Beggars Bush: A Comedy: From the Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Volume 2 of 10)Fletcher, John
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Beggars Bush: A Comedy: From the Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Volume 2 of 10)
Fletcher, John
Comedy plays; English drama -- 17th century
_Wol._ Who, I repent?
And say I am sorry? yes, 'tis the fool's language
And not for _Wolfort_.
_Van-d._ _Wolfort_, thou art a Devil,
And speakst his language, oh that I had my longing
Under this row of trees now would I hang him.
_Flo._ No let him live, until he can repent,
But banish'd from our State, that is thy doom.
_Van-d._ Then hang his worthy Captain here, this _Hemskirk_
For profit of th' example.
_Flo._ No let him
Enjoy his shame too: with his conscious life,
To shew how much our innocence contemns
All practice from the guiltiest, to molest us.
_Van-d._ A noble Prince.
_Ger._ Sir, you must help to join
A pair of hands, as they have done their hearts here,
And to their loves with joy.
_Flo._ As to mine own,
My gracious Sister, worthiest Brother.
_Van._ I'le go afore, and have the bon-fire made,
My fire-works, & flap dragons, and good backrack,
With a peck of little fishes, to drink down
In healths to this day.
_Hig._ 'Slight, here be changes,
The Bells ha' not so many, nor a dance, _Prig_.
_Prig._ Our Company's grown horrible thin by it,
What think you _Ferret_?
_Fer._ Marry I do think,
That we might all be Lords now, if we could stand for't.
_Hig._ Not I if they should offer it: I'le dislodge first,
Remove the Bush to another climat.
_Ger._ Sir, you must thank this worthy _Burgomaster_,
Here be friends ask to be look'd on too,
And thank'd, who though their trade, and course of life
Be not so perfect, but it may be better'd,
Have yet us'd me with courtesy, and been true
Subjects unto me, while I was their King,
A place I know not well how to resign,
Nor unto whom: But this I will entreat
Your grace, command them follow you to _Bruges_;
Where I will take the care on me, to find
Some manly, and more profitable course
To fit them, as a part of the Republique.
_Flo._ Do you hear Sirs? do so.
_Hig._ Thanks to your good grace.
_Prig._ To your good Lordship.
_Fer._ May you both live long.
_Ger._ Attend me at _Van-dunks_, the _Burgomasters_.
[_Ex. all but Beggars._
_Hig._ Yes, to beat hemp, and be whipt twice a week,
Or turn the wheel, for Crab the Rope-maker:
Or learn to go along with him, his course;
That's a fine course now, i' the common-wealth, _Prig_,
What say you to it?
_Prig._ It is the backwardst course,
I know i'the world.
_Hig._ Then _Higgen_ will scarce thrive by it,
You do conclude?
_Prig._ 'Faith hardly, very hardly.
_Hig._ Troth I am partly of your mind, Prince _Prig_;
And therefore farewel _Flanders_, _Higgen_ will seek
Some safer shelter, in some other Climat,
With this his tatter'd Colony: Let me see
_Snap_, _Ferret_, _Prig_, and _Higgen_, all are left
O' the true blood: what? shall we into _England_?
_Prig._ Agreed.
_Hig._ Then bear up bravely with your _Brute_ my lads,
_Higgen_ hath prig'd the prancers in his dayes,
And sold good penny-worths; we will have a course,
The Spirit of _Bottom_, is grown bottomless.
_Prig._ I'le mand no more, nor cant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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