 | The Tragedy of Ovid |  |
Scena Secunda.
Enter Bassanes, and Marullus.Mar.
If you would give me leave (as your known Friend)
Whom you have long grac'd with your Amity)
To tell you freely my Opinion,
And no offence, take it. I should tell you
(My Lord Bassanes) I conceive you have
Been much too rash in your proceedings.
Bassa.
How?
If such a thought you harbour of my Actions,
I needs must tell Marullus, that he thinks me
Guilty of my Wife's blood: Do not imagine
Your Friend aspers'd with such a Crime. She was
A Gallant Pallace (to do her beauty right)
Where all the Devils of Lust inhabited.
Mar.
I cannot tell, but if one might give Credit
To her so often serious Protestations,
And to her vowes utter'd with her last breath,
110
Bassa.
They that dare play
So foul a Game value not what they say.
Enter Caralinda, and Philocles.
What Lady's that?
Mar.
I never saw her before.
Bassa.
She is a miracle of such Hansomness;
She can no other be but Venus self.
Philo.
Yonder's the Murtherer of my Lord Pyrontus,
And the base user of the best of Women.
My Blood is all on fire at this Encounter,
My Hilt seems Loadstone, and my hand of Iron;
I cannot keep it longer from my Sword.
(A suddain vengeance he deserves), which shall
Fall on him. At this present I'le revenge
The Slaughter of my Friend, and the sad death,
Of his so barbarously abus'd Clorina.
Cara.
Dear Philocles forbear. I do conjure you,
By all the Love you bore unto Pyrontus:
Suppress your Anger for a While; yet know
I wish him but a short Reprieve, and hate him
As much as you. He at a fitter Time
May find his Destiny. Let it not be said
He dy'd it'h presence of a tender mind.
Philo.
I must obey you, Madam!
111
She is an object so extreamly ravishing,
I must speak to her.
Mar.
I had thought you had
Done with that Sex for ever.
Bassa.
I resolv'd so,
But Beauty such a Potent Charm is known;
Strongst Resolutions It hath overthrown.
Haile Female goddess, or if (of woman kind)
Haile! rich Epitome of all the Beauty,
That ever yet in severall women Nature
Reveal'd to human eyes!
Cara.
Good Philocles!
Draw back a little. I would find to what
His fine words aime; And he will be more sparing,
(If y' are too near us) to express himself.
Philo.
I will retire a litle. But beware
His flatteries win not on your heart.
Cara.
I warrant you.
Bassa.
My Friend Marullus, I beseech you walk
Aside.
Mar.
I shall, my Lord, obey you.
Good day to Philocles! Pray shun me not:
For I am much afflicted at the Tragedies
Bassanes Rage, and Jealousy have acted;
I had no hand in them, and could I have
Prevented them, they had not been perform'd.
Cara.
You both provoke my wonder, and my blushes,
112
You never saw before!
Philo.
Marullus he hath done such horrid Acts,
The gods can never punish him enough.
Bassa.
It doth become your Beauty, to work such wonders.
Madam! I am one of the chiefest Persons
Of all this Province, and have an heart to love you,
Above the expressions of a Thousand Tongues.
Cara.
Your name (Sir) I beseech you.
Bassa.
'Tis Bassanes.
Cara.
What he that (through his Jealousy, and fury)
Murther'd Pyrontus, and his innocent Wife?
Bassa.
You have been misinform'd. He did deserve
The Fate he found: And her shame broke her heart.
I am the same Bassanes but not guilty
Of any Crime. They in their deaths found Justice.
Cara.
Iv'e heard too much of them already.
But how
Can you so fresh a widdower so soon,
Give Entertainment to a second Flame?
Bassa.
Your Beauty that can work such Miracles
Is a sufficient reason.
Cara.
I may prove
113
Should I become your wife.
Bassa.
It is impossible
You are an Heaven where all the virtues meet,
And therefore cannot be inconstant to
Your Wedlock-vowes.
Cara.
I merit not (Bassanes)
This favour at your hands. If I e're wed,
It shal be unto one of my own Country.
Bassa.
Within a Body form'd to all Perfection
That ever liberall Nature, and the gods
Could, can, or ever shall make up (fair stranger),
Give not an Entertainment to Contempt
Of yuor enslav'd Bassanes, neither in'it
Lodge thoughts disdainfull, nor an heart of Flint.
Cara.
'Tis an Astonishment in me to hear you,
To make so passionate discourse to me.
Even One whose name you neither know, nor Fortune:
I may be poor, and vitious.
Bassa.
Nothing but Virtue
Can in a body so Beautifull inhabite.
Vice dares not so presumtious be, as t'enter
Under so fair a Roof: And y' are so rich
In Beauty, that I with more joy should marry you,
114
Cara.
You court me now indeed. I have some business
Of such Concern, that at this time no longer
I can stay with you.
Bassa.
But must you needs be gon?
Cara.
I must, in trueth.
Bassa.
When shall I then receive
So great a blessing as t'enjoy a second time
Your Coveted Company?
Cara.
Within this half hower,
I'le meet you here again.
Bassa.
Y' ave rais'd me to
A joy as great, as Jove himself can know.
Cara.
Come generous Philocles. I will impart
Our Parley freely to you, and acquaint you
With the whole Cause, why I entreated you
To stifle your Revenge, and to retard
His death. You shal know al my secret thoughts.
Philo.
Sweet Caralinda, you obliege me much
I shall attend you any where.
Exeunt Caralinda, and Philocles.
Bassa.
Marullus!
Cupid hath pointed all his shafts, with the
Fair beams of this bright Lady's eies. I am
Become enamour'd on her to that height
That I must marry her, or I shall dye.
115
The Heavens forbid.
Bassa.
Nay rather, friend, may all the gods vouchsafe it.
Mar.
You know not what she is, she may be much
Unworthy of such Nuptialls;
Resist betimes, Physick too late is took
When sickness (through delay) is fix'd at th'root.
Mar.
Surely she can
No other be, but Ovids kins-woman;
Who (we have heard) so lately came to Tomos;
I will presume her, then, of noble Birth.
That excellent Poet is my worthy Friend:
And I may hope will easily be won,
T'assist me to attain her to my wife.
Me thinks he should be glad to have his Cosin
Well Matched here; To be fix'd a constant comfort
Both to his Age, and Grief for his Exilement.
Mar.
May the just Powers Divine, turn all to th'best.
Bass.
If I obtain her to become my Wife,
An Heaven on Earth, I shall enjoy this Life.
Exeunt.
| The Tragedy of Ovid | |