English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Mon_. You have sworne, to be forsworne:
He was no well disposed friend of yours
That gave you consaile [_sic_] to forsweare such beautie.
Why, 'tis as if some traveiler had found
A mine of gold, and made no use of it.
For terme of life! Why, then die presently;
So shall your debt to nature be farre lesse,
Your tyranny over man's yeelding heart
Be lesse condemned. Oh, you were made for man,
And living without man to murder men.
If any creature be so fortunate
That lives in grace of your all gracious selfe,
Though I am well perswaded 'tis not I,
I vow by all the rites of vertuous love,
Be he ignoble, of the basest sort,
To please you, Madame, Ile renounce my suite
And be a speciall meane unto your father
To grant your hearts affection, though I die.
_Euph_. Now, Lord _Montano_, you come neere my heart,
And were I sure that you would keepe your word,
As I am sure you love me by your deedes,
I might perchance deliver you my thoughts.
_Mon_. By heaven and by your beauteous selfe I will.
_Euph_. Then, _Constantine_, come forth; behold thy friend.
_Enter Constantine_.
_Con_. Madame, what meane you, to reveale our love?
_Mon_. This is a very stubborne Gentleman.
A Gentleman? a pesant! _Saxonie_,
Affords not one more base.
_Con_. He does me wrong,
That termes me meaner then a gentleman.
_Mon_. I tearme thee so.
_Euph_. Why, how now, Lord _Montano_?
You do forget your oath.
_Mont_. And you your selfe,
Your Princely father, and the Dukedomes honour,
To chaine your liking to a groome so base.
_Con_. He lies that calles me groome.
_Enter Julia_.
_Ju_. O God, forbeare:
His Excellence your father's comming hither.
_Mon_. He comes in happie time, to know the cause
Why such great Princes have bin made your scorne.
_Euph_. What, will you tell him?
_Mon_. Will I? let me die
Contemn'd of heaven, in publique obloquie,
If I reveale not this lascivious course.
_Ju_. We are undone.
_Con_. Hence with this prating Maide.
If thou hast any anger in thy brest
Towards this Lady, turne it all on me.
She is a woman, timerous by her kinde;
I, man-like borne, and beare a man-like minde.
_Mon_. Ile trie your courage. [_Draw_.[164]
_Euph_. As thou fear'st my frowne,
As thou hast hope to thrive in thy new choice,
As thou respect'st the favour of the gods,
Welfare in any action thou intends,
Doe not reveale unto my fretfull father
This humble choice that my high birth hath made.
_Mon_. Why, then forsweare him.
_Euph_. Sooner set thy feet
Upon my breast, and tread me to the ground.
_Ju_. As thou art any thing more then a beast,
Doe not procure my Ladie such disgrace.
_Mon_. Peace, bawde, Ile have no conference with you.
_Euph_. He cannot hurt me, 'tis my Love I feare.
Although my father be as sterne as warre,
Inexorable like consuming fire,
As jealous of his honour as his crowne,
To me his anger is like _Zephires_ breath
Cast on a banke of sommer violets,
But to my Love like whirlewinde to a boate
Taken in midst of a tumultuous sea.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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