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
    God saue sweet wife, looke vp, thy tempter comes.
    Flo. Let him my lord, I hope I am more blest then to
    670relent in thought of lewde suggestion.
    Lab. But if by frailtie you should yeeld in thought, what
    will you do?
    Flo. Then shall you keepe me close, and neuer let me see
    man but your selfe, if not, then boldly may I go abroade.
    675Lab. But how, shall I know whether you yeeld, or no?
    Flo. Heare vs your selfe, my lord.
    Lab. Tut, that were grosse, for no woman will yeeld in
    her husbands hearing.
    Flo. Then to assure you if I yeelde or no, marke but
    680these signes: as hee is proouing me, if I doe yeelde, you
    shall perceyue my face blush and looke pale, and put on
    heauie lookes. If I resist I will triumph, and smile, and
    when I hold but vp my finger, stop his vaine lips, or thrust
    him on the breast, then is he ouerthrowne both horse and
    685foote.
    Lab. Why, this doth satisfie me mightily: see hee is
    come.
    Lem. Honor to my good lord, and his faire yong ladie.
    Lab. Nowe Monsieur Sathan, you are come to
    690tempt and prooue at full the spirit of my wife.
    Lem. I am my lord, but vainly I suppose.
    Lab. You see she dares put on this braue attire fit with
    the fashion, which you think serues much to lead a woman
    into light desires.
    695Lem. My lord I see it: and the sight thereof doth halfe
    dismay me to make further proofe.
    Lab. Nay prooue her, proue her sir, and spare not:
    what doth the wittie minion of our King thinke any dame
    in France will say him nay? but proue her, proue her, see
    700and spare not.
    Lem. Well sir, though halfe discouraged in my com-
    ming, yet Ile go forward: ladie, by your leaue.
    Flo. Nowe sir, your cunning in a Ladyes proofe.
    Lem.