Classic Poem

[Enter Strumbo, Trompart, Oliver, and his son
William following them.]

STRUMBO.
Nay, neighbour Oliver, if you be so what, come,
prepare your self. You shall find two as stout
fellows of us, as any in all the North.

OLIVER.
No, by my dorth, neighbor Strumbo. Ich zee dat
you are a man of small zideration, dat will zeek to
injure your old vriends, one of your vamiliar guests;
and derefore, zeeing your pinion is to deal withouten
reazon, ich and my zon William will take dat course,
dat shall be fardest vrom reason. How zay you, will
you have my daughter or no?

STRUMBO.
A very hard question, neighbour, but I will solve it
as I may. What reason have you to demand it of me?

WILLIAM.
Marry, sir, what reason had you, when my sister was
in the barn, to tumble her upon the hay, and to fish her
belly.

STRUMBO.
Mass, thou saist true. Well, but would you have me
marry her therefore? No, I scorn her, and you. Aye,
I scorn you all.

OLIVER.
You will not have her then?

STRUMBO.
No, as I am a true gentleman.

WILLIAM.
Then will we school you, ere you and we part hence.

[They fight. Enter Margery and snatch the staff out
of her brother's hand, as he is fighting.]

STRUMBO.
Aye, you come in pudding time, or else I had dressed them.

MARGERY.
You, master saucebox, lobcock, cockscomb, you slopsauce,
lickfingers, will you not hear?

STRUMBO.
Who speak you to? me?

MARGERY.
Aye, sir, to you, John lackhonesty, little wit. Is it you that
will have none of me?

STRUMBO.
No, by my troth, mistress nicebice. How fine you can
nickname me. I think you were brought up in the
university of bridewell; you have your rhetoric so ready
at your tongue's end, as if you were never well warned
when your were young.


MARGERY.
Why then, goodman cods-head, if you will have none
of me, farewell.

STRUMBO.
If you be so plain, mistress drigle dragle, fare you well.

MARGERY.
Nay, master Strumbo, ere you go from hence, we must
have more words. You will have none of me?

[They both fight.]

STRUMBO.
Oh my head, my head! leave, leave, leave! I will, I will,
I will!

MARGERY.
Upon that condition I let thee alone.

OLIVER.
How now, master Strumbo? hath my daughter taught you
a new lesson?

STRUMBO.
Aye, but hear you, goodman Oliver; it will not be for my
ease to have my head broken every day; therefore remedy
this and we shall agree.

OLIVER.
Well, zon, well--for you are my zon now--all shall be
remedied. Daughter, be friends with him.

[Shake hands. Exeunt Oliver, William, and Margery.]

STRUMBO.
You are a sweet nut! The devil crack you. Masters, I
think it be my luck; my first wife was a loving quiet
wench, but this, I think, would weary the devil. I would
she might be burnt as my other wife was. If not, I must
run to the halter for help. O codpiece, thou hast done thy
master! this it is to be meddling with warm plackets.

[Exeunt.]