Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10 — John Shaqi
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Bust._ You may hold your peace, and stand further out o'th way then:
The lines will fall where they light,
Yes _Jack-an-Apes_, he hath [to sport], and faces make like mirth,
Whilst bellowing buls, the horned beasts, do toss from ground to earth:
Blind Bear there is, as _Cupid_ blind.
_Ant._ That Bear would be whip'd for losing of his eies.
_Bust._ Be whipped man may see,
But we present no such content, but _Nymphs_ such as they be.
_Ant._ These are long lines.
_Mar._ Can you blame him, leading Buls and Bears in 'em.
_Enter Shepherd singing, with_ Ismena, Aminta, Florimel, (_as_
Juno, Pallas, Venus,) _and three Nymphs attending_.
_Bust._ Go _Cupid_ blind, conduct the dumb, for Ladies must not
speak here:
Let shepherds sing with dancing feet, and cords of musick break here.
_Song._
Now Ladies fight, with heels so light, by lot your luck must fall,
Where _Paris_ please, to do you ease, and give the golden Ball.
[_Dance._
_Mar._ If you plaid _Paris_ now _Antonio_, where would you bestow it?
_Ant._ I prethee, Friend,
Take the full freedom of thought, but no words.
_Mar._ 'Protest there's a third, which by her habit,
Should personate _Venus_, and by consequence
Of the Story, receive the honors prize:
And were I a _Paris_, there it should be.
Do you note her?
_Ant._ No; mine eye is so fixed,
I cannot move it.
_Cup._ The dance is ended; Now to judgement _Paris_.
_Bust._ Here _Juno_, here: but stay, I do espy
A pretty gleek coming from _Pallas_ eye:
Here _Pallas_, here: yet stay agen: methinks
I see the eye of lovely _Venus_ winks:
Oh close them both: shut in those golden eyn,
And I will kiss those sweet blind cheeks of thine.
_Juno_ is angry: yes, and _Pallas_ frowns,
Would _Paris_ now were gone from _Ida_'s downs.
They both are fair, but _Venus_ has the Mole,
The fairest hair, and sweetest dimple hole:
To her, or her, or her, or neither;
Can one man please three Ladies altogether?
No, take it _Venus_, toss it at thy pleasure,
Thou art the Lovers friend beyond his measure.
_Jul. Paris_ has done what man can do, pleas'd one,
Who can do more?
_Mar._ Stay, here's another person.
_Enter_ Gerasto, (_as_ Mars.)
_Ger._ Come lovely _Venus_, leave this lower Orb,
And mount with _Mars_, up to his glorious Sphere.
_Bust._ How now, what's he:
_Flo._ I'm ignorant what to do, Sir.
_Ger._ Thy silver-yoke of Doves are in the Team,
And thou shalt fly through _Apollo_'s Beam:
I'll see thee seated in thy golden Throne,
And hold with _Mars_ a sweet conjunction. [_Exit._
_Bust._ Ha? what fellow's this? has carried away my Sister _Venus_:
He never rehears'd his part with me before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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