LORENZO

W Ell done my lusty bloods, Well done. Fit, fit observance for this May-morning; Not the May-Moneth alone, they take when it comes; Nor the first week of that Month; Nor the first day; but the first minute of the first hour, of the first day. Lose no time bloods, lose no time; though the Sun go to bed never so much before you, yet be you up before him; call the golden sluggard from the silver arms of his Lady, to light you into yours, when your old father January here in one of his last days, thrusts his forehead into the depth of Mayes fragrant bosom: What may you Aprilles perform then? Oh what may you do? Well yet will I say thus much for my self, wheresoever the affections of youth are, there must needs be the instruments, and where the instruments are, there must of necessity be the faculties; What am I short of them then? A found old man, ably constituted, holsomly dyeted, that took his May temperately at their ages, and continued his own; why should he not continue their ages in his own? By the Mass I feel nothing that stands against it, and therefore sweet May I salute thee with the youngest: I have love to employ thee in, as well as the proudest young princock, and so have at you Mistress Frances China: have at you Mistress Frank: In e spread my nets for you i'faith, though they be my very purse nets, wherein what heart will not willingly lie pan ting? (Enter Angelo.) Here have I put her face in rhyme, but I fear my old vain will not stretch to her contentment. Oh hair, no hair but beams stolen from the Sun. A forehead that disdains the name of fair. A matchless eye. A cheek, vermilion read. A far commanding mouth. A nose made out of wax. This could I send, but person, person does it: A good presence, to bear out a good wit; a good face, a pre ty Court leg, and a deft dapper personage, no superfluous dimensions, but fluent in competence; for it is not Hector but Paris, not the full armefull, but the sweet handful that Ladies delight in. Such a size of humanity now, and brain enough in it, it is not in the strength of a woman to withstand; well she may hold out a parl e or two, for it's a weak fort that obeys at the first or second summons, if she resist the third she is discharged, though she yield in future: for then it appears it was no fault of hers: but the man that would take no denial. What rests now? means for access: True. Oh and honest Bawd were worth gold now. What Signior Angelo? soft I command you. I would be loath to be outrun I assure you Sir: was I able to stay you? Oh most offencelesse fault, I would thou wouldst blaze my imperfection to one thou knowest, i'faith. Nay stay good Angelo. Not a whit man I warrant thee. That I will, y aith Boy. Black, black as and Ouzell. Away Witch, away: Nay fie, fie, fie. I see th'art a very Devil Angelo. And in earnest, I jested, when I said my desire of thy friend ship touched my self, for it concerns a friend of mine joust of my standing. To sweet Mistress Franciscina: with whom I hear thou art ready to lie down, thou art so great with her. A good consanguinity: and good Angelo, to her with thou deliver from my friend, in all secrecy, these poor brace of bracelets? Never examine that man; I would not trouble you with carrying too much at once to her, only tell her, such a man will resolve her, naming me: and I do not greatly care, if I take the pains to come to her, so I stay not long, and be let in privily: and so without making many words: here they be put them up closely I beseech thee, and deliver them as closely. Never sawest him in thy life, at least never knewest him; but for his bounty sake to all his well willers, if this message be friendly discharged, I may chance put a deer friend of him into your bosom: Sir, and make you profita bly acquainted. Wide, wide; as young as day, I protest to thee. Still from the cushion, still, tall and high, Like a Cedar. Now the good Devil take thee, if there be any such in hell, hell I beseech thee. I cannot contain my self, i'faith Boy, if the Wenches come in my walk, I give they that they come for, I dally not with hem. It is my infirmity, and I cannot do withal, to die for't. There are certain envious old fellows, my neigh bours, that say, I am one unwieldly and stiff: Angelo, didst ever hear any wench complain of my stiffness? Why ther's the matter then? As for that take thou no care, she's a woman, is she not? Then good enough, or then bade enough, this to ken shall be my Gentleman Usher to prepare my access, and then let me alone with her. Fear it