Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

XXIII.NICHOLAS UDALL.453XXIII.NICPIOLAS UDALL.Perhaps the reader will understand the Extract better from a briefargument of the whole play. Mathew Merygreeke explains, in asoliloquy, that he gains his living by hanging on to rich men. At thistime he has attached himself to Ralph Roister Doister, a silly rake, whosoon enters upon the stage, and instructs Merygreeke to help him inpaying his addresses to Dame Christian Custance, a rich and sensiblewidow. Ralph then meets with three of the widow's maids, MageMumblecrust, Tibet Talkapace, and Annot Alyface, whom he tries topropitiate. He gives Mage Mumblecrust a letter, which she undertakesto convey to her mistress.Next Dobinet Doughtie, Doister's servant, issent to the window with a ring and a token, which he manages todeliver to Tibet Talkapace ; but she is roundly reproved by her mistressfor receiving them. Merygreeke then applies to the widow himself,but with small success. He tells Ralph Roister Doister how ill he hasfared, and Ralph says he will ' go home and die.' Ralph and Merygreeke,however, make another attempt, and see the widow, who hands overRalph's letter to Merygreeke, and tells him to read it out. Merygreekedoes so, misplacing all the stops, and so making it mean quite thereverse of what was intended. Ralph is enraged, but throws all theblame on the scrivener who wrote the letter, which Ralph himself hadmerely copied out. Ralph and Merygreeke repair to the scrivener, toask him what he meant by such conduct, but the scrivener takes theletter in hand, and so reads it as to render it very courteous ; whereuponRalph has to beg the scrivener's pardon, since the incorrect punctuationwas Merygreeke's. The rest of the play describes the further attemptswhich Ralph makes to gain the widow, but they are all alike unsuccessful,and in the end Dame Christian Custance marries GawynGoodluck, who makes up all the quarrels arising out of the suit, andactually asks Ralph and Merygreeke to sup with him ; so that all endsmerrily, as a comedy should do.Act iii. Scene 3. Merygreeke, having bad news to communicate,begins by pretending not to see his patron.Line i. Now that the whole answer rests in my relation,'7.'I shall paint out our wooer in the best colours.'I cannot refrain from coming to see.'8. A iutie, a jut, i. e. a hit, a push ; cf. Fr. je'er, to throw. Accordingly,Merygreeke runs up against Ralph, then turns round, and begshis pardon.