English drama; Kings and rulers -- Succession -- Drama; Love -- Drama; Sicily (Italy) -- Drama; Tragicomedy
_Meg_. Do you study to forget me, and I'le study
To forget you.
[_Ex_. King, Meg. _and_ Guard.
_Cle_. Why here's a Male spirit for _Hercules_, if ever there
be nine worthies of women, this wench shall ride
astride, and be their Captain.
_Di_. Sure she hath a garrison of Devils in her tongue, she
uttereth such balls of wild-fire. She has so netled the
King, that all the Doctors in the Country will scarce
cure him. That boy was a strange found out antidote to
cure her infection: that boy, that Princess boy: that brave,
chast, vertuous Ladies boy: and a fair boy, a well spoken
boy: All these considered, can make nothing else--but
there I leave you Gentlemen.
_Thra_. Nay we'l go wander with you.
[_Exeunt_.
_Actus Tertius. Scena Prima_.
_Enter _Cle. Di. _and _Thra.
_Cle_. Nay doubtless 'tis true.
_Di_. I, and 'tis the gods
That rais'd this Punishment to scourge the King
With his own issue: Is it not a shame
For us, that should write noble in the land;
For us, that should be freemen, to behold
A man, that is the bravery of his age,
_Philaster_, prest down from his Royal right,
By this regardless King; and only look,
And see the Scepter ready to be cast
Into the hands of that lascivious Lady,
That lives in lust with a smooth boy, now to be
Married to yon strange Prince, who, but that people
Please to let him be a Prince, is born a slave,
In that which should be his most noble part,
His mind?
_Thra_. That man that would not stir with you,
To aid _Philaster_, let the gods forget,
That such a Creature walks upon the earth.
_Cle_. _Philaster_ is too backward in't himself;
The Gentry do await it, and the people
Against their nature are all bent for him,
And like a field of standing Corn, that's mov'd
With a stiff gale, their heads bow all one way.
_Di_. The only cause that draws _Philaster_ back
From this attempt, is the fair Princess love,
Which he admires and we can now confute.
_Thra_. Perhaps he'l not believe it.
_Di_. Why Gentlemen, 'tis without question so.
_Cle_. I 'tis past speech, she lives dishonestly.
But how shall we, if he be curious, work
Upon his faith?
_Thra_. We all are satisfied within our selves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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