Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Ped._ These I think would be
Offence enough, if their own indiscretions
Would suffer 'em: two of the old seditious,
When they want enemies, they are their own foes:
Were they a little wiser, I should doubt 'em:
Till when I'll ne'r break sleep, nor suffer hunger
For any harm he shall receive: for 'tis as easie
If he be guilty, to turn these two old men
Upon their own throats, and look on, and live still,
As 'tis to tell five pound: a great deal sooner,
And so I'll to my meat, and then to hawking. [_Exit._
_Actus Quartus. Scæna Prima._
_Enter_ Mark-antonio, _and a Gentleman_.
_Marc._ Sir, this is complement; I pray you leave me.
_Gent._ Sir, it is not.
_Marc._ Why? I would only see the Town.
_Gent._ And only that I come to shew you.
_Marc._ Which I can see without you.
_Gent._ So you may
Plainly, not safely: For such difference
As you have seen betwixt the sea and earth
When waves rise high, and land would beat 'em back
As fearful of Invasion; such we find
When we land here at _Barcelona_.
_Marc._ Sir.
_Gent._ Besides our General of the Galleys, fearing
Your hasty nature, charg'd me not return
Without you safe.
_Marc._ O Sir, that _Roderigo_
Is noble, and do's mistake my temper.
There is not in the world, a mind less apt
To conceive wrongs, or do 'em; has he seen me
In all this voyage, in the which he pleases.
_En[t]er_ Eugenia, _with divers Attendants_.
To call me friend, let slip a hasty word?
S'light Sir: yonder is a Lady va[il]d,
For properness beyond comparison,
And sure her face is like the rest: we'll see't.
_Gent._ Why? you are hasty Sir already: know you
What 'tis you go about.
_Marc._ Yes, I would see
The womans face.
_Gent._ By heaven you shall not do't:
You do not know the custom of the place:
To draw that curtain here, though she were mean,
Is mortall.
_Marc._ Is it? earth must come to earth
At last, and by my troth, I'll try it Sir.
_Gent._ Then I must hold you fast. By all the faith
That can be plac'd in man, 'tis an attempt
More dangerous than death, 'tis death and shame:
I know the Lady well.
_Marc._ Is she a Lady?
I shall the more desire to see her Sir.
_Gent._ She is _Alanso_'s wife, the Governor,
A noble Gentleman.
_Marc._ Then let me go,
If I can win her, you and I will govern
This Town Sir, fear it not, and we will alter
These barbarous customs then; for every Lady
Shall be seen daily, and seen over too.
_Gent._ Come, do not jest, nor let your passions bear you
To such wild enterprises: hold you still,
For as I have a soul, you shall not do't.
She is a Lady of unblemish'd fame,
And here to offer that affront, were base:
Hold on your way, and we will see the Town,
And overlook the Ladies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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