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
She does command then
This courtesie, because she knows you are noble.
Cacafogo:
Your Mistress by the way?
Estifania:
My natural mistress,
Upon these Jewels, Sir, they are fair and rich,
And view 'em right.
Cacafogo:
To doubt 'em is an heresie.
Estifania:
A thousand Duckets, 'tis upon necessity
Of present use, her husband, Sir, is stubborn.
Cacafogo:
Long may he be so.
Estifania:
She desires withal a better knowledge of your parts and person,
And when you please to do her so much honour.
Cacafogo:
Come, let's dispatch.
Estifania:
In troth I have heard her say, Sir,
Of a fat man she has not seen a sweeter.
But in this business, Sir.
Cacafogo:
Let's do it first
And then dispute, the Ladies use may long for't.
Estifania:
All secrecy she would desire, she told me
How wise you are.
Cacafogo:
We are not wise to talk thus,
Carry her the gold, I'le look her out a Jewel,
Shall sparkle like her eyes, and thee another,
Come prethee come, I long to serve thy Lady,
Long monstrously, now valor I shall meet ye,
You that dare Dukes.
Estifania:
Green goose you are now in sippets.
[Exeunt.
[Enter the Duke, _Sanchio_, _Juan_, _Alonzo_.]
Duke of Medina:
He shall not have his will, I shall prevent him,
I have a toy here that will turn the tide,
And suddenly, and strangely, hear _Don Juan,_
214] Do you present it to him.
Juan de Castro:
I am commanded.
[Exit.
Duke of Medina:
A fellow founded out of Charity,
And moulded to the height contemn his maker,
Curb the free hand that fram'd him? This must not be.
Sanchio:
That such an oyster shell should hold a pearl,
And of so rare a price in prison,
Was she made to be the matter of her own undoing,
To let a slovenly unweildy fellow,
Unruly and self will'd, dispose her beauties?
We suffer all Sir in this sad Eclipse,
She should shine where she might show like her self,
An absolute sweetness, to comfort those admire her,
And shed her beams upon her friends.
We are gull'd all,
And all the world will grumble at your patience,
If she be ravish't thus.
Duke of Medina:
Ne'r fear it _Sanchio_,
We'I have her free again, and move at Court
In her clear orb: but one sweet handsomeness,
To bless this part of _Spain_, and have that slubber'd?
Alonzo:
'Tis every good mans cause, and we must stir in it.
Duke of Medina:
I'le warrant he shall be glad to please us,
And glad to share too, we shall hear anon
A new song from him, let's attend a little.
[Exeunt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account