Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife: Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10)Fletcher, John
General
Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife: Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10)
Fletcher, John
Comedy plays; Drama
Nor do not labour to arrive at any,
'Twill spoil your head, I take ye upon charity,
And like a Servant ye must be unto me,
As I behold your duty I shall love ye,
And as you observe me, I may chance lye with ye,
Can you mark these?
Leon:
Yes indeed forsooth.
Margarita:
There is one thing,
That if I take ye in I put ye from me,
Utterly from me, you must not be sawcy,
No, nor at any time familiar with me,
Scarce know me, when I call ye not.
Leon:
I will not, alas I never knew my self sufficiently.
Margarita:
Nor must not now.
Leon:
I'le be a Dog to please ye.
Margarita:
Indeed you must fetch and carry as I appoint ye.
Leon:
I were to blame else.
Margarita:
Kiss me again; a strong fellow,
There is a vigor in his lips: if you see me
Kiss any other, twenty in an hour Sir,
You must not start, nor be offended.
Leon:
No, if you kiss a thousand I shall be contented,
It will the better teach me how to please ye.
187]
Altea:
I told ye Madam.
Margarita:
'Tis the man I wisht for; the less you speak.
Leon:
I'le never speak again Madam,
But when you charge me, then I'le speak softly too.
Margarita:
Get me a Priest, I'le wed him instantly,
But when you are married Sir, you must wait
Upon me, and see you observe my laws.
Leon:
Else you shall hang me.
Margarita:
I'le give ye better clothes when you deserve 'em,
Come in, and serve for witness.
Omnes:
We shall Madam.
Margarita:
And then away toth' city presently,
I'le to my new house and new company.
Leon:
A thousand crowns are thine, and I am a made man.
Altea:
Do not break out too soon.
Leon:
I know my time wench.
[Exeunt.
[Enter _Clara_, and _Estifania_ with a paper.]
Clara:
What, have you caught him?
Estifania:
Yes.
Clara:
And do you find him
A man of those hopes that you aim'd at?
Estifania:
Yes too,
And the most kind man, and the ablest also
To give a wife content, he is sound as old wine,
And to his soundness rises on the pallat,
And there's the man; find him rich too _Clara_.
Clara:
Hast thou married him?
Estifania:
What dost thou think I fish without a bait wench?
I bob for fools? he is mine own, I have him,
I told thee what would tickle him like a trout,
And as I cast it so I caught him daintily,
And all he has I have 'stowed at my devotion.
Clara:
Does thy Lady know this? she is coming now to town,
Now to live here in this house.
Estifania:
Let her come,
She shall be welcom, I am prepar'd for her,
She is mad sure if she be angry at my fortune,
For what I have made bold.
Clara:
Dost thou not love him?
188]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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