PANTHEA

I would my heart Were stone, before my softness should be urged Against my Mother, a more troubled thought No Virgin bears about her; should I excuse My Mother's fault, I should let light a life, In losing which, a brother and a King Were taken from me; If I seek to save That life so loved, I lose another life That gave me being, I shall lose a Mother, A word of such a found in a child's ear, That it strikes reverence through it: May the will Of Heaven be done, and if one needs must fallen, Take a poor Virgins life to answer all. I will not open mine till do know My brother's health; good Captain is he well? But howes that, is he hurt? I do not ask how strange that Soldier is That gets no hurt; but whither he have one? And is he well again? I do not care how thou dost, is he well? Why, I will care, I am glad that thou art well; I prithee is he so? My prayers are herd; now I will open mine. I prithee do, And if my brother were in any danger, Let not thy tale make him abide there long, Before thou bring him off; for all that while My heart will beat. I, I prithee leave it, and go on with my brother. Alas. All this is of thy self, I prithee Bessus Tell something of my brother, did he nothing? See, for his own partly. Still of himself. He slips over all the fight. I will hear no more. I tell thee, I will hear no further. I will not wish it: what is this the Lady My Brother writes to me to take? You're welcome from your Country, and this Land Shall show unto you all the kindnesses That I can make it; what's your name? Y are very welcome, you have God a letter To put you to me, that has power enough To place mine Enemy here; then much more you, That are so far from being so to me, That you never saw me. Good Bacurius: Oh my Lord, The kindest words, I'll keep um while I live Here in my bosom; theres no art in um, They lie disordered in this paper, Just As hearty Nature speaks um. My Lord, no Maid longs more for any thing, or feels more heat and cold within her breast, then I do now, In hope to see him. And so he will my Lord, I warrant you He will but offer, and give me the power To take or leave. Would I might see him: I thank you good my Lord. Yes. Sirs leave me all. That were a strange request. Then do not utter it. Whats the meaning of it? Why then 'tis idle, prithee speak it out. Trust me, I could weep Rather, for I have found in all thy words A strange disjointed sorrow. His own desire, why credit me Thalestris I am no common wooer: If he shall woo me, His worth may be such, that I dare not swear I will not love him; but if he will stay To have me woo him, I will promise thee He may keep all his graces to himself, And fear no ravishing from me. Then be fearless, For if he were a thing betwixt God and man, I could gaze on him; (if I knew it sin, To love him) without passion: Dry your eyes, I swear you shall enjoy him still for me, I will not hinder you; but I perceive You are not what you seem: Rise, rise, Thalestris. If your right name be so. Why, by me You shall not, I will never do you wrong, What good I can, I will; think not my birth, Or education such, that I should injure A stranger Virgin: you are welcome hither. In company you wish to be commanded, But when we are alone, I shall be ready To be your servant. Alas Sir, I am fearful, you do look On me, as if I were some loathed thing That you were finding out a way to shun. I know I am unworthy, yet not ill, Armed with which innocence here I will kneel, Till I am one with earth: but I will gain Some words, and kindness from you. will you not speak at all, are you so far From kind words? yet to save my modesty That must talk till you answer: do not stand As you were dumb, say something, though it be Poisoned with anger that may strike me dead: Sir, I will speak but once: By the same power You make my blood a stranger unto yours; You may command me dead, and so much love A stranger may importune, pray you do; If this request appear too much to grant, Adopt me of some other Family By your unquestioned word; else I shall live Like sinful issues that are left in streets By their regardless Mother's, and no name Will be found for me. I would I were passed speaking. Pray God it do. You are welcome Sir I think, but if you be not, 'tis passed me To make you so: for I am here a stranger, Greater then you: we know from whence you come, But I appear a lost thing, and by whom Is yet uncertain; found here in the Court, And only suffered to walk up and down, As one not worth the owning. Oh you wrong me more in this, Then in your rage you did: you mock me now. If you be in earnest, Stand up, and give me but a gentle look, And two kind words, and I shall be in Heaven. This is better Then if you had not frowned, it comes to me Like mercy at the block; and when I leave To serve you with my life, your curse be with me. Alas Sir, why? Good Sir. Yet hear me speak. Yes, good Gobrias. I have sent words enough, if words may win him From his displeasure, and such words I hope As shall gain much upon his goodness, Gobrius: Yet fearing since th'are many, and a woman's, A poor belief may follow; I have woven As many truths within um to speak for me, That if he be but gracious, and receive um. I believe it, Howsoever I am sure I love him dearly, So dearly, that if any thing I write For my enlarging, should bege him anger; Heaven e a itnesse with me, and my faith I had rather live in omb'd here. Peace go with you, You are a good man; my paconia Why are you ever sad thus? Sir, does it please you, I should speak. Be it so, I will. I am the first that ever had a wrong So far from being fit to have redress, That it unfit to hear it; I will back To prison rather, then disquiet you, And wait till it be fit. Alas Sir, am I venom? Sir this is that I would, I am of late, Shut from the world, and why it should be thus Is all I wish to know. Children a oo S are e e credulous; And I am both I Thy ke, for I b l eve: If you dissemble be it on your head, I'll back unto my rison yet me thinks I might be kept in some place where you are: For in my self find, I know not what To call it, but it is a great desire To see you often. Then I must endure it Sir, God keep you. Heaven forbid. Far be it from me to r vile the King: But it is true, that I should rather choose To search out death, that else would search out me, And in a graven sleep with my innocence, Then welcome such a sin: It is my fate, To these cross accidents I was ordained, And must have patience; and but that my eyes Have more of woman in um then my heart, I would not weep: peace enter you again. Sir, I will pray for you yet you shall know It is a sullen ate that governs us. For I could wish as heartily as you I were no sister to you I should then Embrace your lawful love sooner then health. So perfectly That as it is, I never shall sway my heart To Like another. There is nothing else But these alas will separate us more Then twenty world's betwixt us. But 'tis not in the power of any Force Or policy to conquer them. Would I could do so; But I shall weep out mine. Sir, I disturb you, And my self too; it better I were gone: I will not be so foolish as I was. I hope not. No by Heaven. True, but for another: for the truth— But is there nothing else That we may do, but only walk; me thinks Brother's and sisters lawfully may kiss. If you have any mercy, let me go To prison, to my death, to any thing: I feel a sin growing upon my blood, Worse then all these, hotter I fear then yours. Fly it for Gods sake. Why kneel you To me that am your vassal? Alas, what can I grant you? What I can I will. Is that all? More willingly, then I would draw this air. Why Captain, do you think I am afraid sheele steal? Why Captain, heres no body thinks otherwise. But I am not built on such wild humours, If I find time worthy, he is not less, Because he S offered. Now let me die, Since I have seen my Lord the King return In safety, I have seen all good that life Can show me; I have never another wish For Heaven to grant, nor were it fit I should: For I am bound to spend my age to come In giui g than kes that this was granted me.