 | The Island Princess, or The Generous Portuguese |  |
Enter several Townsmen.
1.
Bless us, what Thundering's here, what Fire-spitting.
2.
And how the Guns take the side of a House here, and the side of
a House there, and mend them up again with another Ward.
3.
I had the Roof of my House taken off with a Chain Shot, and in
the twinkling of an Eye another clap't in the place on't.
2.
That's a Gun I'll Swear.
1.
You think he Lyes now, I ha' seen a Steeple taken off with a Chain
Shot, and another put in the place on't, with Twenty Men Ringing the Bells.
3.
Pish, what's that! I saw an Old-Man's Head set upon a Young Man's
Shoulders.—
But, Woe be to the Potters, I saw a Hand-Granado in one of their Shops,
just now, and the Pots, Pans, Pipkins, and Glasses, at Fisticuffs with it, at
such a rate, you'd ha' Sworn, a whole Troop of Devils had been at Foot-Ball
there.
1.
For my part, I'm afraid we shall all find ourselves Knock'd o'th Head
to Morrow Morning, as soon as we are awake.
Omnes.
Like enough.
1.
They've rid me of as good a Wife as a Man wou'd desire to part withall.
I met a Hand with a Letter in't just now in post haste, and by and by Whiz
comes the Leg after it, as if the Hand had forgot half it's Errand.
3.
Ay, I saw the very Man that had lost these Goods, come Hopping upon
his t'other Leg that was left, to raise a Hue and Cry after the Bullet that
had Robb'd him of half himself.
2.
Why, d'ye think there's any Law for these Cannon Bullets then?
1.
Law! No. Prethee run to a Granado when it comes Piping Hot out
of a Mortar-piece, and tell't you'll take the Law of him.—I do but
think what Lane a Chain-shot wou'd make in the Law, and how like an Ass
a Judge wou'd sit on the Bench with his Head shot off.
3.
I must confess, to have one's Head shot off, wou'd put any man out
of Countenance.
1.
A friend of mine lost his Head just now, a very Honest Fellow, a Taylor,
and 'twas no sooner off, but a Lawyer's Head that no body own'd, dropt
out of the Clouds, and settled upon honest Stiche's Shoulders; the Fellow's
Ruin'd by't—for he never spoke a True Word since.
2.
What shall we do?
1.
Let's to the King in a Body, all and one, and desire him to Compound
with the Foe for such Lambs as we want most in our Callings.—Let me
see, Thou art a Fencer, thou shalt give thy Legs to secure thy Arms.
Thou'rt a Cuckold, thou shalt give thy Horns to secure thy Head.
2.
Lets about it instantly, and go to the King.
1.
Aye, so he is not where the Bullets fly. If he be, I must desire his Majesty
to come to me.
Omn.
Agreed, agreed.
[A Gun is let off the first Townsman drops.
3.
What's the matter, now.—
1.
Oh I am Slain, let me be carried off quickly, before I come to my self,
for I cannot indure to be Shot to Death, as I am a living Man.
Carried off.
[Exeunt.
| The Island Princess, or The Generous Portuguese | |