Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Cel._ No, vertuous Mother,
'Tis for my holy health, to purchase which,
They shall forget the Child of ease, soft slumbers.
O my afflicted heart, how thou art tortur'd!
And Love, how like a Tyrant thou reign'st in me,
Commanding and forbidding at one instant;
Why came I hither, that desire to have
Only all liberty to make me happy?
Why did'st thou bring that young man home, O _Valentine_,
That vertuous Youth? why didst thou speak his goodness
In such a phrase, as if all tongues, all praises
Were made for him? O fond and ignorant!
Why didst thou foster my affection
Till it grew up to know no other Father,
And then betray it?
_Ab._ Can ye sing?
_Cel._ Yes, Mother,
My sorrows only.
_Ab._ Be gone, and to the Quire then. [_Exeunt._
[_Musick singing._
SCENE IV.
_Enter_ Michael _and Servant, and_ Francis.
_Mich._ Hast thou enquir'd him out?
_Serv._ He's not at home, Sir,
His Sister thinks he's gone to th' Nunnery.
_Mich._ Most likely; I'll away, an hour hence, Sirrah,
Come you along with this young Gentleman,
Do him all service, and fair office.
_Serv._ Yes Sir. [_Exeunt._
SCENE V.
_Enter_ Hylas, _and_ Sam.
_Sam._ Where hast thou been, man?
_Hyl._ Is there ne'r a shop open?
I'll give thee a pair of Gloves, _Sam_.
_Sam._ What's the matter?
_Hyl._ What dost thou think?
_Sam._ Thou art not married?
_Hyl._ By th' mass but I am, all to be married,
I am i'th' order now, _Sam_.
_Sam._ To whom prithee?
I thought there was some such trick in't, you stole from me,
But who, for Heavens sake?
_Hyl._ Ev'n the sweetest woman,
The rarest Woman, _Samuel_, and the lustiest,
But wondrous honest, honest as the ice, Boy,
Not a bit before hand, for my life, Sirrah,
And of a lusty kindred.
_Sam._ But who, _Hylas_?
_Hyl._ The young Gentleman and I are like to be friends again,
The fates will have it so.
_Sam._ Who, Monsieur _Thomas_?
_Hyl._ All wrongs forgot.
_Sam._ O now I smell ye, _Hylas_;
Does he know of it?
_Hyl._ No there's the trick I owe him;
'Tis done, Boy, we are fast 'faith, my Youth now
Shall know I am aforehand, for his qualities.
_Sam._ Is there no trick in't?
_Hyl._ None, but up and ride, Boy:
I have made no Joynture neither, there I have paid him.
_Sam._ She's a brave wench.
_Hyl._ She shall be as I'll use her,
And if she anger me, all his abuses
I'll clap upon her Cassock.
_Sam._ Take heed, _Hylas_.
_Hyl._ 'Tis past that, _Sam_, come, I must meet her presently,
And now shalt see me a most glorious Husband.
[_Exeunt._
SCENE VI.
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