SCENE II.
Enter Chamberlain.
Gads.
What, ho, chamberlain!—
Cham.
At hand, quoth pick-purse.
Gads.
That's ev'n as fair, as at hand, quoth the
chamberlain; for thou variest no more from picking
of purses, than giving direction doth from labouring.
Thou lay'st the plot how.
Chamb.
Good-morrow, master Gads-hill; it holds currant,
that I told you yesternight. There's a Franklin,
in the wild of Kent, hath brought three hundred marks
with him in gold; I heard him tell it to one of his
company last night at supper; a kind of auditor, one
that hath abundance of Charge too, God knows what:
they are up already, and call for eggs and butter.
They will away presently.
Gads.
Sirrah, if they meet not with 5 noteSt. Nicholas'
clarks, I'll give thee this neck.
Cham.
No, I'll none of it: I pr'ythee, keep that for
the hangman; for I know thou worshipp'st St. Nicholas
as truly as a man of falshood may.
-- 123 --
Gads.
What talk'st thou to me of the hangman? if I
hang, I'll make a fat pair of gallows. For if I hang,
old Sir John hangs with me, and thou know'st, he's
no starveling. Tut, there are other Trojans that thou
dream'st not of, the which, for sport-sake, are content
to do the profession some grace; that would, if matters
should be look'd into, for their own credit sake, make
all whole. I am join'd with no foot-land-rakers, no
long-staff-six-penny-strikers, none of those mad Mustachio-purple-hu'd-malt-worms;
but with nobility and
tranquillity; burgomasters, and great (a) note Moneyers;
such as can hold in, 6 notesuch as will strike sooner than
speak; and speak sooner than think; and think sooner
than pray; and yet I lye, for they pray continually
unto their Saint the Common-wealth; or rather, not
pray to her, but prey on her; for they ride up and
down on her, and make her their boots.
Cham.
What, the common-wealth their boots? will
she hold out water in foul way?
Gads.
7 noteShe will, she will; justice hath liquor'd her.
We steal as in a castle, cock-sure; we have the receipt
of Fern-seed, we walk invisible.
-- 124 --
Cham.
Nay, I think rather, you are more beholden
to the night, than the Fern-seed, for your walking invisible.
Gads.
Give me thy hand: thou shalt have a share
in our purchase, as I am a true man.
Cham.
Nay, rather let me have it, as you are a
false thief.
Gads.
Go to,—Homo is a common name to all men.
Bid the ostler bring my Gelding out of the stable. Farewel,
ye muddy knave.
[Exeunt.
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
