John Fletcher - Philaster; Or, Love Lies a Bleeding

Are . Oh! 'tis well:
Withdraw your self.

Phi . Madam, your messenger
Made me believe, you wisht to speak with me.

Are . 'Tis true Philaster, but the words are such,
I have to say, and do so ill beseem
The mouth of woman, that I wish them said,
And yet am loth to speak them. Have you known
That I have ought detracted from your worth?
Have I in person wrong'd you? or have set
My baser instruments to throw disgrace
Upon your vertues?

Phi . Never Madam you.

Are . Why then should you in such a publick place,
Injure a Princess and a scandal lay
Upon my fortunes, fam'd to be so great:
Calling a great part of my dowry in question.

Phi . Madam, this truth which I shall speak, will be
Foolish: but for your fair and vertuous self,
I could afford my self to have no right
To any thing you wish'd.

Are. Philaster, know
I must enjoy these Kingdoms.

Phi . Madam, both?

Are . Both or I die: by Fate I die Philaster,
If I not calmly may enjoy them both.

Phi . I would do much to save that Noble life:
Yet would be loth to have posterity
Find in our stories, that Philaster gave
His right unto a Scepter, and a Crown,
To save a Ladies longing.

Are . Nay then hear:
I must, and will have them, and more.

Phi . What more?

Phi . Madam, what more?

Are . Turn then away thy face.

Phi . No.

Are . Do.

Phi . I cannot endure it: turn away my face?
I never yet saw enemy that lookt
So dreadful, but that I thought my self
As great a Basilisk as he; or spake
So horribly, but that I thought my tongue
Bore Thunder underneath, as much as his:
Nor beast that I could turn from: shall I then
Begin to fear sweet sounds? a Ladies voice,
Whom I do love? Say you would have my life,
Why, I will give it you; for it is of me
A thing so loath'd, and unto you that ask
Of so poor use, that I shall make no price
If you intreat, I will unmov'dly hear.

Are . Yet for my sake a little bend thy looks.

Phi . I do.

Are . Then know I must have them and thee.

Phi . And me?

Are . Thy love: without which, all the Land Discovered yet, will serve me for no use, But to be buried in.

Phi . Is't possible?

Are . With it, it were too little to bestow
On thee: Now, though thy breath doth strike me dead
(Which know it may) I have unript my breast.

Phi . Madam, you are too full of noble thoughts,
To lay a train for this contemned life,
Which you may have for asking: to suspect
Were base, where I deserve no ill: love you!
By all my hopes I do, above my life:
But how this passion should proceed from you
So violently, would amaze a man, that would be jealous.

Are . Another soul into my body shot,
Could not have fill'd me with more strength and spirit,
Than this thy breath: but spend not hasty time,
In seeking how I came thus: 'tis the gods,
The gods, that make me so; and sure our love
Will be the nobler, and the better blest,
In that the secret justice of the gods
Is mingled with it. Let us leave and kiss,
Lest some unwelcome guest should fall betwixt us,
And we should part without it.
Phi . 'Twill be ill
I should abide here long.

Are . 'Tis true, and worse
You should come often: How shall we devise
To hold intelligence? That our true lovers,
On any new occasion may agree, what path is best to
tread?

Phi . I have a boy sent by the gods, I hope to this intent,
Not yet seen in the Court; hunting the Buck,
I found him sitting by a Fountain side,
Of which he borrow'd some to quench his thirst,
And paid the Nymph again as much in tears;
A Garland lay him by, made by himself,
Of many several flowers, bred in the bay,
Stuck in that mystick order, that the rareness
Delighted me: but ever when he turned
His tender eyes upon 'um, he would weep,
As if he meant to make 'um grow again.
Seeing such pretty helpless innocence
Dwell in his face, I ask'd him all his story;
He told me that his Parents gentle dyed,
Leaving him to the mercy of the fields,
Which gave him roots; and of the Crystal springs,
Which did not stop their courses: and the Sun,
Which still, he thank'd him, yielded him his light,
Then took he up his Garland and did shew,
What every flower as Country people hold,
Did signifie: and how all ordered thus,
Exprest his grief: and to my thoughts did read
The prettiest lecture of his Country Art
That could be wisht: so that, me thought, I could
Have studied it. I gladly entertain'd him,
Who was glad to follow; and have got
The trustiest, loving'st, and the gentlest boy,
That ever Master kept: Him will I send
To wait on you, and bear our hidden love.

Are . 'Tis well, no more.

La . Madam, the Prince is come to do his service.

Are . What will you do Philaster with your self?

Phi . Why, that which all the gods have appointed out for me.

Are . Dear, hide thy self. Bring in the Prince.

Are . He cannot know it.

Phi . Though it should sleep for ever to the world,
It is a simple sin to hide my self,
Which will for ever on my conscience lie.

Are . Then good Philaster, give him scope and way
In what he saies: for he is apt to speak
What you are loth to hear: for my sake do.

Phi . I will.

Pha . My Princely Mistress, as true lovers ought,
I come to kiss these fair hands; and to shew
In outward Ceremonies, the dear love
Writ in my heart.

Phi . If I shall have an answer no directlier,
I am gone.

Pha . To what would he have an answer?

Are . To his claim unto the Kingdom.

Pha . Sirrah, I forbear you before the King.

Phi . Good Sir, do so still, I would not talk with you.