The Beaux-Stratagem: A comedy in five actsFarquhar, George
General
The Beaux-Stratagem: A comedy in five acts
Farquhar, George
Comedy plays; English drama (Comedy)
_Dor._ The pleasantest fellow, sister, I ever saw.--But, friend, if your
master be married,----I presume you still serve a lady.
_Arch._ No, madam, I take care never to come into a married family; the
commands of the master and mistress are always so contrary, that 'tis
impossible to please both.
_Dor._ There's a main point gained----My lord is not married, I find.
[_Aside._
_Mrs. Sul._ But I wonder, friend, that in so many good services, you had
not a better provision made for you.
_Arch._ I don't know how, madam----I am very well as I am----
_Mrs. Sul._ Something for a pair of gloves. [_Offering him Money._
_Arch._ I humbly beg leave to be excused; my master, madam, pays me, nor
dare I take money from any other hand, without injuring his honour, and
disobeying his commands.
_Scrub._ Brother Martin, brother Martin.
_Arch._ What do you say, brother Scrub?
_Scrub._ Take the money, and give it to me. [_Exeunt_ ARCHER _and_ SCRUB.
_Dor._ This is surprising: did you ever see so pretty a well-bred
fellow?
_Mrs. Sul._ The devil take him, for wearing that livery.
_Dor._ I fancy, sister, he may be some gentleman, a friend of my lord's,
that his lordship has pitched upon for his courage, fidelity, and
discretion, to bear him company in this dress, and who, ten to one, was
his second.
_Mrs. Sul._ It is so, it must be so, and it shall be so--for I like him.
_Dor._ What! better than the count?
_Mrs. Sul._ The count happened to be the most agreeable man upon the
place; and so I chose him to serve me in my design upon my husband----But
I should like this fellow better in a design upon myself.
_Dor._ But now, sister, for an interview with this lord and this
gentleman; how shall we bring that about?
_Mrs. Sul._ Patience! you country ladies give no quarter.--Lookye,
Dorinda, if my Lord Aimwell loves you or deserves you, he'll find a way
to see you, and there we must leave it----My business comes now upon the
tapis,----Have you prepared your brother?
_Dor._ Yes, yes.
_Mrs. Sul._ And how did he relish it?
_Dor._ He said little, mumbled something to himself, and promised to be
guided by me: but here he comes.--
_Enter_ SULLEN.
_Sul._ What singing was that I heard just now?
_Mrs. Sul._ The singing in your head, my dear, you complained of it all
day.
_Sul._ You're impertinent.
_Mrs. Sul._ I was ever so, since I became one flesh with you.
_Sul._ One flesh! rather two carcases joined unnaturally together.
_Mrs. Sul._ Or rather a living soul coupled to a dead body.
_Dor._ So, this is fine encouragement for me!
_Sul._ Yes, my wife shows you what you must do!
_Mrs. Sul._ And my husband shows you what you must suffer.
_Sul._ 'Sdeath, why can't you be silent?
_Mrs. Sul._ 'Sdeath, why can't you talk?
_Sul._ Do you talk to any purpose?
_Mrs. Sul._ Do you think to any purpose?
_Sul._ Sister, harkye--[_Whispers._] I shan't be home till it be late.
[_Exit._
_Mrs. Sul._ What did he whisper to ye?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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