ARTEMIA

If that titles Or the adored name of Queen could take me, Here would I fix mine eyes and look no farther. But these are baits to take a mean born Lady, Neither that boldly may call Caesar father. In that I can bring honour unto any But from no king that lives receives addition To raise desert and virtue by my fortune, Though in a low estate were greater glory, Then to mix greatness with a Prince that owes No worth but that name only. If then of men beneath me My choice is to be made, where shall I seek But among those that best deserve from you, That have served you most faithfully, that in dangers Have stood next to you, that have interposed Their breasts as shields of proof to dull the swords Aimed-at-games at your bosom, that have spent their blood To crown your brows with Laurel. Sir. I am no object to divert your eye From the beholding. Why fear you to be raised? Say I put off the dreadful a we that waits On Majesty, or with you share my beams, Nay make you to outshine me change the name Of subject into Lord, rob you of service Thats endue from you to me, and in me make it Duty to honour you, would you refuse me? He that's famous For honourable actions in the war; As you are Antoninus, a proved soldier Is fellow to a king. Yet I have herd, Encountering him alone in the head of his troop, You took him prisoner. And be again refused? You may redeem all yet. Slave thou liest. Threaten not, but strike, quick vengeance flies Into thy bosom, caitiff: here all loves die. My father's nerves put vigour in mine arm, And I his strength must use; because I once Shed beams of favour on thee, and with the Lion Played with thee gently when thou strokst my heart, He not insult on a base humbled prey, By lingering out thy terrors, but with one frown Kill thee: hence with them to execution. Seize him, but let even death it self be weary In torturing her: He change those smiles to shrieks, Give the fool what she is proud of (martyrdom) In pieces rack that Bawd to: And I deny. Are you so brave Sir, Set forward to his triumph, and let those two Go cursing along with him. Sir the Governor Brooks sadly his sons lose although he turned Apostata in death, but bold Theophilus Who for the same cause in my presence sealed His holy anger on his daughters hearts. Having with tortutes first tried to convert her, Dragged the bewitching Christian to the scaffold, And saw her lose her head. What will he say? Nay kneel not Sir, I am no ravisher, Nor so far gone in found affection to you, But that I can retire my honour safe. Yet say hereafter that thou hast neglected What but seen in possession of another Will run thee mad with envy. Oh base Villain. Sapritius though your son deserve no pity, We grieve his sickness, his contempt of us We cast behind us, and look back upon His service done to Caesar, that weighs down Our joust displeasure, if his malady Have growth from his restraint, or that you think His liberty can cure him, let him have it, Say we forgive him freely. Use all means For his recovery, though yet I love him, I will not force affection, if the Christian Whose beauty hath out-riuald mine, be won To be of our belief, let him enjoy her, That all may know when the cause wills, I can Command my own desires. What means this shout. Most willingly: Do you refuse it? Let us first deserve it: Are these they You bragged could convert others? Glory and Conquest still attend upon Triumphant Caesar. Sir, you show yourself Both Courtier and Soldier, but take heed, Take heed my Lord, though my dull pointed beauty Stained by a harsh refusal in my servant Cannot dart forth such beams as may inflame you, You may encounter such a powerful one, That with a pleasing heat will thaw your heart Though bound in ribs of Ice, love still is love, His Bow and Arrows are the same, great Julius That to his successors left the name of Caesar Whom war could never tame, that with dry eyes Beheld the large plains of Pharsalia, covered With the dead Karkasses of Senators And Citizens of Room, when the world knew No other Lord but him, struck deep in years to, And men grey haird forget the lustest of youth: After all this, meeting fair Cleapatra, A suppliant to the magic of her eye, Even in his pride of conquest took him captive, Nor are you more secure. Now by your sacred fortune they are fair ones, Exceeding fair ones, would 'twere in my power To make them mine. And could you endure Being a father, to behold their limbs Extended on the rack? It is a bounty The daughters of great Princes seldom meet with. For they, to make up breaches in the state, Or for some other politic ends are forced To match where they affect not, may my life Deserve this favour. And it will become you, While thus we stand at distance, but if love (Love born out of th'assurance of your virtues) Teach me to stoop so low. Is that your I doll, traitor, which thou kneelst to, Trampling upon my beauty? How to be done. Thy prisoner let her be then: and Sapritius Your son, and that be yours: death shall be sent To him that suffers them by voice or letters To greet each other. Rifle her estate, Christians to beggary brought grow desperate. 'Tis a brave zeal. Not so. We are not so near reconcilde unto thee, Thou shalt not perish such and easy way. Be she your charge Sapritius now, and suffer None to come near her till we have found out Some torments worthy of her. It'll be delivered With such contempt and scorn, I know his nature That rather 'twill beget your highness laughter Then the least pity. He comes, with him the Governor. I make payment But of a debt which I stand bound to tender As a daughter, and a subject.