The Elder Brother: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Volume 2 of 10)Fletcher, John
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The Elder Brother: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Volume 2 of 10)
Fletcher, John
Comedy plays; English drama -- 17th century
_And._ And I'le rest w'ye, you shall see what rest 'twill be. Are ye so
nimble? a man had need have ten pair of ears to watch you.
_Bri._ Wait on your Master, for I know he wants ye, and keep him in his
Study, that the noise do not molest him. I will not fail my _Lilly_--Come
in, sweet-hearts, all to their several duties. [_Exeunt._
_And._ Are you kissing ripe, Sir? Double but my Farm, and kiss her till
thy heart ake. These Smock-vermine, how eagerly they leap at old mens
kisses, they lick their lips at profit, not at pleasure; and if 't were
not for the scurvy name of Cuckold, he should lie with her. I know she'll
labour at length with a good Lordship. If he had a Wife now, but that's
all one, I'le fit him. I must up unto my Master, he'll be mad with Study--
[_Exit._
ACTUS III. SCENA III.
_Enter_ Charles.
_Char._ What a noise is in this house? my head is broken, within a
Parenthesis, in every corner, as if the Earth were shaken with some
strange Collect, there are stirs and motions. What Planet rules this
house?
_Enter_ Andrew.
Who's there?
_And._ 'Tis I, Sir, faithful _Andrew_.
_Char._ Come near, and lay thine ear down; hear'st no noise?
_And._ The Cooks are chopping herbs and mince-meat to make Pies, and
breaking Marrow-bones--
_Char._ Can they set them again?
_And._ Yes, yes, in Broths and Puddings, and they grow stronger for the
use of any man.
_Char._ What speaking's that? sure there's a Massacre.
_And._ Of Pigs and Geese, Sir, and Turkeys, for the spit. The Cooks are
angry Sirs, and that makes up the medley.
_Char._ Do they thus at every Dinner? I ne're mark'd them yet, nor know
who is a Cook.
_And._ They're sometimes sober, and then they beat as gently as a Tabor.
_Char._ What loads are these?
_And._ Meat, meat, Sir, for the Kitchen, and stinking Fowls the Tenants
have sent in; they'll ne'r be found out at a general eating; and there's
fat Venison, Sir.
_Char._ What's that?
_And._ Why Deer, those that men fatten for their private pleasures, and
let their Tenants starve upon the Commons.
_Char._ I've read of Deer, but yet I ne'er eat any.
_And._ There's a Fishmongers Boy with Caviar, Sir, Anchoves, and Potargo,
to make ye drink.
_Char._ Sure these are modern, very modern meats, for I understand 'em
not.
_And._ No more does any man from Caca merda, or a substance worse, till
they be greas'd with Oyl, and rubb'd with Onions, and then flung out of
doors, they are rare Sallads.
_Char._ And why is all this, prethee tell me, _Andrew_? are there any
Princes to dine here to day? by this abundance sure there should be
Princes; I've read of entertainment for the gods at half this charge; will
not six Dishes serve 'em? I never had but one, and that a small one.
_And._Your Brother's marri'd this day; he's marri'd your younger Brother
_Eustace_.
_Char._ What of that?
_And._ And all the Friends about are bidden hither; there's not a Dog that
knows the house, but comes too.
_Char._ Marri'd! to whom?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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