SIR ABRAHAM

Your Lordship's poor friend, & Sir Abram: Ninny The Dubadub of Honour, piping hight, Does lie upon my Worships shoulder blade. Pish, pish, pish, pish. Sir Abraham thanks your Honour; and I hope, your Lordship will consider the simplicity of Parents, a couple of old fools my Lord, and I pray so take em. I must be feign to excuse you here, you'll needs be coming abroad with me; if I had no more wit then you now we should be finely laughed at. Countrymen, they were no Countrymen, I scorn it, they were Gentlemen all, My Father is a Ninny, and my Mother was a Hammer. I pray my Lord, what is yond Gent. he looks so Like a Sarazen, that as I am a Christian I cannot endure him. In good faith, he looks as if he had had a hand in the treason, I'll take my leave. My Lord shall be my warrant: Troth I do not see that a Lords warrant is better then any other men, un less it be to lay one by the heals. I shall stay here, and would my head broke; and then I would my mends in my own hands, and then my Lords warrant will help me to a play ster, that's all. Indeed Sir, that would show you are no Gentle man, I would you would bid me be covered: I am a knight, I was Knighted a purpose to come a wooing to Mistress Lucida, the middle Sister, Sir John Worldlyes second daugh ter; and she said she would have me, if I could make her a Lady, and I can doo't now; O here she comes. Now does the pot of Love boil in my bosom; Cupid does blow the fire; and I cannot Rhyme to bosom, but I'll go reason with her. A Soldier Sir; O God I, he is a Captain. Sweet Mistress Luce ; let you and I withdraw, this is his humour. Send for the Constable. Good faith Sir, I had rather walk your horse, I will not meddle with him, I would not keep him Come pany in his drink for a world. O no, she laughs at me; and scorns my suit For she is wilder, and more hard withal, Then Beast, or Bird, or Tree, or stony wall. Yet might she love me for my lovely eyes: Yet might she love me for my dimpled chin: Yet might she love me for my proper body: Yet might she love me, cause I am and heir: Yet might she love me in despite of all: Shall I but hope? Indeed there's reason there should be some dif ference in my Legs, for one cost me twenty pound more then the other. Well since I am disdained; off Garters blue; Which signifies Sir Abrams love was true. Off Cypress black, for thou befits not me; Thou art not Cypress, of the Cypress Tree, Befitting Lovers: Out green Shoestrings out, Wither in pocket, since my Luce does pout: Gush eyes, thump hand, swell heart, Buttons fly open, Thanks gentle Doublet; else my heart had broken. Now to thy Father's Country house at Babram, Ride post; There pine and die, poor, poor Sir Abram. I he Sir. Follow that list, I will not meddle with him. I'll not be fourth, nor fifth, For the old Proverb's good, which long hath been, Says safest 'tis sleeping in a whole skin. I'de rather play at Bowls. Bowl they that list, for I will Bowl no more, Cupid that lit le Bowler in my breast Rubs at my heart, and will not let me rest. I, I, you may cry rub, fly to your Bowls, For you are free, love troubles not your jowls, But from my head to heel; from heel to hat , Behind, before, and round about I smart, Then in this Arbour sitting all alone, In doleful Ditty, let me howl my moan. O Boy, leave pricking for I veil my Bonnet, Give me but breath while I do write a Sonnet. I die, I sighs. I die, I sighs, thou precious stony Jewel. I die. Write. I sighs thou precious stony Jewel, Wearing of silk, why art thou still so cruel. Write. Thy servant Abraham sends this foolish Ditty. Thy Servant Abram. sends this foolish Dit Write Tie unto thee, pity both him and it. Write But if thou still poor Sir Abram: rump Write Come grim death come, here give thy mortal thump. So now I'll read it together. I die, I sighs, thou precious stony Jewel, O wherefore wearest thou Sulk, yet art so cruel: To thee thy Ninny sends this foolish Dit— Tie, and pity both him and it, If thou deny, and still Sir Abraham frump, Come grim death come, here