Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Wild._ I would she could: but hark thee honest _Toby_.
If a man have a Mistriss, may we not,
Without my Aunt's leave, borrow now and then
A Coach to tumble in, towards the Exchange,
And so forth?
_Tob._ A Mistriss?
_Wild._ She may be thine when we are married.
_Tob._ Command, I'll carry you both in pomp;
And let my Lady go a foot a Law-catching,
And exercise her corns: where is she Master _John_?
_Wild._ 'Shat see her.
_Tob._ Shall we ring for her?
_Wild._ And drink her health?
_Tob._ Drink stifly for five hours.
_Wild._ We'll drink fifteen.
_Tob._ To night? we will ha twenty Torches then,
And through the streets drive on triumphantly;
Triumphantly we'll drive, by my Lad[y]es door,
As I am a Christian Coachman, I will rattle you
And Urine in her porch, and she shall fear me:
If you say more, I shall run mad outright,
I will drink Sack, and surfeit instantly;
I know not where I am now. [_Exit._
_Enter_ Lurcher.
_Wi._ Hold for thy buttons sake, the knave's transported.
_Lur. Jack Wildbrain?_
_Wild._ Honest _Tom_, how thrives the fellonious world with thee now?
_Lur._ You look and talk as you were much exalted.
_Wild._ Th'art i'th' right _Tom_. I'll tell thee first,
I ha shook off my Aunt, and yet I live still,
And drink, and sing; her house had like to ha spoil'd me;
I keep no hours now;
Nor need any false key
To the old womans Cabinets, I ha money
Upon my word, and pawn no oaths to th' Butler.
No matrimonial protestations
For Sack-possets to the Chambermaid,
I praise my Fate, there be more ways to th' wood _Tom_.
_Lur._ Prethee release my wonder.
_Wild._ I'll increase it, wipe thine eyes,
Here is a chain worth money, and some man had it,
A foolis[h] Diamond, and other trifles--
_Lur._ The very same, Oh Gipsey! Infidel!
All that I sweat, and ventur'd my neck for,
He has got already; who would trust a strumpet:
_Wild._ This? This is nothing to what I possess
At home.
_Lur._ What home?
_Wild._ A house that shall be nameless;
The Mistriss of it mine too, such a piece
For flesh and blood, added to that so loving--
_Lur._ Is she married?
_Wild._ I know not, nor I care not;
But such a prize, so mounting, so delicious,
Thou wilt run mad, I'll tell thee more hereafter.
_Lur._ Nay, prethee a word more.
_Wild._ I took no pains to find out all this Paradise,
My destiny threw me upon't i'th dark, I found it
Wanting a Lodging too.
_Lur._ No old acquaintance?
_Wild._ Never, never saw her;
But these things happen not in every age:
I cannot stay, if thou wilt meet anon
At my own randevow, thou knowest the Tavern,
We'll sup together, after that a company
Of merry lads have made a match to ring.
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