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)

    dayes mirth.
    Le. I pray you do not say so sir.
    Blan. I pray you do not say so sir,
    Le. Wilt please you to go in.
    135Blan. Wilt please you to go in.
    Le. I will follow you.
    Blan. I will follow you.
    Le. It shall be yours.
    Blan. It shall be yours.
    140Le. Kind Monsieur Blanuel.
    Blan. Kind Monsier Lemot.Exit.
    Enter Foyes, and Martia, and Besha.
    Foyes. Come on faire daughter fall to your worke of
    mind, and make your body fit to imbrace the body of this
    145Gentlemans, tis art: happy are they say I.
    Be. I protest sir you speake the best that euer I heard.
    Fo. I pray sir take acquaintance of my daughter.
    Be. I do desire you of more acquaintance.
    Fo. Why dostnot thou say yea, and I the same of you?
    150Mar. That euery body sayes.
    Fo. O you would be singular.
    Mar. Single indeede.
    Fo. Single indeede thats a prety toy,
    Your betters dame beare double, and so shall you.
    155Be. Exceeding prety, did you marke it forsooth?
    Mar. What should I marke forsooth?
    Be. Your bearing double, which equificate is & hath
    a fit illusion to a horse that beares double, for your good
    father meanes you shall indure your single life no longer,
    160not in worse sence then bearing double forsooth.
    Mar. I crie you mercy, you know both belike.
    Be. Knowlege forsooth is like a horse, and you that can
    beare double: it nourisheth both Bee and Spider, the Bee
    honnisuckle, the Spider poyson, I am that Bee.
    165Mar. I thought so by your stinging witte.
    Be, Lady I am a Bee without a sting, no way hurting
    any, but good to all, and before all, to your sweete selfe.
    Fo. Afore