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Scen. 2.
To them Bellerrio.Bel.
My onely thoughts, thou art my Diamond that
I dayly wear, and when my eye is cast
Upon its splendor, its turn'd a mint of gold;
When crystal beauty ushers in her train,
And Ruby colour fetcht from the Indian mine,
Doth act their quarrels in a lovely face,
Whose cheeks are Roses, brow a comely mace,
So Paris joy'd, when he fetch't Helen home;
So Ulysses joy'd, to see his sweet hearts loom;
So Hippomenes joy'd, when he the Apples got;
So Æneas joy'd, when saved, it was his lot,
So, and beyond all that, rejoyced he,
(Except your selfe) obtain'd by a decree, the fairest of your sex;
Nay, these are nought, in thought but vain deceits,
Mine is the substance, these are onely baits,
Not in the least, derived from a name;
Mine's pure and perfect, their's is void of shame.
Nought can by artificiall art be brought unto,
More decent then pure Lerenica's hieu.
'Tis you, 'tis you, your sex I honour still,
Hath free beatitude, content and life.
All things what else, that is then void of strife,
I will endure for to maintain the cause
Of your brave sex, and Champion in the Laws,
That concerns you and yours, who perfect is,
Sole happinesse, a thing beyond all blisse,
Let me imbrace your will.
Lere.
Illustrious Duke, it were an injury
Inforc'd by me, and I should by liberall
Freedom violate the means of your true amity,
Not concluding with a favourite, the
Purpose was my own decree, you did
Display their flames so in their ardency
Of generous contemplations, that
In circumference of its boundlesse hope,
No room was left for me to expresse
My selfe in equall ballance poysed your worth,
But with a back-recalling sound of love,
Made a retreat not worthy of the same,
And with cherishing thoughts that pleasure
Might be fill'd, and no disliking taste rise
From its stench, you for to term me
Most unworthy of such bright enterprises.
Bel.
Alass your answer is indisposed now,
Do but resolve me how it would become
A Peasant to deny a Prince, a martial man;
Women fine smiling shews, surely I should
Condemn my self as guilty, one stupifi'd by art,
If that I should think so; come come,
Your words doth not diminish, but give aid
To my dull hopes of a brave Victory.
Hist.
Madam if leave may have so much freedom, hear
This time, to help the case, give me a word,
A Dialogue is good, when there's three persons;
The Duke speaks fair, not sending his words
As if they dealt more cruell by sighs and
Sieges, more tempestuous than storming
Neptune's blast; Or as if he intended
Batteries against your beauties favour.
But with a comely grace, understood of
Brave decorum, it would pierce an Adamant,
Make restless motions, calme, serene and clear,
And in stern looks where fury hath before
Took potent place, 'twould quickly extinguish all.
Lere.
No want here is of foul conspiracy,
A problem sure, and that invisible too
Contain'd therein, no new found art can be
By stars or reason, or interpreter,
So quick-sighted in the way of these strange
Politick notes; to lay it open, or
Divulge the same, it must be silence with
Perseverance thereof, who is the spouse
Of long-sought mysterie, reveal this same;
How can it be that you should both joyn in
The same broad channel of deliverance?
As if slit-looks should reason so the case,
To be nunciate betwixt their tongues,
Histerica keep silent in these hours,
Bellerrio I'me not worthy to be yours.
Bel.
What still perswaded so, you transform it,
And where you think conspiracy to be,
It is not so, but the Oracles means,
Delivered to our ears, the cause is right,
Come bring no criticall point, no posture of
Confusion to my maladies, be more mild,
You deserve all, I single you from th'rest,
Because an Angell, and a Virgin blest.
Exeunt.
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