University of Virginia Library

A Dialogue betweene ARAPHILL and CASTARA.

Araph.
Castara, you too fondly court
The silken peace with which we cover'd are,
Vnquiet time may for his sport,
Vp from its iron den rowse sleepy warre.

Cast.
Then in the language of the drum,
I will instruct my yet afrighted eare,
All woman shall in me be dumbe;
If I but with my Araphill be there?

Araph.
If Fate like an unfaithfull gale,
Which having vow'd to th' ship a faire event,
Oth' sudden rends her hopefull saile;
Blow ruine; will Castara then repent?

Cast.
Love shall in that tempestuous showre
Her brightest blossome like the blacke-thorne show:
Weake friendship prospers by the powre
Of fortunes Sunne. I'le in her winter grow.

Araph.
If on my skin the noysome skar
I should oth' leprosie, or canker weare;
Or if the sulph'rous breath of warre
Should blast my youth; Should I not be thy feare?

Cast.
In flesh may sicknesse horror move,
But heavenly zeale will be by it refin'd,
For then wee'd like two Angels love,
Without a sense; imbrace each others mind.

Araph.
Were it not impious to repine;
'Gainst rigid Fate I should direct my breath.
That two must be, whom heaven did joyne
In such a happy one, disjoyn'd by death.

Cast.
That's no divource. Then shall we see
The rites in life, were tipes o'th marriage state,
Our soules on earth contracted be;
But they in heaven their nuptials consumate.