The Little French Lawyer: A Comedy

Are these the prisoners?Din. We were such.Verd. Kill me not, excess of joy.Cham. I see thou livest, but hast thou had no foul play?Lam. No on my soul, my usage hath been noble,Far from all violence.Cham. How were you freed?But kiss me first, we'l talk of that at leasure,I am glad I have thee; Niece how you keep off,As you knew me not?Ana. Sir, I am whereI owe most duty.Cler. 'Tis indeed most true Sir,The man that should have been your bedfellowYour Lordships bedfellow, that could not smell outA Virgin of sixteen, that was your fool,To make you merry, this poor simple fellowHas met the maid again, and now she knowsHe is a man.Cham. How! is she dishonoured?Cler. Not unless marriage be dishonourable,Heaven is a witness of our happy contract,And the next Priest we meet shall warrant itTo all the world: I lay with her in jeast,'Tis turn'd to earnest now.Cham. Is this true, Niece?Din. Her blushing silence grants it; nay Sir storm not,He is my friend, and I can make this good,His birth and fortunes equal hers, your LordshipMight have sought out a worse, we are all friends too,All differences end thus. Now Sir, unlessYou would raise new dissentions, make perfectWhat is so well begun.Vert. That were not manly.Lam. Let me perswade you.Cham. Well God give you joy,She shall not come a Begger to you Sir.For you Monsieur Dinant 'ere long I'le shew youAnother Niece, to this not much inferiour,As you shall like proceed.Din. I thank you Sir.Cham. Back then to Paris: well that travel endsThat makes of deadly enemies perfect friends.[Exeunt omnes

Prologue

To promise much, before a play begin,And when 'tis done, ask pardon, were a sinWe'l not be guilty of: and to excuseBefore we know a fault, were to abuseThe writers and our selves, for I dare sayWe all are fool'd if this be not a Play,And such a play as shall (so should plays do)Imp times dull wings, and make you merry too.'Twas to that purpose writ, so we intend itAnd we have our wisht ends, if you commend it.

Epilogue

Gentlemen,I am sent forth to enquire what you decree}Of us and of our Poets, they will be }This night exceeding merry, so will we }If you approve their labours. They professYou are their Patrons, and we say no less,Resolve us then, for you can only tellWhether we have done id'ly or done well.

APPENDIX

THE LITTLE FRENCH LAWYER

p. 373, ll. 3-40. Not in 1st folio.

p. 374, l. 2. 2nd folio misprints] aud.

l. 25. 2nd folio misprints] Frcenh.

l. 27. And banisht.

l. 35. Will you? and yet—.

l. 37. Mistris, feathers.

p. 375, l. 30. godly.

p. 378, l. 8. Epithalamin.

l. 21. for 'twill be.

p. 379, l. 15. Upon a.

l. 23. tempest.

l. 39. Omits and.

p. 382, l. 22. 2nd folio misprints] by.

l. 33. Transfers to to beginning of next line.

p. 383, l. 16. 2nd folio] their.

l. 36. parts.

p. 384, l. 2. 2nd folio] beween.

p. 385, l. 25. On my.

p. 386, l. 8. make rise.

p. 387, l. 36. Those dedicates.

p. 388, l. 30. Lewis eleventh.

p. 389, l. 3. you persev'd.

l. 19. danger or.

l. 33. A comma has been inserted at the end of the line.

p. 390, l. 4. honours.

l. 5. suffer.

l. 9. loose.

p. 391, l. 8. to this.

p. 392, l. 1. up you.

l. 3. 2nd folio misprints] pecies.

l. 17. If you.

p. 394, l. 33. 2nd folio] Avocate.

p. 396, l. 14. Beau, instead of Cler.

l. 20. what a.

p. 397, l. 18. Omits stage direction.

l. 36. loose.

p. 398, l. 5. What master.

l. 27. Cock a two.

l. 37. makes all this plaine.

p. 399, l. 3. 2nd folio misprints] Bur.

l. 19. 2nd folio] thow.

l. 34. Omits singing in stage direction.

p. 400, l. 16. my whole.

p. 401, l. 13. Declare that.

l. 27. And hunny out your.

l. 31. 2nd folio misprints] my.

p. 404, l. 17. 2nd folio misprints] imfamie.

p. 405, l. 39. Omits not.

p. 406, l. 7. In our.

p. 409, l. 27. going lesse.

p. 411, l. 9. ye did.

l. 29. Pray.

l. 36. Omits do.

p. 412, l. 1. any corner.

l. 5. the louer.

l. 35. laughters.

p. 413, l. 10. y'are? Gentleman.

l. 15. hate.

l. 17. for my.

l. 22. and carriage … calls.

l. 35. your.

p. 414, l. 24. Hee is.

p. 415, l. 4. will make.

l. 12. Why, to it.

l. 21. wake.

l. 38. Slaves feed.

p. 416, l. 19. 'ore.

l. 28. a meane.

p. 417, l. 6. Adds stage direction] Wine.

l. 8. doe but kisse.

l. 11. Will you.

l. 28. Adds stage direction] Recorders.

p. 418, l. 37. thou knowest.

p. 419, l. 4. quarter.

l. 12. Madman, a fool … shew thee man.

l. 14. No I'le.

l. 32. no flame.

p. 420, l. 40. point you.

p. 424, l. 16. 2nd folio misprints] dies.

p. 425, l. 29. 2nd folio misprints] Cler.

p. 427, l. 5. Adds stage direction] Put off.

p. 428, l. 32. Firsts, seconds, thirds.

p. 429, l. 1. p– on't.

l. 27. still devising.

p. 431, l. 19. Gives this line to Lam.

l. 22. Adds as though a stage direction] Now.

l. 31. Reads My legs in my good house, my Armour on.

p. 432, l. 12. yet are, if men.

p. 435, l. 12. Reads] La-wr. Bee't then. | Mens fates, etc.

ll. 15 and 16. Gives these two lines to Sam.

l. 18. 2nd folio] Vertagine.

l. 23. Strike.

l. 25. Gives No, no, … not to Verta.

p. 439, l. 11. Corvina.

l. 34. loose.

p. 440, l. 1. Quinti.

l. 3. the Chamber doore.

p. 441, l. 16. 2nd folio] vills.

p. 444, l. 27. hand of heaven.

p. 445, l. 24. Omits is.

p. 448, l. 4. Omits Din. by mistake and prints enjury for enjoy.

p. 449, l. 35. My mortall.

p. 450, l. 36. mine Uncle.