Lor.
Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds:
Leech Merriman ^note,—the poor cur is imbost,—
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd brach.
Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
At the hedge-corner, in the coldest fault?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.

1. H.
Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord;
He cry'd upon it at the meerest loss,
And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent:
Trust me, I take him for the better ^note dog.

Lor.
Thou art a fool; if Eccho were as fleet,
I would esteem him worth a dozen such.
But sup them well, and look unto them all;
To-morrow I intend to hunt again.

1. H.
I will, my lord.

Lor.
What's here? one dead, or drunk? See, doth he breath?

2. H.
He breaths, my lord: Were he not warm'd with ale,
This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.

Lor.
O monstrous beast; how like a swine he lies!
Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!—
Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man:
What think you,—if he were convey'd to bed,
Wrap'd in sweet cloaths, rings put upon his fingers,
A most delicious banquet by his bed,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
Would not the beggar then forget himself?

1. H.
Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose.

2. H.
It would seem strange unto him when he wak'd.

Lor.
Even as a flattering dream, or worthless fancy.
Then take him up, and manage well the jest:—

Carry him gently to my fairest chamber,
And hang it round with all my wanton pictures:
Balm his foul head ^note in warm distilled waters,
And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet:
Procure me musick ready when he wakes,
To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound;
And if he chance to speak, be ready straight,
And, with a low submissive reverence,
Say,—What is it your honour will command?
Let one attend him with a silver bason,
Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers;
Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper,
And say,—Will't please your lordship cool your hands?
Some one be ready with a costly suit,
And ask him what apparel he will wear;
Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
And that his lady mourns at his disease:
Persuade him, that he hath been lunatick;
And, when he says—he's poor, say—that he dreams,
For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs;
It will be pastime passing excellent,
If it be husbanded with modesty.

1. H.
My lord, I warrant you, we will play our part,
As he shall think, by our true diligence,
He is no less than what we say he is.

Lor.
Take him up gently, and to bed with him;
And each one to his office, when he wakes.— [Exeunt Some with Sly. Trumpet heard.
Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds:— [Exit Servant.
Belike, some noble gentleman; that means,

Travelling some journey, to repose him here.— Re-enter Servant.
How now? who is't?

Ser.
An't please your honour, players;
That come to offer service to your lordship.

Lor.
Bid them come near.— Enter certain Players.
Now, fellows, you are welcome.

Pla.
We thank your honour.

Lor.
Do you intend to stay with me to-night?

2. P.
So please your lordship to accept our duty.

Lor.
With all my heart.—This fellow I remember,
Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son;—
'Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman so well:
I have forgot your name; but, sure, that part
Was aptly fitted, and naturally perform'd.

1. P.
I think ^note,14Q0343 'twas Soto that your honour means.

Lor.
'Tis very true;—thou didst it excellent.—
Well, you are come to me in happy time;
The rather for I have some sport in hand,
Wherein your cunning can assist me much.
There is a lord will hear you play to-night:
But I am doubtful of your modesties;
Lest, over-eying of his odd behaviour,
(For yet his honour never heard a play)
You break into some merry passion,
And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs,
If you should smile, he grows impatient.

1. P.
Fear not, my lord; we can contain ourselves,
Were he the veriest antick in the world.

Lor.
Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery,
And give them friendly welcome every one;

Let them want nothing that my house affords.— [Exeunt Servant, and Players.
Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew ^note my page, [to another Servant.
And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady:
That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamber,
And call him—madam, do him all obeisance.
Tell him from me,—as he will win my love,
He bear ^note himself with honourable action;
Such as he hath observ'd in noble ladies
Unto their lords, by them accomplished:
Such duty to the drunkard let him do,
With soft low tongue, and lowly courtesy;
And say,—What is't your honour will command ^note,
Wherein your lady, and your humble wife,
May shew her duty, and make known her love?
And then—with kind embracements, tempting kisses,
And with declining head into his bosom,—
Bid him shed tears, as being over-joy'd
To see her noble lord restor'd to health,
Who for this seven ^note years hath esteemed him ^note
No better than a poor and loathsome beggar:
And if the boy have not a woman's gift,
To rain a shower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for such a shift;
Which in a napkin being close convey'd,
Shall in despight enforce a wat'ry eye.
See this dispatch'd with all the haste thou canst;
Anon I'll give thee more instructions.— [Exit Serv.
I know, the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman:
I long to hear him call the drunkard, husband;

And how my men will stay themselves from laughter,
When they do homage to this simple peasant.
I'll in to counsel them: haply, my presence
May well abate the over-merry spleen,
Which otherwise would grow into extreams. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A stately Room in the Lord's House: In it a Stage, and other Appurtenances, for the Play: and, in another Part, a Bed; Sly, in a rich Night-dress, sitting on it; surrounded by Servants, ^note bearing Apparel, Bason, Ewer, &c. a Side-board being by. Enter, at lower End, the Lord, himself habited like a Servant.

Sly.

For God's sake, a pot of small ale.

1. S.
Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack?

2. S.
Will't please your honour taste of these conserves?

3. S.
What raiment will your honour wear to-day?

Sly.

I am Christophero Sly; call not me—honour, nor lordship: I ne'er drank sack in my life; and if you give me any conserves, give me conserves of beef: Ne'er ask me, what raiment I'll wear; for I have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, sometimes more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the over-leather.

