University of Virginia Library

Scen. I.

Lysander.
Instruct me some kinde Power,
To which I may most Lawfully prove false;
My friend, or Mistress.
But what talk I of Law? as if that faith
Could ere be broke with Justice!
Rather, which
Can my heart suffer to be torn away,
And snatch'd from its own sinews?
Which of them can my soul part with upon easiest tearms?
For thus stands my ambiguous fate, that one
Side of my heart must needs be ript from t'other,
For so these two had fill'd it; one side each:
My share was almost nothing; onely that
Which knit the other two, I cal'd my own.
Friendship, thou art a name, and nothing real,
A meer and empty word, and
Here I quit thee,
Ile not be fetter'd in fantastick chains,
To court Ideas, nothings, and adore
A strange Platonick Cupid. Give me Love,
That has some Life and vigor in it: Love
That shall delight our bloods as well as Fancies.—
But stay: Is this Lysander? No, some Feind,
Some false malicious spirit crept within me,
To poyson all my Faith. Methinks
I am too earthy; and
I feel my clogg'd thoughts groveling
To baseness. O my Theocles!
Pardon me friend; when I forget that name,
May I be miserable; nay I need not wish it, for
'Tis imply'd in that, and I may well
Now save my curse.

(To him a Servant)
Ser.
Sir, here's a Messenger
With commendations from Artemone.

Lys.
That Name again confounds me,
Startles all my Loyal thoughts,
And shakes my yielding Vertue
To a weak coldnesse. Can I part with thee
My Artemone? No; thee Theocles?
O my distracted heart! methinks I feel
The Nerves by several Engines, rack't two wayes,
And almost torn to—

Ser.
—Pray Sir,
What answer shall I return?

Lys.
I had forgot thy business: say I come,— (Ex. Ser.)

Yet sure there might be found a middle path,
Wherein I might observe an equal pace,
Of faith to both. Ile think on't— (Ex. Lysan.)