Latest / The Witch of Edmonton / Act III
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- 0:00Act three of The Witch of Edmonton by William Rowley, Thomas Decker and John
- 0:05Ford. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public
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- 0:15Act the third scene one the village Green enter Cuddy Banks with the Morris dancers.
- 0:21Nay, Cuddy, prithy, do not leave us now. If we
- 0:24part all this night, we shall not meet before day. Hye, prithee
- 0:29Banks. Let us keep together. If you were wise, a word would
- 0:34serve. But as you are, I must be forced to tell you again.
- 0:38I have a little private business. At hour's work. It may prove
- 0:43but half hours, as luck may serve. And then I take horse,
- 0:48and along with you have we air a witch in the Morris No, no,
- 0:54no woman's part, but made Marion and the hobby horse. I'll have
- 0:59a witch. I love a witch. Faith whiches themselves are so common nowadays
- 1:06that the counterfet will not be regarded. They say, we have three or
- 1:10four in Edmonton besides mother Sawyer. I wish you would dance apart with us,
- 1:15so would not I? For if she comes the devil and all comes
- 1:19along with her. Well, i'll have a witch. I have loved a
- 1:23witch ever since I played at Cherry Pitt. Leave me and get my horse
- 1:29dressed. Give him oats, but water him not till I come. Whither
- 1:34Do we put it first to Sir Alpha Clarington's first, then whether thou wilt?
- 1:40Well, I am content, But we must up to Carter's the rich
- 1:45yeomen, I must be seen on hobby horse there. Oh, I smell
- 1:49him, now, I'll lay my ears. Banks is in love and that's
- 1:53the reason he would walk melancholy by himself. A ha, Who was that
- 1:57said? I was in love? Not I nor I go to no more
- 2:04of that. When I understand what you speak, I know what you say.
- 2:08Believe that well twas I I'll not deny it. I meant know her.
- 2:15I have seen you walk up to carts of Chesham Banks. Were you
- 2:20not there last shrove Tide? Yes? I was ten days together there the
- 2:24last shrovetide? How could that be when there are but seven days in a
- 2:29week? Pretty peace, I reckon style and nover as a traveler. Thou
- 2:35understandest as a fresh water farmer that never saw a week beyond sea. Ask
- 2:40any soldier that ever received his pay. But in the low countries, and
- 2:46he'll tell they're there are eight days in the week. They're hard by how
- 2:50dost they'll think they rise in High Germany, Italy and those remoter places.
- 2:55Oh, but simply there are but seven days in the week. Yet no,
- 3:00simply, as thou understandest, privy look, But in the lover's almanac,
- 3:06when he has been but three days absent, oh says he, I
- 3:10have not seen my love these seven years. There's a long cut when he
- 3:16comes to her again and embraces her. Oh, says he. Now methinks
- 3:22I am in heaven. And that's a pretty step. He that can get
- 3:27up to heaven in ten days need not repent his journey. You may ride
- 3:31a hundred days in Karosh and be further off than when you set forth.
- 3:37But I pray you good Morris mates. Now leave me. I'll be with
- 3:43you by midnight. Well, since he will be alone, we'll be back
- 3:47again and trouble him no more. But remember Banks the hobby horse shall be
- 3:53remembered. But hark you get Paul Davis, the barber's boy, for the
- 3:58witch, because he can show his art better than another except Albert cuddy.
- 4:02Well, Now to my walk. I'm near the place where I should meet.
- 4:09I know not what. Say I meet a thief, I must follow
- 4:14him? If to the gallows, say I meet a horse, or a
- 4:18hare or a hound. Still I must follow some slow paced beast. I
- 4:26hope. Yet love is full of lightness in the heaviest lovers. Ha My
- 4:32guide has come, And to the dock a water dog. I am thy
- 4:38first man's sculler. I go with thee ply no other but myself away with
- 4:45the boat land be but at Catherine's dock, my sweet Catherine's dock. And
- 4:51I'll be a fair to thee that way. Nay, which way thou wilt?
- 4:58Thou knowest the way better than I? Fine gentle curages and well brought
- 5:04up, I worried him. We go a ducking spaniel. Thou shalt fetch
- 5:11me the ducks, pretty kind rascal, enter a spirit vizarded. He throws
- 5:16off his mask, etc. And it appears in the shape of Catherine.
