The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 05Dryden, John
History
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 05
Dryden, John
English literature
_Tow._ And, sir, why should we not? What mean these endless jars of
trading nations? 'Tis true, the world was never large enough for
avarice or ambition; but those who can be pleased with moderate gain,
may have the ends of nature, not to want: Nay, even its luxuries may
be supplied from her o'erflowing bounties in these parts; from whence
she yearly sends spices and gums, the food of heaven in sacrifice:
And, besides these, her gems of the richest value, for ornament, more
than necessity.
_Har. Sen._ You are i'the right; we must be very friends, i'faith we
must; I have an old Dutch heart, as true and trusty as your English
oak.
_Fisc._ We can never forget the patronage of your Elizabeth, of famous
memory; when from the yoke of Spain, and Alva's pride, her potent
succours, and her well-timed bounty, freed us, and gave us credit in
the world.
_Tow._ For this we only ask a fair commerce, and friendliness of
conversation here: And what our several treaties bind us to, you
shall, while Towerson lives, see so performed, as fits a subject to an
English king.
_Har. Sen._ Now, by my faith, you ask too little, friend; we must have
more than bare commerce betwixt us: Receive me to your bosom; by this
beard, I will never deceive you.
_Beam._ I do not like his oath, there's treachery in that
Judas-coloured beard. [_Aside._
_Fisc._ Pray use me as your servant.
_Van Her._ And me too, captain.
_Tow._ I receive you both as jewels, which I'll wear in either ear,
and never part with you.
_Har. Sen._ I cannot do enough for him, to whom I owe my son.
_Har. Jun._ Nor I, till fortune send me such another brave occasion of
fighting so for you.
_Har. Sen._ Captain, very shortly we must use your head in a certain
business; ha, ha, ha, my dear captain.
_Fisc._ We must use your head, indeed, sir.
_Tow._ Sir, command me, and take it as a debt I owe your love.
_Har. Sen._ Talk not of debt, for I must have your heart.
_Van Her._ Your heart, indeed, good captain.
_Har. Sen._ You are weary now, I know, sea-beat and weary; 'tis time
we respite further ceremony; besides, I see one coming, whom I know
you long to embrace, and I should be unkind to keep you from her arms.
_Enter_ ISABINDA _and_ JULIA.
_Isab._ Do I hold my love, do I embrace him after a tedious absence of
three years? Are you indeed returned, are you the same? Do you still
love your Isabinda? Speak before I ask you twenty questions more: For
I have so much love, and so much joy, that if you don't love as well
as I, I shall appear distracted.
_Tow._ We meet then both out of ourselves, for I am nothing else but
love and joy; and to take care of my discretion now, would make me
much unworthy of that passion, to which you set no bounds.
_Isab._ How could you be so long away?
_Tow._ How can you think I was? I still was here, still with you,
never absent in my mind.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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