Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife: Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10) — John Shaqi
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
My Lady, as I live Mistris, my Ladie's come,
She's at the door, I peept through, and I saw her,
And a stately company of Ladies with her.
Estifania:
This was a week too soon, but I must meet with her,
And set a new wheel going, and a subtile one,
Must blind this mighty _Mars_, or I am ruin'd.
Michael Perez:
What are they at door?
Estifania:
Such my _Michael_
As you may bless the day they enter'd there,
Such for our good.
Michael Perez:
'Tis well.
Estifania:
Nay, 'twill be better
If you will let me but dispose the business,
And be a stranger to it, and not disturb me,
What have I now to do but to advance your fortune?
Michael Perez:
Doe, I dare trust thee, I am asham'd I am angry,
I find thee a wise young wife.
Estifania:
I'le wise your worship
Before I leave ye, pray ye walk by and say nothing,
Only salute them, and leave the rest to me Sir,
190] I was born to make ye a man.
[]
Michael Perez:
The Rogue speaks heartily,
Her good will colours in her cheeks, I am born to love her,
I must be gentler to these tender natures,
A Souldiers rude harsh words befit not Ladies,
Nor must we talk to them as we talk to
Our Officers, I'le give her way, for 'tis for me she
Works now, I am husband, heir, and all she has.
[Enter _Margarita_, _Estifania_, _Leon_, _Altea_, and Ladies.]
Who are these, what flanting things, a woman
Of rare presence! excellent fair, this is too big
For a bawdy house, too open seated too.
Estifania:
My Husband, Lady.
Margarita:
You have gain'd a proper man.
Michael Perez:
What e're I am, I am your servant Lady.
[kisses.
Estifania:
Sir, be rul'd now,
And I shall make ye rich, this is my cousin,
That Gentleman dotes on her, even to death, see how he observes her.
Michael Perez:
She is a goodly woman.
Estifania:
She is a mirrour,
But she is poor, she were for a Princes side else,
This house she has brought him too as to her own,
And presuming upon me, and upon my courtesie.
Conceive me short, he knows not but she is wealthy,
Or if he did know otherwise, 'twere all one,
He is so far gone.
Michael Perez:
Forward, she has a rare face.
Estifania:
This we must carry with discretion Husband,
And yield unto her for four daies.
Michael Perez:
Yield our house up, our goods and wealth?
Estifania:
All this is but in seeming,
To milk the lover on, do you see this writing,
200_l_ a year when they are married
Has she sealed to for our good; the time's unfit now,
I'le shew it you to morrow.
Michael Perez:
All the house?
Estifania:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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