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 Goddess grants me this yet,
I shall enjoy the dead: no tomb shall hold thee
But these two arms, no Trickments but my tears
Over thy Hearse, my sorrows like sad arms
Shall hang for ever: on the tuffest Marble
Mine eyes shall weep thee out an Epitaph,
Love at thy feet shall kneel, his smart bow broken;
Faith at thy head, youth and the Graces mourners;
O sweet young man!
_King._ Now I begin to melt too.
_Mem._ Have ye enough yet Lady? room for a gamester.
To my fond Love, and all those idle fancies
A long farewel, thou diedst for me dear _Polydor_,
To give me peace, thou hast eternal glory,
I stay and talk here; I will kiss thee first,
And now I'le follow thee. [_Polydor rises._
_Pol._ Hold, for Heavens sake!
_Mem._ Ha!
Does he live?
Dost thou deceive me?
_Pol._ Thus far,
Yet for your good, and honour.
_King._ Now dear Sister.
_Calis._ The Oracle is ended, noble Sir,
Dispose me now as you please.
_Pol._ You are mine then?
_Calis._ With all the joyes that may be.
_Pol._ Your consent Sir?
_King._ Ye have it freely.
_Pol._ Walk along with me then,
And as you love me, love my will.
_Calis._ I will so.
_Pol._ Here worthy Brother, take this vertuous Princess,
Ye have deserv'd her nobly, she will love ye,
And when my life shall bring ye peace, as she does,
Command it, ye shall have it.
_Mem._ Sir, I thank ye.
_King._ I never found such goodness in such years.
_Mem._ Thou shalt not over-doe me, though I die for't,
O how I love thy goodness, my best Brother,
You have given me here a treasure to enrich me,
Would make the worthiest King alive a begger,
What may I give you back again?
_Pol._ Your love Sir.
_Mem._ And you shall have it, even my dearest love,
My first, my noblest love, take her again, Sir,
She is yours, your honesty has over-run me,
She loves ye, lose her not: excellent Princess,
Injoy thy wish, and now get Generals.
_Pol._ As ye love heaven, love him, she is only yours, Sir.
_Mem._ As ye love heaven, love him, she is only yours, Sir;
My Lord, the King.
_Pol._ He will undoe himself Sir,
And must without her perish; who shall fight then?
Who shall protect your Kingdom?
_Mem._ Give me hearing,
And after that, belief, were she my soul
(As I do love her equal) all my victories,
And all the living names I have gain'd by war,
And loving him that good, that vertuous good man,
That only worthy of the name of Brother,
I would resign all freely, 'tis all love
To me, all marriage rites, the joy or issues
To know him fruitfull, that has been so faithfull.
_King._ This is the noblest difference; take your choice Sister.
_Calis._ I see they are so brave, and noble both,
I know not which to look on.
_Pol._ Chuse discreetly,
And vertue guide ye, there all the world in one man
Stands at the mark.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
The Mad Lover, a Tragi-Comedy: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (3 of 10) — John Shaqi
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