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
_Char. Let her alone, pray let her alone, [_She strikes off_
and take your Coxcomb up: Let me talk [Eustace's _hat_.
civilly a while with you, Brother. It may be on some terms I may part with
her.
_Eust_. O, is your heart come down? what are your terms, Sir? Put up, put
up.
_Char_. This is the first and chiefest; [_Snatches away his sword_]
let's walk a turn. Now stand off, fools, I advise ye, stand as far off as
you would hope for mercy: this is the first sword yet I ever handled, and
a sword's a beauteous thing to look upon; and if it hold, I shall so hunt
your insolence: 'tis sharp, I'm sure, and if I put it home, 'tis ten to
one I shall new pink your Sattins; I find I have spirit enough to dispose
of it, and will enough to make ye all examples; let me toss it round, I
have the full command on't. Fetch me a native Fencer, I defie him; I feel
the fire of ten strong spirits in me. Do you watch me when my Uncle is
absent? this is my grief, I shall be flesh'd on Cowards; teach me to
fight, I willing am to learn. Are ye all gilded flies, nothing but shew in
ye? why stand ye gaping? who now touches her? who calls her his, or who
dares name her to me? but name her as his own; who dares look on her? that
shall be mortal too; but think, 'tis dangerous. Art thou a fit man to
inherit Land, and hast no wit nor spirit to maintain it? Stand still, thou
sign of a man, and pray for thy friends, pray heartily, good prayers may
restore ye.
_Ang_. But do not kill 'em, Sir.
_Char_. You speak too late, Dear; it is my first fight, and I must do
bravely, I must not look with partial eyes on any; I cannot spare a button
of these Gentlemen; did life lie in their heel, Achilles like, I'd shoot
my anger at those parts, and kill 'em. Who waits within?
_Ser_. Sir.
_Char_. View all these, view 'em well, go round about 'em, and still view
their faces; round about yet, see how death waits upon 'em, for thou shalt
never view 'em more.
_Eust_. Pray hold, Sir.
_Char_. I cannot hold, you stand so fair before me; I must not hold;
'twill darken all my glories. Go to my Uncle, bid him post to the King,
and get my pardon instantly, I have need on't.
_Eust_. Are you so unnatural?
_Char_. You shall die last, Sir, I'll take thee dead, thou art no man to
fight with. Come, will ye come? Me-thinks I've fought whole Battels.
_Cow_. We have no quarrel to you that we know on, Sir.
_Egre_. We'll quit the house, and ask ye mercy too. Good Lady, let no
murther be done here; we came but to parly.
_Char_. How my sword thirsts after them! Stand away, Sweet.
_Eust_. Pray, Sir, take my submission, and I disclaim for ever.
_Char_. Away, ye poor things, ye despicable creatures! do you come poste
to fetch a Lady from me? from a poor School-boy that ye scorn'd of late,
and grow lame in your hearts when you should execute? Pray take her, take
her, I am weary of her: What did you bring to carry her?
_Egre_. A Coach and four Horses.
_Char_. But are they good?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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