NICE

I'll but go to the Church for a little holy-water— No, but a little sprinkled Sir. We shall have the better suc cease in our business. One thing Sir. I do not Like going to day. Sure 'tis not a lucky time. For the first Crow I herd this morning, cried twice. This Even, Sir, is no good number. I go, Sir—stay, what if there be a Raven about the ground? Shall we then take possession? O 'tis and unlucky bird. Nay, too much haste will make one stumble: and thats no good sign. A toy comes in my head. Wonders. The effects whereof will appear in risings, partly lie biformed, and partly circular, on men's foreheads, and women's mountains. Passion of my heart! a dream? what? I do not Like these dreams. Yes, and you were ten Cousin's. Dream of a garden, and green rushes, and a dead friends salutation? Cousin, make your will, be ruled and make your will: you cannot live. So will not I. Good Coz, I leave you to your destiny. The next news I hear, the Lawyer's a dead man. Dreams quoth a! and he will not believe a dream, he's and Infidel. One night I dreamt that I found gold at a play. Next day I came Thy there, slattered with these Hope's. Zlid, before the Prologue had done, I had lost my purse. Coz if you ha'no faith in dreams, farewell. I would not dream of heaven, lest I find hell. I am very hungry. Indeed Sir, I dare not lift you against the poor. He's gone in to drink Sir. M. Benjamin, a sober word in private. If this wench want harbour, I care not if I give her a nights lodging. Sweet Cousin, I would not eat her. If you please to come mend me to her: let me see, for what—I leave that to you. Uncle, uncle, I had a certain scurvy dream to night. I dreamed— Me thought I found a great deal of money. Nay, all's mine for dreaming. What wager, Sir? I'll not meddle with it. O I am spoiled, spoiled; this 'tis to dream of sinding more ney—I knew, what twould come to. Uncle, uncle. I would this all were but a dream too. O uncle, its dangerous tumbling, snakes in the grass. Mass, a pretty wench—If she lay thus bound before me, I would not lose her, but upon some conditions. June, July, August, September— the first day— Fourteenth day. A good turn forgotten. O heres lear ning from the stars. Though I do little good ere I am rotten, Like citizens, I would not have't forgotten. Yet let me study on't: though a man may not give, he May buy, I hope without danger. Fair sister, What shall I give you for your maidenhead? Thirsty, come hither. No; but come drink thy self drunk with Poetry. O, your Poet is too full of that, it makes him thread bore. Sirrah, I ha'made a Sonnet here to my Mistress; she never wrought such a one on her Sampler. Lay thine ear close to my musical tongue, I shall ravish her. I, and all night too: but that night would make the verse too long. Now I talk of night, let me see what time of day it is. I have business, must not be rimed away. Sir, then as I may say, have joy in your new Benefice, for bel ly-peece you must ha'none. pray lets peruse your watch, see you mine. Stop the Priest, stop the Priest. Now the Gout, Dropsy, Lethargy take possession of their legs. I ha'lost my wind, and my watch, and I fear, my wench too. Uncle, uncle, as sure as my watch is lost, this is master Valentine the Physician. Holla, Cousin Benjamin. So ho ho. You had needs of a bell to ring you in. Your father has stayed supper for you this hour. O, o, do not touch it: it's venom. O it lies there for a wager: there be thieves about it. Take heed Cousin; I found a Portmantua once, and lost all the money in my purse. Fly, fly— Sure his complexion does not give it: let me see your hand, Sir. Speak to me uncle, speak: the gagge's out. O, Sir, all the Conjurers are of their own trade. A mischief on't, I thought there was some scurvy luck towards; the Crickets did so cry ith' Oven yesterday. And this very hour, as we came in, there was and Owl whoo-whooping in the top of the chimney: and joust at the threshold, master Broom lay here stumbled Signs, signs. Now in sincerity, I herd a great rattling of chains. As close, as beggary follows drunkenness. Let me see your hand, widow—O the case is clear. A yellow spot does on your hand appear. Gather up your heals, widow: Justice Surly dwells hard by. I'am somewhat dainty and shy on him, Sir. He looks vile sharp on't. Hold, hold, I have not made my will. You'll give me leave, Sir, to make my will. Then my will is—to run away. Oh, I'll put off my wedding. I will not for all Bedford marry to morrow. Oh, my Uncle reaching for a Cup, overthrew the salt towards me—towards me. Oh 'tis ominous. Perplexed Cousin, perplexed. I had rather a good Lordship had fallen towards me. O I recant. Cousin, I will marry. O Cousin, about a deed of charity; to save your father, and two or three knaves more from hanging. I am go king to Sir Bore Notwithstanding; to save them out of prison: they have saved him often. He had three Lordship's fell to him at a clap; the worst worth 400. a year. He has sold his Caroch with four Flanders mares, because he would retire himself and live ith' Country. To him, quoth he? I will to him, were the devil in my way. The devil pork you. What dismal bird croaks dis aster to my journey! Nay, if the destinies have set the Raven against me, I'll rerurne sure—yet let me see. So my Uncle may be hanged, I'll on, come what will. Oh this black bird tolls Like a passing-bell, My own sad mischief and my Uncle's knell. Yet why am I so timorous; when charity Bids me go on, shall a Raven hinder me? I'll keep aloose and pass—o a spirit, a spirit. The Widow's Ghost. Bromley, Lawyer, Uncle, hang. Take all your Fortune's, I'll no further gang. It's and unhallowed place, a dismal day. Betide what will, Il'e back again some way. Puff! shift for your selves; Sir Bore Notwithstanding dares not be seen. Ravens, and Sprites, and Fairies, and Hares and diuels-Thus have I lost my wench, lost my money, lost my watch, lost my wits. I do here renounce the faith of all Almanacs, Physiogmoners, Palmists, Fortune-tellers. Erram Pater was and Ass, and so are Prognosticators, his children, from generation to generation. How if a Cat sits on the Buttery hatch? Thou West pro ceed no further. My Grandam told me that a Cat sitting on the hatch, was and ill sign. O Sir, it's good doubting the worst. Plague of you and your mortgage. O my heart-it beats so, that it has broke my buttons. I would not be so frighted a gain to be made your heir. puff. The matter? I would not have such another cross, for all the crosses in your purse. Yes, my Almanac speaks of a most fearful pestilence, especially to happen amongst Tailors and Gold-end-men. Ther's a statute-lace shall undo them ifayth. A Tailors Bill shall be no more so deadly as the plagues. But dare not eat, because I was dreamed to night of cho king. O it's Friday, and I know you have flesh. Be you hanged, Uncle. O—O—Forgive me, good Calendar—I perceive now, thy counsel's true. It's and evil day indeed: I should neither have bought nor sold on't. Open thine ears, Like and Oyster a sunning Even as the bird, which we Chameleon call, does live on air for aye: So my kind heart, ever Like a stock-dove shall feed on thy love all day. Most strange, and full of preposterous, prodigious, turbu lent, dismal, fatal, amazing, terrifying— Some hangman uncase him. I ha'bene at the Parsons, and he's no such manner of man. No: it was good hap. 'Tis a good sign, to have wine spilled in ones lap: This makes amends for the salt, Sir. My Uncle committed? Justice it self sent to the Jail? Yes, yes, I remember I have seen you. Let's see—The fourteenth day—bade. I must do no deed of charity to day; I have president for it. it is lost.