Kings and rulers -- Drama; Revenge -- Drama; Tragedies (Drama)
_Asp_. Then my good Girles, be more than Women, wise.
At least be more than I was; and be sure you credit any
thing the light gives light to, before a man; rather
believe the Sea weeps for the ruin'd Merchant when he
roars; rather the wind courts but the pregnant sails
when the strong cordage cracks; rather the Sun comes
but to kiss the Fruit in wealthy Autumn, when all falls
blasted; if you needs must love (forc'd by ill fate)
take to your maiden bosoms two dead cold aspicks,
and of them make Lovers, they cannot flatter nor
forswear; one kiss makes a long peace for all; but
man, Oh that beast man!
Come lets be sad my Girles;
That down cast of thine eye, _Olympias_,
Shews a fine sorrow; mark _Antiphila_,
Just such another was the Nymph _Oenone_,
When _Paris_ brought home _Helen_: now a tear,
And then thou art a piece expressing fully
The _Carthage_ Queen, when from a cold Sea Rock,
Full with her sorrow, she tyed fast her eyes
To the fair _Trojan_ ships, and having lost them,
Just as thine eyes do, down stole a tear, _Antiphila_;
What would this Wench do, if she were _Aspatia_?
Here she would stand, till some more pitying God
Turn'd her to Marble: 'tis enough my Wench;
Shew me the piece of Needle-work you wrought.
_Ant_. Of _Ariadne_, Madam?
_Asp_. Yes that piece.
This should be _Theseus_, h'as a cousening face,
You meant him for a man.
_Ant_. He was so Madam.
_Asp_. Why then 'tis well enough, never look back,
You have a full wind, and a false heart _Theseus_;
Does not the story say, his Keel was split,
Or his Masts spent, or some kind rock or other
Met with his Vessel?
_Ant_. Not as I remember.
_Asp_. It should ha' been so; could the Gods know this,
And not of all their number raise a storm?
But they are all as ill. This false smile was well
exprest;
Just such another caught me; you shall not go
so _Antiphila_,
In this place work a quick-sand,
And over it a shallow smiling Water.
And his ship ploughing it, and then a fear.
Do that fear to the life Wench.
_Ant_. 'Twill wrong the story.
_Asp_. 'Twill make the story wrong'd by wanton Poets
Live long and be believ'd; but where's the Lady?
_Ant_. There Madam.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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