Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Guard._ I believe you, then help in my revenge,
And you shall do't, or lose my love for ever,
I'll have him quitted at his equal weapon,
Thou art young, follow him, bait his desires
With all the Engines of a womans wit,
Stretch modesty even to the highest pitch;
He cannot freeze at such a flaming beauty;
And when thou hast him by th' amorous gills,
Think on my vengeance, choak up his desires,
Then let his banquetings be _Tantalisme_,
Let thy disdain spurn the dissembler out;
Oh I should climb my Stars, and sit above,
To see him burn to ashes in his love.
_Mir._ This will be a strange taste, Aunt, and an
Unwilling labour, yet in your injunction
I am a servant to't.
_Guard._ Thou'lt undertak't?
_Mir._ Yes, let the success commend it self hereafter.
_Guard._ Effect it Girl, my substance is thy store,
Nothing but want of Will makes woman poor. [_Exeunt._
_Enter_ Sir Gregory, _and Clown_.
_Sir Greg._ Why _Pompey_, thou art not stark mad, art thou?
Wilt thou not tell me how my Lady does?
_Clow._ Your Lady?
_Sir Greg._ Did she receive the thing that I sent her kindly,
or no:
_Clow._ The thing that you sent her, Knight, by the thing that
you sent, was for the things sake that was sent to carry the
thing that you sent, very kindly receiv'd; first, there is
your Indenture, now go seek you a servant: secondly, you are a
Knight: thirdly and lastly, I am mine own man: and fourthly,
fare you well.
_Sir Greg._ Why _Pompey_? prethee let me speak with thee, I'll
lay my life some hare has crost him.
_Clow._ Knight, if you be a Knight, so keep you; as for the
Lady, who shall say that she is not a fair Lady, a sweet Lady,
an honest and a virtuous Lady, I will say he is a base fellow,
a blab of his tongue, and I will make him eat these fingers
ends.
_Sir Greg._ Why, here's no body says so _Pompey_.
_Clow._ Whatsoever things have past between the Lady and the
other party, whom I will not name at this time, I say she is
virtuous and honest, and I will maintain it, as long as I can
maintain my self with bread and water.
_Sir Greg._ Why I know no body thinks otherwise.
_Clow._ Any man that does but think it in my hearing, I will
make him think on't while he has a thought in his bosom; shall
we say that kindnesses from Ladies are common? or that favours
and protestations are things of no moment betwixt parties and
parties? I say still, whatsoever has been betwixt the Lady and
the party, which I will not name, that she is honest, and shall
be honest, whatsoever she does by day or by night, by light or
by darkness, with cut and long tail.
_Sir Greg._ Why I say she is honest.
_Clow._ Is she honest? in what sense do you say she is honest,
Knight?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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