Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Grand._ A creditor shall not dare, but by Petition,
To make demand of any debt; and that
Only once every leap-year, in which, if
The debtor may be won for a French Crown,
To pay a Soulz, he shall be registred
His benefactor.
_Ver._ The Chancellor hears you.
_Grand._ Fear not, I now dare speak as loud as he,
And will be heard, and have all I speak, Law;
Have you no eyes? there is a reverence due,
From Children of the Gown, to Men of Action.
_Gis._ How's this?
_Gran._ Even so; the times, the times are chang'd,
All business is not now prefer'd in Parchment,
Nor shall a grant pass that wants this broad seal;
This seal d'ye see? your gravity once laid
My head and heels together in the Dungeon,
For cracking a scald Officers crown, for which
A time is come for vengeance, and expect it;
For know, you have not full three hours to live.
_Gis._ Yes, somewhat longer.
_Gran._ To what end?
_Gis._ To hang you; think on that, Ruffian.
_Gran._ For you, School-master,
You have a pretty Daughter; let me see,
Near three a Clock, (by which time I much fear,
I shall be tyr'd with killing some five hundred)
Provide a Bath, and her to entertain me,
And that shall be your Ransom.
_Bald._ Impudent Rascal.
_Enter to them_ Trevile _and_ Duprete.
_Gis._ More of the crew?
_Grand._ What are you? _Rollians_?
_Tre._ No; this for _Rollo_, and all such as serve him;
We stand for _Otto_.
_Grand._ You seem men of fashion,
And therefore I'le deal fairly, you shall have
The honour this day to be Chronicled
The first men kill'd by _Grandpree_; you see this sword,
A pretty foolish toy, my valour's Servant,
And I may boldly say a Gentleman,
It having made when it was _Charlemaigns_,
Three thousand Knights; this, Sir, shall cut your throat,
And do you all fair service else.
_Tre._ I kiss your hands for the good offer; here's another
too, the servant of your servant shall be proud to be scour'd
in your sweet guts; till when pray you command me.
_Grand._ Your Idolater, Sir. [_Exeunt. Manent_ Gis. _&_ Bal.
_Gis._ That e're such should hold the names of men,
Or Justice be held cruelty, when it labours
To pluck such weeds up!
_Bald._ Yet they are protected, and by the great ones.
_Gis._ Not the good ones, _Baldwin_.
_Enter to them_ Aubrey.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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