Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 08 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 08 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Mar._ Then by that duty, or respect, or what
You please to have it, go to bed and leave me,
And trouble me no longer with your fooling;
For know, I am not for you.
_Petru._ Well, what remedy?
_Petron._ A fine smart Cudgel. Oh that I were near thee.
_Bya._ If you had teeth now, what a case were we in!
_M[o]r._ These are the most authentique Rebels, next
_Tyrone_, I ever read of.
_Mar._ A week hence, or a fortnight, as you bear you,
And as I find my will observ'd, I may,
With intercession of some friends, be brought
May be to kiss you; and so quarterly
To pay a little Rent by composition,
You understand me?
_Soph._ Thou Boy thou.
_Petru._ Well there are more Maids than _Maudlin_, that's my comfort.
_Mar._ Yes, and more men than _Michael_.
_Petru._ I must not to bed with this stomach, and no meat Lady.
_Mar._ Feed where you will, so it be sound and wholsome,
Else live at Livery, for I'll none with you.
_By._ You had best back one of the Dairy Maids, they'll carry.
But take heed to your girths, you'll get a bruise else.
_Petru._ Now if thou wouldst come down and tender me:
All the delights due to a marriage-bed,
Study such kisses as would melt a man,
And turn thy self into a thousand Figures,
To add new flames unto me, I would stand
Thus heavy, thus regardless, thus despising
Thee, and thy best allurings: all the beauty
That's laid upon your bodies, mark me well,
For without doubt your mind's are miserable,
You have no Masques for them: all this rare beauty,
Lay but the Painter and the Silk-worm by,
The Doctor with his Dyets, and the Tailor,
And you appear like flea'd Cats, not so handsome.
_Mar._ And we appear like her that sent us hither,
That only excellent and beauteous nature;
Truly our selves for men to wonder at,
But too divine to handle; we are Gold,
In our own natures pure; but when we suffer
The husbands stamp upon us, then allays,
And base ones of you men are mingled with us,
And make us blush like Copper.
_Petru._ Then, and never
Till then are women to be spoken of,
For till that time you have no souls I take it:
Good night: come Gentlemen; I'll fast for this night,
But by this hand, well; I shall come up yet.
_Mar._ No.
_Petru._ There will I watch thee like a wither'd Jury,
Thou shalt neither have meat, Fire, nor Candle,
Nor any thing that's easie: do you rebel so soon?
Yet take mercy.
_By._ Put up your Pipes: to bed Sir, I'll assure you
A months siege will not shake us.
_Moro._ Well said Colonel.
_Mar._ To bed, to bed _Petruchio_: good night Gentlemen,
You'll make my Father sick with sitting up:
Here you shall find us any time these ten days,
Unless we may march off with our contentment.
_Petru._ I'll hang first.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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