Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Cal._ I will, pray ye lead. [_A Pistol shot within._
_Clean._ A Pistol shot i'th' house?
At these hours? sure some thief, some murtherer;
Rise, ho! rise all, I am betray'd.
_Cal._ O Fortune!
O giddy thing! he has met some opposition,
And kill'd; I am confounded, lost for ever.
_Enter_ Dorilaus.
_Dor._ Now, what's the matter?
_Clean._ Thieves, my noble Father, Villains and Rogues.
_Dor._ Indeed! I heard a Pistol, let's search about.
_Enter_ Malfort, Clarinda, _and Servants._
_Mal._ To bed again, they are gone, Sir,
I will not bid you thank my valour for't;
Gone at the Garden door; there were a dozen,
And bravely arm'd, I saw 'em.
_Clar._ I am glad, glad at the heart.
_Serv._ One shot at me, and miss'd me.
_Mal._ No, 'twas at me, the Bullet flew close by me,
Close by my ear; another had a huge Sword,
Flourish'd it thus; but at the point I met him,
But the Rogue taking me to be your Lordship,
(As sure your Name is terrible, and we
Not much unlike in the dark) roar'd out aloud,
'Tis the kill-Crow, _Dorilaus_, and away
They ran as they had flown; now you must love me,
Or fear me for my Courage, Wench.
_Clar._ O Rogue!
O lying Rogue, _Lisander_ stumbled, Madam,
At the Stairs-head, and in the fall the shot went off;
Was gone before they rose.
_Cal._ I thank Heaven for't.
_Clar._ I was frighted too, it spoil'd my game with _Leon_.
_Cle._ You must sit up; and they had come to your Chamber
What pranks would they have plaid! how came the door open?
_Ma._ I heard 'em when they forc'd it; up I rose,
Took _Durindana_ in my hand; and like
_Orlando_, issu'd forth.
_Clar._ I know you are valiant.
_Clean._ To bed again,
And be you henceforth provident, at sun-rising
We must part for a while.
_Dor._ When you are a bed,
Take leave of her, there 'twill be worth the taking;
Here 'tis but a cold Ceremony, ere long
We'll find _Lisander,_ or we have ill-fortune.
_Clean._ Lock all the doors fast.
_Mal._ Though they all stood open,
My name writ on the door, they dare not enter. [_Exeunt._
_Enter_ Clarange, _Fryar with a letter._
_Clar._ Turn'd Hermit?
_Fry._ Yes, and a devout one too; I heard him preach.
_Clar._ That lessens my belief,
For though I grant my _Lidian_ a Scholar,
As far as fits a Gentleman, he hath studied
Humanity, and in that he is a Master;
Civility of manners, Courtship, Arms;
But never aim'd at (as I could perceive)
The deep points of Divinity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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