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
Gog’s heart, I have no money in purse, ne yet in clout.
MERETRIX.
Then get thee hence, and pack like a lout.
HUFF.
Adieu, like a whore.
[_Exit_ HUFF.
MERETRIX.
Farewell, like a knave.
RUFF.
Gog’s nails, Mistress Meretrix, now he is gone,
A match ye shall make straight with me;
I will give thee sixpence to lie one night with thee.
MERETRIX.
Gog’s heart, slave, dost thou think I am a six-penny jug?
No, wis ye, Jack, I look a little more smug.
SNUFF.
I will give her eighteenpence to serve me first.
MERETRIX.
Gramercy, Snuff, thou art not the worst.
RUFF.
By Gog’s heart, she were better be hanged, to forsake me, and take
thee.
SNUFF.
Were she so? that shall we see.
RUFF.
By Gog’s heart, my dagger into her I will thrust.
SNUFF.
Ah, ye boy, ye would do it, and ye durst!
AMBIDEXTER.
Peace, my masters; ye shall not fight:
He that draws first, I will him smite.
RUFF.
Gog’s wounds, Master Snuff, are ye so lusty?
SNUFF.
Gog’s sides, Master Ruff, are ye so crusty?
RUFF.
You may happen to see.
SNUFF.
Do what thou darest to me.
[_Here draw and fight. Here she must lay on and coil
them both, the_ VICE _must run his way for fear_,
SNUFF _fling down his sword and buckler, and run
his way_.
MERETRIX.
Gog’s sides, knaves, seeing to fight ye be so rough,
Defend yourselves, for I will give ye both enough:
I will teach you how ye shall fall out for me;
Yea, thou slave Snuff, no more blows wilt thou bide?
To take thy heels a time hast thou spied?
Thou villain, seeing Snuff has gone away,
A little better I mean thee to pay.
[_He falleth down, she falleth upon him, and
beats him, and taketh away his weapon._]
RUFF.
Alas, good Mistress Meretrix, no more;
My legs, sides, and arms with beating be sore.
MERETRIX.
Thou a soldier, and loose thy weapon!
Go hence, sir boy; say, a woman hath thee beaten.
RUFF.
Good Mistress Meretrix, my weapon let me have;
Take pity on me, mine honesty to save!
If it be known this repulse I sustain,
It will redound to my ignomy and shame.
MERETRIX.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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