Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Vir._ O I am happy, let me see thee,
That I may bless the hand that gave me liberty,
O courteous hand, nay thou hast done most nobly,
And heaven has guided thee, 'twas their great justice;
O blessed wound that I could come to kiss thee!
How beautiful, and sweet thou shew'st!
_Jul._ Oh!
_Vir._ Sigh not,
Nor weep not dear, shed not those sovereign Balsames
Into my blood; which must recover me;
Then I shall live again, to do a mischief,
Against the mightiness of love and virtue,
Some base unhallowed hand shall rob thy right of.
Help me, I faint: so.
_Jul._ O unhappy wench!
How has my zeal abus'd me; you that guard virtue,
Were ye asleep? or do you laugh at innocence?
You suffer'd this mistake? O my dear _Virolet_!
An everlasting curse follow that forme
I strook thee in, his name be ever blasted:
For his accursed shadow has betray'd
The sweetness of all youth, the nobleness,
The honour, and the valor; wither'd for ever
The beauty and the bravery of all mankind:
O my dull, devils eyes.
_Vir._ I do forgive you,
By this, and this I do; I know you were cozen'd;
The shadow of _Ronvere_, I know you aym'd at,
And not at me; but 'twas most necessary,
I should be struck, some hand above directed you:
For _Juliana_ could not shew her justice
Without depriving high heaven of his glory,
Or any subject fit for her, but _Virolet_:
Forgive me too, and take my last breath sweet one,
This the new marriage of our souls together;
Think of me _Juliana_, but not often,
For fear my faults should burthen your affections,
Pray for me, for I faint.
_Jul._ O stay a little,
A little little Sir. [_Offers to kill her self._
_Vir._ Fye _Juliana_.
_Jul._ Shall I outlive the virtue, I have murder'd?
_Vir._ Hold, or thou hat'st my peace, give me the dagger,
On your obedience, and your love, deliver it.
If you do thus; we shall not meet in heaven sweet;
No guilty blood comes there; kill your intentions,
And then you conquer: there where I am going,
Would you not meet me Dear?
_Jul._ Yes.
_Vir._ And still love me?
_Jul._ And still behold you.
_Vir._ Live then till heaven calls you.
Then ripe and full of sweetness you rise sainted.
Then I that went before you to prepare,
Shall meet and welcome you, and daily court you
With Hymnes of holy Love--I go out,
Give me your hand, farewell, in peace farewell,
Remember me, farewell. [_dyes._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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