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._ Make but a curious frame unto thy self
As thou wouldst shape an Angel in thy thought;
Such as the Poets, when their fancies sweat,
Imagine _Juno_ is, or fair ey'd _Pallas_,
And one more excellent, than all those figures
Shalt thou find her; she's brown, but of a sweetness,
(If such a poor word may express her beauty)
Believe me _Angelo_, would do more mischief
With a forc't smile, than twenty thousand _Cupids_
With their love quivers, full of Ladies eyes,
And twice as many flames, could fling upon us.
_Ang._ Of what age is she?
_Jul._ As a Rose at fairest,
Neither a bud, nor blown, but such a one,
Were there a _Hercules_ to get again
With all his glory, or one more than he,
The god would choose out amongst a race of women
To make a Mother of: she is outwardly
All that bewitches sense; all that entices,
Nor is it in our vertue to uncharm it.
And when she speaks, oh _Angelo_, then musick
(Such as old _Orpheus_ made, that gave a soul
To aged mountains, and made rugged beasts
Lay by their rages; and tall trees that knew
No sound but tempests, to bow down their branches
And hear, and wonder; and the Sea, whose surges
Shook their white heads in Heaven, to be as mid-night
Still, and attentive) steals into our souls
So suddenly, and strangely, that we are
From that time no more ours, but what she pleases.
_Ang._ Why look, how far you have thrust your self again
Into your old disease! are you that man
With such a resolution, that would venture
To take your leave of folly, and now melt
Even in repeating her?
_Jul._ I had forgot me.
_Ang._ As you will still do.
_Jul._ No, the strongest man
May have the grudging of an ague on him,
This is no more; let's go, I would fain be fit
To be thy friend again, for now I am no mans.
_Ang._ Go you, I dare not go, I tell you truly
Nor were it wise I should.
_Jul._ Why?
_Ang._ I am well,
And if I can, will keep my self so.
_Jul._ Ha? thou mak'st me smile, though I have little cause,
To see how prettily thy fear becomes thee;
Art thou not strong enough to see a woman?
_Ang._ Yes, twenty thousand: but not such a one
As you have made her: I'le not lye for th' matter:
I know I am frail, and may be cozen'd too
By such a Syren.
_Jul._ Faith thou shalt go, _Angelo_.
_Ang._ Faith but I will not; no I know how far Sir
I am able to hold out, and will not venture
Above my depth: I do not long to have
My sleep ta'ne from me, and go pulingly
Like a poor wench had lost her market-mony;
And when I see good meat, sit still and sigh,
And call for small beer; and consume my wit
In making _Anagrams_, and faithful posies;
I do not like that Itch, I am sure I had rather
Have the main pox, and safer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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