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
Is this the Fellow
That had the patience to become a Fool,
A flurted Fool, and on a sudden break,
As if he would shew a wonder to the World,
Both in Bravery, and Fortune too?
I much admire the man, I am astonisht.
Margarita:
I'll be divorced immediately.
Leon:
You shall not,
You shall not have so much will to be wicked.
I am more tender of your honour, Lady,
And of your Age, you took me for a shadow;
You took me to gloss over your discredit,
To be your Fool, you had thought you had found a Coxcomb;
I am innocent of any foul dishonour I mean to ye.
Only I will be known to be your Lord now,
And be a fair one too, or I will fall for't.
Margarita:
I do command ye from me, thou poor fellow,
Thou cozen'd Fool.
Leon:
Thou cozen'd Fool? 'tis not so,
I will not be commanded: I am above ye:
You may divorce me from your favour, Lady,
But from your state you never shall, I'll hold that,
And then maintain your wantonness, I'll wink at it.
Margarita:
Am I braved thus in mine own house?
Leon:
'Tis mine, Madam,
205] You are deceiv'd, I am Lord of it, I rule it and all that's in't;
You have nothing to do here, Madam;
But as a Servant to sweep clean the Lodgings,
And at my farther will to do me service,
And so I'll keep it.
Margarita:
As you love me, give way.
Leon:
It shall be better,
I will give none, Madam,
I stand upon the ground of mine own Honour,
And will maintain it, you shall know me now
To be an understanding feeling man,
And sensible of what a Woman aims at,
A young proud Woman that has Will to sail with,
An itching Woman, that her blood provokes too,
I cast my Cloud off, and appear my self,
The master of this little piece of mischief,
And I will put a Spell about your feet, Lady,
They shall not wander but where I give way now.
Duke of Medina:
Is this the Fellow that the People pointed at,
For the meer sign of man, the walking Image?
He speaks wondrous highly.
Leon:
As a Husband ought, Sir,
In his own house, and it becomes me well too,
I think your Grace would grieve if you were put to it
To have a Wife or Servant of your own,
(For Wives are reckon'd in the rank of Servants,)
Under your own roof to command ye.
Juan de Castro:
Brave, a strange Conversion, thou shalt lead
In chief now.
Duke of Medina:
Is there no difference betwixt her and you, Sir?
Leon:
Not now, Lord, my Fortune makes me even,
And as I am an honest man, I am nobler.
Margarita:
Get me my Coach.
Leon:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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