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
_Eust_. And now I have it, leave me; y'are infectious, the plague and
leprosie of your baseness spreading on all that do come near you; such as
you render the Throne of Majesty, the Court, suspected and contemptible;
you are Scarabee's that batten in her dung, and have no palats to taste
her curious Viands; and like Owles, can only see her night deformities,
but with the glorious splendor of her beauties, you are struck blind as
Moles, that undermine the sumptuous Building that allow'd you shelter: you
stick like running ulcers on her face, and taint the pureness of her
native candor, and being bad Servants, cause your Masters goodness to be
disputed of; you make the Court, that is the abstract of all Academies, to
teach and practise noble undertakings, (where courage sits triumphant
crown'd with Lawrel, and wisdom loaded with the weight of honour) a School
of Vices.
_Egre_. What sudden rapture's this?
_Eust_. A heavenly one, that raising me from sloth and ignorance, (in
which your conversation long hath charm'd me) carries me up into the air
of action, and knowledge of my self; even now I feel, but pleading only in
the Court's defence (though far short of her merits and bright lustre) a
happy alteration, and full strength to stand her Champion against all the
world, that throw aspersions on her.
_Cow_. Sure he'll beat us, I see it in his eyes.
_Egre_. A second _Charles_; pray look not, Sir, so furiously.
_Eust_. Recant what you have said, ye Mungrils, and lick up the vomit ye
have cast upon the Court, where you unworthily have had warmth and
breeding, and swear that you, like Spiders, have made poison of that which
was a saving Antidote.
_Egre_. We will swear any thing.
_Cow_. We honour the Court as a most sacred place.
_Egre_. And will make oath, if you enjoyn us to't, nor knave, nor fool,
nor coward living in it.
_Eust_. Except you two, you Rascals.
_Cow_. Yes, we are all these, and more, if you will have it so.
_Eust_. And that until you are again reform'd and grown new men, you
ne'ere presume to name the Court, or press into the Porter's Lodge but for
a penance, to be disciplin'd for your roguery, and this done with true
contrition.
_Both_. Yes, Sir.
_Eust_. You again may eat scraps, and be thankful.
_Cow_. Here's a cold breakfast after a sharp nights walking.
_Eust_. Keep your oaths, and without grumbling vanish.
_Both_. We are gone, Sir. [_Exeunt_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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