THAMASTA

What would you have me do? Then you conclude me proud. You are bitter; And brother, by your leave, not kindly wise. My freedom is my births, I am not bound To fancy your approvements, but my own. Indeed you are and humble youth, I hear of Your visits, and your loving commendation To your hearts Saint, Cleophila, a Virgin Of a rare excellence: what though she want A portion to maintain a portly greatness? Yet 'tis your gracious sweetness to descend So low, the meekness of your pity leads ye. She is your deer friends Sister, a good soul, And Innocent. I have given Your Menaphon a welcome home as fits me; For his sake entertained Parthenophill, The handsome Stranger, more familiarly Then (I may fear) becomes me; yet for his partly, I not repent my courtesies, but you— I pity The youth, and trust me (brother) love his sadness: He talks the prettiest stories, he delivers His tales so gracefully, that I cooed fit And listen, nay forget my meals and sleep, To hear his neat discourses. Menaphon Was well advised in choosing such a friend, For pleading his true love. I fear I shall. Your eye (Sir) Hath in your travails, often met contents Of more variety. What you mean by helps of Art, You know your self best, be they as they are: You needs none I am sure to set me forth. For your reward, Henceforth I'll call you Servant. Are you well, Sir? You speak ingeniously. Brother, he pleased to show the Gallery To this young stranger, use the time a while, And we will altogether to the Court. I will present ye (Sir) unto the Prince. Kala, Oh Kala, We are private, thou art my Closet. Never till now, Cooed I be sensible of being traitor To honour and to shame. I am grown base— Parthenophill — If ever I must fallen, In him my greatness Sinks. Love is a Tyrant Resisted; whisper in his ear, how gladly I would steal time, to talk with him one hour; But do it honourably; preth'ee Kala Do not betray me. I hope thou art not Kala. Pray use me kindly; let me not too soon Be lost in my new folly's. 'Tis a Fate That overrules our wisdoms, whilst we strive To live most free, wee'r caught in our own toils. Diamonds cut Diamonds: they who will prove To thrive in cunning, must cure love with love. Your Highness shall do right to your own judgement, In taking more then common notice of This stranger, and Athenian, named Parthenophill. One, (whom if mine opinion do not sooth me Too grossly) for the fashion of his mind, Deserves a deer respect. It was the newest, sweetest, prettiest accident, That ere delighted your attention. I can discourse it, Sir. Parthenophill. You must not wonder at it. Well, soon I shall expect ye.— Kala? Do I break off your Parley That you are parting? Sure my woman loves you. Can she speak well, Parthenophill? Indeed. But say a Nobler Love should interpose? Come hither. If ever henceforth I desire to thrive In woman's favours, Kala is the first Whom my ambition shall bend to—'twas so. These very words Curse thee, unfaithful creature, to thy graven: Thou wouldst him for thy self? My name was never mentioned! Not come to that? Art thou a Rival fit to cross my Fate? Now poverty and a dishonest fame, The waiting-woman's wages, be thy payment. False, faithless, wanton beast, I'll spoil your carriage; There's not a Page, a Groom, nay, not a Citizen That shall be cast upon ye. Kala, I'll keep thee in my servi all thy life time, Without hope of a husband or a suitor. Parthenophill shall know, if he respect My birth, the danger of a found neglect. Forbear the room. Whosoever requires access to me, deny him entrance till I call thee, and wait without. I expose The Honour of my Birth, my Fame, my Youth, To hazard of much hard construction, In seeking and adventure of a parley So private with a Stranger; if your thoughts Censure me not with mercy, you may soon Conceive, I have laid by that modesty, Which should preserve a virtuous name unstained. The constant Loadstone, and the Steel are found In several Mines: yet is there such a league Between these Minerals, as if one Vein Of earth had nourished both. The gentle Myrtle Is not ingraft upon and Olives stock: Yet nature hath between them locked a secret Of Sympathy, that being planted near, They will both in their branches, and their roots Embrace each other; twines of Ivy round The well grown Oak; the Vine does court the Elm; Yet these are different Plants. Parthenophill, Consider this aright, then these sleight creatures, Will fortify the reasons I should frame For that ungrounded (as thou thinkest) affection, Which is submitted to a strangers pity. True love may blush, when shame repents too late, But in all actions Nature yields to Fate. I am a Princess, And know no law of slavery, to sue, Yet be denied? Thou art unwise, young man, To enrage a Lioness. Remember well who I am, and what thou art. The Youth is idle. Go where thou wilt, I'll be and exile with thee, I will learn To bear all change of Fortune's. For thy love, Hardhearted youth, I here renounce all thoughts Of other Hope's, of other entertainments,— When the proffers of other greatness— When intreats of friends;— Respect of kindred; Loss of Fame; Shall infringe my vows, let Heaven— Thy love, why 'tis a Charm to stop a vow In its most violent course. This is mere trifling. Are you not mankind then? Pray conceal the errors of my passion. It will be A hard task for my Reason, to relinquish The affection which was once devoted thine, I shall a while repute thee still the youth I loved so dearly. Oh the powers Who do direct our hearts, laugh at our follies! We must not partly yet. I shall henceforth Be jealous of thy company with any; My fears are strong and many. For what? Prithee servant. Come, you are angry. How dare you talk to me thus? If commands be of no force, Let me entreat thee, Menaphon. Parthenophill, I will not trust you from me. Am I your mirth? You are turned Satire. This is mere railing. Lust? A Wanton? If ( Menaphon, ) I hitherto have strove; To keep a wary guard about my fame; If I have used a woman's skill to sift The constancy of your protested love; You cannot in the Justice of your judgement, Impute that to a Coyness, or neglect, Which my discretion and your service aimed For noble purposes. Now I perceive the league of Amity, Which you have long between ye, vowed and kept, I S cred and inviolable, secrets Of e ery nature are in common t'ee: I have trespassed, and I have been faulty: Let not too rude a Censure doom me guilty, Or judge my error wilful without pardon. Gone! I am sure awaked. Kala I find, You have not been so trusty as the duty You owed, required. Be no matter what. I'm paid in mine own Coin; something I must, And speedily—so,—seek out Cuculus Bid him attend me instantly. Wounds may be mortal, which are wounds indeed: " But no wounds deadly, till our Honours bleed. Exeunt. Let me embrace thee with a Sisters love, A Sisters love, Cleophila: for should My Brother henceforth study to forget The vows that he hath made thee, I would ever Solicit thy deserts. Must? Who are they say, must? you are un mannerly. Brother is't you, and you too, Sir? You may both believe that I was not uncivil. The errors of my mistaken judgement being lost, To your remembrance, I shall ever strive In my obedience to deserve your pity. Thou hast a moving eloquence; Parthenophill, Parthenophill, in vain we strive to cross The destiny that guides us. My great heart Is stooped so much beneath that wonted pride That first disguised it, that I now prefer A miserable life with thee, before All other earthly comforts. Servant, I have employment for ye. Chide not the grossness of my trespass (lovely Sweetness) In such and humble language, I have smarted Already in the wounds, my pride hath made Upon thy sufferings. Henceforth 'tis in you To work my happiness. I have one task in charge first, which concerns me. Brother, be not more cruel then this Lady, She hath forgiven my follies, so may you: Her youth, her beauty, innocence, discretion, Without additions of estate or birth, Are dower for a Prince indeed. You loved her; For sure you swore you did: else if you did not Here fix your heart, and thus resolve, if now You miss this Heaven on earth, you cannot find In any other choice ought but a hell. Pelias, take hence the wag and school him for't. For your partly, servant, I'll entreat the Prince To grant you some fit place about his Wardrobe.