Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Nor._ An Epi--and Epi--taff. I think 'tis, I 'tis taff, an Epitaff.
Upon the most excell, excell--lent--and.
_Mir._ Thou canst not read.
_Nor._ I have spoyl'd mine eyes with gunpowder.
_Mir._ An _Epitaph_ upon the most virtuous, and excellent Lady
The honor of Chastity, _Oriana_.
_Nor._ The grand masters sister: how a devil came she here?
When slipt she out o'th'way, the stone's but half upon her.
_Mir._ 'Tis a sodain change: certain the mischief
_Mountferrat_ offer'd to her broak her heart-strings.
_Nor._ Would he were here, I would be the clerk my self,
And by this little light, I would bury him alive here:
Here's no lamenting now.
_Ori._ Oh, oh.
_Nor._ There 'tis.
_Mir._ Sure from the monument, the very stone groanes for her.
Oh, dear Lady: blessing of women, virtue of thy sex;
How art thou set for ever, how stol'n from us.
Babling, and prating now converse with women.
_Nor._ Sir, it rises, it looks up. [_She rises up._
_Mir._ Heaven bless us.
_Nor._ It is in womans cloathes, it rises higher.
_Mir._ It looks about, and wonders, sure she lives Sir.
'Tis she, 'tis _Oriana_, 'tis that Lady.
_Nor._ Shall I go to her?
_Ori._ Where am I!
_Mir._ Stand still.
_Ori._ What place is this?
_Nor._ She is as live as I am.
_Ori._ What smell of earth, and rotten bones, what dark place?
Lord, whither am I carried?
_Nor._ How she stares,
And sets her eyes upon him.
_Mir._ How is't dear Lady?
Do you know me, how she shakes!
_Ori._ You are a man.
_Mir._ A man that honors you.
_Ori._ A cruel man,
Ye are all cruel: are you in your grave too?
For there's no trusting cruel man, above ground.
_Nor._ Byr'Lady that goes hard.
_Mir._ To do you service
And to restore ye to the joys you were in.
_Ori._ I was in joyes indeed, and hope--
_Mir._ She sinks again
Again she's gone; she's gone: gone as a shadow,
She sinks for ever, friend.
_Nor._ She is cold now,
She is certainly departed, I must cry too.
_Mir._ The blessed angels guide thee: put the stone too,
Beauty thou art gone to dust, goodness to ashes.
_Nor._ Pray take it well: we must all have our hours Sir.
_Mir._ I, thus we are; and all our painted glory,
A buble that a boy blows in to th' ayr,
And there it breaks.
_Nor._ I am glad ye sav'd her honor yet.
_Mir._ Would I had sav'd her life now too: oh heaven
For such a blessing, such a timely blessing
O friend, what dear content 'twould be, what story
To keep my name from worms!
_Ori._ Oh, oh.
_Nor._ She lives again.
'Twas but a trance.
_Mir._ Pray ye call my man in presently
Help with the stone first, oh she stirs again.
Oh call my man away.
_Nor._ I fly, I fly Sir.
_Mir._ Upon my knees O heaven, O heaven I thank thee.
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