in The Scornful Lady — Beaumont, Francis; Fletcher, John
Metadata
Play
The Scornful Lady
Author
Beaumont, Francis; Fletcher, John
Year (catalogued)
1616
First performance
1613
Decade
1610s
Genre
Comedy
Play type
Boys Professional; Adult Professional
Company
Children of the Queen's Revels
Theater
Blackfriars;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)
El. Lo. | El. lo. | Eld. lo. | El Lo. | •… ld. lo. | Eld. | Eld. Lo. | El. Lou. | El lo. | El. lo | Eld. L. | El. Lo | El. lo: | Eld. Lou. | E. lo. | El. 〈◊〉 . | Eld. Lo | E. Lo. | Eld Lo. | El Lo
Words
6263
Characters
31287
Typicality
0.38 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A06389
BritDrama no.
1626
Cluster
Cluster 12 — Wooers, gallants & courtly love-talk
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 12 (signor, sal, zelmane, handkerchief, absolon, dissemble…). Matches are highlighted.
deer cause of my banishment; and then for France. Yes, have you lost your memory? Why she knows not you. Enough, I know her brother. I shall en reate you only to salute my Mistress, and take leave, we'll partly at the stairs. First let me beg your notice for this Gentleman my Brother. Would I were so. Mistress, for me to praise
now? Me thinks thou shouldst be drunk still, and not speak, it's the more par onable. I thank you; yes e'ne pursue it Sir: do you hear? get a whore soon for your recreation: go loo e out Captain Bro kenbreech your fellow, and quarrel, if you date: I shall deliver these k yes to one shall have more honesty, though not so much fine wit
had made a wench indeed. A Godlike thing, not to be bought for money: 'tis my Mistress: in hom there is no passion, nor no scorn: what I will is for law; pray you salute her. I was mad once, when I loved pictures: for what shape and colours else, but pictures? in that tawny hide there lies and endless mass of virtues; when all
lost maidenhead, you are cozened merely. I have cast beyond your wit. That gent. is your retainer Welford. Your sister has found it so, or I mistake: mark how she blushes when you see her next. Would, would, would, I shall not travel now, would, would, would. I'll please you soon again. I Welford, he's a young handsome fellow, well
for your Land, be such a Coxecome, such a whining Ass, as you decreed me for when I was last here. That at my peril. Lusty M r . Moorecraft, Here is a Lady would salute you. I think the signs in Gemini here's such coupling. I fecle a buzzing in my brains, pray God they bear this out, and I'll never trouble them so far again.
Full speech
And mine is to persuade a passionate woman, or to leave the Land. Savill make the boat stay, I fear I shall begin my vnfor tunate journey this night, though the darkness of the night and the roughness of the waters might easily dissuade and unwilling man. Savill, you shall gain the opinion of a better servant, in seeking to execute, not altar my will, how so ver my intents succeed. Mistress Yongloue. What critical minute was that? I prithee doliuer my service, and say I desire to see the deer cause of my banishment; and then for France. Yes, have you lost your memory? Why she knows not you. Enough, I know her brother. I shall en reate you only to salute my Mistress, and take leave, we'll partly at the stairs. First let me beg your notice for this Gentleman my Brother. Would I were so. Mistress, for me to praise over again that worth, which all the world, and you your self can see. Mistress. Mistress another in my place, that were not tied to believe all your actions joust, would app ehend himself wronged: But I, whose virtues are constancy & obedience. I have herd and seen your affability to be such, that the servants you give wages to may speak. Mistress your will leads my speeches from the purpose. But as a man — Mistress I came to see you. To take leave of you. Yes. Yes, I had a third, had you been apt to hear it. It to entreat you to hear reason. Yes Lady. You wrong me. You wrong me much. You know your least word is offorce to make me seek out dangers, move me not with toys: but in this banishment, I must take leave to say, you are unjust: was one kiss forced from you in public by me so vnpardo nable? why all the hours of day and night have seen us kiss. I did, yet no singne of disgrace need to have stained your cheek: you your self knew your pure and simple heart to be most unspotted, and free from the least baseness. But where lay this disgrace? The world that knew us, knew our