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
_Chi._ And there a pissing Conduit.
_Mem._ Ha!
_Chi._ With wine, Sir.
_Mem._ A Sun there in his height, there such a Planet.
_Chi._ But where's our money, where runs that?
_Mem._ Ha?
_Chi._ Money,
Money an't like your Lordship.
_Mem._ Why all the carriage shall come behind, the stuff,
Rich hangings, treasure;
Or say we have none.
_Chi._ I may say so truly,
For hang me if I have a Groat: I have serv'd well
And like an honest man: I see no reason--
_Mem._ Thou must needs die good _Chilax_.
_Chi._ Very well, Sir.
_Mem._ I will have honest, valiant souls about me,
I cannot miss thee.
_Chi._ Dye?
_Mem._ Yes die, and _Pelius_,
_Eumenes_ and _Polybius_: I shall think
Of more within these two hours.
_Chi._ Dye Sir?
_Mem._ I, Sir,
And ye shall dye.
_Chi._ When, I beseech your Lordship?
_Mem._ To morrow see ye do dye.
_C[h]i._ A short warning,
Troth, Sir, I am ill prepar'd.
_Mem._ I dye my self then,
Beside there's reason--
_Chi._ Oh!
_Mem._ I pray thee tell me,
For thou art a great Dreamer.
_Chi._ I can dream, Sir,
If I eat well and sleep well.
_Mem._ Was it never
By Dream or Apparition open'd to thee--
_Chi._ He's mad.
_Mem._ What the other world was, or _Elyzium_?
Didst never travel in thy sleep?
_Chi._ To Taverns,
When I was drunk o're night; or to a Wench,
There's an _Elyzium_ for ye, a young Lady
Wrapt round about ye like a Snake: is that it?
Or if that strange _Elyzium_ that you talk of
Be where the Devil is, I have dream't of him,
And that I have had him by the horns, and rid him,
He trots the Dagger out o'th' sheath.
_Mem._ _Elyzium_,
The blessed fields man.
_Chi._ I know no fields blessed, but those I have gain'd by.
I have dream't I have been in Heaven too.
_Mem._ There, handle that place; that's _Elyzium_.
_Chi._ Brave singing, and brave dancing,
And rare things.
_Mem._ All full of flowers.
_Chi._ And Pot-herbs.
_Mem._ Bowers for lovers,
And everlasting ages of delight.
_Chi._ I slept not so far.
_Mem._ Meet me on those banks
Some two days hence.
_Chi._ In Dream, Sir?
_Mem._ No in death, Sir.
And there I Muster all, and pay the Souldier.
Away, no more, no more.
_Chi._ God keep your Lordship:
This is fine dancing for us.
_Enter_ Siphax.
_Si._ Where's the General?
_Chi._ There's the old sign of _Memnon_, where the soul is
You may go look as I have.
_Si._ What's the matter?
_Chi._ Why question him and see; he talks of Devils,
Hells, Heavens, Princes, Powers, and Potentates,
You must to th' pot too.
_Si._ How?
_Chi._ Do you know _Elyzium_? a tale he talks the Wild-goose chase of.
_Si._ _Elyzium?_ I have read of such a place.
_Chi._ Then get ye to him,
Ye are as fine company as can be fitted. [_Exit_ Chilax.
Your Worships fairly met.
_Si._ Mercy upon us,
What ails this Gentleman?
_Mem._ Provision--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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