Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Old K._ I'll have that doubt eas'd, Sir,
Instantly eas'd, Sir _Gregory_, and now I think on't
A toy comes i' my mind, seeing your friend there,
We'll have a little sport, give you but way to't,
And put a trick upon her, I love Wit pretiously,
You shall not be seen yet, we'll stale your friend first,
If't please but him to stand for the Anti-mask.
_Sir Gr._ Puh, he shall stand for any thing, why his supper
Lies i'my breeches here, I'll make him fast else.
_Old K._ Then come you forth more unexpectedly
The Mask it self, a thousand a year joynture,
The cloud, your frien[d] will be then drawn away,
And only you the beauty of the Play.
_Sir Gr._ For Red and Black, I'll put down all your Fullers,
Let but your Neece bring White, and we have three colours.
[_Exit Sir_ Greg.
_Old K._ I'm given to understand you are a _Wit_, Sir.
_Cuning._ I'm one that Fortune shews small favour to, Sir.
_Old K._ Why there you conclude it, whether you will or no, Sir;
To tell you truth, I'm taken with a Wit.
_Cun._ Fowlers catch Woodcocks so, let not them know so much.
_Old K._ A pestilence mazard, a Duke _Humphrey_ spark
Had rather lose his dinner than his jest,
I say I love a Wit the best of all things.
_Cun._ Always except your self.
_Old K._ Has giv'n't me twice now.
_Enter Neece and Guardianess._
All with a breath, I thank him; but that I love a Wit
I should be heartily angry; cuds, my Neece,
You know the business with her.
_Cun._ With a Woman?
'Tis ev'n the very same it was I'm sure
Five thousand years ago, no fool can miss it.
_Old K._ This is the Gentleman I promis'd Neece,
To present to your affection.
_Cun._ ['W]are that Arrow.
_Old K._ Deliver me the truth now of your liking.
_Cun._ I'm spoil'd already, that such poor lean Game
Should be found out as I am.
_Old K._ Go set to her Sir--ha, ha, ha.
_Cun._ How noble is this virtue in you, Lady,
Your eye may seem to commit a thousand slaughters
On your dull servants which truly tasted
Conclude all in comforts.
_Old K._ Puh.
_Neece._ It rather shews what a true worth can make,
Such as yours is.
_Old K._ And that's not worth a groat,
How like you him Neece?
_Neece._ It shall appear how well, Sir,
I humbly thank you for him.
_Old K._ Hah? ha, good gullery, he does it well i'faith,
Light, as if he meant to purchase _Lip-land_ there:
Hold, hold, bear off I say, slid your part hangs too long.
_Cun._ My joys are mockeries.
_Neece._ Y'have both exprest a worthy care and love, Sir,
Had mine own eye been set at liberty,
To make a publick choice (believe my truth, Sir)
It could not ha' done better for my heart
Than your good providence has.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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