311Strum. Either the four Elements, the seven Planets

312and all the particular Starrs of the Pole Antastick, are

313adversitive against me, or else I was begotten and born

314in the wain of the Moon, when every thing, as

315Lactantius in his fourth book of Constultations doth

316say, goeth arsward. I Masters, I, you may laugh, but

317I must weep; you may joy, but I must sorrow; shed-

318ding salt tears from the watry fountains of my moist

319dainty fair eyes, along my comely and smooth cheeks, in as

320great plenty as the water runneth from the bucking-tubs,

321or red wine out of the Hogs-heads: for trust me gentle-

322men and my very good friends, and so forth: the little

323god, nay the desperate god Cuprit, with one of his

324vengible bird-bolts, hath shot me unto the heel: so not

325only, but also, oh fine phrase, I burn, I burn, and

326I burn a, in love, in love, and in love a, ah Strum-

327bo, what hast thou seen, not Dina with the Asse Tom?

328Yea with these eyes thou hast seen her, and therefore

329pull them out: for they will work thy bail. Ah Strum-

330bo,hast thou heard the voice of the Nightingale, but a

331voice sweeter then hers, yea with these ears hast thou

332heard them, and therefore cut them off, for they have

333caus'd thy sorrow. Nay Strumbo, kill thy self, drown

334thy self, hang thy self, starve thy self. Oh but then

335I shall leave my sweet heart. Oh my heart! Now pate

336for thy Master, I will dite an aliquant love-pistle to her,

337and then she hearing the grand verbosity of my scripture,

338will love me presently,

340My pen is naught, Gentlemen lend me a knife, I think

341the more haste the worst speed.

343 So it is, Mistris Dorothie, and the sole essence of

344my soul, that the little sparkles of affection kindled in

345me towards your sweet self, hath now increased to a great

346flame, and will ere it be long consume my poor heart,

347except you with the pleasant water of your secret foun-

348tain, quench the furious heat of the same. Alass, I am a

349Gentleman of good fame, and name, majesticall, in ap-

350parell comely, in gate portly. Let not therefore your gen-

351tle heart be so hard, as to despise a proper tall young

352man of a handsome life, and by despising him, not only

353but also to kill him. Thus expecting time and tide, I bid

354you farewell. Your Servant, Signior Strumbo.

355 Oh wit, O pate, O memory, O hand, O Ink, O paper.

356Well, now I will send it away. Trompart, Trompart,

357what a Villain is this? Why sirrha, come when your

358Master calls you. Trompart.

360Anon, sir.

361Strumbo. Thou knowest, my pretty Boy, what a good

362Master I have been to thee ever since I took thee into my

363 service.

364Trom. I, sir.

365Srum. And how I have cherished thee alwayes, as if

366thou hadst been the fruit of my loynes, flesh of my flesh,

367and bone of my bone.

368Trom. I, sir.

369Strum. Then shew thy self herein a trusty servant, and

370carry this Letter to Mistress Dorothy, and tell her.

373Strum. Nay, Masters, you shall see a Marriage by

374and by. But here she comes. Now must I frame my a-

375morous passions.

377Doro. Signior Strumbo, well met, I received your

378Letters by your man here, who told me a pittifull story

379of your anguish, and so understanding your passions were

380so great, I came hither speedily.

381Strum. Oh, my sweet and pigsney, the fecundity

382of my ingenie is not so great, that may declare unto you

383the sorrowfull sobs, and broken sleeps that I suffered for

384your sake; and therefore I desire you to receive me into

385your familiarity.

392Dor. Truly, M. Strumbo, you speak too learnedly

393for me to understand the drift of your mind, and there-

394fore tell your tale in plain termes, and leave off your dark

395riddles.

396Strum. Alass, Mistresse Dorothy, this is my luck, that

397when I most would, I cannot be understood: so that my

398great learning is an inconvenience unto me. But to

399speak in plain termes, I love you, Mistresse Dorothy, if

400you like to accept me into your familiarity.

401Dor. If this be all I am content.

403Strum. Say'st thou so, sweet wench, let me lick thy

404Toes. Farewell, Mistresse. If any of you be in love,

405provide ye a Cap-case full of new coyn'd words, and

406then shall you soon have the succado de labres, and some-

407thing else.