DIALOGUE IN VERSE
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irst printed in _The Alleyn Papers_ (for the Shakespeare Society),p. 8, by Payne Collier, who prefaced it with the following remarks:"In the original MS. this dramatic dialogue in verse is written asprose, on one side of a sheet of paper, at the back of which, in a moremodern hand, is the name 'Kitt Marlowe.' What connection, if any,he may have had with it, it is impossible to determine." This Dialoguemay be a fragment of _The Maiden's Holiday,_ a lost comedy, which issaid to have been written partly by Marlowe.--DYCE _Jack._ Seest thou not yon farmer's son?He hath stoln my love from me, alas!What shall I do? I am undone;My heart will ne'er be as it was.O, but he gives her gay gold rings,And tufted gloves [for] holiday,And many other goodly things,That hath stoln my love away. _Friend._ Let him give her gay gold ringsOr tufted gloves, were they ne'er so [gay];[F]or were her lovers lords or kings,They should not carry the wench away. _Jack._ But 'a dances wonders well,And with his dances stole her love from me:Yet she wont to say, I bore the bellFor dancing and for courtesy. _Dick._ Fie, lusty younker, what do you here,Not dancing on the green to-day?For Pierce, the farmer's son, I fear,Is like to carry your wench away. _Jack._ Good Dick, bid them all come hither,And tell Pierce from me beside,That, if he thinks to have the wench,Here he stands shall lie with the bride. _Dick._ Fie, Nan, why use thy old lover so,For any other new-come guest?Thou long time his love did know;Why shouldst thou not use him best? _Nan._ Bonny Dick, I will not forsakeMy bonny Rowland for any gold:If he can dance as well as Pierce,He shall have my heart in hold. _Pierce._ Why, then, my hearts, let's to this gear;And by dancing I may wonMy Nan, whose love I hold so dearAs any realm under the sun. _Gentleman._ Then, gentles, ere I speed from hence,I will be so bold to danceA turn or two without offence;For, as I was walking along by chance,I was told you did agree. _Friend._ 'Tis true, good sir; and this is sheHopes your worship comes not to crave her;For she hath lovers two or three,And he that dances best must have her. _Gentleman._ How say you, sweet, will you dance with me?And you [shall] have both land and [hill];My love shall want nor gold nor fee. _Nan._ I thank you, sir, for your good will;But one of these my love must be:I'm but a homely country maid,And far unfit for your degree;[To dance with you I am afraid.] _Friend._ Take her, good sir, by the hand,As she is fairest: were she fairer,By this dance, you shall understand,He that can win her is like to wear her. _Fool._ And saw you not [my] Nan to-day,My mother's maid have you not seen?My pretty Nan is gone awayTo seek her love upon the green.[I cannot see her 'mong so many:]She shall have me, if she have any. _Nan._ Welcome, sweetheart, and welcome here,Welcome, my [true] love, now to me.This is my love [and my darling dear],And that my husband [soon] must be.And, boy, when thou com'st home, thou'lt seeThou art as welcome home as he. _Gentleman._ Why, how now, sweet Nan! I hope you jest. _Nan._ No, by my troth, I love the fool the best:And, if you be jealous, God give you good-night!I fear you're a gelding, you caper so light. _Gentleman._ I thought she had jested and meant but a fable,But now do I see she hath play['d] with his bable.I wish all my friends by me to take heed,That a fool come not near you when you mean to speed.
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