A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11 — John Shaqi
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
English drama
SCUD. I'll follow, and unfold all in the church.
Alas! to what end, since her mind is chang'd?
Had she been loyal, all the earthly lords
Could not have borne her so! what heinous sin
Hath she committed, God should leave her then?
I never dreamt of lying with my mother,
Nor wish'd my father's death, nor hated brothers;
Nor did betray trust, nor lov'd money better
Than an accepted friend--no such base thought
Nor act unnatural possess'd this breast.
Why am I thus rewarded?--women! women!
He's mad, by heaven, that thinks you anything
But sensual monsters, and is never wise
Nor good, but when he hates you, as I now.
I'll not come near one--none of your base sex
Shall know me from this time; for all your virtues
Are like the buzzes[31] growing in the fields,
So weakly fasten'd t' ye by nature's hand,
That thus much wind blows all away at once.
Ye fillers of the world with bastardy,
Worse than diseases ye are subject to,
Know, I do hate you all: will write against you,
And fight against you: I will eat no meat
Dress'd by a woman, old or young, nor sleep
Upon a bed made by their stallion[32] hands.
Yet once more I will see this feminine devil,
When I will look her dead, speak her to hell!
I'll watch my time this day to do't, and then
I'll be in love with death, and readier still
His mortal stroke to take, than he to kill.
[_Cornets. Exit_ SCUDMORE.
_Loud music. Enter, as from the church_, SIR JOHN WORLDLY, NEVILL, _like
the parson_; COUNT FREDERICK, BELLAFRONT, STRANGE, KATHERINE; SIR
INNOCENT NINNY, LADY NINNY, SIR ABRAHAM; LUCIDA, WAGTAIL, PENDANT.
C. FRED. Sweet is the love purchas'd with difficulty.
BEL. Then, this cross accident doth relish ours.
STRANGE. I rather think ours happier, my fair Kate, Where all is
smooth, and no rub checks our course.
_Enter_ CAPTAIN POUTS.
CAPT. POUTS. Are ye married?
C. FRED. Yes.
CAPT. POUTS. The devil dance at your wedding! But for you, I have
something else to say. Let me see: here are reasonable good store of
people. Know, all my beloved brethren (I speak it in the face of the
congregation), this woman I have lain with oftener----
OMNES. How!
L. NIN. Before God, you are a wicked fellow to speak on't in this
manner, if you have.
STRANGE. Lain with her?
CAPT. POUTS. Yes. Good morrow. God give ye joy.
[_Exit_ CAPTAIN POUTS.
SIR J. WOR. I am speechless with my anger. Follow him!
If it be true, let her be prov'd a whore:
If false, he shall abide the slander dearly.
ABRA. Follow that list: I will not meddle with him.
SIR J. WOR. Why speak'st not thou to reconcile those looks,
That fight stern battles in thy husband's face?
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