The Mad Lover, a Tragi-Comedy: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (3 of 10)Fletcher, John
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The Mad Lover, a Tragi-Comedy: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (3 of 10)
Fletcher, John
English drama
_The Altar was my loving breast,_
_My heart the sacrificed beast,_
_And I was my self the Priest._
_Your body was the sacred shrine,_
_Your cruel mind the power divine_
_Pleas'd with hearts of men, not kine._
_Eumen._ Now it pours down.
_Pol._ I like it rarelie: Ladie.
_Eumen._ How greedily she swallows up his language!
_2 Capt._ Her eye inhabits on him.
_Pol._ Cruel Ladie,
Great as your beautie scornfull; had your power
But equal poise on all hearts, all hearts perish't;
But _Cupid_ has more shafts than one, more flames too,
And now he must be open ey'd, 'tis Justice:
Live to injoy your longing; live and laugh at
The losses and the miseries we suffer;
Live to be spoken when your crueltie
Has cut off all the vertue from this Kingdom,
Turn'd honour into earth, and faithful service.
_Cal._ I swear his anger's excellent.
_Pol._ Truth, and most tried love
Into disdain and downfall.
_Calis._ Still more pleasing.
_Pol._ Live then I say famous for civil slaughters,
Live and lay out your triumphs, gild your glories,
Live and be spoken this is she, this Ladie,
This goodly Ladie, yet most killing beautie;
This with the two edg'd eyes, the heart for hardness
Outdoing rocks; and coldness, rocks of Crystal.
This with the swelling soul, more coy of Courtship
Than the proud sea is when the shores embrace him;
Live till the mothers find ye, read your story,
And sow their barren curses on your beauty,
Till those that have enjoy'd their loves despise ye,
Till Virgins pray against ye, old age find ye,
And even as wasted coals glow in their dying,
So may the Gods reward ye in your ashes:
But y'are the Sister of my King; more prophecies
Else I should utter of ye, true loves and loyal
Bless themselves ever from ye: so I leave ye.
_Cal._ Prethee be angry still young man: good fair Sir
Chide me again, what wou'd this man doe pleas'd,
That in his passion can bewitch souls? stay.
_Eumen._ Upon my life she loves him.
_Calis._ Pray stay.
_Pol._ No.
_Cal._ I do command ye.
_Pol._ No, ye cannot Ladie,
I have a spell against ye, Faith and Reason,
Ye are too weak to reach me: I have a heart too,
But not for hawks meat Ladie.
_Cal._ Even for Charity
Leave me not thus afflicted: you can teach me.
_Pol._ How can you Preach that Charity to others
That in your own soul are an Atheist,
Believing neither power nor fear? I trouble ye,
The Gods be good unto ye.
_Cal._ Amen.
_Lucip._ Ladie. [_She Swounds._
_C[l]e._ O royal Madam, Gentlemen for heaven sake. { _They
{ come
_Pol._ Give her fresh air, she comes again: away sirs { back._
And here stand close till we perceive the working.
_Eumen._ Ye have undone all.
_Pol._ So I fear.
_2 Capt._ She loves ye.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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