Act IV

SCENE I.—A Street.

Enter JASPER and Boy.

Jasp . There, boy, deliver this; but do it well.
Hast thou provided me four lusty fellows,

[ Gives a letter .

Boy . Sir, you need not fear;
I have my lesson here, and cannot miss it:
The men are ready for you, and what else
Pertains to this employment.

Jasp . There, my boy;
Take it, but buy no land.

[ Gives money .

Boy . Faith, sir, ’twere rare
To see so young a purchaser. I fly,
And on my wings carry your destiny.

Jasp . Go, and be happy! [ Exit Boy .] Now, my latest hope,
Forsake me not, but fling thy anchor out,
And let it hold! Stand fixed, thou rolling stone,
Till I enjoy my dearest! Hear me, all
You powers, that rule in men, celestial!

[ Exit .

[ Wife . Go thy ways; thou art as crooked a sprig as ever grew in London. I warrant him, he’ll come to some naughty end or other; for his looks say no less: besides, his father (you know, George) is none of the best; you heard him take me up like a flirt-gill, and sing bawdy songs upon me; but, i’faith, if I live, George,—

Cit . Let me alone, sweetheart: I have a trick in my head shall lodge him in the Arches for one year, and make him sing peccavi ere I leave him; and yet he shall never know who hurt him neither.

Wife . Do, my good George, do!

Cit . What shall we have Ralph do now, boy?

Boy . You shall have what you will, sir.

Cit . Why, so, sir; go and fetch me him then, and let the
Sophy of Persia come and christen him a child.

Boy . Believe me, sir, that will not do so well; ’tis stale; it has been had before at the Red Bull.

Wife . George, let Ralph travel over great hills, and let him be very weary, and come to the King of Cracovia’s house, covered with black velvet; and there let the king’s daughter stand in her window, all in beaten gold, combing her golden locks with a comb of ivory; and let her spy Ralph, and fall in love with him, and come down to him, and carry him into her father’s house; and then let Ralph talk with her.

Cit . Well said, Nell; it shall be so.—Boy, let’s ha’t done quickly.

Boy . Sir, if you will imagine all this to be done already, you shall hear them talk together; but we cannot present a house covered with black velvet, and a lady in beaten gold.

Cit . Sir boy, let’s ha’t as you can, then.

Boy . Besides, it will show ill-favouredly to have a grocer’s prentice to court a king’s daughter.