FERDINAND

Oh brother! Thou art too young to reach the depth of grief, That is immured within my hearts deep closet, A thousand sighs keep daily centinel, That beat Like whirlwinds all my comfort back, As many sobs guard my distressed heart, That no relief comes near to aid my soul, Millions of woes Like bans of armed men, Stop up the passage of my sweet relief: And art thou then persuaded that thy words, Can any comfort to my soul afford? No, no, good Frank, deer brother then forbear, Unless with grief in me yowl take a share. Wilt thou not leave me to my self alone? A child, a little little boy thats blind. I, such a boy as thou canst never see, And yet ere long mayest feel his tirranie: He's not visible, yet aims at the heart, Woe be to those that feel his wounding dart; And one of them I am: wounded so deep, That in my passion I no mean can keep: Unhappy time, woe to that dismal hour, When love did wound me with fair Phillis flower: Oh Phillis, Phillis ; of flowers sweetest flower, That ever garnished any princely bower: Farewell, farewell, my woes will never remove, Till I enjoy fair Phillis for my love. Exit. Shall I exclaim gainst fortune and mishap. Or rail on Nature who first framed me? Is it hard chance that keeps me from my love? Or is this heap of loathed deformity, The cause that breeds a blemish in her eye? I know not what to think, or what to say, Only one comfort yet I have in store, Which I will practice though I never try more. I have a brother rival in my love; I have a brother hates me for my love; I have a brother vows to win my love; That brother too, he hath incensed my love, To gain the beauty of my dearest love; What hope remains then to enjoy my love? I have no means of private conference, So narrowly pursues my hinderer, No sooner am I entered the sweet court Of lovely rest, my loves rich mansion, But rival love to my affection Follows me, as a soon inforced straw, The drawing virtue of a sable jeat: This therefore's my determination, Within the close womb of a sealed paper, Will I right down in bloody Characters, The burning zeal of my affection: And by some trusty messenger or other, Convey the same into my loves own hand; So shall I know her resolution, And how she fancies my affection. About affairs that do require some haste. But you would reap the harvest of my pain: Farewell good brother, I must needs be gone, I have serious business now to think upon: Yet for I fear my brother Anthony, I'll step aside and stand a while unseen, I may perchance descry which way he goes; Thus policy must work betwixt friends and foes. Aside. And shall it so, good brother Anthony? Were you so near when we in secret talked? Wilt never be otherwise? will you dog me still? Welcome sweet Frank ; such news I have to tell, As cannot choose but Like thee passing well: Thou knowest my love to Phillis ? Thou likewise art acquainted with my rival, And I do built upon your secrecy. I dare profess as much, and thereupon Make bold to crave thy furtherance, in a thing Concerns me much. Then thus it is; my brother all in haste Is gone, to write a letter to my love, And thinks thereby to cross me in my suit, Sending it by a Porter to her hand; If ever therefore thou wilt aid thy brother, Help me in this, who seeks help from no other. It is enough; then brother I'll provide A Porters habit, alike in every point, Will you but so much humble your estate, To put your self in that so base attire, And Like so mean a person wait his coming, About his door which will not be over long, Thou shalt for ever bind me to thy love. For this isle love thee everlastingly. Here is a Porters habit, on with it brother. This first, that thou make haste to Anthony's, Ask for a burden and thou shall be sure To have his letter to my deer love Phillis, Deliver it not, but keep it to thy self, Till thou hast given this paper to her hands, Whose lines do intimate thy chaste desires. This is the sum of all, good Frank, make haste, Love burns in me, and I in love do waste. Exit. Frank. What hast thou given the letter to her hand, And stayed my brother Anthony's withal? Oh unkind answer to a Lovers letter; Let me survey the end once more: For I never look you in the face but I am sick: and so prai king God to continue me in health, by keeping you from me. Is she so far from yielding? is this fort Of her chaste love yet so impregnable? What shall I do? this is the furthest way, A labour of impossibilities: This way to win her? I will once again, Challenge the promise that her father made me; To him isle write, and he I know will plead My love to Phillis, and so win the maid. Exit. Brother Anthony, what news from Venice ? Are your ships returned? I had rather aside. Hear news from Phillis : O, brother Frank, Thy absence makes me burn in passion. Yonders a friend of mine acquaintance, With whom I would gladly have some conference, I pray thee stay I will return immediately. But two words more at most: You have not then received any such letter? A vengeance take the lazy messenger; Brother if I live, isle quittance thee for this, Yes. I know our business tends to one effect: Oh that villain Frank, it mads my soul I am so wronged, by such a foolish Boy. Well, since I have such opportunity, I'll trust no longer to uncertainty. O sighed intolerable. Frank thou art a villain, thou shalt know't ere long. For proffering me such undeserved wrong. Exit. M. Flower, I come to claim your promise. Sir, sir, I wrote no letter. Y faith good brother have you over reach,worser us so? For all this cunning, I will break the match. Brother you lie, you God her with a shift. That's not so, was I. Thy love. I wish but love. Impatience puls me hence, for this disdain, I am resolved never to love again. Exit. Well brother, you have much importuned me, And for the confidence I have in you, That yowl prove secret, I will now unfold, The load of care that presseth down my soul: Know then good Frank, love is tke cause hereof. Yet this is worse then my suspense before, For then I lived in hope, now hope is fled.