- 5:20Thus throw off my own essential horror, and take the shape of a sweet,
- 5:25lovely maid, whom this fall oates on. We can meet his fully,
- 5:30but from his virtues must be runaways. We'll sport with him. But
- 5:33when he rack him and call, we know where to receive the witch pace
- 5:38for all the dog box. Oh, I is that the watch word?
- 5:44She's come, sees the spirit. Well, if ever we be married,
- 5:48it shall be a barking church in memory of thee. Now come behind,
- 5:55kind cur and have I met thee, sweet Kate, I will teach THEE
- 6:00to walk so late? Oh see we meet in meter. The spirit retires
- 6:06as he advances. What dost thou trick from me? Oh? That I
- 6:12were upon my hobby horse, I would mount thee so nimble. Stay Nymph,
- 6:17stay Nymph, sin Apollo, tarry and kiss me, sweet Nymph,
- 6:24Stay tarry and kiss me sweet. We will too Chessham Street, and then
- 6:30to the house stands in the highway. Nay, by your leave, I
- 6:36must embrace you, exit following the spirit within. Oh help help, I'm
- 6:46drowned. I am drowned. Re enter Cuddy wet. That was an ill
- 6:53night to go a wooing in I find it now and ponds out the nat
- 6:59thinking a land at Catherine's dock, that was almost at graves End. I'll
- 7:04never go to a wench at the dog days again. Yet tis cool enough
- 7:12had you never ab pour in this dog trick and mange take that black heard
- 7:16of yours. I'll throw you in a limehouse, in some tanner's pit or
- 7:20other. How now who's that laughs at me? His to him the darkbacks?
- 7:30Peace? Peace? That'll knit this? But thy kind of neither twas
- 7:36my own fault? Take heed? How thou trustest the devil? Another time?
- 7:44How? Now? Who's that speaks? I hope you have not your
- 7:48reading tongue about you. Yes, I can speak the devil? You can
- 7:55you have ready SOPs fables? Then I've played one of your. Then the
- 8:01dog that catch at the shadow in the water. Pray you let me catechise
- 8:07you a little? What might one call your name? Dog? My dame
- 8:13calls me Tom tis well, and she may call me ass. So there's
- 8:18a whole one betwixt us Tom ass. She said I should follow you.
- 8:26Indeed, well, Tom, give me thy fist. We are friends.
- 8:31You shall be mine Ingle. I love you, but I pray you let's
- 8:37have no more of these ducking devices. Not if you love me. Dogs
- 8:43love where they are beloved, Cherish me, and I'll do anything for thee.
- 8:50Well, you shall have jowls and livers I have butchers to my friends
- 8:56that shall be stoem, and I will keep crusts and bones for you if
- 9:01you'll be a kind dog, Tom, anything I'll help thee to thy love.
- 9:07Wilt thou that promise? She'll cost me a brown loaf, though I
- 9:13steal it out of my father's cupboard. You'll eat stolen goods, Tom,
- 9:18would you not, oh? Best of all the sweetest bits, those you
- 9:24shall not starve, Ningle, Tom, believe that if you love fish,
- 9:31I'll help you to maids and soles. I'm acquainted with a fishmonger. Maids
- 9:37and soles, Oh sweet bits, banqueting stuff. Those one thing I would
- 9:45request you, Ningle, as you have played the navesh cur with me a
- 9:50little that you would mingle amongst our Morris dancers in the morning you can dance,
- 9:58Yes, yes, anything. I'll be there, but unseen to any
- 10:03but thyself. Get thee gone before fear not my presence. I have work
- 10:11tonight. I serve more masters, more dames than one. He can serve
- 10:16Memon and the devil too. It shall concern thee and thy love's purchase.
- 10:24There is a gallant rival loves the maid and likely is to have her mark.
- 10:30What a mischief before the Morris ends shall light on him? Oh sweet
- 10:35ningle thy noof once again, friends must part for a time. Farewell with
- 10:43this remembrance. Shalt have bread too when we meet again. If ever there
- 10:48were an honest devil, t will be the devil of Edmonton. I see
- 10:54farewell Tom, I pretty dog me. As soon as thou canst exit,
- 11:01I'll not miss thee and be merry with thee. Those that are joys denied
- 11:09must take delight in sins and mischiefs. Tis the devil's right exit scene too,
- 11:18the neighborhood of Edmonton. Enter Frank Thorny and Winifred and boy's clothes.
