DAMON

Cruel Laurinda (if a word so foul Can have so fair a dwelling.) seal not up Thy eats, but let a pity enter there And find a passage to thy heart. And tother, for old friendship Strangling his bitter Corrasive in his heart, Hath promised to desist from further suit. Then most unhappy me! And what I? Which hand am I? Then I am all despair, no hope for me. Thy wife, Alexis? But how can it be Without a Husband? and I must be he. How without her heart? For that am I: beside you herd her say I was the right hand you the left, away, Desist Alexis, mine the upper hand. But I am her desire, in that it's shown Her only wish is to make me her own. It's true, but I her fire. Yet when the flame is spent, The fire continues; Therefore me she meant. Alexis do, so I her Maidenhead. Let's have another meeting, since her words Delude us thus, we'll have a pregnant sign To show her mind. I'll the while retire Into the Temple, if I linger here I am afraid of meeting Amaryllis, Who with unwelcome love solicits me. Till then farewell. All but her to thee. The name of Rival should not lose the Friend. Minds in love, Do count their days by minutes, measure hours By every sand that drops through the slow glass; And for each vie a tear. Do thou so too! Amaryllis, They cannot do it: I have fixed my love So firm on my Laurinda, that for her I ever shall hate my self? For that I hate it! Nor can I, sister, dote Like you on any That is the cursed brat of Lalage. Still idly you complain To cross me, Amaryllis, but in vain! My Alexis Well met, I've been at your cottage to seek you. Let us go seek her, To have a final judgement. Content. Here comes my joy or death. Laurinda now for mercy sake give perjod To our long Misery's. Depriving one the comfort of his joy. I'll rather kiss And Ethiops crisped lip: embrace a Viper! Deformity it self to her is fair. But to me and Antidote. And me she slew to raise me up again: You shall not slight us thus, what do you think Of me? Show by some sign which of us You have designed for happiness. Now happy Damon she thy Garland wears That holds thy heart chained in her golden hairs! 'Tis more to take then give. By this your share's the less, you but receive. Then she did approve Of my affection best, she took my love. Then let our spears Plead for us, Yet 'tis, Alexis, clean against our oath. So neither shall enjoy her. So both should lose their hope! Whose every breath has pour to stay our hands. Till then, Alexis, let me be thy friend. 'Tis fit, being Rivals both in love and grief. We both have vowed to sacrifice our life, Resolve. The meaning of the riddle? Alexis, this plain sign confirms her grant, She gave me wax to seal the covenant. But by the wax she says that she from none But me will take true loves impression. I see, Alexis, all Laurinda's bees Serve but to sting us both. Alexis come! Cure my fear. Wertenberg thou but my Laurinda I were blessed. Age, by no means to night: this night she lodges With fair Laurinda, old Medorus daughter. Oh my torture! Fly hence as far as hell, and hide thy head Lower then darkness; would thou hadst been acting Incest or murder, when thou camest to pray: Thou hadst in any thing sinned less then this: Unseasonable devotion! I'll not stand To her award, she is a partial judge, And will decree unjustly. It's a mere plot contrived Betwixt this cursed Nymph, and you Alexis. For that I hate it, Cause it is thine, had it been true to me Me thinks as soon as it had touched thy head It should have withered. Alexis, you deal false, it's a conspiracy betwixt you and her. You took your time while I was sleeping. I do not know, But there is some trick in't, and I'll appeal From her too partial see ence. I do charge you to tear the paper, And refuse to judge between us. Now thou hast indeed a time wherein thou mayest Revenge my scorn. Take it, but I 'le prevent thee. Laurinda, you may spare in this harsh language To utter your dislike: had you a beauty More then immortal, and a face whose glory Far outshind Angels, I would make my choice Here, and no where but here; her virtue now Moves a more noble flame within my breast Then ere your beauty did; I am enamoured More of her soul, then ever yet I doted Upon your face: I do confess the fact; Pardon me virtuous maid, for though the Actium Be worthy death, the object most condemns me! Take me to death Corymbus; Amarillis, I go to write my story of repentance With the same ink, wherewith thou wrotes before The legend of thy love, farewell, farewell. Or hither rather: The Balsam of Sicilia flowed from hence, Hence from this scarlet torrent, whose each drop Might ransom Cupid were he captive taken. Ill luck, to seek my love and find my hate! Desist Alexis, for she deigns to have The Garland that was mine. LAurinda, by thy self, the sweetest oath That can be sworn, Whose heat inflames mine; The wax must make the Taper that must light The wedded pair to bed on Hymen's night: Beside it's virgins wax, by that you see To me she destinies her virginity. No Larks so soon, Alexis. Alexis, no but if I miss Laurinda, My sleep shall be eternal. Thetis to her is brown. Oh now I long to meet our Arbitress. It must be the first Virgin that we greet From Ceres Temple. I hear no noise of any yet that move. See how Aurora blushes! we suppose Where Tithon lay to night. Oh heaven, it's all I seek, To make that colour in Laurinda's cheek. Appeal unto the first. Amaryllis! Yes, a thousand vipers Have stung my soul. Would I had met this morning Infectious vapours nursing plagues, not thee; No curse but that had power to ruin me! Thou hadst blessed me Hadst thou sat all this while in some dark cell Loading my head with curses. That's the reason; She does confess, Alexis, that she loves me, That's argument enough against het. Where did you steal This Garland? it was mine. Thy counsel's good, no matter whose the gilded. My Conscience brings me back, the feet of gilded Go slow and dull, it's hard to run away From that we bear about us! Writ with blood? oh let me kiss My bill of Accusation! here my name Looks Like my soul, all crimson, every line, Word, syllable, and letter, wears the livery Of my unnatural Actium. Amarillis That name of all is black, which was alone Worthy so precious ink; as if disdaining The character of cruelty, which the rest Were clothed in: for as if that word alone Did wear this mourning colour, to bewail The funeral of my virtue, that lies buried Here in this living tomb, this moving sepulchre. Did he lay his head in fair Laurinda's lap,