Not Peer Reviewed
- Edition: As You Like It
Everyman In His Humor (Modern)
- Introduction
- Texts of this edition
- Contextual materials
- Facsimiles
Was your man a soldier, sir?
Ay, a knave. I took him up begging upon the way, this morning as I was coming to the city.
Marry, God's my comfort, where I thought I should have had little comfort of Your Worship's service.
How so?
Oh, God, sir! Your coming to the city, and your entertainment 1764of me, and your sending me to watch -- indeed, all the circumstances are 1765as open to your son as to yourself.
How should that be? Unless that villain Musco
I'faith, you have hit it; 'tis so, indeed.
But how should he know thee to be my man?
Nay, sir, I cannot tell, unless it were by the black art. Is not your son a scholar, sir?
Yes, but I hope his soul is not allied
Nay, sir, rather you should ask where they found me, for 1778I'll be sworn I was going along in the street, thinking nothing, when of 1779a sudden one calls, "Signor Lorenzo's man!" Another, he cries, "Soldier!" And thus half a dozen 1780of them, till they had got me within doors, where I no sooner came 1781but out flies their rapiers and, all bent against my breast, they swore some 1782two or three hundred oaths, and all to tell me I was but a 1783dead man if I did not confess where you were, and how I was 1784employed, and about what. Which, when they could not get out of me -- 1785as God's my judge, they should have killed me first -- they locked me 1786up into a room in the top of a house, where by great miracle, 1787having a light heart, I slid down by a bottom of packthread into the 1788street and so scaped. But master, thus much I can assure you, for I 1789heard it while I was locked up: there were a great many merchants and 1790rich citizens' wives with them at a banquet, and your son, Signor Lorenzo, has 1791pointed one of them to meet anon at one Cob's house, a waterbearer's, that 1792dwells by the wall. Now there you shall be sure to take him, for fail he will not.
Nor will I fail to break this match, I doubt not.
Ay, sir, there you shall have him.
4.1.281798[Aside] When, can you tell? Much wench or much son! 'Sblood, 1799when he has stayed there three or four hours, travailing with the expectation of 1800somewhat, and at the length be delivered of nothing -- oh, the sport that 1801I should then take to look on him if I durst! But now I 1802mean to appear no more afore him in this shape; I have another trick 1803to act yet. Oh, that I were so happy as to light upon an 1804ounce now of this doctor's clerk! [To Peto] God save you, sir.
I thank you, good sir.
I have made you stay somewhat long, sir.
Not a whit, sir. I pray you, what, sir, do you mean? You have been lately in the wars, sir, it seems.
Ay, marry, have I, sir.
Troth, sir, I would be glad to bestow a pottle of wine of you, if it please you to accept it --
Oh, Lord, sir!
But to hear the manner of your services and your devices 1812in the wars. They say they be very strange, and not like those a 1813man reads in the Roman histories.
Oh, God, no, sir. Why, at any time when it please 1815you I shall be ready to discourse to you what I know. [Aside] 1816And more too, somewhat.
No better time than now, sir. We'll go to the Mermaid. 1818There we shall have a cup of neat wine. I pray you, sir, let 1819me request you.
I'll follow you, sir. [Aside] He is mine own, i'faith.
Exeunt.