The Mad Lover, a Tragi-Comedy: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (3 of 10)Fletcher, John
General
The Mad Lover, a Tragi-Comedy: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (3 of 10)
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Strem._ Where are the rest?
_Eumen._ About a business
Concerns him mainly, if Heav'n cure his madness,
He's made for ever, _Stremon_.
_Strem._ Does the King know it?
_Eumen._ Yes, and much troubled with it, he's now gone
To seek his Sister out.
_Strem._ Come let's away then. [_Exeunt_ Eumen. Strem. Cal.
_Enter Nun, she opens the Curtain to_ Calis.
Calis _at the Oracle._
_Nun._ Peace to your Prayers Lady, will it please ye
To pass on to the Oracle?
_Cal._ Most humbly. [Chilax _and Priest, in the Oracle_.
_Chi._ Do ye hear that?
_Priest._ Yes, lie close.
_Chi._ A wildfire take ye,
What shall become of me? I shall be hang'd now:
Is this a time to shake? a halter shake ye,
Come up and juggle, come.
_Priest._ I am monstrous fearful.
_Chi._ Up ye old gaping Oyster, up and answer;
A mouldy Mange upon your chops, ye told me
I was safe here till the Bell rung.
_Priest._ I was prevented,
And did not look these three hours for the Princess.
_Chi._ Shall we be taken?
_Priest._ Speak for loves sake, _Chilax_;
I cannot, nor I dare not.
_Chi._ I'le speak Treason, for I had as lieve be hang'd for that.
_Priest._ Good _Chilax_.
_Chi._ Must it be sung or said? what shall I tell 'em?
They are here; here now preparing.
_Priest._ O my Conscience!
_Chi._ Plague o' your spurgall'd Conscience, does it tire now?
Now when it should be tuffest? I could make thee--
_Priest._ Save us, we are both undone else.
_Chi._ Down ye Dog then,
Be quiet, and be stanch to no inundations.
_Nun._ Here kneel again, and _Venus_ grant your wishes.
Calis. _O Divine Star of Heaven,_
_Thou in power above the seven:_
_Thou sweet kindler of desires,_
_Till they grow to mutual fires:_
_Thou, O gentle Queen, that art_
_Curer of each wounded heart:_
_Thou the fuel, and the flame;_
_Thou in Heaven, and here the same:_
_Thou the wooer, and the woo'd:_
_Thou the hunger, and the food:_
_Thou the prayer, and the pray'd;_
_Thou what is, or shall be said:_
_Thou still young, and golden tressed,_
_Make me by thy Answer blessed._
_Chi._ When?
_Priest._ Now speak handsomly, and small by all means,
I have told ye what. [_Thunder._
_Chi._ But I'le tell you a new tale,
Now for my Neck-verse; I have heard thy prayers,
And mark me well.
_Musick._ Venus _descends_.
_Nun._ The Goddess is displeased much,
The temple shakes and totters; she appears,
Bow, Lady, bow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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