Sonnet xxix.
- CHARACTERS
- William Herbert, son of the Earl of Pembroke.
- Simeon Dyer, a Puritan.
- Tobias, host of "The Bear and The Angel."
- Wat Burrow, a bear-ward.
- Dickon, a little boy, son to Tobias.
- Chiffin, a ballad-monger.
- A Prentice.
- A Player, master W. S. of the Lord Chamberlain's Company.
- Mistress Mary Fytton, a maid-of-honor to Queen Elizabeth.
- Mistress Anne Hughes, also of the Court.
- Taverners and Prentices.
Time represented: An afternoon in the autumn of the year 1599.
SCENE.—Interior of "The Bear and the Angel," South London. At back, the center entrance gives on a short alley-walk which joins the street beyond at a right angle. To right and left of this doorway, casements. Down, on the right, a door opening upon the inn-garden; a second door on the right, up, leading to a tap-room. Opposite this, left, a door leading into a buttery. Opposite the garden-door, a large chimney-piece with a smoldering wood-fire. A few seats; a lantern (unlighted) in a corner. In the foreground, to the right, a long and narrow table with several mugs of ale upon it, also a lute.
At one end of the table Wat Burrow is finishing his ale and holding forth to the Prentice (who thrums the lute) and a group of taverners, some smoking. At the further end of the table Simeon Dyer observes all with grave curiosity. Tobias and Dickon draw near. General noise.
Prentice [singing].
What do I give for the Pope and his riches!
I's my ale and my Sunday breeches;
I's an old master, I's a young lass,
And we'll eat green goose, come Martinmas!
Sing Rowdy Dowdy,
Look ye don't crowd me
I's a good club,
—So let me pass!
Dickon.
Again! again!
Prentice. Sing Rowdy—
Wat [finishing his beer]. Swallow it down.
Sling all such froth and follow me to the Bear!
They stay for me, lined up to see us pass
From end to end o' the alley. Ho! You doubt?
From Lambeth to the Bridge!