Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Rol._ Of any thing, any thing is excellent.
Will you take my directions? speak of love then;
Speak of thy fair self _Edith_; and while thou speak'st,
Let me, thus languishing, give up my self wench.
_Edi._ H'as a strange cunning tongue, why do you sigh Sir?
How masterly he turns himself to catch me!
_Rol._ The way to Paradise, my gentle maid,
Is hard and crooked, scarce Repentance finding,
With all her holy helps, the door to enter,
Give me thy hand, what dost thou feel?
_Edi._ Your tears Sir.
You weep extreamly; strengthen me now justice.
Why are these sorrows Sir?
_Rol._ Thou't never love me
If I should tell thee, yet there's no way left
Ever to purchase this blest Paradise,
But swimming thither in these tears.
_Edi._ I stagger.
_Rol._ Are they not drops of blood?
_Edi._ No.
_Rol._ They're for blood then,
For guiltless blood, and they must drop, my _Edith_,
They must thus drop, till I have drown'd my mischiefs.
_Edi._ If this be true, I have no strength to touch him.
_Rol._ I prethee look upon me, turn not from me;
Alas I do confess I'me made of mischiefs,
Begot with all mans miseries upon me;
But see my sorrows, maid, and do not thou,
Whose only sweetest sacrifice is softness,
Whose true condition, tenderness of nature.
_Edi._ My anger melts, Oh, I shall lose my justice.
_Rol._ Do not thou learn to kill with cruelty,
As I have done, to murther with thy eyes,
(Those blessed eyes) as I have done with malice,
When thou hast wounded me to death with scorn,
(As I deserve it Lady) for my true love,
When thou hast loaden me with earth for ever,
Take heed my sorrows, and the stings I suffer;
Take heed my nightly dreams of death and horrour
Pursue thee not: no time shall tell thy griefs then,
Nor shall an hour of joy adde to thy beauties.
Look not upon me as I kill'd thy Father,
As I was smear'd in blood, do not thou hate me,
But thus in whiteness of my wash't repentance,
In my hearts tears and truth of love to _Edith_,
In my fair life hereafter.
_Edi._ He will fool me.
_Rol._ Oh with thine Angel eyes behold and close me,
Of Heaven we call for mercy and obtain it;
To Justice for our right on Earth and have it;
Of thee I beg for love, save me, and give it.
_Edi._ Now heaven thy help, or I am gone for ever,
His tongue has turn'd me into melting pity.
_Enter_ Hamond, _and_ Guard.
_Ham._ Keep the doors safe, and upon pain of death
Let no man enter till I give the word.
_Guard._ We shall Sir. [_Exeunt._
_Ham._ Here he is in all his pleasure; I have my wish.
_Rol._ How now? why dost thou stare so?
_Edi._ A help, I hope.
_Rol._ What dost thou here? who sent thee?
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