This.
Master I doubt not but my sudden coming
Appeareth strange as being unexpected,
The cause whereof I will relate unto you
Without more circumstance, or vain preambles;
I come here to accuse my self unto you;
And to receive such punishment as your
Discretion shall think sit for my offence;
By me sir you have partly lost your son,
I do confess I was an accessary,
Though much against my will; when I perceived
My mistress lived not well, but wronged your bed,
Not only provident to shun the danger
Might light upon my self for keeping counsel
(If it should come to light by any other)
But chiefly sorrowful for your mis-hap,
Who should in recompense of all your kindness
Unto your wife, reap such disgrace from her,
I came one night to my young master Cnemon,
(My self not daring to acquaint you with it)
⟨image 23⟩And told him there was one who used to play
The lecher with my mistress, he enraged,
Thinking that then they were in bed together,
Took suddenly his sword into his hand,
And notwithstanding that I told them then
They were not at their sport, he would not hear me.
But thinking that I had repented of
Bewraying it, ran like a mad man forth
Unto your bed-side with intent to kill
Th'adulterer, what followed sir you know:
Now to confirm that this I say is true,
If so you please, this night isle show your wife
My mistress Demeneta with her friend
A bed together in a neighbours house
Without the City.
This.
Master I doubt not but my sudden comming
Appeareth strange as being unexpected,
The cause whereof I will relate unto you
Without more circumstance, or vaine preambles;
I come here to accuse my selfe unto you;
And to receive such punishment as your
Discretion shall thinke sit for my offence;
By me sir you have partly lost your sonne,
I doe confesse I was an accessary,
Though much against my will; when I perceiv'd
My mistris liv'd not well, but wrong'd your bed,
Not onely provident to shun the danger
Might light upon my selfe for keeping counsell
(If it should come to light by any other)
But chiefly sorrowfull for your mis-hap,
Who should in recompence of all your kindnesse
Vnto your wife, reape such disgrace from her,
I came one night to my yong master Cnemon,
(My selfe not daring to acquaint you with it)
⟨image 23⟩And told him there was one who us'd to play
The lecher with my mistris, he enrag'd,
Thinking that then they were in bed together,
Tooke suddenly his sword into his hand,
And notwithstanding that I told them then
They were not at their sport, he would not heare me.
But thinking that I had repented of
Bewraying it, ran like a mad man forth
Unto your bed-side with intent to kill
Th'adulterer, what followed sir you know:
Now to confirme that this I say is true,
If so you please, this night ile shew your wife
My mistris Demeneta with her friend
A bed together in a neighbours house
Without the City.
