Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Bob._ Oh good _St. Jaques_ help me: was there ever such
an Hermaphrodite heard of? would any wench living, that
should hear and see what I do, be wrought to believe, that
the best of a man lies under this Petticoat, and that a Codpiece
were far fitter here, than a Pinn'd Placket?
_Luc._ You had best talk filthily: do; I have a tongue
To tell my Mother, as well as ears to hear
Your ribaldry.
_Bob._ Nay you have ten womens tongues that way I am
sure: why my young Master or Mistriss, Madam, Don, or
what you will, what the devil have you to do with Pullen,
or Partridge? or to sit pricking on a clout all day? you have
a better needle, I know, and might make better work, if you
had grace to use it.
_Luc._ Why, how dare you speak this before me, sirrah?
_Bob._ Nay rather, why dare not you do what I speak?--though
my Lady your mother, for fear of _Vitelli_ and his
faction, hath brought you up like her Daughter, and has kept
you these 20 years, which is ever since you were born, a close
prisoner within doors, yet since you are a man, and are as
well provided as other men are, methinks you should have
the same motions of the flesh, as other Cavaliers of us are
inclin'd unto.
_Luc._ Indeed you have cause to love those wanton motions,
They having hope you to an excellent whipping,
For doing something, I but put you in mind of it,
With the _Indian_ Maid, the Governor sent my mother
From _Mexico_.
_Bob._ Why, I but taught her a _Spanish_ trick in charity,
and holpe the King to a subject that may live to take _Grave_
_Maurice_ prisoner, and that was more good to the State, than a
thousand such as you are ever like to doe: and I will tell you,
(in a fatherly care of the Infant I speak it) if he live (as
bless the babe, in passion I remember him) to your years, shall
he spend his time in pinning, painting, purling, and perfuming
as you do? no, he shall to the wars, use his _Spanish_ Pike,
though with the danger of the lash, as his father has done,
and when he is provoked, as I am now, draw his _Toledo_
desperately, as--
_Luc._ You will not kill me? oh.
_Bob._ I knew this would silence him: how he hides his eies!
If he were a wench now, as he seems, what an advantage
Had I, drawing two _Toledo_'s, when one can do this!
But oh me, my Lady: I must put up: young Master
I did but jest: Oh custom, what hast thou made of him?
_Enter_ Eugenia _and Servants_.
_Eug._ For bringing this, be still my friend; no more
A servant to me.
_Bo[b]._ What's the matter?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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