 | Psyche Debauch'd |  |
SCENE I.
A common Prison confused.A great noise heard—Singing, Shreeking, Groaning, Roaring, and Ratling of Chains.
Enter many common Prisoners, among which, Tagrag, Brazen-nose Tatterd-hoe, Shrubs-hall, Bull-barrow, bringing in the Princess and Princesses.—
All cry out.
—Garnish, garnish, garnish,
Tag.
Come, disburse, disburse.
Nick.
As I'm a true Prince, our Exchecquers were rob'd by
these miscreant Knights, that brought us to this Fortress.
Tag.
Strip, strip then, and go like an Eastern Monarch
half naked.—
Braz.
Ay, ay, cast off superfluous Trappings, they'l
harbour vermine to destroy the Microcosm.
Bulbar.
Come my dainty Damzels, you must pay for Entrance
too into our thrice nasty, and right dread Society.
Tag.
Skink away, sheer, drink, do'e hear not a rag of
Provaunt, and then we'l have a Song; and after that, erect
our mock-Court of Justice, and cast your Destinies: Cheer
up, if you dye like Birds on Trees, you shall be cut down
like Flowers, and your Funerals shan't cost you 2 d. you shall
be intom'd in a Ditch on the publick charge.
Come, a Song, a Song.—Princess Nonsy, put in your
Treble at Rome; be a Roman.—
Song:
Great Dukes of the Dungeon, and Knights of the Pad;
Now the Jaylor from hence is,
We are all great Princes.
Let's sing, let's laugh, let's drink, and be mad.
For older or younger, there's none can live longer
Then Fortune is pleased, and the King;
Then let's merrily sing, and dance in a string,
Then let's merrily sing, and dance in a string.
Our lodging's provided, the Rent is paid down.
Every Shop's our Exchecquer,
Each perse is our debtor,
We alwayes gain who ever's undone.
Treats on his doxy, we briskly do spend.
Ay, and when we are chain'd here,
She steals the remainder.
And kindly comes to visit her Friend.
Tag.
Now let's Adjourn to our Sessions house, and bring
our new Prisoners to Trial.
Exeunt all but Princes and Princesses.
Phil.
A pox o' your zeeking Ventures, cham as dumpish
a new shrouded Tree.—What course must we take now?
Nick.
Course, why I think 'tis better to be freed, and
marry the Princesses then be hang'd.—
Phil.
Why? I think zoo too, but then who must be hang'd
for killing Mother Redstreak?—Justice must be satisfi'd.
Giok.
Justice may be better satisfied with Marriage then
hanging—for 'tis now the greater punishment.
Phil.
Have you any 'Tority vor what you zay?
'Tority, no but I have reason—is not it better
to go to Heaven in a string, then be a Gally Slave, and be
chain'd to one seat all ones life?—
Phil.
Then do thee go to Heaven in a string, and let me
be Marri'd.
Nick.
Thank you for that, 'faith what a well meaning
Fool is this?—I tell thee 'twas not Redstreak, but the Bear
we kill'd.
Phil.
The Bear—Odzboars 'twas as errant a Woman as
my mother, and all the neighbours know she was right.—
Nick.
Then she was Enchanted?
Phil.
Enchanted! Ah, if this should be a lye, we are
bravely serv'd.—
Nick.
Why may not a Beast be turn'd to a Woman; we
see Women every day turn'd to Beasts.
Woud.
Y'are rightly serv'd, for a couple of Dander Nos'd
Princes as you are; if y'had Marri'd us, you, might both have
been King Andrews by this time.—
Non.
Why has our poor sneaking Daddy kick'd up his
heels? Ah dismall merry Tragedy, I thought somthing would
follow when I saw his Ghost, and heard the Circkets sing so
dolefully.
Woud.
Your tricks broak his heart, for when he heard
we were sent to Prison for stealing Trenchers; he sigh'd, eat
a great piece of Bread and Butter; and departed as quietly
as any sucking Pig.
| Psyche Debauch'd | |