Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Hida._ If it be jest, not to esteem my life,
Compar'd with thee: If it be jest in me,
To hang a thousand kisses in an hour
Upon those Lips, and take 'em off again:
If it be jest for me to marry thee,
And take obedience on me whilst I live:
Then all I say is jest:
For every part of this, I swear by those
That see my thoughts, I am resolv'd to do,
And I beseech thee, by thine own white hand,
(Which pardon me, that I am bold to kiss
With so unworthy Lips) that thou wilt swear
To marry me, as I do here to thee,
Before the face of heaven.
_Zoy._ Marry you? ha, ha, ha.
_Hida._ Kill me or grant, wilt thou not speak at all?
_Zoy._ Why I will do your Will for ever.
_Hida._ I ask no more: but let me kiss that mouth
That is so merciful; that is my will:
Next go with me before the King in haste,
That is my Will; where I will make our Peers
Know, that thou art their better.
_Zoy._ Ha, ha, ha, that is fine, ha, ha, ha.
_Cleo._ Madam, what means your Grace?
Consider for the love of Heaven to what
You run madly; will you take this Viper
Into your bed?
_Hida._ Away, hold off thy hands:
Strike her sweet _Zoylous_, for it is my Will,
Which thou hast sworn to doe.
_Zoy._ Away for shame.
Know you no manners: ha, ha, ha. [_Exit._
_Cleo._ Thou know'st none I fear,
This is just _Cupid_'s Anger, _Venus_ look down mildly on us:
And command thy Son to spare this Lady once, and let me
be in love with [all]: and none in love with me. [_Exit._
_Enter_ Ismenus, _and_ Timantus.
_Timan._ Is your Lordship for the Wars this Summer?
_Ismen. Timantus_, wilt thou go with me?
_Timan._ If I had a Company, my Lord.
_Ismen._ Of Fidlers: Thou a company?
No, no, keep thy Company at home, and cause cuckolds:
The Wars will hurt thy face, there's no Semsters,
Shoomakers, nor Taylors, nor Almond-milk i'th' morning,
Nor poach'd Egs to keep your worship soluble,
No man to warm your Shirt, and blow your Roses:
Nor none to reverence your round lace Breeches:
If thou wilt needs goe, and goe thus,
Get a Case for thy Captainship, a shower will spoil thee else.
Thus much for thee.
_Tim._ Your Lordship's wondrous witty, very pleasant believe't.
[_Exit._
_Enter_ Telamon, Dorialus, Agenor, Nisus, Leonti.
_Leon._ No news yet of my Son?
_Tela._ Sir, there be divers out in search:
No doubt they'll bring the truth where he is,
Or the occasion that led him hence.
_Tim._ They have good eyes then.
_Leon._ The gods goe with them:
Who be those that wait there?
_Tele._ The Lord _Ismenus_, your General, for his dispatch.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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