Fleuron from 'The Roaring Girle, or Moll Cut-purse', a play by Thomas Middleton and Thomas Dekker, published in 1611
The Roaring Girle.
Act.1. Scœ.1.
Enter Mary Fitz-allard disguised like a sempster with a case for bands, and Neatfoot a seruingman with her, with a napkin on his shoulder, and a trencher in his hand as from table.
Neatfoote. he yong gentleman (our young maister), Sir Alexanders sonne, is it into his eares (sweet Damsell) (embleme of fragility) you desire to haue a message transported, or to be transcendent.
MaryA priuate word or two Sir, nothing else.
Neat.You shall fructifie in that which you come for: your pleasure shall be satisfied to your full contentation: I will (fairest tree of generation) watch when our young maister is erected, (that is to say, vp) and deliuer him to this your most white hand.
MaryThankes sir.
Neat.And withall certifie him, that I haue culled out for him (now his belly is replenished) a daintier bit or modicome then any lay vpon his trencher at dinner———hath he notion of your name, I beseech your chastitie.
MaryOne Sir, of whom he bespake falling bands.
Neat.Falling bands, it shall so be giuen him,———if you please to venture your modesty in the hall, amongst a curle-pated company of rude seruingmen, and take such as they can set before you, you shall be most seriously, and ingeniously welcome.
MaryI haue dyed indeed already sir.
Neat.———Or will you vouchsafe to kisse the lip of a cup of rich Orleans in the buttry amongst our waiting women.
MaryNot now in truth sir.
Neat.Our yong Maister shall then haue a feeling of your being here presently it shall so be giuen him. [Exit Neatfoote,
MaryI humbly thanke you sir, but that my bosome Is full of bitter sorrowse, I could smile, To see this formall Ape play Antick tricks: But in my breast a poysoned arrow stickes, And smiles cannot become me, Loue wouen sleightly (Such as thy false heart makes) weares out as lightly, But loue being truely bred ith the soule (like mine) Bleeds euen to death, at the least wound it takes, The more we quench this, the lesse it slakes: Oh me!
Enter Sebastian Wengraue with Neatfoote.
Seb.A Sempster speake with me, saist thou.
Neat.Yes sir, she's there, viua voce, to deliuer her auricular confession.
Seb.With me sweet heart. What ist?
MaryI haue brought home your bands sir.
Seb.Bands: Neatfoote.
Neat.Sir.
Seb.Prithee look in, for all the Gentlemen are vpon rising.
Neat.Yes sir, a most methodicall attendance shall be giuen.
Seb.And dost heare, if my father call for me, say I am busy with a Sempster.
Neat.Yes sir, hee shall know it that you are busied with a needle woman.
Seb.In's eare good Neat-foote,
Neat.It shall be so giuen him. [Exit Neat-foote.
Seb.Bands, y'are mistaken sweete heart, I bespake none, when, where, I prithee, what bands, let me see them.
MaryYes sir, a bond fast sealed, with solemne oathes, Subscribed vnto (as I thought) with your soule: Deliuered as your deed in sight of heauen, Is this bond canceld, haue you forgot me.
Seb.Ha! life of my life: Sir Guy Fitz-allards daughter, What has transform'd my loue to this strange shape? Stay: make all sure,—so: now speake and be briefe, Because the wolfe's at dore that lyes in waite, To prey vpon vs both albeit mine eyes Are blest by thine, yet this so strange disguise Holds me with feare and wonder.
MaryMines a loathed sight, Why from it are you banisht else so long.
Seb.I must cut short my speech, in broken language, Thus much sweete Moll, I must thy company shun, I court another Moll, my thoughts must run, As a horse runs, thats blind, round in a Mill, Out euery step yet keeping one path still.
MaryVmh: must you shun my company, in one knot Haue both our hands byt'h hands of heauen bene tyed, Now to be broke, I thought me once your Bride: Our fathers did agree on the time when, And must another bed-fellow fill my roome.
Seb.Sweete maid, lets loose no time, tis in heauens booke Set downe, that I must haue thee: an oath we tooke, To keep our vowes, but when the knight your father Was from mine parted, stormes began to sit Vpon my couetous fathers brow: which fell From them on me, he reckond vp what gold This marriage would draw from him, at which he swore, To loose so much bloud, could not grieue him more. He then diswades me from thee, cal'd thee not faire, And askt what is shee, but a beggars heire? He scorn'd thy dowry of (5000) Markes. If such a summe of mony could be found, And I would match with that, hee'd not vndoe it, Prouided his bags might adde nothing to it, But vow'd, if I tooke thee, nay more, did sweare it, Saue birth from him I nothing should inherit.
MaryWhat followes then, my ship-wracke.
