A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 15Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 15
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+Duke.+ Indeed, you'll sleep pretty soundly. See, her scorn
To me makes death a pleasure to her. [_Aside._
My lord, give order that she may be brought
Immediately to her trial; in the meantime,
Jailor, take them into your custody;
Lay 'em in shackles both. Cousin, many thanks
To you for this timely discovery.
I must leave you awhile. [_Exit._
+Ort.+ Duke, you shall have
Less to thank me for, else I am deceiv'd.
I've found out he loves Amphelia still,
So she does him. Now will I go possess
Arbatus of this, and tell him how the duke
Intends to fool his sister. He has the
Character of so strict a brother, and so brave
A spirit, that his soul will never digest
This injury without the duke's blood.
Will join with him, and tell him how
The business may be done.
By this, one of these three things shall I have
Either a mistress, dukedom, or a grave.
_Enter +Arbatus+ and +Artabella+._
See, here comes Arbatus and his sister
Artabella; they talk very earnestly.
+Arb.+ Sister, I do not like it; the duke will
Fool ye.
+Art.+ Indeed, brother, I am amaz'd
At this delay.
+Arb.+ How does he carry himself
To you?
+Art.+ With all respect imaginable.
+Arb.+ Then there must be something more in't,
That he defers his marriage thus.
+Ort.+ There is
So, sir.
+Arb.+ My lord, heark'ning's but a base office;
But if you have heard it, 'tis no treason.
+Ort.+ No, sir, but it is falseness in the duke,
To use your worthy sister thus. I came
To tell you upon my knowledge, he never
Intended to marry her.
+Arb.+ My lord, though I believe it, you must pardon
Me, if I wonder at this information
From your lordship, that is his near cousin.
+Ort.+ Sir, you have the character of so brave
A gentleman, conscience and honour
Bids me discover this to you and your sister:
Think of a way of being reveng'd, and here's
My hand and heart to help you.
+Arb.+ Pardon
Me, that I cannot thank you truly, because
I needs must doubt this offer from your lordship.
+Ort.+ What can I say to confirm you? will the
Word and honour of a gentleman do't?
+Arb.+ To me those are things of great value.
+Ort.+ Then here
I give them both.
+Arb.+ But what to do, my lord?
+Ort.+ What you will.
+Arb.+ Perhaps you think I'd have you
Ask some place about the court for me, in
Recompense of this injury to my sister?
+Ort.+ No, sir, had you been such a person, I
Should not have trusted you thus far with what
I have said. I say [it] again, I am
Your friend; if you doubt it, you wrong my honour.
+Arb.+ Why then, my lord, to be short, nothing will
Satisfy me, but the duke's----
+Ort.+ What?
+Arb.+ Blood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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