SCENE III.
A room in Sir Oliver Muckhill's house.
Enter Sir Oliver Muckhill, Sir Andrew Tipstaff, and Skirmish.
Sir Oliv.
O monstrous, unheardof forgery!
Sir And.
Knight, I never heard of such villainy in
our own country, in my life.
Sir Oliv.
Why, 'tis impossible. Dare you maintain
your words?
Skir.
Dare we? even to their weazon pipes. We
know all their plots; they cannot squander with us.
They have knavishly abus'd us, made only properties
of us, to advance theirselves upon our shoulders; but
they shall rue their abuses. This morning they are
to be married.
Sir Oliv.
'Tis too true. Yet if the widow be not
too much besotted on sleights and forgeries, the revelation
of their villainies will make them loathsome.
And to that end, be it in private to you, I sent late
last night to an honourable personage, to whom I am
much indebted in kindness, as he is to me; and therefore
presume upon the payment of his tongue, and
that he will lay out good words for me: and to speak
truth, for such needful occasions I only preserve him
in bond: and sometimes he may do me more good
here in the city by a free word of his mouth, than if
he had paid one half in hand, and took doomsday
for t'other.
Sir And.
In troth, sir, without soothing be it spoken,
you have publish'd much judgment in these few
words.
Sir Oliv.
For you know, what such a man utters
-- 622 --
will be thought effectual5 note
, and to weighty purpose;
and therefore into his mouth we'll put the approved
theme of their forgeries.
Skir.
And I'll maintain it, knight, if she'll be
true* note.
Enter a Servant.
Sir Oliv.
How now, fellow?
Ser.
May it please you, sir, my lord is newly
lighted from his coach.
Sir Oliv.
Is my lord come already? His honour's early6 note.
You see he loves me well. Up before seven!
Trust me, I have found him night-capp'd at eleven.
There's good hope yet: come, I'll relate all to him.
[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].
