The humorous lieutenant, or, Generous enemies a comedy as it is now acted by His Majesties servants, at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane.

About this Item

Title
The humorous lieutenant, or, Generous enemies a comedy as it is now acted by His Majesties servants, at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane.
Author
Fletcher, John, 1579-1625.
Publication
London :: Printed for H.N., and sold by William Chandler, and Ralph Smith,
1697.
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Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A39804.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The humorous lieutenant, or, Generous enemies a comedy as it is now acted by His Majesties servants, at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A39804.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 13, 2024.

Pages

Page 28

Scaene 3.
Enter Lieutenant, and Leontius. Drums within.
Leo.
You shall not have your will, sirrah, are ye running? Have ye gotten a toy in your heels? Is this a season, When honour pricks ye on, to prick your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 up After your Whore, your Hobby-Horse?
Lieu.

Why look ye now: What a strange Man are you? Would you have a Man fight at all houres all alike.

Leo.

Do but fight something; but half a blow, and put thy Stomach to't: turn but thy face, and do but make Mouthes at 'em.

Lieu.

And have my Teeth knockt out; I thank ye heartily, ye are my dear Friend.

Leo.
What a Devil ails thee? Dost long to be hang'd?
Lieu.

Faith, Sir, I make no suit for't: but rather then I would live thus out of Charity, continually in brawling—

Leo.
Art thou not he? I may be cozn'd—
Lieu.
I shall be discover'd.
Leo.

That in the midst of thy most hellish pains, when thou wert craw∣ling sick, didst aim at wonders, when thou wert mad with pain?

Lieu

Ye have found the cause out; I had ne're been mad to sight else: I confess, Sir, the daily torture of my side that vext me, made me as daily careless what became of me, till a kind Sword there wounded me, and eas'd me; 'twas nothing in my valour fought; I am well now, and take some pleasure in my life: methinks now it shews as mad a thing to me to see you 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and kill one another foolishly for Honour, as 'twas to you, to see me play the Coxcombe.

Leo.
And wilt thou ne're fight more?
Lieu.
Ith' mind I am in.
Leo.
Nor never be sick again?
Lieu.
I hope I shall not.
Leo.
Prethee be sick again; prethee, I beseech thee, Be just so sick again.
Lieu.
I'll just be hang'd first.
Leo.

If all the Arts that are can make a Collick, therefore look to't: or if imposthumes, mark me, as big as foot-balls—

Lieu.
Deliver me.
Leo.

Or stones of ten pound weight i'th' kidneys through 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and ugly dyets may be gather'd; I'll feed ye up my self Sir, I'll prepare ye, you can∣not sight, unless the devil tear ye, you shall not want provocations, I'll 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ye, I'll have thee have the tooth-ach, and the head-ach.

Lieu.
Good Collonel, I'll do any thing.
Leo.

No, no, nothing—then will I have thee blown with a pair of Smiths bellowes, because ye shall be sure to have a round gale with ye, sil'd full of oyle, o' devil, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fortis, and let these work, these may provok.

Lieu.
Good Colonel.
Leo.
A coward in full blood; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be plain with me,

Page 29

Will Roasting do thee any good?
Lieu.
Nor Basting neither, Sir.
Leo.
Marry that goes hard.
Enter I Gent.
I Gent.

Where are you Colonel

The Prince expects ye Sir; has hedg'd the Enemy within a straight, where all the hopes and valours of all Men living cannot force a passage, he has 'em now.

Leo.
I knew all this before Sir, I chalk'd him out his way: But do you see that thing there;
Lieu.
Nay, good sweet Colonel 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 a little.
Leo.
That thing?
1 Gent.
What thing? I see the brave Lieutenant.
Leo.
Rogue, What a Name hast thou lost?
Lieu.

You may help it; yet you may help it: I'll do ye any Courtesie: I know you love a Wench well.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 2 Gent.
Leo.
Look upon him; Do you look too.
2 Gent.
What should I look on? I come to tell ye, the Prince stays your Direction, We have 'em now ith' Coop, Sir.
Leo.
Let 'em rest there, And chew upon their Miseries: but look first—
Lieu.
I cannot sight for all this.
Leo.
Look on this Fellow.
2 Gent.
I know him; 'tis the valiant brave Lieutenant.
Leo.
Can'st thou hear this, and play the Rogue, steal off quickly, Behind me quickly, neatly do it, And rush into the thickest of the Enemy, And if thou kill'st but two.
Lieu.
You may excuse me, 'tis not my fault: I dare not sight.
Leo.
Be rul'd yet, I'll beat thee on; go wink and sight: A plague upon your sheeps heart.
2. Gent.
What's all this matter?
1. Gent.
Nay I cannot shew ye.
Leo.
Here's Twenty pound, go but smell to 'em.
Lieu.
Alas Sir, I have taken such a cold, I can smell nothing.
Leo.
I can smell a Rascal, a rank Rascall: Fye, how he stinks, stinks like a tyred Jade.
2 Gent.
What Sir?
Leo.
Why, that Sir, Do not you smell him?
2 Gent.
Smell him?
Lieu.
I must endure.
Leo.

Stinks like a dead Dog, Carrion—There's no such damnable smell under Heaven, as the faint sweat of a Coward: Will ye sight yet?

Page 30

Lieu.

Nay, now I desie ye; ye have spoke the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ye can of me, and if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Man should take what you say to the heart—

Leo.

God a mercy, God a mercy with all my heart; here I forgive thee; and fight, or fight not, do but go along with us, and keep my Dog.

〈◊〉〈◊〉
I love a good Dog naturally.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gent.
What's all this stir, Lieutenant?
Lieu.
Nothing, Sir, but a slight matter of Argument.
Leo.

'Pox take thee. Sure I shall love this Rogue, he's so pretty a Cow∣ard: Come, Gentlemen, let's up now, and if fortune dare play the Slut again, I'll never more Saint her; Come, Play-fellow, come, prithee come up; come Chicken, I have a way shall sit yet: A tame knave —Come, look upon us.

Lieu.
I'll tell ye who does best Boyes.
[Exeunt.
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