Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Wife._ O _George_, the Giant, the Giant, now _Rafe_ for thy
life.
_Bar._ What fond unknowing wight is this, that dares,
So rudely knock at _Barbarossa_'s Cell,
Where no man comes, but leaves his fleece behind?
_Rafe._ I, traiterous Caitiffe, who am sent by fate
To punish all the sad enormities
Thou hast committed against Ladies gentle,
And Errant Knights, Traytor to God and men:
Prepare thy self, this is the dismal hour
Appointed for thee to give strict account
Of all thy beastly treacherous villanies.
_Bar._ Fool-hardy Knight, full soon thou shalt aby
This fond reproach, thy body will I bang, [_He takes down his pole._
And loe upon that string thy teeth shall hang:
Prepare thy self, for dead soon shalt thou be.
_Rafe._ Saint _George_ for me. [_They fight._
_Barba. Gargantua_ for me.
_Wife._ To him _Rafe_, to him, hold up the Giant, set out thy
leg before _Rafe_.
_Cit._ Falsifie a blow _Rafe_, falsifie a blow, the Giant lies
open on the left side.
_Wife._ Bear't off, bear't off still; there boy, O _Rafe_'s
almost down, _Rafe_'s almost down.
_Rafe. Susan_ inspire me, now have up again.
_Wife._ Up, up, up, up, up, so _Rafe_, down with him, down with
him _Rafe_.
_Cit._ Fetch him over the hip boy.
_Wife._ There boy, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, _Rafe_.
_Cit._ No _Rafe_, get all out of him first.
_Rafe._ Presumptuous man, see to what desperate end
Thy treachery hath brought thee, the just Gods,
Who never prosper those that do despise them,
For all the villanies which thou hast done
To Knights and Ladies, now have paid thee home,
By my stiff arm, a Knight adventurous.
But say, vile wretch, before I send thy soul
To sad _Avernus_, whither it must go,
What captives holdst thou in thy sable cave?
_Barba._ Go in and free them all, thou hast the day.
_Rafe._ Go Squire and Dwarf, search in this dreadful cave,
And free the wretched prisoners from their bonds.
[_Exit Squire and Dwarf._
_Barb._ I crave for mercy as thou art a Knight,
And scornst to spill the blood of those that beg.
_Rafe._ Thou shewest no mercy, nor shalt thou have any,
Prepare thy self, for thou shalt surely dye.
_Enter Squire leading one winking, with a Bason under his chin._
_Squire._ Behold brave Knight here is one prisoner,
Whom this wild man hath used as you see.
_Wife._ This is the [first] wise word I hear[d] the Squire speak.
_Rafe._ Speak what thou art, and how thou hast been us'd,
That I may give him condign punishment.
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