SCHOOLMASTER.
Stay, and edifie.
THESEUS.
What have we here?
PERITHOUS.
Some Countrey sport, upon my life, Sir.
THESEUS.
Well, Sir, goe forward, we will edifie.
Ladies, sit downe, wee’l stay it.
SCHOOLMASTER.
Thou, doughtie Duke, all haile: all haile, sweet Ladies.
THESEUS.
This is a cold beginning.
SCHOOLMASTER.
If you but favour, our Country pastime made is.
We are a few of those collected here,
That ruder Tongues distinguish villager;
And to say veritie, and not to fable,
We are a merry rout, or else a rable,
Or company, or, by a figure, Choris,
That fore thy dignitie will dance a Morris.
And I, that am the rectifier of all,
By title Pedagogus, that let fall
The Birch upon the breeches of the small ones,
And humble with a Ferula the tall ones,
Doe here present this Machine, or this frame:
And daintie Duke, whose doughtie dismall fame
From Dis to Dedalus, from post to pillar,
Is blowne abroad, helpe me thy poore well willer,
And with thy twinckling eyes looke right and straight
Vpon this mighty MORR—of mickle waight;
IS now comes in, which being glewd together,
Makes MORRIS, and the cause that we came hether.
The body of our sport, of no small study,
I first appeare, though rude, and raw, and muddy,
To speake before thy noble grace this tenner:
At whose great feete I offer up my penner.
The next the Lord of May and Lady bright,
The Chambermaid and Servingman by night
That seeke out silent hanging: Then mine Host
And his fat Spowse, that welcomes to their cost
The gauled Traveller, and with a beckning
Informes the Tapster to inflame the reckning:
Then the beast eating Clowne, and next the foole,
The Bavian, with long tayle and eke long toole,
Cum multis alijs that make a dance:
Say ‘I,’ and all shall presently advance.
THESEUS.
I, I, by any meanes, deere Domine.
PERITHOUS.
Produce.
(SCHOOLMASTER.)
Intrate, filij; Come forth, and foot it.—