The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 07Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 07
Dryden, John
English literature
_Mor._ Give me back my jewels, and carry this notorious malefactor to
be punished by my father.--I'll hunt the other dry-foot.
[_Takes the jewels, and runs out after_
ANTONIO _at the same passage._
_1 Serv._ I long to be hanselling his hide, before we bring him to my
master.
_2 Serv._ Hang him, for an old covetous hypocrite; he deserves a worse
punishment himself, for keeping us so hardly.
_1 Serv._ Ay, would he were in this villain's place! thus I would lay
him on, and thus. [_Beats him._
_2 Serv._ And thus would I revenge myself of my last beating.
[_He beats him too, and then the rest._
_Muf._ Oh, ho, ho!
_1 Serv._ Now, supposing you were the Mufti, sir.--
[_Beats him again._
_Muf._ The devil's in that supposing rascal!--I can bear no more; and
I am the Mufti. Now suppose yourselves my servants, and hold your
hands: an anointed halter take you all!
_1 Serv._ My master!--You will pardon the excess of our zeal for you,
sir: Indeed we all took you for a villain, and so we used you.
_Muf._ Ay, so I feel you did; my back and sides are abundant
testimonies of your zeal.--Run, rogues, and bring me back my jewels,
and my fugitive daughter; run, I say.
[_They run to the gate, and the first
Servant runs back again._
_1 Serv._ Sir, the castle is in a most terrible combustion; you may
hear them hither.
_Muf._ 'Tis a laudable commotion; the voice of the mobile is the voice
of heaven.--I must retire a little, to strip me of the slave, and to
assume the Mufti, and then I will return; for the piety of the people
must be encouraged, that they may help me to recover my jewels, and my
daughter. [_Exeunt Mufti and Servants._
SCENE III.--_Changes to the Castle Yard,_
_And discovers_ ANTONIO, MUSTAPHA, _and the Rabble shouting. They
come forward._
_Ant._ And so at length, as I informed you, I escaped out of his
covetous clutches; and now fly to your illustrious feet for my
protection.
_Must._ Thou shalt have it, and now defy the Mufti. 'Tis the first
petition that has been made to me since my exaltation to tumult, in
this second night of the month Abib, and in the year of the
Hegira,--the Lord knows what year; but 'tis no matter; for when I am
settled, the learned are bound to find it out for me; for I am
resolved to date my authority over the rabble, like other monarchs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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