Act 1, Scene II - Page 2

Enter MISTRESS OVERDONE

First Gentleman
How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

MISTRESS OVERDONE
Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried
to prison was worth five thousand of you all.

Second Gentleman
Who's that, I pray thee?

MISTRESS OVERDONE
Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.

First Gentleman
Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.

MISTRESS OVERDONE
Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested, saw
him carried away; and, which is more, within these
three days his head to be chopped off.

LUCIO
But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so.
Art thou sure of this?

MISTRESS OVERDONE
I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam
Julietta with child.

LUCIO
Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two
hours since, and he was ever precise in
promise-keeping.

Second Gentleman
Besides, you know, it draws something near to the
speech we had to such a purpose.

First Gentleman
But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.

LUCIO
Away! let's go learn the truth of it.

Exeunt LUCIO and Gentlemen

MISTRESS OVERDONE
Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what
with the gallows and what with poverty, I am
custom-shrunk.

Enter POMPEY

How now! what's the news with you?

POMPEY
Yonder man is carried to prison.

MISTRESS OVERDONE
Well; what has he done?

POMPEY
A woman.

MISTRESS OVERDONE
But what's his offence?

POMPEY
Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.

MISTRESS OVERDONE
What, is there a maid with child by him?

POMPEY
No, but there's a woman with maid by him. You have
not heard of the proclamation, have you?

MISTRESS OVERDONE
What proclamation, man?

POMPEY
All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.

MISTRESS OVERDONE
And what shall become of those in the city?

POMPEY
They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too,
but that a wise burgher put in for them.

MISTRESS OVERDONE
But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be
pulled down?

POMPEY
To the ground, mistress.

MISTRESS OVERDONE
Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth!
What shall become of me?

POMPEY
Come; fear you not: good counsellors lack no
clients: though you change your place, you need not
change your trade; I'll be your tapster still.
Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that
have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you
will be considered.

MISTRESS OVERDONE
What's to do here,