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
_Fool._ O let me ring the fore Bell.
[_Chi._] And here are thumpers, Chiqueens, golden rogues,
Wit, wit, ye Rascals.
_Fool._ I have a Stye here, _Chilax_.
_Chi._ I have no Gold to cure it, not a penny,
Not one cross, Cavalier; we are dull Souldiers,
Gross heavy-headed fellows; fight for Victuals?
_Fool._ Why, ye are the Spirits of the time.
_Chi._ By no means.
_Fool._ The valiant firie.
_Chi._ Fie, fie, no.
_Fool._ Be-lee me, Sir.
_Chi._ I wou'd I cou'd, Sir.
_Fool._ I will satisfie ye.
_Chi._ But I will not content you; alas poor Boy,
Thou shew'st an honest Nature, weepst for thy Master,
There's a red Rogue to buy thee Handkerchiefs.
_Fool._ He was an honest Gentleman, I have lost too.
_Chi._ You have indeed your labour, Fool; but _Stremon_,
Dost thou want money too? no Vertue living?
No firking out at fingers ends?
_Strem._ It seems so.
_Chi._ Will ye all serve me?
_Strem._ Yes, when ye are Lord General,
For less I will not go.
_Chi._ There's Gold for thee then,
Thou hast a Souldiers mind. Fool--
_Fool._ Here, your first man.
_Chi._ I will give thee for thy Wit, for 'tis a fine wit,
A dainty diving Wit, hold up, just nothing,
Go graze i' th' Commons, yet I am merciful--
There's six-pence: buy a Saucer, steal an old Gown,
And beg i' th' Temple for a Prophet, come away Boys,
Let's see how things are carried, Fool, up Sirrah,
You may chance get a dinner: Boy, your preferment
I'll undertake, for your brave Masters sake,
You shall not perish.
_Fool._ _Chilax._
_Chi._ Please me well, Fool.
And you shall light my pipes: away to the Temple.
But stay, the King's here, sport upon sport, Boys.
_Enter King, Lords_, Siphax _kneeling_, Cloe _with a Vail_.
_King._ What would you have, Captain?
Speak suddenly, for I am wondrous busie.
_Si._ A pardon, Royal Sir.
_King._ For what?
_Si._ For that
Which was Heaven's Will, should not be mine alone, Sir;
My marrying with this Lady.
_King._ It needs no pardon,
For Marriage is no Sin.
_Si._ Not in it self, Sir;
But in presuming too much: yet Heaven knows,
So does the Oracle that cast it on me,
And----the Princess, royal Sir.
_King._ What Princess?
_Si._ O be not angry my dread King, your Sister.
_King._ My Sister; she's i' th' Temple, Man.
_Si._ She is here, Sir.
_Lord._ The Captain's mad, she's kneeling at the Altar.
_King._ I know she is; with all my heart good Captain,
I do forgive ye both: be unvail'd, Lady. [_Puts off her Vail._
Will ye have more forgiveness? the man's frantick,
Come let's go bring her out: God give ye joy, Sir.
_Si._ How, _Cloe_? my old _Cloe_? [_Ex. King, Lords._
_Clo._ Even the same, Sir.
_Chi._ Gods give your manhood much content.
_Strem._ The Princess
Looks something musty since her coming over.
_Fool._ 'Twere good you'd brush her over.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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