Plays, written by Sir John Vanbrugh, volume the secondVanbrugh, John
General
Plays, written by Sir John Vanbrugh, volume the second
Vanbrugh, John
Comedy plays; English drama -- 18th century
Squ. _Rich._ Flesh! I cawnt tell, not I----seen every thing I think.
First there we went o' top o' the what d'ye call it? there, the great
huge stone post, up the rawnd and rawnd stairs, that twine and twine
about, just an as thof it were a cork screw.
_Myr._ O, the Monument! well, and was it not a fine sight from the top
of it?
Squ. _Rich._ Sight, Miss! I know no'--I saw nowght but smoak and brick
housen, and steeple tops----then there was such a mortal ting-tang of
bells, and rumbling of carts and coaches, and then the folks under one
look'd so small, and made such a hum, and a buz, it put me in mind of
my mother's great glass bee-hive in our garden in the country.
_Myr._ I think, Master, you give a very good account of it.
Squ. _Rich._ Ay! but I did no like it: for my head--my head--began to
turn----so I trundled me dawn stairs ugain like a round trencher.
_Myr._ Well! but this was not all you saw, I suppose?
Squ. _Rich._ Noa! noa! we went after that and saw the lions, and I
lik'd them better by hawlf; they are pure grim devils; hoh, hoh! I
touke a stick, and gave one of them such a poke o' the noase----I
believe he would ha' snapt my head off, an he could ha' got me. Hoh!
hoh! hoh!
_Myr._ Well, Master, when you and I go abroad, I'll shew you prettier
sights than these----there's a masquerade to-morrow.
Squ. _Rich._ O laud! ay! they say that's a pure thing for _Merry
Andrews_, and those sort of comical mummers----and the Count tells me,
that there lads and lasses may jig their tails, and eat, and drink,
without grudging, all night-lung.
_Myr._ What would you say now, if I should get you a ticket and go
along with you?
Squ. _Rich._ Ah dear!
_Myr._ But have a care, Squire, the fine ladies there are terribly
tempting; look well to your heart, or ads me! they'll whip it up in the
trip of a minute.
Squ. _Rich._ Ay, but they can't thoa----soa let 'um look to themselves,
an' ony of 'um falls in love with me--mayhap they had as good be quiet.
_Myr._ Why sure you would not refuse a fine lady, would you?
Squ. _Rich._ Ay, but I would tho' unless it were--one at I know of.
_Myr._ Oh! oh! then you have left your heart in the country, I find?
Squ. _Rich._ Noa, noa, my heart----eh----my heart e'nt awt o' this room.
_Myr._ I am glad you have it about you, however.
Squ. _Rich._ Nay, mahap not soa neather, somebody else may have it, 'at
you little think of.
_Myr._ I can't imagine what you mean!
Squ. _Rich._ Noa! why doan't you know how many folks there is in this
room, naw?
_Myr._ Very fine, Master, I see you have learnt the town gallantry
already.
Squ. _Rich._ Why doan't you believe 'at I have a kindness for you then?
_Myr._ Fy! fy! Master, how you talk! beside you are too young to think
of a wife. Squ. _Rich._ Ay but I caunt help thinking o' yow, for all
that.
_Myr._ How! why sure, Sir, you don't pretend to think of me in a
dishonourable way?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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