resolutions well: And could it be hoped that I should give away my freedom, and ven ture a perpetual bondage with one I never kissed? or could I in wisdom take oo much lou upon me, from he that chosen me for her husband? I dare you know; First let me kiss. I go: but brother, what yet unheard of course to live, does your imagination flatter you with? your ordi nary means are devoured. Yet some course you must take, which for my sa tisfaction resolve and open: If you will shape none, I must inform you, that that man but persuades himself he means to live, that imagins not the means. I apprehend not that: you have fed others, and consequently disposed of um: and the same measure must you expect from your maintainers, which will be too hea vy and alteration for you to bear. I see you are tide to no particular employment then. Well, to keep your feet out of base and dange rous paths, I have resolved you shall live as Master of my house. It shall be your care Savill to see him fed and clo worser, not according to his present estate, but to his birth and former Fortune's. To keep you ready to do him all service peacea bly, and him to command you reasonably, I leave these further direcitons in writing, which at your best leisure together open and read. I shall not need to teach you how to discredit their beginnings, you know how to take exception at their shirts at washing, or to make the maids swear they found plasters in their beds. Farewell, be mindful and be happy: the night calls me. Gentlemen, God save you all, my business is to one M r Loveless. He promises no less Sir. Sir, I should let you know, yet I am loath, yet I am sworn too't, would some other tongue would speak it for me. All I desire Sir is, the patience and sufferance of a man, and good Sir be not moved more, Good Sir excuse me, and whatsoever you hear, think, must have been known unto you, and be your self discreet; and bear it nobly. Your brother's dead Sir. No, no, dead and drowned at sea Sir. Too sure Sir. As sure Sir as I tell it. He may come up, but never to call you brother. Very wisely Sir. I shall be drunk anon for my good news: but I have a loving brother, that's my comfort. I shall be if I follow this beginning. Well, my deer brother, if I escape this drowning, it's your turn next to sink, you shall duck twice before I help you. Sir I cannot drink more, pray let me have your pardon. Sir I must take my leave of you, my business is so ur gent. I dare not Sir by no means. As little as to the tother. Would you were your own Sir, as I left you. Well I must cast about, or all sinks. What would you with me Sir? Oh sleep Sir, sleep. God save you both. Why through the doors, they are open. As much (gay man) as thou art, I am a Gentleman. No, not with Women; I come to speak here with a Gentlewoman. But no with one so gentle. Sir I am not fine yet, I am but new come over, di rect me with your ticket to your Taylor, and then I shall be fine Sir. Lady, if there be a better of your sex within this house, say I would see her. Your way you'll be too good, pray and my business. This is another Sum er: Oh srayle woman. What are you Sir? Then I take you Sir for some new silken thing weaned from the country, that shall (when you come to keep good company) be beaten into better manners. pray good proud Gentlewoman help me to your Mistress. Yes amongst a nation of such men as you are, and be no worse for wearing Shall I speak with this Lady? I must stay here then. Good fine thing tell me why. You Can not talk me out with your tradition Of wit you pick from plays, go too, I have found ye: And for you, tender Sir, whose gentle blood Runs in your nose, and makes you snuff at all But three piled people, I do let you know, He that be God your worships satin suit, Can make no men Sir: I will see this Lady, And with the reverence of your silkenship, In these old Ornaments. Sure Sir I shall. Indeed I would not, or if I would beaten, Pray who shall Beatrice me? this good Gentleman Looks as he were o'th peace. Yes, that, that shall correct your boys tongue, Dare you fight? I will stay here st ll. First I thank you for schooling this young fellow, Whom his own follies, which is prove enough Daily to fallen into, if you but frown, Shall level him away to his repentance: Next I should rail at you, but you are a woman, And anger lost upon you. You have done that, I must confess I have the least curse in, Because the least acquaintance: But there be (If there be honour in the minds of men) Thousands, when they shall know what I deliver, (As all good men must share ) will to sham Blast your black memory. 