SONG in the Wood.
This way, this way come and hear,
You that hold these pleasures dear,
Fill your ears with our sweet sound,
Whilst we melt the frozen ground:
This way come, make haste oh fair,
Let your clear eyes gild the Air;
Come and bless us with your sight,
This way, this way, seek delight.
Enter company of Gentlemen, like Ruffians.
1 Gent. They are ours, but draw them on a little further
From the foot-path into the neighbouring thicket,
And we may do't, as safe as in a Castle.
2 Gent. They follow still; the President Vertaigne
Comes on a pace, and Champernel limps after;
The Women, as if they had wings, and walk't
Upon the Air, fly to us.
1 Gent. They are welcome,
We'll make 'em sport; make a stand here, all know
How we are to proceed.
2 Gent. We are instructed. [Still Musick within.
1 Gent. One strain or two more. [Gent. off.
Enter Vertaigne, Champernel, Beaupre, Verdone, Lamira, Anabel, Nurse, Charlote.
Excellent, they are come.
Nurse. We cannot miss, in such a business, yet
Mine ear ne'r fail'd me. [Musick for the Dance.
Charl. Would we were at it once,
I do not walk, but Dance.
1 Gent. You shall have dancing.
Begin, and when I give the word—
2 Gent. No more:
We are instructed. [Dance.
Beaupre. But win us fairly—
1 Gent. O Sir, we do not come to try your valour,
But to possess you, yet we use you kindly
In that, like English Thieves, we kill you not,
But are contented with the spoil.
Verta. Oh Heaven!
How hath mine age deserv'd this?
Cham. Hell confound it,
This comes of walking; had I kept my legs,
Or my good Horse, my Armour on,
My Staff in my rest, and this good Sword too, friend,
How I would break and scatter these.
All Gent. Ha, ha, ha.
Cham. Do you scorn me Rogues?
Nurs. Nay, Gentlemen, kind Gentlemen,
Or honest keepers of these woods, but hear me,
Be not so rough; if you are taken with
My beauty, as it hath been worth the seeking,
Some one or two of you try me in private,
You shall not find me squeamish.
Charl. Do not kill me,
And do your worst, I'le suffer.
Lam. Peace vile creatures.
Vert. Do you know me, or my place, that you presume not
To touch my person?
1 Gent. If you are well, rest so,
Provoke not angry Wasps.
Verta. You are Wasps indeed,
Never created to yield Wax or Honey,
But for your Countries torment; yet if you are men,
(As you seem such in shape) if true born French-men,
However want compels you to these courses,
Rest satisfied with what you can take from us,
(These Ladies honours, and our liberties safe)
We freely give it.
1 Gent. You give but our own.
Verta. Look on these grey hairs, as you would be old,
Their tears, as you would have yours to find mercy
When Justice shall o'retake you.
Cham. Look on me,
Look on me Rascals, and learn of me too,
That have been in some part of your profession,
Before that most of you ere suck'd, I know it,
I have rode hard, and late too.
Verta. Take heed, Sir.
Cham. Then use me like a Brother of the Trade,
For I have been at Sea, as you on land are,
Restore my Matrimony undefil'd,
Wrong not my Neece, and for our gold or silver,
If I pursue you, hang me.
Nurs. 'Tis well offer'd,
And as I said, sweet Gentlemen, with sowre faces,
If you are high, and want some sport, or so,
(As living without action here, you may do)
Forbear their tender grissels, they are meat
Will wash away, there is no substance in it,
We that are expert in the game, and tough too,
Will hold you play.
Enter Dinant and Cleremont.
1 Gent. This Hen longs to be troden.
Din. Lackey, my Horse.
Cler. This way, I heard the cries
Of distress'd Women.
2 Gent. Stand upon your guard.
Din. Who's here? my witty, scornful Lady-plot
In the hands of Ruffians?
Cler. And my fine cold virgin,
That was insensible of man, and woman?
Din. Justice too,
Without a sword to guard it self?
Cler. And valour with its hands bound?
Din. And the great Souldier dull?
Why this is strange.
Lam. Dinant as thou art noble—
Ana. As thou art valiant Cleremont—
Lam. As ever I appear'd lovely—
Ana. As you ever hope
For what I would give gladly—
Cler. Pretty conjurations.
Lam. All injuries a little laid behind you.
Ana. Shew your selves men, and help us.
Din. Though your many
And gross abuses of me should more move me
To triumph in your miseries than relieve you,—
Yet that hereafter you may know that I
The scorn'd and despis'd Dinant, know what does
Belong to honour, thus—
Cler. I will say little, [Fight.
Speak thou for me.
Cham. 'Tis bravely fought.
Verta. Brave tempers,
To do thus for their enemies.
