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
_Du._ Dares he touch his Body?
_Gent._ He racks him fearfully, most fearfully.
_Du._ Away _Burris_,
Take men, and take him from him; clap him up,
And if I live, I'll find a strange death for him. [_Ex._ Bur.
Are the Souldiers broke in?
_Gent._ By this time sure they are, Sir,
They beat the Gates extreamly, beat the people.
_Du._ Get me a guard about me; make sure the lodgings,
And speak the Souldiers fair.
_Gent._ Pray Heaven that take, Sir. [_Exeunt._
_Enter_ Putskie, _Ancient, Souldiers, with Torches_.
_Puts._ Give us the General, we'll fire the Court else,
Render him safe and well.
_Anc._ Do not fire the Cellar,
There's excellent Wine in't, Captain, and though it be cold weather,
I do not love it mull'd; bring out the General,
We'll light ye such a Bone-fire else: where are ye?
Speak, or we'll toss your Turrets, peep out of your Hives,
We'll smoak ye else: Is not that a Nose there?
Put out that Nose again, and if thou dar'st
But blow it before us: now he creeps out on's Burrough.
_Enter Gentleman._
_Puts._ Give us the General.
_Gent._ Yes, Gentlemen;
Or any thing ye can desire.
_Anc._ You musk-cat,
Cordevant-skin we will not take your answer.
_Puts._ Where is the Duke? speak suddenly, and send him hither.
_Anc._ Or we'll so frye your Buttocks.
_Gent._ Good sweet Gentlemen--
_Anc._ We are neither good nor sweet, we are Souldiers,
And you miscreants that abuse the General.
Give fire my Boys, 'tis a dark Evening,
Let's light 'em to their lodgings.
_Enter_ Olympia, Honora, Viola, Theodore, _Women_.
_Hon._ Good Brother be not fierce.
_The._ I will not hurt her,
Fear not sweet Lady.
_Olym._ Nay, do what you please, Sir,
I have a sorrow that exceeds all yours,
And more, contemns all danger.
_Enter Duke, above._
_The._ Where is the Duke?
_Du._ He's here; what would ye Souldiers? wherefore troop ye
Like mutinous mad-men thus?
_The._ Give me my Father.
_Puts. Anc._ Give us our General.
_The._ Set him here before us,
Ye see the pledge we have got; ye see the Torches;
All shall to ashes, as I live, immediately,
A thousand lives for one.
_Du._ But hear me?
_Puts._ No, we come not to dispute.
_Enter_ Archas, _and_ Burris.
_The._ By Heaven I swear he's rackt and whipt.
_Hon._ Oh my poor Father!
_Puts._ Burn, kill and burn.
_Arc._ Hold, hold, I say: hold Souldiers,
On your allegiance hold.
_The._ We must not.
_Arc._ Hold:
I swear by Heaven he is a barbarous Traitor stirs first,
A Villain, and a stranger to Obedience,
Never my Souldier more, nor Friend to Honour:
Why did you use your old Man thus? thus cruelly
Torture his poor weak Body? I ever lov'd ye.
_Du._ Forget me in these wrongs, most noble _Archas_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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