'Tis that, that if you have a soul will choke it: Y'aue killed a Gentleman: You and your cruelty have killed woman; And such a man (let me be angry in't) Whose least worth weighed above all women's virtues That are, I spare you all to come too: guess him now. Repen you mean: you are a perfect woman, And as the first was, made for men undoing. I hope, While I can keep my self from such temptations. You had a Servant that your peenishnes Enjoined to travel. Then have your asking, and be grieved, he's dead; How you will answer for his worth I know not, But this I am sure, either he, or you, or both Were stark mad, else he might have lived To have given a stronger testimony toth' world Of what he might have been. He was a man I knew but in his evening: ten Suns after, by a tyrant storm our beaten bark Bulged under us; in which sad parting blow, He called upon his Saint, but not for life, On you unhappy woman; and while all Sought to preserve their souls, he desperately Embraced a wave, crying to all that see it, If any live, go to my Fate, that forced me To this untimely end, and make her happy: His name was Loveless: And I scaped the storm. And now you have my business. I Like this well: these Women are strange things. 'Tis somewhat of the latest now to weep, You should have wept when he was going from you, And chained him with those tears at home. Leave to love others, 'twas some jealousy That turned him desperate. This works amain upon her. Then you can Love? I have made my self fool. So, it's better I were drowned indeed. This young thing too? Why then he lives still, I am he, your Loveless. Will you then marry? There is no er Purgatory but a woman. I must do something. I am glad to hear it brother, pray God you are wise too. What does he for? Pre he be gone, and ra e at home, thou art so base fool I cannot laugh at thee , c mes of c usening, home and spare, cate till you raise your sums again. I you stir far in this, I'll have you whipped, your ears nailed for intelligent cing, o'th pillory, and your goods forfeit: you are a stale Couse ner, leave my house: no more. I am glad you look before you. Gentlewoman, here is a poor distressed younger brother. I ask your mercy: yet it's no matter, his Knighthood is no inheritance I take it: whatsoever he is, he's your servant, or would be Lady. Faith be not merciless, but make a man; he's young and handsome, though he be my brother, and his obseruan ces may deserve your love: he shall not fallen for means. Stop her mouth. I hope you shall not live to know that hour when this shall be repented. Now brother I should chide, but I'll give no distaste to your fair Mistress, I will instruct her in't, and she shall doo't: you hau been wild, and ignorant, pray mend it. To you, good M r . Savill, and your Office, thus much I have to say: You're from my Steward become, first your own Drunkard, then his Bawd: they say you're excellent grown in both, and perfect: give me your keys Sir Savill. I left you as a curb for, not to provoke my brother's fol lies: Where's the best drink now? come, tell me Savill: where's the soundest whores? You old he Goat, you dried Ape, you lamestal lion, must you be leading in my house your whores, Like Fairies dance their night rounds, without fear either of King or Con stable, within my walls? Are all my Hangings safe? my sheep unsold yet? I hope my Plate is currant, I have too much on't. What say you to 300. ponds in drink now? Me thinks thou shouldst be drunk still, and not speak, it's the more par onable. I thank you; yes e'ne pursue it Sir: do you hear? get a whore soon for your recreation: go loo e out Captain Bro kenbreech your fellow, and quarrel, if you date: I shall deliver these k yes to one shall have more honesty, though not so much fine wit Sir. Ye may walk and gather Cresses sir to cool your liver; there's something for you to begin a diet, you have the pox else. Speed you well, Sir Savill: you may ate at my house to prescrue life; but keep no fornications in the stables. Would, would, would. Me thinks I am very wise: I do not come a woeing; Indeed I'll move no more love to your Ladyship. Only to see you, and be merry Lady: thats all my but sinesse. Faith lets be very merry. Where's little Roger? he's a good fellow: and hour or two well spent in wholesome mirth is worth a thousand of these puling passion. 