The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 05Dryden, John
History
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 05
Dryden, John
English literature
_Per._ I have considered on't, and if you would go along with me to
the governor, it would do much better.
_Fisc._ No, no, that would make the matter more suspicious. The devil
take thee for an impertinent cuckold! [_Aside._
_Per._ Well, I must go then. [_Exit_ PEREZ.
_Jul._ Nay, there was never the like of him; but it shall not serve
his turn, we'll cuckold him most furiously.
_Enter_ PEREZ _again._
_Per._ I had forgot one thing; dear sweet-heart, go home quickly, and
oversee our business; it won't go forward without one of us.
_Fisc._ I warrant you, take no care of your business; leave it to me,
I'll put it forward in your absence: Go, go, you'll lose your
opportunity; I'll be at home before you, and sup with you to-night.
_Per._ You shall be welcome, but--
_Fisc._ Three hundred quadruples.
_Per._ That's true, but--
_Fisc._ But three hundred quadruples.
_Per._ The devil take the quadruples!
_Enter_ BEAMONT.
_Beam._ There's my cuckold that must be, and my fellow swaggerer, the
Dutchman, with my mistress: my nose is wiped to-day; I must retire,
for the Spaniard is jealous of me.
_Per._ Oh, Mr Beamont, I'm to ask a favour of you.
_Beam._ This is unusual; pray command it, signior.
_Per._ I am going upon urgent business; pray sup with me to-night,
and, in the meantime, bear my worthy friend here company.
_Beam._ With all my heart.
_Per._ So, now I am secure; though I dare not trust her with one of
them, I may with both; they'll hinder one another, and preserve my
honour into the bargain. [_Exit._
_Beam._ Now, Mr Fiscal, you are the happy man with the ladies, and
have got the precedence of traffic here too; you've the Indies in your
arms, yet I hope a poor Englishman may come in for a third part of the
merchandise.
_Fisc._ Oh, sir, in these commodities, here's enough for both; here's
mace for you, and nutmeg for me, in the same fruit, and yet the owner
has to spare for other friends too.
_Jul._ My husband's plantation is like to thrive well betwixt you.
_Beam._ Horn him; he deserves not so much happiness as he enjoys in
you; he's jealous.
_Jul._ 'Tis no wonder if a Spaniard looks yellow.
_Beam._ Betwixt you and me, 'tis a little kind of venture that we
make, in doing this Don's drudgery for him; for the whole nation of
them is generally so pocky, that 'tis no longer a disease, but a
second nature in them.
_Fisc._ I have heard indeed, that 'tis incorporated among them, as
deeply as the Moors and Jews are; there's scarce a family, but 'tis
crept into their blood, like the new Christians.
_Jul._ Come, I'll have no whispering betwixt you; I know you were
talking of my husband, because my nose itches.
_Beam._ Faith, madam, I was speaking in favour of your nation: What
pleasant lives I have known Spaniards to live in England.
_Jul._ If you love me, let me hear a little.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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