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
Captain.
Michael Perez:
Do you echo me?
Estifania:
Yes Sir, and go before ye,
And round about ye, why do you rail at me
For that that was your own sin, your own knavery?
Michael Perez:
And brave me too?
Estifania:
You had best now draw your Sword, Captain!
Draw it upon a Woman, do, brave Captain,
Upon your Wife, Oh most renowned Captain.
Michael Perez:
A Plague upon thee, answer me directly;
Why didst thou marry me?
Estifania:
To be my Husband;
I had thought you had had infinite, but I'm cozen'd.
Michael Perez:
Why didst thou flatter me, and shew me wonders?
A house and riches, when they are but shadows,
Shadows to me?
Estifania:
Why did you work on me
(It was but my part to requite you, Sir)
With your strong Souldiers wit, and swore you would bring me
So much in Chains, so much in Jewels, Husband,
So much in right rich Cloaths?
Michael Perez:
Thou hast 'em, Rascal;
I gave 'em to thy hands, my trunks and all,
And thou hast open'd 'em, and sold my treasure.
Estifania:
Sir, there's your treasure, sell it to a Tinker
To mend old Kettles, is this noble Usage?
Let all the World view here the Captain's treasure,
A Man would think now, these were worthy matters;
Here's a shooing-horn Chain gilt over, how it scenteth
Worse than the mouldy durty heel it served for:
And here's another of a lesser value,
So little I would shame to tye my Dog in't,
These are my joynture, blush and save a labour,
211] Or these else will blush for ye.
Michael Perez:
A fire subtle ye, are ye so crafty?
Estifania:
Here's a goodly jewel,
Did not you win this at Goletta, Captain,
Or took it in the field from some brave _Bashaw_
How it sparkles like an old Ladies eyes,
And fills each room with light like a close Lanthorn!
This would do rarely in an Abbey Window,
To cozen Pilgrims.
Michael Perez:
P[r]ithee leave prating.
Estifania:
And here's a Chain of Whitings eyes for pearls,
A Muscle-monger would have made a better.
Michael Perez:
Nay, prithee wife, my Cloaths, my Cloaths.
Estifania:
I'll tell ye,
Your Cloaths are parallels to these, all counterfeit.
Put these and them on, you are a Man of Copper,
A kind of Candlestick; these you thought, my Husband,
To have cozen'd me withall, but I am quit with you.
Michael Perez:
Is there no house then, nor no grounds about it?
No plate nor hangings?
Estifania:
There are none, sweet Husband,
Shadow for shadow is as equal justice.
Can you rail now? pray put up your fury, Sir,
And speak great words, you are a Souldier, thunder.
Michael Perez:
I will speak little, I have plaid the Fool,
And so I am rewarded.
Estifania:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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