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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

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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

It may be I,
      It may be no, e'n as the humour takes me.
      If I find peace amongst the female Creatures,
      And easie entertainment, I'll stay at home,
      I am not so far obliged yet to long Marches
      And mouldy Biskets, to run mad for Honour,
      When you are all gone I have my choice before me.

Sanchio:

      Of which Hospital thou wilt sweat in; wilt thou
      Never leave whoring?

Alonzo:

      There is less danger in't than gunning, _Sanchio_,
      Though we be shot sometimes, the shot's not mortal,
      Besides, it breaks no limbs.

Sanchio:

      But it disables 'em,
      Dost thou see how thou pull'st thy legs after thee, as they
      Hung by points.

Alonzo:

      Better to pull 'em thus than walk on wooden ones,
      Serve bravely for a Billet to support me.

Sanchio:

      Fye, fye, 'tis base.

Alonzo:

      Dost thou count it base to suffer?
      Suffer abundantly? 'tis the Crown of Honour;
      You think it nothing to lie twenty days
      Under a Surgeons hands that has no mercy.

Sanchio:

      As thou hast done I am sure, but I perceive now
      Why you desire to stay, the orient Heiress,
      The _Margarita_, Sir,

Alonzo:

      I would I had her.

Sanchio:

      They say she will marry.
175]

Alonzo:

      I think she will.

Sanchio:

      And marry suddenly, as report goes too,
      She fears her Youth will not hold out, _Alonzo_.

Alonzo:

      I would I had the sheathing on't.

Sanchio:

      They say too
      She has a greedy eye that must be fed
      With more than one mans meat.

Alonzo:

      Would she were mine,
      I would cater for her well enough; but _Sanchio_,
      There be too many great men that adore her,
      Princes, and Princes fellows, that claim priviledge.

Sanchio:

      Yet those stand off i'th' way of marriage,
      To be tyed to a man's pleasure is a second labour.

Alonzo:

      She has bought a brave house here in town.

Sanchio:

      I have heard so.

Alonzo:

      If she convert it now to pious uses,
      And bid poor Gentlemen welcome.

Sanchio:

      When comes she to it?

Alonzo:

      Within these two days, she is in the Country yet,
      And keeps the noblest House.

Sanchio:

      Then there's some hope of her,
      Wilt thou go my way?

Alonzo:

      No, no, I must leave you,
      And repair to an old Gentlewoman
      That has credit with her, that can speak a good word.

Sanchio:

      Send thee good fortune, but make thy Body sound first.

Alonzo:

      I am a Souldier,
      And too sound a Body becomes me not;
      Farewel, _Sanchio_.

                                                                      [Exeunt.

      [Enter a Servant of _Michael Perez_.]

Servant:

      'Tis this or that house, or I have lost my aim,
      They are both fair buildings, she walked plaguy fast,

      [Enter _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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