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._ No handsome man, nor any thing to doat on,
No face, no tongue to catch me, poor at all points,
And I an ass.
_Cla._ Why do ye wrong me Lady?
If I were thus, and had no youth upon me,
My service of so mean a way to win ye,
(Which you your self are conscious must deserve ye,
If you had thrice the beauty you possess, must reach ye)
If in my tongue your fame lay wrack'd, and ruin'd
With every cup I drink: if in opinion
I were a lost, defam'd man: but this is common
Where we love most, where most we stake our fortunes,
There least and basest we are rewarded: fare ye well,
Know now I hate you too as much, contemn ye,
And weigh my credit at as high a value.
_Isab._ May be I did but jest.
_Cla._ Ye are a woman,
And now I see your wants, and mine own follies,
And task my self with indiscretion,
For doating on a face so poor.
_Isab._ Say ye so Sir,
(I must not lose my end) I did but jest with you,
Only fool'd thus to try your faith: my _Rugio_,
Do you think I could forget?
_Cla._ Nay, 'tis no matter.
_Isab._ Is't possible I should forsake a constancy,
So strong, so good, so sweet?
_Cla._ A subtle woman.
_Isab._ You shall forgive me, 'twas a trick to try ye,
And were I sure [y]e lov'd me--
_Cla._ Do you doubt now?
_Isab._ I do not doubt, but he that would profess this,
And bear that full affection you make shew of,
Should do--
_Cla._ What should I do?
_Isab._ I cannot shew ye.
_Cla._ I'll try thee damnedst Devil: hark ye Lady,
No man shall dare do more, no service top me,
I'll marry ye.
_Isab._ How Sir?
_Cla._ Your Husband's sentenc'd,
And he shall dye.
_Isab._ Dye?
_Cla._ Dye for ever to ye,
The danger is mine own.
_Isab._ Dye did ye tell me?
_Cla._ He shall dye, I have cast the way.
_Isab._ Oh foul man,
Malicious bloody man.
_Enter_ Lopez.
_Lop._ When shall he dye, Sir,
By whom, and how?
_Cla._ Hast thou betraid me, woman?
_Isab._ Base man, thou would'st [h]ave ruin'd me, my name too
And like a Toad, poison'd my virtuous memory:
Further than all this, dost thou see this friend here,
This only friend, shame take thy Lust and thee,
And shake thy soul, his life, the life I love thus,
My life in him, my only life thou aim'st at.
_Cla._ Am I catcht thus?
_Lop._ The Law shall catch ye better.
_Isab._ You make a trade of betraying Womens honors,
And think it noble in ye to be lustful,
Report of me hereafter--
_Cla._ Fool'd thus finely?
_Lop._ I must intreat ye walk, Sir, to the Justice,
Where if he'll bid ye kill me--
_Cla._ Pray stay awhile, Sir,
I must use a Players shift, do you know me now Lady?
_Lop._ Your brother _Claudio_ sure.
_Isab._ Oh me, 'tis he Sir,
Oh my best brother.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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