A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05
English drama
PISTON.
Without the leave of the said Piston obtained.
BASILISCO.
Without the leave of the said Piston licensed,
Obtain'd, and granted.
PISTON.
Enjoy thy life, and live; I give it thee.
BASILISCO.
I enjoy my life at thy hands, I confess it:
I am up; but that I am religious in mine oath,--
PISTON.
What would you do, sir? what would you do?
Will you up the ladder, sir, and see the tilting?
[_Then they go up the ladders, and they sound_
_within to the first course._
BASILISCO.
Better a dog fawn on me than bark. [_Aside._
PISTON.
Now, sir, how lik'st thou this course?
BASILISCO.
Their lances were couch'd too high,
And their steeds ill-borne.
PISTON.
It may be so, it may be so:
[_Sound to the second course._
Now, sir, how like you this course?
BASILISCO.
Pretty, pretty, but not famous;
Well for a learner, but not for a warrior.
PISTON.
By my faith, methought it was excellent.
BASILISCO.
Ay, in the eye of an infant a peacock's tail is glorious.
[_Sound to the third course._
PISTON.
O, well-run; the bay horse with the blue tail
And the silver knight are both down:
By cock and pie,[393] and mouse-foot,
The Englishman is a fine knight.
BASILISCO.
Now, by the marble face of the welkin,
He is a brave warrior.
PISTON.
What an oath is there! fie upon thee, extortioner!
BASILISCO.
Now comes in the infant, that courts my mistress.
[_Sound to the fourth course._
O, that my lance were in my rest,
And my beaver clos'd for this encounter.
PISTON.
O, well-run; my master hath overthrown the Turk.
BASILISCO.
Now fie upon the Turk;
To be dismounted by a child, it vexeth me.
[_Sound to the fifth course._
PISTON.
O, well-run, master; he hath overthrown the Frenchman.
BASILISCO.
It is the fury of his horse, not the strength of his arm.
I would thou wouldst remit my oath,
That I might assail thy master.
PISTON.
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