you, set him free, all's in tune.

SIR GODFREY. Aye, and a banquet ready by this time, Master Sheriff, to which I most cheerfully invite you, and your late prisoner there. see you this goodly chain, sir? mun, no more words, twas lost, and is found again; come, my inestimable bullies, we'll talk of your noble Acts in sparkling Charnico, and in stead of a Jester, we'll ha the ghost ith white sheet sit at upper end a'th Table.

SHERIFF. Exlent merry, man, yfaith.

[Exeunt all but Frances.]

FRANCES. Well, seeing I am enjoined to love and marry, My foolish vow thus I cashier to Air Which first begot it.--Now, love, play thy part; The scholar reads his lecture in my heart.

[Exit.]

ACTUS 5

SCEN. I. The street before the Widow's house.

[Enter in haste Master Edmond and Frailty.]

EDMOND. This is the marriage morning for my mother and my sister.

FRAILTY. O me, Master Edmund; we shall ha rare doings.

EDMOND. Nay, go, Frailty, run to the Sexton; you know my mother will be married at Saint Antlings. Hie thee, tis past five; bid them open the Church door; my sister is almost ready.

FRAILTY. What, all ready, Master Edmond?

EDMOND. Nay, go, hie thee: first run to the Sexton, and run to the Clarke, and then run to Master Pigman the Parson, and then run to the Milliner, and then run home again.

FRAILTY. Here's run, run, run--

EDMOND. But hark, Frailty.

FRAILTY. What, more yet?

EDMOND. Has the maids remembered to strew the way to the Church.

FRAILTY. Fagh, an hour ago; I helpt 'em my self.

EDMOND. Away, away, away, away then.

FRAILTY. Away, away, away then.

[Exit Frailty.]

EDMOND. I shall have a simple Father inlaw, a brave Captain able to beat all our street: Captain Idle. Now my Lady Mother will be fitted for a delicate name: my Lady Idle, my Lady Idle, the finest name that can be for a woman; and then the Scholar, Master Pye-board, for my sister Frances, that will be Mistress Frances Pye-board.--Mistress Frances Pye-board! they'll keep a good table I warrant you. Now all the knights' noses are put out of joint; they may go to a bone setters now.

[Enter Captain and Pye-board.]

Hark, hark! oh who comes here with two Torches before 'em? my sweet Captain, and my fine Scholar! oh, how bravely they are shot up in one night; they look like fine Brittains now, me thinks. Here's a gallant change, ifaith: slid, they have hir'd men and all by the clock.

CAPTAIN. Master Edmond, kind, honest, dainty Master Edmond.

EDMOND. Fogh, sweet Captain Father inlaw, a rare perfume, ifaith.

William Shakespeare
Classic Literature Library

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