A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
English drama
WELL. He lies that say so, and I'll make it good.
And for I know my friend is out of town,
What man soever wrongs him is my foe.
I say he had full satisfaction,
Nay, that which we may call submission;
That the other sought peace first; and who denies this,
Lord, knight or gentleman: English, French or Scot,
I'll fight and prove it on him with my sword.
FEE. No, sweet Master Welltried, let's have no fighting, till (as you
have promised) you have rid me from this foolish fear, and taught me to
endure to look upon a naked sword.
WELL. Well, and I'll be as good as my word.
FEE. But do you hear, cousin Proudly? They say my old father must marry
your sister Honour, and that he will disinherit me, and entail all his
lordships on her and the heir he shall beget on her body. Is't true or
not?
PROUDLY. There is such a report.
FEE. Why, then I pray God he may die an old cuckoldy slave.
O world, what art thou? where is parent's love?
Can he deny me for his natural child?
Yet see (O fornicator!) old and stiff,
Not where he should be, that's my comfort yet.
As for you, my lord, I will send to you as soon as
I dare fight, and look upon steel; which, Master
Welltried (I pray) let be with all possible speed.
PROUDLY. What d'ye this afternoon?
FEE. Faith, I have a great mind to see Long Meg and the Ship at the
Fortune.[90]
PROUDLY. Nay, i' faith, let's up and have a rest at primero.
WELL. Agreed, my lord; and toward the evening I'll carry you to the
company.
FEE. Well, no more words.
[_Exeunt_ LORD PROUDLY, LORD FEESIMPLE, _and_ WELLTRIED.[91]
GRACE. I wonder, sir, you will walk so, and let anybody sit prating to
your wife. Were I a man, I'd thrust 'em out o' th' shop by the head and
shoulders.
SEL. There were no policy in that, wife; so should I lose my custom. Let
them talk themselves weary, and give thee love-tokens--still I lose not
by it.
Thy chastity's impregnable, I know it.
Had I a dame, whose eyes did swallow youth,
Whose unchaste gulf together did take in
Masters and men, the footboys and their lords,
Making a gallimaufry in her blood,
I would not walk thus then: but, virtuous wife,
He that in chaste ears pours his ribald talk
Begets hate to himself, and not consent;
And even as dirt, thrown hard against a wall,
Rebounds and sparkles in the thrower's eyes,
So ill words, utter'd to a virtuous dame,
Turn and defile the speaker with red shame. [_Exeunt._
SCENE II.
_Enter_ HUSBAND _and_ WIFE.
HUS. Zounds! you're a whore; though I entreat him fair
Before his face, in compliment or so,
I not esteem him truly as this rush.
There's no such thing as friendship in the world,
And he that cannot swear, dissemble, lie,
Wants knowledge how to live, and let him die.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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