Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Orl._ Every mothers son of all that multitude of hearers, went to
be a witness of the misery your Sisters fortunes must have come to,
if my adversary who did love her first, had been her Husband.
_Ami._ The success may draw a testimony from them, to confirm the
same opinion, but they went prepar'd with no such hope or purpose.
_Orl._ And did you intreat the number of them, that are come with
no such hope or purpose.
_Ami._ Tush, your own experience of my heart can answer ye.
_Orl._ This doubtful, makes me clearly understand your disposition.
_Ami._ If your cause be just,
I wish you a conclusion like your cause.
_Orl._ I can have any common charity to such a Prayer
From a friend I would expect a love to prosper in;
Without exceptions such a love as might
Make all my undertakings thankful to't;
Precisely just is seldom faithful in our wishes
To another mans desires: Farewel. [_Exit_ Orl.
_Enter_ Montague _having a Purse_, Duboys, Longueville,
_and_ Voramer _the Page, with two Caskets_.
_Dub._ Here comes your adversarie's brother-in-law.
_Long._ The Lord of _Amiens_.
_Dub._ From the Hall I think.
_Ami._ I did so: save your Lordship.
_Mount._ That's a wish my Lord, as courteous to my present state,
As ever honest mind was thankful for;
For now my safety must expose it self
To question: yet to look for any free
Or hearty salutation (Sir) from you
Would be unreasonable in me.
_Ami._ Why?
_Mont._ Your Sister is my adversarie's wife;
That nearness needs must consequently draw
Your inclination to him.
_Ami._ I will grant
Him all the nearness his alliance claims,
And yet be nothing less impartial,
My Lord of _Montague_.
_Mont._ Lord of _Montague_ yet:
But (Sir) how long the dignity or state
Belonging to it will continue, stands
Upon [t]he dangerous passage of this hour.
Either for evermore to be confirm'd,
Or like the time wherein 'twas pleaded, gone:
Gone with it, never to be call'd again.
_Ami._ Justice direct your process to the end;
To both your persons my respect shall still
Be equal; but the righteous cause is that
Which bears my wishes to the side it holds,
Where, ever may it prosper. [_Exit_ Amiens.
_Mont._ Then my thanks
Are proper to you, if a man may raise
A confidence upon a lawful ground
I have no reason to be once perplex'd
With any doubtful motion, _Longue[v]ille_,
That Lord of _Amiens_, (didst observe him?) has
A worthy nature in him.
_Long._ Either 'tis his nature or his cunning.
_Mont._ That's the vizard of most mens actions,
Whose dissembled lives
Do carry only the similitude
Of goodness on 'em: but for him
Honest [b]ehaviour makes a true report,
What disposition does inhabit him,
Essential virtue.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account