Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Host._ They are my guests Sir.
_Cesar._ A ---- upon them, shew your jugling tricks in some
other room.
_Host._ And why not here Sir?
_Cesar._ Hence, or sirra I shall spoil your figure flinging,
and all their radicall questions.
_Omnes._ Sir we vanish. [_Exeunt. Manet Host. & Cesar._
_Host. Signior Cesario_, you make bold with me,
And somewhat I must tell you to a degree
Of ill manners: they are my guests, and men I live by,
And I would know by what authority
You command thus far.
_Cesar._ By my interest in your daughter.
_Host._ Interest do you call't? as I remember I never put
her out to Usury on that condition.
_Cesar._ Pray thee be not angry.
_Enter Bianca and Hostess._
I am come to make thee happy, and her happy:
She's here; alas my pretty soul, I am come
To give assurance that's beyond thy hope,
Or thy beleif, I bring repentance 'bout me,
And satisfaction, I will marry thee.
_Bianca._ Ha?
_Cesar._ As I live I will, but do not entertain't
With too quick an apprehension of joy,
For that may hurt thee, I have heard some dye of't.
_Bian._ Do not fear me.
_Cesar._ Then thou think'st I feign
This protestation, I will instantly
Before these testifie my new alliance,
Contract my self unto thee, then I hope
We may be more private.
_Host._ But thou shalt not sir,
For so has many a maiden-head been lost, and many a bastard gotten.
_Ces._ Then to give you the best of any assurance in the world,
Entreat thy father to go fetch a Preist
Wee will instantly to bed, and there be married.
_Bian._ Pride hath not yet forsaken you I see,
Though prosperity has.
_Host._ Sir you are too confident
To fashion to your self a dream of purchase
When you are a begger.
_Ces._ You are bold with me.
_Hostes._ Doe we not know your value is cried down
Fourscore i'th' hundred.
_Bian._ Oh sir I did love you
With such a fixed heart, that in that minute
Wherein you slighted, or contemn'd me rather,
I took a vow to obey your last decree,
And never more look up at any hope
Should bring me comfort that way: and though since
Your Foster-mother, and the fair _Clarissa_
Have in the way of marriage despis'd you,
That hath not any way bred my revenge,
But compassion rather. I have found
So much sorrow in the way to a chaste wedlock
That here I will set down, and never wish
To come to'th' journies end. Your suit to mee
Henceforth be ever silenc'd.
_Cesar._ My _Bianca_.
_Hostes._ Henceforward pray forbear her and my house:
She's a poor virtuous wench, yet her estate
May weigh with yours in a gold balance.
_Host._ Yes, and her birth in any Heralds office in
Christendom.
_Hostes._ It may prove so:
When you'll say, you have leapt a Whiting. [_Exit._
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