 | Imperiale, a tragedie |  |
Scena prima.
Francisco.Can no advice of freinds? nor mine owne reason
Hold me from strong pursuite of what I finde
Can never be obtaind? am I so stupid
After so many scornes not to desist?
An arrow shot sooner may be recal'd
Then her affection; th'Apenine, the Alpes
Will eas'lier be removed then her Father:
Feed not thy selfe, fond foole, with desperate hopes:
But shall I, arm'd with powerfull love, consult
With timerous discretion? the weake Child
Of feeble age? the towring Eagle may
More eas'ly be confin'd within high walls
Then that wing'd boy, that hover'd over Chaos
What transformations did the Antique Poets
Affirme to have bin wrought on men and Gods
By his sole deity? which Jove himselfe
His frequent sport had found; what guards, what spies,
He hath deceiv'd and forc't; the fiery Bull,
The wakefull dragon, and glaz'd Argus witnes.
Though shee that's truly nam'd Angelica
Should now abhor thy person; love can lend thee
The shape of him she loves; were she averse
From all mankind, if she like any thing
Shee may at length be brought to dote on thee:
But may I not be tax'd of too much sloth?
Neglecting active industry, t'expect
To be assisted by such miracles?
I yet have only trod the beaten path
Of vowed service, friends good will, and Ioynture;
The elder Brothers formall evidence:
I am so farr from practising the art
Of spells and philters, I have quite omitted
Corruption of her confidents and servants:
I am too cheape a lover and too tame,
And hitherto have taught her to deny
By easie asking; I must let her know
What I dare doe: my Father is incens'd
At my repulse, his old suppressed hate
Renewes it selfe; hee'l rather condiscend
To match me with a fury, then with her:
It will be wisdom to decline th'alliance
Of him thy Father counts his enemy:
It would be wretchednesse to make thy love
Depend upon th'affections of another:
He never lov'd that can for any cause
Suspend his love: set then before thine eyes
Valiant Achilles, who acquir'd more honor
By constancie, even to his enemies Daughter,
In spite of th'opposition of his friends,
Then ere he did by Hectors overthrowe.
And let this one day satisfie the losse
Of weekes and monthes; her father keeps a slave
A cunning Affrican, whose very soule
For mony and hope of liberty i'le buy:
Him will I strait imploy; love nere refuses
The basest instruments, if they be usefull,
A drudge may finde more corners in the house
Than ere the master knew; and may discover
A secret inlet to betray a City;
There will i now begin, he shall advise
Where I shall plant my golden batteries.
| Imperiale, a tragedie | |