A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 15Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 15
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
So, here comes one of my promis'd Virgins!
Nay, a second too--a third--a fourth--a fifth--
A sixth--Welcome, blessed half-dozen; now will I go
Muster my nurses and children too, and go
Against the Great Turk. I am glad to see
They have brought ne'er a coffin, for I expect
Nothing but death from them. I wonder they don't
Begin to ring my funeral peal. See every
One of them beckons to me, as much as to say,
I'd speak with you in private; but the devil
Take me if e'er a one of them do; I find
By this they would not have their business known
To one another; this may be a means for me
To get off for this time--Ladies, you all
Look as if you had something to say to
Me; pray make me so happy as to let
Me know what 'tis. They dare not speak aloud. [_Aside._] Will you,
Madam? or you? or you, madam? or you,
Madam? [What] not one of you tell me what
The honour of these visits mean? I see
I am troublesome to you all? therefore
I'll not be longer rude; and so I take
My leave--This was good luck, that they should come
All together; for I had rather be [_Beckon him._
Alone six hours with the devil, than with
E'er a one of them an half hour--I'll stand close
In this corner till they are all gone.
+1st Lady.+ Now the pox take him for a cunning rogue!
+2d Lady.+ A plague take him!
+3d Lady.+ The devil take him!
+4th Lady.+ If there be e'er a devil worse than another,
Take him thou!
+5th Lady.+ O, that I had him alone!
+6th Lady.+ Was there ever such a rascal?
[_Exeunt at several doors._
+Phil.+ So the coast is clear again-- [_Peeps out._
_Enter +Mirida+._
S'death, here comes another--O, 'tis none
Of that gang, though.
+Mir.+ I'll lay my head, ne'er a girl in Christendom
Of my age, can say what I can; I'm now
But five years i'th' teens, and I have fool'd
Five several men.
+Phil.+ A brave wench, by this light!
Sure, it is I in petticoats.
+Mir.+ My humour
Is to love no man, but to have as many
Love me as they please, come cut or long tail.
+Phil.+ A most divine wench!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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