A Select Collection of Old English Plays: Originally Published by Robert Dodsley in the year 1744
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays: Originally Published by Robert Dodsley in the year 1744
English drama
O’ the passion of God, I have done, by mine honesty:
I will take your part hereafter verily.
ALL.
Then, content; let us agree.
AMBIDEXTER.
Shake hands with me, I shake hands with thee:
Ye are full of courtesy, that is the best;
And you take great pain, ye are a mannerly guest.
Why, masters, do you not know me? the truth to me tell--
ALL.
No, trust us, not very well.
AMBIDEXTER.
Why, I am Ambidexter, whom many soldiers do love.
HUFF.
Gog’s heart, to have thy company needs we must prove.
We must play with both hands with our hostess and host,
Play with both hands, and score on the post,
Now and then with our captain for many a delay,
We will not stick with both hands to play.
AMBIDEXTER.
The honester man ye, ye may me trust.
_Enter_ MERETRIX, _with a staff on her shoulder_.
MERETRIX.
What, is there no lads here that hath a lust
To have a passing trull to help at their need?
HUFF.
Gog’s heart, she is come indeed.
What, Mistress Meretrix? by his wounds, welcome to me.
MERETRIX.
What will you give me? I pray you, let me see.
RUFF.
By his heart, she looks for gifts by and by.
MERETRIX.
What, Master Ruff, I cry you mercy;
The last time I was with you, I got a broken head,
And lay in the street all night for want of a bed.
SNUFF.
Gog’s wounds, kiss me, my trull so white.
In thee I swear is all my delight;
If thou shouldest have had a broken head for my sake,
I would have made his head to ache.
MERETRIX.
What, Master Ambidexter? who looked for you?
AMBIDEXTER.
Mistress Meretrix, I thought not to see you here now.
There is no remedy; at meeting I must have a kiss.
MERETRIX.
What, man? I will not stick for that, by Giss.
[_Kiss._
AMBIDEXTER.
So now, gramercy, I pray thee be gone.
MERETRIX.
Nay, soft, my friend; I mean to have one:
Nay, soft; I swear, and if ye were my brother,
Before I let go, I will have another.
[_Kiss, kiss, kiss._
RUFF.
Gog’s heart, the whore would not kiss me yet.
MERETRIX.
If I be a whore, thou art a knave, then it is quit.
HUFF.
But hear’st thou, Meretrix? with who this night wilt thou lie?
MERETRIX.
With him that giveth the most money.
HUFF.
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