A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05 — John Shaqi
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05
English drama
I know the scarf: 'would he had kept it still;
For had he liv'd, he would have kept it still,
And worn it for his Bell'-Imperia's sake:
For 'twas my favour at his last depart.
But now wear thou[75] it, both for him and me;
For after him thou hast deserv'd it best:
But for thy kindness in his life and death,
Be sure, while Bell'-Imperia's life endures,
She will be Don Horatio's thankful friend.
HORATIO.
And, madam, Don Horatio will not slack
Humbly to serve fair Bell'-Imperia.
But now, if your good liking stand thereto,
I'll crave your pardon to go seek the prince;
For so the duke your father gave me charge.
BELL'-IMPERIA.
Ay, go, Horatio, leave me here alone;
For solitude best fits my cheerless mood.
[_Exit_ HORATIO.
Yet what avails to wail Andrea's death,
From whence Horatio proves my second love?
Had he not lov'd Andrea as he did,
He could not sit in Bell'-Imperia's thoughts.
But how can love find harbour in my breast,
Till I revenge the death of my belov'd?
Yes, second love shall further my revenge:
I'll love Horatio, my Andrea's friend,
The more to spite the prince that wrought his end.
And where Don Balthazar, that slew my love,
Himself now pleads for favour at my hands,
He shall, in rigour of my just disdain,
Reap long repentance for[76] his murd'rous deed;
For what was't else but murd'rous cowardice,
So many to oppress one valiant knight,
Without respect of honour in the fight?
And here he comes, that murder'd my delight.
_Enter_ LORENZO _and_ BALTHAZAR.
LORENZO.
Sister, what means this melancholy walk?
BELL'-IMPERIA.
That for a while I wish no company.
LORENZO.
But here the prince is come to visit you.
BELL'-IMPERIA.
That argues, that he lives in[77] liberty.
BALTHAZAR.
No, madam, but in pleasing servitude.
BELL'-IMPERIA.
Your prison then, belike, is your conceit.
BALTHAZAR.
Ay, by conceit my freedom is inthrall'd,
BELL'-IMPERIA.
Then with conceit enlarge yourself again.
BALTHAZAR.
What, if conceit have laid my heart to gage?
BELL'-IMPERIA.
Pay that you borrow'd, and recover it.
BALTHAZAR.
I die, if it return from whence it lies.
BELL'-IMPERIA.
A heartless man, and lives?[78] A miracle!
BALTHAZAR.
Ay, lady, love can work such miracles.
LORENZO.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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