_Fal_. Well, that’s all one; but if she should
Demand any thing concerning me, (for
Love’s inquisitive) dost hear? as to my Valour, or so,
Thou understand’st me; tell her
I acted as a man that pretends to the glory of
Serving her.
_Lab_. I warrant you, Sir, for a Speech.
_Fal_. Nay, thou mayst speak as well too much
As too little; have a care of that, dost hear?
And if she ask what Wounds I have, dost mind me?
Tell her I have many, very many.
_Lab_. But whereabouts, Sir?
_Fal_. Let me see--let me see; I know not where
To place them--I think in my Face.
_Lab_. By no means, Sir, you had much better
Have them in your Posteriors: for then the Ladies
Can never disprove you; they’ll not look there.
_Fal_. The sooner, you Fool, for the Rarity on’t.
_Lab_. Sir, the Novelty is not so great, I assure you.
_Fal_. Go to, y’are wicked;
But I will have them in my Face.
_Lab_. With all my heart, Sir, but how?
_Fal_. I’ll wear a patch or two there, and I’ll
Warrant you for pretending as much as any man;
And who, you Fool, shall know the fallacy?
_Lab_. That, Sir, will all that know you, both in the
Court and Camp.
_Fal_. Mark me, _Labree_, once for all; if thou takest
Delight continually thus to put me in mind of
My want of Courage, I shall undoubtedly
Fall foul on thee, and give thee most fatal proofs
Of more than thou expectest.
_Lab_. Nay, Sir, I have done, and do believe ‘tis only
I dare say you are a man of Prowess.
_Fal_. Leave thy simple fancies, and go about thy business.
_Lab_. I am gone; but hark, my Lord,
If I should say your Face were wounded,
The Ladies would fear you had lost your Beauty.
_Fal_. O, never trouble your head for that, _Aminta_
Is a Wit, and your Wits care not how ill-favour’d
Their Men be, the more ugly the better.
_Lab_. An’t be so, you’ll fit them to a hair.
_Fal_. Thou art a Coxcomb, to think a man of my
Quality needs the advantage of Handsomness:
A trifle as insignificant as Wit or Valour; poor
Nothings, which Men of Fortune ought to despise.
_Lab_. Why do you then keep such a stir, to gain
The reputation of this thing you so despise?
_Fal_. To please the peevish humour of a Woman,
Who in that point only is a Fool.
_Lab_. You had a Mistress once, if you have not
Forgotten her, who would have taken you with
All these faults.
_Fal_. There was so; but she was poor, that’s the Devil,
I could have lov’d her else.
--But go thy ways; what dost thou muse on?
_Lab_. Faith, Sir, I am only fearful you will never
Pass with those Patches you speak of.
_Fal_. Thou never-to-be-reclaim’d Ass, shall I never
Bring thee to apprehend as thou ought’st? I tell thee,
I will pass and repass, where and how I please;
Know’st thou not the difference yet, between a Man
Of Money and Titles, and a Man of only Parts,
As they call them? poor Devils of no Mein nor Garb:
Well, ‘tis a fine and frugal thing, this Honour,
It covers a multitude of Faults:
Even Ridicule in one of us is a-la-mode.
But I detain thee; go haste to _Aminta_.
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account