'Tis and ill world for Lovers. I thank God ther's one less for me Lady. Till now; and now, I am the prettiest fellow. Me thinks your faces are no such fine things now. A hogs face soused is worth a hundred of um. She brought such fine white pigs as you: fit for none but Parsons Lady. That shall not save you. Oh that I were in love again with a wish. You know I am a clean skind man. Come, come, you would know it; thats as good: but not a snap, never long for't, not a snap deam e Lady. And tuum e (even when it twitterd to be a me) I was vnha some. And say my back was melted, when the gods knows kept it at a cham ge: Feure Flanders Mares would have been easier to me, and a Fencer. Faith whither it be or no, it's too good for you. But so much for our mirth: Now have at you in earnest. By your leave here. Faith this is the finest device I have now: How dost thou sweet heart? Oh thy sweet temper: what would I have given, that lady had been Like thee: seest thou her? that face (my love) joined with thy humble mind, had made a wench indeed. A Godlike thing, not to be bought for money: 'tis my Mistress: in hom there is no passion, nor no scorn: what I will is for law; pray you salute her. I was mad once, when I loved pictures: for what shape and colours else, but pictures? in that tawny hide there lies and endless mass of virtues; when all your read & white ones want it. Yes indeed is . Oh gentle spirit. She has a shrewd guess at it I see by her. Get on your doublet, here comes my brother. Good morrow. Here's a poor brother of yours. No, I have cured her. M r . Welford, pray know this Gentleman, is my brother. As well as may be man'; I am married: your new ac quaintance hath her Sister: and all's well. How's this? Gallant? Come thou shalt kiss him for our sport sake. My wife Sir. Lord, how I l u'd this woman, how I worshipped this pret ty calf with the white face here: as I live, you were the prettiest fool to play withal, the wittiest little varlet, it would talk: Lord how it talk ; and when I angered it, it woul cry out, and scratch, and eat no meat, and yet would say, Go hang. And when I asked it, if it would be married, it sent me of and errant into France: and would abuse me, and be gladi it did so. Yes faith, weel have a cast at your best parts now, And en the devil take the worst. E' ne a short Grace, and then I am gone: You are a woe man, and the prou st that ever loved a C ach: the scornful st, scuru to, and most woman; the greediest to be praised, and never moved, though it be gro e and open; the most envious, that at the poor f me of another's face, would eat your own, and more then is your own, the p int b nging to it: of such a self opinion, that you Thy ke none can dese we your glove: and for your mali e, you are so exce ent, you might have been your Tempters tutor: Nay, c y. You shall before I leave you Yes, and more as so as I can get it out. You are, let me see. One that hath used me (since you will have it so) the ba sest, the most Footboy Like, without respect of what I was, or what you might be by me: you have used me, as I would use a jade, ride him off's legs, then turn him into the Commons: you have used me with discretion, and I thank ye. If you have many more such pretty Servants, pray built and Hospital, and when they are old, keep um for shame. Will you have more on't? No, I had rather be a Carrier. Neither do I think there can be such a fellow found i'th world, to be in love with such a froward woman: if there be such, th'are mad, Jove comfort um. Now you l ave all, and I as new a man, as light, & spirited, that I feel my self clean through another creature. O'tis brave to be ones own man. I can see you now as I would see a Picture, fit all day by you and never kiss your hand: hear you sing, and never fallen backward; but with as set a temper, as I would hear a Fiddler, rise and thank you. I can now keep my money in my purse, that still was gadding out for Scarves and Waistcoats: and keep my hand from Mercers sheep skins finely. I can eat Mutton now, and feast my self with my two shillings, and can see a Play for eighteen pence again: I can my Lady. Would, would, would, what would you with me? You will not ravish me? Now, your set speech. Would, would, would, this is a fine Exordium: And why I pray you p jurd? I do confess it: make your best of that. Nay swear it, And give sufficient reason, your own usage. No faith. Yes, but I see but rotten