IRENE

Dear HERMIONE, pinch me or I shall sink with laughter. He long importuned her to show her face, which After many urgings she consented to; and he in Recompense made a low Revernce to her, and Then thanks her for the great favour, and Concludes he never did receive so great a one From any woman, since all else have done with them A reference to themselves: but hers was merely Goodness, for before he saw her be might Have suspected her face handsomely hid, for a Piece of beanty, if her virtue would have Suffered him to be longer in that error. So you told him, and he still courteous for All your anger, promised to give you what you Wanted of a Man, or teach you how to make one. Not a sighs older these seven years if't Please Sir CUPID, for he blows our bellows. But look, yonders your servant, there's no Starting now; you must stand too't, but before He comes to interrupt us, observe with me, How in that deep band, short cloak, and his Great boots, he looks three stories high, and His head is the garret, where he keeps nothing but lists of Horse matches, and some designs for his next clothes. He'll show it thee himself deer PHILLIDA, and Thine too, if thou wilt have him: but they make to us. Heaven defend: my heart would tremble if they should. What have you there CLEON? Whose? Did he buy them, or found them without a father, And has adopted them for his own? Here. What have I deserved of you good CLEON, that You should make me read his Verses in his own presence? If you think I have not already as and ill opinion Of him, as I can have, you loose your labour. Alas good Gentleman, it's the first time he Ever thought on't; what frequent thunders Should I hear, if'twere as he would have it? Let me counsel you, lay them aside till They have contracted and inch of dust, then with Your finger write their Epitaph, expressing The mutual quiet they gave men, and received From them; or as all poisons serve for some use, Give them your Physician, and let him Apply them to his Patient for a Vomit, This way they may be useful. It cannot, I prevent it, and accuse it, for Not showing the Hills of Snow, the Rubies And the Roses, they say, have being from me: But stay, Heaven opens, and I see a Tempest coming, Your Poet is a Prophet. When it has granted you, return to her, and Renew your suit; but if you stay till then, You must get spectacles ro see her beauty with. Then he has no reason to accuse you of inconstancy. If your love were considerable, what and Obligation had my Cozen to your Stars? Then these remonstrances of yours are Impulsive, and not voluntary. I cannot tell, but when I seriously direct them to you, I'll swear I am bewitched. She would not hear him, and as it is, how Much does he oblige her, he's now her servant, And would entreat her to let him be her Master, A request strangely modest. She speaks our Language. Do you believe what PHILLIDA says, Is the voice of all your friends? That you shall marry with Prince LYSICLES. Why should you labour your disquiet Cozen? Anticipating thus your knowledge, you will make Your future sufferings present, and so call A lasting grief upon you, which your Hope's Might dissipate till Heaven had made your mind Strong enough to encounter them. Cozen, the Prince is come to see you. How is it dearest Cozen? While you believe you have such cause to grieve, All comforts seem importunate; but yet Prince LYSICLES— Sure there is Magic in that mystic name, It could not else divide us from our reason: What Law, what faith can bind us to remove Love of our selves, and reverence to our parents? You must forgive this; your EUGENIO, If he were here, must speak as J do now, Granting his love be great as his profession, For that must have reflection on your peace, Not bargaining for his own happiness With the price of the entire destruction Of yours: what is't you fear report? It will reproach your being obstinate, Or breach of faith: D'ee fear? The gods for you have made it not a fault, Proposing such and object as Prince LYSICLES. But yet their fortune is not. Thou wouldst weep in thy grave PHILLIDA: yet the Worst is, thou wilt loose more within this seven Years, than thou hast God in ten: for men are Changeable sweet PHILLIDA. By Venus would it PHILLIDA, as high as that of honour. And thy word may be taken as soon as any wenches In Greece, or there be slanderers in the world: But she affects constancy. Th'art in the right PHILLIDA, this inconstancy is A Monster without teeth, for it devours none, Make no Son wear happy mourning, nor Mother childless: and for my partly, I am of Opinion that the gods give a blessing to it, for None live happier, than those that have greatest Abundance of it. Enough of this; were't thou with Ergasto? Thou art so good natured, that thou wilt pardon Such a trifle for one Reason, but I have two: The first is, I would feign speak with him, The other knowing my Cozen to be in and ill