Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Ros._ You say right; for as long as he perceives ye
Sink under his proud scornings, he'll laugh at ye:
For me secure your self; and for my Sister,
I partly know her mind too: howsoever
To obey my Father we have made a tender
Of our poor beauties to the travel'd _Monsieur_;
Yet two words to a bargain; he slights us
As skittish things, and we shun him as curious.
May be my free behaviour turns his stomach,
And makes him seem to doubt a loose opinion.
I must be so sometimes, though all the world saw it.
_Ori._ Why should not ye? Are our minds only measur'd?
As long as here ye stand secure.
_Ros._ Ye say true;
As long as mine own Conscience makes no question,
What care I for Report? That Woman's miserable
That's good or bad for their tongues sake: Come let's retire.
And get my veil Wench: By my troth your sorrow,
And the consideration of mens humorous maddings,
Have put me into a serious contemplation.
_Enter_ Mirabel _and_ Belleur.
_Oria._ Come 'faith, let's sit, and think.
_Ros._ That's all my business.
_Mir._ Why standst thou peeping here? thou great slug, forward.
_Bel._ She is there, peace.
_Mir._ Why standst thou here then,
Sneaking, and peaking, as thou would'[st] steal linnen?
Hast thou not place and time?
_Bel._ I had a rare speech
Studied, and almost ready, and your violence
Has beat it out of my brains.
_Mir._ Hang your rare speeches,
Go me on like a man.
_Bel._ Let me set my Beard up.
How has _Pinac_ performed?
_Mir._ He has won already:
He stands not thrumming of caps thus.
_Bel._ Lord, what should I ail?
What a cold I have over my stomach; would I had some Hum.
Certain I have a great mind to be at her:
A mighty mind.
_Mir._ On fool.
_Bel._ Good words, I beseech ye;
For I will not be abused by both.
_Mir._ Adieu, then,
I will not trouble you, I see you are valiant,
And work your own way.
_Bel._ Hist, hist, I will be rul'd,
I will 'faith, I will go presently:
Will ye forsake me now and leave me i'th' suds?
You know I am false-hearted this way; I beseech ye,
Good sweet _Mirabel_; I'le cut your throat if ye leave me,
Indeed I will sweet heart.
_Mir._ I will be ready,
Still at thine elbow; take a mans heart to thee,
And speak thy mind: the plainer still the better.
She is a woman of that free behaviour,
Indeed that common courtesie, she cannot deny thee;
Go bravely on.
_Bel._ Madam--keep close about me,
Still at my back. Madam, sweet Madam--
_Ros._ Ha;
What noise is that, what saucy sound to trouble me?
_Mir._ What said she?
_Bel._ I am saucy.
_Mir._ 'Tis the better.
_Bel._ She comes; must I be saucy still?
_Mir._ More saucy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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