The ordinary a comedy / written by William Cartvvright ...
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Title
The ordinary a comedy / written by William Cartvvright ...
Author
Cartwright, William, 1611-1643.
Publication
London :: Printed for Humphrey Moseley, and are to be sold at his shop ...,
1651.
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"The ordinary a comedy / written by William Cartvvright ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A80983.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 16, 2024.
Pages
ACT. I. SCEN. II.
MrsPotlucke
Pot.
NOw help good Heaven! 'tis such an uncouth thingTo be a widow out of Term-time—IDoe feele such aguish Qualmes, and dumps and fits,
descriptionPage 4
And shakings still an end—I lately wasA wife I do confesse, but yet I hadNo husband: he (alas) was dead to meEven when he liv'd unto the world; I wasA widdow whiles he breath'd; his death did onlyMake others know so much. But yet—
[Enter Hear.
Hear.
How now?So melancholy sweet?
Pot.
How could I chooseBeing thou wert not here? the time is come,Thou'lt be as good unto me as thy word?
Hear.
Nay, hang me if I er'e recant. You'l take meBoth wind and limb at th' venture, will you not?
Pot.
Ay good Chuck, every inch of thee, she wereNo true woman that would not.
Hear.
I must tell youOne thing, and yet I'm loth.
Pot.
I am thy Rib,Thou must keep nothing from thy Rib, good Chuck;Thy yoak-fellow must know all thy secrets.
Hear.
Why then I'l tell you sweet.
[He whispers her
Pot.
Heaven defend!
Hear.
'Tis true.
Pot.
Now God forbid; and would you offerT' undoe a widdow-woman so? I hadAs leive the old Vintner were alive againe.
Hear.
I was not born with it I confesse; but lyingIn Turky for Intelligence, the great Turk,Somewhat suspicious of me, lest I mightEntice some o'th' Seraglio, did commandI should be forthwith cut.
Pot.
A heathen deedIt was: none but an Infidel could haveThe heart to do it.
Hear.
Now you know the worst
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That you must trust to, come lets to the Church.
Pot.
Good Mr Hear-say, Nature ne'r intendedOne woman should be joyned to another.The holy blessing of all wedlock wasT'encrease and multiply, as Mr ChristopherDid well observe last Sabbath. Ile not doAny thing 'gainst Gods word. I do release youOf all your promises, and that it may notBe said you lost by loving me, take this.Perhaps I may get you a contributionO'th' women of the Parish, as I didThe broken-bellied-man the other day.
Hear.
Seeing you needs will cast me off▪ let meIntreat this one thing of you that you would notMake me your Table-talk, at the next Gossiping.
Exit.
[En. Slic.
Pot.
Indeed I pitty thee poor thing, or ratherI pitty thee poore nothing. Good LieutenantHow dost thou? Thou art mindfull of thy Promise?
Slic.
What else my jolly wench?
Pot.
Good sweet LieutenantGive me but leave to aske one Question of you,Art thou intire and sound in all thy limbs?
Slic.
To tell the very truth, ere now I've hadA spice o'th' Pox, or so; but now I am soundAs any Bell (Hem) wast not shrill my Girle, ha?
Pot.
I do not aske thee about these diseases;My question is whether thou'st all thy parts.
Slic.
Faith I have lost a joint or two; as noneOf our Profession come off whole, unlesseThe Generall, and some sneaks.
Pot.
My meaning isWhether that something is not wanting thatShould write thee husband.
Slic.
Ne'r feare that my wench;Dost think the King would send me to the wars
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Without I had my weapons? Eunuchs are notMen of imploiment in these dayes; his MajestyHath newly put me on a peece of service;And if I e're come off (which I doe feareI shan't, the danger is so great) brave WidowWee'l to't and get Commanders.
Potl.
If you canLeave me, I can leave you: there are other menThat won't refuse a Fortune when 'tis proffer'd.
Slic.
Well, I must to his Majesty, think on't;So fare thee well. Thine to his very Death,That is a Month or two perhaps, D. Slicer.
[Ex. En. Sha.
Potl.
Kind Master Shape, you are exceeding welcome.Here hath bin MrHearsay, and Lieutenant
Slicer:
You may ghesse at their businesse, butI hope you thinke me faithfull.
Sh.
I beleeveThe memory of your Husbands ashes, whichScarce yet are cold, extinguisheth all flamesThat tend to kindling any Love-fire: 'TisA vertue in you, which I must admireThat only you amongst so many shouldBe the sole Turtle of the Age.
Potl.
I doeBeare him in memory I confesse; but whenI doe remember what your promise wasWhen he lay sicke, it doth take something fromThe bitternesse of Sorrow. Woman wasNot made to be alone still.
Sh.
Tender thingsAt seventeen may use that plea; but youAre now arriv'd at Matron: these young sparkesAre rak'd up, I presume, in sager Embers.
Potl.
Nay don't abuse her that must be your Wife;You might have pitty, & not come with your nicknames,
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And call me Turtle: have I deserv'd this?
Sh.
If that you once hold merits, I have done;I'm glad I know what's your Religion.
