Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Mart._ Nature nere promised thee a thing so noble.
Take back your love, your vow, I give it freely;
I poorly scorn it; graze now where you please:
That that the dulness of thy soul neglected,
Kings sue for now. And mark me, _Virolet_,
Thou image of a man, observe my words well.
At such a bloody rate I'll sell this beauty,
This handsomness thou scornst and flingst away,
Thy proud ungrateful life shall shake at: take your house,
The petty things you left me give another;
And last, take home your trinket: fare you well, Sir.
_Ron._ You have spoke like your self;
Y'are a brave Lady. [_Exeunt_ Ronvere _and_ Martia.
_Jul._ Why do you smile, Sir?
_Vir._ O my _Juliana_,
The happiness this womans scorn has given me,
Makes me a man again; proclaims it self,
In such a general joy, through all my miseries,
That now methinks--
_Jul._ Look to your self dear Sir,
And trifle not with danger that attends you;
Be joyful when y'are free.
_Vir._ Did you not hear her?
She gave me back my vow, my love, my freedom;
I am free, free as air; and though to morrow
Her bloody will meet with my life, and sink it,
And in her execution tear me piecemeal:
Yet have I time once more to meet my wishes,
Once more to embrace my best, my noblest, truest;
And time that's warranted.
_Jul._ Good Sir, forbear it:
Though I confess, equal with your desires
My wishes rise, as covetous of your love,
And to as warm alarums spur my will to:
Yet pardon me, the Seal o'th' Church dividing us,
And hanging like a threatning flame between us,
We must not meet, I dare not.
_Vir._ That poor disjoynting
That only strong necessity thrust on you,
Not crime, nor studied cause of mine: how sweetly,
And nobly I will bind again and cherish;
How I will recompence one dear imbrace now,
One free affection! how I burn to meet it!
Look now upon me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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