Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 09 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
There's some good matter now in hand:
How the slave jeers and grins; the Duke is pleas'd,
There's a new pair of Scarlet Hose now, and as much
Money to spare, as will fetch the old from pawn, a Hat and
a Cloak to goe out to morrow:
Garters and Stockings come by nature.
_Leon._ Be sure of this.
_Tima._ I durst not speak else, Sir.
_Actus Secundus. Scæna Prima._
_Cornets. Descend_ Cupid.
_Cupid. Leucippus_ thou art shot through with a shaft
That will not rankle long, yet sharp enough
To sow a world of helpless misery--
In this [happie] Kingdom, dost thou think
Because thou art a Prince, to make a part
Against my power, but it is all the fault
Of thy old Father, who believes [his] age
Is cold enough to quench my burning Darts,
But he shall know e'r long, that my smart loose,
Can thaw Ice, and inflame the wither'd heart
Of _Nestor_, thou thy self art lightly struck,
But his mad love, shall publish that the rage
Of _Cupid_, has the power to conquer Age. [_Exit._
_Enter_ Bacha, _and_ Leucippus, Bacha,
_a Handkerchief_.
_Leu._ Why, what's the matter?
_Bacha._ Have you got the spoil
You thirsted for? Oh tyrannie of men!
_Leu._ I pray thee leave.
_Bacha._ Your envy is, Heaven knows,
Beyond the reach of all our feeble sex:
What pain alas, could it have been to you,
If I had kept mine honor? you might still
Have been a Prince, and still this Countreys Heir,
That innocent Guard which I till now had kept,
For my defence, my virtue, did it seem
So dangerous in a State, that your self came to suppress it?
_Leu._ Drie thine eyes again, I'll kiss thy tears away,
This is but folly, 'tis past all help.
_Bacha._ Now you have won the treasure,
'Tis my request that you would leave me thus:
And never see these empty Walls again,
I know you will do so, and well you may:
For there is nothing in 'em that's worth
A glance, I loath my self, and am become
Another Woman; One methinks with whom
I want acquaintance.
_Leu._ If I do offend thee, I can be gone,
And though I love thy sight, so highly do I prize thine own
content, that I will leave thee.
_Bac._ Nay, you may stay now;
You should have gone before: I know not now
Why I should fear you: All I should have kept
Is stol'n: Nor is it in the power of man
To rob me farther: if you can invent,
Spare not; No naked man fears robbing less
Than I doe: now you may for ever stay.
_Leu._ Why, I could do thee farther wrong.
_Bac._ You have a deeper reach in evill than I:
'Tis past my thoughts.
_Leu._ And past my will to act: but trust me I could do it.
_Bac._ Good Sir do, that I may know there is a wrong
beyond what you have done me.
_Leu._ I could tell all the world what thou hast done.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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