The Lady of Pleasure: A Comedie, as It Was Acted by Her Majesties Servants, at the Private House in Drury LaneShirley, James
General
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
_Bor._ Have you no Ladies i'th next roome, to advance
A present mirth? What a dull house you governe?
Farewell, a wife's no company--_Aretina_,
J've summ'd up my estate, and find we may have
A month good yet. _Are._ What meane you? _Bo._ And Jde rather
Be Lord one moneth of pleasures, to the height
And rapture of our senses, than be yeares,
Consuming what we have in foolish temperance,
Live in the darke, and no fame waite upon us,
I will live so, posterity shall stand
At gaze when I am mentioned. _Are._ A mon'th good,
And what shall be done then. _Bor._ Ile over Sea,
And traile a pike, with watching, marching, lying
In trenches, with enduring cold, and hunger,
And taking here and there a musketshot,
I can earne every weeke foure shillings Madam,
And if the bullets favour me to snatch
Any superfluous limbe, when I returne
With good friends, I despaire not to be enrold
Poore Knight of Windsore; for your course Madam,
No doubt you may doe well, your friends are great,
Or if your poverty, and their pride cannot
Agree, you neede not trouble much invention,
To find a trade to live by, there are customers,
Farewell, be frolicke Madam, if I live
I will feast all my senses, and not fall
Lesse than a _Phaeton_ from my throne of Pleasure,
Though my estate flame like the world about me.
_Are._ Tis very pretty. _Enter Decoy._
Madam _Decoy_. _De._ What melancholy _Exit._
After so sweet a nights worke? Have not I
Shew'd my selfe Mistris of my art. _Are._ A Lady.
_De._ That title makes the credit of the act
A story higher, y'ave not seene him yet,
I wonder what hee'le say. _Are._ He's here.
_Ale._ Beare up _Enter Alexander and Fredericke._
My little _Mirmidan_, does not _Jacke Littleworth_
Follow? _Fre._ Follow? He fell into the Thames
At landing. _Alex._ The devill shall dive for him
Ere I endanger my silke stockings for him,
Let the Watermen alone, they have drags and engins,
When he has drunke his Julip, I shall laugh
To see him come in pickeld the next tide.
_Fre._ Hee'le never sinke, he has such a corke braine.
_Ale._ Let him be hang'd or drown'd alls one to me,
Yet he deserves to die by water, cannot
Beare his wine credibly. _Fre._ Is not this my Aunt?
_Ale._ And another hansome Lady, I must know her.
_Fre._ My bloud is rampant too, I must court some body,
As good my Aunt, as any other body.
_Are._ Where have you beene cozen? _Fre._ At the bridge,
At the Beares foote, where our first health began
To the faire _Aretina_, whose sweet company
Was wished by all, we could not get a lay,
a Tumbler, a Device, a _bona roba_
For any money, drawers were growne dull;
We wanted our true firkes and our vagaries;
When were you in drinke Aunt? _Are._ How? _Fr._ Do not Ladies
Play the good fellowes too? there's no true mirth
Without e'm, I have now such tickling fancies,
That Doctour of the chaire of wit, has read
A precious lecture, how I should behave
My selfe to Ladies, as now for example.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account