Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Isab._ Too good for you: do you think to famish me,
Or keep me like an Alms-woman in such rayment,
Such poor unhandsome weeds? am I old, or ugly?
I never was bred thus: and if your misery
Will suffer wilful blindness to abuse me,
My patience shall be no Bawd to mine own ruine.
_Pen._ Tickle him Mistris: to him.
_Isab._ Had ye love in ye,
Or any part of man--
_Pen._ Follow that Mistriss.
_Isab._ Or had humanity but ever known ye,
You would shame to use a woman of my way thus,
So poor, and basely; you are strangely jealous of me
If I should give ye cause.
_Lop._ How _Isabella_?
_Isab._ As do not venture this way to provoke me.
_Pen._ Excellent well Mistriss.
_Lop._ How's this _Isabella_?
_Isab._ 'Twill stir a Saint, and I am but a woman,
And by that tenure may--
_Lop._ By no means chicken,
You know I love ye: fie, take no example
By those young gadding Dames: (you are noted virtuous)
That stick their Husbands wealth in trifles on 'em
And point 'em but the way to their own miseries:
I am not jealous, kiss me, ---- I am not:
And for your Diet, 'tis to keep you healthful,
Surfeits destroy more than the sword: that I am careful
Your meat should be both neat, and cleanly handled
See, Sweet, I am Cook my self, and mine own Cater.
_Pen._ A ---- of that Cook cannot lick his fingers.
_Lop._ I'll add another dish: you shall have Milk to it,
'Tis nourishing and good.
_Pen._ With Butter in't Sir?
_Lop._ This knave would breed a famine in a Kingdom:
And cloths that shall content ye: you must be wise then,
And live sequestred to your self and me,
Not wandring after every toy comes cross ye,
Nor struck with every spleen: what's the knave doing? _Penurio._
_Pen._ Hunting Sir, for a second course of Flies here,
They are rare new Sallads.
_Lop._ For certain _Isabella_
This ravening fellow has a Wolf in's [belly]:
Untemperate knave, will nothing quench thy appetite?
I saw him eat two Apples, which is monstrous.
_Pen._ If you had given me those 't had been more monstrous.
_Lop._ 'Tis a main miracle to feed this villain,
Come _Isabella_, let us in to supper,
And think the _Roman_ dainties at our Table,
'Tis all but thought. [_Exeunt._
_Pen._ Would all my thoughts would do it:
The Devil should think of purchasing that Egg-shell,
To victual out a Witch for the _Burmoothes_:
'Tis Treason to any good stomach living now
To hear a tedious Grace said, and no meat to't,
I have a Radish yet, but that's but transitory. [_Exit._
_Scæna Tertia._
_Enter_ Soto.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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