Page to deal with poison; I will possess him with yellowness,1 for the revolt of mien is dangerous: that is my true humor. Pist. Thou art the Mars of malcontents: I second thee; troop on. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Dr. Caius's House. Enter MRS. QUICKLY, SIMPLE, and RUGBY. Quick. What; John Rugby!--I pray thee, go to the casement, and see if you can see my master, master Doctor Caius, coming: if he do, i' faith, and find any body in the house, here will be an old abusing of God's patience, and the king's English. Rug. I'll go watch. [Exit RUGBY. Quick. Go; and we'll have a posset for't soon at night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire.-An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come in house withal; and, I warrant you, no tell-tale, nor no breed-bate: 2 his worst fault is, that he is given to prayer; he is something peevish that way: but nobody but has his fault;-but let that pass. Peter Simple, you say, your name is? Sim. Ay, for a fault of a better. Quick. And master Slender's your master? Quick. Does he not wear a great round beard, like a glover's paring knife? Sim. No, forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with a little yellow beard; a Cain-colored beard.3 Quick. A softly-sprighted man, is he not? 4 Sim. Ay, forsooth: but he is as tall a man of his hands, as any is between this and his head; he hath fought with a warrener.5 1 Jealousy. 2 i. e. breeder of debate. 3 It is said that Cain and Judas, in old pictures and tapestry, were con stantly represented with yellow beards. 4 A free version of the French Homme haut à la main. 5 The keeper of a warren. Quick. How say you?-O, I should remember him; Does he `not hold up his head, as it were? and strut in his gait? Sim. Yes, indeed, does he. Quick. Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse fortune ? Tell master parson Evans, I will do what I can your master: Anne is a good girl, and I wish for Re-enter Rugby. Rug. Out, alas! here comes my master. Quick. We shall all be shent:1 Run in here, good young man; go into this closet. [Shuts Simple in the closet.] He will not stay long.-What, John Rugby! John, what, John, I say!-Go, John, go inquire for my master; I doubt, he be not well, that he comes not home-and down, down, adown-a, &c. [Sings. Enter DOCTOR CAIUS. Caius. Vat is you sing? I do not like dese toys; Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier verd; a box, a green-a box; Do intend vat I speak? a-green-a box. Quick. Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you. 1 am glad he went not in himself; if he had found the young man, he would have been horn-mad. [Aside. Caius. Fe, fe, fe, fe! mai foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m'en vais à la Cour,-la grande affaire. Quick. Is it this, sir? Caius. Ouy; mette le au mon pocket; Dépêche, quickly :-Vere is dat knave Rugby? Quick. What, John Rugby! John! Rug. Here, sir. Caius. You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby: Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to de court. Rug. 'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch. Caius. By my trot, I tarry too long:-Od's me! 1 Ruined Qu'ay j'oublié? dere is some simples in my closet, dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave behind. Quick. Ah me! he'll find the young man there, and be mad. Caius. O diable, diable! vat is in my closet?---Villany? larron! [Pulling Simple out.] Rugby, my rapier. Quick. Good master, be content. Caius. Verefore shall I be content-a? Quick. The young man is an honest man. Caius. Vat shall de honest man do in my closet? dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet. Quick. I beseech you, be not so flegmatic; hear the truth of it: He came of an errand to me from son Hugh. Caius. Vell. Sim. Ay, forsooth, to desire her to Quick. Peace, I pray you. par Caius. Peace-a your tongue :--Speak-a your tale. Sim. To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to speak a good word to mistress Anne Page for my master, in the way of marriage. Quick. This is all, indeed, la; but I'll ne'er put my finger in the fire, and need not. Caius. Sir Hugh send-a you?--Rugby, baillez me some paper:-Tarry you a little-awhile. [Writes. Quick. I am glad he is so quiet: if he had been thoroughly moved, you should have heard him so loud, and so melancholy;-But notwithstanding, man, I'll do your master what good I can: and the very yea and the no is, the French doctor, my master,-I may call him my master, look you, for I keep his house; and I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds, and do all myself;- Sim. 'Tis a great charge, to come under one body's hand. Quick. Are you avised o' that? you shall find it a great charge and to be up early, and down late; but notwithstanding (to tell you in your ear; I would have no words of it;) my master himself is in love |