A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
English drama
LIGHT. How! not of your clothes? why then you were never proud of
anything, for therein chiefly consisteth pride; for you never saw pride
pictured but in gay attire.
HAD. True; but, in my opinion, pride might as well be portrayed in any
other shape, as to seem to be an affecter of gallantry, being the causes
thereof are so several and divers. As, some are proud of their strength,
although that pride cost them the loss of a limb or two by over-daring;
likewise, some are proud of their humour, although in that humour they
be often knocked for being so; some are proud of their drink, although
that liquid operation cause them to wear a nightcap three weeks after;
some are proud of their good parts, although they never put them to
better uses than the enjoying of a common strumpet's company, and are
only made proud by the favour of a waiting-woman; others are proud----
LIGHT. Nay, I prythee, coz, enough of pride; but when do you intend to
go yonder to Covetousness the usurer, that we may see how near your plot
will take for the releasing of your mortgaged lands?
HAD. Why, now presently; and, if I do not accomplish my projects to a
wished end, I wish my fortunes may be like some scraping tradesman, that
never embraceth true pleasure till he be threescore and ten.
LIGHT. But say Hog's daughter, on whom all your hopes depend, by this be
betrothed to some other.
HAD. Why, say she were; nay more, married to another, I would be ne'er
the farther from effecting my intents. No, coz, I partly know her inward
disposition; and, did I but only know her to be womankind, I think it
were sufficient.
LIGHT. Sufficient for what?
HAD. Why, to obtain a grant of the best thing she had, chastity. Man,
'tis not here as 'tis with you in the country, not to be had without
father's and mother's goodwill; no, the city is a place of more
traffic, where each one learns by example of their elders to make the
most of their own, either for profit or pleasure.
LIGHT. 'Tis but your misbelieving thoughts make you surmise so: if women
were so kind, how haps you had not by their favours kept yourself out of
the claws of poverty?
HAD. O, but, coz, can a ship sail without water? had I had but such a
suit as this to set myself afloat, I would not have feared sinking. But
come, no more of need; now to the usurer: and though
All hopes do fail, a man can want no living,
So long as sweet desire reigns in women.
LIGHT. But then yourself must able be in giving. [_Exeunt._
_Enter_ ALBERT, _solus_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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