fruits on't. I have played the fi e ass: bend her body, Lady, best, dearest, worthiest Lady, hear your servant: I am not as I showed: Oh wretched fool to fling away the Jewel of thy life thus. Give her more air, see she begins to , sweet Mistress hear me. In being yours I am so. How do you, reach a chair there: I confess my fault not pardonable, in pursuing thus upon such tenderness my wilful er rour: but had I known it would have rought thus with ye, thus strangely; not the world had won me to it, and let not (my best Lady) any word spoke to my end disturb your quiet peace: for sooner shall you know a general ruin, then my faith broken. Do not doubt this Mistress: for by my life I cannot live without you. Come come, you shall not grieve, rather be angry, and heap I fliction on me: I will suffer. Oh I could curse my self, pray smile upon me. Upon y faith it was but a trick to try you, knowing you loved me deam lie, and yet strangely that you would never show it, though my means was all humility. How now? I'll go to h irst, and bebetter welcome. I am fooled, I do confess it, y o'd, Lady fooled Madam, and I thank you for it. I am glad to see you merry, pray laugh on. I will not rai . Yes you shall hear me. No. He that makes a woman better by his words, I'll have him Sainted: blows will not do it. The do deserve it richly, And may live to have a Beadle do it. Come full Folly, If this be railing, you shall hear me rail. The worst are good enough for such a trisle, Such a proud of Cobw b lawnë. I would till the bones cracked, and I had my will. will you cure me? I was disguised indeed Sir if I wronged you. Pray where and when? Marry you shall not be troubled. Amen. Sweet, Sweet. Arise my dearest soul: I do not credit it. Alas, I fear her tender heart will break with this reproach: fie that you know no more civility to a weak virgin. 'Tis no matter Sweet, let her say what she will, thou art not worse to me, and therefore not at all: be careless. Alas, thine honour is not stained. Is this the business that you sent for me about? Mild still as the Dove, for all these injuries. Come, shall we go, I love thee not so ill to keep thee h re a jesting stock. Adue to the world's end. Nay you shall never know, because you shall not find me. 'Tis very well: come. Yes for another mock. Though you deserve not so much at my hands, yet if you be in such earnest, I will speak a word with you: but I be seech you be brief; for in good faith there's a Parson, and a li cence stay for us i'th Church all this while: & you know 'tis night. Well, well, what do you mean? Oh it's about the old matter. Prithee why not, deserves she not as much as you? Upon your faces, 'tis true: but if judicially we shall cast our eyes upon your minds, you are a thousand Women of her in worth: She cannot found in jest, nor set her lover tasks, to show her pe uishnes, and his affection: nor cross what he says, though it be Canonicoll. She's a good plain wench, that will do as I will have her, and bring me lusty boys to throw the Sledge, and lift at Pigs of led: and for a wife, she's far beyond you: what can you do in a household, to provide for your issue, but lie a bed and get um? your business is to dress you, and at idle hours to eat; when she can do a thousand profitable things: She can do pre ty well in the Pastry, and knows how pullen should be cramed: she cuts Camb icke at a third: weaves bone-lace, and quilts balls: And what are you good for? Forswear my self, how? Nay but conceive me, the intent of oaths is ever under stood. Admit I should protest to such a friend, to see him at his lodging to morrow: Divines would never hold me perjured, if I were struck blind, or he hid him where my diligent search could not find him: so there were no cross act of mine own in't. Can it be imagined I meant to force you to marriage, and to have you whither you will or no? Some sin I see indeed must necessarily fallen upon me, as whosoever deals with women shall never v terly avoid it: yet I would choose the least ill; which is to forsake you, that have done me all the abuses of a malignant woman, contemned my service, and would have held me prating about marriage, till I had be ne passed getting of children: then her that hath forsook her family, and put her tender body in my hand, upon my word. How will that satisfy my word to her? Shall I live to wrong that tender hearted virgin so? It may not be. I swear I had rather marry thee then her: but yet