The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 06 — John Shaqi
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
_Limb._ No matter for the ungodly; this is all among ourselves: For,
look you, the business is this. Mrs Pleasance has sent for this same
business here, which she lent to Pug; now Pug has some private
businesses within this business, which she would take out first, and
the business will not be opened: and this makes all the business.
_Saint._ Verily, I am raised up for a judge amongst you; and I say--
_Trick._ I'll have no judge: it shall not go.
_Aldo._ Why son, why daughter, why Mrs Saintly; are you all mad? Hear
me, I am sober, I am discreet; let a smith be sent for hither, let him
break open the chest; let the things contained be taken out, and the
thing containing be restored.
_Limb._ Now hear me too, for I am sober and discreet; father Aldo is
an oracle: It shall be so.
_Trick._ Well, to show I am reasonable, I am content. Mr Gervase and I
will fetch an instrument from the next smith; in the mean time, let
the chest remain where it now stands, and let every one depart the
chamber.
_Limb._ That no violence be offered to the person of the chest, in
Pug's absence.
_Aldo._ Then this matter is composed.
_Trick._ [_Aside._] Now I shall have leisure to instruct his man, and
set him free, without discovery. Come, Mr Gervase.
[_Exeunt all but_ SAINTLY.
_Saint._ There is a certain motion put into my mind, and it is of
good. I have keys here, which a precious brother, a devout blacksmith,
made me, and which will open any lock of the same bore. Verily, it can
be no sin to unlock this chest therewith, and take from thence the
spoils of the ungodly. I will satisfy my conscience, by giving part
thereof to the hungry and the needy; some to our pastor, that he may
prove it lawful; and some I will sanctify to my own use.
[_She unlocks the chest, and_ WOODALL _starts up._
_Wood._ Let me embrace you, my dear deliverer! Bless us! is it you,
Mrs Saintly? [_She shrieks._
_Saint._ [_Shrieking._] Heaven of his mercy! Stop thief, stop thief!
_Wood._ What will become of me now?
_Saint._ According to thy wickedness, shall it be done unto thee. Have
I discovered thy backslidings, thou unfaithful man! thy treachery to
me shall be rewarded, verily; for I will testify against thee.
_Wood._ Nay, since you are so revengeful, you shall suffer your part
of the disgrace; if you testify against me for adultery, I shall
testify against you for theft: There's an eighth for your seventh.
[_Noise._
_Saint._ Verily, they are approaching: Return to my embraces, and it
shall be forgiven thee.
_Wood._ Thank you, for your own sake. Hark! they are coming! cry thief
again, and help to save all yet.
_Saint._ Stop thief, stop thief!
_Wood._ Thank you for your own sake; but I fear 'tis too late.
_Enter_ TRICKSY _and_ LIMBERHAM.
_Trick._ [_Entering._] The chest open, and Woodall discovered! I am
ruined.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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