The Little French Lawyer Part 9

_Cler._ Goe forward, _Dinant_.

_Din._ The charms shot from her eyes--

_Old Lady._ Be wise.

_Cler._ Be Valiant.

_Din._ That tongue that tells fair tales to mens destructions Shall never rack me more.

_Old Lady._ Stay there.

_Cler._ Goe forward.

_Din._ I will now hear her, see her as a woman, Survey her, and the power man has allow'd, Sir, As I would do the course of common things, Unmov'd, unstruck.

_Cler._ Hold there, and I forgive thee.

_Din._ She is not fair, and that that makes her proud, Is not her own, our eyes bestow it on her, To touch and kiss her is no blessedness, A Sun-burnt Ethiops lip's as soft as her's.

Goe bid her stick some other triumph up, And take into her favour some dull fool, That has no pretious time to lose, no friends, No honour, nor no life, like a bold Merchant, A bold and banquerupt man, I have ventur'd all these, And split my bottom: return this answer to her, I am awake again and see her mischiefs, And am not now, on every idle errand, And new coyn'd anger, to be hurried, And then despis'd again, I have forgot her.

_Cler._ If this be true--

_O. Lady._ I am sorry, I have troubled you, More sorrie, that my Lady has adventur'd So great a favour in so weak a mind: This hour you have refus'd that when you come to know it, Will run you mad, and make you curse that fellow, She is not fair, nor handsom, so I leave you.

_Cler._ Stay Lady, stay, but is there such a business?

_O. Lady._ You would break your neck 'twere yours.

_Cler._ My back, you would say.

_O. La._ But play the friends part still, Sir, and undoe him, 'Tis a fair office.

_Din._ I have spoke too liberally.

_O. Lady._ I shall deliver what you say.

_Cler._ You shall be hang'd first, You would fain be prating now; take the man with you.

_O. Lady._ Not I, I have no power.

_Cler._ You may goe _Dinant_.

_O. Lady._ 'Tis in's own will, I had no further charge, Sir, Than to tell him what I did, which if I had thought It should have been receiv'd so--

_Cler._ 'Faith you may, You do not know how far it may concern you.

If I perceiv'd any trick in't.

_Din._ 'Twill end there.

_Cler._ 'Tis my fault then, there is an hour in fortune, That must be still observ'd: you think I'le chide you, When things must be, nay see, an he will hold his head up?

Would such a Lady send, with such a charge too?

Say she has plaid the fool, play the fool with her again, The great fool, the greater still the better.

He shall goe with you woman.

_Old Lady._ As it please him, I know the way alone else.

_Din._ Where is your Lady?

_O. Lady._ I shall direct you quickly.

_Din._ Well, I'le goe, But what her wrongs will give me leave to say.

_Cler._ We'll leave that to your selves: I shall hear from you.

_Din._ As soon as I come off--

_Cler._ Come on then bravely; Farewel till then, and play the man.

_Din._ You are merry; All I expect is scorn: I'le lead you Lady. [_Exeunt severally._

_Actus Tertius. Scena Prima._

_Enter_ Champernel, Lamira, Beaupre, Verdone, Charlotte.

_Beaup._ We'l venture on him.

_Cham._ Out of my doors I charge thee, see me no more.

_Lami._ Your Nephew?

_Cham._ I disclaim him, He has no part in me, nor in my blood, My Brother that kept fortune bound, and left Conquest hereditary to his Issue Could not beget a coward.

_Verd._ I fought, Sir, Like a good fellow, and a Souldier too, But men are men, and cannot make their fates: Ascribe you to my Father what you please, I am born to suffer.

_Cham._ All disgraces wretch.

_Lam._ Good Sir be patient.

_Cham._ Was there no tree, (For to fall by a n.o.ble enemies sword, A Coward is unworthy) nor no River, To force thy life out backward or to drown it, But that thou must survive thy i[n]famie?

And kill me with the sight of one I hate, And gladly would forget?

_Beaup._ Sir, his misfortune Deserves not this reproof.

_Cham._ In your opinion, 'Tis fit you two should be of one belief, You are indeed fine gallants, and fight bravely I'th' City with your tongues, but in the field Have neither spirit to dare nor power to do, Your swords are all lead there.