Seb.Dearest no: Tho wildly in a laborinth I go, My end is to meete thee: with a side winde Must I now saile, else I no hauen can finde But both must sinke for euer. There's a wench Cal'd Mol, mad Mol, or merry Moll, a creature So strange in quality, a whole citty takes Note of her name and person, all that affection I owe to thee, on her in counterfet passion, I spend to mad my father: he beleeues I doate vpon this Roaring Girle, and grieues As it becomes a father for a sonne, That could be so bewitcht: yet ile go on This croked way, sigh still for her, faine dreames, In which ile talke onely of her, these streames Shall, I hope, force my father to consent That heere I anchor rather then be rent Vpon a rocke so dangerours, Art thou pleas'd, Because thou seest we are way-laid, that I take A path thats safe, tho it be farre about,
MaryMy prayers with heauen guide thee,
Seb.Then I will on, My father is at hand, kisse and begon; Howres shall be watcht for meetings; I must now As men for feare, to a strange Idoll bow.
MaryFarewell.
Seb.Ile guide thee forth, when next we meete, A story of Moll shall make our mirth more sweet. [Exeunt
Enter Sir Alexander Wengraue, Sir Dauy Dapper, Sir Adam Appleton, Goshake, Laxton, and Gentlemen.
OmnesThanks good Sir Alexander for our bounteous cheere.
Alex.Fy, fy, in giuing thankes you pay to deare.
S. Dap.When bounty spreades the table, faith t'were sinne, (at going of) if thankes should not step in.
Alex. No more of thankes, no more, I mary Sir, Th'inner roome was too close, how do you like This Parlour Gentlmen?
OmnesOh passing well.
AdamWhat a sweet breath the aire casts heere, so coole,
Gob.I like the prospect best.
Lax.See how tis furnisht.
S. Dap.A very faire sweete roome.
Alex.Sir Dany Dapper, The furniture that doth adorne this roome, Cost many a faire gray groat ere it came here, But good things are most cheape, when th'are most deere, Nay when you looke into my galleries, How brauely they are trim'd vp, you all shall sweare Yare highly pleasd to see whats set downe there: Stories of men and women (mixt together Faire ones with foule, like sun-shine in wet wether) Within one square a thousand heads are laid So close, that all of heads, the roome seeemes made, As many faces there (fiil'd with blith lookes) Shew like the promising titles of new bookes, (Writ merily) the Readers being their owne eyes, Which seeme to moue and to giue plaudities, And here and there (whilst with obsequious eares, Throng'd heapes do listen) a cut purse thrusts and leeres With haukes eyes for his prey: I need not shew him, By a hanging villanous looke, your selues may know him, The face is drawne so rarely, Then sir below, The very flowre (as twere) waues to and fro, And like a floating Iland, seemes to moue, Vpon a sea bound in with shores aboue,
Enter Sebatian and M. Greene-wit.
Omnes.These sights are excellent.
Alex.I'le shew you all, Since we are met, make our parting Comicall
Seb.This gentleman (my friend) will take his leaue Sir.
Alex.Ha, take his leaue (Sebastian) who?
Seb.This gentleman.
Alex.Your loue sir, has already giuen me some time, And if you please to trust my age with more, It shall pay double interest: Good sir stay.
Green.I haue beene too bold.
Alex.Not so sir. A merry day Mongt friends being spent, is better then gold sau'd. Some wine, some wine. Where be these knaues I keepe.
Enter three or foure Seruingmen, and Neatfoote.
Neat.At your worshipfull elbow, sir.
Alex.You are kissing my maids, drinking, or fast asleep.
Neat.Your worship has giuen it vs right.
Alex.You varlets stirre, Chaires, stooles and cushions: pre'thee sir Dany Dapper, Make that chaire thine.
Sir Dap.Tis but an easie gift, And yet I thanke you for it sir, I'le take it.
Alex.A chaire for old sir Adam Appleton.
Neat.A backe friend to your worship.
Adam.Mary good Neatfoot, I thanke thee for it: backe friends sometimes are good.
Alex.Pray make that stoole your pearch, good M. Goshawke.
Gosh.I stoope to your lure sir.
Alex.Sonne Sebastian, Take Maister Greenewit to you.
Seb.Sit deere friend.
Alex.Nay maister Laxton———furnish maister Laxton With what he wants (a stone) a stoole I would say, a stoole. [Exeunt seruants.
Laxton.I had rather stand sir.
Alex.I know you had good M. Laxton.) So, so— Now heres a messe of friends, and (gentlemen) Because times glasse shall not be running long, I'le quicken it with a pretty tale.
Sir Dap.Good rales do well, In these bad dayes, where vice does so excell.
Adam.Begin sir Alexander.
Alex.Last day I met An aged man vpon whose head was scor'd, A debt of iust so many yeares as these, Which I owe to my graue, the man you all know,
Omnes.His name I pray you sir.
