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
_Pol._ Yes, and the strangest, Gentlemen,
That e'r I heard of, anon I'll tell ye: _Stremon_
Be you still near him to affect his fancy,
And keep his thoughts off: let the Fool and Boy
Stay him, they may do some pleasure too: _Eumenes_
What if he had a Wench, a handsome Whore brought,
Rarely drest up, and taught to state it?
_Eum._ Well Sir.
_Pol._ His cause is meerly heat: and made believe
It were the Princess mad for him.
_Eum._ I think
'Twere not amiss.
_1 Cap._ And let him kiss her.
_Pol._ What else?
_2 Cap._ I'll be his Bawd an't please you, young and wholesome
I can assure ye he shall have.
_Eum._ Faith let him.
_Pol._ He shall, I hope 'twill help him, walk a little.
I'll tell you how his case stands, and my project
In which you may be mourners, but by all means
Stir not you from him, _Stremon_.
_Strem._ On our lives, Sir. [_Exeunt._
_Enter_ Priestess, _and_ Chilax.
_Pri._ O y'are a precious man! two days in town
And never see your old Friend?
_Chi._ Prithee pardon me.
_Pri._ And in my Conscience if I had not sent.
_Chi._ No more, I would ha' come; I must.
_Pri._ I find ye,
God a mercy want, ye never care for me
But when your Slops are empty.
_Chi._ Ne'r fear that, Wench;
Shall find good currant Coin still; Is this the old House?
_Pri._ Have ye forgot it?
_Chi._ And the door still standing
That goes into the Temple?
_Pri._ Still.
_Chi._ The Robes too,
That I was wont to shift in here?
_Pri._ All here still.
_Chi._ O ye tuff Rogue, what troubles have I trotted through!
What fears and frights! every poor Mouse a Monster
That I heard stir, and every stick I trod on,
A sharp sting to my Conscience.
_Pri._ 'Las poor Conscience.
_Chi._ And all to liquor thy old Boots, Wench.
_Pri._ Out Beast:
How you talk!
_Chi._ I am old, Wench,
And talking to an old man is like a stomacher,
It keeps his blood warm.
_Pri._ But pray tell me--
_Chi._ Any thing.
_Pri._ Where did the Boy meet with ye? at a Wench sure?
At one end of a Wench, a Cup of Wine, sure?
_Chi._ Thou know'st I am too honest.
_Pri._ That's your fault,
And that the Surgeon knows.
_Chi._ Then farewel,
I will not fail ye soon.
_Pri._ Ye shall stay Supper;
I have sworn ye shall, by this ye shall.
_Chi._ I will, Wench;
But after Supper for an hour, my business.
_Pri._ And but an hour?
_Chi._ No by this kiss, that ended
I will return and all night in thine Arms wench.
_Pr._ No more, I'le take your meaning; come 'tis Supper time.
[_Exeunt._
_Enter_ Calis, Cleanthe, Lucippe.
_Calis._ Thou art not well.
_Clean._ Your grace sees more a great deal
Than I feel, (yet I lye) O Brother!
_Cal._ Mark her,
Is not the quickness of her eye consumed, wench?
The lively red and white?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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