The Merry Devil eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 49 pages of information about The Merry Devil.

The Merry Devil eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 49 pages of information about The Merry Devil.

Miller.  What noise was that? tis the watch, sure; that villanous unlucky rogue, Smug, is tain, upon my life; and then all our villeny comes out; I heard one cry, sure.

[Enter Host Blague.]

Host. If I go steal any more venison, I am a Paradox:  s’foot, I can scarce bear the sin of my flesh in the day, tis so heavy; if I turn not honest, and serve the good Duke of Norfolk, as true mareterraneum skinker should do, let me never look higher then the element of a Constable.

Miller
By the Lord, there are some watchmen; I hear them name
Maister Constable; I would to God my Mill were an Eunuch,
and wanted her stones, so I were hence.

Host.
Who’s there?

Miller
Tis the Constable, by this light; I’ll steal hence, and if
I can meet mine host Blague, I’ll tell him how Smug is
tain, and will him to look to himself.

[Exit.]

Host. What the devil is that white thing? this same is a Church-yard, and I have heard that ghosts and villenous goblins have been seen here.

[Enter Sexton and Priest.]

Priest. Grass and hay!  O, that I could conjure! we saw a spirit here in the Church-yard; and in the fallow field there’s the devil with a man’s body upon his back in a white sheet.

Sexton
It may be a woman’s body, Sir John.

Priest.
If she be a woman, the sheets damn her; Lord bless us, what
a night of mortality is this!

Host.
Priest!

Priest.
Mine host!

Host.
Did you not see a spirit all in white cross you at the stile?

Sexton
O no, mine host; but there sate one in the porch; I have not
breath ynough left to bless me from the Devil.

Host.
Who’s that?

Priest.
The Sexton, almost frighted out of his wits.  Did you see
Banks or Smug?

Host. No, they are gone to Waltham, sure:  I would fain hence; come, let’s to my house:  I’ll ne’er serve the duke of Norfolk in this fashion again whilst I breath.  If the devil be amongst us, tis time to hoist sail, and cry roomer.  Keep together; Sexton, thou art secret, what? let’s be comfortable one to Another.

Priest.
We are all mortal, mine host.

Host.
True; and I’ll serve God in the night hereafter afore the
Duke of Norfolk.

[Exeunt.]

ACT V.

Scene I. An Inn opposite the George, Waltham.

[Enter Sir Arthur Clare and Sir Ralph Jerningham, trussing their points as new up.]

Sir Raph
Good morrow, gentle knight. 
A happy day after your short nights rest.

Sir Arthur
Ha, ha, sir Raph, stirring so soon indeed? 
Birlady, sir, rest would have done right well;
Our riding late last night has made me drowsy. 
Go to, go to, those days are gone with us.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Merry Devil from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.