 | The Bride |  |
The fifth Scene
To them Father, Mother, Raven, Bride, and maides attending her.Good.
My Bride come?
The welcom'st guest that ever blest this roof.
Fat.
Joy Crown yee both.
May your wish be prophetick.
But why is she so sad?
Moth.
'Tis onely custome.
Maides have their feares which by degrees must leave them.
M. Fe.
May shee make him a happy wife; and prove obedient
from my example.
Good.
Salute my Bride sonne: shee should be thy joy
As well as mine.
The.
I better shall expresse
Her entertainment in my pious wishes,
Then any complement I will be ready
To pay you my best duty.
Goodlove and Raven whisper.
Bride,
Love you meane sir;
Give it no other name, might I own that
And call it my possession, soone this melancholy
Should leave it's mansion, and a Brides full joy
Inhabit here. You surely do repine;
And it may be this act begets your feare
Of being dispossest a fathers love.
Which he must now in some proportion
Confer on me.
The.
Let me with reverence sweare
Offers to kisse her hand
By this white hand—
Bride,
Let me prevent your oath;
Or sweare by another book. Perhaps 'twill be
The last warme kisse my lips shall ever feel.
kisse.
I do beleeve you love me.
weeps.
The.
How shall I
Interpret this? how hard she claspt my hand,
And prest my lips? as wishing their conjunction
Might be eternall. Teares with her last words fell:
And in their silent oratory taught me
To know my selfe more wretched by the knowledge
Of what should make me happy.
Good.
Can this be?
Rav.
It hath both possibility and circumstance
To make it probable. Good sir observe
Their discontents: how they do sympathize,
An oportunity; Ile be the spy:
And cal you to their billing.
Good.
'Tis well counsail'd
If 't please you Gentlemen I have within
Some rarities, whose fight shall be your businesse
'Till we are ready. Sweet you shall forbeare them
'Till you are made their Mistresse.
Exeunt.
Rav.
Whether will you go?
Theo. offers to follow.
Wast not my plot to get this liberty
That you might put your purpose into act
If you have any? Why do you delay it?
You see shee's willing; I prepar'd her to it.
The.
Willing to what good Cousin?
Rav.
To be your Bride.
Bride.
My blushes speak consent: then if you please
Prevent prevention. My desires were never
Setled on any other, though I durst not
Reveale my passions aw'd by feminine custome,
And my strict parents eyes. If you'l receive me,
The desperate state of my crosse fortune armes me
To any enterprise you'l be my guide in
The.
I shall be tempted to neglect that duty
I would not rashly violate, to possesse
All that my wish can covet.
Rav.
You may hereafter
Discourse your loves. Play not away th'occasion.
Her's the key of the back gate: take water presently, and away
to the—whispers—I'le follow, get ye a Licence and see
all dispacht, Feare not persuit: that I'le hinder.
So, the foundations layd on which I'le bulid
My selfe a fortune, and with better safety
Then making him away: Yet he must not marry her.
That were t'enable him if my villany
Should be discovered to revenge and punish it.
| The Bride | |