Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Orl._ I cannot speak whether my joy or shame
Be greater, but I thank the Heavens for both.
Oh look not black upon me, all my friends,
To whom I will be reconcil'd, or grow unto
This earth, till I have wept a trench
That shall be great enough to be my grave,
And I will think them too most manly tears,
If they do move your pities: it is true,
Man should do nothing that he should repent;
But if he have, and say that he is sorry,
It is a worse fault, if he be not truly.
_Lam._ My Lord, such sorrow cannot be suspected:
Here take your honoured wife, and joyn your hands.
----She hath married you again:
And Gentlemen, I do invite you all,
This night to take my house, where on the morrow,
To heighten more the reconciling feast,
I'll make my self a Husband and a guest. [_Exeunt._
_Actus Quintus. Scæna Prima._
_Enter_ Montague, _and_ Charlotte.
_Charl._ Well now I am sure you are mine.
_Mont._ I am sure I am glad
I have one to own then; you'll find me honest
As these days go, enough; poor without question,
Which beggars hold a virtue; give me meat, and I
Shall do my work, else knock my shooes off,
And turn me out again.
_Char._ You are a merry fellow.
_Mont._ I have no great cause.
_Char._ Yes, thy love to me.
_Mont._ That's as we make our game.
_Char._ Why, you repent then?
_Mont._ Faith no worse than I am I cannot be;
Much better I expect not: I shall love you,
And when you bid me go to bed, obey,
Lie still or move, as you shall minister;
Keep a four-Nobles Nag, and a _Jack_
_Merling_, learn to love Ale, and play at Two-hand _Irish_,
And there's then all I aim at.
_Char._ Nay sweet fellow, I'll make it something better.
_Mont._ If you do, you'll make me worse:
Now I am poor, and willing to do well,
Hold me in that course; of all the Kings creatures,
I hate his coin, keep me from that, and save me;
For if you chance out of your housewivery
To leave a hundred pound or two, bestow it
In Plumb-broth e'r I know it, else I take it;
Seek out a hundred men that want this money,
Share it among 'em, they'll cry noble _Montague_,
And so I stand again at livery.
_Char._ You have pretty fancies, Sir, but married once,
This charity will fall home to your self.
_Mont._ I would it would, I am afraid my looseness
Is yet scarce stopt, though it have nought to work on
But the meer air of what I have had.
_Char._ Pretty.
_Mont._ I wonder sweet heart why you'll marry me,
I can see nothing in my self deserves it,
Unless the handsome wearing of a band,
For that's my stock now, or a pair of garters;
Necessity will not let me loose.
_Char._ I see Sir, a great deal more, a handsome man, a Husband,
To make a right good woman truly happy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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