Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Val._ O my dearest,
Let but your goodness judge; your own part's pity;
Set but your eyes on his afflictions;
He is mine, and so becomes your charge: but think
What ruine Nature suffers in this young man,
What loss humanity, and noble manhood;
Take to your better judgment my declining,
My Age hung full of impotence, and ills,
My Body budding now no more: seer Winter
Hath seal'd that sap up, at the best and happiest
I can but be your infant, you my Nurse,
And how unequal dearest; where his years,
His sweetness, and his ever spring of goodness,
My fortunes growing in him, and my self too,
Which makes him all your old love; misconceive not,
I say not this as weary of my bondage,
Or ready to infringe my faith; bear witness,
Those eyes that I adore still, those lamps that light me
To all the joy I have.
_Cel._ You have said enough, Sir,
And more than e'r I thought that tongue could utter,
But you are a man, a false man too.
_Val._ Dear _Cellide_.
_Cel._ And now, to shew you that I am a woman
Rob'd of her rest, and fool'd out of her fondness,
The Gentleman shall live, and if he love me,
Ye shall be both my triumphs; I will to him,
And as you carelessly fling off your fortune,
And now grow weary of my easie winning,
So will I lose the name of _Valentine_,
From henceforth all his flatteries, and believe it,
Since ye have so slightly parted with affection,
And that affection you have pawn'd your faith for;
From this hour no repentance, vows, nor prayers
Shall pluck me back again; what I shall do,
Yet I will undertake his cure, expect it,
Shall minister no comfort, no content
To either of ye, but hourly more vexations.
_Val._ Why, let him dye then.
_Cel._ No, so much I have loved
To be commanded by you, that even now,
Even in my hate, I will obey your wishes.
_Val._ What shall I do?
_Cel._ Dye like a fool unsorrow'd,
A bankrupt fool, that flings away his Treasure;
I must begin my cure.
_Val._ And I my Crosses. [_Exeunt._
_Actus Tertius. Scena Prima._
_Enter_ Frank _sick_, _Physicians_, _and an Apothecary_.
_1 Phy._ Clap on the Cataplasm.
_Frank._ Good Gentlemen,
Good learned Gentlemen.
_2 Phy._ And see these broths there,
Ready within this hour, pray keep your arms in,
The air is raw, and ministers much evil.
_Fran._ 'Pray leave me; I beseech ye leave me, Gentlemen,
I have no other sickness but your presence,
Convey your Cataplasms to those that need 'em,
Your Vomits, and your Clysters.
_3 Phy._ Pray be rul'd, Sir.
_1 Phy._ Bring in the Lettice Cap; you must be shaved, Sir,
And then how suddenly we'll make you sleep!
_Frank._ Till dooms-day: what unnecessary nothings
Are these about a wounded mind?
_2 Phy._ How do ye?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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