Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Bar._ Nay, I have strength, and I can strain ye sirrah,
And vault into my seat as nimbly, little one.
As any of you[r] smooth-chinn'd boys in _Florence_,
I must needs commit a little folly with ye,
I'll not be long, a brideling cast, and away wench;
The hob-nail thy husband's as fitly out o'th' way now?
_Isab._ Do you think he keeps a bawdy-house?
_Bar._ That's all one.
_Isab._ Or did you ever see that lightness in my carriage,
That you might promise to your self--.
_Bar._ Away fool,
A good turn's a good turn; I am an honest fellow:
_Isab._ You have a handsome wife, a virtuous Gentlewoman.
_Bar._ They are not for this time o'th' year.
_Isab._ A Lady,
That ever bore that great respect to you,
That noble constancy.
_Bar._ That's more than I know.
_Enter Maid, and_ Penurio.
_Maid._ Oh Mistriss, ye are undone, my Master's coming.
_Pen._ Coming hard by here.
_Bar._ Plague consume the Rascal,
Shall I make petty-patties of him?
_Isab._ Now what love Sir?
Fear of your coming made him jealous first;
Your finding here, will make him mad and desperate,
And what in that wild mood he will execute--
_Bar._ I can think of nothing, I have no wit left me,
Certain my head's a Mustard-pot.
_Isab._ I have thought Sir,
And if you'll please to put in execution
What I conceive--
_Bar._ I'll do it, tell it quickly.
_Isab._ Draw your sword quickly, and go down inrag'd,
As if you had persu'd some foe up hither,
And grumble to your self extreamly, terribly,
But not a word to him, and so pass by him.
_Bar._ I'll do it perfectly.
_Enter_ Lopez.
_Isa[b]._ Stand you still good Sir.
_Bar._ Rascal, slave, villain, take a house so poorly,
After thou hast wrong'd a Gentleman, a Soldier,
Base Poultroon boy, you will forsake your neast sirrah.
_Lop._ The matter, good sweet Captain?
_Bart._ Run-away rogue,
And take a house to cover thy base cowardize,
I'll whip ye, I'll so scourge ye. [_Exit._
_Lop._ Mercy upon me,
What's all this matter wife?
_Isab._ Did you meet the mad man?
_Lop._ I never saw the Captain so provok'd yet.
_Isab._ Oh he's a Devil sure, a most bloody devil,
He follow'd a young Gentleman, his sword drawn,
With such a fury, how I shake to think on't,
And foyn'd, and slash'd at him, and swore he'd kill him,
Drove him up hither, follow'd him still bloodily,
And if I had not hid him, sure had slain him;
A merciless old man.
_[C]la._ Most virtuous Lady,
Even as the giver of my life, I thank ye.
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