Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Lel._ Why did you let
This flattering man in to me? did not I
Charge thee to keep me from his eyes again,
As carefully as thou wouldst keep thine own?
Thou hast brought me poyson in a shape of Heaven,
Whose violence will break the hearts of all,
Of all weak Women, as it hath done mine,
That are such fools to love, and look upon him.
Good Sir, be gone, you know not what an ease
Your absence is.
_Ang._ By Heaven she is a wonder,
I cannot tell what 'tis, but I am [s]quamish.
_Jul._ Though I desire to be here more than Heaven,
As I am now, yet if my sight offend you,
So much I love to be commanded by you,
That I will go; farewel--
_Lel._ I should say something
E're you depart, and I would have you hear me;
But why should I speak to a man that hates me,
And will but laugh at any thing I suffer?
_Jul._ If this be hate--
_Lel._ Away, away, deceiver.
_Jul._ Now help me, _Angelo_!
_Ang._ I am worse than thou art.
_Lel._ Such tears as those might make another Woman
Believe thee honest, _Julio_, almost me,
That know their ends, for I confess they stir me.
_Ang._ What will become of me? I cannot go now
If you would hang me, from her; O brave Eye!
Steal me away, [for Gods sake] _Julio_.
_Jul._ Alas, poor man! I am lost again too, strangely.
_Lel._ No, I will sooner trust a Crocodile
When he sheds tears, for he kills suddenly,
And ends our cares at once; or any thing
That's evil to our Natures, than a man;
I find there is no end of his deceivings,
Nor no avoiding 'em, if we give way;
I was requesting you to come no more
And mock me with your service, 'tis not well,
Nor honest, to abuse us so far; you may love too;
For though, I must confess, I am unworthy
Of your love every way; yet I would have you
Think I am somewhat too good to make sport of.
_Jul._ Will you believe me?
_Lel._ For your Vows and Oaths,
And such deceiving tears as you shed now,
I will, as you do, study to forget 'em.
_Jul._ Let me be most despis'd of men--
_Lel._ No more;
There is no new way left, by which your cunning
Shall once more hope to catch me; no, thou false man,
I will avoid thee, and for thy sake all
That bear thy stamp, as counterfeit in love,
For I am open ey'd again, and know thee;
Go, make some other weep, as I have done,
That dare believe thee; go, and swear to her
That is a stranger to thy cruelty,
And knows not yet what man is, and his lyings,
How thou di'st daily for her; pour it out
In thy best lamentations; put on sorrow,
As thou canst, to deceive an Angel, _Julio_,
And vow thy self into her heart, that when
I shall leave off to curse thee for thy falshood,
Still a forsaken Woman may be found,
To call to Heaven for vengeance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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