English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Con_. And would to heaven there were no bar in time
To hinder me from thy desired sight,
But thousand sutors eyes, do watch my steps;
And harke, I heare some trampling. How now, _Julia_?
_Enter Julia_.
_Juli_. Madam, the Lord Montano, spying you
To leave the presence and to enter here,
Hath ever since waited your comming foorth.
And will not be denied untill he see you.
_Euph_. Of all my sutors, most importunate.
_Con_. What is he, love?
_Euph_. Of very noble birth,
But my affection is not tyed to birth.
I must dispense with this kind conference
For some small time, untill I rid him hence.
Therefore within my closet hide thy selfe;
Your friend shall _Julia_ guide into the garden,
Where through a private doore, but seldome us'd,
He may at pleasure leave us and returne.
Deny me not I prethee, _Constantine_;
Thou hast my heart, and would thy birth were such
I need not feare t'avouch thee for my Love.
_Otho_. Madam, I take my leave. [_Exit Otho_.
_Con_. Farewell, deare friend,
Returne as soone as may be; farewell Love. [_Exit_.
_Euph_. Now guide _Montano_ hither.
_Enter Montano_.
_Mon_. Gracious Madam,
I have seene the noble Palsgrave, the Prince
Of _Milleine_, and the Palatine of the _Rheine_,
With divers other honorable sutors,
Mounted to ride unto their severall places.
_Euph_. Of me they took their farewell yesternight.
_Mon_. What meanes your grace to be so unkind to all?
You drive away good fortune by disdaine.
_Euph_. Why are you grieving too?
_Mon_. I am your subject,
The meanest that did humbly seeke your love,
Yet not the meanest in affection;
And I am come to take my farewell too.
_Euph_. Why, then farewell.
_Mon_. So short with them that love you?
_Euph_. Your journey may be great, for ought I know;
And 'tis an argument of little love
To be the hinderer of a traveller.
_Mon_. My journey, Madame, is unto my house,
Scarce halfe a league hence, there to pine and die,
Because I love such beauteous crueltie.
_Euph_. God speede you, sir.
_Mon_. Nay then I will not leave you.
Madam, 'tis thought, and that upon good ground,
You have shrin'd your affection in the heart
Of some (whatere he be) noble or base,
And thats the cause you lightlie censure[163] all.
_Euph_. Who thinkes it?
_Mon_. I doe, Madame, and your father.
_Euph_. It is upon my vowed chastitie.
_Mon_. What devill made you sweare to chastitie,
Or have you tane that oath onely for a terme?
_Euph_. A terme, what terme?
_Mon_. A terme of some seven yeeres,
Or peradventure halfe the number more.
_Euph_. For terme of life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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