A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+Duke.+ For that, take no thought; it shall be my care to bring
you and Signior Petrucio here both before him. I have already
acquainted him with both your worths, and for aught I can
gather by his speech, he intends to do you some extraordinary
honours: it may be, he will make one a senator, because of
his age: and on the other, bestow his daughter or niece in
marriage. There's some such thing hatching, I assure you.
+Pet.+ Very likely, I imagined as much: that last shall be my
lot; I knew some such destiny would befall me. [_Aside._] Shall
we be jovial upon this news, and thrust all sadness out of
doors?
+Leo.+ For our parts, Vitellius was never so voluptuous: all
our discourse shall run wit to the last.
+Duke.+ Our mirth shall be the quintessence of pleasure,
And our delight flow with that harmony,
Th' ambitious spheres shall to the centre shrink,
To hear our music; such ravishing accents,
As are from poets in their fury hurl'd,
When their outrageous raptures fill the world.
+Pet.+ There spoke my genius! [_Aside._
+Ant.+ Now you talk of music, have you e'er a one that can play
us an old lesson, or sing us an old song?
+Pet.+ An old lesson! yes, he shall play _The Beginning of the
World_;[351] and for a song, he shall sing one that was made to
the moving of the orbs, when they were first set in tune.
+Ant.+ Such a one would I hear.
+Pet.+ Walk in then, and it shall not be long, before I satisfy
your desires. [_Exeunt._
_Enter +Petro+ and +Julia+, with two bottles._
+Julia.+ Come, master Petro, welcome heartily; while they are
drinking within, we'll be as merry as the maids: I stole these
bottles from under the cupboard, on purpose against your coming.
+Pet.+ Courteous mistress Julia, how shall I deserve this
favour from you?
+Julia.+ There is a way, master Petro, if you could find it;
but the tenderness of your youth keeps you in ignorance: 'tis a
great fault, I must tell you.
+Pet.+ I shall strive to amend it, if you please to instruct
me, lady.
+Julia.+ Alas, do not you know what maids love all this while?
You must come oftener amongst us; want of company keeps the
spring of your blood backward.
+Pet.+ It does so; but you shall see, when we are private, I
shall begin to practise with you better.
_Enter +Baccha+._
+Bac.+ Master Petro, this was kindly done of you.
+Pet.+ What's my master a-doing, can you tell?
+Bac.+ Why, they are as jovial as twenty beggars, drink their
whole cups, six glasses at a health: your master's almost
tipped already.
+Pet.+ So much the better, his business is the sooner
dispatched.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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