English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Fue_. Hees never from hym; nay I must begone;
Past servyce is forgott. Doe you heare, my lorde?
Beggars must be no chusers. I am one,
The proverb proves it, an oulde serving man:
At your choyse therefore be it, whether I
Or that knave shall stay with you, for both must not;
Your house (though lardge) cannot contayne us bothe.
_Gan_. Why, whatts the matter, _Fue_?
_Fue_. Matter of wronge.
Full twoe and twentye severall liverye coatts,
Made & composed all for severall yeares,
Have I runne throughe in your most faythfull service.
Oth scullerye I was three yeares before:
So, blacke and blewe[86], I make account I've served
Your Lordshypp five and twentye.
_Gan_. What meanes thys?
_Fue_. My servyce notwithstandinge, thys proude Jacke
Abuses me in words I understand not;
And therefore in playne tearmes if you keepe hym
I am no longer for you.
_Gan_. Patyence, man:
If thys be all Ile see it remedyed.
He shalbe sorrye for the wronge thats past
And promyse thee to second it with other.
_Fue_. Shall he? why, let him then, and I wilbe content to dye in peace.
_Did_. I bothe repent and promyse no amends.
_Fue_. Well, that shall pacyfie, we will be frends
And live in peace together.
_Did_. On condytion
That hence you take no lycence to deprave
My good indevours.
_Fue_. In my contyence
He wrongs me now agayne.
_Did_. Nor on this growe
Sawcie and insolent.
_Fue_. Hay da! can oughte
Proceeding from my gravitie to thee
Be esteemd sawcynes? you heare, my lorde;
Can fleshe and bloode induer thys? I doe knowe
My servyce is more pretyous then to be
Thus touzd and sullyed by hys envyous breathe;
And though in pollycie I will not leave
Your lordshypps servyce, yet if polycie
Or brayne of man may studdye a revendge,
Thys wytt of myne thats seldome showne in vayne
Shall fashyon out a rare one.
[_Exit La Fue_.
_Gan_. Syllye foole!
Come, _Didier_; mynde not hys peeyvishe hate
Ile make thee yet obscurd an envyed state.
[_Exeunt_.
_Actus 2_.
[SCENE I.]
_Enter Orlando, Reinaldo, Oliver, Souldiers, Attendants_.
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