History of English Humour, Vol. 1: With an Introduction upon Ancient HumourL'Estrange, A. G. K. (Alfred Guy Kingan)
Philosophy
History of English Humour, Vol. 1: With an Introduction upon Ancient Humour
L'Estrange, A. G. K. (Alfred Guy Kingan)
English wit and humor -- History and criticism; Wit and humor -- History and criticism
_Tailor._ My lord, if it had been an inch lower it would not have
held your lordship's packet-handkerchief.
_Lord F._ Rat my packet-handkerchief! have not I a page to carry
it? You may make him a packet up to his chin a purpose for it; but
I will not have mine come so near my face.
_Tailor._ 'Tis not for me to dispute your lordship's fancy.
_Lord F._ Look you, Sir, I shall never be reconciled to this
nauseous packet, therefore pray get me another suit with all manner
of expedition, for this is my eternal salvation. Mrs. Calico, are
not you of my mind?
_Mrs. Cal._ O, directly, my lord! It can never be too low.
_Lord F._ You are positively in the right on't, for the packet
becomes no part of the body but the knee.
(_Exit tailor._)
_Mrs. Cal._ I hope your lordship is pleased with your steenkirk.
_Lord F._ In love with it, stap my vitals! bring your bill, you
shall be paid to-morrow.
_Mrs. C._ I humbly thank your honour. (_Exit._)
_Lord F._ Hark thee, shoemaker! these shoes an't ugly but they
don't fit me.
_Shoemaker._ My lord, methinks they fit you very well.
_Lord F._ They hurt me just below the instep.
_Shoe._ (_feeling his foot_) My lord, they don't hurt you there.
_Lord F._ I tell thee they pinch me execrably.
_Shoe._ My lord, if they pinch you I'll be bound to be hanged,
that's all.
_Lord F._ Why wilt thou undertake to persuade me that I cannot
feel?
_Shoe._ Your lordship may please to feel what you think fit; but
the shoe does not hurt you. I think I understand my trade.
_Lord F._ Now by all that's great and powerful thou art an
incomprehensible coxcomb! but thou makest good shoes and so I'll
bear with thee.
Tom Fashion personates his brother, Lord Foppington, and goes down to
the country seat of Sir Tunbelly Clumpsey, in hope of marrying his rich
daughter. The old Squire at first turns out to meet him with guns and
pitchforks, but changes to the utmost servility on hearing that he is a
lord. It is now Tom's object to have the marriage ceremony performed
before he is discovered.
_Fashion._ Your father, I suppose you know, has resolved to make me
happy in being your husband, and I hope I may depend upon your
consent to perform what he desires.
_Miss Hoyden._ Sir, I never disobey my father in anything but
eating of green gooseberries.
_Fash._ So good a daughter must needs be an admirable wife; I am
therefore impatient till you are mine, and hope you will so far
consider the violence of my love as not to defer my happiness so
long as your father designs it.
_Miss H._ Pray, my lord, how long is that?
_Fash._ Madam, a thousand years--a whole week.
_Miss H._ A week! why I shall be an old woman by that time.
_Fash._ And I an old man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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