Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Sil._ What do I hear then,
And wherefore have I life bestow'd and honor?
To what end do I walk? for men to wonder at,
And fight, and fool? pray ye take your honors from me,
(My sorrows are not fit companions for 'em)
And when ye please my life: Art thou gone Mistriss,
And wander'st heaven knows where? this vow I make thee,
That till I find thee out, and see those fair eyes;
Those eyes that shed their lights, and life into me,
Never to know a friend, to seek a kindred,
To rest where pleasure dwels, and painted glory,
But through the world; the wide world, thus to wander,
The wretched world alone, no comfort with me,
But the meer meditations of thy goodness:
Honor and greatness, thus adieu.
_Enter_ Belvidere.
_Bel._ Stay _Silvio_,
And Lady sit again, I come for Justice.
_Sil._ What would she now?
_Bel._ To claim thy promise _Silvio_,
The boon thou swor'st to give me.
_Sy._ What may this be,
A Woman or a Devil?
_Duch._ 'Tis a Witch sure,
And by her means he came to untwist this Riddle.
_Sil._ That I am bound to her for my life, mine honor;
And many other thousand ways for comfort
I here confess: confess a promise too,
That what she would aske me to requite these favours,
Within the endeavour of my life to grant,
I would; and here I stand my words full master.
_Bel._ I wish no more: great Lady, witness with me,
The boon I crave for all my service to thee,
Is now to be thy wife, to grant me marriage.
_Sil._ How? for to marry thee? ask again woman,
Thou wilful woman, ask again.
_Bel._ No more Sir.
_Sil._ Ask Land, and Life.
_Bel._ I aske thee for a Husband.
_Soto._ Marry her, and beat her into Gun-powder,
She would make rare Crackers.
_Sil._ Ask a better fortune,
Thou art too old to marry: I a Soldier,
And always married to my sword.
_Bel._ Thy word Fool,
Break that, and I'll break all thy fortunes yet.
_Dutch._ He shall not,
I am witness to his faith: and I'll compel it.
_Sy._ 'Tis fit ye hold your word, Sir.
_Sil._ Oh most wretched.
_Dutch._ This was a fortune now beyond my wishes,
For now my Daughter's free, if e'er I find her.
_Sy._ But not from me.
_Dutch._ You are sharer in this happiness,
My self will wait upon this marriage,
And do the old woman all the honor possible.
_Sy._ I'll lead the Knight, and what there wants in dalliance,
We'll take it out in drink.
_Sil._ Oh wretched _Silvio_. [_Exeunt._
_Scæna Secunda._
_Enter_ Lopez _and_ Isabella.
_Lop._ Hast thou sent for him?
_Isab._ Yes.
_Lop._ A young man, saist thou?
_Isab._ Yes, very young, and very amorous.
_Lop._ And handsome?
_Isab._ As the Town affords.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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