Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Bust._ What? scale my invention before hand? you shall pardon
Me for that; well, I'll commend you to your Uncle, and
Tell him you'll be at home at supper with him.
_Ant._ By no means, I cannot come to night (man)
_Bust._ I know that too, you do not know a lye when you see it.
_Mar._ Remember it must stretch for all night.
_Bust._ I shall want stuffe, I doubt 'twill come to the other
_Pistolet_.
_Ant._ Well, lay out, you shall be no looser Sir.
_Bust._ It must be faced, you know, there will be a yard of
dissimulation
At least (City-measure) and cut upon an untroth or two: Lyned
With Fables, that must needs be, cold weather's coming, if it had
A gallon of hypocrisie, 'twould do well: and hooked
Together with a couple of conceits,
That's necessity; well, I'll bring in my
Bill: I'll warrant you as fair a lye by that time I have done
With it, as any Gentleman i'th' Town can swear to, if he
Would betray his Lord and Master. [_Exit._
_Ant._ So, so, this necessary trouble's over.
_Mar._ I would you had bought an excuse of him
Before he went: you'll want one for _Ismenia_.
_Ant._ Tush, there needs none, there's no suspition yet,
And I'll be arm'd before the next encounter,
In a fast tye with my fair _Isabella_.
_Enter_ Bustofa.
_Mar._ Yes, you'll find your errand is before you now.
_Bust._ Oh Gentlemen, look to your selves, ye are
Men of another world else; your enemies are upon you;
The old house of the _Bellides_ will fall upon your heads:
Signior _Lisauro_.
_Ant. Lisauro?_
_Bust._ And _Don_ what call you him? he's a Gentleman:
Yet he has but a Yeomans name,
Don _Tarso, Tarso_, and a dozen at their heels.
_Ant. Lisauro, Tarso_, nor a dozen more
Shall fright me from my ground, nor shun my path,
Let 'em come on in their ablest fury.
_Mar._ 'Tis worthily resolved: I'll stand by you Sir,
This way, I am thy true friend.
_Bust._ I'll be gone Sir, that one may live to tell what's
become of you.
Put up, put up, will you never learn to know a lye
From an _Esop_'s Fables? there's a tast for you now. [_Exit._
_Enter_ Ismenia _and_ Aminta.
_Mar._ Look Sir, what time of day is it?
_Ant._ I know not, my eyes go false, I dare not trust 'em now,
I prethee tell me (_Martin_) if thou canst,
Is that _Ismenia_ or _Isabella_.
_Mar._ This is the Lady, forget not, _Isabella_.
_Ant._ If this face may be borrowed and lent out,
If it can shift shoulders, and take other tyres,
So, 'tis mine where ere I find it.
_Ism._ Be sudden. [_Exit Aminta._
I cannot hold out long.
_Mar._ Believ't she frowns.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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