Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Ori._ I cannot,
For I must be up to morrow to go to Church,
And I must dress me, put my new Gown on,
And be as fine to meet my Love: Heigh ho!
Will not you tell me where my Love lies buried?
_Mir._ He is not dead: beshrew my heart, she stirs me.
_Ori._ He is dead to me.
_Mir._ Is't possible my Nature
Should be so damnable, to let her suffer?
Give me your hand.
_Ori._ How soft you feel, how gentle!
I'll tell you your fortune, Friend.
_Mir._ How she stares on me!
_Or._ You have a flattering face, but 'tis a fine one;
I warrant you may have a hundred Sweet-hearts;
Will ye pray for me? I shall dye to morrow,
And will ye ring the Bells?
_Mir._ I am most unworthy,
I do confess, unhappy; do you know me?
_Ori._ I would I did.
_Mir._ Oh fair tears, how ye take me!
_Ori._ Do you weep too? you have not lost your Lover;
You mock me; I'l go home, and pray.
_Mir._ 'Pray ye pardon me:
Or if it please ye to consider justly,
Scorn me, for I deserve it: Scorn, and shame me:
Sweet _Oriana_.
_Lil._ Let her alone, she trembles;
Her fits will grow more strong if ye provoke her.
_La Cas._ Certain she knows ye not, yet loves to see ye:
How she smiles now!
[_Enter_ Belleur.]
_Bel._ Where are ye? Oh, why do [not] you laugh? come, laugh at me;
What a Devil! art thou sad, and such a subject,
Such a ridiculous subject as I am
Before thy face?
_Mir._ Prithee put off this lightness;
This is no time for mirth, nor place; I have us'd too much on't:
I have undone my self, and a sweet Lady,
By being too indulgent to my foolery,
Which truly I repent; look here.
_Bel._ What ails she?
_Mir._ Alas, she's mad.
_Bel._ Mad?
_Mir._ Yes, too sure for me too.
_Bel._ Dost thou wonder at that? by this [good] light they are all so;
They are coz'ning mad, they are brawling mad, they are proud mad:
They are all, all mad; I came from a World of mad Women.
Mad as _March_-Hares; get 'em in Chains, then deal with 'em.
There's one that's mad; she seems well, but she is dog-mad.
Is she dead dost' think?
_Mi[r]._ Dead! Heaven forbid.
_Bel._ Heaven further it;
For till they be key cold dead, there's no trusting of 'em,
Whate'r they seem, or howsoe'r they carry it,
Till they be chap-faln, and their Tongues at peace,
Nail'd in their Coffins sure, I'll ne'r believe 'em,
Shall I talk with her?
_Mir._ No, dear friend, be quiet,
And be at peace a while.
_Bel._ I'll walk aside,
And come again anon: but take heed to her,
You say she is a Woman?
_Mir._ Yes.
_Bel._ Take great heed:
For if she do not cozen thee, then hang me.
Let her be mad, or what she will, she'll cheat thee. [_Exit._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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