not man: Gifts and gold, take the strongest hold; Away, here comes a snudge that must be my son in law: I would be loath he should suspect these tricks of youth in me, for fear he fear my daughter will trot after me. God morrow neighbour Gasparo: I have talked with my daughter, whom I do yet find a green young plant, and therefore unapt to bear such ripe fruit, I think I might have said rotten, as your self: But she is at my disposition, and shall be at yours in the end, here's my hand, and with my hand take hers. It is ready told for you Sir, come home when you will and receive it, (Enter Aemilia.) and see, yonder she comes; away, she cannot yet abide you, because she fears she can abide you too well. Adieu my good son in law, I'll not interrupt her, let her meditate a my late motion. Exit. What ails poor Angelo? How now man? what's the matter? I pre thee why so? Never I protest Angelo. How sayest thou? did not I tell thee as much? be beware of and old colt while you live, he can tell when to strike I warrant you. Alas Angelo, a feeble generation, soon over come God knows, the honester mind, the sooner over come. Oh she does worthily in that Angelo, and Like a woe man of honour, thou hast painted her perfection in her faults thou findest, and tickil'st me with her appetite. How, come in some disguise? Soft good Angelo, soft, let's think on't a little: what disguise would serve the turn says she? Out upon they, would she have me undergo the shame and hazard of one of those abjects? And yet by my troth, for the safeguard of her ho nou_r_, I would do much; me thinks a Friars weed were nothing. Good reason, in faith Angelo ; and what, shall I then smurch my face Like a chimney sweeper, & wear the rest of his smokiness? As how I pre thee? What, he that sings, Maids in your smocks, hold open your locks, floods. But is that a fit resemblance to please a lover And gelo ? Oh let me hug thee Angelo. No more good Angelo, no more, how shall I re quite the happiness thou wilt bring me too? haste any mind of marriage? By my troth and she were not promised, thou shoul dest have my daughter: but come lets to our disguise, in which I long to be singing. A little more here good Angelo. It will be the most perfect disguise that ever was imitated. Yet a little more here Angelo, and then master Painter let Michael Angelo himself amend thee. So now take this glass, and give me my furniture, and have at your smoky chimney. A ay, see if the coast be clear. Take good view, look about to the doors and windows. Chimney sweep; work for chimney sweep, wilt do sirrah? Does my suit become me? I'll forth i'faith then; Maids in your smocks, set open your locks, Down, down, down: Let Chimney sweeper in: And he will sweep your chimneys clean, Heigh derry, derry, down. How dost Like my cry, would? Down, down, down: Let Chimney sweeper in: And he will sweep your chimneys clean, Heigh derry, derry, down. How dost Like my cry, would? As God help, I begin to be proud on't: Chim ney sweep. My nephew Lodowick ; Gods me, I'll start back again. Chimney sweep. Thank your good worship. Thank God and good friends sir; and a merry heart that prolongs life. Chimney sweep. That I do well sir. Alas sir, she wrongs me: I am not fed thereaf ter, let her look for that commendation in her richer customers. You're a merry Gentleman sir; and I have hasly la bour in hand, I must crave pardon. (Enter Honorio.) Chimney sweep. I would they said true sir? Foolish tales sir, foe is tales. Alas sir your worship knows, I have neither daughter nor riches, Idle talk sir, Idle talk: chimney sweep. I thank your worship, I will wait upon you next morning early sir: but now I have promised to sweep anon there men chimney in truth. No master, alas you know I live by it, and now I cry as I go to work that I have promised, that I may get more against other times: what would you have me do tr e? Lord keep your good worship. — And a very vengeance, I beseech the black father of vengeance. But Angelo, a villainous fear shook me the while I swear, for still I was afraid my tongue would have liked a way the soot of my face, and bewrayed me; but Snail, him thereto thy rusty shell has protected me: persever till I have yonder house a my head, hold in thy horns, till they look out of Quintillianoes forehead: for and old man to make a young man cuckold, is one of Hercules labours. To make youth rampant in age, and age passant in youth, to take a man down at his own weapon; to call back time in one, and thrust him headlong upon another. Well Angelo, I