SCENE V. A hall in Higurashi's house.
Musicians waiting. Enter Servingmen with napkins
First Servant
Where's Potpan, that he helps not to take away? Heshift a trencher? he scrape a trencher!
Second Servant
When good manners shall lie all in one or two men'shands and they unwashed too, 'tis a foul thing.
First Servant
Away with the joint-stools, remove thecourt-cupboard, look to the plate. Good thou, saveme a piece of marchpane; and, as thou lovest me, letthe porter let in Susan Grindstone and , and Potpan!
Second Servant
Ay, boy, ready.
First Servant
You are looked for and called for, asked for andsought for, in the great chamber.
Second Servant
We cannot be here and there too. Cheerly, boys; bebrisk awhile, and the longer liver take all.
Enter Higurashi, with Kagome and others of his house, meeting the Guests and Maskers
Higurashi
Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toesUnplagued with corns will have a bout with ha, my mistresses! which of you allWill now deny to dance? she that makes dainty,She, I'll swear, hath corns; am I come near ye now?Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the dayThat I have worn a visor and could tellA whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,Such as would please: 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone:You are welcome, gentlemen! come, musicians, play.A hall, a hall! give room! and foot it, girls.
Music plays, and they dance
More light, you knaves; and turn the tables up,And quench the fire, the room is grown too , sirrah, this unlook'd-for sport comes , sit, nay, sit, good cousin Higurashi;For you and I are past our dancing days:How long is't now since last yourself and IWere in a mask?
Second Higurashi
By'r lady, thirty years.
Higurashi
What, man! 'tis not so much, 'tis not so much:'Tis since the nuptials of Lucentio,Come pentecost as quickly as it will,Some five and twenty years; and then we mask'd.
Second Higurashi
'Tis more, 'tis more, his son is elder, sir;His son is thirty.
Higurashi
Will you tell me that?His son was but a ward two years ago.
Inuyasha
[To a Servingman] What lady is that, which dothenrich the handOf yonder knight?
Servant
I know not, sir.
Inuyasha
O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightLike a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear;Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,As yonder lady o'er her fellows measure done, I'll watch her place of stand,And, touching hers, make blessed my rude my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.
Naraku
This, by his voice, should be a me my rapier, boy. What dares the slaveCome hither, cover'd with an antic face,To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.
Higurashi
Why, how now, kinsman! wherefore storm you so?
Naraku
Uncle, this is a Inushima, our foe,A villain that is hither come in spite,To scorn at our solemnity this night.
Higurashi
Young Inuyasha is it?
Naraku
'Tis he, that villain Inuyasha.
Higurashi
Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone;He bears him like a portly gentleman;And, to say truth, Tokyo brags of himTo be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth:I would not for the wealth of all the townHere in my house do him disparagement:Therefore be patient, take no note of him:It is my will, the which if thou respect,Show a fair presence and put off these frowns,And ill-beseeming semblance for a feast.
Naraku
It fits, when such a villain is a guest:I'll not endure him.
Higurashi
He shall be endured:What, goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to;Am I the master here, or you? go 'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul!You'll make a mutiny among my guests!You will set cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man!
Naraku
Why, uncle, 'tis a shame.
Higurashi
Go to, go to;You are a saucy boy: is't so, indeed?This trick may chance to scathe you, I know what:You must contrary me! marry, 'tis said, my hearts! You are a princox; go:Be quiet, or--More light, more light! For shame!I'll make you quiet. What, cheerly, my hearts!
Naraku
Patience perforce with wilful choler meetingMakes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.I will withdraw: but this intrusion shallNow seeming sweet convert to bitter gall.
Exit
Inuyasha
[To Kagome] If I profane with my unworthiest handThis holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready standTo smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
Kagome
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,Which mannerly devotion shows in this;For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.
Inuyasha
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
Kagome
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
Inuyasha
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
Kagome
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.
Inuyasha
Then move not, while my prayer's effect I from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged.
Kagome
Then have my lips the sin that they have took.
Inuyasha
Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!Give me my sin again.
Kagome
You kiss by the book.
Kagome
Madam, your mother craves a word with you.
Inuyasha
What is her mother?
Kagome
Marry, bachelor,Her mother is the lady of the house,And a good lady, and a wise and virtuousI nursed her daughter, that you talk'd withal;I tell you, he that can lay hold of herShall have the chinks.
Inuyasha
Is she a Higurashi?O dear account! my life is my foe's debt.
Hiten
Away, begone; the sport is at the best.
Inuyasha
Ay, so I fear; the more is my unrest.
Higurashi
Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone;We have a trifling foolish banquet it e'en so? why, then, I thank you allI thank you, honest gentlemen; good torches here! Come on then, let's to , sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late:I'll to my rest.
Exeunt all but Kagome and Kaede
Kagome
Come hither, Kagome. What is yond gentleman?
Kaede
The son and heir of old Tiberio.
Kagome
What's he that now is going out of door?
Kagome
Marry, that, I think, be young Petrucio.
Kagome
What's he that follows there, that would not dance?
Kagome
I know not.
Kagome
Go ask his name: if he be grave is like to be my wedding bed.
Kagome
His name is Inuyasha, and a Inushima;The only son of your great enemy.
Kagome
My only love sprung from my only hate!Too early seen unknown, and known too late!Prodigious birth of love it is to me,That I must love a loathed enemy.
Kaede
What's this? what's this?
Kagome
A rhyme I learn'd even nowOf one I danced withal.
One calls within 'Kagome.'
Kaede
Anon, anon!Come, let's away; the strangers all are gone.
Exeunt