mine honesty. This kiss indeed is sweet, pray God no sin lie under it. How do you? Suce a puiet mind lives not in any woman: I shall do most ungodly thing. Hear me one word more, which by all my Hope's I will not altar. I did make and oath when you delayed me so; that this very night I would be marrted. Now if you will go without delay, suddenly, as late as it is, with your own Mini ster to your own Chapel, I'll wed you, and to bed. For if you should forsake me now, I care not, she would not though for all her inium ies, such is her spirit, If I be not asha med to kiss her now I partly, may I not live. If I can speak to purpose to her, I am a will ine. Faith my sweet Lady, I have caught you now, maugre your S btilties, and fine devises, be coy again now. By this light, by all the pleasures I have had this night, by your lost maidenhead, you are cozened merely. I have cast beyond your wit. That gent. is your retainer Welford. Your sister has found it so, or I mistake: mark how she blushes when you see her next. Would, would, would, I shall not travel now, would, would, would. I'll please you soon again. I Welford, he's a young handsome fellow, well bred and landed: your sister can instr ct you in his good parts better then I by this time. Yes i'faith. And over shall be fetched again, never fear it. And the Moon too, in which I be the man. I knew it, and mined with you, and so blue you up. Now you may see the Gentlewoman: stand close. I'll be a witness to your naked truth Sir: this is the gen tlewoman, prithee look upon him, this is he that made me break my faith Sweet: but thank your sister, she hath soderd it. I would have watched you Sir, by your good patience, for ferretting in my ground. And heir into the world he means. How Like you this dish, Welford, I made a supper on't, and fed so heartily, I could not sleep. Lady, I would not undertake ye, were you again a Haggard, for the best cast of soar Ladies i'th Kingdom: you were ever tickle footed, and would not truss round? She was all night locked here boy. What did you? And reason. Prithee good sweetheart kiss him. Oh yes, you must. Under a miracle this is the strangest, I ever herd of. Oh, for his keys, I know it, 'Tis done Sir, take your keys again: But hark you Savill, leave of the motions Of the flesh, and be honest, or else you shall graze again. I'll try you once more. Nay then I see we must keep holiday Ent. Roger, & Abigall. Heers the last couple in hell. Welford get you to Church: by this light, You shall not lie with her again, till you're married. Th'art in a good beginning: come who leads? Sir Roger, you shall have the Van: lead the way: Would every dogged wench had such a day. Exeunt. This senseless woman vexes me toth' heart, she will not from my memory: would she were a m n for one two hours, that I might beat her. If I had been , old, or had been and even lay she might have scorned me: but to be young, and by this light I think as proper as the proudest; made as clean, as straight, and strong backed; means and manners e quall with the best cloth of silver Sir i'th kingdom: But these are things at some time of the Moon, below the cut of Canvas: Sure she has some Mecching rascal in her house, some hind, that she hath seen bear (Like another Milo ) quarters of Malt upon his back, and sing with't, thrash all day, and ith evening in his stockings, strike up a hornpipe, and there stink two hours, and never a whit the worse man; these are they, these hind rascals that undo us all. Would I had been a carter, or a Coach man, I had done the deed ere this time: Bid him come in: You are welcome, whats your will Sir? I do not much remember you. I do remember you: you S ed to be a suitor to that Lady: In which isle be your helper: we are two, and they are two: two sisters, rich alike, only the elder has the prouder dow ry: In troth I pity this disgrace in you, yet of mine own I am : do but follow my counsel, and isle pawn my spirit, we'll ou ach em yet; the means is this. It is the waiting woman, pray be not seen: sirrah hold her in discourse awhile: hark in your ear, go, and dispatch it quickly, when I come in I'll tell you all the project. Away, 'tis done, she must not see you: now Lady Gwi never, what news with you? From whom good vanity? Do's she so good soul? wood she not have a Cawdle? do's she send you with your fine Oratory goody Tully to tie me to belief again? Bring out the Cat hounds, isle make you a tree whore, then with