A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
In characters known only to myself
And to the king, in which I us'd to clothe
Secret despatches when I writ to him
From foreign states, and within the circle
I grav'd the king's less seal, which then I kept.
Some gold besides and jewels there I left,
That, whosoe'er should find him might with that
Defray the charge of his education;
Howe'er, next day I purposed to return
With speed, and carry it to some abode.
CLE. But did the queen know this?
EUB. She did not,
Till my return next day: then, when I told her,
The child was thence remov'd where I had left him.
CLE. Belike those thieves had carried him away.
EUB. 'Tis probable.
CLE. How could the queen take this
So sad a story?
EUB. With such impatience
That, being weak before, she shortly died.
CLE. But yet, sir, with your favour, might you not
Have made inquiry after him?
EUB. I durst not,
For fear of being discover'd. On your life,
Take heed how you reveal this.
CLE. I am charm'd.
EUB. Then let us watch my daughter, for I fear
The flight she made was for some other end
Than for retirement, which she does pretend.
CLE. Henceforth I shall obey her as my princess,
And love her as my sister, not my mistress.
EUB. You shall do well: come, let us to the king.
SCENA III.
HYLAS, MIRTILLUS, _Chorus of shepherds and shepherdesses,_
_representing Paris, OEnone, Venus,_
_and the Graces_.
HYL. It was my dream, and I will send it to her;
Though I myself by her too cruel sentence
Must never see her face.
MIR. What paper's that?
Love verses, as I live! What's here? a dream!
Nay, I will read 'em: therefore stand aside.
MIRTILLUS _reads_.
_Sleep, thou becalmer of a troubled sprite,_
_Which lead'st my fancy to that sweet delight_
_Wherein my soul found rest when thou didst show_
_Her shadow mine whose substance is not so,_
_Wrap up mine eyes in an eternal night:_
_For since my day springs only from that light,_
_Which she denies me, I account the best_
_Part of my life is that which gives me rest._
_And thou, more hard to be entreated than_
_Sleep to the heated eyes of frantic men;_
_That thou canst make my joys essential_
_Which are but shadows now, be liberal,_
_And outdo sleep; let me not dream in vain,_
_Unless thou mean'st I ne'er shall sleep again._
Alas, poor soul! will she not let thee sleep?
HYL. I knew I should be mock'd, but I'll divert him. [_Aside._
What are those thou hast brought along with thee?
MIR. The masquers, Hylas; these are they must trip it
Before the king: dost like their properties?
HYL. What, Paris and OEnone--the old story?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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