Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Abd._ Then know
It was not poyson, but a sleeping potion
Which she receiv'd; yet of sufficient strength
So to bind up her sences, that no sign
Of life appear'd in her: and thus thought dead,
In her best habit, as the custom is
You know in _Malta_, with all ceremonies
She's buried in her families monument,
In the Temple of St. _John_; I'll bring you thither,
Thus, as you are disguis'd; some six hours hence
The potion will leave working.
_Roc._ Let us haste then.
_Mount._ Be my good angel, guide me.
_Abd._ But remember,
You keep your Oath.
_Mount._ As I desire to prosper
In what I undertake.
_Abd._ I ask no more. [_Exeunt._
_Scæna Secunda._
_Enter_ Miranda, Norandine, _and_ Collonna.
_Col._ Here sir, I have got the Key; I borrow'd it
Of him that keeps the Church, the door is open.
_Mir._ Look to the horses then, and please the fellow.
After a few devotions, I'll retire.
Be not far off, there may be some use of ye,
Give me the light: come friend, a few good prayers
Were not bestow'd in vain now, even from you Sir.
Men that are bred in blood, have no way left 'em,
No bath, no purge, no time to wear it out
Or wash it off, but penitence, and prayer:
I am to take the order, and my youth
Loaden I must confess with many follies,
Circled and bound about with sins as many
As in the house of memory live figures.
My heart I'll open now, my faults confess,
And raise a new man, heaven, I hope, to a new life.
_Nor._ I have no great devotion, at this instant,
But for a prayer or two, I will not out Sir,
Hold up your finger, when you have pray'd enough.
_Mir._ Go you to that end.
_Nor._ I shall nee'r pray alone sure, I have been so us'd to
answer the Clerk: would I had a cushion, for I shall ne'r make
a good Hermit, and kneel till my knees are horn, these stones
are plaguy hard; where shall I begin now? for if I do not
observe a method, I shall be out presently.
_Ori._ Oh, oh.
_Nor._ What's that Sir? did ye hear?
_Mir._ Ha; to your prayers.
_Nor._ 'Twas here abouts, t'has put me clean aw[r]y now,
I shall nee'r get in again, ha, by Land,
And water, all children, and all women,
I there it was I left.
_Ori._ Oh, oh.
_Nor._ Never tell me Sir,
Here's something got amongst us.
_Mir._ I heard a groan:
A dismal one,--
_Ori._ Oh, oh.
_Nor._ Here, 'tis here Sir, 'tis here Sir;
A devil in the wall.
_Mir._ 'Tis some illusion
To fright us from devotion--
_Ori._ Oh, oh.
_Nor._ Why 'tis here,
The spirit of a huntesman choak'd with butter:
Here's a new tomb, new trickments too.
_Mir._ For certain,
This has not been three days here.
_Nor._ And a Tablet
With rimes upon't.
_Mir._ I prethee read 'em _Norandine_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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