A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 07
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 07
English drama
BLO. Madam, and you be wise, trust your honest neighbours here;
let them bring this ca-ca-ca-ca-to the Fleet, and s-see your ring
delivered.
SKINK. A plague upon you for a damned rogue!
The porter of the Fleet will surely know me. [_Aside_.
LADY F. Good neighbours, bring this honest fellow thither;
There's for his pains a crown, if he say true,
And for your labour there's as much for you.
SKINK. Why, ma-ma-madam, I am Re-Re-Redcap, the porter's son.
LADY F. Thou hast no wrong in this; farewell, good fellow.
SKINK. Best speaking to Prince Richard? no, I'll try
And face out Redcap, if the slave were by.
LADY F. Make them drink, Block.
BLO. Come to the buttery-bar, stitty-stitty stammerer; come, honest
Constable, hey! the watch of our town; we'll drink, try-lill, i'faith.
SCENE THE TENTH.
_As they go out, enters_ SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE,
_stealing forward_, PRINCE _and_ LADY _talking_.[471]
ROB. _Lupus in fabula_, my noble Lord;
See the old fox, Sir Richard Fauconbridge.
RICH. We'll fit him well enough; second us, Robin.
LADY F. I'll fit you well enough for all your hope.
[FAUC. _beckons to_ BLOCK.
FAU. Leave quaffing, sirrah, listen to their talk.
BLO. O, while you live, beware, two are sooner seen than one; besides,
bear a brain, master, if Block should be now spied, my madam would not
trust this sconce neither in time nor tide.
FAU. Well, leave me, now it buds; see, see, they kiss.
BLO. Adieu, good old sinner, you may recover it with a sallet of
parsley and the herb patience; if not, sir, you know the worst.
It's but even this.
RICH. Madam, what you desire, I not deny,
But promise Gloster life and liberty.
I beg but love.
FAU. When doth she give her alms? [_Aside_.
LADY F. Fair, honourable prince.
FAU. Nay, then, they speed. [_Aside_.
LADY F. My soul hath your deserts in good esteem.
FAU. Witness these goodly tines[472], that grace my head. [_Aside_.
LADY F. But were you the sole monarch of the earth,
Your power were insufficient to invade
My never-yielding heart of chastity.
FAU. Sayst thou so, Mall? I promise thee for this,
I'll owe thy cherry lips an old man's kiss;
Look, how my cockerell droops; 'tis no matter,
I like it best, when women will not flatter. [_Aside_.
RICH. Nay, but sweet lady--
ROB. Nay, but gracious lord,
Do not so much forget your princely worth
As to tempt[473] virtue t' unchastity.
FAU. O noble youth! [_Aside_.
ROB. Let not the lady's dead grief for her brother
Give life to shameless and detested sin.
FAU. Sweet child. [_Aside_.
ROB. Consider that she is of high descent.
FAU. Most virtuous earl. [_Aside_.
ROB. Wife to the noblest knight that ever breath'd.
FAU. Now, blessing on thee, blessed Huntington! [_Aside_.
ROB. And would you then first stain your princely stock,
Wrong beauty, virtue, honour, chastity,
And blemish Fauconbridge's untainted arms?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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