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
_Calis._ The will of Heaven not mine, which must not alter,
And my eternal doom for ought I know
Is fixt upon me; alas, I must love nothing,
Nothing that loves again must I be blest with:
The gentle Vine climbs up the Oke and clips him,
And when the stroke comes, yet they fall together;
Death, death must I enjoy, and live to love him,
O noble Sir!
_Mem._ Those tears are some reward yet,
Pray let me wed your sorrows.
_Calis._ Take 'em Souldier,
They are fruitfull ones, lay but a sigh upon 'em,
And straight they will conceive to infinites;
I told ye what ye would find 'em.
_Enter_ Funeral, _Captains following, and_ Eumenes.
_King._ How now, what's this? more drops to th' Ocean?
Whose body's this?
_Eum._ The noble _Polydor_,
This speaks his death.
_Mem._ My Brother dead?
_Calis._ O Goddess!
O cruel, cruel _Venus_, here's my fortune.
_King._ Read Captain.
_Mem._ Read aloud: farewel my follies.
[Eumen. _reads to the Excellent Princess_ Calis.
_Eum._ Be wise, as you are beauteous, love with judgement,
And look with clear eyes on my noble Brother,
Value desert and vertue, they are Jewels,
Fit for your worth and wearing: take heed Lady,
The Gods reward ingratitude most grievous;
Remember me no more, or if you must,
Seek me in noble _Memnons_ love, I dwell there:
I durst not live, because I durst not wrong him,
I can no more, make me eternal happy
With looking down upon your loves. _Farewel._
_Mem._ And did'st thou die for me?
_King._ Excellent vertue!
What will ye now doe?
_Calis._ Dwell for ever here Sir.
_Mem._ For me dear _Polydor_? O worthy young man!
O love, love, love, love above recompence!
Infinite love, infinite honesty!
Good Lady leave, you must have no share here,
Take home your sorrows: here's enough to store me,
Brave glorious griefs! was ever such a Brother?
Turn all the stories over in the world yet,
And search through all the memories of mankind,
And find me such a friend; h'as out done all,
Outstript 'em sheerly, all, all, thou hast _Polydor_,
To die for me; why, as I hope for happiness,
'Twas one of the rarest thought on things,
The bravest, and carried beyond compass of our actions,
I wonder how he hit it, a young man too,
In all the blossomes of his youth and beautie,
In all the fulness of his veins and wishes
Woo'd by that Paradise, that would catch Heaven;
It starts me extreamly, thou blest Ashes,
Thou faithfull monument, where love and friendship
Shall while the world is, work new miracles.
_Calis._ O! let me speak too.
_Mem._ No not yet; thou man,
(For we are but mans shadows,) only man,
I have not words to utter him; speak Lady,
I'le think a while.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account