Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Jul._ Why are you still so fearfull of me, Lady?
So doubtfull of my faith, and honest service?
To hide your self from me, to fly my company?
Am I not yours? all yours? by this light you shake still;
Do ye suspect me false? did I ever fail ye?
Do you think I am corrupted? base? and treacherous?
Lord, how ye look! Is not my life ty'd to ye?
And all the power I have to serve, and honour ye?
Still do ye doubt? still am I terrible?
I will not trouble ye: good Heaven preserve ye,
And send ye what ye wish: I will not see ye,
Nor once remember I had such a Mistris.
I will not speak of ye, nor name _Alinda_,
For fear you should suspect I would betray ye:
Goodness and peace conduct ye.
_Alin._ Prethee pardon me,
I know thou art truly faithfull: and thou art welcom,
A welcom partner to my miseries;
Thou knowst I love thee too.
_Jul._ I have thought so, Lady.
_Alin._ Alas, my fears have so distracted me
I durst not trust my self.
_Jul._ Come, pray ye think better,
And cast those by: at least consider, Lady,
How to prevent 'em: pray ye put off this fools coat;
Though it have kept ye secret for a season,
'Tis known now, and will betray ye; your arch enemy
_Roderigo_ is abroad: many are looking for ye.
_Alin._ I know it: and those many I have cozen'd.
_Jul._ You cannot still do thus.
_Alin._ I have no means to shift it.
_Jul._ I have: and shift you too. I lay last night
At a poor widows house here in the Thicket,
Whither I will conduct ye, and new shape ye,
My self too to attend ye.
_Alin._ What means hast thou?
For mine are gone.
_Jul._ Fear not, enough to serve ye;
I came not out so empty.
_Alin._ Prethee tell me,
(For thou hast struck a kind of comfort through me.)
When saw'st thou _Roderigo_?
_Jul._ Even this morning,
And in these woods: take heed, h'as got a new shape.
_Alin._ The habit of a Pilgrim? yes, I know it,
And I hope shall prevent it; was he alone?
_Jul._ No Madam, and which made me wonder mightily,
He was in company with that handsom Pilgrim,
That sad sweet man.
_Alin._ That I forgot to give to?
_Jul._ The same, the very same, that you so pitied,
A man as fit to suit his villanies.
_Alin._ And did they walk together?
_Jul._ Wondrous civilly.
_Alin._ Talk, and discourse?
_Jul._ I think so, for I saw 'em
Make many stands, and then embrace each other.
_Alin._ The Pilgrim is betrai'd, a _Judas_ dwells with him,
A _Sinon_, that will seem a Saint to choak him.
Canst thou but shew me this?
_Jul._ Lord how she trembles!
Not thus, for all the world, ye are undone then;
But let's retire, and alter, then we'l walk free;
And then I'le shew ye any thing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account