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._ You shall stay till I talk with you, and not dine neither,
but fastingly my fury, you think you have undone me, think so still, and
swallow that belief, till you be company for Court-hand Clarks, and
starved Atturnies, till you break in at playes like Prentices for three
a groat, and crack Nuts with the Scholars in peny Rooms again, and fight
for Apples, till you return to what I found you, people betrai'd into
the hands of Fencers, Challengers, Tooth-drawers Bills, and tedious
Proclamations in Meal-markets, with throngings to see Cutpurses: stir
not, but hear, and mark, I'le cut your throats else, till Water works,
and rumours of New Rivers rid you again and run you into questions who
built Thames, till you run mad for Lotteries, and stand there with your
Tables to glean the golden Sentences, and cite 'em secre[t]ly to
Servingmen for sound Essayes, till Taverns allow you but a Towel room to
Tipple Wine in, that the Bell hath gone for twice, and Glasses that look
like broken promises, tied up with wicker protestations, English Tobacco
with half Pipes, nor in half a year once burnt, and Bisket that Bawds
have rubb'd their gums upon like Corals to bring the mark again, tell
these hour Rascals so, this most fatal hour will come again, think I sit
down the looser.
_Wid._ Will you stay Gentlemen, a piece of Beef and a cold Capon,
that's all, you know you are welcom.
_Hum._ That was cast to abuse us.
_Bel._ Steal off, the Devil is in his anger.
_Wid._ Nay I am sure you will not leave me so discourteously, now I
have provided for you.
_Val._ What do you here? why do ye vex a woman of her goodness, her
state and worth? can you bring a fair certificate that you deserve to be
her footmen? husbands, you puppies? husbands for Whores and Bawds, away
you wind suckers; do not look big, nor prate, nor stay, nor grumble and
when you are gone, seem to laugh at my fury, and slight this Lady, I
shall hear, and know this: and though I am not bound to fight for women,
as far they are good I dare preserve 'em: be not too bold, for if you
be, I'le swinge you monstrously without all pity, your honours now goe,
avoid me mainly. [_Exeunt._
_Wid._ Well Sir, you have delivered me, I thank you, and with your
nobleness prevented danger, their tongues might utter, we'll all go and
eat Sir.
_Vol._ No, no, I dare not trust my self with women, go to your
meat, eat little, take less ease, and tie your body to a daily labour,
you may live honestly, and so I thank you. [_Exit._
_Wid._ Well go thy ways, thou art a noble fellow, and some means I
must work to have thee know it. [_Exit._
_Actus Quintus. Scena Prima._
_Enter_ Uncle, _and_ Merchant.
_Unc._ Most certain 'tis her hands that hold him up, and her sister
relieves _Frank_.
_Mer._ I am glad to hear it: but wherefore do they not pursue this
fortune to some fair end?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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