Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Alg._ Your Cuz (good cosin?)
A whore is like a fool, a kin to all
The gallants in the Town: Your [C]uz, good Signior,
Is gone abroad; Sir, with her other Cosin,
My Lord _Vitelli_: since when there hath been
Some dozen Cosins here to enquire for her.
_Pio._ She's greatly ally'd Sir.
_Alg._ Marry is she, Sir,
Come of a lusty kindred: the truth is,
I must connive no more: no more admittance
Must I consent to; my good Lord has threatned me,
And you must pardon.
_Pio._ Out upon thee man,
Turn honest in thine age? one foot i'th' grave?
Thou shalt not wrong thy self so, for a million:
Look, thou three-headed _Cerberus_ (for wit
I mean) here is one sop, and two, and three,
For every chop a bit.
_Alg._ I marry Sir:
Well, the poor heart loves you but too well.
We have been talking on you 'faith this hour:
Where, what I said, goe too: she loves your valour;
Oh, and your Musick most abominably:
She is within Sir, and alone: what mean you?
_Pio._ That is your Sergeants side, I take it Sir;
Now I endure your Constables much better;
There is less danger in't: for one you know
Is a tame harmless monster in the light,
The Sergeant salvage both by day, and night.
_Alg._ I'll call her to you for that.
_Pio._ No, I will charm her.
_Enter_ Malroda.
_Alg._ She's come.
_Pio._ My Spirit.
_Mal._ Oh my Sweet,
Leap hearts to lips, and in our kisses meet.
SONG.
_Pio. Turn, turn thy beauteous face away._
_How pale and sickly looks the day,_
_In emulation of thy brighter beams!_
_Oh envious light, fli, flie, begone,_
_Come night, and piece two breasts as one;_
_When what love does, we will repeat in dreams._
_Yet (thy eyes open) who can day hence fright,_
_Let but their Lids fall, and it will be night._
_Alg._ Well, I will leave you to your fortitude;
And you to temperance: ah, ye pretty pair,
'Twere sin to sunder you. Lovers being alone
Make one of two, and day and [n]ight all one.
But fall not out, I charge you, keep the peace;
You know my place else. [_Exit._
_Mal._ No, you will not marry:
You are a Courtier, and can sing (my Love)
And want no Mistrisses: but yet I care not,
I'll love you still; and when I am dead for you,
Then you'll believe my truth.
_Pio._ You kill me (fair)
It is my lesson that you speak: have I
In any circumstance deserv'd this doubt?
I am not like your false and perjur'd Don
That here maintains you, and has vow'd his faith,
And yet attempts in way of marriage
A Lady not far off.
_Mal._ How's that?
_Pio._ 'Tis so:
And therefore Mistriss, now the time is come
You may demand his promise; and I swear
To marry you with speed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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