BELLAMIE

Would it were day: My apprehension is so full of horror, I think each found the air's light motion Makes in these thickets, is my Uncle's voice, Threatening our ruins. But when will it be worser y? the light hath come word. S nses being lost, The l st are less delighted. Did no amazing sounds arrive your ear? Pray listen. Dost thou forsake me Worthgood? The day begins to break; and trembling light As if affrighted with this nights disaster, Steals through the farthest air, and by degrees Salutes my weary longings. Yet it's welcome, Though it betray me to the worst of fate Love and desire ever suffered. O my Worthgood, Thy presence would have checked these passion; And shot delight through all the mists of sadness, To guide my fear safe through the paths of danger: But thou art lost, and all my joys are fled Not to return without thee. New fears assault me. It's a woman's voice. She sings; and in her mus cks cheerfulness Seems to express the freedom of a heart Not chained to any passion. Be propitious Thou regent over my fate, and guide her hither Unto my comfort. What a blessed state is this? the minds content Sweeten's all sufferings of afflicted sense. Those that are bred in labour think it sport Above the soft delights which wanton appetite Begets or others, whom indulgent fortune Prefers in her degrees; though equal nature Made all alike. O, might I change my misery For such a shape of quiet. Good morrow maid. A distressed maid. I cannot constant we it; my innocence makes under standing useless. Good maid, wife or widow (for sure you are a woman) do a courteous office to your sex in me, and guide me to London. You're a bade woman sure: and from th'aboun dance of you own foul ils suspect all others. If you are good, pray stay and comfort me. The sense of my Worthgood farewell. Where am I! what a pleasant vision Pleased my dead slumbers, and presented joys. As I was passing through th'eternall shades Towards Elisium, one of fates Ministers Told me I should return; and this same day Enjoy my Worthgood. De end me gentle powers: yet ye shall never Overtake my heart: thats still with Worthgood. Ere you return me to my angry Uncle. My soul shall lie and meet with his embraces. You are murderers Oh that content in me goodness would cherish You serve the purposes of a passionate man For base reward; and that shall render you Base to opinion. To you, the injurers of my true love And Worthgoods. If you are not such As my too fearful apprehension thought you, Pray, what are you? You'll then perform and act of piety Worthy record. Since my distress hath made me The object of your pity; pray conduct me To some near house, for I am wondrous faint. I'll tell you. When we feared pursuit, we left our horses, and the high way. The horses a e surely found; and by them my being hereabout may be conjectured. Now this disguise shall help me to escape their search. Dispo e me as you please, I dare the worst Of my malicious. Now love hath armed me With better resolution. Bless me, who's that? He'll spoil all. To them Slip hastily. What place is this? a common Alehouse? I do not Like The courtship of these gallants: it's gross flattery, And tends I fear to ill. Why should I fear; that have defence From Worthgoods love, and mine own innocence? Exeunt. Arm me now confidence, And teach my tongue, that never spoke untruth From a consideration, practice lying, And the worser nyall of my proper self. It is my brother, he'll discover me. No indeed sir. Neither sir. Can my ills Grow to a greater height? my honours danger Runs equal with my persons. Distressed beyond recovery. 'Twas my brother; Whose eye no sooner found me, but his looks Expressed a troubled soul: but when he herd My tongue deny my self; what passion then Possessed him, may be thought. Doubt of my loved friends safety (without whom My souls abilities are dead to use) Hath numbed the sense of Actium: I'm all passive. Yet I have herd from him relations Of horrid battai es, and his persons danger; When as the murdering Canons choked the air With their curled mists, their loud noise ushering death To his black triumph. A little custom made it To be my pastime. Those were dangers passed; But these to come. Love my Brother? Aid me now discretion. Would you Make mean agent to undo my Brother; And but for such mean ends? Into what maze My dangers led me! 'th middle ther's a Monster, If I go on, will ruin me: if back; I want and Ariadnean Clue of policy To be my guide. What may this come to? New jealousy instructs. My fear this woman's nought, and such a one As sells her self to sin. What fates conspire To make me miserable? Will not the feathers choke him? Now I perceive Goodness guides all her actions: her minds brightness Outshines her outward beauty. But what use Can my misfortune make of't? yes; example Shall teach me how to counterfeit, if I Can force my passion to it. I have packed her up in't, Like a Bartholmew -baby in a box. I warrant you for hurting her. I thank you sir. When you are weary of my mi stris, and cast her oh f (as I know you must have change) you shall have my maidenhead at the same rate if you please: I'll keep it for you. But two words to it. Pray sir use her never the w rse for my promise. O sir, it's not fit a servant should shift her Mi stris trencher before the bones are clean picked. You have flesh enough to hold out a month. Pray sir let me ask you one ques ion. How many maidenheads have you bought thus? Adue good sir, with your fair bedfellow that must be. Had I y Worthgood here, this accident Would strain my heart strings to a pitch of laughter, And make my spleen dance. But his lose hath killed All sense of joy. Ciceley returns. Indeed, I must confess My fears possessed me strongly you were noughe: Nor is suspicion grounded on endue circumstance To be accounted ill. But now my knowledge Instructs me better to commend your virtue; And steer mine own course by the fair example Of your discretion, were the Like attempted Upon my chastity. O Brother. Your S ster Bellamy. Temper your anger brother, For it appears i'th wrinkles of your brow. And let not passion burn your jealous fears With and intemperate heat. I have a story You'll pity, though all natural affection Were quite extinguished. Dissemble not those doubts; but hear me. Guard me innocence. You needs no other weapon, she sownes. Those words have killed me. It's my Worthgoods voice. That Orphean Music charms my senses back From the dark shades of their privation. Welcome again: I never more will loose thee. This is my Husband Brother, far as vows Can join us, till Church-ceremony hath Confirmed it stronger. Please her accept Th'exchange as my thanks gift; since to her care And full discretion I must attribute My safety. Something's now in Actium, By her begun from and ingenious practice, Will make the end more comic. Alas mine Uncle. Uncle I owe You many duties. One from nature's precepts; And moral gratitude for your great love I structs me in another: but necessity his compels a virtuous disobedience. And now I owe you duty. He's one of those that— whisper. Ay me,it's sure mine Uncle. Dear Love. Worthgood. Can a Brother Construe this place, disguise, and company Less then a lapse from virtue in a Sister, Who laboured more to be good really, Then ever hypocrite did to appear so. Pray sir, let mine make up the score: and even reckoning.