The Complete Apocryphal Works of William Shakespeare - All 17 Rare Plays in One Edition. William ShakespeareЧитать онлайн книгу.
us in and muster up our train,
And furnish up our lusty soldiers,
That they may be a bulwark to our state,
And bring our wished joys to perfect end.
SCENE II.
[Enter Strumbo, Dorothy, Trompart, cobbling shoes and singing. To them enter Captain.]
TROMPART.
We Cobblers lead a merry life:
ALL.
Dan, dan, dan, dan:
STRUMBO.
Void of all ennui and strife:
ALL.
Dan diddle dan.
DOROTHY.
Our ease is great, our labour small:
ALL.
Dan, dan, dan, dan.
STRUMBO.
And yet our gains be much withall:
ALL.
Dan diddle dan.
DOROTHY.
With this art so fine and fair:
ALL.
Dan, dan, dan, dan.
TROMPART.
No occupation may compare:
ALL.
Dan diddle dan.
DOROTHY.
For merry pastime and joyful glee:
ALL.
Dan, dan, dan, dan.
STRUMBO.
Most happy men we Cobblers be:
ALL.
Dan diddle dan.
TROMPART.
The can stands full of nappy ale:
ALL.
Dan, dan, dan, dan.
STRUMBO.
In our shop still withouten fail:
ALL.
Dan diddle dan.
DOROTHY.
This is our meat, this is our food:
ALL.
Dan, dan, dan, dan.
TROMPART.
This brings us to a merry mood:
ALL.
Dan diddle dan.
STRUMBO.
This makes us work for company:
ALL.
Dan, dan, dan, dan.
DOROTHY.
To pull the tankards cheerfully:
ALL.
Dan diddle dan.
TROMPART.
Drink to thy husband, Dorothy,
ALL.
Dan, dan, dan, dan.
DOROTHY.
Why, then, my Strumbo, there’s to thee:
ALL.
Dan diddle dan.
STRUMBO.
Drink thou the rest, Trompart, amain:
ALL.
Dan, dan, dan, dan.
DOROTHY.
When that is gone, we’ll fill’t again:
ALL.
Dan diddle dan.
CAPTAIN.
The poorest state is farthest from annoy.
How merrily he sitteth on his stool!
But when he sees that needs he must be pressed,
He’ll turn his note and sing another tune.
Ho, by your leave, master Cobbler.
STRUMBO. You are welcome, gentleman. What will you? any old shoes or buskins? or will you have your shoes clouted? I will do them as well as any Cobbler in Cathnes whatsoever.
CAPTAIN.
[Showing him press money.]
O master Cobbler, you are far deceived in me, for don you see this? I come not to buy any shoes, but to buy your self; come, sir, you must be a soldier in the king’s cause.
STRUMBO. Why, but hear you, sir; has your king any commission to take any man against his will. I promise you, I can scant believe it; or did he give you commission?
CAPTAIN.
O sir, ye need not care for that; I need no commission.
Hold, here: I command you, in the name of our king
Albanact, to appear tomorrow in the town-house of
Cathnes.
STRUMBO. King Nactaball! I cry God mercy! what have we to do with him, or he with us? But you, sir master capontail, draw your pasteboard, or else I promise you, I’ll give you a canuasado with a bastinado over your shoulders, and teach you to come hither with your implements.
CAPTAIN. I pray thee, good fellow, be content; I do the king’s command.
STRUMBO.
Put me out of your book, then.
CAPTAIN.
I may not.
STRUMBO.
[Snatching up the staff.]
No! Well, come, sir, will your stomach serve you? by gog’s blue hood and halidom, I will have a bout with you.
[Fight both. Enter Thrasimachus.]
THRASIMACHUS.
How now, what noise, what sudden clamor’s this?
How now, my captain and the cobbler so hard at it?
Sirs, what is your quarrel?
CAPTAIN.
Nothing, sir, but that he will not take press money.
THRASIMACHUS.
Here, good fellow; take it at my command,
Unless you mean to be stretched.
STRUMBO. Truly, master gentleman, I lack no money; if you please, I will resign it to one of these poor fellows.
THRASIMACHUS.
No such matter,
Look you be at the common house tomorrow.
[Exit Thrasimachus and the captain.]
STRUMBO. O, wife, I have spun a fair thread! If I had been quiet, I had not been pressed, and therefore well may I wayment. But come, sirrah, shut up, for we must to the wars.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE III. The camp of Albanact.
[Enter Albanact, Debon, Thrasimachus, and the Lords.]
ALBA.
Brave cavalries, princes of Albany,
Whose trenchant blades with our deceased sire,
Passing the frontiers of brave Graecia,
Were bathed in our enemies’ lukewarm blood,
Now is the time to manifest your wills,
Your haughty minds and resolutions.
Now opportunity is offered
To try your courage and your earnest zeal,
Which you always protest to Albanact;
For at this time, yea, at this present time,