Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Page._ Sir Fool? a Challenge to my Lord?
How dar'st thou, or thy ambs-ace here think of him,
Ye Crow-pick'd heads, which your thin shoulders bear
As does the Poles on _Corinth_ Bridge the Traitors:
Why you three Nine-pins you talk of my Lord,
And challenges? you shall not need: come draw,
His Page is able to swindge three such whelpes:
Uncle, why stand ye off: long-man advance.
_Onos._ S'light, what have we done Tutor?
_Tut._ He is a Boy,
And we may run away with honour.
_Page._ That ye shall not,
And being a Boy I am fitter to encounter
A Child in Law as you are, under twenty:
Thou sot, thou three-score Sot, and that's a Child
Again I grant you.
_Unc._ Nephew, here's an age:
Boyes are turn'd men, and men are Children.
_Page._ Away you Pezants with your bought Gentry;
Are not you he, when your fellow Passengers,
Your last transportment being assayl'd by a Galley
Hid your self i'the Cabbin: and the Fight done
Peep'd above Hatches, and cry'd, Have we taken,
Or are we tane? Come, I do want a slipper,
But this shall serve: Swear all as I would have you,
Or I will call some dozen brother Pages,
(They are not far off I am sure) and we will blancket
You untill you piss again.
_All._ Nay, we will swear Sir.
_Page._ ['Tis] your best course:
First, you shall swear never to name my Lord,
Or hear him nam'd hereafter, but bare-headed.
Next, to begin his health in every place,
And never to refuse to pledge it, though
You surfeit to the death. Lastly, to hold
The poorest, litlest Page in reverence;
To think him valianter, and a better Gentleman
Than you three stamp'd together: and to give him
Wine and Tobacco wheresoe're you meet,
And the best meat if he can stay.
_All._ We swear it loyally.
_Page._ Then I dismiss you
True Leigemen to the Pantoffle:
I had more Articles, but I have business
And cannot stay now: so adieu dear Monsieur,
_Tres noble & tres puissant_.
_Unc._ Adieu Monsieur.
_On. A vostre service & commandement._
_Tut._ I told you Pupill, you'ld repent this foolery.
_On._ Who, I repent? you are mistaken Tutor,
I ne're repented any thing yet in my life,
And scorne to begin now: Come, let's be melancholly. [_Exeunt._
_Scæna Secunda._
_Enter Queen, Euphanes, Conon, Lords._
_Lord._ 'Twere better treat with 'em.
_Quee._ I will no Treaties
With a League-breaker and a Rebell; shall I
Article with a Traitor? be compell'd
To yield an innocent unto their fury
Whom I have prov'd so to you?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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