VIOLETTA

And yet brother, when with the sharpest hooks of my wit I laboured to pull you from the wars, you broke lose, Like a horse that knew his own strength, and vowed, nothing but a man of war should back you. And swore that honour was never died in grain, till it was dipped in the cullors of the field. I thought so much that's joust none. And argument that either you dare not, or love not to flatter. I marry Sir, let our teeth describe this Motion. Meddle not with his tricks sweet heart; under pardon my Lord, though I am your guest, I'll bestow my self, fit deer beauty's: for the men, let them take up places themselves; I prithee brother fighter fit, & talk of any subject, but this Long ling law at Arms. Be't so, what's the Theme then? So have I, but I could never see't: Idem ride forty miles to follow such a fellow to Church, and would make more of a sprig of Rosemary at his burial, than of a gilded Bride-branch at mine own wedding. I have herd much praise of that French gallant, good my Lord, bring him acquainted with our eyes. My Lord Camillo, is this the Gentleman, Whose valour, by your valour is subdued? Fair stranger droop not, since the chance of wars Brings to the Soldier death, restraint, or scars. No, fair servant, not the measure out, I have on the so dame a foolish desire to be out of the measure. Nay I hope it is no breeding matter, tush, tush, by my maidenhead I will not, the music likes me not, and I have a shoe wrings me to'th heart; beside I have a woman's reason, I will not dance, because I will not dance: prithee deer He ro take my prisoner there into the measure; fie I cannot abide to see a man sad nor idle, I'll be out once, as the Music is (in mine care) In troth a very pretty French man, the carriage of his body likes me well; so does his footing so does his face, so does his eye above his face, so does himself, above all that can be a above himself. Camillo thou hast played a foolish partly, Thy prisoner makes a slave of thy loves heart. Shall Camillo then sing willow, willow, willow? not for the world: no, no, my French prisoner; I will use thee Cupid knows how, and teach thee to fallen into the hands of a woman: if I do not feed thee with fair looks, never let me live: if thou gettest out of my fingers till I have thy very heart, never let me love; nothing but thy life shall serve my turn, and how otherwise I'll plague thee, Monsieur you and I'll deal, only this, because I'll be sure he shall not start, I'll lock him in a little low room beside himself, where his wanton eye shall see neither Sun nor Moon: So, the dance is done, and my heart has done her worst, made me in love: farewell my Lord, I have much hast, you have many thanks, I am angered a little, but am greatly pleased: if you wonder that I take this strange leave; excuse it thus, that women are strange fools, and will take any thing. Who owes this salutation? Is not your shadow there too, my sweet bother? I dreamed so: o I am much bound to you, For you my Lord have used my love with honour. Indeed, indeed you have. Yes by the velvet brow of darkness. Her groom employed by Fontinell? Oh strange! I wonder how he God access to him: I'll read, and (reading) my poor heart shall ache, ''True-loue is jealous, fears the best love shake. Meet me at the end of the old Chapel, next Saint Lorenzos Monestary, furnish your company with a Friar, that there he may consummate our holy vows, till midnight: farewell. Hath he God opportunity to escape? Oh happy perjod of our separation, Blessed night, wrap Cinthia in a sable sheet: That fearful lovers may securely meet. O God! When did Imperia?— Here are Camilla and Hippolito. Nay be as you seem to be (white Dove) without gall. Do not mock me fairest Venetian; come, I know he's here: good faith I do not blame him, for your beau tie glides over his error; troth I am right glad that you (my Country woman) have received the pawn of my affections: you cannot be hardhearted, loving him, nor hate me, for I love him too: since we both love him, let us not leave him, till we have called home the ill hus bandrie of a sweet Straggler; prithee (good wench) use him well. If he deserve not to be used well (as Idem be loath he should deserve it) I'll engage my self (deer beauty) to thine ho nest heart; give me leave to love him, and I'll give him a kind of leave to love thee: I know he here's me; I prithee try mine eyes, if they know him, that have almost drowned themselves in their own salt water, because they cannot see him: In troth I'll not chide him; if I speak words rougher then soft kisses, my penance shall be to see him kiss thee, yet to hold my peace. Star of Venetian beauty, thanks; o who Can bear this wrong, and be a woman too? With pardon of your grace, my self (to you all) At your own weapons, thus do answer all. For paying away my heart, that was my own, Fight not to win that, in good troth 'tis gone, For my deer loves abusing my chaste bed, And her sweet theft: Alack, you are misled, This was a plot of mine, only to try Your loves strange temper; sooth I do not lie. My Fontinell never dallied in her arms; She never bound his heart with amorous charms, My Fontinell never loathed my sweet embrace, She never drew loves picture by his face; When he from her white hand would strive to go, She never cried fie, fie, nor no, no, no. With prayers and bribes, we hired her (Both) to lie Under that roof; for this must my love die? Who dare be so hard hearted? look you, we kiss, And if he loath his Violetta; judge by this. Good figure, Wear still that maiden blush, but still be mine. I do not think for all this, that my brother stood to it so lustily as he makes his brags for. Faith brother how many did you kill for your share? Prithee good brother Soldier keep the peace, our hair stand and end? pity a my heart, the next end would be of our wits: we hang out a white flag most terrible Tamberlain, and beg mercy; come, come, let us neither have your Niniuiticall moti ons nor your swaggering battles: why my Lord Camillo, you invited me hither to a banquet, not to the Ballad of a pitched field. Not in the men nor in the death, but in the deed; troth I think he is not a found man that will die for a woman, and yet I would never love a man soundfie, that would not knock at death's door for my love. In that no scandal lies, Who die when he may live, he doubly die. Nay thats not so, You flee not but were vanquished by your foe, The eye of war respects not you nor him, It is our fate will have us lose or win, You will disdain if I you prisoner call? The same, good night, trust me 'tis somewhat late, And this bleak wind nips dead all idle prate. I must to bed, good night. Nay but pure swaggerer, ruffiin; do you think To fright me with your bugbear threats? go by; Hark tosspot in your ear, the Frenchman's mine, And by these hands I'll have him. He is my prisoner, (by a deed of gift) Therefore Camillo you have wronged me much, To wrong my prisoner: by my troth I love him, The rather for the baseness he endures, For my unworthy self: I'll tell you what; Release him, let him plead your love for you; I love a life to hear a man speak French, Of his complexion: I would undergo The instruction of that language rather far, Than be two weeks unmarried (by my life) Because I'll speak true French, I'll be his wife. My dearest Fontinell. What ho; Madonna? By your leave sweet beauty, pardon my excuse, which under the mask of Camilloes and my brother's names, sought entrance into this house: good Sweetness, have you not a proper tie here, improper to your house, my husband? Good partner, lodge me in thy private bed, Where (in supposed folly) he may end, Determined sin; thou smilest, I know thou wilt; What looseness may term dotage (truly read) Is love ripe gathered, not soon withered. Will you be so lusty? no nor legs neither, we'll have them tied up too, since you are among Ladies: gallants, handle those things only that are fit for Ladies. How didst thou escape? How came Imperja's man? She that is masked, is leader of this Mask, What's here? Bows, Bills and Guns? noble Camillo, I am sure you are Lord of all this misrule: I pray For whose sake do you make this swaggering fray?