Nigh Leytonstone in Essex—called of old
By men thine elders Durolitum? There
Are hind and fawn couched close in one green lair?
Speak: hast thou not my faith in pawn, to hold
Fast as my brother’s heart this love, untold
And undivined of all men? must I swear
Twice—I, to thee?
DEBON.
But if thou set no snare,
Why shine thine eyes so sharp? I am overbold:
Sir, pardon me.
CAMBER.
My sword shall split thine heart
With pardon if thou palter with me.
DEBON.
Sir,
There is the place: but though thy brow be grim
As hell—I knew thee not the man thou art—
I will not bring thee to it.
CAMBER.
For love of her?
Nay—better shouldst thou know my love of him.
[_Exeunt_.
ACT II.
SCENE I.—_The banks of the Ley_.
_Enter_ ESTRILD _and_ SABRINA.
SABRINA.
But will my father come not? not today,
Mother?
ESTRILD.
God help thee! child, I cannot say.
Why this of all days yet in summer’s sight?
SABRINA.
My birthday!
ESTRILD.
That should bring him—if it may.
SABRINA.
May should be must: he must not be away.
His faith was pledged to me as king and knight.
ESTRILD.
Small fear he should not keep it—if he might.
SABRINA.
Might! and a king’s might his? do kings bear sway
For nought, that aught should keep him hence till night?
Why didst thou bid God help me when I sought
To know but of his coming?
ESTRILD.
Even for nought
But laughter even to think how strait a bound
Shuts in the measure of thy sight and thought
Who seest not why thy sire hath heed of aught
Save thee and me—nor wherefore men stand crowned
And girt about with empire.
SABRINA.
Have they found
Such joy therein as meaner things have wrought?
Sing me the song that ripples round and round.
ESTRILD (_sings_):—
Had I wist, quoth spring to the swallow,
That earth could forget me, kissed
By summer, and lured to follow
Down ways that I know not, I,
My heart should have waxed not high:
Mid March would have seen me die,
Had I wist.
Had I wist, O spring, said the swallow,
That hope was a sunlit mist
And the faint light heart of it hollow,
Thy woods had not heard me sing,
Thy winds had not known my wing;
It had faltered ere thine did, spring,
Had I wist.
SABRINA.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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