Thomas Otway: The Best Plays of the Old DramatistsOtway, Thomas
General
Thomas Otway: The Best Plays of the Old Dramatists
Otway, Thomas
English drama -- 17th century; Otway, Thomas, 1652-1685
_Beau._ To be so sordid a jilt, to betray me to such a beast as
that! Can she have any good thoughts of such a swine? Damn her,
had she abused me handsomely it had never vexed me.
_Sir Dav._ Now, sir, with your permission I'll take my leave.
_Beau._ Sir, if you were gone to the devil I should think you
very well disposed of.
_Sir Dav._ If you have any letter, or other commendation to
the lady that was so charmed with your resemblance there, it
shall be very faithfully conveyed by--
_Beau._ Fool!
_Sir Dav._ Your humble servant. Sir, I'm gone; I shall disturb
you no further; your most humble servant, sir. [_Exit._
_Beau._ Now poverty, plague, pox, and prison fall thick upon
the head of thee!--Fourbin!
_Four._ Sir!
_Beau._ Thou hast been an extraordinary rogue in thy time.
_Four._ I hope I have lost nothing in your honour's service,
sir.
_Beau._ Find out some way to revenge me on this old rascal, and
if I do not make thee a gentleman--
_Four._ That you have been pleased to do long ago, I thank you;
for I am sure you have not left me one shilling in my pocket
these two months.
_Beau._ Here, here's for thee to revel withal. [_Gives money._
_Four._ Will your honour please to have his throat cut?
_Beau._ With all my heart.
_Four._ Or would you have him decently hanged at his own door,
and then give out to the world he did it himself?
_Beau._ That would do very well.
_Four._ Or I think (to proceed with more safety) a good stale
jakes[36] were a very pretty expedient.
_Beau._ Excellent, excellent, Fourbin!
_Four._ Leave matters to my discretion, and if I do not--
_Beau._ I know thou wilt; go, go about it, prosper, and be
famous. [_Exit_ FOURBIN.] Now ere I dare venture to meet
Courtine again, will I go by myself, rail for an hour or two,
and then be good company. [_Exit._
_Enter_ COURTINE _and_ SYLVIA.
_Sylv._ Take my word, sir, you had better give this business
over. I tell you, there's nothing in the world turns my stomach
so much as the man, that man that makes love to me. I never saw
one of your sex in my life make love, but he looked so like an
ass all the while, that I blushed for him.
_Cour._ I am afraid your ladyship then is one of those
dangerous creatures they call she-wits, who are always so
mightily taken with admiring themselves that nothing else is
worth their notice.
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