SCENE VI.
Enter a Courtezan.
Cour.
Well met, well met, master Antipholis.
I see, Sir, you have found the goldsmith now:
Is that the chain, you promis'd me to day?
-- 148 --
S. Ant.
Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not.
S. Dro.
Master, is this mistress Satan?
S. Ant.
It is the devil.
S. Dro.
Nay, she is worse, she's the devil's dam;
and here she comes in the habit of a light wench, and
therefore comes, that the wenches say, God dam me,
that's as much as to say, God make me a light wench.
It is written, they appear to men like angels of light;
light is an effect of fire, and fire will burn; ergo, light
wenches will burn; come not near her.
Cour.
Your man and you are marvellous merry, Sir.
Will you go with me, we'll mend our dinner here?
S. Dro.
Master, if you do expect spoon-meat, bespeak
a long spoon.
S. Ant.
Why, Dromio?
S. Dro.
Marry, he must have a long spoon, that
must eat with the devil.
S. Ant.
Avoid then, fiend! what tell'st thou me of supping.
Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress:
I conjure thee to leave me, and be gone.
Cour.
Give me the ring of mine, you had at dinner,
Or for my diamond the chain you promis'd,
And I'll be gone, Sir, and not trouble you.
S. Dro.
Some devils ask but the parings of one's
nail, a rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, a nut, a
cherry stone: but she, more covetous, would have a
chain. Master, be wise; an' if you give it her, the
devil will shake her chain, and fright us with it.
Cour.
I pray you, Sir, my ring, or else the chain;
I hope, you do not mean to cheat me so?
S. Ant.
Avaunt, thou witch! come, Dromio, let us go.
S. Dro.
Fly pride, says the peacock; mistress, that you know.
[Exeunt.
-- 149 --
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
