Eastward Ho ~ Act 5. Scene 4

A room in TOUCHSTONE'S house.

Enter TOUCHSTONE, Wife, Daughters, SINDEFY, and WINIFRED.

Touch.
I will sail by you, and not hear you, like the wise Ulysses.

Mil.
Dear Father!

Mist. T.
Husband!

Ger.
Father!

Win. and Sin.
Master Touchstone!

Touch.
Away, sirens, I will inmure myself against your cries, and lock myself up to your lamentations.

Mist. T.
Gentle husband, hear me!

Ger.
Father, it is I, Father, my Lady Flash. My sister and I am friends.

Mil.
Good Father!

Win.
Be not hard'ned, good Master Touchstone!

Sin.
I pray you, sir, be merciful!

Touch.
I am deaf; I do not hear you; I have stopp'd mine ears with shoemakers' wax, and drunk Lethe and mandragora, to forget you. All you speak to me I commit to the air.

He retires.

Enter WOLF

Mil.
How now, Master Wolf?

Wolf.
Where's Master Touchstone? I must speak with him presently; I have lost my breath for haste.

Mil.
What's the matter, sir? Pray all be well.

Wolf.
Master Deputy Golding is arrested upon an execution, and desires him presently to come to him forthwith.

Mil.
Ay me! do you hear, Father?

Touch.
[ within ] Tricks, tricks, confederacy, tricks! I have 'em in my nose — I scent 'em!

Wolf.
Who's that? Master Touchstone?

Mist. T.
Why, it is Master Wolf himself, husband.

Mil.
Father!

Touch.
[ within ] I am deaf still, I say. I will neither yield to the song of the siren nor the voice of the hyena, the tears of the crocodile nor the howling o' the Wolf: avoid my habitation, monsters!

Wolf.
Why, you are not mad, sir? I pray you look forth and see the token I have brought you, sir.

Touch.
[ coming forward ] Ha! what token is it?

Wolf.
[ aside to TOUCHSTONE] Do you know it, sir?

Touch.
[ aside ] My son Golding's ring! Are you in earnest, Master Wolf?

Wolf.
[ aside ] Ay, by my faith, sir. He is in prison, and requir'd me to use all speed and secrecy to you.

Touch.
My cloak there (pray you be patient). — I am plagu'd for my austerity. — My cloak! — At whose suit, Master Wolf?

Wolf.
I'll tell you as we go, sir.

Exeunt.