Blurt, Master Constable, or The Spaniard's Night Walk · chunk 26 of 34
Anonymous · published 1602 · first performed or written 1601 [1601-1602] (Annals) romance · Children of Paul's (second) unassigned nearest T22 Shepherds, flocks and Pan · 502 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T22: shepherd, pan, shepherds, love, sheep, flocks, fair, shepherdess, swain, away.
midnight's bell goes ting, ting, ting, ting, ting, Than dogs do howl, and not a bird does sing: But the Nightingale, and she cries twit, twit, twit, twit: Owls then on every bow do sit. ravens Croak on chimneys tops, The Cricket in the Chamber hops: And the cat's cry mew, mew, mew, The nibbling Mouse is not asleep But he goes, peep, peep, peep, peep, peep, And the cat's cries, mew, mew mew, And still the cat's cries mew, mew, mew. I shall be moused by puss-cats: but I had rather die a dog's death; they have nine lives (a piece like a woman) and they will make it up ten lives, if they and I fall a scratching: Bright Helena of this house, would thy Troy were a fire, for I am a cold; or else would I had the Greeks wooden curtal, to ride away: most ambrosian-lipped creature, come away quickly, for this night's lodging lies cold at my heart. The Spanish Pavin: I thought the devil could not understand Spanish: but since thou art my countryman, o thou tawny Satin, I will dance after thy pipe. He dances the Spanish Pavin. Ho sweet devil, ho thou wilt make any man weary of thee, though he deal with thee in his shirt, Sweet beauty; she'll not come, I'll fall to sleep, And dream of her, love-dreams are near too deep. Ha, ha, ha. Ho, ho, Frisco, Madonna, I am in hell, but here is no fire; Hell fire is all put out; what ho? so ho ho? I shall be drowned; I beseech thee, dear Frisco, raise Blurt the Constable, or some scavenger, to come and make clean these kennels of hell, for they stink so, that I shall cast away my precious self. Is he down Frisco? he's down, he cries out he's in hell, it's heaven to me to have him cry so. Fie, fie, fie, let him lie, and get all to bed. Not all, I have fatting knavery in hand, He cries he's damned in hell; the next shall cry, he's climbing up to heaven, and here's the gin: One woodcock stain, I'll have his brother in. Brisk as a capering tailor; I was washed, But did they shave me? no, I am too wise; Lie close i'th' bosom of their knaveries, I am an old hoary Courtier, and strike dead: I hit my marks: ware, ware, a perilous head. Cast, I must find a ladder made of ropes, Ladder and rope, what follow? hanging; But where? ah ha, there does the riddle lie. I have scaped drowning; but, but, but, I hope, I shall not scape the ladder and the rope. Yonder's a light Master Constable. Peace woodcock the sconce approaches. Whew: ay, whistling? Slubber jog the watch, & give the lantern a flap. Whew, Symp, Symperina? Who's there? Who's there? signor Curvetto here's the ladder, I watch to do you a good turn, I am Frisco, is not Blurt abroad and his Billmen?
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Midnights bell goes ting, ting, ting, ting, ting, Then dogs doe howle, and not a bird does sing: But the Nightingale, and she cries twit, twit, twit, twit: Owles then on euerie bowe doe sit. Rauens Croake on Chimnies toppes, The Cricket in the Chamber hoppes: And the Cats crye mew, mew, mew, The nibling Mouse is not a sleepe But he goes, peepe, peepe, peepe, peepe, peepe, And the Cats cryes, mew, mew mew, And still the Cats cryes mew, mew, mew. I shall be mowz'd by pusse-cattes: but I had rather dye a dogs death; they haue nine liues (a peece like a woman) and they will make it vp ten liues, if they and I fall a scratching: Bright Helena of this house, wod thy Troy were a fire, for I am a colde; or else wod I had the Greekes wodden Curtall, to ride away: most Ambrosian-lipt creature, come away quicklie, for this nights lodging lyes colde at my heart. The Spanish Pauin: I thought the deuill could not vnderstand Spanish: but since thou art my countriman, ô thou tawnie Satin, I will daunce after thy pipe. He daunces the Spanish Pauin. Ho sweet deuill, ho thou wilt make any man weary of thee, tho he deale with thee in his shirt, Sweet beautie; shee'll not come, Ile fall to sleepe, And dreame of her, loue-dreames are nere too deepe. Ha, ha, ha. Ho, ho, Frisco, Madona, I am in hell, but heer is no fire; Hell fire is all put out; what ho? so ho ho? I shall bee drown'd; I beseech thee, deare Frisco, raise Blurt the Constable, or some Scauinger, to come and make cleane these kennels of hell, for they stinke so, that I shall cast away my precious selfe. Is he downe Frisco? Hee's downe, he cryes out he's in hell, it's heauen to me to haue him cry so. Fye, fye, fye, let him lye, and get all to bed. Not all, I haue fatting knauerie in hand, He cryes he's damn'd in hell; the next shall cry, Hee's clyming vp to heauen, and heer's the ginne: One woodcocke'staine, Ile haue his brother in. Briske as a capring Taylor; I was washt, But did they shaue me? noh, I am too wise; Lye close i'th bosome of their knaueries, I am an olde hoarie Courtier, and strike dead: I hit my markes: ware, ware, a perelous head. Cast, I must finde a ladder made of roapes, Ladder and roape, what follow? hanging; But where? ah ha, there does the riddle lye. I haue scapt drowning; but, but, but, I hope, I shall not scape the ladder and the roape. Yonder's a light Master Constable. Peace woodcocke the sconce approaches. Whew: I, whisling? Slubber Iog the watch, & giue the Lanthorne a flap. Whew, Symp, Symperina? Who's there? Who's there? Signior Curuetto heer's the ladder, I watch to doe you a good turne, I am Frisco, is not Blurt abroad and his Bill-men?