The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
_Laf._ I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a pretty
wise fellow; thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel;
it might pass: yet the scarfs and the bannerets about thee 200
did manifoldly dissuade me from believing thee a vessel of
too great a burthen. I have now found thee; when I lose
thee again, I care not: yet art thou good for nothing but
taking up; and that thou'rt scarce worth.
_Par._ Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon 205
thee,--
_Laf._ Do not plunge thyself too far in anger, lest thou
hasten thy trial; which if--Lord have mercy on thee for
a hen! So, my good window of lattice, fare thee well:
thy casement I need not open, for I look through thee. 210
Give me thy hand.
_Par._ My lord, you give me most egregious indignity.
_Laf._ Ay, with all my heart; and thou art worthy of it.
_Par._ I have not, my lord, deserved it.
_Laf._ Yes, good faith, every dram of it; and I will not 215
bate thee a scruple.
_Par._ Well, I shall be wiser.
_Laf._ Ev'n as soon as thou canst, for thou hast to pull at
a smack o' the contrary. If ever thou be'st bound in thy
scarf and beaten, thou shalt find what it is to be proud of 220
thy bondage. I have a desire to hold my acquaintance
with thee, or rather my knowledge, that I may say in the
default, he is a man I know.
_Par._ My lord, you do me most insupportable vexation.
_Laf._ I would it were hell-pains for thy sake, and my 225
poor doing eternal: for doing I am past; as I will by thee,
in what motion age will give me leave. [_Exit._
_Par._ Well, thou hast a son shall take this disgrace off
me; scurvy, old, filthy, scurvy lord! Well, I must be patient;
there is no fettering of authority. I'll beat him, by 230
my life, if I can meet him with any convenience, an he were
double and double a lord. I'll have no more pity of his
age than I would have of--I'll beat him, an if I could but
meet him again.
_Re-enter_ LAFEU.
_Laf._ Sirrah, your lord and master's married; there's 235
news for you: you have a new mistress.
_Par._ I most unfeignedly beseech your lordship to make
some reservation of your wrongs: he is my good lord:
whom I serve above is my master.
_Laf._ Who? God? 240
_Par._ Ay, sir.
_Laf._ The devil it is that's thy master. Why dost thou
garter up thy arms o' this fashion? dost make hose of thy
sleeves? do other servants so? Thou wert best set thy lower
part where thy nose stands. By mine honour, if I were but 245
two hours younger, I'd beat thee: methinks't, thou art a
general offence, and every man should beat thee: I think
thou wast created for men to breathe themselves upon thee.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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