A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+Tim.+ Not understand me?
Y'are the [first] lady that e'er put a man
To speak plain English: some would understand
Riddles and signs. Say, I should love you, lady!
+Aur.+ There should be no love lost, sir.
+Tim.+ Say you so?
Then, by this air, my teeth e'en water at you:
I long to have some offspring by you. We
Shall have an excellent breed of wits:
I mean my youngest son shall be a poet; and
My daughters, like their mother, every one
A wench o' th' game. And for my eldest son,
He shall be like me, and inherit. Therefore
Let's not defer our joys, but go to bed
And multiply.
+Aur.+ Soft, sir, the priest must first
Discharge his office. I do not[247] mean to marry,
_Enter +Dorcas+ out of her Puritan dress._
Like ladies in New England, where they couple
With no more ceremony than birds choose their mate
Upon St Valentine's day.
+Dor.+ Madam, the preacher
Is sent for to a churching, and doth ask
If you be ready: he shall lose, he says,
His chrysome[248] else.
+Aur.+ O miracle! out of
Your little ruff, Dorcas, and in the fashion!
Dost thou hope to be saved?
+Dor.+ Pray, madam, do not
Abuse me; I will tell you more anon.
+Plot.+ Tell him she's coming.
+Aur.+ Sir, please you, partake
Of a slight banquet? [_Exit +Dorcas+._
+Plot.+ Just as you are sat,
I'll steal the priest in.
+Tim.+ Do.
+Plot.+ When you are join'd,
Be sure you do not oversee, but straight
Retire to bed: she'll follow.
'Tis not three o'clock i' th' afternoon.
+Tim.+ 'Tis but drawing
Your curtains, and you do create your night.
All times to lovers and new-married folks
May be made dark.
+Tim.+ I will, then. By this room,
She's a rare lady! I do almost wish
I could change sex, and that she might beget
Children on me.
+Plot.+ Nay, will you enter?
+Tim.+ Lady,
Pray, will you show the way?
+Plot.+ Most city-like!
'Slid, take her by the arm, and lead her in.
+Tim.+ Your arm, sweet lady. [_Exeunt._
SCENE IV.
_+Bright+, +Newcut+._
+Bright.+ But are you sure they're they?
+New.+ I'll not believe
My treacherous eyes again, but trust some dog
To guide me, if I did not see his uncle
Coming this way, and Bannswright with him.
+Bright.+ Who?
The fellow that brings love to banns, and banns
To bare thighs 'bout the town?
+New.+ The very same, sir;
The City-Cupid, that shoots arrows betwixt
Party and party. All the difference is,
He has his eyes, but they he brings together
Sometimes do not see one another, till
They meet i' th' church.
+Bright.+ What say you now, if Warehouse
Should in displeasure marry?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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