Alex.Nay you shall pardon me, But when he saw me (with a sigh that brake, Or seem'd to breake his heart-strings) thus he spake: Oh my good knight, saies he, (and then his eies Were richer euen by that which made them poore, They had spent so many teares they had no more.) Oh sir (saies he) you know it, for you ha seene Blessings to raine vpon mine house and me: Fortune (who slaues men) was my slaue her wheele Hath spun me golden threads, for I thanke heauen, I nere had but one cause to curse my starres, I ask't him then, what that one cause might be.
Omnes.So Sir.
Alex.He paus'd, and as we often see, A sea so much becalm'd, there can be found No wrinckle on his brow, his waues being drownd In their owne rage: but when th'imperious wind, Vse strange inuisible tyranny to shake Both heauens and earths foundation at their noyse: The seas swelling with wrath to part that fray Rise vp, and are more wild, more mad, then they, Euen so this good old man was by my question Stir'd vp to roughnesse, you might see his gall Flow euen in's eies: then grew he fantasticall.
Sir Dap.Fantasticall, ha, ha.
Alex.Yes, and talke odly.
Adam.Pray sir proceed, How did this old man end?
Alex.Mary sir thus. He left his wild fit to read ore his cards, Yet then (though age cast snow on all his haires) He ioy'd because (saies he) the God of gold Has beene to me no niggard: that disease (Of which all old men sicken) Auarice Neuer infected me.
Lax.He meanes not himselfe i'me sure.
Alex.For like a lamp, Fed with continuall oyle, I spend and throw My light to all that need it, yet haue still Enough to serue my selfe, oh but (quoth he) Tho heauens dew fall, thus on this aged tree, I haue a sonne thats like a wedge doth cleaue, My very heart roote,
S, Dap.Had he such a sonne,
Seb.Now I do smell a fox strongly.
Alex.Lets see: no Maister Greene-wit is not yet So mellow in yeares as he; but as like Sebastian, Iust like my sonne Sebastian,—such another.
Seb.How finely like a fencer my father fetches his by-blowes to hit me, but if I beate you not at your owne weapon of subtilty.
Alex.This sonne (saith he) that should be The columne and maine arch vnto my house, The crutch vnto my age, becomes a whirlewind Shaking the firme foundation,
AdamTis some prodigall.
Seba.Well shot old Adam Bell.
Alex.No citty monster neither, no prodigall, But sparing, wary, ciuill, and (tho wiuelesse) An excellent husband, and such a traueller, He has more tongues in his head then some haue teeth,
S. Dap,I haue but two in myne
Gosh.So sparing and so wary, What then could vex his father so.
Alex.Oh a woman.
Seb.A flesh fly, that can vex any man.
Alex.A scuruy woman, On whom the passionate old man swore he doated: A creature (saith he) nature hath brought forth To mocke the sex of woman.———It is a thing One knowes not how to name, her birth began Ere she was all made. Tis woman more then man, Man more then woman,and (which to none can hap) The Sunne giues her two shadowes to one shape, Nay more, let this strange thing, walke, stand or sit, No blazing starre drawes more eyes after it.
S. Dap.A Monster, tis some Monster.
Alex.Shee's a varlet.
Seb.Now is my cue to bristle.
Alex.A naughty packe.
Seb.Tis false.
Alex.Ha boy.
Seb.Tis false.
Alex.Whats false, I say shee's nought.
Seb.I say that tongue That dares speake so (but yours) stickes in the throate Of a ranke villaine, set your selfe aside.———
Alex.So sir what then.
Seb.Any here else had lyed. I thinke I shall fit you ——— aside.
Alex.Lye.
Seb.Yes.
Sir Dap.Doth this concerne him.
Alex.Ah sirra boy. Is your bloud heated: boyles it: are you stung, Ile pierce you deeper yet: oh my deere friends, I am that wretched father, this that sonne, That sees his ruine, yet headlong on doth run.
Adam.Will you loue such a poyson.
S. Dap.Fye, fye.
Seb.Y'are all mad.
Alex.Th'art sicke at heart, yet feelst it not: of all these, What Gentleman (but thou) knowing his disease Mortall, would shun the cure: oh Maister Greenewit, Would you to such an Idoll bow.
Greene.Not I sir.
Alex.Heer's Maister Larton, has he mind to a woman As thou hast.
Lax.No not I sir.
Alex.Sir I know it.
Lax.There good parts are so rare, there bad so common, I will haue nought to do with any woman.
Sir Dap.Tis well done Maister Laxton.
Alex.Oh thou cruell boy, Thou wouldst with lust an old mans life destroy, Because thou seest I'me halfe way in my graue, Thou shouelst dust vpon me: wod thou mightest haue Thy wish, most wicked, most vnnaturall.
