Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Coo._ If you'l have the pasty speak, 'tis in my power,
I have fire enough to work it; come, stand close,
And now rehearse the Song, we may be perfect,
The drinking Song, and say I were the Brothers.
The drinking SONG.
_Drink to day and drown all sorrow._
_You shall perhaps not do it to morrow._
_Best while you have it use your breath,_
_There is no drinking after death._
_Wine works the heart up, wakes the wit,_
_There is no cure 'gainst age but it._
_It helps the head-ach, cough and tissick,_
_And is for all diseases Physick._
_Then let us swill boyes for our health,_
_Who drinks well, loves the common-wealth._
_And he that will to bed go sober,_
_Falls with the leaf still in October._
Well have you born your selves; a red Deer Pye, Boyes,
And that no lean one, I bequeath your vertues;
What friends hast thou to day? no citizens?
_Pant._ Yes Father, the old Crew.
_Coo._ By the mass true wenches:
Sirrah, set by a chine of Beef, and a hot Pasty,
And let the Joll of Sturgeon be corrected:
And do you mark Sir, stalk me to a Pheasant,
And see if you can shoot her in the Sellar.
_Pant._ God a mercy Lad, send me thy roaring bottles,
And with such Nectar I will see 'em fill'd,
That all thou speak'st shall be pure Helicon.
_Enter_ Latorch.
Monsieur _Latorch_? what news with him? Save you.
_Lat._ Save you Master, save you Gentlemen,
You are casting for this preparation;
This joyfull supper for the royal Brothers:
I'm glad I have met you fitly, for to your charge
My bountifull brave Butler, I must deliver
A Bevie of young Lasses, that must look on
This nights solemnity, and see the two Dukes,
Or I shall lose my credit; you have Stowage?
_But._ For such freight I'le find room, and be your servant.
_Coo._ Bring them, they shall not starve here, I'le send 'em victuals
Shall work you a good turn, though't be ten days hence, Sir.
_Lat._ God a mercy noble Master.
_Coo._ Nay, I'le do't.
_Yeo._ And wine they shall not want, let 'em drink like Ducks.
_Lat._ What misery it is that minds so royal,
And such most honest bounties, as yours are,
Should be confin'd thus to uncertainties?
_But._ I, were the State once setled, then we had places.
_Yeo._ Then we could shew our selves, and help our friends, Sir.
_Coo._ I, then there were some savour in't, where now
We live between two stools, every hour ready
To tumble on our noses; and for ought we know yet,
For all this Supper, ready to fast the next day.
_Lat._ I would fain speak unto you out of pitie,
Out of the love I bear you, out of honesty,
For your own goods; nay, for the general blessing.
_Coo._ And we would as fain hear you, pray go forward.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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