Wit Without Money; A Comedy: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John FletcherFletcher, John
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Wit Without Money; A Comedy: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher
Fletcher, John
Comedy plays; English drama -- 17th century
_Val._ Morrow Uncle, morrow _Frank_, sweet _Frank_, and
how, and how d'ee, think now, how shew matters? morrow Bandog.
_Unc._ How?
_Fran._ Is this man naked, forsaken of his friends?
_Val._ Th'art handsom, _Frank_, a pretty Gentleman, i'faith
thou lookest well, and yet here may be those that look as handsom.
_Lance._ Sure he can conjure, and has the Devil for his Tailor.
_Unc._ New and rich! 'tis most impossible he should recover.
_Lan._ Give him this luck, and fling him into the Sea.
_Unc._ 'Tis not he, imagination cannot work this miracle.
_Val._ Yes, yes, 'tis he, I will assure you Uncle, the very he, the
he your wisdom plaid withall, I thank you for't, neighed at his
nakednesse, and made his cold and poverty your pastime; you see I live,
and the best can do no more Uncle, and though I have no state, I keep
the streets still, and take my pleasure in the Town, like a poor
Gentleman, wear clothes to keep me warm, poor things they serve me, can
make a shew too if I list, yes uncle, and ring a peal in my pockets,
ding dong, uncle, these are mad foolish wayes, but who can help 'em?
_Unc._ I am amazed.
_Lan._ I'le sell my Copyhold, for since there are such excellent
new nothings, why should I labour? is there no Fairy haunts him, no Rat,
nor no old woman?
_Unc._ You are _Valentine_.
_Val._ I think so, I cannot tell, I have been call'd so, and some
say Christened, why do you wonder at me, and swell, as if you had met a
Sergeant fasting, did you ever know desert want? y'are fools, a little
stoop there may be to allay him, he would grow too rank else, a small
eclipse to shadow him, but out he must break, glowingly again, and with
a great lustre, look you uncle, motion and majesty.
_Unc._ I am confounded.
_Fran._ I am of his faith.
_Val._ Walk by his careless kinsman, and turn again and walk, and
look thus Uncle, taking some one by the hand, he loves best, leave them
to the mercy of the hog-market, come _Frank_, Fortune is now my
friend, let me instruct thee.
_Fran._ Good morrow Uncle, I must needs go with him.
_Val._ Flay me, and turn me out where none inhabits, within two
hours I shall be thus again, now wonder on, and laugh at your own
ignorance. [_Ex._ Val. _and_ Franc.
_Unc._ I do believe him.
_Lan._ So do I, and heartily upon my conscience, burie him stark
naked, he would rise again, within two hours imbroidered: sow
mustard-seeds, and they cannot come up so thick as his new sattens do,
and clothes of silver, there's no striving.
_Unc._ Let him play a while then, and let's search out what hand:--
_Lan._ I, there the game lies. [_Exeunt._
_Enter_ Fountain, Bellamore, _and_ Harebrain.
_Foun._ Come, let's speak for our selves, we have lodg'd him sure
enough, his nakedness dare no[t] peep out to cross us.
_Bel._ We can have no admittance.
_Hare._ Let's in boldly, and use our best arts, who she deigns to
favour, we are all content.
_Foun._ Much good may do her with him, no civil wars.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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