Anth. Nay, I say nothing to it, but amen.
Pis. The clerk must have his fees: I'll pay you them. [Aside.
Math. Good God, how abject is this single life!
I'll not abide it: father, friends, nor kin,
Shall once dissuade me from affecting him.[483]
A man's a man; and Ned is more than one:
I' faith, I'll have thee, Ned, or I'll have none.
Do what they can, chafe, chide, or storm their fill,
Mathea is resolv'd to have her will.
Pis. I can no longer hold my patience. [Coming forward.
Impudent villain[484] and lascivious girls,
I have o'erheard your vile conversions!
You scorn philosophy! you'll be no nun!
You must needs kiss the purse, because he sent it!
And you, forsooth, you flirtgill, minion,
A brat scant folded in the dozens at most,[485]
You'll have your will, forsooth! What will you have?
Math. But twelve year old? Nay, father, that's not so;
Our sexton told me I was three years mo.
Pis. I say but twelve: you're best tell me I lie.
What, sirrah Anthony!
Anth. Here, sir.
Pis. Come here, sir;
And you, light huswives, get you in:
Stare not upon me, move me not to ire. [Exeunt sisters.
Nay, sirrah, stay you here, I'll talk with you.
Did I retain thee, villain, in my house,
Give thee a stipend, twenty marks by year,
And hast thou thus infected my three girls,
Urging the love of those I most abhorr'd?
Unthrifts [and] beggars—what is worse—
And all because they are your countrymen.
Anth. Why, sir, I taught them not
To keep a merchant's book, or cast account:
Yet to a word much like that word account—
Pis. A knave past grace is past recovery.
Why, sirrah Frisco, villain, loggerhead!
Where art thou?