Digital Renaissance Editions

About this text

  • Title: An Humorous Day's Mirth (Quarto 1, 1599)
  • Editor: Eleanor Lowe
  • Coordinating editor: Brett Greatley-Hirsch
  • General textual editor: Helen Ostovich
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-513-1

    Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: George Chapman
    Editor: Eleanor Lowe
    Peer Reviewed

    An Humorous Day's Mirth (Quarto 1, 1599)

    An humerous
    240shall rise vp against vs.
    Lab. Sure wife I thinke thy keeping alwaies close,
    making thee melancholy, is the cause we haue no children,
    and therefore if thou wilt, be mery, and keepe companie a
    gods name.
    245Flo. Sure my lord, if I thought I shold be rid of this same
    banishment of barrennes, and vse our marriage to the end
    it was made, which was for procreation, I should sinne, if
    by my keeping house I should neglect the lawful means to
    be a fruitful mother, & therfore if it please you ile vse resort
    250Lab. Gods my passion what haue I done? who woulde
    haue thought her purenesle would yeeld so soone to cour-
    ses of temptations? nay harke you wife, I am not sure that
    going abroad will cause fruitfulnesse in you, that you know
    none knowes but God himselfe.
    255Flo. I know my lord tis true, but the lawfull means must
    still be vsed.
    Lab. Yea, the lawfull meanes indeed must still, but now I
    remember that lawfull meanes is not abroad.
    Flo. Well, well, Ile keepe the house still.
    260Lab. Nay, heark you lady, I would not haue you thinke,
    mary, I must tel you this, if you shuld change the maner of
    your life, the world would think you changed religion too.
    Flo. Tis true, I will not go.
    Lab. Nay, if you haue a fancie.
    265Flo Yea a fancie, but thats no matter.
    La. Indeed fancies are not for iudicial & religious womē.
    Enter Catalian like a scholer.
    Cat. God saue your lordship, & you most religious lady.
    Lab. Sir you may say God saue vs well indeed that thus
    270are thrust vpon in priuate walkes.
    Cat, A slender thrust sir, where I toucht you not.
    Lab. Well sir what is your busines?
    Cat. Why sir, I haue a message to my ladie from Mon-
    sier du Barto.
    275Lab. To your lady, wel sir, speake your mind to your lady.
    Flo.