The Lady of Pleasure: A Comedie, as It Was Acted by Her Majesties Servants, at the Private House in Drury Lane — John Shaqi
The Lady of Pleasure: A Comedie, as It Was Acted by Her Majesties Servants, at the Private House in Drury LaneShirley, James
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The Lady of Pleasure: A Comedie, as It Was Acted by Her Majesties Servants, at the Private House in Drury Lane
Shirley, James
Comedy plays; English drama -- 17th century
_Ha._ My present condition Madam, carries
Honour and profit, though not to be nam'd
With that employment J expect i'th state
Which shall discharge the first maturitie
Vpon your knowledge, untill then I begge
You allow a modest silence. _Cel._ I am charmd sir,
And if you scape embassador, you cannot
Reach a preferment, wherein I'me against you,
But where's sir _William Sentlove_?
_Ha._ Give him leave
To follow his nose Madam, while he hunts
In view, hee'le soone be at a fault. _Cel._ You know him.
_Ha._ Know _Sentlove_? not a page but can decipher him,
The waitingwomen know him to a scruple,
Hee's cal'd the Blistermaker of the towne.
_Cel._ Whats that?
_Is._ The laundry Ladies can resolve you,
And you may guesse, an arrant Epicure
As this day lives, borne to a prettie wit,
A Knight but no gentleman; J must
Be plaine to you, your Ladiship may have
Vse of this knowledge, but conceale the author.
_Sen._ J kisse your fairest hand. _Mar._ You make a difference,
Pray reconcile e'm to an equall whitenesse.
_Sent._ You wound my meaning Lady.
_Cel._ Nay sir _William_
Has the art of complement. _Sent._ Madam, you honor me
'Bove my desert of language. _Cel._ Will you please
To enrich me with your knowledge of that gentleman.
_Sent._ Doe you not know him Madam. _Cel._ What is he?
_Sen._ A Camphire ball, you shall know more hereafter
He shall tell you himselfe, and save my character,
Till then, you see hee's proud.
_Cel._ One thing gentlemen
I observe in your behaviour, which is rare
In two that court one mistresse, you preserve
A noble friendship, theres no gum within
Your hearts, you cannot fret, or shew an envy
Of one anothers hope, some would not governe
Their passions with that temper. _Sent._ The whole world
Shanot divorce our friendship. Mr _Hairecut_
Would I had lives to serve him, he is lost
To goodnesse does not honour him. _Ha._ My knight!
_Cel._ This is right playing at Court Shuttlecocke.
_Enter Gentlew._
_Gen._ Madam, there is a gentleman desires
To speake w'ee, one sir _Thomas Bornwell_. _Cel._ _Bornewell?_
_Gen._ He sayes he is a stranger to your Ladiship.
_Sen._ I know him. _Haire._ Your neighbour Madam.
_Sen._ Husband to the Lady, that so revells in the strand.
_Ha._ He has good parts they say, but cannot helpe
His Ladies bias. _Cel._ They have both much fame
Ith towne for severall merits, pray admit him.
_Ha._ What comes he for? _Enter sir Thomas._
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