my tyller bring down your Gibship, and then have you cast, and hung up ith warren. Wood I did, for I am yet very doubtful: what will you say now? Art thou a woman, and say nothing? And loud enough: will your Lady love me? Not such another as I was, Mumps; nor will not be: isle read her fine Epistle: would, would, would: is not thy Mistress mad? Hast thou so much moisture in thy whitleather hide yet, that thou canst cry? I wood have sworn thou hadst been touchwood five year since: Nay let it rain, thy Face chops for a shower Like a dry dunghyll. Do Maukin do: deliver to your Lady from me this: I mean to see her, if I have no other business; which before isle want to come to her, I mean to go see ke birds nests: yet I may come too: but if I come, from this door till I see her, will I think how to rail vildly at her; how to v her, and make her cry so much, that the Physician if she fallen sick vpon't shall want v yne to find the cause by: and she remedil sse die in her heresy: Farewell old Adage, I hope to see the boys make Potguns on thee. Thou hast but one, and thats in thy left c upper, that makes thee hobble so; you must be ground ith breech Like a top, yowl never spin well else: Farewell Fytchocke. Loves she her ill taken up resolution so dearly? Didst thou move her for me? Lastly, it is to kindle in that barren heart love and forgiveness. Your own eyes were not dearer to you then I? Return my service with such thanks, as she may imagine the heart of a suddenly overjoyed man would will lingly utter: and you (I hope) I shall with slender argu ments persuade to wear this Diamond, that when my Mistress shall through my long absence, and the approach of new suitors, offer to forget me; you may call your eye down to your finger, and remember and speak of me: She will hear thee better then those allied by birth to her; as we see many men much swayed by the grooms of their chambers, not that they have a greater partly of their love or opinion on them, as on others, but for they know their secrets. More I believe then you have. Yes, more then thou darest be, a So ldier. But one, I am neither cat nor woman. Would he had missed his way too, though he had Wandered farther Women are ill spoken of, So he had this misery, you Lady. You have forgotten your lost Love, I would she had told you your second should be hanged to, and let that Come about: but this is very strange. But say that I we e Loveless, And scaped the storm, how would you answer this? Sir I dare fight, but never for a woman, I will not have her in my cause, she's Mort ll and so is not my anger: If you have brought a Nobler subject for our swords, I am for you: in this I would be loath to my finger. And where you say I wronged you, so ar from my profession, that y fears, to do wrong is the greatest: credit me we hau been both abused. (not by our selves, for that I ho worser a spleen no of Malice, and may with man enough be lest forgotten,) but by that wilful, piece of hatred, that much Lady: For whose sake, if we should leave our reason, and run on upon our sense, Like Rams: the little world of good men would laugh at us, and despise us, fixing upon our desperate memories the neuer-worne ou names of Fools, and . Sir 'tis not fear, but reason makes me tell you: in this I had rather help you Sir, then hurt you, and you shall find it, though you throw your self into as many dangers as she offers, though you redeem her lost name every day, and find her out new honours with your sword, you shall but be h r mitth, as I have been. L. You must not seek it in your Ladies house then: pray send this Ferret home, and spin good Abigall. And Maddame, that your Ladyshippe may know, in what base man ner you have used my service, I do from this hour hate thee heartily: and though your folly should whip you to repentance. and waken you at length to see my wrongs, 'tis not the indea vour of your life shall win me: not all the friends you have in intercession, nor your submissive letters, though they spoke as many tears as words; not your knees grown toth' ground in penitence, not all your state, to kiss you: nor my pardon nor will to give you Christian burial, if you die thus: so farewell. When I am married and made sure, I'll come and visit you a gain, and vex you Lady. By all my Hope's I'll be a torment to you, worse then a tedious winter. I know you will recant and sue to me, but save that labour: I'll rather love a Fever and con tinuall thirst, rather