Part 18 (1/2)

HES. Help, help, Piso!

[THEY ALL DRAW, ENTER PISO AND SOME MORE OF THE HOUSE TO PART THEM, THE WOMEN MAKE A GREAT CRY.]

LOR. JU. Gentlemen, Prospero, forbear, I pray you.

BOB. Well, sirrah, you Holofernes: by my hand, I will pink thy flesh full of holes with my rapier for this, I will, by this good heaven: nay, let him come, let him come, gentlemen, by the body of St. George, I'll not kill him.

[THEY OFFER TO FIGHT AGAIN, AND ARE PARTED.]

PIS. Hold, hold, forbear.

GIU. You wh.o.r.eson, bragging coistril.

[ENTER Th.o.r.eLLO.]

THO. Why, how now? what's the matter? what stir is here?

Whence springs this quarrel? Piso, where is he?

Put up your weapons, and put off this rage.

My wife and sister, they are cause of this.

What, Piso? where is this knave?

PIS. Here, sir.

PROS. Come, let's go: this is one of my brother's ancient humours, this.

STEP. I am glad n.o.body was hurt by this ancient humour.

[EXIT PROSPERO, LORENZO JU., MUSCO, STEPHANO, BOBADILLA, MATHEO.]

THO. Why, how now, brother, who enforced this brawl?

GIU. A sort of lewd rake-h.e.l.ls, that care neither for G.o.d nor the devil. And they must come here to read ballads and roguery, and trash. I'll mar the knot of them ere I sleep, perhaps; especially Signior Pithagoras, he that's all manner of shapes: and songs and sonnets, his fellow there.

HES. Brother, indeed you are too violent, Too sudden in your courses, and you know My brother Prospero's temper will not bear Any reproof, chiefly in such a presence, Where every slight disgrace he should receive, Would wound him in opinion and respect.

GIU. Respect? what talk you of respect 'mongst such As had neither spark of manhood nor good manners?

By G.o.d I am ashamed to hear you: respect?

[EXIT.]

HES. Yes, there was one a civil gentleman, And very worthily demeaned himself.

THO. Oh, that was some love of yours, sister.

HES. A love of mine? i'faith, I would he were No other's love but mine.

BIA. Indeed, he seem'd to be a gentleman of an exceeding fair disposition, and of very excellent good parts.

[EXIT HESPERIDA, BIANCHA.]