A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 15Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 15
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+Mir.+ No, no; no lips; we will only shake hands
Upon't, that's enough for so weighty a contract
As this of ours.
+Phil.+ But, prythee, let us seal
The bargain.
+Mir.+ No, no, sir, I use no wax
To my lips.
+Phil.+ Nay, by my troth, I care not
A pin to kiss thee.
+Mir.+ No? look upon me well,
And see if you can say so again.
+Phil.+ Hum--yes,
Faith, I will give two-pence to kiss thee
Now.
+Mir.+ Well, sir, when I do kiss you, I'll 'bate you
A penny of that.
+Phil.+ Now you and I will sing this song. [_He sings._
_My love and I a bargain made,
It is well worth a telling:
When one was weary, we agreed
To part, should both be willing._
+Mir.+ Nay, here I'm for you too. [_She sings._
_And thus our loves will longer last,
Than fools that still are pining:
We'll spend our time in joy and mirth,
Whilst doaters do in whining._
+Phil.+ Faith, you and I sing very well; we are
Alike in that too: I see either nature
Or the devil, somebody or something, made
Thee and me for one another. Well,
But let us
Remember our conditions: imprimis, I
Will love you.
+Mir.+ Item, so will I you.
+Phil.+ I
Will not say how long.
+Mir.+ Item, nor I neither.
+Phil.+ Item, it may be I can love you but
A week.
+Mir.+ I don't care if't be but a day.
+Phil.+ I'll ne'er be tied to any thing.
+Mir.+ Item, thou shalt be tied to what thou wilt
But me.
+Phil.+ Item, I will come when I please,
And go when I please.
+Mir.+ Item, thou shalt drown
Thyself when thou wilt, or hang thyself when
Thou wilt, or go to the devil when thou wilt.
+Phil.+ Item, if I should like another woman, I
Will have the liberty of leaving you, without
Any ceremony, but just saying
Good-bye.
+Mir.+ Item, if I should like any
Man better than you, I'll leave you without saying
So much as good-bye.
+Phil.+ Item, the first that
Sighs of us two, shall fast a week.
+Mir.+ Item, the first
That looks but melancholy of us two,
Shall be starv'd to death.
+Phil.+ To conclude, we will
Both be as mad as we please.
+Mir.+ Agreed,
And the devil take the tamest!
+Phil.+ A bless'd bargain!
But hark you, there's one thing I have forgot.
+Mir.+ What's that?
+Phil.+ Have you had as many children as I?
+Mir.+ No, indeed, ha'nt I.
+Phil.+ Why, then you must let me help you to 'em,
That you may be even with me there too.
+Mir.+ Hold, sir, that bargain's yet to make.
+Phil.+ Pox on't!
That should have been one of our articles.
+Mir.+ Well, I can stay no longer with you now.
+Phil.+ Nay, prythee, hold, thou shalt not go yet; I
Can't part with you so soon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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