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Title: The Spanish Curate: A Comedy
Author: John Fletcher
Francis Beaumont
Release date: April 1, 2004 [eBook #12141]
Most recently updated: October 28, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Jayam Subramanian and PG Distributed
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SPANISH CURATE: A COMEDY ***
THE SPANISH CURATE
A
COMEDY
Persons Represented in the Play.
Don Henrique, an uxorious Lord, cruel to his
Brother.
Don Jamie, younger Brother to
Don
Henrique.
Bartolus, a covetous Lawyer
Husband
to
Amaranta.
Leandro, a Gentleman who wantonly loves the
Lawyers Wife.
Angelo, } Three Gentlemen
Friend[s]
Milanes,} to Leandro.
Arsenio,}
Ascanio, Son to Don Henrique.
Octavio, supposed Husband to
Jacintha.
Lopez, the Spanish Curate.
Diego, his Sexton.
Assistant, which we call a
Judge.
Algazeirs, whom we call
Serjeants.
4 Parishioners.
Apparitor.
Singers.
Servants.
WOMEN.
Violante, supposed Wife to Don
Henrique.
Jacintha, formerly contracted to
Don
Henrique.
Amaranta, Wife to Bartolus.
A Woman Moor, Servant to
Amaranta.
The Scene Spain.
The principal Actors were,
Joseph Taylor. } {William
Eglestone.
John Lowin. } {Thomas
Polard.
Nicholas Toolie.} {Robert Benfeild.
Actus primus. Scena prima.
Enter Angelo, Milanes, and
Arsenio.
Arsenio.
Leandro paid all.
Leandro paid all.
Mil.
'Tis his usual custom,
And requisite he should: he has now put
off
The Funeral black, (your rich heir wears with
joy,
When he pretends to weep for his dead
Father)
Your gathering Sires, so long heap muck
together,
That their kind Sons, to rid them of their
care,
Wish them in Heaven; or if they take a
taste
Of Purgatory by the way, it matters
not,
Provided they remove hence; what is
befaln
To his Father, in the other world, I ask
not;
I am sure his prayer is heard: would I could use
one
For mine, in the same method.
Ars.
Fie upon thee.
This is prophane.
Mil.
Good Doctor, do not school me
For a fault you are not free from: On my
life
Were all Heirs in Corduba, put to their
Oaths,
They would confess with me, 'tis a sound
Tenet:
I am sure Leandro do's.
Ars.
He is th'owner
Of a fair Estate.
Mil.
And fairly he deserves it,
He's a Royal Fellow: yet observes a
mean
In all his courses, careful too on
whom
He showers his bounties: he that's
liberal
To all alike, may do a good by chance,
But never out of Judgment: This
invites
The prime men of the City to frequent
All places he resorts to, and are
happy
In his sweet Converse.
Ars.
Don Jamie the Brother
To the Grandee Don Henrique, appears much
taken
With his behaviour.
Mil.
There is something more in't:
He needs his Purse, and knows how to make use
on't.
'Tis now in fashion for your Don, that's
poor,
To vow all Leagues of friendship with a
Merchant
That can supply his wants, and
howsoe're
Don Jamie's noble born, his elder
Brother
Don Henrique rich, and his Revenues long
since
Encreas'd by marrying with a wealthy
Heir
Call'd, Madam Vi[o]lante, he yet
holds
A hard hand o're Jamie, allowing
him
A bare annuity only.
Ars.
Yet 'tis said
He hath no child, and by the Laws of
Spain
If he die without issue, Don
Jamie
Inherits his Estate.
Mil.
Why that's the reason
Of their so many jarrs: though the young
Lord
Be sick of the elder Brother, and in
reason
Should flatter, and observe him, he's of a
nature
Too bold and fierce, to stoop so, but bears
up,
Presuming on his hopes.
Ars.
What's the young Lad
That all of 'em make so much of?
Mil.
'Tis a sweet one,
And the best condition'd youth, I ever saw
yet,
So humble, and so affable, that he
wins
The love of all that know him, and so
modest,
That (in despight of poverty) he would
starve
Rather than ask a courtesie: He's the
Son
Of a poor cast-Captain, one
Octavio;
And She, that once was call'd th'fair
Jacinta,
Is happy in being his Mother: for his
sake,
Enter Jamie, Leandro, and
Ascanio.
(Though in their Fortunes faln) they are esteem'd
of,
And cherish'd by the best. O here they
come.
I now may spare his Character, but observe
him,
He'l justifie my report.
Jam.
My good Ascanio,
Repair more often to me: above Women
Thou ever shalt be welcome.
Asc.
My Lord your favours
May quickly teach a raw untutour'd
Youth
To be both rude and sawcy.
Lean.
You cannot be
Too frequent where you are so much
desir'd:
And give me leave (dear friend) to be your
Rival
In part of his affection; I will buy
it
At any rate.
Jam.
Stood I but now possess'd
Of what my future hope presages to me,
I then would make it clear thou hadst a
Patron
That would not say but do: yet as I
am,
Be mine, I'le not receive thee as a
servant,
But as my Son, (and though I want my
self)
No Page attending in the Court of
Spain
Shall find a kinder master.
Asc.
I beseech you
That my refusal of so great an offer
May make no ill construction, 'tis not
pride
(That common vice is far from my
condition)
That makes you a denyal to receive
A favour I should sue for: nor the
fashion
Which the Country follows, in which to be a
servant
In those that groan beneath the heavy
weight
Of poverty, is held an argument
Of a base abject mind, I wish my years
Were fit to do you service in a nature
That might become a Gentleman (give me
leave
To think my self one) My Father serv'd the
King
As a Captain in the field; and though his
fortune
Return'd him home a poor man, he was
rich
In Reputation, and wounds fairly
taken.
Nor am I by his ill success deterr'd,
I rather feel a strong desire that sways
me
To follow his profession, and if
Heaven
Hath mark'd me out to be a man, how
proud,
In the service of my Country, should I
be,
To trail a Pike under your brave
command!
There, I would follow you as a guide to
honour,
Though all the horrours of the War made
up
To stop my passage.
Jam.
Thou art a hopeful Boy,
And it was bravely spoken: For this
answer,
I love thee more than ever.
Mil.
Pity such seeds
Of promising courage should not grow and
prosper.
Ang.
What ever his reputed Parents be,
He hath a mind that speaks him right and
noble.
Lean.
You make him blush; it needs not sweet
Ascanio,
We may hear praises when they are
deserv'd,
Our modesty unwounded. By my life
I would add something to the building
up
So fair a mind, and if till you are
fit
To bear Arms in the Field, you'l spend some
years
In Salamanca, I'le supply your
studies
With all conveniences.
Asc.
Your goodness (Signiors)
And charitable favours overwhelm me.
If I were of your blood, you could not
be
More tender of me: what then can I pay
(A poor Boy and a stranger) but a
heart
Bound to your service? with what
willingness