The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 03Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 03
Dryden, John
English drama -- 17th century
_Wild._ Not to be behindhand with you in your frumps, I give you back
your purse of gold: Take you that--in imagination.
_Jac._ To conclude with you, take back your oaths and protestations;
they are never the worse for the wearing, I assure you: Therefore take
them, spick and span new, for the use of your next mistress.
_Mask._ Beatrix, follow your leader; here's the six-penny whittle you
gave me, with the mutton haft: I can spare it, for knives are of little
use in Spain.
_Beat._ There's your scissars with the stinking brass chain to them:
'Tis well there was no love betwixt us; for they had been too dull to
cut it.
_Mask._ There's the dandriff comb you lent me.
_Beat._ There's your ferret-ribbanding for garters.
_Mask._ I would never have come so near as to have taken them from you.
_Beat._ For your letter, I have it not about me; but upon reputation
I'll burn it.
_Mask._ And for yours, I have already put it to a fitting
employment.--Courage, sir; how goes the battle on your wing?
_Wild._ Just drawing off on both sides. Adieu, Spain.
_Jac._ Farewell, old England.
_Beat._ Come away in triumph; the day's your own, madam.
_Mask._ I'll bear you off upon my shoulders, sir; we have broke their
hearts.
_Wild._ Let her go first then; I'll stay, and keep the honour of the
field.
_Jac._ I'll not retreat, if you stay till midnight.
_Wild._ Are you sure then we have done loving?
_Jac._ Yes, very sure; I think so.
_Wild._ 'Tis well you are so; for otherwise I feel my stomach a little
maukish. I should have doubted another fit of love were coming up.
_Jac._ No, no; your inconstancy secures you enough for that.
_Wild._ That's it which makes me fear my own returning: Nothing vexes
me, but that you should part with me so slightly, as though I were not
worth your keeping. Well, 'tis a sign you never loved me.
_Jac._ 'Tis the least of your care whether I did or did not: It may be
it had been more for the quiet of myself, if I--but 'tis no matter,
I'll not give you that satisfaction.
_Wild._ But what's the reason you will not give it me?
_Jac._ For the reason that we are quite broke off.
_Wild._ Why, are we quite, quite broke off?
_Jac._ Why, are we not?
_Wild._ Well, since 'tis past, 'tis past; but a pox of all foolish
quarrelling, for my part.
_Jac._ And a mischief of all foolish disguisements, for my part.
_Wild._ But if it were to do again with another mistress, I would even
plainly confess I had lost my money.
_Jac._ And if I had to deal with another servant, I would learn more wit
than to tempt him in disguises: for that's to throw a Venice-glass to
the ground, to try if it would not break.
_Wild._ If it were not to please you, I see no necessity of our parting.
_Jac._ I protest, I do it only out of complaisance to you.
_Wild._ But if I should play the fool, and ask your pardon, you would
refuse it.
_Jac._ No, never submit; for I should spoil you again with pardoning
you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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