A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 14
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 14
English drama
ANT. Ha, her brother! Fortune has bound me so
Much in their debts, I must despair to pay 'em:
Twice has my life been by these twins of goodness
Pluck'd from the hand of death; that fatal enmity
Between our houses here shall end,
Though my father at his death commanded me
To eternity of hatred.
What tie binds stronger than reprieve from death?
Come hither, friend. Now, brother, take her,
Thou'st been a noble tailor.
GIO. Be moderate, my joys, do not o'erwhelm me:
Here, take Aurelia: may you live happy!
O Antonio! this, this was the cause of my disguise;
Sebastiano could not win Evadne's love,
But Giovanno did; come now to our father's castle.
ANT. Pardon me; there is a bar, that does
Concern my life, forbids you as a friend
To think on going to any place
But to the tailor's house, which is not far.
Come: as we go, I will relate the cause.
AUR. Do, good brother.
EVAD. Go, good Sebastiano.
GIO. Sebastiano is your page, and bound to follow:
Lead on.
ANT. O noble temper, I admire thee! may
The world bring forth such tailors every day.
[_Exeunt._
_Enter three_ TAILORS _on a shop-board_.
1ST TAI. Come, come, let's work; for if my guesses point the
right, we shan't work long.
3D TAI. I care not how soon. I have a notable stomach to bread.
2D TAI. Dost hear, I suspect that courtier my master brought in
last night to be the king; which if it be, bullies, all the bread
in the town shan't satisfy us, for we will eat _Cum privilegio_.
1ST TAI. Come, let's have a device, a thing, a song, boy.
3D TAI. Come, an air----
THE SONG.
1ST TAI. _'Tis a merry life we live,
All our work is brought unto us;
Still are getting, never give,
For their clothes all men do woo us:
Yet (unkind) they blast our names
With aspersions of dishonour:
For which we make bold with their dames,
When we take our measure on her._
ALL TAI. _For which we, &c._
_Enter_ ANTONIO, GIOVANNO, _and the_ OLD TAILOR.
O. TAI. You see the life we live; (_To the_ TAILORS) cease.
ANT. O, 'tis a merry one.
GIO. It is no news to me, I have been us'd to't.
O. TAI. Now for discovery; the king as yet
Is ignorant of your names, and shall be
Till your merits beg your pardon.
My lord, you are for Machiavel; take this gown.
ANT. Pray for success.
[_Exit_ ANTONIO.
O. TAI. You, in this French disguise, for proud Philippa;
This is her garment. I hear the king: begone:
The Frenchman's folly sit upon your tongue.
[_Exeunt._
_Enter the_ KING, EVADNE, _and_ AURELIA.
KING. Believe me, tailor, you've outstripp'd the court,
For such perfections live not everywhere;
Nature was vex'd (as she's a very shrew),
She made all others in an angry mood;
These only she can boast for masterpieces:
The rest want something or in mind or form,
These are precisely made: a critic jury
Of cavilling arts cannot condemn a scruple.
AUR. But that your entrance in this formal speech
Betray'd you are a courtier, I had been angry
At your rank flattery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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