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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
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The Puritan Widow (Folio 3, 1664)

Author: Anonymous
Not Peer Reviewed
The Puritan Widow.
65
prest to death with Actions, but not to happy as speedily;
perhaps I may be forty year a pressing till I be a thin old
man, that looking through the grates, men may look
1235through me; all my means is confounded, what shall I
do? has my wit served me so long, and now give me the
slip (like a train'd servant) when I have most need of
'em: no device to keep my poor carcase from these Put-
tocks?---yes, happinesse, have I a paper about me now?
1240yes too, I'le try it, it may hit, Extremity is Touch-stone
unto wit, I, I.
Put. 'Sfoot how many yards are in thy Garters, that
thou art so lo long a tying on them? come away sir.
Pye. Troth Serjeant I protest; you could never ha
1245took me at a worse time, for now at this instant, I have
no lawfull picture about me.
Put. 'Slid how shall we come by our fees then.
Rav. We must have fees, sirra.
Pye. I could have wisht ifaith, that you had took me
1250halfe an hour hence for your own sake, for I protest if
you had not crost me, I was going in great joy to receive
five pound of a Gentleman, for the Device of a Mask
here, drawn in this paper but now, come, I must be con-
tented, 'tis but so much lost, and answerable to the rest of
1255my fortunes.
Put. Why how far hence dwells that Gentleman?
Rav. I, well said Serjeant, 'tis good to cast about for
mony.
Put. Speak, if it be not far---
1260Pye. We are but a little past it, the next streeet behind us.
Put. 'Slid we have waited upon you grievously already,
if you'll say you'll be liberal when you ha't, give us double
fees, and spend upon's, why we'll show you that kind-
ness, and go along with you to the Gentleman.
1265Rav I, well said still Serjeant, urge that.
Pye. Troth if it will suffice, it shall all be among you,
for my part I'le not pocket a penny, my Hostess shall
have her four pound five shillings, and bate me the five
pence, and the other fifteen shillings I'le spend upon you.
1270Ravinish. Why now thou art a good Schollar.
Put. An excellent Schollar ifaith; has proceeded very
well alate; come, we'll along with you.
Exeunt with him, passing in they knock at the
door with a knocker withinside.
1275Ser. Who knocks, whose at door? we had need of a
Porter.
Pye. A few friends here.---pray is the Gentleman
your Master within?
Ser. Yes, is your business to him?
1280Pye. I, he knows it, when he sees me:
I pray you, have you forgot me.
Ser. I by my troth, sir, pray come near, I'le in and
tell him of you, please you to walk here in the Gallery till
he comes.
1285Pye. We will attend his worship,---worship I think,
for so much the posts at his door should signifie, and the
fair coming in, and the wicket, else I neither knew him
nor his worship, but 'tis happiness he is within doors,
what so'ere he be, if he be not too much a formal Citizen,
1290he may do me good: Serjeant and Yeoman, how do you
like this house, is't not most wholsomely plotted?
Rav. Troth prisoner, an exceeding fine house.
Pye. Yet I wonder how he should forget me, for he
ne're knew me: No matter, what is forgot in you, will be
1295remembred in your Master.
A pritty comfortable room this methinks:
You have no such roomes in prison now?
Put. Oh dog-holes to't.
Pye. Dog-holes indeed---I can tell you I have great
1300hope to have my Chamber here shortly, nay and dyet
too, for he's the most free-hearted'st Gentleman where he
takes: you would little think it? and what a fine Gallery
were here for me to walk and study, and make verses.
Put. O it stands pleasantly for a Schollar.

1305
Enter Gentleman.

Pye. Look what maps, and pictures, and devices, and
things, neatly, delicately? Masse here he comes, he should
be a Gentleman, I like his Beard well;---All happinesse
to your worship.
1310Gent. You're kindly welcome, sir.
Put. A simple salutation.
Rav. Masse it seems the Gentleman makes great ac-
count of him.
Gent. I have the thing here for you, sir.
1315Pye. I beseech you, conceal me sir, I'm undone else,---
I have the Mask here for you sir, Look you sir,---I be-
seech your worship, first pardon my rudenesse, for my
extreams makes me boulder then I would be; I am a poor
Gentleman and a Schollar, and now most unfortunately
1320falne into the hands of unmercifull Officers, arrested for
debt, which though small, I am not able to compasse, by
reason I'm destitute of lands, mony, and friends, so that
if I fall into the hungry swallow of the prison, I am like
utterly to perish, and with fees and extortions be pincht
1325clean to the bone: Now, if ever pitty had interest in the
bloud of a Gentleman, I beseech you vouchsafe but to
favour that means of my escape, which I have already
thought upon.
Gent. Go forward.
1330Put. I warrant he likes it rarely.
Pye. In the plunge of my extremities, being giddy,
and doubtfull what to do; at last it was put in my labour-
ing thoughts, to make a happy use of this paper, and to
blear their unlettered eyes, I told them there was a Device
1335for a Mask drawn in't, and that (but for their intercep-
tion,) I was going to a Gentleman to receive my reward
for't: they greedy at this word, and hoping to make pur-
chase of me, offered their attendance, to go along with
me, my hap was to make bold with your door, sir, which
1340my thoughts shew'd me the most fairest and comfortablest
entrance, and I hope I have happened right upon under-
standing, and pitty: may it please your good worship
then, but to uphold my Device, which is to let one of your
men put me out at a back door, and I shall be bound to
1345your worship for ever.
Gent. By my troth, an excellent Device.
Put. An excellent Device he sayes; he likes it won-
derfully.
Gent. A my faith, I never heard a better.
1350Raven. Hark, he swears he never heard a better,
Serjeant.
Put. O there's no talk on't, he's an excellent Schollar,
and especially for a Mask.
Gent. Give me your Paper, your Device; I was never
1355better pleas'd in all my life: good wit, brave wit, finely
wrought, come in sir, and receive your mony, sir.
Pye. I'le follow your good Worship,---
You heard how he like't it now?
Put. Puh, we know he could not choose but like it:
1360go thy wayes, thou art a fine witty fellow ifaith, thou
shalt discourse it to us at the Tavern anon, wilt thou?
D[1r]
Pye. I,