- 11:22Prithee no more. Those tears give nourishments to weeds and briars in me,
- 11:28which shortly will all grow and top my head. My shame will sit and
- 11:33cover all that can be seen of me. I have not shown this cheek
- 11:35in company. Pardon me now. Thus singled with yourself. It calls a
- 11:41thousand sorrows round about, some going before and some on either side, but
- 11:46infinite behind, all chained together. Your second adulterous marriage leads. That is
- 11:52the sad eclipse. The effects must follow as plagues of shame, spite,
- 11:56scorn, and obloquy. Why hast thou not left one hour's patience to add
- 12:01to all the rest? One hour bears us beyond the reach of all these
- 12:07enemies. Are we not now set forward in the flight, provided with the
- 12:11dowry of my sin to keep us in some other nation? While we together
- 12:16are we are at home in any place? Tis thou little gotten coin far
- 12:22worse than usury or extortion? Let my father then make the restitution. Who
- 12:28forced me to take the bribe? It is his gift and patrimony to me,
- 12:31so I receive it. He would not bless nor look a father on
- 12:35me until I satisfied his angry will. When I was sold, I sold
- 12:39myself again. Some knaves have died in lands, and I in body for
- 12:43money, and I have the higher But sweet no more tis hazard of discovery
- 12:48our discourse, and then prevention takes off all our hopes. For only but
- 12:52to take her leave of me? My wife is coming? Who coming?
- 12:56Your wife? No? No thou art here that I knew not how to
- 13:01call her now, But after this day she shall be quite forgot and have
- 13:05no name in my remembrance. Does he see She's come? And Susan,
- 13:09go lead the horses to the hills top There I'll meet thee Nay, with
- 13:13your favor, let him stay a little. I would part with him too,
- 13:16because he is your sole companion. And I'll begin with him, reserving
- 13:20you the last I with all my heart. You may hear if it please
- 13:26you, sir, No, tis not fit. Some rudiments I can see.
- 13:30They must be to overlook my slippery footings, and so No, indeed,
- 13:33Sir Tush, I know it must be so, and tis necessary on
- 13:37but be brief, walks forward. What charge so ere you lay upon me,
- 13:41Mistress, I shall support it faithfully, being honest to my best strength.
- 13:46Believe shall be no other. I know you were commended to my husband
- 13:50by a noble knight. Oh gods, oh mine eyes, how now what
- 13:56ailst thou led? Something hit mine eye? It may be so water still,
- 14:01Even as you said, commended to my husband some door, I think
- 14:05it was I was pursued commended to him by Sir Arthur Clarington, who servant
- 14:11once my thorny was himself. That title, methinks, should make you almost
- 14:15fellows, or at least much more than a servant. And I am sure
- 14:18he will respect you. So your love to him then needs no spur from
- 14:24me. And what for my sake you will ever do tis fit. It
- 14:28should be bought with something more than fair entreats. Look, here's a jewel
- 14:31for thee, a pretty wanton label for thine ear, and I would have
- 14:35it hang there still to whisper these words to thee. Thou hast my jewel
- 14:41with thee. It is but earnest of a larger bounty when thou returnst with
- 14:45praises of thy service, which I am confident thou wilt deserve. Why thou
- 14:50art many now besides thyself? Thou mayst be servant, friend and wife to
- 14:56him? A good wife is them all? Friend can play the wife and
- 15:01servant's part and shift enough. No less the servant can the friend and wife
- 15:07tis all but sweet society, good counsel interchanged loves, yes, and counsel
- 15:11keeping not done yet even now, sir mastress, believe my vow, your
- 15:18severe eye worth present to command your bounteous hand for it. Then buy,
- 15:22to buy or bribe my service shall not make me more dear or nearer unto
- 15:28him, then I shall voluntary. I'll be all your charge, servant,
- 15:31friend wife to him. Wilt thou now blessings go with thee? For it
- 15:37courtesies shall meet THEE coming home. Pray you say, plainly, mistress,
- 15:41are you jealous of him? If you be, I'll look to him that
- 15:45way too, sayest thou, so I would thou hast a woman's bosom.
