Cit . Let him come now and despatch this, and I’ll trouble you no more.
Boy . Will you give me your hand of that?
Wife . Give him thy hand, George, do; and I’ll kiss him. I warrant thee, the youth means plainly.
Boy . I’ll send him to you presently.
Wife . [Kissing him .] I thank you, little youth.
[Exit Boy .]
SCENE IV.— Before a Barber’s Shop , Waltham .
Enter RALPH, Host, TIM, and GEORGE.
Wife . Oh, Ralph’s here, George!—God send thee good luck, Ralph!]
Host . Puissant knight, yonder his mansion is.
Lo, where the spear and copper basin are!
Behold that
string, on which hangs many a tooth,
Drawn from the gentle jaw of wandering knights!
I dare not stay to
sound; he will appear.
[Exit .
Ralph . Oh, faint not, heart! Susan, my lady dear,
The cobbler’s maid in Milk Street, for whose sake
I
take these arms, oh, let the thought of thee
Carry thy knight through all adventurous deeds;
And, in the
honour of thy beauteous self,
May I destroy this monster Barbarossa!—
Knock, squire, upon the basin, till
it break
With the shrill strokes, or till the giant speak.
[Tim knocks upon the basin
Enter Barber.
[Wife . Oh, George, the giant, the giant!—Now, Ralph, for thy life!]
Bar . What fond unknowing wight is this, that dares
So rudely knock at Barbarossa’s cell,
Where no man
comes but leaves his fleece behind?
Ralph . I, traitorous caitiff, who am sent by fate
To punish all the sad enormities
Thou hast committed
against ladies gent
And errant knights. Traitor to God and men,
Prepare thyself; this is the dismal hour
Appointed
for thee to give strict account
Of all thy beastly treacherous villanies.
Bar . Fool-hardy knight, full soon thou shalt aby
This fond reproach: thy body will I bang;
[Takes down his pole .
Prepare thyself, for dead soon shalt thou be.
Ralph . Saint George for me!
[They fight .
Bar . Gargantua for me!