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._ One hour raving,
Another smiling, not a word the third hour,
I tell thee _Stremon_ h'as a stirring soul,
What ever it attempts or labours at
Would wear out twenty bodies in another.
_Fool._ I'le keep it out of me, for mine's but Buckram,
He would bownce that out in two hours.
_Chi._ Then he talks
The strangest and the maddest stuff from reason,
Or any thing ye offer; stand thou there,
I'le show thee how he is, for I'le play _Memnon_
The strangest General that ere thou heardst of, _Stremon_.
_Stre._ My Lord.
_Chi._ Go presently and find me
A black Horse with a blew tail; bid the blank Cornet
Charge through the Sea, and sink the Navy: softly,
Our souls are things not to be waken'd in us
With larums, and loud bawlings, for in _Elyzium_
Stilness and quietness, and sweetness, Sirra,
I will have, for it much concerns mine honour,
Such a strong reputation for my welcome
As all the world shall say: for in the forefront
So many on white Unicorns, next them
My Gentlemen, my Cavaliers and Captains,
Ten deep and trapt with Tenter-hooks to take hold
Of all occasions: for Friday cannot fish out
The end I aim at; tell me of _Diocles_,
And what he dares do? dare he meet me naked?
Thunder in this hand? in his left--Fool--
_Fool._ Yes, Sir.
_Chi._ Fool, I would have thee fly i'th' Air, fly swiftly
To that place where the Sun sets, there deliver.
_Fool._ Deliver? what, Sir?
_Chi._ This Sir, this ye slave, Sir, [_All laugh._
Death ye rude Rogues, ye Scarabe's.
_Fool._ Hold for Heav'ns sake, Lieutenant, sweet Lieutenant.
_Chi._ I have done, Sir.
_Boy._ You have wrung his neck off.
_Chi._ No Boy, 'tis the nature
Of this strange passion when't hits to hale people
Along by th' hair, to kick 'em, break their heads.
_Fool._ Do ye call this Acting, was your part to beat me?
_Chi._ Yes, I must act all that he does.
_Fool._ Plague act ye,
I'le act no more.
_Stre._ 'Tis but to shew man.
_Fool._ Then man
He should have shew'd it only, and not done it,
I am sure he beat me beyond Action,
Gouts o' your heavy fist.
_Chi._ I'le have thee to him,
Thou hast a fine wit, fine fool, and canst play rarely.
He'l hug thee, Boy, and stroke thee.
_Fool._ I'le to the stocks first,
E're I be strok't thus.
_Strem._ But how came he, _Chilax_?
_Chi._ I know not that.
_Strem._ I'le to him.
_Chi._ He loves thee well,
And much delights to hear thee sing; much taken
He has been with thy battel songs.
_Stre._ If Musick
Can find his madness; I'le so fiddle him,
That out it shall by th' shoulders.
_Chi._ My fine Fidler,
He'l firk you and ye take not heed too: 'twill be rare sport
To see his own trade triumph over him;
His Lute lac'd to his head, for creeping hedges;
For mony there's none stirring; try good _Stremon_
Now what your silver sound can do; our voices
Are but vain Echoes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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