COOMES. Mistress, because I brought ye out, I'll bring ye home; but, if I should follow, so he might have the law on his side.
MRS GOUR. Come, 'tis no matter; prythee, go with me.
MR BAR. Philip, thy mother's gone to seek thy sister, And in a rage, i'faith: but who comes here?
PHIL. Old Master Goursey, as I think, 'tis he.
MR GOUR. What, Master Barnes! did ye not see my wife?
MR BAR. Yes, sir, I saw her; she was here even now.
MR GOUR. I doubted that; that made me come unto you: But whither is she gone?
PHIL. To seek your son, who slipp'd away from her To meet with Mall my sister in a place, Where I appointed; and my mother too Seeks for my sister; so they both are gone: My mother hath a torch; marry, your wife Goes darkling up and down, and Coomes before her.
MR GOUR. I thought that knave was with her; but 'tis well: I pray God, they may come by ne'er a light, But both be led a dark dance in the night!
HOD. Why, is my fellow, Dick, in the dark with my mistress? I pray God, they be honest, for there may be much knavery in the dark: faith, if I were there, I would have some knavery with them. [_Aside_] Good master, will ye carry the torch yourself, and give me leave to play at blind-man-buff with my mistress.
PHIL. On that condition thou wilt do thy best To keep thy mistress and thy fellow, Dick, Both from my sister and thy master's son, I will entreat thy master let thee go.
HOD. O, ay, I warrant ye, I'll have fine tricks to cosen them.
MR GOUR. Well, sir, then, go your ways; I give you leave.
PHIL. About our coney-green they surely are, If thou canst find them.
HOD. O, let me alone to grope for cunnies. [_Exit_.
PHIL. Well, now will I to Frank and to my sister. Stand you two heark'ning near the coney-green; But sure your light in you must not be seen; Or else let Nicholas stand afar off with it, And as his life keep it from Mistress Goursey. Shall this be done?
PHIL. God be with ye! I'll be gone. [_Exit_.
MR BAR. Come on, Master Goursey: this same is a means To make our wives friends, if they resist not.
MR GOUR. Tut, sir, howsoever, it shall go forward.
MR BAR. Come, then, let's do as Philip hath advis'd.
MAL. Here is the place where Philip bad me stay, Till Francis came; but wherefore did my brother Appoint it here? why in the coney-burrow? He had some meaning in't, I warrant ye. Well, here I'll set me down under this tree, And think upon the matter all alone. Good Lord, what pretty things these conies are! How finely they do feed till they be fat, And then what a sweet meat a coney is! And what smooth skins they have, both black and gray! They say they run more in the night than day: What is the reason? mark; why in the light They see more passengers than in the night; For harmful men many a hay[351] do set, And laugh to see them tumble in the net; And they put ferrets in the holes--fie, fie!-- And they go up and down where conies lie; And they lie still, they have so little wit: I marvel the warrener will suffer it; Nay, nay, they are so bad, that they themselves Do give consent to catch these pretty elves. How if the warrener should spy me here? He would take me for a coney, I dare swear. But when that Francis comes, what will he say? "Look, boy, there lies a coney in my way!" But, soft, a light! who's that? soul, my mother! Nay, then, all-hid[352]: i'faith, she shall not see me; I'll play bo-peep with her behind this tree.