give thy mortal thump. Let me see, who shall I get now, to set too a dumpish Note. Faith, I have courted her, and courted her: and she does as every body else does, laughs at all I can do or say. She's the fitter for my turn Sir, for they will not stick to say, I am a fool for all I am a Knight. With child, a good jest efaith, whom have I God with child. De'e hear, talk not to me of Friends, Law, or Conscience, if your Kinswoman say she is with Child by me, your Kinswoman is and arrant whore; Vds-will, have you no body to put your Gulls upon but Knights? That Wagtail is a whore, and I'll stand to it. Truth no great mind Sir. Recant, o base; out sword, my honour keep, Love, thou hast made a Lion of a Sheep. I am resolved. Have you done your prayers? With sword in hand I do it not recant. Does she so love me say you? No more of these soul terms if she do love me, That goes by fate, I know it by my self, I'll not deny but I have dallied with her. Another whore, and draw; where is the Girl. I know not what to say, Fates above all, Come lets go overhear her, be this true, Welcome my Wagtail, scornful Luce adue. Exit. Yes, with standing tears. I, but all this while she does not name me, she may mean Somebody else. Say not so, Sweetheart. She has and excellent wit. For me I warrant her. By God so he lies, I have the most ado to for bear, but that I would hear a little more. Hold, hold, thy Knight commands thee for to hold, I sent no halter, poor soul how it pants, Take Courage, look up. Live long and happy to produce thy Baby, I am thy Knight, and thou shalt be my Lady: Frown Dad, fret Mother, so my love look chearely, Thou hast my heart, and thou hast bought it dearly, And for your pains, if Abraham live to inherit, He will not be unmindful of your merit; Wear thou this Ring, while I thy labors Task, This Purse wear in my Cap, anon i'th Mask. To Supper let's, and merry be as may be. O Sir, I was in love to day, and could not eat, but here's one knows the case is altered, lend me but a Handkerchief to wipe my mouth, and I would done. If you put em to a knave, you are Like to have em the worse done. But de'e hear Mayest. Nevil, did you bespeak a Vizard with a most terrible countenance for me. I would it would, and a huge Mustachios? Excelennt. Well, are you fitted now. This a rare face to fright the Maids i'th Con trey, here now I'll pin my purse, come help me on. Sfut did you not know me by my purse? Beware tricks. Zoons Treason, I smell powder. Is he hurt in the arm too? Why then by Gods-lid thou art a base Rogue, I knew I should live to tell thee so. Near look upon me M. Lucida, Time was, Time is, and Times passed, I'll none of you now, I am otherwise provided. Then first as duty binds, I crave consent Of my two parents deer: If I, say so; If not, I'll would her, whither you will or no. Mam, I am resolved, you have a humour of your Aquavitae bottle, why should not I have a humour in a wife? Much on her, I know not what you call much ma king on her, I am sum e I have made two on her. Speak not in vain, I am to sure to change, For hand and heart are sure, Ecce signum, and this have I done, and never lay with his Thanks reverend couple, and God bless withal The little Ninny that herein does spraule, Parson you shall dispatch us presently: Lord how soberly you stand. Why alas, I cannot help this and I should be hanged, shee'le be as drunk as a Porter: I'll tell you my Lord, I have seen her so bepiss the Rushes, as she has danced at a Wedding: Her belly, and that Aquavitae bottle, have almost undone my Father: Well I think in Conscience, she is not my natural begotten Mother. Gentlemen, I desire your better acquaintance, you must pardon my Father, he's somewhat rude, rude, & my Mother grossly brought up, as you may perceive. I but she laughs most shamefully, & most scornfully. By this light, that very night I dreamed she lay with me. Right hath your Lordship said, it broke indeed, At football in the University. Lord bless us here is conjuring, Lend me your Aquavitae bottle good Mother.