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Mist. Mer . Come, Michael; art thou not weary, boy? Mich . No, forsooth, mother, not I. Mist. Mer . Where be we now, child? Mich . Indeed, forsooth, mother, I cannot tell, unless we be at Mile-End: Is not all the world Mile-End, mother? Mist. Mer . No, Michael, not all the world, boy; but I can assure thee, Michael, Mile End is a goodly matter: there has been a pitchfield, my child, between the naughty Spaniels and the Englishmen; and the Spaniels ran away, Michael, and the Englishmen followed: my neighbour Coxstone was there, boy, and killed them all with a birding-piece. Mich . Mother, forsooth Mist. Mer . What says my white boy? Mich . Shall not my father go with us too? Mist. Mer . No, Michael, let thy father go snick - up; he shall never come between a pair of sheets with me again while he lives; let him stay at home, and sing for his supper, boy. Come, child, sit down, and Ill show my boy fine knacks, indeed. [They sit down: and she takes out a casket .] Look here, Michael; heres a ring, and heres a brooch, and heres a bracelet, and heres two rings more, and heres money and gold by theye, my boy. Mich . Shall I have all this, mother? Mist. Mer . Ay, Michael, thou shalt have all, Michael. [Cit . How likest thou this, wench? Wife . I cannot tell; I would have Ralph, George; Ill see no more else, indeed, la; and I pray you, let the youths understand so much by word of mouth; for, I tell you truly, Im afraid o my boy. Come, come, George, lets be merry and wise: the childs a fatherless child; and say they should put him into a strait pair of gaskins, twere worse than knot-grass; he would never grow after it.] Enter Ralph, Tim, and George. [Cit . Heres Ralph, heres Ralph! Wife . How do you do, Ralph? you are welcome, Ralph, as I may say; its a good boy, hold up thy head, and be not afraid; we are thy friends, Ralph; the gentlemen will praise thee, Ralph, if thou playest thy part with audacity. Begin, Ralph, a Gods name!] Ralph . My trusty squire, unlace my helm: give me my hat. Where are we, or what desert may this be? George . Mirror of knighthood, this is, as I take it, the perilous Waltham-down; in whose bottom stands the enchanted valley. Mist. Mer . Oh, Michael, we are betrayed, we are betrayed! here be giants! Fly, boy! fly, boy, fly! [Exit with Michael leaving the casket . Ralph . Lace on my helm again. What noise is this? |
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