Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Inc._ Do you receive 'em: I will save
The honesty of your house: and yours too Gossip,
And I will lodge the Gentleman: shew the chamber.
_Die._ Good Sir do you hear.
_Inc._ Shew me the chamber.
_Die._ Pray you Sir,
Do not disturb my guests.
_Inc._ Disturb? I hope
The Catholick King Sir, may command a lodging
Without disturbing in his Vassals house,
For any Minister of his, emploid
In business of the State. Where is the door?
Open the door, who are you there? within?
In the Kings name. [Theodosia _within._
_Theo._ What would you have?
_Inc._ Your key Sir,
And your door open: I have here command
To lodge a Gentleman, from the Justice, sent
Upon the Kings affairs.
_Theod._ Kings and necessities
Must be obey'd: the key is under the door.
_Inc._ How now Sir, are you fitted? you secur'd?
_Phi._ Your two Reals are grown a piece of Eight.
_In[c]._ Excuse me Sir.
_Phi._ 'Twill buy a Hen; and Wine
Sir, for to morrow. [_Exit_ Phil.
_Inc._ I do kiss your hands Sir.
Well this will bear my charge yet to the Gallies
Where I am owing a Ducket: whither this night
By the Moons leave I'll march: for in the morning
Early, they put from Port _St. Maries_. [_Ex. all but_ Diego.
_Die. Lazaro._
_Enter_ Lazaro.
How do the horses?
_Laz._ Would you would go and see Sir,
A ---- of all Jades, what a clap h'as given me:
As sure as you live Master he knew perfectly
I couzen'd him on's Oats: he lookt upon me
And then he sneer'd, as who should say, take heed sirrah:
And when he saw our half Peck, which you know
Was but an old Court dish, lord how he stampt:
I thought 't had been for joy, when suddenly
He cuts me a back caper with his heels
And takes me just o'th crupper, down came I,
And all my ounce of Oats: Then he neigh'd out
As though he had had a mare by th' tail.
_Die._ Faith _Lazaro_
We are t[o] blame to use the poor dumb serviters
So cruelly.
_Laz._ Yonder's this other Gentleman's horse
Keeping our Lady Eve: the devil a bit
H'as got since he came in yet: there he stands
And looks, and looks, but 'tis your pleasure, Sir,
He shall look lean enough: h'as Hay before him
But 'tis as big as Hemp, and will as soon choak him,
Unless he eat it butter'd: he had four shooes
And good ones when he came: 'tis a strange wonder
With standing still he should cast three.
_Die._ O _Lazaro_.
The Devil's in this Trade: truth never knew it
And to the devil we shall travel, _Lazaro_
Unless we mend our manners: once every week
I meet with such a knock to mollifie me
Sometimes a dozen to awake my conscience
Yet still I sleep securely.
_Laz._ Certain Master
We must use better dealing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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