English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_De_. What's the mistry of this? Your addition? pray honour me to
know it.
_Un_. He that was Mr. _Underwit_ is made a Captaine; you may, if you
please, take notice of his title.
_De_. I beg your mercy, noble Captaine, and congratulate your addition
of honour. It was Ignorance which, I professe, made me salute you with a
wrong preface. Now, Capt., I shall bee proud to march under the ensigne
of your favour.
_Un_. Friend _Device_, how does thy body? I am thy vassall; servant is
for porters, watermen & lacquies, & is no witt neither. You preserve
your tropes and your elegancies? What fancies doe adorne to-day? If I
were a Constable I might apprehend you for suspition you had robd a
pedlar. Does this thatchd cottage head hold still in fashion? What paid
you for this dead mans hair? Where's your night rail[228]? The last time
I saw you was in _Fleetstreet_, when at Complement and bare to an other
gentleman. I tooke him for a Barber and I thought you by the wide lynnen
about your neck [to] have been under correction in the suds[229], sir.
_De_. Wee are govern'd by the Mode, as waters by the Moone; but there
are more changes in th'one than t'other. But does your Comand extend
to the Sea or the land service?
_Un_. I never see the Sea in my life, sir, nor intend it.
_De_. You are not the first Captaine that has seene no service: 'tis
time lost to travell for't when a man may bee a Comander at home. I
never traveld myselfe.
_Un_. No, Sir?
_De_. And yet I understand garbes, from the elevation of your pole to
the most humble galosh.
_Un_. Can your hanches play well in these close cut breeches? they want
but a pummell to distinguish 'em from Trouses[230].
_De_. O sir, there is a perfect geometry in these breeches; you doe not
observe the morality of your fancie, nor the gentile play and poize of
your Lemon, Orange or Melon: this is gentry. Why, I understand all the
curiosities of the Mode to a Mathematicall point, and yet I never
travaild in all my life for't.
_Un_. These are extraordinary parts. Alas, a Captaine has but fifty or a
hundred at most to looke after, and all they have not so much witt as
your _French_ Lacquey. And what need any travaile to instruct them? I
can teach them their motions by word of mouth: when they come to fight,
my Countrymen will retreate naturally.
_Enter Ladie and her Sister_.
_Lady_. Now in revenge could I bee rich, but that
I would not be a prisoner to my Chamber.
These superstitions will make women doe
Strange things sometymes.
_Sis_. Of whome doe you thinke he should be jealous, sister?
_Lady_. Of Duke _Eneas_ in the hanging.
_Sis_. I hope he has no suspition of my servants,
That, under the pretence of formall Courtship
To mee, should ayme at his dishonour: there's
One that would weare my livery.
_Lady_. _Device_?
Hang him, outside! no, my husband loves
His folly and would have him the state foole,
His garbes are so ridiculous.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account