English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Un_. She is still loth to confesse it.
_Enter Sir Francis, Lady, Courtwell, Sister, Captaine_.
_Fra_. If you have charity a bone setter.
_La_. He does counterfeit rarely.--Wheres Sir _Richard_?
_Fra_. He rid before, but I sent my footman to tell him this misfortune.
Oh, Madam!
_La_.--This is better then the toothack; he carries it excellently.
_Fra_. Aske me no torturing questions; I desire,
Madam, a little conference with you.
Ile thanke the rest if they withdraw: oh!
[_Cou_.[278]] Letts leave him.
_Un_. Wee'le to my chamber, captaine.
_Cap_. You have a mind to examine the business privatly?
_Do_. No, good Captaine, you may be present.
_Cou_. Come, _Thomas_, thou shat be witnes, too.
[_Ext. all but Sir Francis and Lady_.
_La_. They are gone; they feigne most artificially,
Let me embrace you.
_Fra_. Oh, take heed.
_La_. What's the matter?
_Fra_. Tis no dissembling,--Madam; I have had
A fall indeed, a dreadfull fall; I feele it.
I thinke my horse saw the Divell in some hedge:
Ere I had rid three furlongs, gave a start,
Pitcht me of ons back like a barr and broke
A flint with my shoulder, I thinke, which strooke fire too;
There was something like it in my eyes, Ime punish'd.
_La_. But is this serious? are you hurt indeed?
_Fra_. Hurt? I ha broke my shoulder feelingly,
And I am of opinion when I doe
Enjoy you, Madam, I shall breake my neck;
That will be next. Ile take this for a warning
And will leave of in tyme.
_La_. This makes me tremble.
_Fra_. I will be honest now; and so forgive me.
Not the Surgeon come yet?
_La_. Heaven hath cur'd us both.
_Fra_. I am not cured yet. Oh for the bone setter!
If ere I counterfeit agen.
_La_. There is a blessing falne upon my blood.
Your only charme had power to make my thoughts
Wicked, and your conversion disinchants me;
May both our lives be such as heaven may not
Grieve to have shew'd this bounty.
_Enter Courtwell_.
_Cou_. Sir _Richard_, Madam.
_La_. You may enter now, sir.
_Enter the rest and Sir Richard_.
_Ri_. I do not like this stratageme; Sir _Francis_
Must not heere practise his Court tricks; I wo'not
_Enter Surgeon_.
Trust my wives surgerie. Hee's come.--How ist,
Noble Sir _Francis_? Best withdraw; ile see
Him drest my selfe. [_They lead out Sir Francis_.
_Enter Underwit, Dorothy, Captaine, Thomas_.
_Un_. Madam and gentlemen, Mistris _Dorothy_ wo'not acknowledge she is
a knight's daughter; she sweares she knows no _Littleland_.
_Do_. Till it appeare to whom this gemme was meant,
Deare Madame, be you treasurer. I confesse
I have wealth enough in such a noble husband.
_La_. It shall belong to thee; be honest, _Dorothy_,
And use him well.
_Do_. With my best study, Madam.
_La_. Where is the footman you talke of?
_Tho_. He pretended Letters to carry two mile of to a kinsman of his
Masters, and returne presently. He dranke three or fower beere glasses
of sack, and he ran away so lightlie.
_Do_. His reward shall overtake him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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