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
_Sir Dav._ Dear neighbour, dearest neighbour, friend, Sir
Jolly, as you love charity, pity my wretched case, and give me
counsel; I'll give my wife and all my estate to have him live
again; or shall I bury him in the arbour, at the upper end of
the garden?
_Sir Jol._ Alas-a-day, neighbour, never think on't, never think
on't; the dogs will find him there, as they scrape holes to
bury bones in; there is but one way that I know of.
_Sir Dav._ What is it, dear neighbour, what is it? You see I am
upon my knees to you; take all I have and ease me of my fears.
_Sir Jol._ Truly the best thing that I can think of is putting
of him to bed, putting him into a warm bed, and try to fetch
him to life again; a warm bed is the best thing in the world.
My lady may do much too, she's a good woman, and, as I've been
told, understands a green wound well.
_Sir Dav._ My dear, my dear, my dear!
_L. Dunce._ Bear me away! oh, send me hence far off, where my
unhappy name may be a stranger, and this sad accident no more
remembered to my dishonour!
_Sir Dav._ Ah, but my love! my joy! are there no bowels in thee?
_L. Dunce._ What would you have me do?
_Sir Dav._ Pr'ythee do so much as try thy skill; there may be
one dram of life left in him yet. Take him up to thy chamber,
put him into thy own bed, and try what thou canst do with him;
pr'ythee do: if thou canst but find motion in him, all may be
well yet. I'll go up to my closet in the garret, and say my
prayers in the mean while.
_L. Dunce._ Will ye then leave this ruin on my hands?
_Sir Dav._ Pray, pray, my dear; I beseech you, neighbour, help
to persuade her if it be possible.
_Sir Jol._ Faith, madam, do, try what you can do. I have a
great fancy you may do him good; who can tell but you may have
the gift of stroking? Pray, madam, be persuaded.
_L. Dunce._ I'll do whate'er's your pleasure.
_Sir Dav._ That's my best dear: I'll go to my closet and pray
for thee heartily. Alas, alas, that ever this should happen!
[_Exit._
_Beau._ So, is he gone, madam, my angel?
_Sir Jol._ What, no thanks, no reward for old Jolly now?
Come hither, hussy, you little canary-bird, you little
hop-o'-my-thumb, come hither: make me a curtsey, and give me a
kiss now, ha! give me a kiss, I say; odd, I will have a kiss,
so I will, I will have a kiss if I set on't. Shoogh, shoogh,
shoogh, get you into a corner when I bid you, shoogh, shoogh,
shoogh--what, there already? [_She goes to_ BEAUGARD.] Well, I
ha' done, I ha' done; this 'tis to be an old fellow now.
_Beau._ And will you save the life of him you've wounded?
_L. Dunce._ Dare you trust yourself to my skill for a cure?
[Sir DAVY _appears at a window above_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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