Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife

Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife

by Francis Beaumont and John
Fletcher

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Title: Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3
of 10)
Author: Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher
Release Date: January 1, 2005 [EBook #14549]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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WIFE, AND HAVE A WIFE ***

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170] Rule a Wife, and have a Wife
The works of Beaumont and Fletcher, edited by A.R. Walker

Actus Primus

Scena 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 one Don Leon, a strange goodly fellow,
Recommended to me from some noble Friends, For my Alferes, 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. 171]
Juan de Castro:
'Tis true, such we must look for: but Mich. Perez, When heard you of
Donna Margarita, the great Heiress?
Michael Perez:
I hear every hour of her, though I never saw her, She is the main
discourse: noble Don 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.
[Enter Servant, Donna Clara, and Estifania vail'd.]
Juan de Castro:
You are welcome Ladies.
Michael Perez:
Both hooded, I like 'em well though, 172] They come not for advice in
Law sure hither; May be they would learn to raise the Pike, I am for
'em: they are very modest, 'tis a fine Preludium.
Juan de Castro:
With me, or with this Gentleman, Would you speak, Lady?
Clara:
With you, Sir, as I guess, Juan de Castro.
Michael Perez:

Her Curtain opens, she is a pretty