Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Leo._ I am born Sir
Of good and honest parents, rich, and noble,
And not to lie, the Daughter of Don _Zanchio_,
If my unhappy fortune have not lost me:
My name call'd _Leocadia_, even the same
Your worthy brother did the special honor
To name for beautiful; and without pride
I have been often made believe so Signior;
But that's impertinent: Now to my sorrows;
Not far from us a Gentleman of worth,
A neighbor and a noble visitor,
Had his abode; who often met my Father
In gentle sports of Chase, and River-Hawking
In Course and Riding; and with him often brought
A Son of his, a young and hopeful Gentleman,
Nobly train'd up, in years fit for affection,
A sprightly man, of understanding excellent,
Of speech and civil 'haviour, no less powerful;
And of all parts, else my eies lied, abundant:
We grew acquainted, and from that acquaintance
Nearer into affection; from affection
Into belief.
_Theo._ Well.
_Leo._ Then we durst kiss.
_Theo._ Go forward.
_Leo._ But oh, man, [man,] unconstant, careless man,
Oh subtle man, how many are thy mischiefs;
Oh _Mark-antonio_, I may curse those kisses.
_Theo._ What did you call him Lady?
_Leo. Mark-antonio_
The name to me of misery.
_Theo._ Pray foreward.
_Leo._ From these we bred desires sir; but lose me heaven
If mine were lustful.
_Theo._ I believe.
_L[e]o._ This nearness
Made him importunate; When to save mine honor
Love having full possession of my powers,
I got a Contract from him.
_Theo._ Sealed?
_Leo._ And sworn too;
Which since, for some offence heaven laid upon me,
I lost among my monies in the robbery,
The loss that makes me poorest: this won from him
Fool that I was, and too too credulous,
I pointed him a by-way to my chamber
The next night at an hour.
_Theo._ Pray stay there Lady;
And when the night came, came he, kept he touch with ye?
Be not so shamefac'd; had ye both your wishes?
Tell me, and tell me true, did he enjoy ye,
Were ye in one anothers arms abed? the Contract
Confirm'd in full joys there? did he lie with ye?
Answer to that; ha? did your father know this,
The good old man, or kindred privy to't?
And had ye their consents? did that nights promise
Make ye a Mother?
_Leo._ Why do you ask so nearly?
Good Sir, do's it concern you any thing?
_Theo._ No Lady.
Only the pitty why you should be used so
A little stirs me, but did he keep his promise?
_Leo._ No, no Signior,
Alas he never came, nor never meant it,
My Love was fool'd, time numbred to no end,
My expectation flouted, and ghesse you Sir,
What dor unto a doating Maid this was,
What a base breaking off!
_Theo._ All's well then Lady;
Go forward in your Story.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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