Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Per._ He m[u]st, he must.
_Gab._ We'll watch him till he wakes,
Then bind him, and then torture him.
_Per._ 'Tis nothing.
No, take him dead drunk now without repentance,
His leachery inseam'd upon him.
_Gab._ Excellent.
_Per._ I'll do it my self; and when 'tis done, provide ye,
For we'll away for _Italy_ this night.
_Gab._ We'll follow thorow all hazards.
_Per._ Oh false Lord,
Unmanly, mischievous; how I could curse thee;
But that but blasts thy fame; have at thy heart, fool:
Loop-holes I'll make enough to let thy life out.
_Lav._ Oh! does the devil ride me?
_Per._ Nay then.
_Lav._ Murder.
Nay, then take my share too.
_Per._ Help; oh! he has slain me.
Bloudy intentions must have bloud.
_Lav._ Hah?
_Per._ Heaven.
_Gab._ He sinks, he sinks, for ever sinks: oh fortune!
Oh sorrow! how like seas thou flowest upon me!
Here will I dwell for ever. Weep _Maria_,
Weep this young man's misfortune: oh thou truest!
_Enter Spirit._
_Lav._ What have I done?
_Spir._ That that has mark'd thy soul man.
_Lav._ And art thou come again thou dismal spirit?
_Spir._ Yes, to devour thy last.
_Lav._ Mercy upon thee.
_Spir._ Thy hour is come: succession, honor, pleasure,
And all the lustre thou so long hast look'd for
Must here have end: Summon thy sins before thee.
_Lav._ Oh my affrighted soul!
_Spir._ There lies a black one;
Thy own best servant by thy own hand slain,
Thy drunkenness procur'd it: There's another:
Think of fair _Gabriella_, there she weeps;
And such tears are not lost.
_Lav._ Oh miserable!
_Spir._ Thy foul intention to the virtuous _Casta_.
_Lav._ No more, no more, thou wild-fire.
_Spir._ Last, thy last wife,
Think on the wrong she suffers.
_Lav._ O my miserie.
Oh! whither shall I flie?
_Spir._ Thou hast no faith, fool.
Heark to thy knell. [_Sings, and vanishes._
_Lav._ Millions of sins muster about mine eyes now:
Murders, ambitions, lust, false faiths; O horror,
In what a stormie form of death thou rid'st now!
Me thinks I see all tortures, fires, and frosts,
Deep sinking caves, where nothing but despair dwels,
The balefull birds of night hovering about 'em;
A grave, me thinks, now opens, and a herse
Hung with my Arms tumbles into it: oh!
Oh! my afflicted soul: I cannot pray;
And the least child that has but goodness in him
May strike my head off; so stupid are my powers:
I'll lift mine eyes up though.
_Mar._ Cease these laments,
They are too poor for venge[a]nce: _Lavall_ lives yet.
_Gab._ Then thus I drie all sorrows from these eyes,
Fury and rage possess 'em now: damn'd divell.
_Lav._ Hah?
_Gab._ This for young _Perolot_.
_Lav._ O mercy, mercy.
_Gab._ This for my wrongs.
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