A Select Collection of Old English Plays
Chapter 238 : No more prating, but get thee hence at once!JENKIN CAREAWAY.Why, my master hath sent m

No more prating, but get thee hence at once!

JENKIN CAREAWAY.

Why, my master hath sent me home in[185] his message--

JACK JUGGLER.

Pick and walk, a knave, here away is no pa.s.sage--

JENKIN CAREAWAY.

What, wilt thou let me from mine own master's house?

JACK JUGGLER.

Be tredging, or in faith you bear me a souse.[186]

Here my master and I have our habitation, And hath continually dwelled in this mansion, At the least this dozen years and odd; And here woll we end our lives, by the grace of G.o.d.

JENKIN CAREAWAY.

Why, then, where shall my master and I dwell?

JACK JUGGLER.

At the devil, if you l.u.s.t: I cannot tell.

JENKIN CAREAWAY.

_In nomine patris_, now this gear doth pa.s.s: For a little before supper here our house was; And this day in the morning I woll on a book swear, That my master and I both dwelled here.

JACK JUGGLER.

Who is thy master? tell me without lie, And thine own name also let me know shortly; For, my masters all, let me have the blame, If this knave know his master or his own name.

CAREAWAY.

My master's name is Master Bongrace: I have dwelled with him a long s.p.a.ce; And I am Jenkin Careaway his page--

JACK JUGGLER.

What, ye drunken knave, begin you to rage!

Take that: art thou Master Bongrace's page?

[_Strikes him_.

CAREAWAY.

It I be not, I have made a very good voyage--

JACK JUGGLER.

Barest thou to my face say thou art I?

CAREAWAY.

I would it were true and no lie; For then thou shouldest smart, and I should bet,[187]

Where as now I do all the blows get.

JACK JUGGLER.

And is Master Bongrace thy master, doest you then say?

CAREAWAY.

I woll swear on a book, he was once this day--

JACK JUGGLER.

And for that thou shalt somewhat have, Because thou presumest, like a saucy lying knave, To say my master is thine. Who is thy master now?

[_Strikes him again_.

CAREAWAY.

By my troth, sir, whosoever please you: I am your own, for you beat me so, As no man but my master should do.

JACK JUGGLER.

I woll handle thee better, if fault be not in fist-- [_Prepares to strike him_.

CAREAWAY.

Help! save my life, masters, for the pa.s.sion of Christ!

JACK JUGGLER.

Why, thou lousy thief, dost thou cry and roar?--

CAREAWAY.

No, faith, I woll not cry one whit more: Save my life, help, or I am slain--

JACK JUGGLER.

Yea, dost thou make a rumouring yet again?

Did not I bid thee hold thy peace?--

CAREAWAY.

In faith, now I leave crying; now I cease: help, help!

JACK JUGGLER.

Who is thy master?

CAREAWAY.

Master Bongrace--

JACK JUGGLER.

I woll make thee change that song, ere we pa.s.s this place; For he is my master, and again to thee I say, That I am his Jenkin Careaway.

Who art thou? now tell me plain.

CAREAWAY.

n.o.body but whom please you, certain--

JACK JUGGLER.

Thou saidest even now thy name was Careaway?

CAREAWAY.

I cry you mercy, sir, and forgiveness pray: I said amiss, because it was so to-day; And thought it should have continued alway, Like a fool as I am and a drunken knave.

But in faith, sir, ye see all the wit I have, Therefore I beseech you do me no more blame, But give me a new master and another name.

For it would grieve my heart, so help me G.o.d, To run about the streets like a masterless nod.[188]

JACK JUGGLER.

I am he that thou saidest thou were, And Master Bongrace is my master, that dwelleth here; Thou art no point, Careaway; thy wits do thee fail.