English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_En_. Is't not a rare designe? and by such art
And reasons I can name, most beneficiall
To the common wealth, preventing the diseases
Which some unwholsome haire breeds in mens heads,
It will be worth our agitation, Sir;
And you, after the rate of every thousand
Per Annum milk'd out of the comon purse
Into your owne, may easily defaulke
To me a hundred for my first projection.
Did I not love you, Sir, I could make choice
Of other able men that would be glad
To multiplie their money.
_Ri_. Sir, I thanke you,
But have no mind to thrive upon abuse of
My princes favour nor the peoples curse.
Here is a gentleman, Sir _Francis Courtwell_,
Perhapps will undertake it.
_Fra_. What, Sir _Richard_?
_Ri_. A Monopolie for composeing and selling of perriwiggs.
_Fra_. Excuse me, Sir, I dare not deale in 'em.
If I be not mistaken, Sir, your name
Is _Engine_?
_En_. Yes, Sir.
_Fra_. The proiector generall?
If I may advise you, Sir, you should make your will,
Take some convenient phisick and dye tymely
To save your credit, and an execution:
It is thought else--
_En_. Oh--
_Fra_. What aile you, Sir?
_En_. A Megrim in my head.
_Ri_. Whoes there?
_Enter Thomas_.
Looke to Mr. _Engine_ heere, he faints, and send
To your Ladie for some Cordiall waters presently.
_Tho_. There is a Soveraigne Well hard by has done
Strange cures: please you, ile throw him into that.
_Ext. [Thomas; carrying away Engine_.
_Ri_. Though I distast his busines I wod not
He should miscarry here; you frighted him.
But come, I thinke tis supper tyme, Sir _Francis_.
I shall expect youle hunt with me i'th morning;
I have a pack of Doggs sent me will make
The Forrest ring.
_Fra_. Ile cheerefully attend you,
I love the sport; as earlie as you please, Sir.
_Ri_. I wish wee had all pleasures to delight you,
But no thing wants in my true love to serve you.
_Fra_.--Yet I must cuckold him; I cannot helpe it.
_Act the Third_.
_Enter Thomas with Sir Richards bootes_.
_Tho_. Sir.
_Within Ri_. Whoes that? _Thomas_?
_Tho_. The sun is up before you. Here be your bootes.
_Ri_. That's well.
_Within La_. I preethe donot rise yet; it is hardly day. Sirra, who bid
you call him so earlie? Sir _Richard_ wonot rise yet.
_Tho_. I cannot helpe it, it is none of my fault.
_La_. Wheres _Doroty_?
[_Enter Doroty_.
_Do_. Here, Madam; what make you up so soone, _Thomas_?
_Tho_. O Mistres _Dority_, tis e'ne long of you, for betweene sleepe
and awake your remembrance came to me this morning, and _Thomas_ was
up presently.
_Enter Sir Richard [& Lady]_.
_Ri_. You must excuse me, wife;
I meane to kill a brace of hares before
You thinke tis day. Come, on with my Bootes, _Thomas_;
And _Dorothy_ goe you to Sir _Francis_ Chamber,
Tell him the Day growes old and I am readie,
Our horses and the merry hounds expect us.
_La_. Any excuse to leave me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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