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
_Lor._ Please you to give me the particular
That I may know the extent of my engagement,
I am ignorant by what desert you should
Be encouragd to have care of me. _De._ My Lord,
I will take boldnesse to be plaine, beside
Your other excellent parts, you have much fame
For your sweet inclination to our sexe.
_Lor._ How dee meane Madam? _Dec._ I'that way your Lordship
Hath honorably practisd upon some
Not to be nam'd, your noble constancie
To a mistresse hath deserv'd our generall vote,
And I a part of woman kind have thought
How to expresse my duty. _Lor._ In what Madam?
_Dec._ Be not so strange my Lord, I know the beauty
And pleasures of your eyes, that hansome creature
With whose faire life all your delight tooke leave,
And to whose memory you have paid too much
Sad tribute. _Lor._ Whats all this? _Dec._ This, if your Lordship
Accept my service, in pure zeale to cure
Your melancholy, I could point where you might
Repaire your losse. _Lor._ Your Ladiship I conceive
Doth trafficke in flesh marchandize. _De._ To men
Of honour like your selfe, I am well knowne
To some in court and come not with ambition
Now to supplant your officer. _Lor._ What is
The Lady of pleasure you preferre. _De._ A Lady
Of birth and fortune, one upon whose vertue
I may presume, the Lady _Aretina_.
_Lor._ Wife to sir _Thomas Bornwell_? _Dec._ The same sir.
_Lor._ Have you prepard her?
_De._ Not for your Lordship, till I have found your pulse,
I am acquainted with her disposition
She has a very appliable nature.
_Lor._ And Madam when expect you to be whipt
For doing these fine favors. _De._ How my Lord?
Your Lordship does but jeast I hope, you make
A difference betweene a Lady that
Does honorable offices, and one
They call a bawd, your Lordship was not wont
To have such course opinion of our practice.
_Lor._ The Lady _Aretina_ is my kinswoman.
_De._ What if she be my Lord? the nearer bloud
The dearer sympathie. _Lor._ Ile have thee carted.
_De._ Your Lordship wonot so much staine your honour
And education, to use a woman
Of my qualitie.----_Lord._----Tis possible you may
Be sent off with an honorable convoy
Of Halberdeers. _De._ Oh my good Lord!
_Lor._ Your Ladiship shall be no protection
If thou but staist three minutes. _De._ I am gone,
When next you finde rebellion in your bloud,
May all within ten mile o'th court turne honest. _Exit._
_Lor._ I doe not finde that pronenesse since the faire
_Bella Maria_ died, my bloud is cold,
Nor is there beautie enough surviving
To highten me to wantonnesse, who waites?
And what said my Lady? _Enter Hairecut._
_Ha._ The silent language of her face my Lord
Was not so pleasant, as it shewd upon
Her entrance. _Lor._ Would any man that meetes
This Lady take her for a bawde. _Ha._ She does
The trade an honor, credit to the profession,
We may in time see baldnesse, quarter noses,
And rotten legges to take the wall of footclothes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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