Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Am._ What should ye blush at?
Blush when you act your thoughts, not when you write 'em;
Blush soft between a pair of sheets, sweet Cosin,
Though he be a curious carried Gentleman, I cannot think
He's so unnatural to leave a woman,
A young, a noble, and a beauteous woman,
Leave her in her desires: Men of this age
Are rather prone to come before they are sent for.
Hark, I hear something: up to th' Chamber, Cosin,
You may spoil all else.
_Enter_ Antonio _and_ Martine.
_Ism._ Let me see, they are Gentlemen;
It may be they.
_Am._ They are they: get ye up,
And like a Land-star draw him.
_Ism._ I am shame-fac'd. [_Exit._
_Ant._ This is the street.
_Mar._ I am looking for the house:
Close, close, pray ye close here.
_Ant._ No, this is a Merchants;
I know the man well:
_Mar._ And this a Pothecaries: I have lain here many times
For a looseness in my hilts.
_A[n]t._ Have ye not past it?
_Mar._ No sure:
There is no house of mark that we have scaped yet.
_Ant._ What place is this?
_Mar._ Speak softer: 'may be spies;
If any, this, a goodly window too,
Carv'd far above, that I perceive: 'tis dark,
But she has such a lustre.
_Enter_ Ismena _and_ Aminta _above with a Taper_.
_Ant._ Yes _Martine_,
So radiant she appears.
_Mar._ Else we may miss, Sir:
The night grows vengeance black, pray heaven she shine clear:
Hark, hark, a window, and a candle too.
_Ant._ Step close, 'tis she: I see the cloud disperse,
And now the beauteous Planet.
_Mar._ Ha, 'tis indeed,
Now by the soul of love a Divine Creature.
_Ism._ Sir, Sir.
_Ant._ Most blessed Lady.
_Ism._ 'Pray ye stand out.
_Am._ You need not fear, there's no body now stirring.
_Mar._ Beyond his commendation I am taken,
Infinite strangely taken.
_Am._ I love that Gentleman,
Methinks he has a dainty nimble body:
I love him heartily.
_Ism._ 'Tis the right Gentleman:
But what to say to him, Sir.
_Am._ Speak.
_Ant._ I wait still,
And will do till I grow another Pillar,
To prop this house, so it please you.
_Ism._ Speak softly,
And 'pray ye speak truly too.
_Ant._ I never ly'd, Lady.
_Ism._ And don't think me impudent to ask ye,
I know ye are an enemy, speak low,
But I would make ye a friend.
_Ant._ I am friend to beauty;
There's no handsomness, I dare be foe to.
_Ism._ Are ye married?
_Ant._ No.
_Ism._ Are ye betroth'd?
_Ant._ No, neither.
_Ism._ Indeed (fair Sir.)
_Ant._ Indeed (fair sweet) I am not.
Most beauteous Virgin, I am free as you are.
_Ism._ That may be, Sir, then ye are miserable,
For I am bound.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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