Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 03 of 10: The Loyal SubjectFletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 03 of 10: The Loyal Subject
Fletcher, John
English drama -- 18th century; Tragicomedy
_Ar._ Weep out your shames first,
Ye make me fool for companie: fie Souldiers,
My Souldiers too, and play these tricks? what's he there?
Sure I have seen his face too; yes, most certain
I have a son, but I hope he is not here now,
'Would much resemble this man, wondrous near him,
Just of his height and making too, you seem a Leader.
_The._ Good Sir, do not shame me more: I know your anger,
And less than death I look not for.
_Ar._ You shall be my charge Sir, it seems you want foes,
When you would make your friends your Enemies.
A running bloud ye have, but I shall cure ye.
_Bur._ Good Sir--
_An._ No more good Lord: beat forward Souldiers:
And you, march in the rear, you have lost your places. [_Exeunt._
SCENA VI.
_Enter Duke_, Olympia, Honora, Viola.
_Du._ You shall not be thus sullen still with me Sister,
You do the most unnobly to be angry,
For as I have a soul, I never touch'd her,
I never yet knew one unchast thought in her:
I must confess, I lov'd her: as who would not?
I must confess I doated on her strangely,
I offer'd all, yet so strong was her honour,
So fortifi'd as fair, no hope could reach her,
And whilst the world beheld this, and confirm'd it,
Why would you be so jealous?
_Oly._ Good Sir pardon me,
I feel sufficiently my follies penance,
And am asham'd, that shame a thousand sorrows
Feed on continually, would I had never seen her,
Or with a clearer judgement look'd upon her,
She was too good for me, so heavenly good Sir,
Nothing but Heaven can love that soul sufficiently,
Where I shall see her once again.
_Enter_ Burris.
_Du._ No more tears,
If she be within the Dukedom, we'l recover her:
Welcom Lord _Burris_, fair news I hope.
_Bur._ Most fair Sir,
Without one drop of bloud these wars are ended,
The Souldier cool'd again, indeed asham'd Sir,
And all his anger ended.
_Du._ Where's Lord _Archas_?
_Bur._ Not far off Sir: with him his valiant son,
Head of this fire, but now a prisoner,
And if by your sweet mercy not prevented,
I fear some fatal stroke. [_Drums._
_Enter_ Archas, Theodore, _Gentlemen_, _Souldiers_.
_Du._ I hear the Drums beat,
Welcom, my worthy friend.
_Ar._ Stand where ye are Sir,
Even as you love your country, move not forward,
Nor plead for peace till I have done a justice,
A justice on this villain; none of mine now,
A justice on this Rebel.
_Hon._ O my Brother.
_Ar._ This fatal firebrand--
_Du._ Forget not old man,
He is thy son, of thine own bloud.
_Ar._ In these veins
No treacherie e're harbour'd yet, no mutinie,
I ne're gave life to lewd and headstrong Rebels.
_Du._ 'Tis his first fault.
_Ar._ Not of a thousand Sir,
Or were it so, it is a fault so mightie,
So strong against the nature of all mercy,
His Mother were she living, would not weep for him,
He dare not say he would live.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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