English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Sis_. My fighting servant? has he beaten you, sir?
Perhapps he thought you were his Rivall; surely
I saw him not since yesterday.
_Cou_. Bu'y, Ladie.--
How many mile ist to the next Cutlers?
The rogue has pawn'd or sold my sword.
[_Offers to go forth_.
_Sis_. Dee heare, sir?
I can tell you now what Lady twas you did
Abuse so.
_Cou_. I abuse a Ladie! tell me the slave
Reported it. I hope twill prove this Mounsieur.
If ere we meet agen! Who wast?
_Sis_. Upon condition, sir, you will requite me
But with one gentle favour.
_Cou_. Any thing--
_Sis_. You must sitt downe and heare me then while I
At a distance thus deliver--
_Cou_. Tis more state.
_Sis_. I am most unfortunate.
_Cou_. In what, deare Damsell?
_Sis_. And much wrongd by a gentleman I lov'd.
_Cou_. Can he be a gentleman that dares
Wrong so much love and beauty? what's the offence?
_Sis_. He wo'not love agen.
_Cou_. And you would have
The stubborne man corrected?
_Sis_. I would be
Revengd if I knew how, and honour him
Should do me Justice.
_Cou_. Name the man; Ile doot.
_Sis_. I cannot.
_Cou_. How?
_Sis_. Yet turne your face: alas, it is yourselfe.
I have your word to punish him.
_Cou_. Sweet Ladie,
I am well acquainted with the worthy gentleman,
But will not kill nor strike him, for I know
He has just reason not to love you--you
Of all your sex; he told me so.
_Sis_. His reason?
_Cou_. Was in these wordes; suppose you hear him speak it;
Now do you sit--Lady, when I consider you,
The perfect frame of what we can call hansome,
With all your attributes of soule and body,
Where no addition or detraction can
By _Cupids_ nicer Crittick find a fault,
Or _Mercury_ with your eternall flame;
And then consider what a thing I am
To this high Character of you, so low,
So lost to noble merits, I despaire
To love a Mistresse cannot love agen.
_Sis_. This is a much dissembled Modesty.
_Cou_. Therefore give me the kinder Chambermaid,
That will returne me love for my two peeces
And give me back twelve pennyworth agen,
Which is as much as I can well receave;
So there is thirty and nyne shillings cleere
Gotten in Love, and much good do her too't;
I thinke it very well bestow'd.
_Sis_. But if I thinke you worthy, and accept
Your service, it destroies this other reason
For your despaire. Why, I can praise you, too.
_Cou_. No, lett it alone I have other reasons Lady
Among my papers. But to love or to be in love
Is to be guld; that's the plaine _English_ of _Cupids Latine_.
Beside, all reverence to the calling, I
Have vowd never to marry, and you know
Love may bring a Man toot at last, and therefore
My fine Gewgaw do not abuse me.
_Sis_. How can I
When you will neither Love nor marry me?
_Cou_. I was not made for a husband.
_Sis_. But I would make you.
_Cou_. I know what you would make me.
_Enter Servant_.
_Ser_. Mounsier _Device_, if you be alone, would present his service.
_Cou_. Is he come?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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