The Queen of Argos (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1823 Excerpt: ...but I'll try, I'll try-y--to--Do. A good child, a dutiful child You'll be all the comfortabler for this when your poor dear mother's dead and gone. I marvel his grace is not here; I look for him by the minute: oh he's a good man--a 'stantial man Exit. Ph. To be petted and pinched and be-slobbered by a wizen'd old dotard, a mess of chaff and water sha-ah-ah-ah (shuddering.) fretted and fondled and sneezed on and snarled at: I can't have him. My dear'd and my darling'd; lovey, mouse, honey-comb, sweet and anon, pert, wanton, butterfly baggage Harried off my stomach by the precise paddling of a toad-skin paw; and mayhap--I won't have him: it's too much--Enter Bleir. Bleir. Too much, too much, truly, sweet Phoebe I'm all of a twitter; sweet, sweet, sweet Phoebe when shall it be? I can't contain myself; I tingle, tingle so; dear, pretty, kind, sweet Phoebe when shall it be? Ph. What be, what be? when shall what be, you old torment? Bleir. Oh fye fye, Phoebe you make me blush so;--when shall I be a happy man? Seal the bargain--and then--(Offers to kiss her.) Ph. Seal the bargain I'm sold--I'm bought--I'm bargain'd for. Oh you horrid, frightful old thing you higgler you huckster you flesh-monger what's my outside price? how many head of neat cattle? Do you rate me at a score of ewes? what am I worth? Bleir. Worth, worth I sweet Phoebe? worth dainty Phoebe? Oh you dear, delicious, plump, little creature you're worth; I can't tell what you're worth--truly, I can't. But I'd give, that would 1--and down too--all the world, I'd give all the whole world, pretty Phoebe for only one, one little--I must--Phil. And I'll die first, or you brush your beard in my face you old goat you I'll strangle you--(Whilst they are struggling, the jewel of Prjetcs falls...