Lor.
Heaven cease this idle humour in your honour!
O, that a mighty man, of such descent,
Of such possessions, and so high esteem,
Should be infused with so foul a spirit!

Sly.

What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burton heath; by birth a pedlar, by education a card-maker, by transmutation

a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask Marrian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, if she know me not: if she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me up for the lying'st knave in christendom. What, I am not bestraught: Here's—

3. S.
O, this it is that makes your lady mourn.

2. S.
O, this is it that makes your servants droop.

Lor.
Hence comes it that your kindred shun ^note your house,
As beaten hence by your strange lunacy.
O, noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth;
Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment,
And banish hence these abject lowly dreams:
Look, how thy servants do attend on thee,
Each in his office ready at thy beck.
Wilt thou have musick? hark! Apollo plays, [Musick heard within.
And twenty caged nightingales do sing:
Or wilt thou sleep? we'll have thee to a couch,
Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed
On purpose trim'd up for Semiramis.
Say, thou wilt walk; we will bestrow the ground:
Or wilt thou ride? thy horses shall be trap'd,
Their harness studded all with gold and pearl.
Dost thou love hawking? thou hast hawks, will soar
Above the morning lark: Or wilt thou hunt?
Thy hounds ^note shall make the welkin answer them,
And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth.

1. S.
Say, thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are as swift
As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe.

2. S.
Dost thou love pictures? we will fetch thee straight

Adonis, painted by a running brook;
And Citherea all in sedges hid;
Which seem to move and wanton with her breath,
Even as the waving sedges play with wind.

Lor.
We'll shew thee Io, as she was a maid;
And how she was beguiled and surpriz'd,
As lively painted as the deed was done.

3. S.
Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny wood;
Scratching her legs, that one shall swear she bleeds:
And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep,
So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn.

Lor.
Thou art a lord, and nothing but a lord:
Thou hast a lady far more beautiful
Than any woman in this waining age.

1. S.
And 'till the tears, that she hath shed for thee,
Like envious floods, o'er-run her lovely face,
She was the fairest creature in the world;
And yet she is inferior to none.

Sly.
Am I a lord? and have I such a lady?
Or do I dream? or have I dream'd 'till now?
I do not sleep: I see, I hear, I speak;
I smell sweet favours, and I feel soft things:—
Upon my life, I am a lord indeed;
And not a tinker, nor Christophero ^note Sly.—
Well, bring our lady hither to our sight;
And once again a pot o' the smallest ale.

2. S.
Will't please your mightiness to wash your hands? [presenting the Ewer, &c.
O, how we joy to see your wit restor'd!
O, that once more you knew but what you are!
These fifteen years you have been in a dream;
Or, when you wak'd, so wak'd as if you slept.

Sly.
These fifteen years! by my fay, a goodly nap.
But did I never speak of all that time?

1. S.
O, yes, my lord; but very idle words:—
For though you lay here in this goodly chamber,
Yet would you say,—ye were beaten out of door;
And rail upon the hostess of the house;
And say,—you would present her at the leet,
Because she brought stone jugs, and no seal'd quarts.
Sometimes, you would call out for Cicely Hacket:

Sly.
Ay, the woman's maid of the house.

3. S.
Why, sir, you know no house, nor no such maid;
Nor no such men as you have reckon'd up,—
As Stephen Sly, and old John Naps of Greece, ^note14Q0344
And Peter Turf, and Henry ^note Pimpernel;
And twenty more such names and men as these,
Which never were, nor no man ever saw.

Sly.
Now, Lord be thanked for my good amends!

all.
Amen.

Sly.
I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it. Enter Page as a Lady, attended.

Pag.
How fares my noble lord?

Sly.
Marry, I fare well;
For here is cheer enough. Where is my wife?

Pag.
Here, noble lord; What is thy will with her?

Sly.
Are you my wife, and will not call me—husband?
My men should call me—lord, I am your good-man.

Pag.
My husband and my lord, my lord and husband,
I am your wife in all obedience.

Sly.
I know it well:—What must I call her?

Lor.
Madam.

Sly.
Al'ce madam, or Joan madam?

Lor.
Madam, and nothing else; so lords call ladies.

Sly.
Madam wife, they say,—that I have dream'd
And slept about some ^note fifteen year or more.

Pag.
Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me;
Being all this time abandon'd from your bed.

Sly.
'Tis much;—Servants, leave me and her alone:—
Madam, undress you, and come now to bed.

Pag.
Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you,
To pardon me yet for a night or two;
Or, if not so, until the sun be set:
For your physicians have expresly charg'd,
On peril ^note to incur your former ^note malady,
That I should yet absent me from your bed:
I hope, this reason stands for my excuse.

Sly.

Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loth to fall into my dreams again; I will therefore tarry, in despight of the flesh and the blood.

4. S.
Your honour's players, hearing, your amendment,
Are come to play a pleasant comedy,
For so your doctors hold it very meet;
Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood,
And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy,
Therefore they thought it good you hear a play,
And frame your mind to mirth and merriment,
Which bars a thousand harms, and lengthens life.

Sly.
Marry, I will let them play't.—Is ^note not a commonty
A christmas gambol, or a tumbling trick?

Pag.
No, my good lord; it is more pleasing stuff.

Sly.
What ^note houshold stuff?

Pag.
It is a kind of history.

Sly.
Well, we'll see't: Come, madam wife, sit by my side,
And let the world slip; we shall ne'er be younger. [seating her for the Play.

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