Dap.Why sir, tis thought, sir Guy Fitz-Allards daughter Shall wed your sonne Sebastian.
Alex.Sir Dany Dapper. I haue vpon my knees, wood this fond boy, To take that vertuous maiden.
Seb.Harke you a word sir. You on your knees haue curst that vertuous maiden, And me for louing her, yet do you now Thus baffle me to my face: were not your knees In such intreates, giue me Fitz-Allards daughter.
Alex.Ile giue thee rats-bane rather.
Seb.Well then you know What dish I meane to feed vpon.
Alex.Harke Gentlemen, He sweares to haue this cut-purse drab, to spite my gall.
Omnes.Maister Sebastian.
Seb.I am deafe to you all. Ime so bewitcht, so bound to my desires, Teares, prayers, threats, nothing can quench out those fires That burne within me. [Exit Sebastian.
Alex.Her bloud shall quench it then, Loose him not, oh diswade him Gentlemen.
Sir Dap.He shall be weand I warrant you.
Alex.Before his eyes Lay downe his shame, my griefe, his miseries.
Omnes.No more, no more, away. [Exeunt all but sir Alexander.
Alex.I wash a Negro, Loosing both paines and cost: but take thy flight, Ile be most neere thee, when I'me least in sight. Wilde Bucke ile hunt thee breathlesse, thou shalt run on, But I will turne thee when I'me not thought vpon. Enter Ralph Trapdore: Now sirra what are you, leaue your Apes trickes and speake.
Trap.A letter from my Captaine to your Worship.
Alex.Oh, oh, now I remember tis to preferre thee into my seruice.
Trap.To be a shifter vnder your Worships nose of a clean trencher, when ther's a good bit vpon't.
Alex.Troth honest fellow———humh—ha—let me see, This knaue shall be the axe to hew that downe At which I stumble, has a face that promiseth Much of a villaine, I will grind his wit, And if the edge proue fine make vse of it. Come hither sirra, canst thou be secret, ha.
Trap.As two crafty Atturneys plotting the vndoing of their clyents.
Alex.Didst neuer, as thou hast walkt about this towne Heare of a wench cal'd Moll, mad merry Moll.
Trap.Moll cutpurse sir.
Alex.The same, dost thou know her then,
Trap.Aswell as I know twill raine vpon Simon and Iudes day next, I will sift all the tauerns ith citty, and drinke halfe pots with all the Watermen ath bankside, but if you will sir Ile find her out.
Alex.That task is easy, doot then, hold thy hand vp. Whats this, ist burnt?
Trap.No sir no, a little sindgd with making fire workes.
Alex.Ther's mony, spend it, that being spent fetch more.
Trap.Oh sir that all the poore souldiers in England had such a leader. For fetching no water Spaniell is like me.
Alex.This wench we speake of, straies so from her kind Nature repents she made her. Tis a Mermaid Has cold my sonne to shipwracke.
Trap.Ile cut her combe for you.
Alex.Ile tell out gold for thee then: hunt her forth, Cast out a line hung full of siluer hookes To catch her to thy company: deepe spendings May draw her thats most chast to a mans bosome.
Trap.The gingling of Golden bels, and a good foole with a hobbyhorse, wil draw all the whoores ith to wneto dance in a morris,
Alex.Or rather, for thats best, (they say sometimes Shee goes in breeches) follow her as her man.
Trap.And when her breeches are off, shee shall follow me.
Alex.Beate all thy braines to serue her.
Trap.Zounds sir, as country wenches beate creame, till butter comes.
Alex.Play thou the suttle spider, weaue fine nets To insnare her very life.
Trap.Her life.
Alex.Yes sucke Her heart-bloud if thou canst, twist thou but cords To catch her, Ile finde law to hang her vp.
Trap.Spoke like a Worshipfull bencher.
Alex.Trace all her steps: at this shee-foxes den Watch what lambs enter: let me play the sheepeheard To saue their throats from bleeding, and cut hers.
Trap.This is the goll shall doot.
Alex.Be firme and gaine me Euer thine owne. This done I entertaine thee: How is thy name.
Trap.My name sir is Raph Trapdore, honest Raph.
Alex.Trapdore, be like thy name, a dangerons step For her to venture on, but vnto me.
Trap.As fast as your sole to your boore or shooe sir.
Alex.Hence then, be little seene here as thou canst. Ile still be at thine elbow.
Trap.The trapdores set. Moll if you budge y'are gon: this me shall crowne, A Roaring Boy, the Roaring Girle puts downe,
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he yong gentleman (our young maister), Sir Alexanders sonne, is it into his eares (sweet Damsell) (embleme of fragility) you desire to haue a message transported, or to be transcendent.