A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+Ban.+ I have
Prepar'd her, sir, and have so set you out!
Besides, I told her how you had cast off
Your nephew; and, to leave no doubt that you
Would e'er be reconcil'd, before she went
To church, would settle your estate on her
And on the heirs of her begotten.
+Ware.+ To make all sure,
We'll call upon my lawyer by the way,
And take him with us.
+Ban.+ You must be married, sir,
At the French church: I have bespoke the priest;
One that will join you i' th' right Geneva form,
Without a licence.
+Ware.+ But may a man
Wed in a strange tongue?
+Ban.+ I have brought together
Some in Italian, sir; the language doth
Not change the substance of the match; you know
No licence will be granted; all the offices
Are beforehand brib'd by your nephew.
+Ware.+ Well,
Let's to the lady straight. To cross him, I
Would marry an Arabian, and be at charge
To keep one to interpret, or be married
In China language, or the tongue that's spoke
By the Great Cham. [_Exeunt +Warehouse+ and +Bannswright+._
+Bright.+ Now, Newcut, you perceive
My divination's true; this fellow did
Portend a wedding.
+New.+ Plague o' th' prognostication!
Who'd think that madam were the party?
+Bright.+ O sir,
She'll call this wit, to wed his bags and lie
With some Platonic servant.
+New.+ What if we,
Before we go to Plotwell, went to her,
And strived to dissuade her?
+Bright.+ Let's make haste,
They'll be before us, else. [_Exeunt._
SCENE VI.
_Enter +Timothy+ unbuttoning himself; +Aurelia+,
+Plotwell+, +Dorcas+, +Footman+._
+Tim.+ By this hand, lady, you shall not deny me:
Since we are coupled, I shall think the priest
Has not done all, as long as I'm a virgin.
+Aur.+ Will you not stay till night, sir?
+Tim.+ Night! No, faith;
I've sworn to get my first child by day: you may
Be quick by night.
+Plot.+ Madam, your knight speaks reason.
+Tim.+ I will both speak and do it.
+Aur.+ Well, sir, since
There is no remedy, your bed's prepar'd;
By that time you are laid, I'll come. Meantime,
I'll pray that gentleman to conduct you. There's
My footman to pluck off your stockings.
+Plot.+ Come, sir.
+Tim.+ Sweet lady, stay not long.
+Plot.+ I'll promise for her.
[_Exeunt +Timothy+, +Plotwell+, and +Footman+._
+Dor.+ Faith, I admire your temperance, to let
Your bridegroom go to bed, and you not follow.
Were I in your case, I should ha' gone first,
And warm'd his place.
+Aur.+ Well, wench; but that thou hast
Reveal'd thyself unto me, I'd admire
To hear a saint talk thus. To one that knows not
The mystery of thy strange conversion, thou
Wouldst seem a legend.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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