SCENE I.
The street before the Widow's house.
Enter Edmond and Frailty.
Edm.
This is the marriage-morning for my mother
and my sister.
Frail.
O me, master Edmond! we shall have rare
doings.
Edm.
Nay go, Frailty, run to the sexton; you
know my mother will be married at Saint Antling's.
Hie thee; 'tis past five; bid them open the church-door:
my sister is almost ready.
Frail.
What already, master Edmond?
Edm.
Nay, go; hie thee. First run to the sexton,
and run to the clerk; and then run to master Pigman
the parson; and then run to the milliner, and
then run home again.
Frail.
Here's run, run, run.
Edm.
But hark, Frailty.
Frail.
What, more yet?
Edm.
Have the maids remember'd to strew the way
to the church?
Frail.
Foh! an hour ago; I help'd them myself.
Edm.
Away, away, away, away then.
Frail.
Away, away, away, away then.
[Exit Frailty.
Edm.
I shall have a simple father-in-law, 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
Pyeboard, for my sister Frances, that will be
mistress Frances Pyeboard; mistress Frances Pyeboard!
they'll keep a good table, I warrant you.
-- 619 --
Now all the knights' noses are put out of joint; they
may go to a bone-setter's now.
Enter Idle and Pyeboard, with attendants.
Hark, hark! O, who come here with two torches
before them? My sweet captain, and my fine scholar.
O, how bravely they are shot up in one night! They
look like fine Britons* note now methinks. Here's a gallant
change i'faith! 'Slid, they have hir'd men and
all, by the clock3 note.
Idle.
Master Edmond; kind, honest, dainty master
Edmond.
Edm.
Foh, sweet captain father-in-law! A rare
perfume i'faith!
Pye.
What, are the brides stirring? May we steal
upon them, think'st thou, master Edmond?
Edm.
Foh, they're e'en upon readiness, I can assure
you; for they were at their torch e'en now: by
the same token I tumbled down the stairs.
Pye.
Alas, poor master Edmond.
Enter Musicians.
Idle.
O, the musicians! I pr'ythee, master Edmond,
call them, and liquor them a little.
Edm.
That I will, sweet captain father-in-law;
and make each of them as drunk as a common fidler.
[Exeunt.
-- 620 --
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].
