University of Virginia Library

Whereto she thus reply'd; O doe not thou
So wrong thy noble thoughts, as once t'allow
That cursed name a roome, within thy brest,
Let not so foule a prodigy be blest
With thy lost breath; Let it be held a sin
Too great for pardon, e're to name't agen;
Let darknesse hide it in eternall night;
May it be clad with horror, to affright
A desp'rate conscience; He that knowes not how
To mouthe a curse, O let him practise now
Vpon this name; Let him that would contract
The body of all mischiefe, or extract
The quint'ssence of all sorrowes, onely claime
A secret priuiledge to vse that name:
Far be it from thy language, to commit
So soule a sin, as once to mention it:
Liue happy Arg'lus; doe not thou partake
In these my miseries: O forbeare to make
My burthen greater, by thy tender sorrow;
Alas, my heart is strong, and needs not borrow
Thy needlesse helpe: O be not thou so cruell
To feed my flaming fiers, with thy fuell;
Why dost thou sigh? O wherefore should thy heart
Vsurpe my stage, and act Parthenia's part?
It is my proper taske: what dost thou meane,
Without my licence, to intrude my Sceane?
Alas! thy sorrowes ease not my distresse;
God knowes, I weepe not one poore teare the lesse:
My patent's sign'd and past; whereby appeares
That I haue got the Monopoly of teares:
In me, let each mans torment finde an end:
I am that Sea, to which all Riuers tend:
Let all spent mourners, that can weepe no more,
Take teares on trust, and set them on my score.
And as she spake that word, his heart not able
To beare a language so vnsufferable,
But being swolne so big, must either breake
Or vent, his darkned reason grew too weake
T'oppose his quickned passion (like a man
Transported from himselfe) he thus began;