 | The Tragedy of Tancred and Gismund |  |
Scæna. 1.
Gismund.Deare Aunt, my sole companion in distresse,
And true copartner of my thoughtfull cares:
When with my selfe, I way my present state,
Comparing it with my forepassed daies,
New heapes of cares, afresh beginne t'assay
My pensiue heart: as when the glittering raies,
Of bright Phœbus, are sodainely ore-spred,
With duskie clouds, that dim his golden light,
Namely, when I, laid in my widowes bed,
Amid the silence, of the quiet night,
With curious thought, the fleeting course obserue,
Of gladsome youth: how soone his flower decaies.
“How time once past, may neuer haue recourse,
“No more then may the running streames reuert,
“To climbe the hilles, when they bin rowled down
“The hollow vales, there is no curious art,
“Nor worldlie power, no not the gods can hold
“The sway of flying time, nor him returne
“When he is past: all things vnto his might
“Must bend, and yeeld, vnto the Iron teeth
“Of eating time: this in the shedy night,
When I record, how soone my youth withdrawes
It selfe away, how swift my pleasaunt spring
Runnes out his race, this this (Aunt) is the cause.
When I aduise me sadlie on this thing,
That makes my heart, in pensiue dumps dismaid.
For if I should, my springing yeares neglect.
And suffer youth, fruitles to fade away:
Whereto liue I? or whereto was I borne?
Why haue I tasted the delights of loue?
And felt the sweets of Hymeneus bed?
But to say sooth (deare Aunt) it is not I
Sole and alone, can thus content to spend
My chearefull yeares: my father will not still
Prolong my mournings, which haue grieued him,
And pleased me too long. Then this I craue,
To be resolued of his princelie minde.
For, stoode it with the pleasure of his will
To marrie me, my fortune is not such,
So hard, that I so long should still persist
Makelesse alone in wofull widowhood,
And shall I tell mine Aunt? come hether then,
Geue me that hand, by thine owne right hand,
I charge thy heart my councels to conceale.
Late haue I seene, and seeing, tooke delight,
And with delight, I will not say, I loue,
A Prince, an Earle, a Countie in the Court.
But loue and duetie force me to refraine,
And driue away these fond affections,
Submitting them vnto my fathers hest.
But this (good Aunt) this is my chiefest paine,
Because I stand at such vncertaine stay.
For if my kinglie father would decree
His finall doome, that I must leade my life
Such as I doe, I would content me then
To frame my fancies to his princely heast,
And as I might, endure the greefe thereof.
But now his silence doubleth all my doubts,
Whilest my suspitious thoughts twixt hope & feare,
Distract me into sundrie passions.
To vnderstand my fathers will herein:
For wel I know your wisdome knowes the meanes,
So shall you both allay my stormie thoughts,
And bring to quiet my vnquiet mind.
Luc.
Sufficeth this (good Neece) that you haue said,
For I perceiue what sundrie passions
Striue in your brest, which oftentimes ere this
Your countenance confused did bewray,
The ground whereof since I perceiue to grow
On iust respect of this your sole estate,
And skilfull care of fleeting youths decay,
Your wise foresight such sorrowing to eschew
I much commend, and promise as I may
To breake this matter, and impart your mind,
Vnto your father, and to worke it so,
As both your honor shal not be impeacht,
Nor he vnsatisfied of your desire.
Be you no farther greeued, but returne
Into your chamber. I shall take this charge,
And you shall shortlie truely vnderstand
What I haue wrought, and what the king affirmes.
I leaue you to the fortune of my starres.
Gis. departeth into her chamber, Luc. abiding on the stage.
Luc.
The heauens I hope will fauour your request.
My Neece shall not impute the cause to be
In my default, her will should want effect:
But in the king is all my doubt, least he
My suite for her new mariage should reiect.
Yet shall I proue him: and I heard it said,
He meanes this euening in the parke to hunt,
Here will I wait attending his approach.
| The Tragedy of Tancred and Gismund | |