- 15:50Now we have weak thoughts within us, alas there's nothing so strong in us
- 15:54as suspicion. But I dare not nay, I will not think so hardly
- 16:00of my thorny. Believe it, Mistress, I'll be no pander to him.
- 16:04And if I find any loose lubric scapes in him, I'll watch him,
- 16:10and at my return protest, I'll show you all. He shall hardly
- 16:12offend without my knowledge. Thine own diligence is that I press, and not
- 16:18the curious eye over his faults. Farewell? If I should never see THEE
- 16:22more, take it forever, prithee take that along with THEE handing his sword
- 16:27to Winifred and haste THEE to the hills top, I'll be there instantly.
- 16:32No haste, I prithee slowly as thou canst exit Winnifred. Pray let him
- 16:37obey me. Now tis happily his last service to me. My power is
- 16:41even a going out of sight? Why would you delay? We have no
- 16:45other business now but the part, and will not let sweetheart ask a long
- 16:49time? Methinks it is the hardest piece of work that ever I took in
- 16:53hand. Fye, fye, Why look, I'll make it plain and easy
- 16:57to you. Farewell, kisses her. Alas I'm not half perfect in it,
- 17:03yet I must have it read over one hundred times. Pray you take
- 17:08some pains, I confess my dullness aside, what a thorn this rose grows
- 17:14on? Parting was sweet, But what a trouble it will be to obtain
- 17:18it? Come again and again, farewell, kisses her. Yet it will
- 17:26return all questions of my journey, my stay, employment, and revisitation.
- 17:32Fully I have answered all. There's nothing now behind but nothing, and that
- 17:37nothing is more heart than anything than all the everythings. This request, what
- 17:44is it that I may bring you through one paste more up to your knot
- 17:48of trees amongst those shadows I will vanish from you. They shall teach me
- 17:52how why it is granted? Come walk then, nay, not too fast,
- 17:59they say, slow things have best perfection. The gentle shower weds to
- 18:03fertility. The churlish storm may mischief with his bounty. The baser beasts takes
- 18:10strength even from the moon, but the lord Lion's wealth is feeble won Exitt
- 18:15Scene three, a field with a clump of trees. Enter the dog,
- 18:21now for an early mischief and a sudden The mind's about it now. One
- 18:29touch from me soon sets the body forward. Enter Franken, Susan, your
- 18:34request is out yet will you leave me? What so churlishly you'll make me
- 18:40stay forever rather than part with such a sound from you? Why you almost
- 18:45anger me? Pray you begone. You have no company, and tis very
- 18:48early. Some hurt may be tiede you homewards Tush. I fear none to
- 18:52leave you is the greatest hurt I can suffer. Besides, I expect your
- 18:57father and mine own to meet me back overtake me with you. They began
- 19:02to stir when I came after you. I know they will not be long,
- 19:06so I shall have more trouble. The dog rubs against him. Thank
- 19:10you for that aside. Then I'll ease all at once. It is done
- 19:15now what I ne'er thought on. You shall not go back? Why shall
- 19:19I go along with deep sweet music? No to a better place, any
- 19:25place? I I am there at home where thou pleasest to have me at
- 19:30home. I'll leave you in your last lodging. I must kill you.
- 19:36Oh fine, you'd fright me from you. You see I had no purpose.
- 19:40I'm unarmed. Tis this minute's decree, and it must be. Look,
- 19:47this will serve your turn. Draws a knife. I'll not turn from
- 19:51it. If you be earnest, sir, Yet you may tell me wherefore
- 19:55you will kill me? Because you are a whore trees one deep wound,
- 20:00already a whore, twas ever further from me than the thought of this black
- 20:04hour. A whore. Yes, I'll prove it, and you shall confess
- 20:11it. You are my whore. No wife of mine, the word admits
- 20:18no second. I was before wedded to another. Have her still, I
- 20:25do not lay the sin unto your charge. It is all mine own.
- 20:29Your marriage was my theft. For I espoused your dowry, and I have
- 20:34it. I did not purpose to have added murder. The devil did not
- 20:41prompt me till this minute. You might have safe returned. Now you cannot.
