Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Cas._ Alas, she is honest, Sir, she is very honest,
And would you have my gravity--
_Fred._ I, I, your gravity will become the cause the better,
I'll look thee out a Knight shall make thee a Lady too,
A lusty Knight, and one that shall be ruled by thee,
And add to these, I'll make 'em good, no mincing,
Nor ducking out of nicety, good Lady,
But do it home, we'll all be friends too, tell her,
And such a joy--
_Cas._ That's it that stirs me up, Sir,
I would not for the World attempt her Chastity,
But that they may live lovingly hereafter.
_Fred._ For that I urge it too.
_Cas._ A little evil may well be suffered for a general good, Sir,
I'll take my leave of your Majesty. [_Exit._
_Enter_ Valerio.
_Fred._ Go fortunately, be speedy too: here comes _Valerio_,
If his affliction have allayed his spirit
My work has end. Come hither, Lord _Valerio_,
How do you now?
_Val._ Your Majesty may guess,
Not so well, nor so fortunate as you are,
That can tye up mens honest wills, and actions.
_Fred._ You clearly see now, brave _Valerio_,
What 'tis to be the Rival to a Prince,
To interpose against a raging Lion;
I know you have suffer'd, infinitely suffer'd,
And with a kind of pity I behold it,
And if you dare be worthy of my mercy,
I can yet heal you; yield up your _Evanthe_,
Take off my sentence also.
_Val._ I fall thus low, Sir,
My poor sad heart under your feet I lay,
And all the service of my life.
_Fred._ Do this then, for without this 'twill be impossible,
Part with her for a while.
_Val._ You have parted us,
What should I do with that I cannot use Sir?
_Fred._ 'Tis well consider'd, let me have the Lady,
And thou shalt see how nobly I'll befriend thee,
How all this difference--
_Val._ Will she come do you think, Sir?
_Fred._ She must be wrought, I know she is too modest,
And gently wrought, and cunningly.
_Val._ 'Tis fit, Sir.
_Fred._ And secretly it must be done.
_Val._ As thought.
_Fred._ I'll warrant ye her honour shall be fair still,
No soil nor stain shall appear on that, _Valerio_,
You see a thousand that bear sober faces,
And shew of as inimitable modesties;
You would be sworn too that they were pure Matrons,
And most chaste maids: and yet to augment their fortunes,
And get them noble friends--
_Val._ They are content, Sir,
In private to bestow their Beauties on 'em.
_Fred._ They are so, and they are wise, they know no want for't,
Nor no eye sees they want their honesties.
_Val._ If it might be carried thus.
_Fred._ It shall be, Sir.
_Val._ I'll see you dead first, with this caution,
Why, sure I think it might be done.
_Fred._ Yes, easily.
_Val._ For what time would your Grace desire her Body?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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