The Elder Brother: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Volume 2 of 10)Fletcher, John
General
The Elder Brother: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Volume 2 of 10)
Fletcher, John
Comedy plays; English drama -- 17th century
_Char_. Here comes _Andrew_.
_Mir_. But without his comical and learned face; what sad disaster,
_Andrew_?
_And_. You m[a]y read, Sir, a Tragedy in my face.
_Mir_. Art thou in earnest?
_And_. Yes, by my life, Sir; and if now you help not, and speedily, by
force, or by persuasion, my good old Master (for now I pity him) is ruin'd
for ever.
_Char_. Ha, my Father!
_And_. He, Sir.
_Mir_. By what means? speak.
_And_. At the suit of Monsieur _Lewis_; his house is seiz'd upon, and he
in person is under guard, (I saw it with these eyes, Sir) to be convey'd
to _Paris_, and there Sentenc'd.
_Mir_. Nay, then there is no jesting.
_Char_. Do I live, and know my Father injur'd?
_And_. And what's worse, Sir, my Ladie _Angellina_--
_Eust_. What of her?
_And_. She's carri'd away too.
_Mir_. How?
_And_. While you were absent, a crew of Monsieur _Lewis_ friends and
kinsmen, by force, brake in at th' back part of the house, and took her
away by violence; faithful _Andrew_ (as this can witness for him) did his
best in her defence, but 'twould not do.
_Mir_. Away, and see our Horses sadled, 'tis no time to talk, but do.
_Eustace_, you now are offer'd a spatious field, and in a pious War to
exercise your valour; here's a cause, and such a one, in which to fall is
honourable, your dutie and reverence due to a fathers name commanding it;
but these unnatural jars arising between Brothers (should you prosper)
would shame your victory.
_Eust_. I would do much, Sir, but still my rep[u]tation!
_Mir. Charles_ shall give you all decent satisfaction; nay, joyn hands,
and heartily, why, this is done like Brothers; and as old as I am, in this
cause that concerns the honour of our Family, Monsieur _Lewis_ (if reason
cannot work) shall find and feel there's hot blood in this arm, I'le lead
you bravely.
_Eust_. And if I follow not, a cowards name be branded on my forehead.
_Char_. This spirit makes you a sharer in my fortunes.
_Mir_. And in mine, of which (_Brisac_ once freed, and _Angellina_ again
in our possession) you shall know, my heart speaks in my tongue.
_Eust_. I dare not doubt it, Sir. [_Exeunt_.
ACTUS V. SCENA II.
_Enter_ Lewis, Brisac, Angelli[n]a, Sylvia, _Officers_.
_Lew_. I'm deaf to all perswasions.
_Bri_. I use none, nor doubt I, though a while my innocence suffers, but
when the King shall understand how false your malice hath inform'd him, he
in justice must set me right again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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