Kemps nine daies wonder: performed in a daunce from London to Norwich / With an introduction and notes by the Rev. Alexander Dyce.

  • William Kempe
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Kemps nine daies wonder: performed in a daunce from London to Norwich / With an introduction and notes by the Rev. Alexander Dyce. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “ Kemp. Your wife! why, hearke you; wil your wife do tricks in pub- like ? “ Harl. My wife can play. “ Kemp. The honest woman, I make no question ; but how if we cast a whores part or a courtisan ? “ Harl. Oh, my wife is excellent at that; she’s practisd it euer since I married her, tis her onely practise. “ Kemp. But, by your leaue, and she were my wife, I had rather keepe her out of practise a great deale. “ Sir Anth. Yet since tis the custome of the countrie, Prithe make one, conclude vpon the proiect : We neither looke for Schollership nor Arte, But harmlesse mirth, for thats thy vsuall part. “ Kemp. You shall finde me no turne-coate. [Exit Sir Anth.] But the proiect, come ; and then to casting of the parts. “ Harl. Marry, sir, first we will haue an old Pantaloune. “ Kemp. Some iealous Coxcombe. “ Harl. Right, and that part will I play. “ Kemp. The iealous Cox-combe ? “ Harl. Tha plaid that part euer since— “ Kemp. Your wife plaid the Curtizan. “ Harl. True, and a great while afore: then I must haue a peasant to my man, and he must keepe my wife. “ Kemp. Your man, and a peasant, keepe your wife! I haue knowne a Gentleman keepe a peasants wife, but tis not vsuall for a peasant to keepe his maisters wife. “ Harl. O, ’tis common in our countrey. “ Ke. And ile maintaine the custome of the coitry. Offer to kisse “ Harl. What do you meane, sir ? his wife. “ Kemp. Why, to rehearse my part on your wiues lips: we are fellowes, and amongst friends and fellowes, you knowe, all things are common. “ Harl. But shee shall bee no common thing, if I can keepe her seuerall : then, sir, wee must haue an Amorado that must make me Cornuto.