Potl.
What's my Religion? 'tis well known there hathBeen no Religion in my house e'r sinceMy Husband dy'd.
Ent. Slic. Hearsay.
Hear.
How now sweet Shape? so closeAlone w' your Widow.
Sh.
Sirs dare you beleeve it?This thing, whose prayer it hath been these tenYeares, that she may obtaine the second tooth,And the third haire, now dotes on me, on meThat doe refuse all that are past sixteen.
Slic.
Why faith this was her sute to me just now.
Hear.
I had the first on't then. A Coachman, orA Groome were fitter far for her.
Slic.
You doeHonour her too much to thinke she deservesA thing that can lust moderately, give herThe sorrell Stallion in my Lords long stable.
Sha.
Or the same colour'd Brother, which is worse.
Potl.
Why Gentlemen—
Hear.
Foh, foh! she hath let fly.
Potl.
Doe y' think I have no more manners than so?
Sha.
Nay faith I can excuse her for that: ButI must confesse she spoke, which is all one.
Slic.
Her breath would rout an Army, sooner thanThat of a Cannon.
Hear.
It would lay a DevillSooner than all Trithemius charmes.
Sha.
Heark howIt blusters in her nosthrils like a windIn a foule Chimney.
Potl.
Out you base companions,You stinking Swabbers.
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Hear.
For her gate, that's such,As if her nose did strive t'outrun her heels.
Sha.
She's just six yards behind, when that appears;It saves an Usher Madam.
Pot.
You are allMost foul-mouth'd knaves to use a woman thus.
Sli.
Your playster'd face doth drop against moist wea∣ther.
Sha.
Fie, how you writh it; now it looks just likeA ruffled boot.
Slic.
Or an oyld paper Lanthorn.
Hear.
Her nose the candle in the midst of it.
Sha.
How bright it flames? Put out your nose good LadyYour burn day-light.
Pot.
Come up you lowsie Raskals.
Hear.
Not upon you for a Kingdom good Joane,The great Turk, Joane—the great Turk.
Slic.
Kisse him Chuck,Kisse him Chuck open'd mouth'd and be reveng'd.
Pot.
Hang you base cheating Varlet.
Slic.
Don't you seeDecember in her face?
Sha.
Sure the SurveyerOf the high-waies will have to do with herFor not keeping her countenance passable.
Hear.
There lies a hoare frost on her head, and yetA constant thaw in her nose.
Sha.
She's like a peeceOf fire-wood, dropping at one end, and yetBurning i'th' midst.
Slic.
O that endeavouring face!When will your costivenesse have done good Madam?
Hear.
Do you not heare her Guts already squeakeLike Kitstrings?
Slic.
They must come to that withinThis two or three yeares; by that time shee'l be
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True perfect Cat: They practise before hand.
Pot.
I can endure no longer, though I shouldThrow off my womanhood.
Hear.
No need, that's doneAlready: nothing left thee, that may stile theeWoman but Lust, and Tongue; no flesh but whatThe vices of the sex exact, to keep themIn heart.
Sha.
Thou art so leane and out of caseThat 'twere absurd to call thee Devill incarnate.
Slic.
Th'art a dry Devill troubled with the lustOf that thou hast not, flesh.
Pot.
Rogue, Raskall, Villaine,Ile shew your cheating tricks I faith: all shallBe now laid open. Have I suffer'd youThus long i' my house, and ne'r demanded yetOne penny rent, for this? Ile have it all,By this good blessed light I will.
Hear.
You mayIf that you please undo your self, you may.I will not strive to hinder you. There isSomething contriving for you, which may bePerhaps yet brought about, a Match or so;A proper fellow; 'tis a trifle, that;A thing you care not for I know. Have IPlotted to take you off from these to match youIn better sort, and am us'd thus? As forThe Rent you aske, here take it, take your money;Fill, choake your gaping throat. But if as yetYou are not deaf to counsell, let me tell youIt had been better that you ne'r had tookIt may stop some proceedings.
Pot.
Mr Hearsay,You know you may have even my heart out ofMy belly (as they say) if you'l but take
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The paines to reach it out; I am sometimesPeevish I doe confesse; here take your money.
Hear.
No.
Potl.
Good Sir.
Hear.
No, keep it and hoord it up.My purse is no safe place for it.
Potl.
Let meRequest you that you would be pleas'd to take it.
Hear.
Alas 'twould only trouble me; I canAs willingly goe light, as be your Treasurer.
Potl.
Good Mr Slicer speake to him to take it,Sweet Mr Shape, joyne with him.
Slic.
Nay, be onceO'rerul'd by a woman.
Sha.
Come, come, you shall take it.
Potl.
Nay Faith you shall; here put it up good Sir.
Hear.
Upon intreaty I'm content for once;But make no Custome of't; you doe presumeUpon my easie foolishnesse; 'tis thatMakes you so bold: were it another manHe ne'r would have to doe with you. But marke me,If e'r I find you in this mood againe,I'le dash your hopes of Marriage for ever.
Ex. all but Hear.
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