Digital Renaissance Editions

About this text

  • Title: An Humorous Day's Mirth (Modern)
  • Editor: Eleanor Lowe
  • Coordinating editor: Brett Greatley-Hirsch
  • General textual editor: Helen Ostovich
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-513-1

    Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: George Chapman
    Editor: Eleanor Lowe
    Peer Reviewed

    An Humorous Day's Mirth (Modern)

    141.1[Scene 3]
    Enter Foyes and Martia and Labesha.
    Foyes
    Come on, fair daughter, fall to your work of mind, and make your body fit to embrace the body of this 145gentleman始s, 始tis art: happy are they, say I.
    Labesha
    I protest, sir, you speak the best that ever I heard.
    Foyes
    I pray, sir, take acquaintance of my daughter.
    Labesha
    I do desire you of more acquaintance.
    Foyes
    [To Martia] Why dost not thou say ‘Yea, and I the same of you始?
    150Martia
    That everybody says.
    Foyes
    Oh, you would be singular.
    Martia
    Single, indeed.
    Foyes
    ‘Single, indeed始: that始s a pretty toy! Your betters, dame, bear double, and so shall you.
    155Labesha
    Exceeding pretty, did you mark it, forsooth?
    Martia
    What should I mark, forsooth?
    Labesha
    Your bearing double, which equivocate is, and hath a fit allusion to a horse that bears double, for your good father means you shall endure your single life no longer, 160not in worse sense than bearing double, forsooth.
    Martia
    I cry you mercy, you know both belike.
    Labesha
    Knowledge, forsooth, is like a horse and you, that can bear double. It nourisheth both bee and spider: the bee honeysuckle, the spider, poison. I am that bee.
    165Martia
    I thought so by your stinging wit.
    Labesha
    Lady, I am a bee without a sting, no way hurting any, but good to all, and before all, to your sweet self.
    Foyes
    Afore God, daughter, thou art not worthy to hear him speake. But who comes here?
    Enter Colinet.
    170Colinet
    God save you, sir.
    Foyes
    You are welcome, sir, for aught that I know yet.
    Colinet
    I hope I shall be so still, sir.
    Foyes
    What is your business, sir, and then I始ll tell you?
    Colinet
    Marry thus, sir, the Countess Moren entreats your 175fair daughter to bear her company this forenoon.
    Foyes
    This forenoon, sir? Doth my lord or lady send for her, I pray?
    Colinet
    My lady, I assure you.
    Foyes
    My lady, you assure me. Very well, sir. Yet that house 180is full of gallant gentlemen, dangerous thorns to prick young maids, I can tell you.
    Colinet
    There are none but honest and honourable gentlemen.
    Foyes
    All is one, sir, for that. I始ll trust my daughter with any 185man, but no man with my daughter, only yourself Monsieur Besha, whom I will entreat to be her guardian and to bring her home again.
    Colinet
    I will wait upon her, an it please you.
    Foyes
    No, sir, your weight upon her will not be so good. Here, 190Monsieur Besha, I deliver my daughter unto you a perfect maid, and so I pray you look well unto her.
    Colinet
    Farewell, Monsieur Foyes.
    Labesha
    I warrant I始ll look unto her well enough. Mistress, will it please you to preambulate.
    195Martia
    With all my heart.
    Exeunt.