contract my youth to drink, and safer dote upon quarrels, or take a drawn whore from and Hospital, that time, diseases, and Mercury had eaten, then to be drawn to love you. Farewell cruel Mistress. Sure Sir he wanted none. Sir you are too bounteous, when I find that itch king, you shall assuage it Sir before another: this only, and farewell Sir. Your brother when the storm was most extreme, told all about him, he left a will, which lies close behind a chimney in the matted chamber: and so as well Sir, as you have made me able, I take my leave. Trust me you move me much: but say he lived, these were forgotten things again. The fellow comes to laugh at you. I tell you Lady, I would not for your Land, be such a Coxecome, such a whining Ass, as you decreed me for when I was last here. That at my peril. Lusty M r . Moorecraft, Here is a Lady would salute you. I think the signs in Gemini here's such coupling. I fecle a buzzing in my brains, pray God they bear this out, and I'll never trouble them so far again. Heers to you Sir. Maddame some I have, But not so serious to my life for't: If you keep this quam ter, and maintain about you Such Knights o'th Sun this is, to defy Men of ye, you may live, But in what some? Dirty December do. Thou with a face as old as Erram Pater, such a prog osticating nose: thou thing that ten years since has left to be a woman, outworn the expectation of a Bawd; and thy dry bones can reach at nothing now, but gords or ninepinnes; pray go fetch a trencher, go: Come prithee be not angry, 'tis a day Given wholly to our mirth. I would it in the next great sickness to have the dogs spared; those harmless creatures, and knock I head these hight continual plagues, Women, that are more . I hope the stat will think on't. I prithee do not urge my sins unto me, Without I could amend um. Tie your she Otter up, good Lady Folly, she stinks worse then a bearbaiting. Go paint and purge, call in your kennel with you: you a Lady? From thee, false dice, lades. Cowards, and plaguy Sum mers, good Lord deliver me. You wrong me much. I will to Sea, an't shall go hard but I'll be drowned indeed. I am too foolish: Lady, speak deer Lady. Why to you. Take it by any means, 'tis lawful prize. BRother, is your last hope passed to mollify More crafts heart about your Mortgage? Why, why pray you? You shall see me do't afore you: look you. I have as hard a task to perform in this house. Y S, I come not here to sleep. I do not Like that. B your leave Gentlemen. Brother dismiss these people.
Plot summary
Plot — The Scornful Lady
The Loveless brothers are in trouble. The younger owes money to Morecraft and stands to lose his land, while the elder has been ordered by his lady-love to go into exile for a year as penance for his over-eagerness. He leaves his brother in charge of his house during his absence, with an allowance for his maintenance, and the steward Saville to restrain him, but the young man associates with rogues. Together they reinterpret his brother’s written instructions in order to license his prodigal behaviour. While they are drinking and wenching, the elder Loveless returns in disguise bringing news of his own death: young Loveless inherits his brother’s land, and promptly mortgages it to Morecraft. The elder Loveless also reports his death to the Lady, who consoles herself by chatting up another lover, Welford. When Loveless reveals his true identity, she retorts that she knew it was him and sends him on his way, but also disappoints Welford. Loveless returns and abuses her, pretending to be out of love. She faints and he relents: it was a trick to test her; but, she says, she knew that all along, and Loveless is sent away again. The elder Loveless dismisses Saville for negligence and reclaims his mortgaged property, but his younger brother not only keeps the money but also steals Morecraft’s intended fiancée, a rich, socially ambitious widow. She objects to his low-life friends, but he persuades her that they are cheaper than servants. The Lady’s affections begin to turn: she sends the elder Loveless a love letter. He conspires with Welford to get their own back: Welford cross-dresses as his new fiancée, and Loveless graciously gives in to the Lady’s pleas that he should jilt ‘her’. Loveless marries the Lady (who is angry when she learns how she has been tricked), and Welford sleeps with her sister. Young Loveless arrives with his new wife, and persuades his brother to reinstate Saville.