 | Love's Labyrinth |  |
Scæn. 3.
Sam.My life hath hitherto been chequer'd with
Varietie of fortunes; sometimes with
A white of happiness, and then a black
Of miserie; thus loves bright day of mirth,
Is follow'd with a darker night of woe.
How fair of late my fortune seem'd to be,
And now, alas! o're-cast with blackest clouds
Of discontents, wherein I labour with
Important suits, I cannot, may not grant.
No, no, my Melecertus, I am firm
To thee, nor shall the rain of tears,
Or winds of threats remove me from thy love.
Be thou but constant, nay, I know thou art,
64
As once to doubt thou canst be otherwise.
Enter Plusidippus.
Plu.
You're from your shepherds now, or their defence,
Presume not they can rescue you, 'tis past
Their skill or power, to force you from mine arms.
Sam.
Alas, fond boy! I scorn thy threats, as much
As I hate thee, or slight thy boasted strength.
Were but my Melecertus here, he would
Whip thy rudeness into better manners.
Plu.
'Tis well you are a woman (not a man,)
And have no other weapon but your tongue,
Which you are priviledg'd to use, and we
To laugh at. But in short, if you'l accept
My love and service, then shall you be safe,
And happy: Souldiers cannot talk, but with
Their swords, and then they strike gain-sayers dumb.
Sam.
All this is nothing; for your words, nor swords
Shall not remove me from my dearest friend,
He hath my heart, and I have nothing left
But hate, if you'l accept of that, 'tis all
That I can give, or you receive from me.
Plu.
You must be dealt with as we use to do
With sullen birds, I'll shut you up, and then
Perhaps you'l sing another note, you are
Not yet in tune, you are too high for me,
But I will take you lower. I will plough
Your heart with grief, and then (perhaps) it will
Better receive the seed of my true love.
Sam.
Sooner the turtle shall forget her mate,
Than I my Melecertus; and when I
Can't see him with mine eys, my mind shall rove,
Wing'd with desire, throughout the spacious world,
65
And though our bodies never meet, our souls
Shall joyn, and love each other after death.
Thus is true love immortal, and shall never
Die, but with our souls shall live for ever.
Plu.
Shepherd, who e're thou art, I cannot chuse
But envie thee thy happiness, who hast
So true a love: I cannot but admire
This noble soul and love her, though she hate
Me for't; I'll treat her civilly, and if
I can't obtain her for a wife, she shall
My goddess be, and I'll adore her name,
Though at a distance. Lady, will you walk?
Exeunt.
| Love's Labyrinth | |