look as sad as he were dumb; the cur,
I owe him no ill will, but in good sooth
He does his Master credit.

MARMADUKE As I live,
'Tis Herbert and no other!

BEGGAR 'Tis a feast to see him,
Lank as a ghost and tall, his shoulders bent,
And long beard white with age--yet evermore,
As if he were the only Saint on earth,
He turns his face to heaven.

OSWALD But why so violent
Against this venerable Man?

BEGGAR I'll tell you:
He has the very hardest heart on earth;
I had as lief turn to the Friar's school
And knock for entrance, in mid holiday.

MARMADUKE But to your story.

BEGGAR I was saying, Sir--
Well!--he has often spurned me like a toad,
But yesterday was worse than all;--at last
I overtook him, Sirs, my Babe and I,
And begged a little aid for charity:
But he was snappish as a cottage cur.
Well then, says I--I'll out with it; at which
I cast a look upon the Girl, and felt
As if my heart would burst; and so I left him.

OSWALD I think, good Woman, you are the very person
Whom, but some few days past, I saw in Eskdale,
At Herbert's door.

BEGGAR Ay; and if truth were known
I have good business there.

OSWALD I met you at the threshold,
And he seemed angry.

BEGGAR Angry! well he might;
And long as I can stir I'll dog him.--Yesterday,
To serve me so, and knowing that he owes
The best of all he has to me and mine.
But 'tis all over now.--That good old Lady
Has left a power of riches; and I say it,
If there's a lawyer in the land, the knave
Shall give me half.

OSWALD What's this?--I fear, good Woman,
You have been insolent.

BEGGAR And there's the Baron,
I spied him skulking in his peasant's dress.

OSWALD How say you? in disguis