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
_Eume._ _Polybius_,
Where did he get this Vermin?
_1 Capt._ Hang him Badger,
There's not a hole free from him, whores and whores mates
Do all pay him obedience.
_Eume._ Indeed i'th' War,
His quarter was all Whore, Whore upon Whore,
And lin'd with Whore; beshrew me 'tis a fair Whore.
_1 Capt._ She has smockt away her blood; but fair or foul,
Or blind or lame, that can but lift her leg up,
Comes not amiss to him, he rides like a night Mare,
All Ages, all Religions.
_Eume._ Can ye state it?
_Who._ I'le make a shift.
_Eume._ He must lie with ye, Lady.
_Who._ Let him, [h]e's not the first man I have lain with,
Nor shall not be the last.
_Enter_ Memnon.
_2 Capt._ He comes, no more words,
She has her lesson throughly; how he views her!
_Eumen._ Go forward now, so, bravely, stand!
_Mem._ Great Lady,
How humbly I am bound--
_Who._ You shall not kneel, Sir,
Come, I have done you wrong; stand my Souldier,
And thus I make amends-- [_Kisses him._
_Eumen._ A Plague confound ye,
Is this your state?
_2 Capt._ 'Tis well enough.
_Mem._ O Lady,
Your Royal hand, your hand my dearest beauty
Is more than I must purchase: here divine one,
I dare revenge my wrongs: ha?
_1 Capt._ A damn'd foul one.
_Eume._ The Lees of Baudy prewns: mourning Gloves?
All spoil'd by Heaven.
_Mem._ Ha! who art thou?
_2 Capt._ A shame on ye,
Ye clawing scabby Whore.
_Mem._ I say, who art thou?
_Eumen._ Why 'tis the Princess, Sir.
_Mem._ The Devil, Sir,
'Tis some Roguey thing.
_Who._ If this abuse be love, Sir,
Or I that laid aside my modesty--
_Eumen._ So far thou't never find it.
_Mem._ Do not weep,
For if ye be the Princess, I will love ye,
Indeed I will, and honour ye, fight for ye,
Come, wipe your eyes; by Heaven she stinks; who art thou?
Stinks like a poyson'd Rat behind a hanging?
Woman, who art? like a rotten Cabbage.
_2 Capt._ Y'are much to blame, Sir, 'tis the Princess.
_Mem._ How?
She the Princess?
_Eumen._ And the loving Princess.
_1 Capt._ Indeed the doating Princess.
_Mem._ Come hither once more,
The Princess smells like mornings breath, pure Amber,
Beyond the courted _Indies_ in her spices.
Still a dead Rat by Heaven; thou a Princess?
_Eumen._ What a dull Whore is this!
_Mem._ I'le tell ye presently,
For if she be a Princess, as she may be
And yet stink too, and strongly, I shall find her;
Fetch the _Numidian_ Lyon I brought over,
If she be sprung from the Royal blood, the Lyon,
He'l do you reverence, else--
_Who._ I beseech your Lordship--
_Eumen._ He'l tear her all to pieces.
_Who._ I am no Princess, Sir.
_Mem._ Who brought thee hither?
_2 Capt._ If ye confess, we'll hang ye.
_Who._ Good my Lord--
_Mem._ Who art thou then?
_Who._ A poor retaining Whore, Sir,
To one of your Lordships Captains.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account