English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Belliz_. Be mine eyes lost for ever.
1 _Cam_. Is that her husband?
_Epi_. Yes.
1 _Cam_. No matter; some husbands are so base, they keepe the doore
whilst they are Cuckolded; but this is after a more manlier way, for
he stands bound to see it done.
_King_. Haile her away.
1 _Cam_. Come, Pusse! Haile her away? which way? yon way? my Camells
backs cannot climbe it.
_Anton_. The fellow is struck mad.
1 _Cam_. That way? it lookes into a Mill-pond,
Whirre! how the Wheels goe and the Divell grindes.
No, this way.
_King_. Keepe the slave back!
_1 Cam_. Backe, keep me backe! there sits my wife kembing her haire,
which curles like a witches felt-locks[171]! all the Neets in't are
Spiders, and all the Dandruffe the sand of a Scriveners Sand-boxe.
Stand away; my whore shall not be lousie; let me come noynt her with
Stavesucre[172].
_King_. Defend me, lop his hands off!
_Omnes_. Hew him in pieces
_King_. What has he done?
_Anton_. Sir, beate out his owne braines.
_Vict_. You for his soule must answer.
_King_. Fetch another.
_Eugen_. Tempt not the wrath supernall to fall downe
And crush thee in thy throne.
_Enter 2 Cammell drivers_.
_King_. Peace, sorcerous slave:
Sirra, take hence this Witch and ravish her.
2 _Cam_. A Witch? Witches are the Divels sweete hearts.
_King_. Doe it, be thou Master of much gold.
2 _Cam_. Shall I have gold to doe it? in some Countries I heare whole
Lordships are spent upon a fleshly device, yet the buyer in the end had
nothing but French Repentance and the curse of Chyrurgery for his money.
Let me finger my gold; Ile venture on, but not give her a penny. Womans
flesh was never cheaper; a man may eate it without bread; all Trades
fall, so doe they.
_Epi_. Look you, Sir, there's your gold.
2 _Cam_. Ile tell money after my father. Oh I am strucke blinde!
_Omnes_. The fellow is bewitcht, Sir.
_Eugen_. Great King, impute not
This most miraculous delivery
To witch-craft; 'tis a gentle admonition
To teach thy heart obey it.
_King_. Lift up the slave;
Though he has lost his sight, his feeling is not;
He dyes unlesse he ravish her.
_Epi_. Force her into thy armes or else thou dyest.
2 _Cam_. I have lost my hearing, too.
_King_. Fetch other slaves.
_Epi_. Thou must force her.
2 _Cam_. Truely I am hoarse with driving my Cammells, and nothing does
me good but sirrop of Horehound.
_Enter two Slaves_.
_Epi_. Here are two slaves will doe it indeed.
2. Which is shee?
_King_. This creature; she has beauty to intice you
And enough to feast you all; seize her all three
And ravish her by turnes.
_Slaves_. A match.
[_They dance antiquely, and Exeunt_.
_King_. Hang up these slaves; I am mock't by her and them;
They dance me into anger. Heard you not musicke?
_Anton_. Yes, sure, and most sweet melody.
_Vict_. 'Tis the heavens play
And the Clowdes dance for ioy thy cruelty
Has not tane hold upon me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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