The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, vol 2 | Page 2

30 January, 1906.

THE ELDER BROTHER, A COMEDY.
Persons Represented in the Play.
Lewis, a Lord. Miramont, a Gentleman. Brisac, a Justice, Brother to
Miramont. Charles, a Scholar, \ Sons to Eustace, a Courtier, / Brisac.

Egremont, \ two Courtiers, friends to Cowsy, / Eustace. Andrew,
Servant to Charles. Cook, \ Servants to Butler, / Brisac. Priest. Notary.
Servants. Officers.
Angellina, Daughter to Lewis. Sylvia, her Woman. Lilly, Wife to
Andrew. Ladies.
LECTORI.
Wouldst thou all Wit, all Comick Art survey? Read here and wonder;
Fletcher writ the Play.

ACTUS PRIMUS. SCENA PRIMA.
Enter Lewis, Angellina, and Sylvia.
Lewis. Nay, I must walk you farther.
Ang. I am tir'd, Sir, and ne'er shall foot it home.
Lew. 'Tis for your health; the want of exercise takes from your Beauties,
and sloth dries up your sweetness: That you are my only Daughter and
my Heir, is granted; and you in thankfulness must needs acknowledge,
you ever find me an indulgent Father, and open handed.
Ang. Nor can you tax me, Sir, I hope, for want of duty to deserve these
favours from you.
Lew. No, my Angellina, I love and cherish thy obedience to me, which
my care to advance thee shall confirm: all that I aim at, is, to win thee
from the practice of an idle foolish state, us'd by great Women, who
think any labour (though in the service of themselves) a blemish to
their fair fortunes.
Ang. Make me understand, Sir, what 'tis you point at.
Lew. At the custom, how Virgins of wealthy Families waste their youth;

after a long sleep, when you wake, your Woman presents your
Breakfast, then you sleep again, then rise, and being trimm'd up by
other hands, y'are led to Dinner, and that ended, either to Cards or to
your Couch, (as if you were born without motion) after this to Supper,
and then to Bed: and so your life runs round without variety or action,
Daughter.
Syl. Here's a learned Lecture!
Lew. Fro[m] this idleness, Diseases, both in body and in mind, grow
strong upon you; where a stirring nature, with wholesome exercise,
guards both from danger: I'd have thee rise with the Sun, walk, dance,
or hunt, visit the Groves and Springs, and learn the vertue of Plants and
Simples: Do this moderately, and thou shalt not, with eating Chalk, or
Coles, Leather and Oatmeal, and such other trash, fall into the
Green-sickness.
Syl. With your pardon (were you but pleas'd to minister it) I could
prescribe a Remedy for my Lady's health, and her delight too, far
transcending those your Lordship but now mention'd.
Lew. What is it, Sylvia?
Syl. What is't! a noble Husband; in that word, a noble Husband, all
content of Woman is wholly comprehended; He will rouse her, as you
say, with the Sun; and so pipe to her, as she will dance, ne'er doubt it;
and hunt with her, upon occasion, until both be weary; and then the
knowledge of your Plants and Simples, as I take it, were superfluous. A
loving, and, but add to it, a gamesome Bedfellow, being the sure
Physician.
Lew. Well said, Wench.
Ang. And who gave you Commission to deliver your Verdict, Minion?
Syl. I deserve a Fee, and not a frown, dear Madam: I but speak her
thoughts, my Lord, and what her modesty refuses to give voice to.
Shew no mercy to a Maidenhead of fourteen, but off with't: let her lose

no time, Sir; Fathers that deny their Daughters lawful pleasures, when
ripe for them, in some kinds edge their appetites to taste of the fruit that
is forbidden.
Lew. 'Tis well urg'd, and I approve it: No more blushing, Girl, thy
Woman hath spoke truth, and so prevented what I meant to move to
thee. There dwells near us a Gentleman of bloud, Monsieur Brisac, of a
fair Estate, six thousand Crowns per annum, the happy Father of two
hopeful Sons, of different breeding; the Elder, a meer Scholar; the
younger, a quaint Courtier.
Ang. Sir, I know them by publick fame, though yet I never saw them;
and that oppos'd antipathy between their various dispositions, renders
them the general discourse and argument; one part inclining to the
Scholar Charles, the other side preferring Eustace, as a man compleat
in Courtship.
Lew. And which way (if of these two you were to chuse a Husband)
doth your affection sway you?
Ang. To be plain Sir, (since you will teach me boldness) as they are
simply themselves, to neither: let a Courtier be never so exact, let him
be bless'd with all parts that yield him to a Virgin gracious; if he
depend on others, and stand not on his own bottoms, though he have
the means to bring his Mistris to a Masque, or