Cham. They are lost yet.
1 Gent. You that would rescue others, shall now feel
What they were born to.
2 Gent. Hurry them away. [Ex. Manent Vert. and Champernel.
Cham. That I could follow them.
Verta. I only can lament my fortune, and desire of heaven
A little life for my revenge.
Cham. The Provost
Shall fire the woods, but I will find 'em out,
No cave, no rock, nor hell shall keep them from
My searching vengeance.
Enter La-writ, and Sampson.
La-writ. O cold! O fearfull cold! plague of all seconds.
Samp. O for a pint of burnt wine, or a sip
Of aqua-fortis.
Cham. The rogues have met with these two
Upon my life and rob'd 'em.
La-writ. As you are honourable Gentlemen,
Impart unto a couple of cold combatants.
Sam. My Lord, mine uncle as I live.
La-writ. Pox take him.
How that word has warm'd my mouth!
Verta. Why how now Cousin?
Why, why? and where man, have you been? at a Poulters
That you are cas'd thus like a rabbet? I could laugh now,
And I shall laugh, for all I have lost my Children,
Laugh monstrously.
Cham. What are they?
Verta. Give me leave Sir,
Laugh more and more, never leave laughing.
Cham. Why Sir?
Verta. Why 'tis such a thing I smell it Sir, I smell it,
Such a ridiculous thing,—
La-writ. Do you laugh at me my Lord?
I am very cold, but that should not be laught at.
Cham. What art thou?
La-writ. What art thou?
Sam. If he had his doublet.—
And his sword by his side, as a Gentleman ought to have.
Verta. Peace Monsieur Sampson.
Cham. Come hither little Gentleman.
La-writ. Base is the slave commanded: come to me.
Verta. This is the little advocate.
Cham. What advocate?
Verta. The little advocate that sent me a challenge,
I told you that my Nephew undertook it,
And what 'twas like to prove: now you see the issue.
Cham. Is this the little Lawyer?
La-writ. You have a sword Sir,
And I have none, you have a doublet too
That keeps you warm, and makes you merry.
Sam. If your Lordship knew
The nature, and the nobleness of the Gentleman,
Though he shew slight here, and at what gusts of danger
His manhood has arrived,
But that
Mens fates are foolish,
And often headlong overrun their fortunes.
La-writ. That little Lawyer would so prick his ears up,
And bite your honour by the nose.
Cham. Say you so Sir?
La-writ. So niggle about your grave shins Lord Verta[ig]ne too.
Sam. No more sweet Gentleman, no more of that Sir.
La-writ. I will have more, I must have more.
Verta. Out with it.
Sam. Nay he is as brave a fellow.—
Cham. Have I caught you? [Strikes him down.
Verta. Do not kill him, do not kill him.
Cham. No, no, no, I will not. Do you peep again?
Down down proud heart.
Sam. O valour,
Look up brave friend, I have no means to rescue thee,
My Kingdom for a sword.
Cham. I'le sword you presently,
I'le claw your skin coat too.
Verta. Away good Sampson,
You go to grass else instantly.
Sam. But do not murder my brave friend.
Verta. Not one word.
Cham. If you do sirra—
Sam. Must I goe off dishonour'd?
Adversity tries valour, so I leave thee. [Exit.
Cham. Are you a Lawyer Sir?
La-writ. I was, I was Sir.
Cham. Nay never look, your Lawyers pate is broken,
And your litigious blood about your ears sirra,
Why do you fight and snarle?
La-writ. I was possest.
Cham. I'le dispossess you.
Verta. Ha, ha, ha.
La-writ. Et tu Brute?
Verta. Beat him no more.
Cham. Alas Sir I must beat him,
Beat him into his business again, he will be lost else.
Verta. Then take your way.
Cham. Ly still, and doe not struggle.
La-writ. I am patient,
I never saw my blood before, it jades me,
I have no more heart now than a goose.
Cham. Why sirra, why do you leave your trade, your trade of living,
And send your challenges like thunderbolts,
To men of honour'd place?
La-writ. I understand Sir,
I never understood before your beating.
Cham. Does this work on you?
La-writ. Yes.
Cham. Do you thank me for't?
La-writ. As well as a beaten man can.
Cham. And do you promise me,
To fall close to your trade again? leave brawling?
La-writ. If you will give me leave and life.
Cham. And ask this noble man forgiveness?
La-writ. Heartily.
Cham. Rise then, and get you gone, and let me hear of you
As of an advocate new vampt; no more words,
Get you off quickly, and make no murmurs,
I shall pursue you else.
La-writ. I have done sweet Gentlemen. [Exit.
Verta. But we forget our selves, our friends and Children.
Cham. We'l raise the country first, then take our fortunes. [Exeunt.