University of Virginia Library

Scena Prima.

Enter Flavanda.
Fla.
The lying Painters picture aged time
With wings at's heels, as if he always flew,
But that their licence warranteth their acts
I justly might accuse them of their falshood;
The time that Love obeys is slow, exceeding dull,
Hel'd back with leaden fetters.
Each tedious minute makes a week,
Each moneth an age, and each delaying year
Seems fully a Platonnick.

Enter Charastus.
Cha.
Whither dispair do'st hurry me?
What new found death canst thou invent
For an inconstant Lover? If there be one
Which never yet imagination compast, let me enjoy
Its wish't virginity, I have deserv'd it fully.

Fla.
Talk not of death Charastus now; my arms shall be
Thy living sepulcher, my Bed thy winding-sheet;
Hymen shall write thy joyfull Epitaph,
And Virgins pure shall sang an Epithalamium for an Elegy;
We two like to two meeting channels will turn one,
One individed and united Body.

Cha.
Oh Flavanda I blush to see thee,
I am a villain grown, yet I still dearly love thee,
I am inconstant, Dearest, can'st thou think it?
The ficklest fortune is more stedfast:
The wind oft-times is stable, but my heart
Wavers at every object.

Fla.
Have I a Rivall then Charastus?
Is the stream of your Affection then divided,
And your Love grown less?

Cha.
Not less Flavanda; Streams parted with a stop
Run with a greater violence on either side,
Than when they kept united in the channel.

Fla.
I do confess my unworthiness; I will resign
Unto thy fresher love, could I but think her worthy.

Cha.
Never, oh never, never shal't thou do it.
For sooner sure the Gods can separate the orbs
Than our so long united Hearts.
Enter Constantina.
Were the separation but in Natures power, here comes
Those rayes that easily would make the dissolution.

Fla.
Thou hast made a worthy choyce Charastus.
I glory in my Rivall more than Lovers in their Nuptialls:
This Act confirms your love to me, and should I dye
I make no question but my liveless trunck
Would pleasure in your happiness; no soft embrace
Could ye exchange, but I should be partaker
No kiss without a joyfull blush from my wan cheeks
Should joyn your tender lips together.
Delay not then your joyes for me.
My Love is old and stale; Her's fresher
Than the mayden Rose whose pureness yet
No boysterous hand has touch't prophanely.
I'le imitate those friends that take more pleasure
For to see some feed, than if they fed themselves.

Con.
I'le starve before I'le taste such cates,
They will infect me with inconstancy.
They're like devouring flames, they still turn
All they meet with to their own nature:
But I will fly them worse than stings of Scorpions,
Or that deadly root, that pallateth the eye
But poysons still the pallate.

Fla.
Shun not approaching happiness for my sake;
I am grown old in his affection, and Age
You know must dye, yet when I am dead
Be not I prithee jealous of my Ghost.

Con.
If death can end this controversie, 'tis fittest
I should yield, when I am dead
I happily may love him, but never living.

Cha.
Contend not so my hearts two parallels
For what's anothers due; Death my desert is,
Here I live, like to a needle 'twixt two Lead-stones,
Paying a trembling reverence to both,
No full Allegiance unto either.
Oh ye individed moities of my soul,
Tear not my heart with your attractive virtues
Thus by piece-meals, divide it gently,
Ye both are victors of my better part already,
My body is not worth your quarrell.

Con.
Nor your heart; we might as well
Quarrell for fortune, she's as constant.

Fla.
But not so lovely.

Con.
Constancy the only beauty is in eyes
That true affection governs, which till Charastus
Gets again, I shall abhor to see him.

Exit.
Fla.
Would I could do so too; But envious Fate
Twharts my desires, and condemns my hate.

Exit.
Cha.
Do I yet live? remain my senses perfect?
Oh I could rave, tear out my traiterous eyes,
Dissect my heart, and rend affection from affection.
Surely I am mad, because I am not mad:
Mad men enjoy their happiness, but we
In having reason know our misery.

Exit.