ROBERTO

And God defend that any profane hand Should offer sacrilege to such a Saint. Lovely Isabella, by this duteous kiss, That draws partly of my Soul along with it, Had I but thought my rude intrusion Had waked the Dovelike spleen harboured within you, Life and my first born should not satisfy Such a transgression, worthy of a check, But that Immortals wink at my offence, Makes me presume more boldly: I am come To raise you from this so infernal sadness. Fairest, till now, Love was and Infant in my Oratory. I nee'r was so kissed, leave thus to please, Flames into flames, seas thou pourest into seas. In the Swans down, and tomb thee in mine arms. By heaven my love's as chaste as thou art fair, And both exceed comparison: by this kiss, That crowns me Monarch of another world Superior to the first, fair, thou shalt see As unto heaven, my love so unto thee. And as I sacrifice this to his Ghost, With this expire all corrupt thoughts of youth, That fame-insatiate Devil Jealousy, And all the sparks that may bring unto flame, Hate betwixt man and wife or breed defame. You shall not be my Orator (Lady) that pleads thus for your self. Give them kind entertainment. Some worthy friends of mine, my Lord, unknown to me, too lavish of their loves, Bring their own welcome in a solemn Masque. I could give it another interpretation. Me thinks this Lover has learned, of women, to deal by contraries: if so, then here he says, the Widow is his only hope. Gallants I thank you, and Begin a health to your Mistress's. Fit Ladies fit, you have had standing long. Wee'll after her. Gallants, unmasque I pray, And taste a homely banquet we entreat. Exit Rob. Carded. and Lights. The Gods send her no Horse, a poor old age. Eternal woe, and sickness lasting rage. Furies supply that place, for I will not: no, She that can forsake me when pleasure's in the full, Fresh and untired, what would she on the least barren coldness? I warrant you she has already God Her Bravoes, and her Ruffians: the meanest whore Will have one buckler, but your great ones more. The shores of Sicily retains not such a Monster, Though to Galley-slaves they daily prostitute. To let the Nuptial Tapers give light to her new lust, Who would have thought it? She that could no more forsake my company, Then can the day forsake the glorious presence of the Sun. When I was absent, then her galled eyes Would have shed April showers, and out-wept The clouds in that same overpassionate mood: When they drowned all the world, yet now forsakes me: Women your eyes shed glances Like the Sun: Now shines your brightness, now your light is done. On the sweetest Flowers you shine, it's but by chance, And on the basest Weed you'll waste a glance. Your beams once lost can never more be found: Unless we wait until your course run round, (And take you at fist hand.) Since I cannot Enjoy the noble title of a man, But after-ages, as our virtues are Buried while we are living, will found out My infamy, and her degenerate shame; Yet in my life I'll smother't if I may, And, Like a dead man, to the world bequeathe These houses of vanity, Mills, and Lands. Take what you will, I will not keep among you Servants, And welcome some religious Monastery, A true sworn Beadsman I'll hereafter be, And wake the morning cock with holy prayers. Dissuade me not, my will shall be my King; I thank thee Wife, a fair change thou hast given, I leave thy lust to woo the Love of Heaven. Exit cum servis. Lady: it seems your eye is still the same, Forgetful of what most it should behold, Do not you know me then? Madame. The worse my fate that plows a marble quarry: Primaleon yet thy Image was more kind, Although thy love not half so true as mine. Dance they that list, I sail against the wind. Bear record all, you blessed Saints in heaven, I come not to torment thee in thy death: For of himself he's terrible enough, But call to mind a Lady Like your self. And think how ill in such a beauteous soul, Upon the instant morrow of her nuptials, Apostasy and vild revolt would show: With all imagine that she had a Lord, Jealous, the Air should ravish her chaste looks: Doting Like the creator in his models, Who views them every minute, and with care, Mixed in his fear of their obedience to him. Suppose he sung through famous Italy, More common then the looser songs of Petrarch: To every several Zanies instrument, And he poor wretch, hoping some better sat, Might call her back from her Adulterate purpose: Lives in obscure, and almost unknown life, Till hearing, that she is condemned to die: For he once loved her, lends his pined corpse, Motion to bring him to her stage of honour Where drowned in woe: at her so dismal chance, He clasps her: thus he falls into a trance. MY graven Lord Cardinal, we congratulate, And zealously do entertain your love: That from your high and divine contemplation, You have vouchsafde to consummate a day Endue to our Nuptials: Oh, may this knot you knit, This individual Gordiant grasp of hands, In sighed of God so fairly entermixed, Never be severed, as heaven smiles at it, By all the Darts shot by infernal Jove, Angels of grace Amen, Amen, say to't. Fair Lady Widow, and my worthy Mistress, Do you keep silence for a wager? It is in private, what I have to say, With favour of your fatherhood. Pardon belongs unto my holy weeds, Freely thou hast it, farewell my Isabella. Let thy death ransom thy soul, Oh die a rare example, The kiss thou gavest me in the church, here take, As I leave thee, so thou the world forsake. Exit Roberto. See how yond Star Like beauty in a cloud, Illumines darkness, and beguiles the Moon Of all her glory in the firmament. Surcease. Believe it is a wrong unto the Gods: They sail against the wind that wail the dead. And since his heart hath wrestled with death's pangs, From whose stern Cave none tracts a backward path. Leave to lament this necessary change, And thank the Gods, for they can give as good. We do intend our Hymeneal rights With the next rising Sun. Count Cypress, Next to our Bride, the welcomest to our feast. A sable Shield: the word, Vidua spes. What the forlorn hope, in black, despairing? Lady Lentulus, is this the badge of all your Suitors? Inquire of him, and heel resolve the doubt.