A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 15Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 15
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+La P.+ Very witty!
+Sil.+ I am what I am: but I was never beholden to any
Living thing for thus much wit: I might
Have been an arrant younger brother, but for my mother----
Thereby hangs a tale, madam, and yet I cou'd ha' danc'd
My cinque pace in Greek at a dozen. Alpha,
Beta, Gamma, Delta, cost me five shillings:
Can you believe me, lady? By this light, you shall
Wear this diamond! There; sha't, sha't ha't:
Sha't, sha't, sha't ha't.
+La P.+ There is such sorcery in your words!
+Sil.+ No, no, no; troth, love me: come, thou shalt;
By this----nay, never sigh, my dear; they are
All orient, sweet wench: Thou art worth all Spain
For a good disposition----
+La P.+ You will undo me, master steward.
+Sil.+ Pish! who? I undo thee? my life! thou dost wrong
Me: canst find in thy heart to think so? away, away.
+La P.+ But is this profession honourable, sir?
+Sil.+ I scorn to deal upon dishonourable terms. Do I
Kiss like a man that would propound dishonourable
Conditions?
+La P.+ Men are so nice and cunning!
+Sil.+ Do'st think me a Jew; swear me to anything.
+La P.+ Well, you have taken a poor heart at
advantage; and make me blush to confess it.
+Sil.+ Kiss me; here's my hand, till death us do part:
Thine more than mine own, Signior Bouche
Ouverte Sillimano: seal'd and deliver'd; but
I hope, lady, there is no quit rent to be paid out of this copyhold.
+La P.+ Not for your life, sir.
+Sil.+ Lawful possession then, and thou'rt mine own. [_Exeunt._
_Enter +De Flame+ and +Cleara+._
+De F.+ So, let 'em drench their souls in laughter: kindle
Thy noble heart into a flame, my sister!
Fate cannot give nor we ask more unto
Our cause: all things conspire and prompt us to't.
Just and divine revenge!
I'll strew thy midnight haunts with cypress wreaths,
And wear thee in rich medals. Propitious goddess!
This night thy wan and meagre cheek shall blush,
And smile with warm and wanton blood. Night grows heavy-ey'd,
And drops her slumbering head in her dark bosom:
And now their rage and lust will make them ripe
To bleed. Let us embrace, and interchange
A sigh or two, Cleara: whate'er become of me,
Thou wilt wear chaplets in Elysium.
+Cle.+ My hopes and joys are yours, dear sir, and heaven,
I hope, will not divide them.
[_Unlocks the door, and discovers them._
+De F.+ See, what a modest blush
Sleep has cast o'er their guilt!
+Cle.+ Here is a look
Tyrants would bashfully gaze at, and fear
To think it mortal. Glorious hypocrisy!
Virtue is at wonder in herself, and looks pale,
To own what she has given.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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