Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Whore._ Plain dealing now is impudence.
One, if you will Sir, can shew ye as much sport
In one half hour, and with as much variety,
As a far wiser woman can in half a year:
For there my way lies.
_Duke._ Is she not drunk too?
_Whore._ A little guilded o're Sir,
Old sack, old sack boys.
_Petr._ This is _saliant_.
_John._ A brave bold quean.
_Duke._ Is this your certainty?
Do ye know the man ye wrong thus, Gentlemen?
Is this the woman meant?
_Fred._ No.
_Duke._ That your Land-lady?
_John._ I know not what to say.
_Duke._ Am I a person
To be your sport, Gentlemen?
_John._ I do believe now certain
I am a knave; but how, or when--
_Duke._ What are you?
_Petr._ Bawd to this piece of pye meat.
_Bawd._ A poor Gentlewoman
That lyes in Town, about Law business,
And't like your worships.
_Petr._ You shall have Law, believe it.
_Bawd._ I'le shew your Mastership my case.
_Petr._ By no means,
I had rather see a Custard.
_Bawd._ My dead Husband
Left it even thus Sir.
_John._ Bless mine eyes from blasting,
I was never so frighted with a case.
_Bawd._ And so Sir--
_Petr._ Enough, put up good velvet head.
_Duke._ What are you two now,
By your own free confessions?
_Fred._ What you shall think us,
Though to my self I am certain, and my life
Shall make that good and perfect, or fall with it.
_John._ We are sure of nothing, _Fred_, that's the truth on't:
I do not think my name's _Don John_, nor dare not
Believe any thing that concerns me, but my debts,
Nor those in way of payment: things are so carried,
What to entreat your grace, or how to tell ye
We are, or we are not, is past my cunning,
But I would fain imagine we are honest,
And o' my conscience, I should fight in't--
_Duke._ Thus then,
For we may be all abus'd.
_Petr._ 'Tis possible,
For how should this concern them?
_Duke._ Here let's part--
Until to morrow this time: we to our way,
To make this doubt out, and you to your way;
Pawning our honours then to meet again,
When if she be not found.
_Fred._ We stand engaged
To answer any worthy way we are call'd to.
_Duke._ We ask no more.
_Whore._ Ye have done with us then?
_Petr._ No, Dame.
_Duke._ But is her name _Constantia_?
_Petr._ Yes a moveable
Belonging to a friend of mine: come out Fidler,
What say you to this Lady? be not fearfull.
_Fra._ Saving the reverence of my Masters pleasure,
I say she is a whore, and that she has robb'd him,
Hoping his hurts would kill him.
_Whore._ Who provok't me?
Nay Sirrah squeak, I'le see your treble strings
Ty'd up too; if I hang, I'le spoil your piping,
Your sweet face shall not save ye.
_Petr._ Thou damn'd impudence,
And thou dry'd Devil; where's the officer?
[_Pet._] He's here Sir.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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