Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Tony._ Nor you must not grumble,
If you be thrust up hard, we thrust most furiously.
_1 Wife._ We know the worst.
_Tony._ Get you two in then quietly,
And shift for your selves; we must have no old women,
They are out of use, unless they have petitions,
Besides they cough so loud they drown the Musick.
You would go in too, but there is no place for ye?
I am sorry for't, go and forget your wives,
Or pray they may be able to suffer patiently.
You may have Heirs may prove wise Aldermen,
Go, or I'le call the Guard.
_3 Citi._ We will get in, we'l venture broken pates else.
[_Ex. Citiz. and Women._
_Tony._ 'Tis impossible,
You are too securely arm'd; how they flock hither,
And with what joy the women run by heaps
To see this Marriage! they tickle to think of it,
They hope for every month a husband too;
Still how they run, and how the wittals follow 'em,
The weak things that are worn between the leggs,
That brushing, dressing, nor new naps can mend,
How they post to see their own confusion!
This is a merry world.
_Enter_ Frederick.
_Fred._ Look to the door Sirrah,
Thou art a fool, and may'st do mischief lawfully.
_Tony._ Give me your hand, you are my Brother fool,
You may both make the Law, and marr it presently.
Do you love a wench?
_Fred._ Who does not, fool?
_Tony._ Not I, unless you will give me a longer lease to marry her.
_Fred._ What are all these that come, what business have they?
_Tony._ Some come to gape, those are my fellow fools;
Some to get home their wives, those be their own fools;
Some to rejoyce with thee, those be the times fools;
And some I fear to curse thee, those are poor fools,
_Enter_ Cassand[ra], _an old Lady passing over._
A set people call them honest. Look, look King, look,
A weather-beaten Lady new caresn'd.
_Fred._ An old one.
_Tony._ The glasses of her eyes are new rub'd over,
And the worm-eaten records in her face are daub'd up neatly?
She layes her breasts out too, like to poch'd eggs
That had the yelks suckt out; they get new heads also,
New teeth, new tongues, for the old are all worn out,
And as 'tis hop'd, new tayls.
_Fred._ For what?
_Tony._ For old Courtiers,
The young ones are too stirring for their travels.
_Fred._ Go leave your knavery, and help to keep the door well,
I will have no such press.
_Tony._ Lay thy hand o'thy heart King.
_Fred._ I'le have ye whipt.
_Tony._ The fool and thou art parted. [_Exit._
_Fred. Sorano_ work, and free me from this spell,
'Twixt love and scorn there's nothing felt but hell. [_Exit._
_Enter_ Valerio, Camillo, Cleanthes, Menallo,__
_and Servants._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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