The Mad Lover, a Tragi-Comedy: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (3 of 10)Fletcher, John
General
The Mad Lover, a Tragi-Comedy: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (3 of 10)
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Mem._ Joy on then, and be proud on't, I do love you,
Stand still, do not trouble me you Women.
He loves you Lady at whose feet have kneel'd
Princes to beg their freedoms, he whose valour
Has overrun whole Kingdoms.
_Cal._ That makes me doubt, Sir,
'Twill overrun me too.
_Mem._ He whose Sword.
_Cle._ Talk not so big, Sir, you will fright the Princess.
_Mem._ Ha.
_Lucippe._ No forsooth.
_Cal._ I know ye have done wonders.
_Mem._ I have and will do more and greater, braver;
And for your beauty miracles, name that Kingdom
And take your choice.
_Cal._ Sir I am not ambitious.
_Mem._ Ye shall be, 'tis the Child of Glory: she that I love
Whom my desires shall magnifie, time stories,
And all the Empires of the Earth.
_Cle._ I would fain ask him--
_Lucip._ Prithee be quiet, he will beat us both else.
_Cle._ What will ye make me then, Sir?
_Mem._ I will make thee
Stand still and hold thy peace; I have a heart, Lady.
_Cal._ Ye were a monster else.
_Mem._ A loving heart,
A truly loving heart.
_Cal._ Alas, how came it?
_Mem._ I would you had it in your hand, sweet Lady,
To see the truth it bears you.
_Cal._ Do you give it.
_Lucip._ That was well thought upon.
_Cle._ 'Twill put him to't Wench.
_Cal._ And you shall see I dare accept it, Sir,
Tak't in my hand and view it: if I find it
A loving and a sweet heart, as you call it,
I am bound, I am.
_Mem._ No more, I'll send it to ye,
As I have honour in me, you shall have it.
_Cle._ Handsomly done, Sir, and perfum'd by all means,
The Weather's warm, Sir.
_Mem._ With all circumstance.
_Lucip._ A Napkin wrought most curiously.
_Mem._ Divinely.
_Cle._ Put in a Goblet of pure Gold.
_Mem._ Yes in _Jacinth_
That she may see the Spirit through.
_Lucip._ Ye have greas'd him
For chewing love again in haste.
_Cle._ If he should do it.
_Cal._ If Heaven should fall we should have larks; he do it!
_Cle._ See how he thinks upon't.
_Cal._ He will think these three years
Ere he prove such an Ass, I lik't his offer,
There was no other way to put him off else.
_Mem._ I will do it--
Lady expect my heart.
_Cal._ I do, Sir.
_Mem._ Love it, for 'tis a heart that--and so I leave ye.
[_Exit_ Mem.
_Cle._ Either he is stark mad,
Or else I thinks he means it.
_Cal._ He must be stark mad
Or else he will never do it, 'tis vain Glory,
And want of judgment that provokes this in him;
Sleep and Society cures all: his heart?
No, no, good Gentleman there's more belongs to't,
Hearts are at higher prices, let's go in
And there examine him a little better.
Shut all the doors behind for fear he follow,
I hope I have lost a lover, and am glad on't. [_Ex._ Lady.
_Actus Secundus. Scena Prima._
_Enter_ Memnon _alone_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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