A Chaste Maid in Cheapside

By Thomas Middleton

Thomas Middleton (1580-1627), a bricklayer's son, rose to become one of the most eminent playwrights of the Jacobean period. Along with Ben Johnson he helped shape the dynamic course of drama in Renaissance England. His range is broad, as his work successfully covers comedy, tragedy, and history. Praised during his life as well as today, Middleton remains relevant and influential. In "A Chaste Maid in Cheapside" (1630), we see Middleton at the heights of his comedic powers. A satire set in the city, this play examines the power of money and sex in rapidly growing London. The titular maid, Moll Yellowhammer, is courted by several men, all eager to gain access to her father's fortunes. This romantic comedy rolls with a bawdiness and frivolity that is the source of its hilarity. Driven by a fundamental cynicism, the play is lightened by its unrelenting wit. Considered Middleton's best comedy, "A Chaste Maid in Cheapside" resonates today as it did upon its release.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Digireads.com Publishing
• Release date: Feb 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781420945805

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A CHASTE MAID IN CHEAPSIDE

BY THOMAS MIDDLETON

A Digireads.com Book

Digireads.com Publishing

Print ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-4539-3

Ebook ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-4580-5

This edition copyright © 2012

Please visit www.digireads.com

CONTENTS

THE CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

ACT I. Scene ii.

ACT II. Scene i.

ACT II. Scene ii.

ACT II, Scene iii.

ACT II. Scene iv.

ACT III. Scene i.

ACT III. Scene ii.

ACT III. Scene iii.

ACT IV. Scene i.

ACT IV. Scene ii.

ACT IV. Scene iii.

ACT IV. Scene iv.

ACT V. Scene i.

ACT V. Scene ii.

ACT V. Scene iii.

ACT V. Scene iv

THE CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

Mr. YELLOWHAMMER, a goldsmith

MAUDLINE, his wife

TIM, their son (A Cambridge student)

MOLL, their daughter

TUTOR to Tim

SIR WALTER Whorehound, a suitor to Moll

SIR OLIVER Kix, and his wife LADY KIX, kin to Sir Walter

Mr. [John] ALLWIT, and his wife MISTRESS ALLWIT, whom Sir Walter keeps

A WELSH GENTLEWOMAN, Sir Walter's whore

WAT and NICK, his bastards [by Mistress Allwit]

DAVY Dahumma, his man

TOUCHWOOD SENIOR, and his wife [MISTRESS TOUCHWOOD], a decayed gentleman

TOUCHWOOD JUNIOR, another suitor to Moll

TWO PROMOTERS

SERVANTS [three of Allwit's, three of Sir Oliver's]

[Three or four] WATERMEN

[Sims, a PORTER]

[A GENTLEMAN]

[A WENCH with Touchwood Senior's bastard]

[Jugg, Lady Kix's MAID]

[A DRY NURSE]

[A WET NURSE]

[A MAN with a basket]

[A SECOND MAN with a basket]

[TWO PURITANS, the first named Mistress Underman]

[FIVE GOSSIPS]

[A MIDWIFE]

[A PARSON]

[A third NURSE]

[SUSAN, Moll's maid]

ACT I. Scene i.

Scene. A street in front of Yellowhammer's shop.

[Enter Maudline and Moll, a shop being discovered.]

MAUDLINE. Have you played over all your old lessons o' the virginals?

MOLL. Yes.

MAUDLINE. Yes, you are a dull maid alate, methinks

You had need have somewhat to quicken

Your green sickness; do you weep? A husband.

Had not such a piece of flesh been ordained,

What had us wives been good for? To make salads,

Or else cried up and down for samphire.

To see the difference of these seasons!

When I was of your youth, I was lightsome,

And quick, two years before I was married.

You fit for a knight's bed—

Drowsy-browed, dull-eyed, drossy-spirited!

I hold my life you have forgot your dancing:

When was the dancer with you?

MOLL. The last week.

MAUDLINE. Last week?

When I was of your bord, he missed me not a night,

I was kept at it; I took delight to learn,

And he to teach me, pretty brown gentleman,

He took pleasure in my company;

But you are dull, nothing comes nimbly from you,

You dance like a plumber's daughter, and deserve

Two thousand pounds in lead to your marriage,

And not in goldsmith's ware.

[Enter Yellowhammer.]

YELLOWHAMMER. Now what's the din

Betwixt mother and daughter, ha?

MAUDLINE. Faith, small,

Telling your daughter Mary of her errors.

YELLOWHAMMER. Errors! Nay, the city cannot hold you, wife,

But you must needs fetch words from Westminster;

I ha' done, i'faith.

Has no attorney's clerk been here alate

And changed his half-crown-piece his mother sent him,

Or rather cozened you with a gilded twopence,

To bring the word in fashion for her faults

Or cracks in duty and obedience,

Term 'em e'en so, sweet wife?

As there is no woman made without a flaw,

Your purest lawns have frays, and cambrics bracks.

MAUDLINE. But 'tis a husband solders up all cracks.

MOLL. What is he come, sir?

YELLOWHAMMER. Sir Walter's come.

He was met at Holborn Bridge, and in his company

A proper fair young gentlewoman, which I guess

By her red hair, and other rank descriptions,

To be his landed niece brought out of Wales,

Which Tim our son (the Cambridge boy) must marry.

'Tis a match of Sir Walter's own making

To bind us to him, and our heirs for ever.

MAUDLINE. We are honoured then, if this baggage would be humble,

And kiss him with devotion when he enters.

I cannot get her for my life

To instruct her hand thus, before and after,

Which a knight will look for, before and after.

I have told her still, 'tis the waving of a woman.

Does often move a man, and prevails strongly.

But sweet, ha' you sent to Cambridge,

Has Tim word on't?

YELLOWHAMMER. Had word just the day after when you sent him

The silver spoon to eat his broth in the hall,

Amongst the gentlemen commoners.

MAUDLINE. O, 'twas timely.

[Enter Porter.]

YELLOWHAMMER. How now?

PORTER. A letter from a gentleman in Cambridge.

YELLOWHAMMER. O, one of Hobson's porters, thou art welcome.

I told thee, Maud, we should hear from Tim.

[Reads letter] Amantissimis charissimisque ambobus parentibus patri et matri.

MAUDLINE. What's the matter?

YELLOWHAMMER. Nay, by my troth, I know not,

Ask not me, he's grown too verbal; this learning is

A great witch.

MAUDLINE. Pray, let me see it, I was wont

To understand him.

Amantissimus charissimus, he has sent the carrier's man, he says; ambobus parentibus, for a pair of boots; patri et matri, pay the porter, or it makes no matter.

PORTER. Yes, by my faith, mistress, there's no true construction in that, I have took a great deal of pains, and come from the Bell sweating. Let me come to't, for I was a scholar forty years ago; 'tis thus, I warrant you: Matri, it makes no matter: ambobus parentibus, for a pair of boots; patri, pay the porter; amantissimis charissimis, he's the carrier's man, and his name is Sims, and there he says true, forsooth, my name is Sims indeed; I have not forgot all my learning. A money matter, I thought I should hit on't.

YELLOWHAMMER. Go, thou art an old fox! [Gives money] There's a tester for thee.

PORTER. If I see your worship at Goose Fair, I have

A dish of birds for you.

YELLOWHAMMER. Why, dost dwell at Bow?

PORTER. All my lifetime,