SCENE II.
London.
The street before young Flowerdale's house.
Enter M. Flowerdale, and Flowerdale Senior.
Flow.
Sirrah, Kit, tarry thou there; I have spied
sir Lancelot and old Weathercock coming this way:
they are hard at hand; I will by no means be spoken
withal.
Flow. Sen.
I'll warrant you: go, get you in.
[Exit M. Flowerdale.
Enter Sir Lancelot and Weathercock.
Sir Lanc.
Now, my honest friend, thou dost belong
to master Flowerdale?
Flow. Sen.
I do, sir.
Sir Lanc.
Is he within, my good fellow?
Flow. Sen.
No, sir, he is not within.
Sir Lanc.
I pr'ythee, if he be within, let me speak
with him.
-- 487 --
Flow. Sen.
Sir, to tell you true, my master is
within, but indeed would not be spoke withal. There
be some terms that stand upon his reputation; therefore
he will not admit any conference till he hath
shook them off.
Sir Lanc.
I pr'ythee tell him, his very good friend,
sir Lancelot Spurcock, entreats to speak with him.
Flow. Sen.
By my troth, sir, if you come to take
up the matter between my master and the Devonshire
man, you do but beguile your hopes, and lose
your labour;—
Sir Lanc.
Honest friend, I have not any such thing
to him. I come to speak with him about other matters.
Flow. Sen.
For my master, sir, hath set down his
resolution, either to redeem his honour, or leave his
life behind him9 note;—
Sir Lan.
My friend, I do not know any quarrel
touching thy master or any other person. My business
is of a different nature to him; and I pr'ythee
so tell him.
Flow. Sen.
For howsoever the Devonshire man is,
my master's mind is bloody. That's a round O1 note
;
and therefore, sir, entreaty is but vain.
Sir Lanc.
I have no such thing to him, I tell thee
once again.
Flow. Sen.
I will then so signify to him.
[Exit Flowerdale Senior.
Sir Lanc.
A sirrah! I see this matter is hotly carried;
but I'll labour to dissuade him from it.
-- 488 --
Enter M. Flowerdale and Flowerdale Senior.
Good morrow, master Flowerdale.
M. Flow.
Good morrow, good sir Lancelot; good
morrow, master Weathercock. By my troth, gentlemen,
I have been reading over Nick Machiavel;
I find him good to be known, not to be followed.
A pestilent human fellow3 note! I have made certain annotations
on him, such as they be. And how is't, sir
Lancelot? ha! how is't? A mad world! men cannot
live quiet in it.
Sir Lanc.
Master Flowerdale, I do understand there
is some jar between the Devonshire man and you.
Flow. Sen.
They, sir? they are good friends as
can be.
M. Flow.
Who master Oliver and I? as good
friends as can be.
Sir Lanc.
It is a kind of safety in you to deny it,
and a generous silence, which too few are endued
withal: but, sir, such a thing I hear, and I could
wish it otherwise.
M. Flow.
No such thing, sir Lancelot, on my
reputation; as I am an honest man.
Sir Lanc.
Now I do believe you then, if you do
engage your reputation there is none.
M. Flow.
Nay I do not engage my reputation there
is not. You shall not bind me to any condition of
hardness; but if there be any thing between us, then
there is; if there be not, then there is not. Be or
be not, all is one.
Sir Lanc.
I do perceive by this, that there is
something between you; and I am very sorry for it.
M. Flow.
You may be deceiv'd, sir Lancelot.
The Italian hath a pretty saying. Questo—I have
-- 489 --
forgot it too; 'tis out of my head: but in my translation,
if it hold, thus. If thou hast a friend, keep
him; if a foe, trip him.
Sir Lanc.
Come, I do see by this there is somewhat
between you; and before God I could wish it otherwise.
M. Flow.
Well, what is between us, can hardly be
alter'd. Sir Lancelot, I am to ride forth to-morrow.
That way which I must ride, no man must deny me
the sun: I would not by any particular man be denied
common and general passage. If any one saith,
Flowerdale, thou passest not this way; my answer is,
I must either on, or return; but return is not my
word; I must on: if I cannot then make my way,
nature hath done the last for me; and there's the
fine4 note.
Sir Lanc.
Master Flowerdale, every man hath one
tongue, and two ears. Nature in her building is a
most curious work-master.
M. Flow.
That is as much as to say, a man
should hear more than he should speak.
Sir Lanc.
You say true; and indeed I have heard
more than at this time I will speak.
M. Flow.
You say well.
Sir Lanc.
Slanders are more common than truths,
master Flowerdale; but proof is the rule for both.
M. Flow.
You say true. What-do-you-call-him
hath it there in his third canton5 note
.
Sir Lanc.
I have heard you have been wild; I have
believ'd it.
M. Flow.
'Twas fit, 'twas necessary.
