Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Tho._ Why _Doll_, why _Doll_ I say: my letter fub'd too,
And no access without I mend my manners?
All my designes in Limbo? I will have her,
Yes, I will have her, though the Devil roar,
I am resolv'd that, if she live above ground,
I'le not be bob'd i'th' nose with every bobtail:
I will be civil too, now I think better,
Exceeding civil, wondrous finely carried:
And yet be mad upon occasion,
And stark mad too, and save my land: my Father,
I'le have my will of him, how e're my wench goes. [_Exit._
_Enter_ Sebastian, _and_ Launcelot.
_Seb._ Sirrah, I say still you have spoil'd your Master: leave your
stiches:
I say thou hast spoil'd thy Master.
_Lau._ I say how Sir?
_Seb._ Marry thou hast taught him like an arrant rascal,
First to read perfectly: which on my blessing
I warn'd him from: for I knew if he read once,
He was a lost man. Secondly, Sir _Launcelot_,
Sir lowsie _Launcelot_, ye have suffer'd him
Against my power first, then against my precept,
To keep that simpring sort of people company,
That sober men call civil: mark ye that Sir?
_Lau._ And't please your worship.
_Seb._ It does not please my worship,
Nor shall not please my worship: thirdly and lastly,
Which if the law were here, I would hang thee for,
(However I will lame thee) like a villain,
Thou hast wrought him
Clean to forget what 'tis to do a mischief,
A handsom mischief, such as thou knew'st I lov'd well.
My servants all are sound now, my drink sowr'd,
Not a horse pawn'd, nor plaid away: no warrants
Come for the breach of peace.
Men travel with their mony, and nothing meets 'em:
I was accurs'd to send thee, thou wert ever
Leaning to laziness, and loss of spirit,
Thou slept'st still like a cork upon the water.
_Lau._ Your worship knows, I ever was accounted
The most debosh'd, and please you to remember,
Every day drunk too, for your worships credit,
I broke the Butlers head too.
_Seb._ No, base Palliard,
I do remember yet that anslaight, thou wast beaten,
And fledst before the Butler; a black jack
Playing upon thee furiously, I saw it:
I saw thee scatter'd rogue, behold thy Master.
_Enter_ Thomas, _with a Book_.
_Thom._ What sweet content dwells here!
_Lau._ Put up your Book Sir,
We are all undone else.
_Seb._ _Tom_, when is the horse-race?
_Thom._ I know not Sir.
_Seb._ You will be there?
_Tho._ Not I Sir,
I have forgot those journeys.
_Seb._ Spoil'd for ever.
The Cocking holds at _Derby_, and there will be
_Jack_ Wild-oats, and _Will_ Purser.
_Tho._ I am sorry, Sir,
They should employ their time so slenderly,
Their understandings will bear better courses.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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