English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Heywood, Thomas, approximately 1574-1641
Valerius.
Did he take fair Lucrece by the toe, man?
Horatius.
Toe, man?
Valerius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha ha, man!
Horatius.
And further did he strive to go, man?
Clown.
Go, man?
Horatius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha, man, fa derry derry down, ha fa derry dino!
Valerius.
Did he take fair Lucrece by the heel, man?
Clown.
Heel, man?
Valerius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha, man!
Horatius.
And did he further strive to feel, man?
Clown.
Feel, man?
Horatius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha, man, ha fa derry, &c.
Valerius.
Did he take the lady by the shin, man?
Clown.
Shin, man?
Valerius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha, man!
Horatius.
Further too would he have been, man?
Clown.
Been, man?
Horatius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha, man, ha fa derry, &c.
Valerius.
Did he take the lady by the knee, man?
Clown.
Knee, man?
Valerius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha, man!
Horatius.
Farther than that would he be, man?
Clown.
Be, man?
Horatius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha, man, hey fa derry, &c.
Valerius.
Did he take the lady by the thigh, man?
Clown.
Thigh, man?
Valerius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha, man!
Horatius.
And now he came it somewhat nigh, man.
Clown.
Nigh, man?
Horatius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha, man, hey fa derry, &c.
Valerius.
But did he do the tother thing, man?
Clown.
Thing, man?
Valerius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha, man!
Horatius.
And at the same had he a fling, man?
Clown.
Fling, man?
Horatius.
Ay, man.
Clown.
Ha ha ha ha, man, hey fa derry, &c.
[_Exeunt_.
ACT THE FIFTH.
SCENE I.--_A Room in the House of_ Collatine.
_A table and a chair covered with black. Enter_ Lucrece _and her_
Maid.
Lucrece.
Mirable.
Maid.
Madam.
Lucrece.
Is not my father, old Lucretius, come yet?
Maid.
Not yet.
Lucrece.
Nor any from the camp?
Maid.
Neither, madam.
Lucrece.
Go, begone,
And leave me to the truest grief of heart
That ever entered any matron’s breast:
Oh!
Maid.
Why weep you, lady? alas! why do you stain
Your modest cheeks with these offensive tears?
Lucrece.
Nothing, nay, nothing. O you powerful gods,
That should have angels guardants on your throne,
To protect innocence and chastity! oh, why
Suffer you such inhuman massacre
On harmless virtue? wherefore take you charge
On sinless souls, to see them wounded thus
With rape or violence? or give white innocence
Armour of proof ’gainst sin, or by oppression
Kill virtue quite, and guerdon base transgression.
Is it my fate above all other women,
Or is my sin more heinous than the rest,
That amongst thousands, millions, infinites,
I, only I, should to this shame be born,
To be a stain to women, nature’s scorn?
Oh!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account