 | The Combat of Love and Friendship |  |
51
SCEN. 2.
To them Lysander walking silently.Pan.
My dear Lysander,
Th'art opportunely welcome; for no time
Is thought unfit when to enjoy thy presence.
'Tis season at thy very Entrance.
(He walks by.)
Eth.
What? is he grown a Mummer?
Lys.
One of your
Making Lady.
Eth.
'Troth then you have forgot your vizard Sir,
My Maid shall fetch a mask.
Lys.
No Lady, I can be content for once
To look upon you through one pair of eyes.
Pan.
Come, do not thus revenge your self.
(still he walks by.)
Eth.
What? is Lysander come yet?
Lys.
Yes, and with him the neglect you taught him.
Eth.
Troth Sir,
I'de forgot the Mask, and was thinking to have
Sent for your self.
Lys.
Prithee good Lady send: faith not worth a servant.
Eth.
I have one Sir ready at call. Eudora.
To them Eudora.
Eud.
Madam.
Eth.
Go call Lysander hither.
Eud.
I go Madam. Lysander! Does not your Ladiship
mean Theocles?
Eth.
I tell thee Girle Lysander.
Eud.
Madam hee's there before you.
Eth.
O I cry thee mercy, are you the man? well, leave us.
Ex. Eud.
Lys.
I was once, and there are some here could wish
I were so still.
Pan.
There is indeed Lysander.
(he walks by.)
Still slighted? what a strange rage tears my divided breast?
See Sister, what a Monster your disdain hath
52
Prithee calm him, and yeeld a little, I know
'Tis thy neglect to his friend Theocles,
That robs him thus of his Civility.
Eth.
I will endeavour.
Pray Sir, from whence rise these strange
Postures?
Lys.
You may inform your self.
Eth.
My Ignorance will not
Admit of a conjecture.
Lys.
Know then,
It is your cruelty to that best of men,
The faithful Theocles.
Eth.
This is stranger yet;
Suppose that true, yet how can this excuse
The sullennesse of your Temper?
Lys.
Thus;
You know my vowes are past so to regard
Panareta, as you do Theocles,
To whom your disrespect does bind my Faith
To shew her this disguis'd behaviour:
'Tis you, her Sister, wrongs her.
Eth.
I know not, but methinks I feel
Some yeelding passions; if there be a name
Next under Love, That, he hath won already,
I bear some good will towards Theocles.
Lys.
If you expect no more from me, that task
Is soon perform'd: I bear some good will too
Towards Panareta.
Pan.
'Las, that's a bounty
You have still granted me without a Suit;
I aym at somewhat higher.
Lys.
Pardon Lady,
My vow that keeps me off.
Pan.
Prithee Ethusa
Grow nearer in thy love to Theocles.
'Tis one advantage yet, since 'tis my Fate
To wooe, to beg help through a Sisters love.
53
Lysander then I challenge all your vow;
That you affect constant Panareta, since
I now begin to honour Theocles.
Lys.
Then vanish hence all roughnesse; fairest Lady,
I now professe my self what I was forc'd to hide,
My self your humblest Creature.
Pan.
Blessed change:
'Tis Musick all thou speak'st: this late disorder
Heightens my joy: thus we owe thanks toth' cloud
That robs us of our Sun, that after he
May shew a face more washt and clean.
Lys.
But yet
I must needs grant there are some trifling vowes
Made to another love, fair Artemone,
Which I would fain forget.
Pan.
But dare you then
If she send back those vowes, and remit all
Your kinder promises; if she renounce
And slight your former love, dare you then place
Those vowes on me.
Lys.
By all the faith of oathes
Then I will love none but Panareta.
Pan.
Fixt in this confidence, I will no more
Be troubled with this torment Jealously.
Lys.
Nor shall you find just cause: you freely now
Dare trust my absence; There's a Passion burns
Strugling within my breast, which checks my love,
And tells me, I delay the news too long,
For want of which my Theocles doth languish.
Eth.
Confirm him strongly in my affection,
Leave him no scruple unresolv'd; tell him
I languish too, and shall expect his Visit.
Lys.
Worthy Madam thanks for these brave employments
(Ex. Lys.)
Pan.
I owe these joyes all unto Thee; nor yet
Shall I appear ungrateful, since I have us'd
No other means for my own happinesse,
But what may prove the readiest way to thine:
54
Is like a vertuous Deed, it's own reward—
| The Combat of Love and Friendship | |