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
_Cha._ With much unwillingness with you, but if
There's no evasion-- _Eust._ None. _Cha._ Heare yet a word
As for the sword and other fripperies,
In a faire way send for them, you shall have 'em.
But rather than surrender _Angellina_,
Or heare it againe mention'd, I oppose
My breast unto lowd thunder, cast behinde me
All ties of Nature. _Eust._ She detain'd, I'me deafe
To all perswasion. _Cha._ Guard thy selfe then _Eustace_,
I use no other Rhetorick. _Mir._ Clashing of swords [_Enter Miram._]
So neere my house? brother oppos'd to brother!
Here is no fencing at halfe sword; hold, hold,
_Charles, Eustace_. _Eust._ Second him, or call in more helpe.
Come not betweene us, Ile not know nor spare you;
D'ye fight by th' booke? _Cha._ Tis you that wrong me, off Sir,
And suddenly, Ile conjure down the Spirit
That I have raised in him. _Eust._ Never, _Charles_,
Tis thine, and in thy death, be doubled in me.
_Mir._ I'me out of breath, yet trust not too much to't boyes,
For if you pawse not suddenly, and heare reason,
Doe, kill your Uncle, doe, but that I'me patient,
And not a cholerick old teasty foole,
Like your father, Ide daunce a matachin with you,
Should make you sweat your best blood 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-metal'd blade, and I begin
To love thee heartily, give me a fighting Courtier,
Ile cherish him for example; in our age
Th'are not born every day. _Cha._ You of late Sir,
In me lov'd learning. _Mir._ True, but take me w'ye, _Charles_,
'Twas when yong _Eustace_ wore his heart in's breeches,
And fought his battailes in Complements and Cringes,
When's understanding wav'd in a flaunting feather,
And his best contemplation look'd no further
Than a new-fashion'd doublet, I confess then
The lofty noise your Greek made onely pleas'd me;
But now hee's turn'd an _Oliver_ and a _Rowland_,
Nay the whole dozen of peeres are bound up in him:
Let me remember, when I was of his yeeres,
I did looke very like him; and did you see
My picture as I was then, you would sweare
That gallant _Eustace_ (I meane, now he dares fight)
Was the true substance and the perfect figure.
Nay, nay, no anger, you shall have enough _Charles_.
_Cha._ Sure Sir, I shall not need addition from him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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