Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Lam._ This curtesie
Wounds deeper than your Sword can, or mine own;
Pray you make use of either, and dispatch me.
_Luc._ The barbarous Turk is satisfied with spoil;
And shall I, being possest of what I came for,
Prove the more Infidel?
_Lam._ You were better be so,
Than publish my disgrace, as 'tis [t]he custom,
And which I must expect.
_Luc._ Judge better on me:
I have no tongue to trumpet mine own praise
To your dishonor: 'tis a bastard courage
That seeks a name out that way, no true born one;
Pray you be comforted, for by all goodness
But to her virtuous self, the best part of it,
I never will discover on what terms
I came by these: which yet I take not from you,
But leave you in exchange of them, mine own,
With the desire of being a friend; which if
You will not grant me, but on farther trial
Of manhood in me, seek me when you please,
(And though I might refuse it with mine honor)
Win them again, and wear them: so good morrow. [_Exit._
_Lam._ I ne'r knew what true valor was till now;
And have gain'd more by this disgrace, than all
The honors I have won: they made me proud,
Presumptuous of my fortune; a mere beast,
Fashion'd by them, only to dare and do:
Yielding no reasons for my wilful actions
But what I stuck on my Swords point, presuming
It was the best Revenew. How unequal
Wrongs well maintain'd makes us to others, which
Ending with shame teach us to know our selves,
I will think more on't.
_Enter_ Vitelli.
_Vit. Lamorall._
_Lam._ My Lord?
_Vit._ I came to seek you.
_Lam._ And unwillingly;
You ne'r found me t[i]ll now: your pleasure Sir?
_Vit._ That which will please thee friend: thy vowd love to me
Shall now be put in action: means is offer'd
To use thy good Sword for me; that which still
Thou wearst, as if it were a part of thee.
Where is it?
_Lam._ 'Tis chang'd for one more fortunate:
Pray you enquire not how.
_Vit._ Why, I ne'r thought
That there was musick in't, but ascribe
The fortune of it to the arm.
_Lam._ Which is grown weaker too. I am not (in a word)
Worthy your friendship: I am one new vanquish'd,
Yet shame to tell by whom.
_Vit._ But I'll tell thee
'Gainst whom thou art to fight, and there redeem
Thy honor lost, if there be any such:
The King, by my long suit, at length is pleas'd
That _Alvarez_ and my self, with eithers Second,
Shall end the difference between our houses,
Which he accepts of, I make choice of thee;
And where you speak of a disgrace, the means
To blot it out, by such a publick trial
Of thy approved valor, will revive
Thy antient courage. If you imbrace it do;
If not, I'll seek some other.
_Lam._ As I am
You may command me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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