Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Menti._ You shall excuse me;
Whatsoever he dares do, that I dare suffer.
_Enter_ Cæsario, _and_ Chirurgion.
_Cæsar._ Oh Sir, for honors sake stay your foul purpose,
For if you do proceed thus cruelly,
There is no question in the wound you give him,
I shall bleed to death for't.
_Alber._ Thou art not of my temper,
What I purpose, cannot be alter'd.
_Serv._ Sir; the Duke
With all speed expects you. You must instantly
Ship all your followers, and to sea.
_Alber._ My blessing stay with thee upon this condition,
Take away his use of fighting; as thou hop'st
To be accounted for my son, perform't.-- [_Exit._
_Cesar._ You hear what I am injoyn'd to.
_Menti._ Pray thee take it,
Only this ring, this best esteem'd Jewel:
I will not give't to'th' hangman chops it off;
It is too dear a relique. I'll remove it nearer my heart.
_Cæsar._ Ha, that Ring's my Sisters.
The Ring I injoyn'd her never part withal
Without my knowledge; come, Sir, we are friends
Pardon my fathers heat, and melancholy;
Two violent Fevers which he caught at Sea,
And cannot yet shake off: only one promise
I must injoyn you to, and seriously.
Hereafter you shall never draw a Sword
To the prejudice of my life.
_Menti._ By my best hopes I shall not.
_Cæsar._ I pray deliver me your sword
On that condition.
_Menti._ I shall Sir, may it hereafter
Ever fight on your part.
_Cæsar._ Noble Sir, I thank you;
But for performance of your vow, I intreat
Some gage from you.
_Menti._ Any Sir.
_Cæsar._ Deliver me that ring.
_Menti._ Ha, this Ring? indeed this Jewel binds me,
If you knew the vertue of it, never more
To draw my sword against you.
_Cæsar._ Therefore I will have it.
_Menti._ You may not.
_Cæsar._ Come: you must.
I that by violence could take your hand,
Can inforce this from you; this is a token Sir,
That we may prove friends hereafter. _Fare you well._
_Phys._ Why did you ceise his Sword Sir?
_Cesar._ To perform what my Father bade me,
I have for the present ta'en away his
Use of fighting.
_Phys._ Better so,
Than take that which your Father meant. [_Exeunt_ Manet, Mentivole.
_Menti._ Was ever the like usage? O that Ring!
Dearer than life, Whither is honor fled?
_Cesario._ Thou art unmanly in each part,
To seize my sword first, and then split my heart. [_Exit._
_Enter_ Host, _and_ Clown.
_Host._ Thy Master that lodges here in my Osteria,
Is a rare man of art, they say he's a Witch.
_Clow._ A Witch? Nay, he's one step of the Ladder to preferment
higher, he is a Conjurer.
_Host._ Is that his higher title?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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