English drama (Comedy); English drama -- 17th century
_Mrs. Caut._ D'ye see again? he took her by the bare arm.
_Don._ Come, move on, she's mad.
_Ger._ One, two, and a coupee.
_Don._ Come, one, two, and turn out your toes.
_Mrs. Caut._ There, there, he pinched her by the thigh: will you suffer
it?
_Ger._ One, two, three, and fall back.
_Don._ Fall back, fall back, back; some of you are forward enough to
back.
_Ger._ Back, madam.
_Don._ Fall back, when he bids you, hussy.
_Mrs. Caut._ How! how! fall back, fall back! marry, but she shall not
fall back when he bids her.
_Don._ I say she shall.--Huswife, come.
_Ger._ She will, she will, I warrant you, sir, if you won't be angry
with her.
_Mrs. Caut._ Do you know what he means by that now? You a Spaniard!
_Don._ How's that? I not a Spaniard! say such a word again--
_Ger._ Come forward, madam, three steps again.
_Mrs. Caut._ See, see, she squeezes his hand now: O the debauched
harlotry!
_Don._ So, so, mind her not; she moves forward pretty well; but you
must move as well backward as forward, or you'll never do anything to
purpose.
_Mrs. Caut._ Do you know what you say, brother, yourself, now? are you
at your beastliness before your young daughter?
_Prue._ Ha! ha! ha!
_Don._ How now, mistress, are you so merry?--Is this your staid maid as
you call her, sister Impertinent?
_Ger._ I have not much to say to you, miss; but I shall not have an
opportunity to do it, unless we can get your father out. [_Aside to_
HIPPOLITA.
_Don._ Come, about again with her.
_Mrs. Caut._ Look you there, she squeezes his hand hard again.
_Hip._ Indeed, and indeed, father, my aunt puts me quite out: I cannot
dance while she looks on for my heart, she makes me ashamed and afraid
together.
_Ger._ Indeed, if you would please to take her out, sir, I am sure I
should make my scholar do better, than when you are present, sir. Pray,
sir, be pleased for this time to take her away; for the next time, I
hope I shall order it so, we shall trouble neither of you.
_Mrs. Caut._ No, no, brother, stir not, they have a mind to be left
alone. Come, there's a beastly trick in't; he's no dancing-master, I
tell you.
_Ger._ Damned jade! she'll discover us. [_Aside to_ HIPPOLITA.
_Don._ What, will you teach me? nay, then I will go out, and you shall
go out too, look you.
_Mrs. Caut._ I will not go out, look you.
_Don._ Come, come, thou art a censorious wicked woman, and you shall
disturb them no longer.
_Mrs. Caut._ What! will you bawd for your daughter?
_Don._ Ay, ay; come go out, out, out.
_Mrs. Caut._ I will not go out, I will not go out; my conscience will
not suffer me, for I know by experience what will follow.
_Ger._ I warrant you, sir, we'll make good use of our time when you are
gone.
_Mrs. Caut._ Do you hear him again? don't you know what he means?
[_Exit_ Don DIEGO _thrusting_ Mrs. CAUTION _out._
_Hip._ 'Tis very well!--you are a fine gentleman to abuse my poor
father so.
_Ger._ 'Tis but by your example, miss.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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