 | The Bond-Man |  |
SCÆNA I.
Archidamus, Timagoras, Leosthenes with Gorgits, Pisander.Archid.
So, so, 'tis well, how doe I looke?
Pisander.
Most sprightfully.
Archid.
I shrinke not in the shoulders, though I am olde,
I am tough, steele to the backe, I haue not wasted
My stocke of strength in Feather-beds: heer's an arme too,
There's stuffe in't, and I hope will vse a Sword
As well as any beardlesse Boy of you all.
Timag.
I am glad to see you, Sir, so well prepar'd,
To indure the trauaile of the warre.
Archid.
Goe too sirra,
I shall indure, when some of you keepe your Cabins,
For all your flaunting Feathers, nay Leosthenes
You are welcome too, all friends, and fellowes now.
Leost.
Your seruant Sir.
Archid.
Pish, leaue these Complements,
They stincke in a Souldiers mouth, I could be merry,
For now my Gowne's off, farewell Grauitie,
And must be bolde to put a question to you,
Without offence, I hope.
Leost.
Sir, what you please.
Archid.
And you will answer truely?
Timagor.
On our words, Sir.
Archid.
Goe too, then, I presume you will confesse,
That you are two notorious Whore-maisters.
Nay spare your blushing, I haue beene wilde my selfe,
A snatch, or so, for Physicke, does no harme;
Nay, it is physicke, if vs'd moderately,
But to lye at racke, and manger,
Say we grant this,
For if we should deny it, you'l not beleeue vs,
What will you inferre vpon it?
Archid.
What you'l groane for,
I feare, when you come to the test. Old Stories tell vs
There is a Moneth cal'd October; which brings in
Colde weather, there are trenches too, 'tis rumor'd
In which to stand all night to the knees in water,
In Gallants breeds the tooth-ach, there's a sport too
Nam'd lying Perdita, (doe you marke me) tis a game,
Which you must learne to play at: now in these seasons,
And choyse varietie of Exercises,
(Nay I come to you) and fasts not for Deuotion,
Your rambling hunt-smocke, feeles strange alterations,
And in a Frosty morning, lookes as if
He could with ease creepe in a pottle Pot
Instead of his Mistris placket, then he Curses
The time he spent in midnight visitations;
And findes what he superfluously parted with,
To be reported good, at length, and well breath'd,
But if retriu'd into his backe againe,
Enter Diphilus, and Cleora.
Would keepe him warmer then a Scarlet wast-coate,
Or an Armour linde with Furre. O welcome, welcome,
You haue cut off my discourse, but I will perfit
My lecture in the Campe.
Diphil.
Come, we are stay'd for,
The General's a fire for a remoue,
And longs to be in action.
Archid.
Tis my wish too,
We must part, nay no teares, my best Cleora,
I shall melt too, and that were ominous.
Millions of blessings on thee, all that's mine,
I giue vp to thy charge, and sirra, looke
You, with that care and reuerence obserue her
Which you would pay to me, a kisse, farewell Girle.
Diphil.
Peace wayte vpon you, faire one.
Exeunt Archid. Diphil. Pisander.
Timag.
Twere impertinence
To wish you to be carefull of your Honour,
Of faithfull vertues: Farewell friend, I leaue you
To wipe our kisses off, I know that Louers
Part with more circumstance and ceremony,
Which I giue way to.
Exit Timagoras.
Leost.
Tis a noble fauour,
For which, I euer owe you, we are alone,
But how I should begin, or in what language
Speake the vnwilling word, of parting from you,
I am yet to learne.
Cleora.
And still continue ignorant,
For I must be most cruell to my selfe,
If I should teach you.
Leost.
Yet it must be spoken,
Or you will chide my slacknesse, you haue fir'd me
With the heate of noble action, to deserue you,
And the least sparke of honour, that tooke life
From your sweet breath, still fam'd by it, and cherish'd,
Must Mount vp in a glorious flame, or I
Am much vnworthy.
Cleora.
May it not burne heere,
And as a Sea-marke, serue to guide true Louers,
(Toss'd on the Ocean of luxurious wishes)
Safe from the rockes of Lust into the harbour,
Of pure affection? rising vp an example,
Which after-times shall witnesse, to our glory,
First tooke from vs beginning.
Leost.
Tis a happinesse,
My duty to my Countrey, and mine Honour
Cannot consent too, besides, adde to these,
It was your pleasure, fortifide by perswasion,
And strength of reason, for the generall good,
That I should goe.
Cleora.
Alas, I then was wittie
To pleade against my selfe, and mine eye fix'd,
Vpon the hill of Honour, ne're descended
To looke into the vayle of certaine dangers,
Through which, you were to cut your passage to it.
Leost.
Ile stay at home then.
