TIB. Why, what's the matter?

COB. Oh, he hath basted me rarely, sumptuously: but I have it here will sauce him, oh, the doctor, the honestest old Trojan in all Italy, I do honour the very flea of his dog: a plague on him, he put me once in a villainous filthy fear: marry, it vanish'd away like the smoke of tobacco: but I was smok'd soundly first, I thank the devil, and his good angel my guest: well, wife, or Tib, (which you will) get you in, and lock the door, I charge you; let n.o.body into you, not Bobadilla himself, nor the devil in his likeness; you are a woman; you have flesh and blood enough in you; therefore be not tempted; keep the door shut upon all comers.

TIB. I warrant you there shall n.o.body enter here without my consent.

COB. Nor with your consent, sweet Tib, and so I leave you.

TIB. It's more than you know, whether you leave me so.

COB. How?

TIB. Why, sweet.

COB. Tut, sweet or sour, thou art a flower.

Keep close thy door, I ask no more.

[EXEUNT.]

ACT III. SCENE VI.

ENTER LORENZO JUN., PROSPERO, STEPHANO, MUSCO.

LOR JU. Well, Musco, perform this business happily, And thou makest a conquest of my love for ever.

PROS. I'faith, now let thy spirits put on their best habit, But at any hand remember thy message to my brother, For there's no other means to start him.

MUS. I warrant you, sir, fear nothing; I have a nimble soul that hath waked all my imaginative forces by this time, and put them in true motion: what you have possest me withal, I'll discharge it amply, sir. Make no question.

[EXIT MUSCO.]

PROS. That's well said, Musco: faith, sirrah, how dost thou approve my wit in this device?

LOR JU. Troth, well, howsoever; but excellent if it take.

PROS. Take, man: why, it cannot choose but take, if the circ.u.mstances miscarry not, but tell me zealously: dost thou affect my sister Hesperida, as thou pretendest?

LOR JU. Prospero, by Jesu.

PROS. Come, do not protest, I believe thee: i'faith, she is a virgin of good ornament, and much modesty, unless I conceived very worthily of her, thou shouldest not have her.

LOR JU. Nay, I think it a question whether I shall have her for all that.

PROS. 'Sblood, thou shalt have her, by this light, thou shalt!

LOR JU. Nay, do not swear.

PROS. By St. Mark, thou shalt have her: I'll go fetch her presently, 'point but where to meet, and by this hand, I'll bring her!

LOR JU. Hold, hold, what, all policy dead? no prevention of mischiefs stirring.

PROS. Why, by -- what shall I swear by? thou shalt have her, by my soul.

LOR. JU. I pray thee have patience, I am satisfied: Prospero, omit no offered occasion that may make my desires complete, I beseech thee.

PROS. I warrant thee.

[EXEUNT.]

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

ENTER LORENZO SEN., PETO, MEETING MUSCO.

PETO. Was your man a soldier, sir?

LOR. SE. Ay, a knave, I took him up begging upon the way, This morning as I was coming to the city.

Oh! here he is; come on, you make fair speed: Why, where in G.o.d's name have you been so long?

MUS. Marry, (G.o.d's my comfort) where I thought I should have had little comfort of your worship's service.

LOR. SE. How so?

MUS. O G.o.d, sir! your coming to the city, and your entertainment of men, and your sending me to watch; indeed, all the circ.u.mstances are as open to your son as to yourself.

LOR. SE. How should that be? Unless that villain Musco Have told him of the letter, and discovered All that I strictly charged him to conceal? 'tis so.

MUS. I'faith, you have hit it: 'tis so indeed.

LOR. SE. But how should he know thee to be my man?

MUS. Nay, sir, I cannot tell; unless it were by the black art? is not your son a scholar, sir?

LOR. SE. Yes; but I hope his soul is not allied To such a devilish practice: if it were, I had just cause to weep my part in him.

And curse the time of his creation.

But where didst thou find them, Portensio?

MUS. Nay, sir, rather you should ask where they found me?

for I'll be sworn I was going along in the street, thinking nothing, when (of a sudden) one calls, "Signior Lorenzo's man": another, he cries "soldier": and thus half a dozen of them, till they had got me within doors, where I no sooner came, but out flies their rapiers and all bent against my breast, they swore some two or three hundred oaths, and all to tell me I was but a dead man, if I did not confess where you were, and how I was employed, and about what; which, when they could not get out of me, (as G.o.d's my judge, they should have kill'd me first,) they lock'd me up into a room in the top of a house, where, by great miracle, (having a light heart) I slid down by a bottom of packthread into the street, and so scaped: but, master, thus much I can a.s.sure you, for I heard it while I was lock'd up: there were a great many merchants and rich citizens' wives with them at a banquet, and your son, Signior Lorenzo, has 'pointed one of them to meet anon at one Cob's house, a water-bearer's, that dwells by the wall: now there you shall be sure to take him: for fail he will not.

LOR. SE. Nor will I fail to break this match, I doubt not; Well, go thou along with master Doctor's man, And stay there for me; at one Cob's house, say'st thou?

[EXIT.]