Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10

SCENE II.

Chapter 62787 wordsPublic domain

_Enter_ Mirabel, Pinac, Bellure, _and Servants_.

_Mir._ Welcome to _Paris_ once more, Gentlemen; We have had a merry and a lusty Ordinary, And Wine, and good meat, and a bounsing Reckoning; And let it go for once; 'Tis a good Physick, Only the Wenches are not for my diet, They are too lean and thin; their embraces brawn-faln. Give me the plump _Venetian_, fat, and lusty, That meets me soft and supple; smiles upon me, As if a Cup of full Wine leapt to kiss me; These slight things I affect not.

_Pin._ They are ill built; Pin-buttockt, like your dainty Barbaries, And weak i'th' pasterns; they'll endure no hardness.

_Mir._ There's nothing good, or handsom bred amongst us: Till we are travel'd, and live abroad, we are Coxcombs: Ye talk of _France_, a slight unseason'd Country, Abundance of gross food, which makes us Block-heads: We are fair set out indeed, and so are fore-horses: Men say we are great Courtiers, men abuse us: We are wise, and valiant too, _non credo, Seignior_: Our Women the best Linguists, they are Parrats; O' this side the _Alpes_ they are nothing but meer Drolleries: Ha, _Roma la Santa, Italy_ for my money, Their policies, their customs, their frugalities, Their courtesies so open, yet so reserved too, As when ye think y'are known best, ye are a stranger; The very pick-teeth speak more man than we do, And season of more salt.

_Pin._ 'Tis a brave Country: Not pester'd with your stubborn precise Puppies, That turn all useful and allow'd contentments To scabs and scruples; hang 'em Capon-worshippers.

_Bel._ I like that freedom well, and like their Women too, And would fain do as others do; but I am so bashful, So naturally an Ass: Look ye, I can look upon 'em, And very willingly I go to see 'em, (There's no man willinger) and I can kiss 'em, And make a shift--

_Mir._ But if they chance to flout ye, Or say ye are too bold; fie, Sir, remember; I pray sit farther off;--

_Bel._ 'Tis true, I am humbled, I am gone, I confess ingenuously I am silenced, The spirit of Amber cannot force me answer.

_Pin._ Then would I sing and dance.

_Bel._ You have wherewithal, Sir.

_Pin._ And charge her up again.

_Bel._ I can be hang'd first; Yet where I fasten well I am a tyrant.

_Mir._ Why, thou darst fight?

_Bel._ Yes, certainly, I dare fight; And fight with any man at any weapon, Would the other were no more; but a pox on't, When I was sometimes in my height of hope, And reasonable valiant that way, my heart harden'd, Some scornful jest or other chops between me And my desire: what would ye have me to do then, Gentlemen?

_Mir._ _Belvere_, you must be bolder: Travel three years, And bring home such a Baby to betray ye As bashfulness? a great fellow, and a Souldier?

_Bel._ You have the gift of impudence, be thankful; Every man has not the like talent: I will study And if it may be reveal'd to me.

_Mir._ Learn of me, And of _Pinac_: no doubt you'll find employment; Ladies will look for Courtship.

_Pic._ 'Tis but fleshing, But standing one good brunt or two: hast thou any mind to marriage? We'l provide thee some soft-natur'd wench, that's dumb too.

_Mir._ Or an old woman that cannot refuse thee in charity.

_Bel._ A dumb woman, or an old woman, that were eager And car'd not for Discourse, I were excellent at.

_Mi._ You must now put on boldness, there's no avoiding it; And stand all hazards; flye at all games bravely; They'll say you went out like an Oxe, and return'd like an Ass else.

_Bel._ I shall make danger sure.

_Mir._ I am sent for home now, I know it is to marry, but my Father shall pardon me, Although it be a witty Ceremony, And may concern me hereafter in my Gravity; I will not lose the freedom of a Traveller; A new strong lusty Bark cannot ride at one Anchor; Shall I make divers suits to shew to the same eyes? 'Tis dull and home-spun; Study several pleasures, And want employments for 'em? I'll be hang'd first; Tye me to one smock? make my travels fruitless? I'll none of that; for every fresh behaviour, By your leave, Father, I must have a fresh Mistriss, And a fresh favour too.

_Bel._ I like that passingly; As many as you will, so they be willing, Willing, and gentle, gentle.

_Pin._ There's no reason A Gentleman, and a Traveller should be clapt up, For 'tis a kind of Bæboes to be married Before he manifest to the World his good parts: Tug ever like a Rascal at one Oar? Give me the _Italian_ liberty.

_Mir._ That I study; And that I will enjoy; Come, go in Gentlemen, There mark how I behave my self, and follow. [_Exeunt._