Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
Who are you, Sir?
_Enter_ Rinaldo.
_Rin._ Who am I, Sir? why, do y' not know me?
_Frig._ No by my ---- do I not.
_Rin._ I am sure we din'd together to day.
_Frig._ That's all one: as I din'd with you in the City, and as you
paid for my dinner there, I do know you, and am beholding to you:
But as my mind is since transmigrated into my office, and as you
come to Court to have me pay you again, and be beholding to me, I
know you not, I know you not.
_Rin._ Nay, but look ye, Sir.
_Frig._ Pardon me: If you had been my bed-fellow these seven
years, and lent me money to buy my place, I must not transgress
principles: This very talking with you is an ill example.
_Rin._ Pish, you are too punctual a Courtier, Sir: why, I am a
Courtier too, yet never understood the place or name to be so
infectious to humanity and manners, as to cast a man into a burning
pride and arrogance, for which there is no cure. I am a Courtier,
and yet I will know my friends, I tell you.
_Frig._ And I tell you, you will thrive accordingly, I warrant you.
_Rin._ But hark ye, Signior _Frigozo_, you shall first understand,
I have no friends with me to trouble you.
_Frig._ Humh: That's a good motive.
_Rin._ No[r] to borrow money of you.
_Frig._ That's an excellent motive.
_Rin._ No my sweet Don, nor to ask what you owe me.
_Frig._ Why, that is the very motive of motives, why I ought and
will know thee: and if I had not wound thee up to this promise, I
would not have known thee these fifteen years, no more than the
errantst, or most founder'd _Castillian_ that followed our new
Queens Carriages a-foot.
_Rin._ Nor for any thing, dear Don, but that you would place me
conveniently to see the Play to night.
_Frig._ That shall I, Signior _Rinaldo_: but would you had come
sooner: you see how full the Scaffolds are, there is scant room for
a Lovers thought here. Gentlewomen sit close for shame: Has none of
ye a little corner for this Gentleman? I'll place ye, fear not. And
how did our brave King of _Portugal_, _Emanuel_, bear himself to
day? You saw the solemnity of the marriage.
_Rin._ Why, like a fit Husband for so gracious and excellent a
Princess, as his worthy mate _Isabella_, the King of _Castiles_
Daughter doth in her very external li[ne]aments, mixture of
colours, and joyning Dove-like behaviour assure her self to be.
And I protest (my dear Don) seriously, I can sing prophetically
nothing but blessed Hymns, and happy occasions to this sacred union
of _Portugal_ and _Castile_, which have so wisely and mutually
conjoyned two such virtuous and beautiful Princes as these are; and
in all opinion like to multiply to their very last minute.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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