The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 06Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 06
Dryden, John
English literature
_Wood._ Because he was too saucy, and was ever offering to give me
counsel: Mark that, and tremble at his destiny.
_Gerv._ I know the reason why I am kept; because you cannot be
discovered by my means; for you took me up in France, and your father
knows me not.
_Wood._ I must have a ramble in the town: When I have spent my money,
I will grow dutiful, see my father, and ask for more. In the mean
time, I have beheld a handsome woman at a play, I am fallen in love
with her, and have found her easy: Thou, I thank thee, hast traced her
to her lodging in this boarding-house, and hither I am come, to
accomplish my design.
_Gerv._ Well, heaven mend all. I hear our landlady's voice without;
[_Noise._] and therefore shall defer my counsel to a fitter season.
_Wood._ Not a syllable of counsel: The next grave sentence, thou
marchest after Giles. Woodall's my name; remember that.
_Enter Mrs_ SAINTLY.
Is this the lady of the house?
_Gerv._ Yes, Mr Woodall, for want of a better, as she will tell you.
_Wood._ She has a notable smack with her! I believe zeal first taught
the art of kissing close. [_Saluting her._
_Saint._ You are welcome, gentleman. Woodall is your name?
_Wood._ I call myself so.
_Saint._ You look like a sober discreet gentleman; there is grace in
your countenance.
_Wood._ Some sprinklings of it, madam: We must not boast.
_Saint._ Verily, boasting is of an evil principle.
_Wood._ Faith, madam--
_Saint._ No swearing, I beseech you. Of what church are you?
_Wood._ Why, of Covent-Garden church, I think.
_Gerv._ How lewdly and ignorantly he answers! [_Aside_] She means, of
what religion are you?
_Wood._ O, does she so?--Why, I am of your religion, be it what it
will; I warrant it a right one: I'll not stand with you for a trifle;
presbyterian, independent, anabaptist, they are all of them too good
for us, unless we had the grace to follow them.
_Saint._ I see you are ignorant; but verily, you are a new vessel, and
I may season you. I hope you do not use the parish-church.
_Wood._ Faith, madam--cry you mercy; (I forgot again) I have been in
England but five days.
_Saint._ I find a certain motion within me to this young man, and must
secure him to myself, ere he see my lodgers. [_Aside._]--O, seriously,
I had forgotten; your trunk and portmantua are standing in the hall;
your lodgings are ready, and your man may place them, if he please,
while you and I confer together.
_Wood._ Go, Gervase, and do as you are directed. [_Exit_ GER.
_Saint._ In the first place, you must know, we are a company of
ourselves, and expect you should live conformably and lovingly amongst
us.
_Wood._ There you have hit me. I am the most loving soul, and shall be
conformable to all of you.
_Saint._ And to me especially. Then, I hope, you are no keeper of late
hours.
_Wood._ No, no, my hours are very early; betwixt three and four in the
morning, commonly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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