COSMA

Olinda I should weep, And spend the short'nd breath that fate affords me, In cursing fate which makes my breath so short. No: reason is never senseless. I can but smile to think how foolish wise Those women are, that choose their loves for wisdom. Wisdom in men's a golden chain to tie Poor women in a glorious slavery. Found men, that blame the love that ever ranges To foul and sluttish love, that never changes. The Muses love by course, to change their meeter, Love is Like linen often changed, the sweeter. Our beauty is our good, the cause of love: Found that their good toth' best will not improve; What Husbandman neglects his time of sowing? What fisher loses winds, now fairly blowing? Beauty our good: ah good, ah short and bri tle, A little little good, for time as little, How easy dost thou slide, and pass away? Unborn, full grown, and buried in a day. Thy spring is short, and if thou now refuse it, 'Tis gone, when feign thou wouldst, thou shalt not use it. The time and every minute daily spends thee. Spend thou the time, while time fit leisure lends thee. Now since Conchylio spoke of this Armillus, My new found lover, I half long to try him: Too cruel she that makes her hearts contenting, To see a heart languish in loves tormenting. What though i't ' night we live most wantonly? In the morn with clothes we put on modesty. Thus though we sport, and wanton all the night Next sum ne isle act a partly of fear and fright. Long have I hated Olinda, and Glaucilla, And one of them by this hath drunk her la , The next shall follow ere the next day's passed. The gin is laid, and if it hit aright, This is her last, this her eternal night. Perindu long I have long loved, who ever scorned me, Because he loves Glaucilla ; I know he'll grieve: But when the tempest once is overblown, Hoist up all sails; the prize is sure mine own. Ill for a woman is that woman placed, Who Like old Janus, is not double faced. Now to Armillus who sure expects me. How dark the night? more fit for Lovers play. The darkest night is lovers brightest day. Exit Cosma. Women that to one man their passion bind, As this man alters, so alters still their mind: Thus ever change they, as those changing fairs, And with their lovers still their love impairs: But I, when once my lovers change their graces, Affect the same, though now in other faces: Thus now my mind is firm, and constant proved, Seeing I ever love, what first I loved. Who blames the speedy heaven, for ever ranging? Love's fiery, winged, light, and therefore changing. If I could scold, sir you might be chidden, For coming to my thoughts before you're bidden. The fire so lately applied, so lately framed? Me thinks, green wood should not be yet inflamed. Is't worth the gathering? is it pleasing tasted? Help ho. Armillus. Sure thou hast done some cruel murder, And the vnexplate ghost thus haunts thee. Beshrew your heart for thus affrighting me. I cannot well deny thee, it's thy right: Thou well hast purchased it, this be thy right. Fain would I know how my gin e thrives and pros pers. Ol nda is fast, and by my disamour hath quenched her love with death: if now Glaucilla be taken in that snare, then am I cunning: well may I prove a fisher, who have took too maids so soon with one self bait and hook. Is not that Nomicus ? I shall learn of him. Nomicus ? Why are these fishers bound? For me? What talks this fool? Perindus fallen from the rock! No, not a word; but feign would hear. This was no ill news to the Nymph. Their spotless faith's a crystal, where I see Too late my cankered would es deformity. Just, joust, you heavens, I have set a gin For them, and now my self the first am in. Is he then dead? Oh lawless love! this soul offence, Which when it prosperd, pleased my ravished sense: With what a dry aspect, what horrid sighed, Now done, to fills my oule with guilty fright, Who ere thou art, if in to y spotless breast, Thy undefiled thoughts do quiet rest: Wake them not, and let no bloodhound with thee dwell, These murdering thoughts are Like the mouth of hell, Into whose yawning it's more easy never To fallen, then fallen, to cease from falling ever. Now is the time of pardon. You happy maids, Your love in spite of all tempestuous seas, Is safe arrived, and harbors in his ease, And all those storms have God but this at last, To sweeten present joys with sorrows passed. Blessed Olinda, thou hast God a love Equal to heaven, and next to highest Jove. Glaucilla, thy lose thou now dost full recover. Ah you have found (too seldom found) a lover. Then do not her too rigorously reprove, For loving those whom you yet better love. This charm begins to work already, I love this fool, and dote upon him more, Then ever upon any man before: Well, I must be content thus to be cursed And yet of lovers, fools are not the worst. For howsoever boys do hoot and flout them, The best and wisest oft have fools about them. What, in the morning? Thou art a fool indeed, seest not the sun? Content; no time unfit for play, Love knows no difference betwixt night and day. P sh, thou art foolish, did I ever bind thee to me Only? why shouldst thou then confine me To thy sole passion? so oft before You men have changed, that you can change no more: From bade to worse, from worse, to worst of all: There lie you now, and can no lower fallen: And as you wished that we should never rove, We pray as fast, that you at length could move. Cease then for shame to rail at women's ranging: When men begin, women will leave their changing. Farewell. I love not lightning: lightning love that flashes Before't be all on fire, will be all ashes. If I rid you both of this fear will you worship m e.