Sir Lanc.
But I have seen somewhat of late in you,
that hath confirm'd in me an opinion of goodness toward
you.
-- 490 --
M. Flow.
I'faith, sir, I'm sure I never did you harm:
Some good I have done, either to you or your's,
I am sure you know not; neither is it my will
You should.
Sir Lanc.
Ay, your Will, sir.
M. Flow.
Ay, my will, sir. 'Sfoot do you know
ought of my Will? By God an you do, sir, I am
abus'd.
Sir Lanc.
Go, master Flowerdale; what I know, I
know: and know you thus much out of my knowledge,
that I truly love you. For my daughter, she's
yours. And if you like a marriage better than a
brawl, all quirks of reputation set aside, go with me
presently; and where you should fight a bloody battle,
you shall be married to a lovely lady.
M. Flow.
Nay but, sir Lancelot—
Sir Lanc.
If you will not embrace my offer, yet assure
yourself thus much; I will have order to hinder
your encounter6 note
.
M. Flow.
Nay but hear me, sir Lancelot.
Sir Lanc.
Nay, stand not you upon imputative honour.
'Tis merely unsound, unprofitable, and idle
inference. Your business is to wed my daughter;
therefore give me your present word to do it. I'll
go and provide the maid; therefore give me your
present resolution; either now or never.
M. Flow.
Will you so put me to it?
Sir Lanc.
Ay, afore God, either take me now, or
take me never. Else what I thought should be our
match, shall be our parting: so fare you well for
ever.
M. Flow.
Stay; fall out, what may fall, my love
is above all: I will come.
-- 491 --
Sir Lanc.
I expect you; and so fare you well.
[Exeunt sir Lancelot and Weathercock.
Flow. Sen.
Now, sir, how shall we do for wedding
apparel?
M. Flow.
By the mass that's true. Now help Kit:
the marriage ended, we'll make amends for all.
Flow. Sen.
Well, well, no more; prepare you for your bride:
We will not want for cloaths, whate'er betide.
M. Flow.
And thou shalt see, when once I have my dower,
In mirth we'll spend full many a merry hour:
As for this wench, I not regard a pin,
It is her gold must bring my pleasures in.
[Exit.
Flow. Sen.
Is't possible he hath his second living7 note?
Forsaking God, himself to the devil giving?
But that I knew his mother firm and chaste,
My heart would say, my head she had disgrac'd;
Else would I swear, he never was my son:
But her fair mind so foul a deed did shun.
Enter Flowerdale Junior.
Flow. Jun.
How now, brother! how do you find your son?
Flow. Sen.
O brother, heedless as a libertine;
Even grown a master in the school of vice:
One that doth nothing, but invent deceit;
For all the day he humours up and down8 note
,
How he the next day might deceive his friend.
He thinks of nothing but the present time.
For one groat ready down, he'll pay a shilling;
-- 492 --
But then the lender must needs stay for it.
When I was young, I had the scope of youth,
Both wild and wanton, careless and desperate;
But such mad strains as he's possess'd withal
I thought it wonder for to dream upon.
Flow. Jun.
I told you so, but you would not believe it.
Flow. Sen.
Well I have found it: but one thing comforts me.
Brother, to-morrow he is to be married
To beauteous Luce, sir Lancelot Spurcock's daughter.
Flow. Jun.
Is't possible?
Flow. Sen.
'Tis true, and thus I mean to curb him.
This day, brother, I will you shall arrest him:
If any thing will tame him, it must be that;
For he is rank in mischief, chain'd to a life
That will encrease his shame, and kill his wife.
Flow. Jun.
What, arrest him on his wedding day? That
Were an unchristian, and unhuman part.
How many couple even for that very day
Have purchas'd seven years' sorrow afterward!
Forbear it then to-day; do it to morrow;
And this day mingle not his joy with sorrow.
Flow. Sen.
Brother, I'll have it done this very day,
And in the view of all, as he comes from church.
Do but observe the course that he will take;
Upon my life he will forswear the debt.
And, for we'll have the sum shall not be slight,
Say that he owes you near three thousand pound:
Good brother, let it be done immediately,
Flow. Jun.
Well, seeing you will have it so,
Brother I'll do't, and straight provide the shrieve.
Flow. Sen.
So brother, by this means shall we perceive
What sir Lancelot in this pinch will do,
-- 493 --
And how his wife doth stand affected to him,
(Her love will then be try'd to the uttermost)
And all the rest of them. Brother, what I will do,
Shall harm him much, and much avail him too.
[Exeunt.
Edmond Malone [1780], Supplement to the edition of Shakspeare's plays published in 1778 By Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. In two volumes. Containing additional observations by several of the former commentators: to which are subjoined the genuine poems of the same author, and seven plays that have been ascribed to him; with notes By the editor and others (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10911].
