Richard Steele: Edited, with an Introduction and Notes by G. A. AitkenSteele, Richard, Sir
General
Richard Steele: Edited, with an Introduction and Notes by G. A. Aitken
Steele, Richard, Sir
English drama (Comedy); Steele, Richard, Sir, 1672-1729
_3rd La._ No, that's no exception; but I'll tell you one, he's younger
than his brother.
_Wid._ Ladies, talk not of such affairs. Who could love such an unhappy
relict as I am? But, dear madam, what grounds have you for that idle
story?
_4th La._ Why he toasts you, and trembles when you're spoke of; it must
be a match.
_Wid._ Nay, nay; you rally, you rally; but I know you mean it kindly.
_1st La._ I swear we do. [TATTLEAID _whispers the_ WIDOW.
_Wid._ But I must beseech you, ladies, since you have been so
compassionate as to visit and accompany my sorrow, to give me the only
comfort I can now know, to see my friends cheerful, and to honour an
entertainment Tattleaid has prepared within for you. If I can find
strength enough I'll attend you; but I wish you'd excuse me, for I've
no relish of food or joy, but will try to get a bit down in my own
chamber.
_All._ No, no, you must go with us.
_1st La._ There's no pleasure without you.
_Wid._ But, madam, I must beg of your ladyship not to be so importune
to my fresh calamity, as to mention Nutbrain any more; I'm sure there's
nothing in it. In love with me, quoth a'. [_Is helped off. Exeunt._
_Enter_ MADEMOISELLE, _and_ CAMPLEY _in women's clothes carrying her
things._
_Mad._ I very glad us be in de ladies' antichamber; I was shamed of
you. You, you, such an impudent look; besides, me wonder you were not
seized by the constable, when you pushed de man into de kennel.
_Cam._ Why, should I have let him kissed me?
_Mad._ No; but if you had hit him wit fan, and say, why sure saucy-box,
it been enough; beside, what you hitted de gentleman for offer kiss me?
_Cam._ I beg pardon, I did not know you were pleased with it.
_Mad._ Please, no, but me rader be kiss den you, Mr. Terim's friend, be
found out. Could not you say when he kiss me, sure saucy-box dat's meat
for your master? Besides, you take such strides when you walk--walk--O
fie; dese littil pette tiny bits a woman steps. [_Showing her step._
_Cam._ But prithee, mademoiselle, why have you lost your English tongue
all of a sudden? Methought when the fellow called us French whores, as
we came along, and said we came to starve their own people, you gave
him pretty plain English; he was a dog, a rascal, you'd send him to the
stocks.
_Mad._ Ha! ha! ha! I was in a passion and betrayed myself, but you're
my lover's friend, and a man of honour, therefore know you'll do
nothing to injure us. Why, Mr. Campley, you must know I can speak as
good English as you, but I don't for fear of losing my customers. The
English will never give a price for anything they understand. Nay, I've
known some of your fools pretend to buy with good breeding, and give
any rate rather than not be thought to have French enough to know what
they were doing; strange and far-fetched things they only like. Don't
you see how they swallow gallons of the juice of tea, while their own
dock-leaves are trod under foot? But mum; my Lady Harriot.
_Enter_ LADY HARRIOT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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