Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Lel._ You are old,
Is that your meaning? why, you are to me
The greater novelty, all our fresh youth
Are daily offer'd me, though you perform
As you think little, yet you satisfie
My appetite: from your experience
I may learn something in the way of lust
I may be better for. But I can teach
These young ones;
But this day I did refuse
A paire of 'em, _Julio_, and _Angelo_,
And told them they were as they were
Raw fools and whelps. [Ang. _makes discontented signs_.
[Sidenote: _Maid laies her finger cross_
_her mouth to him._]
_Maid._ Pray God he speak not.
_Lel._ Why speak you not sweet sir?
_Fath._ Umh.--
[_Stops his ears, shews he is troubled with the Musick._
_Lel._ Peace there, that musique, now Sir speak
To me.
_Fath._ Umh.-- [_Points at the Maid._
_Lel._ Why? would you have her gone? you need not keep
Your freedom in for her; she knows my life
That she might write it;
Think she is a stone.
She is a kind of bawdy Confessor,
And will not utter secrets.
_Fath._ Umh.-- [_Points at her again._
_Lel._ Be gone then, since he needs will have it so,
'Tis all one. [_Exit Maid.--Fath. locks the door._
Is all now as you would? come meet me then,
And bring a thousand kisses on thy lips,
And I will rob thee of 'em, and yet leave
Thy lips as wealthy as they were before.
_Fath._ Yes, all is as I would but thou.
_Lel._ By Heaven 'tis my Father.-- [_Starts._
_Fath._ And I do beseech thee
Leave these unheard of lusts which worse become thee,
Than mocking of thy Father; let thine eyes
Reflect upon thy soul, and there behold
How loathed black it is; and whereas now
Thy face is heavenly fair, but thy mind foul,
Go but into thy Closet, and there cry
Till thou hast spoil'd that face, and thou shalt find
How excellent a change thou wilt have made
For inward beauty.
_Lel._ Though I know him now
To be my Father, never let me live
If my lust do abate,
I'le take upon me
To have known him all this while.
_Fath._ Look, dost thou know me?
_Lel._ I knew ye Sir before.
_Fath._ What didst thou do?
_Lel._ Knew you, and so unmov'dly have you born
All the sad crosses that I laid upon you,
With such a noble temper, which indeed
I purposely cast on you, to discern
Your carriage in calamity, and you
Have undergone 'em with that brave contempt,
That I have turn'd the reverence of a child
Into the hot affection of a Lover.
Nor can there on the earth be found but yours
A spirit fit to meet with mine.
_Fath._ A woman? thou art not sure.
_Lel._ Look and believe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account