A street in Ferrara
Enter Jeweller’s Wife with a Boy.
JEWELLER’S WIFE
Is my sweet knight coming? Are you certain he’s coming?
BOY
Certain, forsooth; I am sure I saw him out of the barber’s shop window ere I would come away.
JEWELLER’S WIFE
A barber’s shop? Oh, he’s a trim knight! Would he venture his body into a barber’s shop, when he knows ’tis as dangerous as a piece of Ireland? Oh, yonder, yonder, he comes! Get you back again, and look you say as I advis’d you.
Enter Knight [with Lackey].
BOY
You know me, mistress!
JEWELLER’S WIFE
My mask, my mask!
[Exit Boy.]
KNIGHT
My sweet Revenue!
JEWELLER’S WIFE
My Pleasure, welcome! I have got single; none but you shall accompany me to the justice of peace, my father’s.
KNIGHT
Why, is thy father justice of peace, and I not know it?
JEWELLER’S WIFE
My father? I’faith, sir, ay; simply though I stand here a citizen’s wife, I am a justice of peace’s daughter.
KNIGHT
I love thee the better for thy birth.
JEWELLER’S WIFE
Is that your lackey yonder, in the steaks of velvet?
KNIGHT
He’s at thy service, my sweet Revenue, for thy money paid for ‘em.
JEWELLER’S WIFE
Why, then, let him run a little before, I beseech thee, for o’my troth, he will discover us else.
KNIGHT
He shall obey thee: before, sirrah, trudge.
[Exit Lackey.]
But do you mean to lie at your father’s all night?
JEWELLER’S WIFE
Why should I desire your company else?
KNIGHT
‘Sfoot, where shall I lie, then?
JEWELLER’S WIFE
What an idle question’s that? Why, do you think I cannot make room for you in my father’s house as well as in my husband’s? They’re both good for nothing else.
KNIGHT
A man so resolute in valour as a woman in desire were an absolute leader!