No, that must not be,
For so to serue my own ends, and to gaine
A petty wreath my selfe; I rob you of
A certaine triumph, which must fall vpon you,
Or Vertue's turn'd a hand-maide to blinde Fortune:
How is my soule deuided! to confirme you,
In the opinion of the world, most worthy
To be belou'd, (with me you are at the heigth,
And can aduance no further) I must send you
To Court the Goddesse of sterne Warre, who if
Shee see you with my eies, will ne're returne you,
But grow enamour'd of you.
Leost.
Sweet, take comfort,
And what I offer you, you must vouchsafe me,
Or I am wretched; all the dangers, that
I can incounter in the War, are trifles;
My enemies abroad to be contemn'd;
The dreadfull foes, that haue the power to hurt me,
I leaue at home with you.
Cleor.
With mee?
Leost.
Nay, in you,
On euery part about you, they are arm'd
To fight against me.
Cleora.
Where?
Leost.
Ther's no perfection
That you are Mistris of, but musters vp
A Legion against me, and all sworne
To my destruction.
Cleora.
This is strange!
Leost.
But true, sweet,
Excesse of loue can worke such miracles.
Vpon this Iuory fore-head are intrench'd
Ten thousand riuals, and these Sunnes command,
Supplies from all the world, on paine to forfeit
Their comfortable beames; these Rubie lips,
A rich Exchecquer to assure their pay;
This hand, Sibillas golden bough to guard them
Through Hell, and horror, to the Elizian Springs;
Such as the vertues of your minde inuite,
Their numbers would be infinite.
Cleora.
Can you thinke,
I may be tempted?
Leost.
You were neuer prou'd.
For me I haue conuers'd with you no farther,
Then would become a Brother. I ne're tun'd
Loose Notes to your chaste eares; or brought rich Presents
For my Artillery, to batter downe,
The fortresse of your honour, nor endeuour'd
To make your blood runne high at solemne Feasts
With Viands, that prouoke; (the speeding Philtres)
I work'd no Baudes to tempt you; neuer practis'd
The cunning, and corrupting Arts they studie,
That wander in the wilde Maze of desire;
Honest simplicitie, and Truth were all
The Agents I imployd, and when I came
To see you, it was with that reuerence,
As I beheld the Altars of the gods;
And loue, that came along with me, was taught
To leaue his Arrowes, and his Torch behinde,
Quench'd in my feare to giue offence.
Cleora.
And 'twas
That modesty that tooke me, and preserues me,
Like a fresh Rose, in mine owne naturall sweetnesse;
Which sulli'd with the touch of impure hands,
Loose both sent and beauty.
Leost.
But, Cleora,
When I am absent, as I must goe from you,
(such is the cruelty of my fate) and leaue you
Vnguarded, to the violent assaults
Of loose temptations; when the memory
Of my so many yeares of Loue, and seruice,
Is lost in other obiects; when you are courted
By such as keepe a Catalogue of their Conquests,
Wonne vpon credulous Virgins; when nor Father
Is here to owe you; Brother to aduise you;
By lust instructed how to vndermine,
And blow your chastity vp; when your weake senses
At once assaulted, shall conspire against you;
And play the traytors to your soule, your vertue;
How can you stand? 'faith though you fall, and I
The iudge, before whom you then stood accus'd,
I should acquit you.
Cleora.
Will you then confirme,
That loue, and iealousie, though of different natures,
Must of necessity be twins? the younger,
Created onely to defeate the elder,
And spoyle him of his Birth-right: 'tis not well.
But being to part, I will not chide, I will not,
Nor with one sillable, or teare expresse,
How deeply I am wounded with the arrowes
Of your distrust: but when that you shall heare
At your returne, how I haue borne my selfe,
And what an austere penance I take on me,
To satisfie your doubts: when like a Vestall
I shew you to your shame, the fire still burning,
Committed to my charge by true affection,
The people ioyning with you in the wonder.
When by the glorious splendor of my suffrings,
The prying eies of iealousie are strucke blinde,
The Monster too that feeds on feares, eu'n staru'd
For want of seeming matter to accuse me,
Expect Leosthenes, a sharpe reproofe
From my iust anger.
Leost.
What will you doe?
Cleora.
Obey mee,
Or from this minute you are a stranger to me.
And doe it without reply: all seeing Sunne,
Thou witnesse of my innocence, thus I close
Mine eies against thy comfortable light,
Till the returne of this distrustfull man.
Now binde 'em sure, nay doo't, if vncompeld
I loose this knot, vntill the hands that made it
Fall heauy on me, pray you guide me to your lips,
This kisse, when you come backe shall be a Virgin
To bid you welcome: Nay, I haue not done yet.
I will continue dumbe, and you once gone,
No Accent shall come from me: now to my chamber,
My Tombe, if you miscarry: there I'le spend
My houres in silent mourning, and thus much
Shall be reported of me to my glory,
And you confesse it, whither I liue or die,
My Chastity triumphs ouer your iealousie.
| The Bond-Man | |