Thomas Otway: The Best Plays of the Old DramatistsOtway, Thomas
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Thomas Otway: The Best Plays of the Old Dramatists
Otway, Thomas
English drama -- 17th century; Otway, Thomas, 1652-1685
_Beau._ I am sorry for that with all my heart; do you know, say
you, sir? and would you put off your mumbled orts,[30] your
offal, upon me?
_Sir Jol._ Hush, hush, hush! have a care; as I live and
breathe, not I; alack and well-a-day, I am a poor old fellow,
decayed and done: all's gone with me, gentlemen, but my
good-nature; odd, I love to know how matters go though now and
then, to see a pretty wench and a young fellow touze and rouze
and frouze and mouze; odd, I love a young fellow dearly, faith
dearly!
_Cour._ This is the most extraordinary rogue I ever met withal.
_Beau._ But, Sir Jolly, in the first place, you must know I
have sworn never to marry.
_Sir Jol._ I would not have thee, man: I am a bachelor myself
and have been a whore-master all my life;--besides, she's
married already, man; her husband's an old, greasy, untoward,
ill-natured, slovenly, tobacco-taking cuckold; but plaguy
jealous.
_Beau._ Already a cuckold, Sir Jolly?
_Sir Jol._ No, that shall be, my boy; thou shalt make him one,
and I'll pimp for thee, dear heart; and shan't I hold the door?
shan't I peep, ha? shan't I, you devil, you little dog, shan't
I?
_Beau._ What is it I'd not grant to oblige my patron!
_Sir Jol._ And then dost hear? I have a lodging for thee in my
own house: dost hear, old soul? in my own house; she lives the
very next door, man; there's but a wall to part her chamber and
thine; and then for a peep-hole--odd's fish, I have a peep-hole
for thee; 'sbud, I'll show thee, I'll show thee--
_Beau._ But when, Sir Jolly? I am in haste, impatient.
_Sir Jol._ Why, this very night, man; poor rogue's in haste,
poor rogue; but hear you--
_Cour._ The matter?
_Sir Jol._ Shan't we dine together?
_Beau._ With all my heart.
_Sir Jol._ The Mall begins to empty. Get you before, and
bespeak dinner at the Blue-Posts; while I stay behind and
gather up a dish of whores for a dessert.
_Cour._ Be sure that they be lewd, drunken, stripping whores,
Sir Jolly, that won't be affectedly squeamish and troublesome.
_Sir Jol._ I warrant you.
_Cour._ I love a well-disciplined whore, that shows all the
tricks of her profession with a wink, like an old soldier that
understands all his exercise by beat of drum.
_Sir Jol._ Ah, thief, sayest thou so? I must be better
acquainted with that fellow; he has a notable nose; a hard
brawny carle, true and trusty, and mettle, I'll warrant him.
_Beau._ Well, Sir Jolly, you'll not fail us?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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