Blurt, Master Constable, or The Spaniard's Night Walk · chunk 27 of 34
Anonymous · published 1602 · first performed or written 1601 [1601-1602] (Annals) romance · Children of Paul's (second) T30 Constables, justices and the watch typicality 0.83 · 497 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T30: constable, squire, tub, clay, worship, justice, turf, mr, hun, valentine.
No matter if they be, I hear none nigh: I will snug close; out goes my candle's eye, My sconce takes this in snuff, all's one I care not. Why when? I come, close, close, hold rope and spare not. Now the candle's out. Peace. Frisco, light, light, my foot is slipped, call help: Help, help, help, thieves, thieves, help, thieves, etc. thieves, where? follow close: Slubber the lantern, hold; I charge you in the Duke's name stand: Sirrah, you're like to hang for this: down with him. Master Blurt, Master Constable, here's his ladder, he comes to rob my mistress, I have been scared out of my wits, above seven times by him, and it's forty to one, if ever they come in again, I lay felony to his charge. Felony? you coney-catching slave. coney-catching will bear an action; I'll coney-catch you for this; if I can find our key I will aid you: Master Blurt, if not, look to him, as you will answer it upon your deathbed. What are you? A Venetian Gentleman. Woodcock, how dost thou Woodcock? Thank your worship. Woodcock, you are of our side now, and therefore your acquaintance cannot serve, and you were a Gentleman of velvet I would commit you. Why, what are you sir? What am I sir? do not you know this staff? I am sir the Duke's own Image; at this time the Duke's tongue (for fault of a better) lies in my mouth; I am Constable sir. Constable, and commit me? marry Blurt Master Constable. Away with him. It's folly to strive, I say away with him, Ile Blurt you, I'll teach you to stand covered to Authority; your hoary head shall be knocked when this staff is in place. ay but Master Constable— No, pardon me, you abuse the Duke, in me that am his Cipher, I say away with him; Gulch, away with him; Woodcock, keep you with me, I will be known for more than Blurt. Thou honest fellow (the man in the Moon) I beseech thee set fire on thy bush of thorns, to light and warm me, for I am dung wet: I fell like Lucifer I think into hell, and am crawled out, but in worse pickle than my lean Pilchard: here about is the Hothouse of my love, ho, ho? why ho there? Who's that? what Devil stands hohing at my door so late? I beseech thee Frisco take in Lazarillo's ghost. Lazarillo's ghost? haunt me not I charge thee, I know thee not, I am in a dream of a dry-summer, therefore appear not to me. Is not this the mansion of the cherry-lipped Madonna Imperia? Yes, how then? you fly-blown rascal, what art thou? Lazarilla de Tormes: sweet blood, I have a poor Spanish suit, depending in your house; let me enter most precious Frisco, the Mistress of this mansion is my beautiful hostess. How? you Turpentine pill, my wife your Hostess? away you Spanish vermin.
seed 43: T36 · seed 44: T35 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
No matter if they be, I heare none nye: I will snug close; out goes my candles eye, My sconce takes this in snuffe, all's one I care not. Why when? I come, close, close, holde rope and spare not. Now the candle's out. Peace. Frisco, light, light, my foote is slipt, call helpe: Helpe, helpe, helpe, theeues, theeues, helpe, theeues, &c. Theeues, where? follow close: Slubber the Lanthorne, holde; I charge you in the Dukes name stand: Sirra, y'are like to hang for this: downe with him. Master Blurt, Master Constable, heer's his ladder, hee comes to rob my mistris, I haue bin scar'd out of my wits, aboue seauen times by him, and it's fortie to one, if euer they come in agen, I lay fellonie to his charge. Fellonie? you cunny-catching slaue. Cunny-catching will beare an action; Ile cunny-catch you for this; if I can finde our key I will ayde you: Master Blurt, if not, looke to him, as you will answere it vpon your death-bed. What are you? A Venetian Gentleman. Woodcocke, how dost thou Woodcocke? Thanke your worship. Woodcocke, you are of our side now, and therfore your acquaintance cannot serue, and you were a Gentleman of veluet I would commit you. Why, what are you sir? What am I sir? doe not you know this staffe? I am sir the Dukes owne Image; at this time the Dukes tongue (for fault of a better) lyes in my mouth; I am Constable sir. Constable, and commit me? marie Blurt Master Constable. Away with him. It's follie to striue, I say awaie with him, Ile Blurt you, Ile teach you to stand couer'd to Authoritie; your hoarie head shall bee knockt when this staffe is in place. I but Master Constable— No, pardon me, you abuse the Duke, in me that am his Cipher, I say away with him; Gulch, away with him; Woodcocke, keepe you with me, I wil be known for more then Blurt. Thou honest fellow (the man in the Moone) I beseech thee set fire on thy bush ofthornes, to light and warme me, for I am dung wet: I fell like Lucifer I thinke into hell, and am crauld out, but in worse pickle than my leane Pilcher: heere about is the Hot-house of my loue, ho, ho? why ho there? Who's that? what Deuill standes hohing at my doore so late? I beseech thee Frisco take in Lazarilloes ghost. Lazarilloes ghost? haunt me not I charge thee, I knowe thee not, I am in a dreame of a drie-Summer, therefore appeare not to me. Is not this the mantion of the cherrie-lipt Madona Imperia? Yes, how than? you Fly-blowne rascall, what art thou? Lazarilla de Tormes: sweete bloud, I haue a poore Spanish suite, depending in your house; let me enter most pretious Frisco, the Mistris of this mansion is my beautifull Hoastesse. How? you Turpentine pill, my wife your Hostesse? away you Spanish vermine.