Kit.
I thank you heartily, Thomas: give me your hand: With all my heart, good Thomas. I have, Thomas, A secret to impart unto you---but, When once you have it, I must seal your lips up; So far I tell you, Thomas.
Cash. Sir, for that---
Kit.
Nay, hear me out. Think I esteem you, Thomas, When I will let you in thus to my private.
It is a thing sits nearer to my crest, Than thou art "ware of, Thomas; if thou should"st Reveal it, but---
Cash. How, I reveal it?
Kit. Nay, I do not think thou would"st; but if thou should"st, "Twere a great weakness.
Cash. A great treachery: Give it no other name.
Kit. Thou wilt not do"t, then?
Cash.
Sir, if I do, mankind disclaim me ever!
Kit.
He will not swear, he has some reservation, Some conceal"d purpose, and close meaning sure; Else, being urg"d so much, how should he choose But lend an oath to all this protestation?
He"s no precisian, that I"m certain of, Nor rigid Roman Catholic: he"ll play At fayles, and tick-tack; I have heard him swear.
What should I think of it? urge him again, And by some other way! I will do so.
Well, Thomas, thou hast sworn not to disclose:--- Yes, you did swear?
Cash.
Not yet, sir, but I will, Please you---
Kit.
No, Thomas, I dare take thy word, But, if thou wilt swear, do as thou think"st; good; I am resolv"d without It; at thy pleasure.
Cash.
By my soul"s safety then, sir, I protest, My tongue shall ne"er take knowledge of a word Deliver"d me in nature of your trust.
Kit.
It is too much; these ceremonies need not: I know thy faith to be as firm as rock.
Thomas, come hither, near; we cannot be Too private in this business. So it is,--- Now he has sworn, I dare the safelier venture. [Aside.
I have of late, by divers observations--- But whether his oath can bind him, yea, or no, Being not taken lawfully? ha! say you?
I will ask council ere I do proceed:---- [Aside.
Thomas, it will be now too long to stay, I"ll spy some fitter time soon, or to-morrow.
Cash. Sir, at your pleasure.
Kit. I will think:-and, Thomas, I pray you search the books "gainst my return, For the receipts "twixt me and Traps.
Cash. I will, sir.
Kit.
And hear you, if your mistress"s brother, Wellbred, Chance to bring hither any gentleman, Ere I come back, let one straight bring me word.
Cash. Very well, sir.
Kit.
To the Exchange, do you hear?
Or here in Coleman-street, to justice Clement"s.
Forget it not, nor be not out of the way.
Cash. I will not, sir.
Kit. I pray you have a care on"t.
Or, whether he come or no, if any other, Stranger, or else; fail not to send me word.
Cash. I shall not, sir.
Kit. Be it your special business Now to remember it.
Cash. Sir, I warrant you.
Kit.
But, Thomas, this is not the secret, Thomas, I told you of.
Cash. No, sir; I do suppose it.
Kit. Believe me, it is not.
Cash. Sir, I do believe you.
Kit.
By heaven it is not, that"s enough: but, Thomas, I would not you should utter it, do you see, To any creature living; yet I care not.
Well, I must hence. Thomas, conceive thus much; It was a trial of you, when I meant So deep a secret to you, I mean not this, But that I have to tell you; this is nothing, this.
But, Thomas, keep this from my wife, I charge you, Lock"d up in silence, midnight, buried here.--- No greater h.e.l.l than to be slave to fear. [Exit.
Cash.
Lock"d up in silence, midnight, buried here!
Whence should this flood of pa.s.sion, trow, take head? ha!
Best dream no longer of this running humour, For fear I sink; the violence of the stream Already hath transported me so far, That I can feel no ground at all: but soft--- Oh, "tis our water-bearer: somewhat has crost him now.
Enter COB, hastily.
Cob. Fasting-days! what tell you me of fasting days? "Slid, would they were all on a light fire for me! they say the whole world shall be consumed with fire one day, but would I had these Ember-weeks and villanous Fridays burnt in the mean time, and then--
Cash. Why, how now, Cob? what moves thee to this choler, ha?
Cob. Collar, master Thomas! I scorn your collar, I, sir; I am none O" your cart-horse, though I carry and draw water. An you offer to ride me with your collar or halter either, I may hap shew you a jade"s trick, sir.
Cash. O, you"ll slip your head out of the collar? why, goodman Cob, you mistake me.
Cob. Nay, I have my rheum, and I can be angry as well as another, sir.