Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Clow._ Yes, I assure you, for a Conjurer is the Devils Master,
and commands him; whereas a Witch is the Devils Prentice, and
obeys him.
_Host._ Bound Prentice to the Devil!
_Clow._ Bound and inroll'd I assure you, he cannot start; and
therefore I would never wish any Gentleman to turn Witch.
_Host._ Why Man?
_Clow._ Oh he loses his Gentility by it, the Devil in this case
cannot help him, he must go to the Herald for new Armes believe
it.
_Host._ As I am true Inkeeper, yet a Gentleman born,
I'll ne'er turn Witch for that trick;
And thou hast been a great Traveller?
_Clow._ No indeed, not I Sir.
_Host._ Come, you are modest.
_Clow._ No, I am not modest, for I told you a lye, that you
might the better understand I have been a Traveller.
_Host._ So Sir, they say your Master is a great Physitian too.
_Clow._ He was no fool told you that, I assure you.
_Host._ And you have been in _England_? but they say,
Ladies in _England_ take a great deal of Physick.
_Clow._ Both wayes on my reputation.
_Host._ So 'tis to be understood:
But they say, Ladies there take Physick for fashion.
_Clow._ Yes Sir, and many times dye to keep fashion.
_Host._ How? dye to keep fashion!
_Clow._ Yes, I have known a Lady sick of the small Pocks, onely
to keep her face from Pitholes, take cold, strike them in
again, kick up the heels, and vanish.
_Host._ There was kicking up the heels with a witness.
_Clow._ No Sir; I confess a good face has many times been the
motive to the kicking up of the heels with a witn[e]ss: but
this was not.
_Enter_ Hostess, _and_ Bianca.
_Host._ Here comes my wife and daughter.
_Clow._ You have a prety commodity of this night-worm?
_Host._ Why Man?
_Clow._ She is a pretty lure to draw custom to your ordinary.
_Host._ Do'st think I keep her to that purpose?
_Clow._ When a Dove-house is empty, there is cuminseed used
to purloine from the rest of the neighbors; in _England_ you
have several Adamants, to draw in spurs and rapiers; one keeps
silk-worms in a Gallery: A Milliner has choice of Monkies, and
Paraketoes; another shewes bawdy East-Indian Pictures, worse
than ever were _Aretines_: a Goldsmith keeps his Wife wedged
into his shop like a Mermaid, nothing of her to be seen (thats
Woman) but her upper part.
_Host._ Nothing but her upper part?
_Clow._ Nothing but her upper bodies, and he lives at the more
hearts ease.
_Host._ What's the reason?
_Clow._ Because her nether part can give no temptation; by your
leave, Sir, I'll tend my Master, and instantly be with you for
a cup of _Cherally_ this hot weather.
_Host._ A nimble pated Rascal, come hither Daughter,
When was _Cesario_ here?
_Bian._ Sir, not this fortnight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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