Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Cor._ Why, what a devil art thou.
_Nor._ Owgh, owgh.
_Cor._ A dumb devil.
The worst devil that could come, a dumb devil,
Give me a Musket; he gathers in to me,
I' th' name of ---- speak what art thou?--speak devil,
Or I'll put a plumb in your belly.
_Nor._ Owgh, owgh, owgh.
_Cor._ Fie, fie, in what a sweat I am! Lord bless me,
My Musket's gone too, I am not able to stir it.
_Nor._ Who goes there? stand, speak.
_Corp._ Sure I am inchanted.
Yet here's my Halbert still: nay, who goes there, Sir?
What have I lost my self? what are ye?
_Nor._ The Guard.
_Corp._ Why, what are we then: he's not half so long now.
Nor he has no tail at all, I shake still damnably.
_Nor._ The word.
_Corp._ Have mercy on me, what word does he mean?
Prethee devil, if thou be'st the devil,
Do not make an Ass of me; for I remember yet
As well as I am here, I am the Corporal,
I'll lay my life on't devil.
_Nor._ Thou art damn'd:
_Corp._ That's all one: but am not I the Corporal?
I would give a thousand pound to be resolv'd now,
Had not I Soldiers here?
_Nor._ No, not a man,
Thou art debauch'd, and cozen'd.
_Corp._ That may be,
It may be I am drunk; Lord, where have I been?
Is not this my Halbert in my hand?
_Nor._ No, 'tis a _May_-pole.
_Cor._ Why then I know not who I am, nor what,
Nor whence I come.
_Nor._ Ye are an arrand Rascal;
You Corporal of a Watch.
_Cor._ 'Tis the _Dane_'s voice: you are no devil then.
_Nor._ No, nor no Sow, Sir.
_Cor._ Of that [I] am right g[l]ad, Sir,
I was ne'r so frighted in my life, as I am a Soldier.
_Nor._ Tall watchmen,
A guard for a Goose, you sing away your Centuries.
A careful company: let me out o' th' port here,
I was a little merry with your worships:
And keep your guards strong, though the devil walk.
Hold, there's to bring ye into your wits again.
Goe off no more to hunt Pigs: such another trick
And you will hunt the gallows.
_Cor._ Pray Sir pardon us:
And let the devil come next, I'll make him stand
Or make him stink.
_Nor._ Doe, doe your duty truly.
Come let me out, and come away: no more rage. [_Exe._
_Scæna Secunda._
_Enter_ Abdella _with a Letter, and_ Rocca.
_Ab._ Write thus to me? he hath fearfully, and basely
Betraid his own cause: yet to free himself
He now ascribes the fault to me.
_Roc._ I know not.
What he hath done: but what he now desires,
His Letters have inform'd you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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