Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Car._ Set down the body,
The body of the noblest of all _Romans_,
As ye expect an offering at your Graves
From your friends sorrows, set it down awhile.
That with your griefs an enemy may mingle;
A noble enemy that loves a Soldier;
And lend a tear to virtue, even your foes,
Your wild foes, as you call'd us, are yet stor'd
With fair affections, our hearts fresh, our spirits,
Though sometime stubborn, yet when virtue dies,
Soft and relenting as a Virgins prayers,
Oh set it down.
_Dru._ Set down the body, so[l]diers.
_Car._ Thou hallowed relique, thou rich Diamond
Cut with thine own dust; thou for whose wide fame
The world appears too narrow, mans all thoughts,
Had they all tongues, too silent; thus I bow
To thy most honour'd ashes: though an enemy,
Yet friend to all thy worths: sleep peaceably;
Happiness crown thy soul, and in thy earth
Some Lawrel fix his seat, there grow, and flourish,
And make thy grave an everlasting triumph.
Farewell all glorious Wars, now thou art gone,
And honest Arms adieu: all noble battels
Maintain'd in thirst of honour, not of bloud,
Farewell for ever.
_Heng._ Was this _Roman_, Uncle,
So good a man?
_Car._ Thou never knew'st thy Father.
_Heng._ He dy'd before I was born.
_Car._ This worthy _Roman_
Was such another piece of endless honor,
Such a brave soul dwelt in him: their proportions
And faces were not much unlik, boy, excellent nature,
See how it works into his eyes, mine own boy.
_Heng._ The multitudes of these men, and their fortunes,
Could never make me fear yet: one mans goodness--
_Car._ O now thou pleasest me: weep still, my child,
As if thou saw'st me dead; with such a flux
Or flood of sorrow: still thou pleasest me.
And worthy soldiers, pray receive these pledges,
These hatchments of our griefs, and grace us so much
To place 'em on his Hearse. Now if ye please,
Bear off the noble burden; raise his pile
High as _Olympus_, make heaven to wonder
To see a star upon earth out-shining theirs.
And ever loved, ever living be
Thy honoured and most sacred memory.
_Dru._ Thou hast done honestly, good _Caratach_,
And when thou diest, a thousand virtuous _Romans_
Shall sing thy soul to heaven. Now march on, soldiers.
[_Exeunt. A dead march._
_Car._ Now dry thine eyes, my boy.
_Heng._ Are they all gone?
I could have wept this hour yet.
_Car._ Come, take cheer,
And raise thy spirit, child: if but this day
Thou canst bear out thy faintness, the night coming
I'll fashion our escape.
_Heng._ Pray fear not me;
Indeed I am very hearty.
_Car._ Be so still;
His mischiefs lessen, that controuls his ill. [_Exeunt._
_Scæna Secunda._
_Enter_ Petillius.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account