_Fran_. An’t please your Highness, a Gentleman.
_Guz_. How much dost thou get a day by that Trade? Hah!
_Fran_. An’t like your Majesty, our Gentlemen never get but twice in all
their lives; that is, when Fathers die, they get good Estates; and when
they marry, they get rich Wives: but I know what your Mightiness wou’d
get by going into my Country and asking the Question.
_Guz_. What, Fool?
_Fran_. A good Cudgelling, an’t please your Illustriousness.
_Guz_. Slave! To my Face!--Take him away, and let him have the Strapado.
_Car_. _Baridama, Dermack_.
_Fran_. Heavens, what says he?
_I Turk_. He means to have you castrated.
_Fran_. Castrated! Oh, that’s some dreadful thing, I’ll warrant,--
Gracious Great Turk, for Mahomet’s sake, excuse me; alas, I’ve lost
my wits.
_Car_. _Galero Gardines_?
_Guz_. The Emperor asks if thou art married, Fellow.
_Fran_. Hah--Married--I was, an’t like your Monsterousness, but, I
doubt, your People have spoiled my Property.
_Guz_. His Wife, with other Ladies, in a Pavillion in the Garden, attend
your Royal pleasure.
_Car_. Go, fetch her hither presently.
[_Ex_. Guz.
1st _Turk_. This is no common Honour, that the Great Turk deigns to speak
your Language; ‘tis to sign you’ll rise.
_Fran_. Yes, by the height of a pair of Horns.
_Car_. Is she handsom?
_Fran_. Oh, what an Ague shakes my Heart,--handsom! alas, no, dread Sir;
what shou’d such a deform’d Polecat as I do with a handsom Wife?
_Car_. Is she young?
_Fran_. Young, what shou’d such an old doting Coxcomb as I do with a
young Wife? Pox on him for a Heathen Whoremaster.
_Car_. Old is she then?
_Fran_. Ay, very old, an’t please your Gloriousness.
_Car_. Is she not capable of Love?
_Fran_. Hum, so, so,--like Fire conceal’d in a Tinderbox,--I shall
run mad.
_Car_. Is she witty?
_Fran_. I’m no competent Judge, an’t like your Holiness,
--This Catechism was certainly of the Devil’s own making. [Aside.
_Enter_ Guzman, _bringing in_ Julia, Clara, Isabella, Jacinta,
Guiliom, Antonio, &c. _Women veil’d_.
_Car_. These, Sir, are all the Slaves of Note are taken.
_Isa_. Dost think, _Jacinta_, he’ll chuse me?
_Jac_. I’ll warrant you, Madam, if he looks with my Eyes.
_Guz_. Stand forth. [_To the Men_.
_Guil_. Stand forth, Sir! why, so I can, Sir, I dare show my Face, Sir,
before any Great _Turk_ in Christendom.
_Car_. What are you, Sir?
_Guil_. What am I, Sir? Why, I’m a Lord, a Lord.
_Fran_. What, are you mad to own your Quality, he’ll ask the Devil and
all of a ransom.
_Guil_. No matter for that, I’ll not lose an Inch of my Quality for a
King’s ransom; disgrace my self before my fair Mistress!
_Isa_. That’s as the _Great Turk_ and I shall agree. [_Scornfully_.
_Car_. What are you, Sir?
_Ant_. A Citizen of _Cadiz_.
_Car_. Set ‘em by, we’ll consider of their ransoms--now unveil the
Ladies.
[Guzman _unveils_ Jacinta.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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