A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+Lod.+ Look, look, look! loving soul, he weeps for company!
+Clown.+ And I shall laugh outright by and by.
+Dor.+ O that good man!
+Lod.+ Why, bird?
+Jas.+ Be patient, lady.
+Dor.+ Would he go to heaven without his zealous pupil?
+Clown.+ It may be he knew not your mind, forsooth.
+Dor.+ He knew my mind well enough.
+Clown.+ Why then, it may be, he knew you could not hold out
for the journey. Pray, do not set us all a-crying. [_Weeps._
+Lod.+ Prythee, sweet birds-nie, be content.
+Dor.+ Yes, yes, content! when you two leave my company!
No one comes near me; so that were it not
For modest simple Francis here----
+Clown.+ As modest as a gib-cat at midnight. [_Aside._
+Dor.+ That sometimes reads
Virtuous books to me; were it not for him,
I might go look content.[135] But 'tis no matter,
Nobody cares for me.
+Lod.+ Nay, prythee, Doll. Pray, gentlemen, comfort her. [_Weeps._
+Clown.+ Now is the devil writing an encomium upon cunning
cuckold-makers.
+Fran.+ You have been harsh to her of late, I fear, sir.
+Lod.+ By this hand, I turned not from her all last night. What
should a man do?
+Jas.+ Come, this is but a sweet obedient shower,
To bedew the lamented grave of her old father.
+Clown.+ He thinks the devil's dead too.[136]
+Dor.+ But 'tis no matter; were I such a one
As the Count Lorenzo's lady, were I so graceless
To make you wear a pair of wicked horns,
You would make more reckoning of me---- [_Weeps._
+Lod.+ Weep again? She'll cry out her eyes, gentlemen.
+Clown.+ No, I warrant you: remember the two lines your honour
read last night--
_A woman's eye,
'S April's dust, no sooner wet but dry._
+Lod.+ Good pigs-nie! Frank, prythee, walk her t'other turn i'
th' garden, and get her a stomach to her supper. We'll be with
ye presently, wench.
+Dor.+ Nay, when ye please; but why should I go from ye?
+Lod.+ Loving soul! Prythee, Frank, take her away.
+Dor.+ Pray, let me kiss ye first. Come, Francis, Nobody cares
for us.
[_At the door +Francis+ kisses her. Exeunt._
+Lod.+ Well, there goes a couple: where shall a man match you,
indeed? Hark, Pambo!
+Jas.+ Did you observe?
+Jov.+ They kissed!
+Jas.+ Peace.
+Lod.+ And entreat Madonna Lussuriosa to sup with us: as you
go, tell her my lady's never well but in her company.
+Clown.+ What, if your honour invited the Count Lorenzo? he'll
be so melancholy, now his lady and he are parted.
+Lod.+ Pray do as you are bid, kind sir, and let him alone:
I'll have no cuckold sup in my house to-night.
+Clown.+ 'Tis a very hot evening; your honour will sup in the
garden then.
+Lod.+ Yes, marry, will I, sir; what's that to you?
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