English drama; Kings and rulers -- Succession -- Drama; Love -- Drama; Sicily (Italy) -- Drama; Tragicomedy
_Are_. Run thy self into the presence, mingle there again
With other Ladies, leave the rest to me:
If destiny (to whom we dare not say,
Why thou didst this) have not decreed it so
In lasting leaves (whose smallest Characters
Were never altered:) yet, this match shall break.
Where's the boy?
_La_. Here Madam.
[ _Enter _Bellario.
_Are_. Sir, you are sad to change your service, is't not so?
_Bell_. Madam, I have not chang'd; I wait on you,
To do him service.
_Are_. Thou disclaim'st in me;
Tell me thy name.
_Bell_. _Bellario_.
_Are_. Thou canst sing, and play?
_Bell_. If grief will give me leave, Madam, I can.
_Are_. Alas! what kind of grief can thy years know?
Hadst thou a curst master, when thou went'st to School?
Thou art not capable of other grief;
Thy brows and cheeks are smooth as waters be,
When no [b]reath troubles them: believe me boy,
Care seeks out wrinkled brows, and hollow eyes,
And builds himself caves to abide in them.
Come Sir, tell me truly, does your Lord love me?
_Bell_. Love Madam? I know not what it is.
_Are_. Canst thou know grief, and never yet knew'st love?
Thou art deceiv'd boy; does he speak of me
As if he wish'd me well?
_Bell_. If it be love,
To forget all respect of his own friends,
In thinking of your face; if it be love
To sit cross arm'd and sigh away the day,
Mingled with starts, crying your name as loud
And hastily, as men i'the streets do fire:
If it be love to weep himself away,
When he but hears of any Lady dead,
Or kill'd, because it might have been your chance;
If when he goes to rest (which will not be)
'Twixt every prayer he saies, to name you once
As others drop a bead, be to be in love;
Then Madam, I dare swear he loves you.
_Are_. O y'are a cunning boy, and taught to lie,
For your Lords credit; but thou knowest, a lie,
That bears this sound, is welcomer to me,
Than any truth that saies he loves me not.
Lead the way Boy: Do you attend me too;
'Tis thy Lords business hasts me thus; Away.
[_Exeunt_.
_Enter _Dion, Cleremont, Thrasilin, Megra _and _Galatea.
_Di_. Come Ladies, shall we talk a round? As men
Do walk a mile, women should take an hour
After supper: 'Tis their exercise.
_Gal_. Tis late.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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