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
_Cel._ They are things not worth my character, nor mention
Of any cleane breath, so lost in honesty
They cannot satisfie for wrongs enough,
Though they should steale out of the world at Tiburne.
_Lit._ We are hang'd already.
_Cel._ Yet I will talke a little to the pilchards,
You two that have not twixt you both the hundred
Part of a soule, course woollen witted fellowes,
Without a nap, with bodies made for burdens,
You that are onely stuffings for apparrell
As you were made but engines for your Taylors
To frame their clothes upon, and get them custome;
Vntill men see you moove, yet, then you dare not
Out of your guilt of being the ignobler beast
But give a horse the wall, whom you excell
Onely in dancing of the brawles, because
The horse was not taught the French way, your two faces,
One fat like Christmas, tother leane like Candlemas,
And Prologue to a Lent, both bound together
Would figure _Ianus_, and doe many cures
On Agues and the greene disease by frighting,
But neither can with all the characters
And conjuring circles charme a woman, though
Sha'd fourescore yeares upon her, and but one
Tooth in her head, to love, or thinke well of you;
And I were miserable, to be at cost
To court such a complexion, as your malice
Did impudently insinuate, but I waste time
And staine my breath in talking to such tadpoles.
Goe home and wash your tongues in Barly water,
Drinke cleane Tobacco, be not hot i'th mouth,
And you may scape the Beadle; so I leave you
To shame and your owne garters. Sir I must
Entreate you for my honour doe not pennance em,
They are not worth your anger, how I shall
Acquit your Ladies silence.
_Bo._ Madam, I
Am sorry to suspect, and dare revenge.
_Cel._ No cause of mine. _Bor._ It must become me to attend you home.
_Cel._ You are noble--farewell Mushroomes.
_Are._ Is she gone. _Li._ I thinke we peperd her.
_Al._ I am glad tis over,
But I repent no service for you Madam.
_Enter servant with a letter._
To me? from whence--a Iewell a good preface,
Be happy the conclusion.
_Are._ Some love letter----_He smiles upont._
_Lit._ He has a hundred Mistresses, you may
Be charitable Madam I ha none,
He surfets, and I fall away i'th kidnyes.
_Al._ Ile meete,
Tis some great Lady questionlesse, that has
Taken notice, and would satisfie her appetite.
_Are._ Now Mr. _Alexander_, you looke bright o the suddaine,
Another spirit's in your eye.
_Al._ Not mine Madam,
Onely a summons to meete a friend.
_Ar._ What friend? _Lit._ By this Jewell, I know her not!
_Ar._ Tis a she friend, Ile follow gentlemen,
We may have a game at Sant before you goe.
_Al._ I shall attend you Madam. _Li._ Tis our duty.
_Are._ I blush while I converse with my owne thoughts,
Some strange fate governes me, but I must on,
The wayes are cast already, and we thrive
When our sinne feares no eye nor perspective. _Exit._
_The fourth Act._
_Enter two men leading Alexander, blinded, and goe off suddenly._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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