Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Jun._ I will not love; I am a man, have reason,
And I will use it: I'll no more tormenting,
Nor whining for a wench, there are a thousand.
_Petill._ Hold thee there boy.
_Jun._ A thousand will intreat me.
_Petill._ Ten thousand, _Junius_.
_Jun._ I am young and lusty,
And to my fashion valiant; can please nightly.
_Petill._ I'll swear thy back's _probatum_, for I have known thee
Leap at sixteen like a strong Stallion.
_Jun._ I will be man again.
_Petill._ Now mark the working,
The devil and the spirit tug for't: twenty pound
Upon the devils head.
_Jun._ I must be wretched.
_Petill._ I knew I had won.
_Jun._ Nor have I so much power
To shun my fortune.
_Petill._ I will hunt thy fortune
With all the shapes imagination breeds, [_Musick._
But I will fright thy devil: Stay, he sings now.
_Song, by_ Junius, _and_ Petillius, _after him in mockage_.
_Jun._ Must I be thus abus'd?
_Petill._ Yes marry must ye.
Let's follow him close: oh, there he is, now read it.
Herald reads. _It is the Generals command, that all sick,
persons old and unable, retire within the Trenches; he that
fears his liberty, to leave the Field: Fools, Boys, and
Lovers must not come near the Regiments, for fear of their
infections; especially those Cowards they call Lovers._
_Jun._ Ha?
_Petill._ Read on.
Herald. _If any common Soldier love an enemy, he's whip'd_
_and made a slave: If any Captain, cast, with loss of honors,_
_flung out o'th' Army, and made unable ever after to bear the
name of a Soldier._
_Jun._ The ---- consume ye all, Rogues. [_Exit_ Jun.
_Petill._ Let this work:
H'as something now to chew upon: he's gone,
Come, shake no more.
_Her._ Well, Sir, you may command me,
But not to do the like again for _Europe_;
I would have given my life for a bent two-pence.
If I e'r read to Lovers whilst I live again,
Or come within their confines--
_Petill._ There's your payment,
And keep this private.
_Her._ I am school'd for talking. [_Exit_ Herald.
_Enter_ Demetrius.
_Petill._ How now, _Demetrius_, are we drawn?
_Dem._ 'Tis doing:
Your Company stands fair; but pray ye, where's _Junius_?
Half his command are wanting, with some forty
That _Decius_ leads.
_Petill._ Hunting for Victuals:
Upon my life free-booting Rogues, their stomachs
Are like a widows lust, ne'r satisfied.
_Dem._ I wonder how they dare stir, knowing the enemy
Master of all the Countrey.
_Petill._ Resolute hungers
Know neither fears nor faiths, they tread on ladders,
Ropes, Gallows, and overdoe all dangers.
_Dem._ They may be hang'd though.
_Petill._ There's their joyful supper,
And no doubt they are at it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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