Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Mar._ Since I am scorn'd, I'll hate thee, scorn thy gifts too,
Thou miserable fool, thou fool to pitty,
And such a rude, demolisht thing, I'll leave thee,
In my revenge: for foolish love, farewell now,
And anger, and the spite of woman enter,
That all the world shall say, that read this story,
My hate, and not my love, begot my glory. [_Exit Martia._
_Actus Quartus. Scæna Prima._
_Enter Sess. Boatswaine, Master, Gunner._
_Sess._ He that fears death, or tortures, let him leave me.
The stops that we have met with, Crown our Conquest.
Common attempts are fit for common men;
The rare, the rarest spirits. Can we be daunted?
We that have smil'd at Sea at certain ruines,
Which men on shore but hazarded would shake at:
We that have liv'd free, in despite of fortune,
Laught at the out-stretch'd Arm of Tyranny,
As still too short to reach us, shall we faint now?
No my brave mates, I know your fiery temper,
And that you can, and dare, as much as men:
Calamity, that severs worldly friendships,
Could ne'r divide us, you are still the same;
The constant followers of my banisht fortunes;
The Instruments of my revenge; the hands
By which I work, and fashion all my projects.
_Mast._ And such we will be ever.
_Gun._ 'Slight Sir, Cramme me
Into a Cannons mouth, and shoot me at
Proud _Ferrand's_ head: may only he fall with me,
My life I rate at nothing.
_Boatsw._ Could I but get,
Within my swords length of him; and if then
He scape me, may th' account of all his sins
Be added unto mine.
_Mast._ 'Tis not to dye Sir,
But to dye unreveng'd, that staggers me:
For were your ends serv'd, and our Countrey free,
We would fall willing sacrifices.
_Sess._ To rise up,
Most glorious Martyrs.
_Boats._ But the reason why
We wear these shapes?
_Sess._ Only to get access:
Like honest men, we never shall approach him,
Such are his fears, but thus attir'd like _Switzers_,
And fashioning our language to our habits;
Bold, bloody, desperate, we may be admitted
Among his guard. But if this fail I'll try
A thousand others, out-do _Proteus_
In various shapes, but I will reach his heart,
And seal my anger on't.
_Enter_ Ronvere _and the Guard._
_Mast._ The Lord _Ronvere_.
_Boats._ Shall we begin with him?
_Sess._ He is not ripe yet,
Nor fit to fall: as you see me begin,
With all care Imitate.
_Gun._ We are instructed.
_Boats._ Would we were at it once.
_Ron._ Keep a strict watch,
And let the guards be doubled, this last night
The King had fearful dreams.
_Sess._ 'Tis a good _Omen_
To our attempts.
_Ron._ What men are these? what seek you?
_Sess._ Imployment.
_Ron._ Of what nature?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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