A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05

English drama
Now, madam, since by favour of your love
    Our hidden smoke has turn'd to open flame,
    And that with looks and words we feed our thoughts,
    (Two chief contents) where more cannot be had;
    Thus in the midst of love's fair blandishments,
    Why show you sign of inward languishments?

                            [PEDRINGANO _shows all to the_ PRINCE _and_
                                     LORENZO, _placing them in secret_.

                             BELL'-IMPERIA.

    My heart, sweet friend, is like a ship at sea,
    She wisheth port: where, riding all at ease,
    She may repair what stormy times have worn:
    And leaning on the shore, may sing with joy,
    That pleasure follows pain, and bliss annoy.
    Possession of thy love's the only port,
    Wherein my heart, with fears and hopes long toss'd,
    Each hour doth wish and long to make resort,
    There to repair[104] the joys that it hath lost:
    And sitting safe, to sing in Cupid's quire,
    That sweetest bliss is crown of love's desire.

                 BALTHAZAR _and_ LORENZO _aside_.[105]

                               BALTHAZAR.

    O sleep, mine eyes, see not my love profan'd;
    Be deaf, mine ears, hear not my discontent;
    Die, heart: another 'joys what thou deserv'st.

                                LORENZO.

    Watch still, mine eyes, to see this[106] love disjoin'd:
    Hear still, mine ears, to hear them both lament:
    Live,[107] heart, to joy at fond Horatio's fall.

                             BELL'-IMPERIA.

    Why stands Horatio speechless all this while?

                                HORATIO.

    The less I speak, the more I meditate.

                             BELL'-IMPERIA.

    But whereon dost thou chiefly[108] meditate?

                                HORATIO.

    On dangers past and pleasures to ensue.                    [_Aside._

                               BALTHAZAR.

    On pleasures past and dangers to ensue.

                             BELL'-IMPERIA.

    What dangers and what pleasures dost thou mean?

                                HORATIO.

    Dangers of war and pleasures of our love.

                                LORENZO.

    Dangers of death, but pleasures none at all.

                                                               [_Aside._

                             BELL'-IMPERIA.

    Let dangers go, thy war shall be with me:
    But such a warring, as breaks no bond of peace.
    Speak thou fair words, I'll cross them with fair words;
    Send thou sweet looks, I'll meet them with sweet looks:
    Write loving lines, I'll answer loving lines;
    Give me a kiss, I'll countercheck thy kiss:
    Be this our warring peace or peaceful war.

                                HORATIO.

    But, gracious madam, then appoint the field,
    Where trial of this war shall first be made.

                               BALTHAZAR.

    Ambitious villain, how his boldness grows!                 [_Aside._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05

No reviews yet
