Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Bian._ Sir, be not jealous of my care and duty;
I am so far from entertaining thoughts
Of liberty, that much more excellent objects
Than any of such course contents as these are,
Could not betray mine eye to force my heart;
Conceive a wish of any dearer happiness
Than your direction warrant's. I am yours Sir.
_Hostess._ What thinks the Man now? Is not this strange at 13.
_Host._ Very good words, there's a tang in e'm, and a sweet
one, 'tis musick (wife) and now I come t'ee. Let us a little
examine the several conditions of our Paragraphistical suitors.
The first, a travelling Tailor, who by the mystery of his
Needle and Thimble, hath survey'd the fashions of the French,
and English; this Signior Ginger-bread, stitcht up in the
shreds of a g[a]udy outside, sows Linings with his cross-leg'd
complement, like an Ape doing tricks over a staffe, cringes,
and crouches, and kisses his forefinger.
_Hostess._ Out upon him.
_Host._ A second, a lavolteteere, a saltatory, a dancer with
a Kit at his Bum, one that, by teaching great _Madonnas_ to
foot it, has miraculously purchast a ribanded Wastcote, and
four clean pair of socks; a fellow that skips as he walkes, and
instead of sensible discourse, vents the curious conceit of
some new tune stolen from a Mask, or a bawdy dittie, elevated
for the _Pole Artick_ of a Ladies chamber, in that file stands
another of your inamoratoes.
_Hostess._ Hang him and his Fiddle together, he never fidles
any child of ours.
_Host._ The third, a Mongrel, got by a _Switzer_ on an
_Italian_; this puppy, being left well estated, comes to
_Florence_, that the world may take notice, how impossible it
is for experience to alter the course of nature; a fool (wife)
and indeed, a Clown turn'd Gallant, seldom or never proves
other than a gallant fool, this toy prates to little purpose
other than What's a Clock? Shall's go drink? De'e forsooth? and
thank ye heartily; I fear no art in him to catch thee, and yet
we must be tormented with this buzard amongst the rest.
_Hostess._ 'Tis your own folly, forbid him the House.
_Host._ The fourth, a Mule-driver, a stubborn and a harsh
knave: the fifth a School-Master, a very amorous Pedant, run
almost mad with study of Sonnets, and Complements out of old
Play-ends, the last an Advocates Clerk, that speaks pure
Fustian in Law-terms: excellent Courtiers all, and all as neate
as a _Magnifio_'s post new painted, at his entrance to an
office; thou shalt have none of 'em. Laugh at 'em, do. I say
thou shalt have none of 'em.
_Bian._ Still your command to me shall stand a Law.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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