Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Thier._ Mine eyes when she is nam'd
Cannot forget their tribute, and your gift
Is not unuseful now.
_Lecu._ He's past all cure, that only touch is death.
_Thier._ This night I'll keep it,
To morrow I will send it you, and full of my affliction.
[_Exit_ Thierry.
_Brun._ Is the poison mortal?
_Lecu._ Above the help of Physick.
_Brun._ To my wish,
Now for our own security, you _Protaldye_
Shall this night post towards _Austracia_,
With Letters to _Theodorets_ bastard son,
In which we will make known what for his rising
We have done to _Thierry_: no denial,
Nor no excuse in such acts must be thought of,
Which all dislike, and all again commend
When they are brought unto a happy end. [_Exeunt._
_Actus Quintus. Scæna Prima._
_Enter_ Devitry _and four Soldiers_.
_Devi._ No War, no Money, no Master; banish'd the Court, not
trusted in the City, whipt out of the Countrey, in what a triangle
runs our misery: let me hear which of you has the best voice to
beg in, for other hopes or fortunes I see you have not; be not
nice, nature provided you with tones for the purpose, the peoples
charity was your heritage, and I would see which of you deserves
his birth-right.
_Omnes._ We understand you not Captain.
_Devit._ You see this cardicue, the last, and the only quintessence
of 50 Crowns, distill'd in the limbeck of your gardage, of which
happy piece thou shalt be treasurer: now he that can soonest
perswade him to part with't, enjoyes it, possesses it, and with it,
me and my future countenance.
_1._ If they want Art to perswade it, I'll keep it my self.
_Devit._ So you be not a partial judge in your own cause, you shall.
_Omnes._ A match.
_2._ I'll begin to you, brave Sir; be proud to make him happy by
your liberality, whose tongue vouchsafes now to petition, was never
heard before less than to command. I am a Soldier by profession, a
Gentleman by birth, and an Officer by place, whose poverty blushes
to be the cause, that so high a virtue should descend to the pity
of your charity.
_1._ In any case keep your high stile, it is not charity to shame
any man, much less a virtue of your eminence, wherefore preserve
your worth, and I'll preserve my money.
_3._ You perswade? you are shallow, give way to merit: ah by the
bread of [God] man, thou hast a bonny countenance and a blith,
promising mickle good to a sicker womb, that has trode a long and
a sore ground to meet with friends, that will owe much to thy
reverence, when they shall hear of thy courtesie to their wandring
countreyman.
_1._ You that will use your friends so hardly to bring them in
debt, Sir, will deserve worse of a stranger, wherefore pead on,
pead on, I say.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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