Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Cast._ Eat nothing for my health? that's a new dyet,
Let me have something, something has some savor.
Why thou uncourteous Doctor, shall I hang thee?
_Doct._ 'Tis better Sir than I should let you surfeit,
My death were nothing.
_Vil._ To loose a King, were terrible.
_Cast._ Nay, then I'll carve my self, I'll stay no ceremonies.
This is a Patridge Pye, I am sure that's nourishing,
Or _Galen_ is an Ass: 'tis rarely season'd:
Ha Doctor have I hit right? a mark a mark there? [_take away._
_Vil._ What ails thy grace?
_Cast._ Retriv those Patridges.
Or as I am a King--
_Doct._ Pray Sir be patient,
They are flowen too far.
_Vil._ These are breath'd pyes an't please you,
And your hawkes are such Buzards.
_Cast._ A King and have nothing,
Nor can have nothing!
_Vil._ What think you of pudding?
A pudding Royal?
_Cast._ To be royally starv'd,
Whip me this fool to death; he is a blockhead.
_Vil._ Let 'em think they whip me, as we think you a King:
'Twill be enough.
_Cast._ As for your dainty Doctor, the Table taken away,
All gone, all snatch'd away, and I unsatisfied,
Without my wits being a King and hungry?
Suffer but this thy treason? I tell thee Doctor.
I tell it thee, in earnest, and in anger,
I am damnably hungry, my very grace is hungry.
_Vil._ A hungry grace is fittest to no meal Sir.
_Doct._ Some two hours hence, you shall see more: but still Sir
You must retain an excellent and strict dyet.
_Vil._ It sharpens you, and makes your wit so poynant, Sir
Your very words will kill.
_Doct._ A bit of Marmalade
No bigger than a Pease.
_Vil._ And that well butter'd,
The ayr thrice purified, and three times spirited,
Becomes a King: your rare conserve of nothing
Breeds no offence.
_Cast._ Am I turn'd King _Camelion_,
And keep my Court i'th' ayr?
_Fer._ They vex him cruelly.
_Asca._ In two days more they'll starve him.
_Fer._ Now the women, there's no food left but they.
_Asca._ They'll prove small nourishment.
Yet h'as another stomach and a great one,
I see by his eye.
_Cast._ I'll have mine own power here;
Mine own Authority; I need no tutor.
Doctor this is no dyet.
_Doct._ It may be Sir.
_Vil._ Birlady, it may turn to a dry dyet;
And how thy grace, will ward that--
_Cast._ Stand off Doctor;
And talk to those that want faith.
_Fer._ Hot and mighty.
_Asca._ He will cool apace, no doubt.
_Cast._ Fair, plump, and red,
A forehead high, an eye revives the dead;
A lip like ripest fruit, inviting still.
_Vil._ But O, the rushy well, below the hill,
Take heed of that, for though it never fail
Take heed I say, for thereby hangs a tail.
_Cast._ I'll get ye all with Child.
_Vil._ With one Child Brother,
So many men in a Blew Coat.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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