Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 03 of 10: The Loyal Subject — John Shaqi
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 03 of 10: The Loyal SubjectFletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 03 of 10: The Loyal Subject
Fletcher, John
English drama -- 18th century; Tragicomedy
_The._ How do you, Sir? can you lend a man an Angel?
I hear you let out money.
_Arc._ Very well, Sir,
You are pleasantly dispos'd: I am glad to see it.
Can you lend me your patience, and be rul'd by me?
_The._ Is't come to patience now?
_Arc._ Is't not a Vertue?
_The._ I know not: I ne'r found it so.
_Arc._ That's because
Thy anger ever knows, and not thy judgment.
_The._ I know you have been rifl'd.
_Arc._ Nothing less, Boy;
Lord, what opinions these vain People publish!
Rifl'd of what?
_The._ Study your Vertue, Patience,
It may get Mustard to your Meat. Why in such haste, Sir,
Sent ye for me?
_Arc._ For this end only, _Theodore_,
To wait upon your Sisters to the Court;
I am commanded they live there.
_The._ To th' Court, Sir?
_Arc._ To th' Court I say.
_The._ And must I wait upon 'em?
_Arc._ Yes, 'tis most fit you should, you are their Brother.
_The._ Is this the business? I had thought your mind, Sir,
Had been set forward on some noble action,
Something had truly stir'd ye. To th' Court with these?
Why, they are your Daughters, Sir.
_Arc._ All this I know, Sir.
_The._ The good old Woman on a Bed he threw:
To th' Court?
_Arc._ Thou art mad.
_The._ Nor drunk as you are:
Drunk with your duty, Sir: do you call it duty?
A pox of duty, what can these do there?
What should they do? Can ye look Babies, Sisters,
In the young Gallants eyes, and twirl their Band-strings?
Can ye ride out to air your selves? Pray Sir,
Be serious with me, do you speak this truly?
_Arc._ Why, didst thou never hear of Women
Yet at Court, Boy?
_The._ Yes, and good Women too, very good Women,
Excellent honest Women: but are you sure, Sir,
That these will prove so?
_Hon._ There's the danger, Brother.
_The._ God-a-mercy Wench, thou hast a grudging of it.
_Arc._ Now be you serious, Sir, and observe what I say,
Do it, and do it handsomly; go with 'em.
_The._ With all my heart, Sir; I am in no fault now;
If they be thought Whores for being in my Company;
Pray write upon their Backs, they are my Sisters,
And where I shall deliver 'em.
_Arc._ Ye are wondrous jocund,
But prithee tell me, art thou so lewd a Fellow?
I never knew thee fail a truth.
_The._ I am a Souldier,
And spell you what that means.
_Arc._ A Souldier?
What dost thou make of me?
_The._ Your Palate's down, Sir.
_Arc._ I thank ye, Sir.
_The._ Come, shall we to this matter?
You will to Court?
_Hon._ If you will please to honour us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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