Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10)

Excerpt

Actus PrimusScena Prima

Enter Juan de Castro, and Michael Perez.

Michael Perez

Are your Companies full, Colonel?

Juan de Castro

No, not yet, Sir:
Nor will not be this month yet, as I reckon;
How rises your Command?

Michael Perez

We pick up still, and as our monies hold out,
We have men come, about that time I think
We shall be full too, many young Gallants go.

Juan de Castro

And unexperienced,
The Wars are dainty dreams to young hot spirits,
Time and Experience will allay those Visions,
We have strange things to fill our numbers,
There's oneDon Leon, a strange goodly fellow,
Recommended to me from some noble Friends,
For myAlferes, had you but seen his Person,
And what a Giants promise it protesteth.

Michael Perez

I have heard of him, and that he hath serv'd before too.

Juan de Castro

But no harm done, nor never meant,Don Michael,
That came to my ears yet, ask him a question,
He blushes like a Girl, and answers little,
To the point less, he wears a Sword, a good one,
And good Cloaths too, he is whole skin'd, has no hurt yet,
Good promising hopes, I never yet heard certainly
Of any Gentleman that saw him angry.

Michael Perez

Preserve him, he'll conclude a peace if need be,
Many as strong as he will go along with us,
That swear as valiantly as heart can wish,
Their mouths charg'd with six oaths at once, and whole ones,
That make the drunken Dutch creep into Mole-hills.

Juan de Castro

'Tis true, such we must look for: butMich. Perez,
When heard you ofDonna Margarita, the great Heiress?

Michael Perez

I hear every hour of her, though I never saw her,
She is the main discourse: nobleDon Juan de Castro,
How happy were that man could catch this Wench up,
And live at ease! she is fair, and young, and wealthy,
Infinite wealthy, and as gracious too
In all her entertainments, as men report.

Juan de Castro

But she is proud, Sir, that I know for certain,
And that comes seldome without wantonness,
He that shall marry her, must have a rare hand.

Michael Perez

Would I were married, I would find that Wisdom,
With a light rein to rule my Wife: if ever Woman
Of the most subtile mould went beyond me,
I would give the Boys leave to whoot me out o'th' Parish.

Enter a Servant.

Servant

Sir, there be two Gentlewomen attend to speak
With you.

Juan de Castro

Wait on 'em in.

Michael Perez

Are they two handsome Women?

Servant

They seem so, very handsom, but they are vail'd, Sir.

Michael Perez

Thou put'st sugar in my mouth, how it melts with me!
I love a sweet young Wench.

Juan de Castro

Wait on them in I say.

[Exit Servant.

Michael Perez

Don Juan.

Juan de Castro

How you itch,Michael! how you burnish!
Will not this Souldiers heat out of your bones yet,
Do your Eyes glow now?

Michael Perez

There be two.

Juan de Castro

Say honest, what shame have you then?

Michael Perez

I would fain see that,
I have been in the Indies twice, and have seen strange things,
But two honest Women;--one I read of once.

Juan de Castro

Prithee be modest.

Michael Perez

I'll be any thing....