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 craven-chicken of a Cock o' th' game: well, what
remedy? did thy Father see this, O' my conscience, he would cut
off thy Masculine gender, crop thine ears, beat out thine eyes,
and set thee in one of the Pear trees for a scare-crow: As I am
_Vitelli_, I am satisfied; But as I am _Bobadilla_, _Spindola,
Zancho_, Steward of the house, and thy Fathers Servant, I could
find in my heart to lop off the hinder part of thy face, or
to beat all thy teeth into thy mouth: Oh thou whay-blooded
milk-sop, I'll wait upon thee no longer, thou shalt ev'n wait
upon me: come your ways Sir, I shall take a little pains with
ye else.
_Enter_ Clara.
_Cla._ Where art thou brother _Lucio_? ran tan tan ta ran tan
ran tan tan ta, ta ran tan tan tan. Oh, I shall no more see
those golden daies, these clothes will never fadge with me: a
---- O' this filthy vardingale, this hip-hape: brother, why are
womens hanches only limited, confin'd, hoop'd in, as it were
with these same scurvy vardingales?
_Bob._ Because womens hanches only are most subject to display
and flie out.
_Cla. Bobadilla_, rogue, ten Duckets, I hit the prepuce of
thy Codpiece.
_Luc._ Hold, if you love my life, Sister: I am not _Zancho_
_Bobadilla_, I am your brother _Lucio_: what a fright you have
put me in!
_Cla._ Brother? and wherefore thus?
_Luc._ Why, Master Steward here, _Signior Zancho_ made me
change: he does nothing but mis-use me, and call me Coward, and
swears I shall wait upon him.
_Bob._ Well: I do no more than I have authori[t]y for: would
I were away though: for she's as much too manish, as he too
womanish: I dare not meddle with her, yet I must set a good
face on't (if I had it) I have like charge of [you] Madam, I
am as well to mollifie you, as to quallifie him: what have you
to do with Armors, and Pistols, and Javelins, and swords, and
such tools? remember Mistriss; nature hath given you a sheath
only, to signifie women are to put up mens weapons, not to
draw them: look you now, is this a fit trot for a Gentlewoman?
You shall see the Court-Ladies move like Goddesses, as if
they trode air; they will swim you their measures, like
Whiting-mops, as if their feet were finns, and the hinges of
their knees oil'd: doe they love to ride great horses, as you
do? no, they love to ride great asses sooner: faith, I know not
what to say t' ye both: Custom hath turn'd nature topsie-turvie
in you.
_Cla._ Nay, but Master Steward.
_Bob._ You cannot trot so fast, but he ambles as slowly.
_Cla. Signior Spindle_, will you hear me?
_Bob._ He that shall come to bestride your Virginity, had
better be afoot o'er the Dragon.
_Cl[a]._ Very well.
_Bob._ Did ever _Spanish_ Lady pace so?
_Cla._ Hold these a little.
_Luc._ I'll not touch 'em, I.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account