Speeches (Lines) for Mistress Overdone in "Measure for Measure"

First Gentleman. How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

Mistress Overdone. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried
to prison was worth five thousand of you all.

Second Gentleman. Who's that, I pray thee?

Mistress Overdone. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.

First Gentleman. Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.

Mistress Overdone. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested, saw
him carried away; and, which is more, within these
three days his head to be chopped off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so.
Art thou sure of this?

Mistress Overdone. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam
Julietta with child.

Lucio. Away! let's go learn the truth of it.

Mistress Overdone. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what
with the gallows and what with poverty, I am
custom-shrunk.
[Enter POMPEY]
How now! what's the news with you?

Pompey. Yonder man is carried to prison.

Mistress Overdone. Well; what has he done?

Pompey. A woman.

Mistress Overdone. But what's his offence?

Pompey. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.

Mistress Overdone. What, is there a maid with child by him?

Pompey. No, but there's a woman with maid by him. You have
not heard of the proclamation, have you?

Mistress Overdone. What proclamation, man?

Pompey. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.

Mistress Overdone. And what shall become of those in the city?

Pompey. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too,
but that a wise burgher put in for them.

Mistress Overdone. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be
pulled down?

Pompey. To the ground, mistress.

Mistress Overdone. Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth!
What shall become of me?

Pompey. Come; fear you not: good counsellors lack no
clients: though you change your place, you need not
change your trade; I'll be your tapster still.
Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that
have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you
will be considered.

Mistress Overdone. What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's withdraw.

Escalus. Go; away with her to prison!

Mistress Overdone. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted
a merciful man; good my lord.

Provost. A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it please
your honour.

Mistress Overdone. My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me.
Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by him in the
duke's time; he promised her marriage: his child
is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob:
I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me!