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
_Sent._ I laid a wager my Lord with _Hairecut_,
Who thinkes I shall catch cold, that ile stand bare
This halfe houre. _Ha._ Pardon my ambition
Madam, I told you truth, I am a gentleman,
And cannot feare that name is drown'd in my
Relation to my Lord. _Cel._ I dare not thinke so.
_Ha._ From henceforth call my service duty Madam,
That Pigges head that betraid me to your mirth,
Is doing penance for't. _Sent._ Why may not I
My Lord begin a fashion of no haire.
_Cel._ Doe you sweat sir William. _Sent._ Not with store of nightcaps.
_Enter Aretina, Bornwell._
_Are._ Heaven has dissolv'd the clouds that hung upon
My eyes, and if you can with mercy meet
A penitent, I throw my owne will off,
And now in all things obey yours, my nephew
Send backe agen to'th colledge, and my selfe
To what place you'le confine me. _Bor._ Dearer now
Than ever to my bosome, thou shalt please
Me best to live at thy owne choice, I did
But fright thee with a noise of my expences,
The summes are safe, and we have wealth enough,
If yet we use it nobly? My Lord----Madam,
Pray honour to night. _Are._ I begge your presence,
And pardon. _Bor._ I know not how my _Aretina_
May be disposd to morrow for the country.
_Cel._ You must not goe, before you both have done
Me honour to accept an entertainment,
Where I have power, on those termes I me your guest.
_Bor._ You grace us Madam. _Are._ Already
I feele a cure upon my soule, and promise
My after life to vertue, pardon heaven,
My shame yet hid from the worlds eye.
_De._ Sweet Madam. _Enter decoy._
_Ar._ Not for the world be seene here, we are lost,
Ile visite you at home; but not to practise
What she expects, my counsell may recover her.
_Enter Alexander._
_Al._ Wheres Madam? pray lend me a little money,
My spirit has deceiv'd me, _Proserpine_
Has broke her word. _Are._ Doe you expect to find
The devill true to you. _Al._ Not too loud. _Are._ Ile voyce it
Louder, to all the world your horrid sinne,
Vnlesse you promise me religiously,
To purge your foule bloud by repentance sir.
_Al._ Then I'me undone. _Are._ Not while I have power
To encourage you to vertue, ile endeavour
To find you out some nobler way at Court
To thrive in. _Al._ Doo't, and ile forsake the devill,
And bring my flesh to obedience; you shall steere me,
My Lord--your servant. _Lor._ You are brave agen.
_Al._ Madam your pardon. _Bor._ Your offence requires
Humility. _Al._ Low as my heart. Sir _Thomas_
Ile sup with you, a part of satisfaction.
_Bor._ Our pleasures coole, musicke, and when our Ladies
Are tired with active motion, to give
Them rest in some new rapture to advance
Full mirth, our soules shall leape into a dance.
_Exeunt._
_FINIS._
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
"Supernitendent" changed to "Superintendent" (With title of
Superintendent Baylie).
"Dutchmnas" and "Dutchmans" (Of this Italian Master, and that
Dutchmans).
"siir" changed to "sir" (Yes sir, and when tis drawne).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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