English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Sis_. I put him to't, he dares not fight; and he that expects my favour
to so high a degree as marriage must be none of my lord Maiors
whifflers[250]; he must be valiant in Armes. I am not taken with a ring
or Caskanet, as some avaritious Ladies; he that presents me with the
sword of his rivall is more welcome then all the silken soft natur'd six
hundreds a yeere, that will be baffeld in their best clothes and goe
downe into the Country every Vacacon like Atturneys to be beaten against
next terme and get damage by it, but I forget some affaires that
concerne me. I take my leave. Your deserts upon me are eminent and many,
and for all your noble services I--will promise you nothing: you
apprehend me?
_De_. O, sweet Lady, tis too much.
_Sis_. I am so weary I can stay no longer w'ee. [_Exit_.
_De_. You make mee over happie.--So, so; the matters done. I may write
my friends. Hum: well thought upon! I shall leave her joyes without any
bound to entertaine me if I first beat this foolish rivall of mine and
present her with his sword. She assures me he dares not fight: it shall
be so. Thus with one baffling and disarming him I shall secure my
Mistresse and get the reputation of a fighting Cavallier, which may save
me many a knock hereafter among men of strong faith that shall heare how
much honour I have elsewhere taken upon the ticket.
[SCENE 3.]
_Enter Captaine and Underwit_.
_Un_. Stand right to your files, make even your rankes, silence!
Front to the right hand.
As you were.
To the right hand about.
By the left hand.
As you were.
Rankes to the right double.
Rankes as you were.
Rankes to the left double.
Midlemen to the right hand double the front; as you were,--to the left,
--double the front; middle-men to the right entire [or[251] by division]
double the front; files to the right,--to the left,--to the right hand
countermarch,--to the right,--to the left,--wheele about--
_Cap_. Ran tan: enough,--you must not wast your lunges
Too much at once. March faire and make a Captaine.
When these words of Command are rotten (rooted?) wee
Will sowe some other military seeds.
You beare[252] a braine and memory.
_Un_. I hope so.
[_Cap_.[253]] And now you are chose a Captaine for your Countrey
You must give good example to your Soldiers
And cherish nature after exercise:
You must drinke sack, sack is a fortifier.
Come, wee'le to the taverne.
_Un_. With all my heart.
[_Enter Mr. Courtwell_.
Here's Mr. _Courtwell_: lett's take him with us.
_Cap_. My costive Countrey man? hee's an Anabaptist: he wonot drinke,
and yet kist the Cupp of last night, me thought, when his Mistres--
drank to him: wee'le try. How ist, my man of mortall breeding?
_Cou_. My man of warre, trebonn.--Your servant, Captaine.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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