Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Lad._ The rest are fled, but I shall meet with 'em,
Hang one of 'em I will certain, I ha' swore it,
And 'twas my luck to light upon this first.
_O.K._ A _Cambridge_ man for this? these your degrees, Sir?
Nine years at University for this fellowship?
_Wit._ Take your voice lower, dear Sir.
_O.K._ What's your loss, Sir?
_Lady._ That which offends me to repeat, the Money's whole, Sir,
'Tis i'th' Constables hands there, a seal'd hundred,
But I will not receive it.
_O.K._ No? Not the Money, Sir,
Having confest 'tis all?
_Lady._ 'Tis all the Money, Sir,
But 'tis not all I lost, for when they bound me,
They took a Diamond hung at my shirt string,
Which fear of life made me forget to hide;
It being the sparkling witness of a Contract,
'Twixt a great Lawyers daughter and my self.
_Wit._ I told you what he was; What does the Diamond
Concern my Cozen, Sir?
_Lady._ No more did the Money,
But he shall answer all now.
_Wit._ There's your conscience,
It shewes from whence you sprung.
_Lady._ Sprung? I had leapt a Thief,
Had I leapt some of your alliance.
_Wit._ Slave!
_Lady._ You prevent me still.
_O.K._ 'Slid, Son, Are you mad?
_Lady._ Come, come, I'll take a legal course.
_O.K._ Will you undo us all? What's your demand, Sir?
Now we're in's danger too.
_Lady._ A hundred Mark, Sir,
I will not bait a doit.
_Witty._ A hundred Rascals.
_Lady._ Sir, find 'em out in your own blood, and take 'em.
_Wit._ Go take your course, follow the Law, and spare not.
_O. K._ Does fury make you drunk? know you what you say?
_Wit._ A hundred dogs dungs, do your worst.
_O. K._ You do I'm sure; Whose loud now?
_Wit._ What his own asking?
_O. K._ Not in such a case?
_Wit._ You shall have but threescore pound; spite a your teeth,
I'll see you hang'd first.
_O. K._ And what's seven pound more man?
That all this coyle's about? stay, I say, he shall ha't.
_Wit._ It is your own, you may do what you please with it;
Pardon my zeal, I would ha' sav'd you money;
Give him all his own asking?
_O. K._ What's that to you, Sir?
Be sparing of your own, teach me to pinch
In such a case as this? go, go, live by your wits, go.
_Wit._ I practise all I can.
_O. K._ Follow you me, Sir,
And, Master Constable, come from the knave,
And be a witness of a full recompence.
_Wit._ Pray stop the Constables mouth, what ere you do Sir.
_O. K._ Yet agen? as if I meant not to do that my self,
Without your counsel? As for you, precious kinsman,
Your first years fruits in _Wales_ shall go to rack for this,
You lie not in my house, I'll pack you out,
And pay for your lodging rather.
[_Exeunt_ Knight, Ruin, _and_ Lady.
_Witty._ Oh fie Cozen,
These are ill courses, you a Scholar too?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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