humour, If he press to see her, I hope she will give him such and answer, That he shall never dare to speak to her more. As far as goes to sighing, but no dying for their breeches. O no, my skin was always proof against his Dart; But he once found me laughing, and so thrust it Down to my heart. Yes, a Husbandman, and let the gods after take care For my children. I left her with her. Why prithee? Thou hast reason, but she is secret as the night she re sembles. If thou talkest a little longer, I shall guess as much As she knows: but who's here? We thank you my Lords, but if we were superstitious, Your company were no good Omen. Can you doubt it? I'll assure you, you do, she's Never troubled with any thing, but you presently Are called into the comparison with it; her Teeth Cannot ache, but she swears it is almost as great a vexation As your love: if any die out of her pity to save the tears Of a few mourners, she wishes it were you. She would be glad on't o'my conscience, though The scruple of having you do any thing for her sake Would trouble her a little, yet I can teach you To make advantage of all this. A very great one Six: For first believe He desires nothing more, than to be assured She esteems him for her Servant. Most evidently: for being thus severe to none else, 'Tis manifest she confesses a power over him, and pays His Services with this coin of scorn and contempt, And having her stamp upon't, he is bound to accept it. IT would please you to hear with what Arguments She justifies this cruelty, and swears it is not Revenge enough for spoiling her good nature. Yes, you, by suthing her undeserved scorn, have bred Such a delight and habit of it in her, that she Can hardly forbear it, when she strives to be Complaisant to her best friends; and to say truth, We are all endangered by such as you, when we see That frowns procure us knees, and kind usage Scarce gets us two good morrows. In your heart? But I love to be alone. If you be his friend, teach him to be wife. The disposing of his liberty. It's festival to day my Lords, and so I admit This mirth: but to morrow I will tell you; I am no more Inclined to love than my Cozen Hermione. I think I can. But you consider not whom you may offend in this mirth. I may believe you, when Time and your actions Shall tell it me as well as your words. As I live he swore all this to me. He has not wronged me. Pray content your self with the time you have Made me loose, and let me go. I will do any thing for my release, if he has Offended me, let him learn hereafter to Speak truer than he swears; and in time He may get credit. Help, help, she die. Bring some water here, she does but swoon: So chafe her Temples,—O Heavens! what prodigy Is here! her blackness falls away: My Lord, look on This Miracle, does not Heaven instruct us in pity Ofher wrongs, that the opinions which prejudice Her virtue, should thus be washed away with the Black clouds that hide her purer form? PALLAS, APOLLO, what may this portend? My Lord, Have you not seen a face Like this? Sure she is dead: how pale she is! My Lord, our cares will be employed better, In seeking to avert this Ladies death, Than in deploring it. Why did you not declare your self when you came hither? Me thinks your experience, Uncle, should teach you, That such a question was not to be asked: Well, if I did love him, 'twas because I thought That he loved me; but if he does not, I pardon him: For I am certain he once believed it himself. His Dart may strike as far into me As into another for ought you know Uncle. Have you such skill in perspective? Indeed Sir: and pray what did it look Like? Well, I have considered, and my Cozens Example shall teach me. To avoid the infinite troubles you procured her by your Fruitless solicitations: d'ee think your tears shall cost Me so many tears, as they have done her? You have great reason to persuade me To take him you abhorred. Well, if any here will pass their words He can continue constant a week, I will Be disposed by you. On this condition I admit him to a Months service, And my self to a perpetual servitude. My father said so, till my mother wept. See such impieties as are lodged there in a Man, and not be stuck with horror, it's impossible. Pray give them me, I long to be working wonders. Rubies—Peases—Roses—Heaven. Do you not think he has done my Cozen a Simple favour comparing of her voice to that of Heaven? Sir CLEON, our friends are engaged, pray let Us be o'th' party: what has called up this Choler in my sweet Cozen? My Lord you have Been begging favours. HAve you sent for the Egyptian Lady? If it be thus, retire into your reason, And for a time forget your passion. D'ec think that all the names of virtue shrink Into the found of constancy? Must this Make you forget the debt that you do owe Unto your Father, friends, and to your self; Their houses honour, and your happiness, Is LYSICLES less worthy than his Rival?