English drama; Kings and rulers -- Succession -- Drama; Love -- Drama; Sicily (Italy) -- Drama; Tragicomedy
_Phi_. This Lady? I will sooner trust the wind
With Feathers, or the troubled Sea with Pearl,
Than her with any thing; believe her not!
Why think you, if I did believe her words;
I would outlive 'em: honour cannot take
Revenge on you, then what were to be known
But death?
_King_. Forget her Sir, since all is knit
Between us: but I must request of you
One favour, and will sadly be denied.
_Phi_. Command what ere it be.
_King_. Swear to be true to what you promise.
_Phi_. By the powers above,
Let it not be the death of her or him,
And it is granted.
_King_. Bear away the boy
To Torture, I will have her clear'd or buried.
_Phi_. O let me call my words back, worthy Sir,
Ask something else, bury my life and right
In one poor grave, but do not take away my
life and fame at once.
_King_. Away with him, it stands irrevocable.
_Phi_. Turn all your eyes on me, here stands a man
The falsest and the basest of this world:
Set swords against this breast some honest man,
For I have liv'd till I am pitied,
My former deeds are hateful, but this last
Is pitifull, for I unwillingly
Have given the dear preserver of my life
[_Offers to kill himself_.]
Unto his Torture: is it in the power
Of flesh and blood, to carry this and live?
_Are_. Dear Sir be patient yet, or stay that hand.
_King_. Sirs, strip that boy.
_Di_. Come Sir, your tender flesh will try your
constancie.
_Bell_. O kill me gentlemen.
_Di_. No, help Sirs.
_Bell_. Will you Torture me?
_King_. Hast there, why stay you?
_Bell_. Then I shall not break my vow,
You know just gods, though I discover all.
_King_. How's that? Will he confess?
_Di_. Sir, so he says.
_King_. Speak then.
_Bell_. Great King if you command
This Lord to talk with me alone, my tongue
Urg'd by my heart, shall utter all the thoughts
My youth hath known, and stranger things than these
You hear not often.
_King_. Walk aside with him.
_Di_. Why speak'st thou not?
_Bell_. Know you this face my Lord?
_Di_. No.
_Bell_. Have you not seen it, nor the like?
_Di_. Yes, I have seen the like, but readily
I know not where.
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