tell thee, now we are passed the danger, I would not for 40 crowns but have herd, what I have herd. Chimney sweep, work for chimney sweep. Oh Angelo. Help, help, help. Good Captain do not hurt me. I beseech your Worship hear me speak. A plague of all disguises. Exit Fannio. I protest sir for no harm, my Mistress called me in to sweep her chimney, and because I did it not to her mind, she made me do penance in her cole-house. Kill me, hang me, if I have. I beseech your Worship be good to me. Not while I live good Captain. A plague of all disguises. Exit Lorenzo. A plague of all disguises Angelo. Well then fortune is to blame, or some thing; come as thou didst help to daub me, help to cleanse me, I pre thee. Out upon that course Angelo ; I am frighted out of it, come enter my house, enter. I know there is no body. A tale, a very tale Angelo, enter for the love of heaven, enter and unsmother me. Exit. How now? whom do I see? my daughter and a younker together? passion of death, hell and damnation, what lecherous capricorn reigns this unhappy day? old and young in a predicament? Oh fie of filthy sin and concu piscence, I will conceal my rage a while that it may break forth in fury; I'll shift me presently Angelo, and go fetch the Provost. Talk not to me, out upon this abominable con cupiscence, the pride of the flesh, this witchcraft of the Di well: talk not to me, justice cries out an't in the streets, and I will see it punished, come good Angelo to help to shift me. This is the honest man indeed, that took the pains to come for me. Nay, I have known you before, to be the servant of Signior Honorio here, I take it. Oh, your son Aurelios servant? believe me you or your son (in mine opinion, though I say it before him) made good choice of him: for he hath a good honest face, and to a man of judgement (I tell you) that's as good as a good surety for him. I will be better acquainted with you sir, pray you give me your hand. Thanks my good friend, I'll make thee laugh anon Angelo. How now Gentlemen, is't a merry secret, that you smile so? What was that I pray? Had you so sir? Lord that I had been amongst you, but what more of him sir? It would have made excellent merriment. Shall he come Gentlemen? Why then hark thee Angelo ; not for the world. Shall he have one of my little brother's suits, and come in amongst the Dams for him? Much; now laugh Angelo: what Gentleman was that I spied aloft with my daughter thinkest thou? Frank, in men apparel Angelo. We cannot invent a token, for my love Angelo. We will hit it anon Gentlemen. The swaggerer her husband, had note of it by his Page, and yet the same Page hath persuaded him, since that 'twas but a gullery. True Angelo, enough for this time; thou shalt make as if thou wentest for Snail, and return without him, saying thou canst not find him. Now Gentlemen, we have devised a wile to bring Snail amongst us, and I have given Angelo order for a suit for him, that is my little brother's, and him he shall counter feit; go Angelo seek him out. For their sakes and yours, I have done it Gentle men; and see the fair flock come upon us. Very well sir, a gallant spark. Know him? I faith sir there was a reveller, I shall never see man do his lofty tricks Like him while I live. His Niece? she shall do her self wrong not to be acquainted with her deer uncles companion: Kiss her. Not very well sir indeed, but entertainment must be given, mercy Frank for thy men apparel, a plague of all swaggering husbands. Nay I must forth i'faith, Signior Ho norio this is for your sake, am I not a kind help to your en ter ainement? Gramercy Angelo but Signior Lorenzo, me thinks I miss one flower in this female garland. Your Niece Lucretia What N phew Lodwicke, I thought you had been one of the mask rs. Are not my Nephew and Leonoro friends? Well Nephew, well; will you never leave this your haunt of fornication? I school him, and do all I can, but all is lost. Very well, be brief. Pray God you did but dream Nephew. Well sir I can so. How had that been possible? What a she turned to a he? dost thou not dream all this while Nephew. Was he in hope of it? And to laugh at me. A plague a your house, I was there too lately. By my soul, and because old Gasparo here has be so cold in his love suit, if she be better pleased with Au relio, and his father with her, heaven give abundance of good with him. Faith use him as your son and heir, and I desire no more. Byr'lady, a good Ordinary. within. Mistress, Mistress, is he gone? That I will i'faith boy in authority wise.