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  • Title: The Puritan (Folio 3, 1664)

    • Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Authors: Thomas Middleton, William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Puritan (Folio 3, 1664)

    65
    The Puritan Widow.
    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.

    1305Enter 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?
    Pye. I,
    D[1r]
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