Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Gond._ Now do I sit like a Conjurer within my circle, and these
the Devils that are rais'd about me, I will pray that they may have
no power upon me.
_Oria._ Ladies, fall off in couples, then with a [s]oft still
march, with low demeanors, charge this Gentleman, I'll be your
Leader.
_Gond._ Let me be quarter'd Duke quickly, I can endure it: these
women long for Mans flesh, let them have it.
_Duke._ Count, have you ever seen so strange a passion? what would
this fellow do, if he should find himself in bed with a young Lady?
_Count._ 'Faith my Lord, if he could get a knife, sure he wou'd cut
her throat, or else he wou'd do as _Hercules_ did by _Lycas_, swing
out her soul: h'as the true hate of a woman in him.
_Oria._ Low with your Cursies Ladies.
_Gond._ Come not too near me, I have a breath will poison ye,
my lungs are rotten, and my stomach is raw: I am given much to
belching: hold off, as you love sweet airs; Ladies, by your first
nights pleasure, I conjure you, as you wou'd have your Husbands
proper men, strong backs, and little legs, as you would have 'em
hate your Waiting-women.
_Oria._ Sir, we must court ye, till we have obtain'd some little
favour from those gracious eyes, 'tis but a kiss a piece.
_Gond._ I pronounce perdition to ye all; ye are a parcel of that
damned crew that fell down with _Lucifer_, and here ye staid on
earth to plague poor men; vanish, avaunt, I am fortified against
your charms; heaven grant me breath and patience.
_1 Lady._ Shall we not kiss then?
_Gond._ No sear my lips with hot irons first, or stitch them up
like a Ferrets: oh that this brunt were over!
_2 Lady._ Come, come, little rogue, thou art too maidenly by my
troth, I think I must box thee till thou be'st bolder; the more
bold, the more welcome: I prethee kiss me, be not afraid. [_She
sits on his knee._
_Gond._ If there be any here, that yet have so much of the fool
left in them, as to love their mothers, let them [looke] on her,
and loath them too.
_2 Lady._ What a slovenly little villain art thou, why dost thou
not stroke up thy hair? I think thou ne'er comb'st it: I must have
it lie in better order; so, so, so, let me see thy hands, are they
wash'd?
_Gond._ I would th[e]y were loose for thy sake.
_Duke._ She tortures him admirably.
_Count._ The best that ever was.
_2 Lady._ Alas, how cold they are, poor golls, why dost thee not
get thee a Muff?
_Arri._ Madam, here's an old Countrey Gentlewoman at the door, that
came nodding up for justice, she was with the Lord _Gondarino_ to
day, and would now again come to the speech of him, she says.
_Oria._ Let her in, for sports sake, let her in.
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