- 20:49You have dogged your own death stabs her, and I deserve it.
- 20:56I am glad my fate was so intelligent. Twas some good spirit's motion die,
- 21:02Oh twas time. How many years might I have slept in sin,
- 21:07the sin of my most hatred, too adultery? Nay, sure it was
- 21:11likely that the most was past, for I meant never to return to you
- 21:15after this parting. Why then I thank you more. You have done lovingly
- 21:21leaving yourself, that you would thus bestow me on another. Thou art my
- 21:26husband death, and I embrace THEE with all the love I have, forget
- 21:30the stain of my unwitting sin. And then I come a crystal virgin to
- 21:36THEE. My soul's purity shall with bold wings ascend the doors of mercy.
- 21:41For innocence is ever her companion, not yet mortal, I would not linger
- 21:47you, or leave you a tongue to blab stabs her again. Now Heaven
- 21:52reward you never the worse for me. I did not think that death had
- 21:56been so sweet, nor I so apt to love him. I could never
- 22:00die better had I stayed forty years for preparation, For I'm in charity,
- 22:04with all the world. Let me for once be dying example heaven due to
- 22:11this man, as I am free forgive, and may he better die and
- 22:15better live. That tis done, and I am in once past our height.
- 22:22We scorn the deeps abyss this follows now to heal her wounds by dressing
- 22:29of the weapon. Oh arms, thighs, oh hands, any place we
- 22:41must not fail wounds himself, Oh light scratches, giving such deep ones.
- 22:51The best I can to bind myself to this tree now is the storm,
- 22:57which, if blows many fair days may follow. Finds himself to a tree.
- 23:03The dog ties him behind in exits. Ah so huh, I'm fast.
- 23:10I did not think I could have done so well. Behind me,
- 23:12how prosperous and effectual mischief sometimes is allowed help help murder, murder, murder,
- 23:26enter carter and old thorny ah whom tolls the bell for oh, oh
- 23:33oh me, the cause appears too soon. My child, my son,
- 23:41susan girl child not speak to thy father, ha oh, lend me some
- 23:48assistants who are take this happiless woman. Let's all take the murderers. Speak
- 23:55whilst thou canst, and none may be too late. I fear thou hast
- 23:57deaths mark upon thee me too. I know them both. Yet such an
- 24:03oath is past as pull's damnation up if it be broke, I dare not
- 24:06name them. Think what forced men do? Keep both with murderers that were
- 24:11a conscience to hold the devil in Lissa. I can't describe them, shall
- 24:15show them as familiar as their names. The taller of the two at this
- 24:19time wears his satin doublet, white but crimson lined hose of black satin,
- 24:26cloak of scarlet, beck warback warmck. Do you listen to this, sir,
- 24:30Yes, yes, I lessen you. There's nothing to be heard.
- 24:34The other's cloaks branched velvet, black velvet lined his suit. I have them
- 24:40already, Somerton, Somerton, final revenge. All this comes, sir.
- 24:45The first work is to pursue the murderers, when we have removed these mangled
- 24:51bodies. Hence, sir, take that carcass there and give me this.
- 24:56I will not own her now. She is none of mine. Bob me
- 25:00off with a dumb show. No, I'll have life. This is my
- 25:06son too, and while there's life in him, tis half mine. Take
- 25:10you half that silence, fort. When I speak, I look to be
- 25:14spoken to forgetful slut alas what grief may do. Now look, sir,
- 25:21I'll take this load of sorrow with me, I do, and I'll have
- 25:26this exit old thorny with Susan in his arms. How do you do,
- 25:30sir? Oh? Very ill? Sir, yes, I think so.
- 25:37But tis well you can speak. Yet there's no music, but in sound
- 25:41sound it must be. I have not wept these twenty years before, and
- 25:47that I guess was ere that girl was born. Yet now methinks if I
- 25:52but knew the way, my heart's so full I could weep night and day.
- 25:57Exit with Frank, Scene four before Sir Arthur Clarington's house. Enter,
- 26:03Sir Arthur Clarington, Warbeck and Somerton. Come, gentlemen, we must all
- 26:07help to grace the nimble footed youth of Edmonton that are so kind to call
- 26:12us up to day with an high Morris. I could wish it for the
- 26:17best if it were the worst. Now absurdities, in my opinion, ever,
- 26:22the best dancer in a Morris, I could rather sleep than see him.
