Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Clow._ By this hand, never any Messenger came at me, since
the first time I came into her company; that a man should be
wrong'd thus!
_Nee._ Did not I send thee Scarfs and Diamonds?
And thou return'dst me Letters, one with a false heart in't.
_Witty._ Oh fie, to receive favours, return falshoods, and hold
a Lady in hand--
_Clow._ Will you believe me, Sir? if ever I receiv'd Diamonds,
or Scarf, or sent any Letter to her, would this sword might
ne'er go through me.
_Witty._ Some bad Messengers have gone between you then.
_Nee._ Take him from my sight if I shall see to morrow.
_Witty._ Pray you forbear the place, this discontent may impair
her health much.
_Clow._ 'Foot, if a man had been in any fault, 'twould ne'er a
griev'd him, Sir, if you'll believe.
_Witty._ Nay, nay, protest no more, I do believe you,
But you see how the Lady is wrong'd by't;
She has cast away her self, it is to be fear'd,
Against her Uncles Will, nay, any consent,
But out of a mere neglect, and spight to her self,
Married suddainly without any advice.
_Clow._ Why, who can help it? if she be cast away, she may
thank her self, she might have gone farther and far'd worse;
I could do no more than I could do: 'twas her own pleasure to
command me, that I should not come, till I was sent for, I had
been with her every minute of an hour else.
_Witty._ Truly I believe you.
_Clow._ Night and day she might have commanded me, and that she
knew well enough; I said as much to her between her and I; yet
I protest, she's as honest a Lady for my part, that I'd say, if
she would see me hang'd: if she be cast away I cannot help it,
she might have stay'd to have spoke with a man.
_Witty._ Well, 'twas a hard miss on both parts.
_Clow._ So 'twas, I was within one of her, for all this cross
luck, I was sure I was between the Knight and home.
_Nee._ Not gone yet? oh my heart! none regard my health?
_Witty._ Good Sir, forbear her sight awhile, you hear how ill
she brooks it.
_Clow._ Foolish woman, to overthrow her fortunes so; I shall
think the worse of a Ladies wit, while I live for't--I could
almost cry for anger, if she should miscarry now; 'twould touch
my conscience a little, and who knows what love and conceit
may do? what would people say, as I go along? there goes he
that the Lady died for love on, I am sure to hear on't i'th'
streets, I shall weep before hand; foolish woman, I do grieve
more for thee now, than I did love thee before; well, go thy
ways, wouldst thou spare thy Husbands head, and break thine own
heart? if thou hadst any wit, I would some other had been the
cause of thy undoing, I shall be twitted i'th' teeth with it,
I'm sure of that, foolish Lady. [_Exit._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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