English drama; Kings and rulers -- Succession -- Drama; Love -- Drama; Sicily (Italy) -- Drama; Tragicomedy
_Are_. Oh cruel, are you hard hearted too?
Who shall now tell you, how much I lov'd you;
Who shall swear it to you, and weep the tears I send?
Who shall now bring you Letters, Rings, Bracelets,
Lose his health in service? wake tedious nights
In stories of your praise? Who shall sing
Your crying Elegies? And strike a sad soul
Into senseless Pictures, and make them mourn?
Who shall take up his Lute, and touch it, till
He crown a silent sleep upon my eye-lid,
Making me dream and cry, Oh my dear, dear _Philaster_.
_Phi_. Oh my heart!
Would he had broken thee, that made thee know
This Lady was not Loyal. Mistress, forget
The boy, I'le get thee a far better.
_Are_. Oh never, never such a boy again, as my _Bellario_.
_Phi_. 'Tis but your fond affection.
_Are_. With thee my boy, farewel for ever,
All secrecy in servants: farewel faith,
And all desire to do well for it self:
Let all that shall succeed thee, for thy wrongs,
Sell and betray chast love.
_Phi_. And all this passion for a boy?
_Are_. He was your boy, and you put him to me,
And the loss of such must have a mourning for.
_Phi_. O thou forgetful woman!
_Are_. How, my Lord?
_Phi_. False _Arethusa_!
Hast thou a Medicine to restore my wits,
When I have lost 'em? If not, leave to talk, and do thus.
_Are_. Do what Sir? would you sleep?
_Phi_. For ever _Arethusa_. Oh you gods,
Give me a worthy patience; Have I stood
Naked, alone the shock of many fortunes?
Have I seen mischiefs numberless, and mighty
Grow li[k]e a sea upon me? Have I taken
Danger as stern as death into my bosom,
And laught upon it, made it but a mirth,
And flung it by? Do I live now like him,
Under this Tyrant King, that languishing
Hears his sad Bell, and sees his Mourners? Do I
Bear all this bravely, and must sink at length
Under a womans falshood? Oh that boy,
That cursed boy? None but a villain boy, to ease
your lust?
_Are_. Nay, then I am betray'd,
I feel the plot cast for my overthrow; Oh I am wretched.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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