[MASSINISSA _adorns_ SOPHONISBA.
Rest all my honour! O thou for whom I drink
So deep of grief, that he must only think,
Not dare to speak, that would express my woe;
Small rivers murmur, deep gulfs silent flow.
My grief is here,[389] not here: heave gently then,
Women's right wonder, and just shame of men.
[_Exeunt all but_ MASSINISSA.
_Cornets a short flourish._
[386] Ed. 2. "tongues."
[387] Ed. 1. "he."
[388] Ed. 2. "like to wild fire." (As the line stands, "firm" is
equivalent to a dissyllable.)
[389] _i.e._, in my heart, not my eyes.
EPILOGUS.
_Mass._ And[390] now
With lighter passion, though with most just fear,
I change my person, and do hither bear
Another's voice, who with a phrase as weak
As his deserts, now will'd me (thus form'd[391]) speak:
If words well sensed, best suiting subject grave,
Noble true story, may once boldly crave
Acceptance gracious; if he whose fires
Envy not others, nor himself admires;
If scenes exempt from ribaldry or rage 10
Of taxings indiscreet, may please the stage;--
If such may hope applause, he not commands,
Yet craves as due the justice of your hands.
But freely he protests, howe'er it is--
Or well, or ill, or much, not much amiss--
With constant modesty he does submit
To all, save those that have more tongue than wit.[392]
[390] "And now ... fear." Printed as one line in ed. 1. Ed. 2.
reads, "And now with lighter passion, though just feare."
[391] So ed. 1.--Ed. 2. "will'd me for him speake."
[392] In ed. 1. is added the following note:--"After all, let me
intreat my Reader not to taxe me for the fashion of the Entrances
and Musique of this tragedy, for know it is printed only as it
was presented by youths, and after the fashion of the private
stage. Nor let some easily amended errors in the Printing afflict
thee, since thy owne discourse will easily set vpright any such
vneuennes."
WHAT YOU WILL.
_What Yov Will. By Iohn Marston. Imprinted at London by G. Eld, for
Thomas Thorppe._ 1607. 4to.
STORY OF THE PLAY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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