Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Ab._ There is no shifting now, boldness, and confidence
Must carry it now away: he is but one neither,
Naked as you are, of a strength far under.
_Mount._ But he has a cause above me.
_Ab._ That's as you handle it.
_Roc._ Peace: he may go again, and never see us.
_Gom._ I feel I weep apace, but where's the flood,
The torrent of my tears, to drown my fault in?
I would I could now, like a loaden cloud,
Begotten in the moist south, drop to nothing.
Give me the Torch, Boy.
_Roc._ Now he must discover us.
_Ab._ He has already, never hide your head
Be bold and brave, if we must dye together.
_Gom._ Who's there? what friend to sorrow? The Tomb wide open
The Stone off too? the body gone, by ----
Look to the door Boy: keep it fast, who are ye?
What sacrilegious villains? false _Mountferrat_,
The woolf to honor, has thy hellish hunger,
Brought thee to tear the body out oth'tomb too?
Has thy foul mind so far wrought on thee? ha,
Are you there too? nay, then I spie a villany
I never dream'd of yet, thou sinful usher
Bred from that rottenness, th[ou] bawd to mischief,
Do you blush through all your blackness? will not that hide it?
_Ab._ I cannot speak.
_Gom._ You are well met, with your dam, Sir,
Art thou a Knight? did ever on that sword,
The _Christian_ cause sit nobly? could that hand fight,
Guided by fame, and fortune? that heart inflame thee,
With virtuous fires of valor, to fall off,
Fall off so suddainly, and with such foulness,
As the false Angels did, from all their glory?
Thou art no Knight, honor thou never heard'st of,
Nor brave desires could ever build in that breast.
Treason, and tainted thoughts, are all the Gods
Thou worship'st, all the strength thou hadst, and fortune;
Thou didst things out of fear, and false heart, villain
Out of close traps and treacheries, they have raised thee.
_Mount._ Thou rav'st old man.
_Gom._ Before thou get'st off from me,
Hadst thou the glory of thy first fi[gh]ts on thee
Which thou hast basely lost, thy noblest fortunes,
And in their greatest lustres, I would make thee,
Before we part, confess, nay, kneel, and do it,
Nay, crying kneel, coldly, for mercy, crying:
Thou art the recreant'st Rogue, time ever nourished, stav'd,
Thou art a dog, I will make thee swear, a dog
A mangy Cur-dog; do you creep behind the Altar?
Look how it sweats, to shelter such a rascall;
First, with thy venemous tooth infect her chast life,
And then not dare to do; next, rob her rest,
Steal her dead body out oth'grave.
_Mount._ I have not.
_Gom._ Prethee come out, this is no place to quarrel in,
Valiant _Mountferrat_ come.
_Mount._ I will not stir.
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