The Devil Is an Ass Act 3 Scene 6

Mere-craft, Pitfall, Pug, Trains.

[Offers to kiss.

Come, I must buss ——

Pit.
Away.

Mer.
I'll set thee up again.
Never fear that: canst thou get ne'er a Bird?
No Thrushes hungry? Stay till cold Weather come,
I'll help thee to an Ousel or a Field-fare.
Who's within with Madam?

Pit.
I'll tell you straight.

[She runs in in haste; he follows.

Mer.
Please you stay here a while, Sir, I'll go in.

Pug.
I do so long to have a little Venery,
While I am in this Body! I would taste
Of every Sin a little, if it might be,
After the manner of Man! Sweet-heart!

Pit.
What would you, Sir?

[Pug leaps at Pitfall's coming in.

Pug.
Nothing but fall in, to you, be your Black-bird,
My pretty Pit (as the Gentleman said) your Throstle:
Lye tame and taken with you; here is Gold!
To buy you so much new Stuffs from the Shop,
As I may take the old up ——

Tra.
You must send, Sir,
The Gentleman the Ring.

Pug.
There 'tis. Nay look,

[Train's in his false Cloak, brings a false
Message, and gets the Ring.

Will you be foolish, Pit?

Pit.
This is strange rudeness.

Pug.
Dear Pit.

Pit.
I'll call, I swear.

Mer.
Where are you, Sir?
Is your Ring ready? Go with me.

Pug.
I sent it you.

[Mere-craft follows presently, and asks for it.

Mer.
Me? When? by whom?

Pug.
A Fellow here, e'en now,
Came for it i' your Name.

Mer.
I sent none, sure.
My meaning ever was, you shonld deliver it
Your self: So was your Masters charge, you know.

[Ent. Trains as himself again.

What Fellow was it, do you know him?

Pug.
Here,
But now, he had it.

Mer.
Saw you any, Trains?

Tra.
Not I.

Pug.
The Gentleman saw him.

Mer.
Enquire.

Pug.
I was so earnest upon her, I mark'd not!

[The Devil confesseth himself cozen'd.

My devillish Chief has put me here in Flesh,
To shame me! This dull Body I am in,
I perceive nothing with! I offer at nothing
That will succeed!

Tra.
Sir, she saw none, she says.

Pug.
Satan himself has tane a shape t' abuse me.
It could not be else!

Mer.
This is above strange!

[Mere-craft accuseth him of negligence.

That you should be so retchless.
What'll you do, Sir?
How you will answer this, when you are question'd?

Pug.
Run from my Flesh, if I could: put off Mankind!
That's such a scorn! and will be a new Exercise
For my Arch-Duke! Woe to the several Cudgels,
Must suffer on this back! Can you no Succours, Sir?

[He asketh aid.

Mer.
Alas! the use of it is so present.

Pug.
I ask,
Sir, Credit for another, but till to morrow.

Mer.
There is not so much time, Sir. But however,
The Lady is a noble Lady, and will
(To save a Gentleman from check) be intreated

[Mere-craft promiseth faintly, yet comforts him.

To say, she has receiv'd it. Pug, Do you think so?
Will she be won?

Mer.
No doubt, to such an Office,
It will be a Ladies Bravery and her Pride.

Pug.
And not be known on't after, unto him?

Mer.
That were a Treachery! Upon my word,
Be confident. Return unto your Master,
My Lady President sits this Afternoon,
Has tane the Ring, commends her Services
Unto your Lady-Dutchess. You may say
She's a civil Lady, and does give her
All her respects already: Bad you tell her,
She lives but to receive her wish'd Commandments,
And have the honour here to kiss her Hands:
For which she'll stay this hour yet. Hasten you
Your Prince, away.

Pug.
And Sir, you will take care
Th' excuse be perfect?

Mer.
You confess your fears.

[The Devil is doubtful.
Too much.

Pug.
The Shame is more, I'll quit you of either.