University of Virginia Library

SCEN 2.

Learchus Florida.
Lear.
Not any thy faire Sisters I haue seene
Pursewing the emboasted Deere this way.

Flo.
Nor any Hound straggling from his Fellow?

Lear.
Madame, not any.

Flo.
Helpe, I prithy now
I drawe the Bucket may refresh mee.

Lear.
God sheild, faire Madame, and my Lodge so nie.
If your Ladiship vouchsafe accept of it
You may Commaund a Cup of Summer Beere.

Flo.
Sir, I thank you, Point me to your Lodge but.

Lear.
The Brick you see.

Flo.
what hast done me? Sirrha,
Hast shutt mee into a kiln new furth.

Lear.
Trewe, Madame, withall behold Learchus
Now stands Triumphing ouer you too.

Flo.
If
Thou hast beguiled mee, Learchus, I
Sewe thou wouldst release mee.

Lear.
Then beshrewe mee.

Flo.
Speake once againe, I pray.

Lear.
Nay in sadnes nay.

Flo.
Giue mee my finall doome.

Lear.
In good sooth Nay.

Flo.
Floride, Ha, then a Plague, I see, was here
In store, for thee, layd long.

Lear.
Ha ha.

Flo.
for wast
Not this Learchus? whom I did that spite
To make him to stand to the chin so long
In yonder Fount? wast not this Learchus?
Whose Loue I spurned with that hate? yes. Then.
Sweet Learchus, by that Loue thou thou hast borne mee,
By all thy Prayers, by all thy Seruices,
By all thy vowes, I adiure thee by all
Thou wouldest but forgiue and pitie mee.

Lear.
No, in Sooth, I say.

Flo.
And why? Learchus.

Lear.
Florida, since thou hadst that Hearte to make
Mee stand so long in wet as with the same
Behold my Sinewes yet be shrunk and numb
And hadst that Hearte to guerdon mee with the
Extremity of a Schornfull dealing
I see no reason why but that thou mayst,
Floride, suffer awhile that mod'rate Kiln
To purifye your carrian corps of filth
And of th'ordure with which it is infect.

Flo.
I haue beene too vnthankfull I confesse,
To guerdon thy seruices, and thy meritt,
And all thy golden dewtyes with that Scoff,
But, Ha, Learchus, Know the Gods forgiue,
As they see cause and Tyme requiring it,
The wayd offences of a Pœnitent,
Then thou, that resemblest them so in shape,
vpon th'Aboundant streams of these watry Founts
shewe some remorse to an afflicted Mayde.

Lear.
If wealth were brought to counteruayle the Sand,
If all that Gold that euer Sea conteynd
Were spewd by force of waues into my bosome,
I would not yet release or pitie you.

Flo.
Is there no hope of my releasement? say,
But lyke vnto a Lembick drop by drop
Shall I consume to Hyle, within this Kiln?

Lear.
Madame, no Remedy, therefore content you.

Flo.
yet allowe mee one drop to coole my Toung.

Lear.
The Fount long since by mee is drunk and gone.

Flo.
Villaine, Rascall, Rogue, Theife, Tyraunt, Butcher.

Lear.
Tis not whot but that you may endure it,
Then with thy clamour make not you it whotter,
For as I see by Tenour of thy Toung
There is no coale so whot as a woman's wrong.

Flo.
O woefull doome to silly mee thrown down.

Lear.
So I leaue thee in thy propper kind
A faire example for all womankind.

Flo.
Florida, since there is no Remedy
Set greife to Hearte, dispaire, lay down to dye.

and