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
1 Sol. _If your Daughters on their beds.
Have bow'd, or crackt their maiden-heads;
If in a Coach with two much tumbling,
They chance to crie, fie, fo, what fumbling;
If her foot slip, and down fall she,
And break her leg 'bove the knee,
The one and thirtieth of Februarie let this be ta'ne,
And they shall be arrant maids again._
_Bor._ Ye are brave Souldiers; keep your wantonness,
A winter will come on to shake this wilfulness.
Disport your selves, and when you want your mony-- [_Exit._
_Anc._ Broom, Broom, &c. [_Exeunt Singing._
SCENA VI.
_Enter_ Alinda, Honora, Viola.
_Al._ You must not be so fearfull, little one,
Nor Lady you so sad, you will ne're make Courtiers
With these dull sullen thoughts; this place is pleasure,
Preserv'd to that use, so inhabited;
And those that live here, live delightfull, joyfull:
These are the Gardens of _Adonis_, Ladies,
Where all sweets to their free and noble uses,
Grow ever young and courted.
_Hon._ Bless me Heaven,
Can things of her years arrive at these rudiments?
By your leave fair Gentlewoman, how long have you been here?
_Al._ Faith much about a week.
_Hon._ You have studied hard,
And by my faith arriv'd at a great knowledge.
_Viol._ Were not you bashfull at first?
_Al._ I, I, for an hour or two:
But when I saw people laugh'd at me for it,
And thought it a dull breeding--
_Hon._ You are govern'd here then
Much after the mens opinions.
_Al._ Ever Lady.
_Hon._ And what they think is honourable.--
_Al._ Most precisely
We follow with all faith.
_Hon._ A goodly Catechisme.
_Viol._ But bashfull for an hour or two?
_Al._ Faith to say true,
I do not think I was so long: for look ye,
'Tis to no end here, put on what shape ye will,
And soure your self with ne're so much austeritie,
You shall be courted in the same, and won too,
'Tis but some two hours more; and so much time lost,
Which we hold pretious here: In so much time now
As I have told you this, you may lose a Servant,
Your age, nor all your Art can e're recover.
Catch me occasion as she comes, hold fast there,
Till what you do affect is ripn'd to ye.
Has the Duke seen ye yet?
_Hon._ What if he have not?
_Al._ You do your beauties too much wrong, appearing
So full of sweetness, newness; set so richly,
As if a Counsel beyond nature fram'd ye.
_Hon._ If we were thus, say heaven had given these blessings,
Must we turn these to sin-oblations?
_Al._ How foolishly this Countrey way shews in ye?
How full of flegm? do you come here to pray, Ladies?
You had best cry, stand away, let me alone Gentlemen,
I'le tell my Father else.
_Viol._ This woman's naught sure,
A very naughtie woman.
_Hon._ Come, say on friend,
I'le be instructed by ye.
_Al._ You'l thank me for't.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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