A carriage, and a gay one--who alights?
Pshaw! Only Master Walter! What see you, Which thus repairs the arch of the fair brow, A frown was like to spoil?--A gentleman!
One of our town kings! Mark!--How say you now?
Wouldst be a town queen, Julia? Which of us, I wonder, comes he for?
Julia. For neither of us;
He's Master Walter's clerk, most like.
Helen. Most like!
Mark him as he comes up the avenue;
So looks a clerk! A clerk has such a gait!
So does a clerk dress, Julia!--mind his hose -They're very like a clerk's! a diamond loop And button, note you, for his clerkship's hat, -O, certainly a clerk! A velvet cloak, Jerkin of silk, and doublet of the same, -For all the world a clerk! See, Julia, see, How Master Walter bows, and yields him place, That he may first go in--a very clerk!
I'll learn of thee, love, when I'd know a clerk!
Julia. I wonder who he is!
Helen. Wouldst like to know?
Wouldst for a fancy ride to town with him?
I prophesy he comes to take thee thither!
Julia. He ne'er takes me to town! No, Helen, no!
To town who will, a country life for me!
Helen. We'll see!
[Enter FATHOM.]
Fath. You're wanted, madam.
Julia. [Embarrassed.] Which of us?
Fath. You, madam.
Helen. Julia! what's the matter? Nay, Mount not the rose so soon! He must not see it A month hence. 'Tis loves flower, which once she wears, The maid is all his own.
Julia. Go to!
Helen. Be sure He comes to woo thee! He will bear thee hence;He'll make thee change the country for the town.
Julia. I'm constancy. Name he the town to me, I'll tell what I think on't!
Helen. Then you guess He comes a wooing?
Julia. I guess nought.
Helen. You do!
At your grave words, your lips, more honest, smile, And show them to be traitors. Hie to him.
Julia. Hie thee to soberness.
[Goes out.]
Helen. Ay, will I, when, Thy bridemaid, I shall hie to church with thee.
Well, Fathom, who is come?
Fath. I know not.
Helen. What! Didst thou not hear his name?
Fath. I did.
Helen. What is't?
Fath. I noted not.
Helen. What hast thou ears for, then?
Fath. What good were it for me to mind his name?
I do but what I must do. To do that Is labour quite enough!
Wal. [Without.] What, Fathom!
Fath. Here.
Wal. [Entering.] Here, sirrah! Wherefore didst not come to me?
Fath. You did not bid me come.
Wal. I called thee.
Fath. Yes.
And I said "Here;" and waited then to know Your worship's will with me.
Wal. We go to town.
Thy mistress, thou, and all the house.
Fath. Well, sir?
Wal. Mak'st thou not ready then to go to town?
Hence, knave, despatch!
[FATHOM goes out.]
Helen. Go we to town?
Wal. We do;
'Tis now her father's will she sees the town.
Helen. I'm glad on't. Goes she to her father?
Wal. No:
At the desire of thine she for a term shares roof with thee.
Helen. I'm very glad on't.
Wal. What!
You like her, then? I thought you would. 'Tis time She sees the town.
Helen. It has been time for that These six years.
Wal. By thy wisdom's count. No doubt You've told her what a precious place it is.
Helen. I have.
Wal. I even guessed as much. For that I told thee of her; brought thee here to see her;And prayed thee to sojourn a space with her;
That its fair space, from thy too fair report, Might strike a novice less--so less deceive her.
I did not put thee under check.
Helen. 'Twas right, -
Else had I broken loose, and run the wilder!
So knows she not her father yet: that's strange.
I prithee how does mine?
Wal. Well--very well.
News for thee.
Helen. What?
Wal. Thy cousin is in town.
Helen. My cousin Modus?
Wal. Much do I suspect That cousin's nearer to thy heart than blood.
Helen. Pshaw! Wed me to a musty library!
Love him who nothing loves but Greek and Latin!
But, Master Walter, you forget the main Surpassing point of all! Who's come with you?
Wal. Ay, that's the question!
Helen. Is he soldier or Civilian? lord or gentleman? He's rich, If that's his chariot! Where is his estate?
What brings it in? Six thousand pounds a year?
Twelve thousand, may be! Is he bachelor, Or husband? Bachelor I'm sure he is Comes he not hither wooing, Master Walter?
Nay, prithee, answer me!
Wal. Who says thy sex Are curious? That they're patient, I'll be sworn;And reasonable--very reasonable -
To look for twenty answers in a breath!
Come, thou shalt be enlightened--but propound Thy questions one by one! Thou'rt far too apt A scholar! My ability to teach Will ne'er keep pace, I fear, with thine to learn.
[They go out.]
