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
_Enter_ Chilax, _and_ Cloe _at the other door_.
Fortune, I will so honour thee, Love, so adore thee.
She is here again, looks round about her, again too,
'Tis done, I know 'tis done; 'tis _Chilax_ with her,
And I shall know of him; who's that?
_Chi._ Speak softly,
The Princess from the Oracle.
_Si._ She views me,
By Heaven she beckons me.
_Chi._ Come near, she wou'd have ye.
_Si._ O royal Lady. [_Kisses her hand._
_Chi._ She wills ye read that, for belike she's bound to silence
For such a time; she is wondrous gracious to ye.
_Si._ Heav'n make me thankful.
_Chi._ She would have ye read it. [_He reads._
_Si._ _Siphax_, the will of Heaven hath cast me on thee
To be thy Wife, whose Will must be obey'd:
Use me with honour, I shall love thee dearly,
And make thee understand thy worths hereafter;
Convey me to a secret Ceremony,
That both our hearts and loves may be united,
And use no Language, till before my Brother
We both appear, where I will shew the Oracle,
For till that time I am bound, I must not answer.
_Si._ O happy I!
_Chi._ Ye are a made man.
_Si._ But _Chilax_,
Where are her Women?
_Chi._ None but your Graces Sister,
Because she would have it private to the World yet,
Knows of this business.
_Si._ I shall thank thee, _Chilax_,
Thou art a careful man.
_Chi._ Your Graces Servant.
_Si._ I'll find a fit place for thee.
_Chi._ If you will not,
There's a good Lady will, she points ye forward,
Away and take your fortune; not a word, Sir:
So, you are greas'd I hope. [_Ex._ Si. _and_ Cloe, _manet_ Chilax.
_Enter_ Stremon, _Fool, and Boy_.
_Chi._ _Stremon_, Fool, _Picus_,
Where have you left your Lord?
_Strem._ I' th' Temple, _Chilax_.
_Chi._ Why are ye from him?
_Strem._ Why, the King is with him,
And all the Lords.
_Chi._ Is not the Princess there too?
_Strem._ Yes.
And the strangest Coil amongst 'em; She weeps bitterly:
The King entreats, and frowns, my Lord like Autumn
Drops off his hopes by handfulls, all the Temple
Sweats with this Agony.
_Chi._ Where's young _Polydore_?
_Strem._ Dead, as they said, o' th' sudden.
_Chi._ Dead?
_Strem._ For certain,
But not yet known abroad.
_Chi._ There's a new trouble,
A brave young man he was; but we must all dye.
_Strem._ Did not the General meet you this morning
Like a tall Stallion Nun?
_Chi._ No more o' that, Boy.
_Strem._ You had been ferretting.
_Chi._ That's all one, Fool;
My Master Fool that taught my wits to traffick,
What has your Wisedom done? how have you profited?
Out with your Audit: come, you are not empty,
Put out mine eye with twelve-pence? do you shaker?
What think you of this shaking? here's wit, Coxcomb,
Ha Boys? ha my fine Rascals, here's a Ring, { _Pulls out
How right they go! { a Purse._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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