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Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife: Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10)Fletcher, John

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Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife: Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10)

Name: Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife: Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10)
Author: Fletcher, John

Fletcher, John

Comedy plays; Drama

Thou put'st sugar in my mouth, how it melts with me!
      I love a sweet young Wench.

Juan de Castro:

      Wait on them in I say.
                                                                [Exit Servant.

Michael Perez:

      _Don Juan._

Juan de Castro:

      How you itch, _Michael_! how you burnish!
      Will not this Souldiers heat out of your bones yet,
      Do your Eyes glow now?

Michael Perez:

      There be two.

Juan de Castro:

      Say honest, what shame have you then?

Michael Perez:

      I would fain see that,
      I have been in the Indies twice, and have seen strange things,
      But two honest Women;--one I read of once.

Juan de Castro:

      Prithee be modest.

Michael Perez:

      I'll be any thing.

      [Enter _Servant_, _Donna Clara_, and _Estifania_ vail'd.]

Juan de Castro:

      You are welcome Ladies.

Michael Perez:

      Both hooded, I like 'em well though,
172]  They come not for advice in Law sure hither;
      May be they would learn to raise the Pike,
      I am for 'em: they are very modest, 'tis a fine Preludium.

Juan de Castro:

      With me, or with this Gentleman,
      Would you speak, Lady?

Clara:

      With you, Sir, as I guess, _Juan de Castro_.

Michael Perez:

      Her Curtain opens, she is a pretty Gentlewoman.

Juan de Castro:

      I am the Man, and shall be bound to Fortune,
      I may do any service to your Beauties.

Clara:

      Captain, I hear you are marching down to _Flanders_,
      To serve the Catholick King.

Juan de Castro:

      I am sweet Lady.

Clara:

      I have a Kinsman, and a noble Friend,
      Imploy'd in those Wars, may be, Sir, you know him,
      _Don Campusano_ Captain of _Carbines_,
      To whom I would request your Nobleness,
      To give this poor Remembrance.

                                                                    [A Letter.

Juan de Castro:

      I shall do it,
      I know the Gentleman, a most worthy Captain.

Clara:

      Something in private.

Juan de Castro:

      Step aside: I'll serve thee.
                                                     [Ex. _Juan_, and _Clara_.

Michael Perez:

      Prithee let me see thy face.

Estifania:

      Sir, you must pardon me,
      Women of our sort, that maintain fair memories,
      And keep suspect off from their Chastities,
      Had need wear thicker Vails.

Michael Perez:

      I am no blaster of a Ladies Beauty,
      Nor bold intruder on her special favours,
      I know how tender Reputation is,
      And with what guards it ought to be preserv'd, Lady,
      You may to me.

Estifania:

      You must excuse me, Seignior, I come
      Not here to sell my self.

Michael Perez:

      As I am a Gentleman, by the honour of a Souldier.

Estifania:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife: Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10)

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