- 26:26Not well, sir, faith not ever thus leaden, Yet I know
- 26:33no cause for it. Now am I beyond mine own condition, highly disposed
- 26:37to mirth. Well, you may have yet a Morris to help both to
- 26:41strike you in a dump and make him merry and her saga with the Morris
- 26:45dancers, et cetera. Come, will you set yourselves in Morris ray?
- 26:49The four bells, second bell, tenor and great bell made Marian for the
- 26:55same bell. But where's the weathercock? Now the hobby horse banks? Come
- 27:00yet? What a spike kis? When set you forward? Gentlemen? Well
- 27:04he stayed back for the hobby horse, sir. All our footmen are ready,
- 27:08'tis marvel? Your horse should be behind your foot Yes, sir,
- 27:14he goes further about. We can come in at the wicket, but the
- 27:17broad gate must be opened for him and your cutting banks with the hobby horse
- 27:21followed by the dog. Oh, we stayed for you, sir. Only
- 27:25my horse wanted a shoe. Sir. We shall make you amends. Ere
- 27:30we part, I well said, make them drink Ere they begin, and
- 27:34your servants with beer a bowl. I prythee and a little for my horse.
- 27:41He'll mount the better, Nay, give me. I must drink to
- 27:45him. He'll not pledge else drinks here hobby holds the ball to the hobby
- 27:52horse. I pray you no not drink. You see, gentlemen, we
- 28:00can but bring our horse to the water. He might choose whether he'll drink
- 28:04or no drinks again a good moral made plane by history. Strike up father's
- 28:11sorgut, Strike up in when you will? Children, the hobby now,
- 28:17in the name of the best foot forward, endeavors to play. But the
- 28:22fiddle gives no sound. How now not a word in that guts? I
- 28:26think, children, my instrument has caught cold on the sudden. Aside my
- 28:30ningles knavery black Tom's doing? What mean? Why what would you have him?
- 28:40Do you hear his fiddle is speechless? I lay mine ear to mine
- 28:45instrument, that my poor fiddle is bewitched. I played the flowers in may
- 28:48E now as sweet as a violet, And now twill not go against the
- 28:52hair. You see, I can make no more music than a beetle of
- 28:56a cow turd. Let me see the saw gut takes the fiddle. Say
- 29:03what you had, a brave hobby horse that you were beholding to all playing
- 29:08dogs too? Ningle away with it gives it to the dog who plays the
- 29:15morris They dance enter a constable in officers away with jollity tis too sad an
- 29:23hour, Sir Arthur Clarington, your own assistance in the King's name, I
- 29:30charge for apprehension of these two murderers, Warback and Somerton, ha flat murderers.
- 29:40This has awakened my melancholy and struck my mirth down flat murderers. The
- 29:45accusations flat against you, gentlemen. Sir, you may be satisfied with this,
- 29:52shows his warrant. I hope you quietly obey my power to will make
- 29:56your cause the farer with Sir, there's my rival taken up for hangman's meat.
- 30:04Tom told me he was about a piece of villainy. Mates and Morris
- 30:10men, you see he is no longer piping, no longer dancing. This
- 30:15news of murderers. Slain them. Morris you that go the footway, fare
- 30:21ye, well on for a gallop, come ningle canters off with the hobby
- 30:26horse, and the dock strikes his fiddle, which sounds as before. I
- 30:33nay, and my fiddle'll be come to himself again. I care not.
- 30:36I think the devil has been abroad amongst us today. I'll keep the outer
- 30:40thy fit now if I can exit with the Morris dancers. These things are
- 30:45full of horror, full of pity. But if this time be constant to
- 30:48the proof the guilt of both these gentlemen, I dare take on mine own
- 30:52danger. Yet house aware, sir, your power must be obeyed, oh
- 30:56most willingly, sir.'tis a most sweet affliction. I could not meet
- 31:03a joy in the best shape, with better will come. Fear not,
- 31:07sir, nor judge nor evidence can bind him more. Who's freed by conscience?
- 31:14Mine stands so upright in the middle zone. It takes no shadow to
- 31:18it. It goes alone except and of Act three,