Luce. Farewell, my pretty nump! I'm very sorry I cannot bear thee company. Hum. Farewell! The devil's dam was ne'er so bang'd in hell. [Exeunt LUCE and JASPER. Wife. This young Jasper will prove me another things, a' my conscience, an he may be suffered. George, dost not see, George, how a' swaggers, and flies at the very heads a' folks, as he were a dragon? Well, if I do not do his lesson for wronging the poor gentleman, I am no true His friends that brought him up might have been better occupied, I wis, than have taught him these fegaries: He's e'en in the high way to the gallows, God bless him! woman. "Cit. You're too bitter, cony; the young man may do well enough for all this. 66 Wife. Come hither, master Humphrey; has he hurt you? now beshrew his fingers for't! Here, sweetheart, here's some green ginger for thee. Now beshrew my heart, but a' has pepper-nel in's legend of this person is, that being a sea-captain, or perhaps a pirate, he engaged to the king of France to bring the crew of an English ship bound as captives to Paris, and that accordingly he attempted to make prize of an English vessel, but was himself taken prisoner. The song of John Dory, and the tune to it, were a long time popular in England: In the comedy of The Chances, written by Beaumont and Fletcher, Antonio, a humorous old man, receives a wound, which he will not suffer to be dressed but upon condition that the song of John Dory be sung the while.”—Ed. 1778. The song itself will be found in a note on The Chances, (vol. VII. p. 67.) Its popularity was very extensive, and continued for a long time. It is thus mentioned in Drunken Barnaby's Journal, speaking of Kendal : "Ubi, (dicam pace vestra) Saltant cum Johanne Dori," &c. head, as big as a pullet's egg! Alas, sweet lamb how thy temples beat! Take the peace on him, sweetheart, take the peace on him. Enter Boy. "Cit. No, no; you talk like a foolish woman! I'll ha' Ralph fight with him, and swinge him up well-favouredly.-Sirrah, Boy; come hither: Let Ralph come in and fight with Jasper. "Wife. Ay, and beat him well; he's an unhappy boy." 66 Boy. Sir, you must pardon us; the plot of our play lies contrary; and 'twill hazard the spoiling of our play. "Cit. Plot me no plots! I'll ha' Ralph come out; I'll make your house too hot for you else. Boy. Why, sir, he shall; but if any thing fall out of order, the gentlemen must pardon us. "Cit. Go your ways, goodman Boy! I'll hold him a penny, he shall have his belly-full of fighting now. Ho! here comes Ralph! no more!" Enter RALPH, Mrs MERRYTHOUGHT, MICHAEL, TIM, and GEOrge. Ralph, What knight is that, squire? ask him if he keep The bound by love of lady fair, passage, bound Or else but prickant.7 Hum. Sir, I am no knight, But a poor gentleman, that this same night • He's an unhappy boy.] Unhappy was formerly used in the sense of wicked, mischievous. Or else but prickant.] That is, pricking or spurring along, bound on a journey. ་ Had stolen from me, upon yonder green, "Cit. No more, Wife, no more!" Ralph. Where is the caitiff wretch hath done Lady, your pardon! that I may proceed Enter JASPER and LUCE. Hum. Here comes the broker hath purloined my treasure. Ralph. Go, squire, and tell him I am here, An errant knight at arms, to crave delivery Of that fair lady to her own knight's arms. If he deny, bid him take choice of ground, And so defy him. Tim. From the Knight that bears The Golden Pestle, I defy thee, Knight; Of that bright lady. Jasp. Tell the knight that sent thee He is an ass; and I will keep the wench, And knock his head-piece. Ralph Knight, thou art but dead, If thou recall not thy uncourteous terms. "Wife. Break his pate, Ralph; break his pate, Ralph, soundly!" Jasp. Come, Knight; I'm ready for you.-Now your Pestle [Snatches away his Pestle. Shall try what temper, sir, your mortar's of. With that he stood upright in his stirrups, and gave the knight of the calves-skin such a knock, that he forsook his horse, and down he fell; and then he leaped upon him, and plucking off his hel[Knocks him down. met Hum. Nay, an my noble Knight be down so soon, Though I can scarcely go, I needs must run. [Exit. "Wife. Run, Ralph, run, Ralph; run for thy life, boy; Jasper comes, Jasper comes!" [Exit RALPH taking up the Pestle. Jasp. Come, Luce, we must have other arms for you; Humphrey, and Golden Pestle, both adieu! [Exeunt. Wife. Sure the devil, (God bless us!) is in this springald! Why, George, didst ever see such a fire-drake? I am afraid my boy's miscarried; if he be, though he were master Merrythought's son a thousand times, if there be any law in England, I'll make some of them smart for't. "Cit. No, no; I have found out the matter, sweetheart; Jasper is enchanted; as sure as we are here, he is enchanted: he could no more have stood in Ralph's hands, than I can stand in my lord-mayor's. I'll have a ring to discover all enchantments, and Ralph shall beat him yet: Be no more vexed, for it shall be so. Springald.] An old word for a youth. So in the comedy of Wily Beguiled:-" Pray ye, maid, bid him welcome, and make much of him; for by my vay, he's a proper springold." SCENE III, Before the Bell Inn at Waltham, Enter RALPH, TIM, GEORGE, Mrs MERRY THOUght, and MICHAEL. Wife. Oh, husband, here's Ralph again! Stay, Ralph; let me speak with thee: How dost thou, Ralph? Art thou not shrewdly hurt? the foul great lungies laid unmercifully on thee; there's some sugar-candy for thee. Proceed; thou shalt have another bout with him. "Cit. If Ralph had him at the fencing-school, if he did not make a puppy of him, and drive him up and down the school, he should ne'er come in my_shop more." Mrs Mer. Truly, master Knight of the Burning Pestle, I am weary. Mich. Indeed-la, mother, and I am very hungry. Ralph. Take comfort, gentle dame, and you, fair squire! For in this desart there must needs be placed Many strong castles, held by courteous knights; And till I bring you safe to one of those I swear by this my order ne'er to leave you. The foul great lungies.] Probably a cant phrase for a great awkward fellow, and the same as lung, which occurs in Love's Pilgrimage, vol. XIII. p. 65. |