Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Lap._ With all the speed I may, first then, and foremost,
I hold so reverently of the _Bastinado_, Sir,
That if it were the dearest friend i'th' world,
I'de put it into his hand.
_Sham._ Go too, I'll pass that then.
_Lap._ Y'are the more happy, Sir,
Would I were past it too:
But being accustom'd to't. It is the better carried.
_Sham._ Will you forward?
_Lap._ Then there's your _souce_, your _wherit_ and your _dowst_,
_Tugs_ on the hair, your _bob_ o'th' lips, a whelp on't,
I ne'er could find much difference: Now your _thump_,
A thing deriv'd first from your Hemp-beaters,
Takes a mans wind away, most spitefully:
There's nothing that destroys a Collick like it,
For't leaves no wind i'th' body.
_Sham._ On Sir, on.
_Lap._ Pray give me leave, I'm out of breath with thinking on't.
_Sham._ This is far off yet.
_Lap._ For the _twinge_ by th' nose,
'Tis certainly unsightly, so my [Table] says,
But helps against the head-ach, wond'rous strangely.
_Sham._ Is't possible?
_Lap._ Oh your _crush'd nostrils_ slakes your _opilation_,
And makes your pent powers flush to wholsome sneezes.
_Sham._ I never thought there had been half that virtue
In a wrung nose before.
_Lap._ Oh plenitude, Sir:
Now come we lower to our _modern Kick_,
Which has been mightily in use of late,
Since our young men drank _Coltsfoot_: and I grant you,
'Tis a most scornful wrong, cause the foot plays it;
But mark agen, how we that take't, requite it
With the like scorn, for we receive it backward;
And can there be a worse disgrace retorted?
_Sham._ And is this all?
_Lap._ All but a _Lug by th' ear_,
Or such a trifle.
_Sham._ Happy sufferer,
All this is nothing to the wrong I bear:
I see the worst disgrace, thou never felt'st yet;
It is so far from thee tho[u] canst not think on't;
Nor dare I let thee know, it is so abject.
_Lap._ I would you would though, that I might prepare for't
For I shall ha't at one time or another:
If't be a _thwack_, I make account of that;
There's no new fashion'd swap that e'er came up yet,
But I've the first on 'em, I thank 'em for't.
_Enter the Lady and Servants._
_La._ Hast thou enquir'd?
_1 Serv._ But can hear nothing, Madam.
_Sham._ If there be but so much substance in thee
To make a shelter for a man disgrac'd,
Hide my departure from that glorious woman
That comes with all perfection about her:
So noble, that I dare not be seen of her,
Since shame took hold of me: upon thy life
No mention of me.
_Lap._ I'll cut out my tongue first,
Before I'll loose my life, there's more belongs to't.
_Lad._ See there's a Gentleman, enquire of him.
_2 Ser._ For Monsieur _Shamont_, Madam?
_Lad._ For whom else, Sir?
_1 Serv._ Why, this fellow dares not see him.
_Lad._ How?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account