Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Enter_ Antonio.
[_Ant._] Your legs have sav'd your lives, who ere you are,
Friend. _Martin?_ where art thou? not hurt I hope:
Sure I was farthest in the pursuit of 'em:
My pleasures are forgotten through my fears:
The lights extinct, it was discreetly done:
They could not but have notice of the broil,
And fearing that might call up company,
Have carefully prevented, and closed up:
I do commend the heed; oh, but my friend,
I fear his hurt: friend? friend? it cannot be
So mortal, that I should lose thee quite, friend?
A groan, any thing that may discover thee:
Thou art not sunk so far, but I might hear thee:
I'll lay mine ear as low as thou canst fall:
Friend, Don _Martin_, I must answer for thee,
'Twas in my cause thou fe[ll]'st, if thou be'st down,
Such dangers stand betwixt us and our joyes,
That should we forethink ere we undertake,
Wee'ld sit at home, and save. What a night's here!
Purpos'd for so much joy, and now dispos'd
To so much wretchedness! I shall not rest in't:
If I had all my pleasures there within,
I should not entertain 'em with a smile.
Good night to you: Mine will be black and sad,
A friend cannot, a woman may be bad. [_Exit._
_Actus Quintus. Scæna Prima._
_Enter_ Ismenia _and_ Aminta.
_Ism._ O thou false.
_Am._ Do your daringst, he's mine own,
Soul and body mine, church and chamber mine,
Totally mine.
_Ism._ Dar'st thou face thy falshood?
_Am._ Shall I not give a welcome to my wishes
Come home so sweetly: farewell your company
Till you be calmer woman. [_Exit._
_Ism._ Oh what a heap
Of misery has one night brought with it.
_Enter_ Antonio.
_Ant._ Where is he? do you turn your shame from me?
You'r a blind Adulteress, you know you are.
_Ism._ How's that _Antonio_?
_Ant._ Till I have vengeance,
Your sin's not pardonable: I'll have him,
If hell hide him not: y'have had your last of him. [_Exit._
_Ism._ What did he speak? I understood him not,
He call'd me a foul name, it was not mine,
He took me for another sure.
_Enter Bellides._
_Bell._ Ha? are you there?
Where's your sweet heart? I have found you Traytor
To my house: wilt league with mine enemy?
You'll shed his blood, you'll say: hah? will you so?
And fight with your heels upwards? No Minion,
I have a husband for you, since y'are so rank,
And such a husband as thou shalt like him,
Whether thou wilt or no: _Antonio_?
_Ism._ It thunders with the storm now.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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