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
_Luce._ You cannot hide it.
_Isab._ I would he had what I can spare.
_Luce._ 'Tis charitable.
_Lance._ Come Sir, I'le see you lodg'd, you have tied my tongue
fast, I'le steal before you want, 'tis but a hanging.
_Isab._ That's a good fellow too, an honest fellow, why, this would
move a stone, I must needs know; but that some other time.
[_Exit_ Lance, _and_ Franc.
_Luce._ Is the wind there? that makes for me.
_Isab._ Come, I forgot a business.
_Actus [Secundus]. Scena Prima._
_Enter_ Widow, _and_ Luce.
_Wid._ My sister, and a woman of so base a pity! what was the
fellow?
_Luce,_ Why, an ordinary man, Madam.
_Wid._ Poor?
_Luce._ Poor enough, and no man knows from whence neither.
_Wid._ What could she see?
_Luce._ Only his misery, for else she might behold a hundred handsomer.
_Wid._ Did she change much?
_Luce._ Extreamly, when he spoke, and then her pity, like an
Orator, I fear her love framed such a commendation, and followed it so
far, as made me wonder.
_Wid._ Is she so hot, or such a want of lovers, that she must doat
upon afflictions? why does she not go romage all the prisons, and there
bestow her youth, bewray her wantonness, and flie her honour, common
both to beggery: did she speak to him?
_Luce._ No, he saw us not, but ever since, she hath been mainly
troubled.
_Wid._ Was he young?
_Luce._ Yes, young enough.
_Wid._ And looked he like a Gentleman?
_Luce._ Like such a Gentleman, that would pawn ten oaths for twelve
pence.
_Wid._ My sister, and sink basely! this must not be, does she use
means to know him?
_Luce._ Yes Madam, and has employed a Squire called _Shorthose_.
_Wid._ O that's a precious Knave: keep all this private, but still
be near her lodging: _Luce_, what you can gather by any means, let
me understand: I'le stop her heat, and turn her charity another way, to
bless her self first; be still close to her counsels; a begger and a
stranger! there's a bless'dness! I'le none of that; I have a toy yet,
sister, shall tell you this is foul, and make you find it, and for your
pains take you the last gown I wore; this makes me mad, but I shall
force a remedy.
_Enter_ Fountain, Bellamore, Harebrain, Valentine.
_Fount._ Sirra, we have so lookt for thee, and long'd for thee;
this widow is the strangest thing, the stateliest, and stands so much
upon her excellencies.
_Bel._ She hath put us off, this month now, for an answer.
_Hare._ No man must visit her, nor look upon her, no, not say, good
morrow, nor good even, till that's past.
_Val._ She has found what dough you are made of, and so kneads you:
are you good at nothing, but these after-games? I have told you often
enough what things they are, what precious things, these widows--
_Hare._ If we had 'em.
_Val._ Why the Devil has not craft enough to wooe 'em, there be three
kinds of fools, mark this note Gentlemen, mark it, and understand it.
_Fount._ Well, go forward.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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