A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 14
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 14
English drama
CAPT. A pox of fooling! let's resolve what to do. There's no
denying, for she has all the particulars under my hand.
BOY. You must resolve of something, for she's coming, and stayed
only till the back-door was opened.
CAPT. How did she know I was here?
BOY. Your worship bad me tell her you would stay here for her.
CARE. How came this mistake?
CAPT. Why, the devil owed us a shame, it seems. You know I went
home to give Wanton an account how we advanced in our design;
and when I was writing the superscription, I remember the boy
came in and told me the Lady Loveall passed by.
JOLLY. And so it seems you, in pure mistake, directed your letter
to her.
CARE. Well, resolve what you'll do with her when she comes.
CAPT. Faith, bear it like men; 'tis only an old lady lost; let's
resolve to defy her, we are sure of our pearl; but lest we
prolong the war, take the first occasion you can all to avoid the
room. When she's alone, I'll try whether she'll listen to a
composition.
JOLLY. Have you no friends in the close committee?
CAPT. Yes, yes, I am an Essex man.[252]
CARE. Then get some of them to move, it may be voted no letter.
JOLLY. Ay, ay; and after 'tis voted no letter, then vote it
false; scandalous, and illegal, and that is in it: they have a
precedent for it in the Danish packet, which they took from a
foolish fellow who, presuming upon the law of nations, came upon
an embassy to the king without an order or pass from both houses!
CAPT. Hark, I hear her coming.
_Enter_ LOVEALL _and_ FAITHFUL.
LOVE. Sir, I received a letter, but by what accident, I know not;
for I believe it was not intended [to] me, though the contents
concern me.
CAPT. Madam, 'tis too late to deny it; is it peace or war you
bring? without dispute, if war, I hang out my defiance: if
peace, I yield my weapon into your hands.
LOVE. Are you all unworthy? your whole sex falsehood? is it not
possible to oblige a man to be loyal? this is such a treachery no
age can match! apply yourself with youth and wit to gain a lady's
love and friendship, only to betray it? was it not enough you
commanded my fortune, but you must wreck my honour too, and
instead of being grateful for that charity which still assisted
your wants, strive to pay me with injuries, and attempt to make
the world believe I pay to lose my fame; and then make me the
scorned subject of your whore's mirth? Base and unworthy! [_He
smiles._] Do you smile, false one? I shall find a time for you
too, and my vengeance shall find you all.
FAITH. Yea, sir; and you that had such ready wit to proclaim my
lady whore, and me bawd, I hope to see you load a gallows for it.
CAPT. Once again, is it peace or war?
LOVE. Peace! I'll have thy blood first, dog. Where's my pearl?
[_She speaks to_ WILD.] You ought to right me, sir, in this
particular; it was to you I sent them.
WILD. Madam, I sent not for them.
CAPT. No more words: I have them, I earned them, and you paid
them.
FAITH. You are a foul-mouthed fellow, sirrah.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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