The Elder Brother: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Volume 2 of 10) — John Shaqi
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_. 'Tis you that wrong me, off Sir, and suddenly, I'le conjure down
the Spirit that I have rais'd in him.
_Eust_. Never, _Charles_, 'tis thine, and in thy death, be doubled in me.
_Mir_. I'm out of breath, yet trust not too much to't, Boys; for if you
pause not suddenly, and hear reason, do, kill your Uncle, do; but that I'm
patient, and not a cholerick old teasty fool, like your Father, I'd dance
a matachin with you, should make you sweat your best bloud for't; I would,
and it may be I will. _Charles_, I command thee, and _Eustace_, I entreat
thee, th'art a brave Spark, a true tough-metall'd blade, and I begin to
love thee heartily; give me a fighting Courtier, I'le cherish him for
example; in our Age they're not born every day.
_Char_. You of late, Sir, in me lov'd learning.
_Mir_. True, but take me w'ye, _Charles_; 'twas when young _Eustace_ wore
his heart in's breeches, and fought his Battels in Complements and
Cringes, when's understanding wav'd in a flanting Feather, and his best
contemplation look'd no further than a new fashion'd doublet; I confess
then, the lofty noise your Greek made, only pleas'd me; but now he's
turn'd an _Oliver_ and a _Rowland_, nay, the whole dozen of Peers are
bound up in him: Let me remember, when I was of his years, I did look very
like him; and did you see my Picture as I was then, you would swear that
gallant _Eustace_ (I mean, now he dares fight) was the true substance, and
the perfect figure. Nay, nay, no anger, you shall have enough, _Charles_.
_Char_. Sure, Sir, I shall not need addition from him.
_Eust_. Nor I from any, this shall decide my interest; though I am lost to
all deserving men, to all that men call good, for suffering tamely
insufferable wrongs, and justly slighted by yielding to a minute of delay
in my revenge, and from that made a stranger unto my Father's house and
favour, o'erwhelm'd with all disgraces; yet I will mount upward, and force
my self a fortune, though my birth and breeding do deny it.
_Char_. Seek not, _Eustace_, by violence, what will be offer'd to you on
easier composition; though I was not alli'd unto your weakness, you shall
find me a Brother to your bravery of spirit, and one that, not compell'd
to't by your sword, (which I must never fear) will share with you in all
but _Angellina_.
_Mir_. Nobly said, _Charles_, and learn from my experience, you may hear
reason, and never maim your fighting; for your credit, which you think you
have lost, spare _Charles_, and swinge me, and soundly; three or four
walking velvet Cloaks, that wear no swords to guard 'em, yet deserve it,
thou art made up again.
_Eust_. All this is Lip-salve.
_Mir_. It shall be Hearts-ease, _Eustace_, ere I have done; as for thy
Father's anger, now thou dar'st fight, ne'er fear it, for I've the dowcets
of his gravity fast in a string, I will so pinch and wring him, that,
spight of his authority, thou shalt make thine own conditions with him.
_Eust_. I'le take leave a little to consider.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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