English drama (Comedy); English drama -- 17th century
_Don._ Will you be wiser than I still? Mump me of my daughter! I would
I could see any one mump me of my daughter.
_Mrs. Caut._ And mump you of your mistress too, young Spaniard.
_Mons._ Ha! ha! ha! will you be wiser than I too, _voto_? Mump me of my
mistress! I would I could see any one mump me of my mistress.--[_Aside
to_ GERRARD _and_ HIPPOLITA.] I am afraid this damned old aunt should
discover us, I vow and swear: be careful therefore and resolute.
_Mrs. Caut._ He! he does not go about his business like a
dancing-master. He'll ne'er teach her to dance; but he'll teach her no
goodness soon enough, I warrant.--He a dancing-master!
_Mons._ Ay, the devil eat me if he be not the best dancing-master in
England now!--[_Aside to_ GERRARD _and_ HIPPOLITA.] Was not that well
said, cousin? was it not? for he's a gentleman dancing-master, you know.
_Don._ You know him, cousin, very well? cousin, you sent him to my
daughter?
_Mons._ Yes, yes, uncle:--know him!--[_Aside._] We'll ne'er be
discovered, I warrant, ha! ha! ha!
_Mrs. Caut._ But will you be made a fool of too?
_Mons._ Ay, ay, aunt, ne'er trouble yourself.
_Don._ Come, friend, about your business; about with my daughter.
_Hip._ Nay, pray, father, be pleased to go out a little, and let us
practise awhile, and then you shall see me dance the whole dance to the
violin.
_Don._ Tittle tattle! more fooling still!--Did not you say, when your
master was here last, I should see you dance to the violin when he came
again?
_Hip._ So I did, father: but let me practise a little first before,
that I may be perfect. Besides, my aunt is here, and she will put me
out; you know I cannot dance before her.
_Don._ Fiddle faddle!
_Mons._ [_Aside._] They're afraid to be discovered by Gerrard's
bungling, I see.--[_Aloud._] Come, come, uncle turn out! let 'em
practise.
_Don._ I won't, _voto á St. Jago!_ what a fooling's here.
_Mons._ Come, come, let 'em practise: turn out, turn out, uncle.
_Don._ Why can't she practise it before me?
_Mons._ Come, dancers and singers are sometimes humoursome; besides,
'twill be more grateful to you to see it danced all at once to the
violin. Come, turn out, turn out, I say.
_Don._ What a fooling's here still among you, _voto!_
_Mons._ So, there he is with you, _voto!_--Turn out, turn out; I vow
and swear you shall turn out. [_Takes him by the shoulder._
_Don._ Well, shall I see her dance it to the violin at last?
_Ger._ Yes, yes, sir; what do you think I teach her for?
_Mons._ Go, go, turn out.--[_Exit_ Don DIEGO.] And you too, aunt.
_Mrs. Caut._ Seriously, nephew, I shall not budge; royally, I shall not.
_Mons._ Royally, you must, aunt: come.
_Mrs. Caut._ Pray hear me, nephew.
_Mons._ I will not hear you.
_Mrs. Caut._ 'Tis for your sake I stay: I must not suffer you to be
wronged.
_Mons._ Come, no wheedling, aunt: come away.
_Mrs. Caut._ That slippery fellow will do't.
_Mons._ Let him do't.
_Mrs. Caut._ Indeed he will do't; royally he will.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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