The Case is Altered/Act V Scene I

Enter Angelo, Christophero.

Ang. Sigh for a woman! would I fold mine arms,

Rave in my sleep, talk idly being awake,

Pine and look pale, make love walks in the night,

To steal cold comfort from a day-star's eyes.

Kit, thou'rt a fool; wilt thou be wise; then, lad,

Renounce this boy-god's nice idolatry,

Stand not on compliment, and wooing tricks;

Thou lov'st old Jaques's daughter, dost thou?

Chr. Love her!

Ang. Come, come, I know't; be rul'd, and she's thine own.

Thou'lt say, her father Jaques, the old beggar,

Hath pawn'd his word to thee, that none but thou

Shalt be his son-in-law.

Chr. He has.

Ang. He has!

Wilt thou believe him, and be made a cook,

To wait on such an antique weather-cock;

While he is more inconstant than the sea,

His thoughts, Camelion-like, change every minute.

No, Kit, work soundly, steal the wench away,

Wed her, and bed her, and when that is done,

Then say to Jaques, shall I be your son?

But come, to our device; where is this gold?

Chr. Here, signior Angelo.

Ang. Bestow it, bid thy hands shed golden drops;

Let these bald French crowns be uncover'd,

In open sight to do obeysance

To Jaques' staring eyes when he sets forth;

The needy beggar will be glad of gold.

So now keep them aloof, and as he treads

This gilded path, stretch out his ambling hopes

With scattering more and more, and as thou goest,

Cry Jaques, Jaques.

Chr. Tush, let me alone.

Ang. But first, I'll play the ghost, I'll call him out;

Kit, keep aloof.

Chr. But, signior Angelo,

Where will yourself and Rachel stay for me,

After the jest is ended?

Ang. Mass, that's true,

At the old priory behind St. Foy's.

Chr. Agreed, no better place: I'll meet you there.

Ang. Now to this geer, — Jaques! Jaques! what Jaques!

Jaq. within. Who calls? who's there?

Ang. Jaques!

Jaq. within. Who calls?

Ang. Steward, he comes, he comes, Jaques.

Enter Jaques.

Jaq. What voice is this?

No body here? was I not call'd? I was;

And one cry'd Jaques with a hollow voice.

I was deceiv'd; no, I was not deceiv'd.

See, see, it was an angel call'd me forth.

Gold, gold, man-making gold! another star!

Drop they from heav'n? no, no, my house, I hope,

Is haunted with a fairy. My dear Lar,

My houshold god, my fairy, on my knees.

Chr. Jaques!

[Exit Christophero.]

Jaq. My Lar doth call me; O sweet voice,

Musical as the spheres! see, see, more gold!

Chr. [within.] Jaques!

Enter Rachel.

Jaq. What Rachel, Rachel, lock my door, look to my house.

Chr. [within.] Jaques!

Jaq. Shut fast my door;

A golden crown, Jaques shall be a king.

[Exit.]

Ang. To a fool's paradise that path will bring

Thee and thy houshold Lar.

Rach. What means my father?

I wonder what strange humour ——

Ang. Come, sweet soul,

Leave wondering, start not, 'twas I laid this plot,

To get your father forth.

Rach. O Angelo!

Ang. O me no O's, but hear; my lord, your love,

Paulo Ferneze, is return'd from war,

Lingers at Pont Valerio, and from thence,

By post, at midnight last, I was conjur'd

To man you thither. Stand not on replies,

A horse is saddled for you, will you go?

And I am for you, if you will stay, why so.

Rach. O Angelo, each minute is a day

Till my Ferneze come; come, we'll away, sir.

Ang. Sweet soul, I guess thy meaning by thy looks;

At Pont Valerio thou thy love shalt see,

But not Ferneze. Steward, fare you well;

You wait for Rachel too, when can you tell?

[Exeunt.]

Enter Jaques.

Jaq. O in what golden circle have I danc'd!

Milan, these od'rous and enflower'd fields

Are none of thine; no, here's Elizium;

Here blessed ghosts do walk; this is the court

And glorious palace, where the god of gold

Shines like the sun of sparkling majesty.

O my fair-feather'd, my red-breasted birds,

Come flie with me, I'll bring you to a choir,

Whose concert being sweeten'd with your sound,

The musick will be fuller, and each hour

The ears shall banquet with your harmony.

O! O! O!

Enter Christophero.

Chr. At the old priory behind St. Foy's,

That was the place of our appointment, sure;

I hope he will not make me lose my gold,

And mock me too: perhaps they are within;

I'll knock.

Jaq. O god, the case is alter'd!

Chr. Rachel! Angelo! signior Angelo!

Jaq. Angels! I, where? mine angels! where's my gold?

Why Rachel! O thou thievish Canibal!

Thou eat'st my flesh in stealing of my gold.

Chr. What gold?

Jaq. What gold? Rachel! call help, come forth!

I'll rip thine entrails, but I'll have my gold.

Rachel! why com'st thou not? I am undone.

Ah me, she speaks not! thou has slain my child.

[Exit.]

Christ. What is the man possest, trow! this is strange!

Rachel, I see, is gone with Angelo.

Well, I will once again into the priory,

And see if I can meet them.

[Exit Christophero.]

Enter Jaques.

Jaq. 'Tis too true,

Th'ast made away my child, thou hast my gold:

O what hiena call'd me out of doors?

The thief is gone, my gold's gone, Rachel's gone,

All's gone! save I that spend my cries in vain;

But I'll hence too, and die, or end this pain.

[Exit.]