Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Mir._ I'le be near thee;
Pluck up thy heart, I'le second thee at all brunts;
Be angry if she abuse thee, and beat her a little,
Some women are won that way.
_Bel._ Pray be quiet,
And let me think: I am resolv'd to go on;
But how I shall get off again--
_Mir._ I am perswaded
Thou wilt so please her, she will go near to ravish thee.
_Bel._ I would 'twere come to that once: let me pray a little.
_Mir._ Now for thine honour _Pinac_; board me this modesty,
Warm but this frozen snow-ball, 'twill be a conquest
(Although I know thou art a fortunate Wencher,
And hast done rarely in thy daies) above all thy ventures.
_Bel._ You will be ever near?
_Mir._ At all necessities,
And take thee off, and set thee on again, Boy;
And cherish thee, and stroak thee.
_Bel._ Help me out too?
For I know I shall stick i'th' mire: if ye see us close once,
Be gone, and leave me to my fortune, suddenly,
For I am then determin'd to do wonders.
Farewel, and fling an old shooe: how my heart throbs!
Would I were drunk: Farewel _Pinac_; Heaven send us
A joyfull and a merry meeting, man.
_Pi._ Farewel,
And chear thy heart up; and remember _Bellure_
They are but women.
_Bel._ I had rather they were Lyons. [_Exeunt._
_Mir._ About it; I'le be with you instantly.
_Enter_ Oriana.
Shall I ne'r be at rest? no peace of conscience?
No quiet for these creatures? Am I ordain'd
To be devour'd quick by these she-Canibals?
Here's another they call handsom, I care not for her,
I ne'r look after her: when I am half tipled
It may be I should turn her, and peruse her,
Or in my want of women, I might call for her;
But to be haunted when I have no fancie,
No maw to th' matter--Now, why do you follow me?
_Ori._ I hope, Sir, 'tis no blemish to my vertue,
Nor need you (out of scruple) ask that question,
If you remember ye, before your Travel
The contract you ty'd to me: 'tis my love, Sir,
That makes me seek ye, to confirm your memory,
And that being fair and good, I cannot suffer:
I come to give ye thanks too.
_Mir._ For what 'prethee?
_Ori._ For that fair piece of honesty ye shew'd, Sir,
That constant nobleness.
_Mir._ How? for I am short headed.
_Ori._ I'le tell ye then; for refusing that free offer
Of _Monsieur Natolets_; those handsom Beauties,
Those two prime Ladies, that might well have prest ye,
If not to have broken, yet to have bow'd your promise,
I know it was for my sake, for your faith sake,
You slipt 'em off: your honesty compell'd ye.
And let me tell ye, Sir, it shew'd most handsomly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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