Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Hyl._ Forc'd with a Cataplasm of Crackers.
_Tho._ Ever.
_Hyl._ Scowre all before him, like a Scavenger.
_Tom._ _Satis fecisti domine_, my last cause,
My last is, and not least, most learned Doctors,
Because in most Physicians heads (I mean those
That are most excellent, and old withal,
And angry, though a Patient say his prayers,
And _Paracelsians_ that do trade with poisons,
We have it by tradition of great writers)
There is a kind of Toad-stone bred, whose vertue
The Doctor being dri'd.
_1 Phy._ We are abus'd sirs.
_Hyl._ I take it so, or shall be, for say the Belly-ake
Caus'd by an inundation of Pease-porridge,
Are we therefore to open the port Vein,
Or the port Esquiline?
_Sam._ A learned question:
Or grant the Diaphragma by a Rupture,
The sign being then in the head of _Capricorn_.
_Tho._ Meet with the passion Huperchondriaca,
And so cause a Carnosity in the Kidneyes.
Must not the brains, being butter'd with this humour--
Answer me that.
_Sam._ Most excellently argued.
_2 Phy._ The next fit you will have, my most fine Scholar,
Bedlam shall find a Salve for: fare ye well Sir,
We came to do you good, but these young Doctors
It seems have bor'd our Noses.
_3 Phy._ Drink hard Gentlemen,
And get unwholesome drabs: 'tis ten to one then
We shall hear further from ye, your note alter'd. [_Exeunt._
_Tho._ And wilt thou be gone, saies one?
_Hyl._ And wilt thou be gone, saies t'other?
_Tho._ Then take the odd crown
To mend thy old Gown.
_Sam._ And we'l be gone all together.
_Fra._ My learned _Tom_.
_Enter Servant._
_Ser._ Sir, the young Gentlewomen
Sent me to see what company ye had with ye,
They much desire to visit ye.
_Fra._ Pray ye thank 'em,
And tell 'em my most sickness is their absence:
Ye see my company.
_Tho._ Come hither Crab,
What Gentlewomen are these? my Mistris?
_Ser._ Yes Sir.
_Hyl._ And who else?
_Ser._ Mistress _Alice_.
_Hyl._ Oh!
_Tho._ Hark ye sirrah,
No word of my being here, unless she know it.
_Ser._ I do not think she does.
_Tho._ Take that, and mum then.
_Ser._ You have ty'd my tongue up. [_Exit._
_Tho._ Sit you down good _Francis_,
And not a word of me till ye hear from me,
And as you find my humour, follow it:
You two come hither, and stand close, unseen Boys,
And do as I shall tutor ye.
_Fran._ What, new work?
_Tho._ Prethee no more but help me now.
_Hyl._ I would fain talk
With the Gentlewomen.
_Tho._ Talk with the Gentlewomen?
Of what forsooth? whose Maiden-head the last Mask
Suffer'd impression? or whose Clyster wrought best?
Take me as I shall tell thee.
_Hyl._ To what end?
What other end came we along?
_Sam._ Be rul'd though.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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