Plays, written by Sir John Vanbrugh, volume the firstVanbrugh, John
General
Plays, written by Sir John Vanbrugh, volume the first
Vanbrugh, John
Comedy plays; English drama -- 18th century; English drama -- Restoration, 1660-1700
_2 Play._ Then, Sir, I did but come to him one Day--and tell him I
wanted fifty Pound, and what do you think he did by me, Sir?--Sir, he
turn'd round upon his Heel like a Top--
_1 Play._ But that was nothing to the Affront he put upon me, Sir.
I came to him, and in very civil words, as I thought, desir'd him to
double my Pay: Sir, wou'd you believe it? He had the Barbarity to ask
me if I intended to double my Work; and because I told him no, Sir--he
did use me, good Lord, how he did use me!
_Esop._ Pr'ythee how?
_1 Play._ Why, he walk'd off, and answered me never a Word.
_Esop._ How had you Patience?
_1 Play._ Sir, I had not Patience. I sent him a Challenge; and what do
you think his answer was?--He sent me Word I was a scoundrel Son of a
Whore, and he wou'd only fight me by Proxy----
_Esop._ Very fine!
_1 Play._ At this rate, Sir, were we poor Dogs us'd--till one frosty
Morning down he comes amongst us--and very roundly tells us----That for
the future, no Purchase, no Pay. They that wou'd not work, shou'd not
eat----Sir, we at first ask'd him coolly and civilly----Why? His answer
was, Because the Town wanted Diversion, and he wanted Money----Our
Reply to this, Sir, was very short; but I think to the purpose.
_Esop._ What was it?
_1 Play._ It was, Sir, that so we wallow'd in Plenty and Ease----the
Town and he might be damn'd----This, Sir, is the true History of our
Separation----and we hope you'll stand our Friend----
_Esop._ I'll tell you what, Sirs----
_I once a Pack of Beagles knew----
That much resembled I know who;
With a good Huntsman at their Tail,
In full Command,
With Whip in Hand,
They'd run apace
The chearful Chace,
And of their Game were seldom known to fail.
But being at length their chance to find
A Huntsman of a gentler Kind,
They soon perceiv'd the Rein was slack;
The Word went quickly thro' the Pack----
They one and all cry'd Liberty;
This happy Moment we are free;
We'll range the Woods,
Like Nymphs and Gods,
And spend our Mouths in Praise of Mutiny.
With that, old ~Jowler~ trots away,
And ~Bowman~ singles out his Prey;
~Thunder~ bellow'd thro' the Wood,
And swore he'd burst his Guts with Blood;
~Venus~ tript it o'er the Plain,
With boundless Hopes of boundless Gain;
----~Juno~, she slipt down the Hedge,
But left her sacred Word for Pledge,
That all she pickt up by the by----
Shou'd to the public Treasury;
And well they might rely upon her;
For ~Juno~ was a Bitch of Honour.
In short, they all had Hopes to see
A heavenly Crop of Mutiny.
And so to reaping fell.
But in a little Time they found,
It was the Devil had till'd the Ground,
And brought the Seed from Hell.
The Pack divided, nothing throve:
Discord seiz'd the Throne of Love.
Want and Misery all endure;
All take pains, and all grow poor.
When they had toil'd the live-long Day,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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