AURISTELLA

What must she second? You are my soul, and to my airy Wings, add quicker Feathers: what task Wo'd not I run, to be called Queen? Did the life blood of all our Family Father and Mother, stand as a quick wall To stop my passage to a Throne, I'de with a Puniard open their Azure veins, And squeeze their active blood up into Clods, Till they become as cold as winter's snow; And as a bridge upon their trunks i'de go. To be a Queen, what danger wo'd I run? I'de spend my life Like to a Barefoot Nun; So I might fit above the lesser stars Of small Nobility, but for a day. I never shall endure to walk as equal With proud Philippa, no; ambitious soul Boils in a thirsty flame of total glory: I must be all, without a second flame To dim our luster. As how sweet Machvile ? What for his wife? Good policy, let's home to our designs: I hate to be officious, yet my frown Shall be dissolved to flattery for a Crown. Exit. Is this the man Fame speaks so nobly of? Oh love, Aurelio never until now Could say he knew thee; I must desemble it. Fie on you sir, to kill a Governor it is a fact Death cannot appear too horrible to punish. Stand, I have a Ceremony, to offer to our Safetryere we go. Had not my love Like a kind branch Of some over looking tree, catched thee, Thou'dst fallen, never to look upon the world again. O. Are you the man my husband speaks so high of? Are you skilled i'the Stars? Your habit says, or you abuse the custom, You're a Physician? And dee' find no let that stops my rising. Away, your skill is dull, dul to derision. There is a Star fixed i'the heaven of greatness, That sparkles with a rich and fresher light, Than our sick and defective Taper. Confusion take your horiscope and you. Can you with all your Art advice my fears, How to confound this constellation. Planet me no planets; be a Physician, And from your study of industrious poisons, Fetch me your best experienced speedy one, And bring it to me straight: what it's to do, Like unresolved riddles hid from you. Exit. Well wrought poison, Oh how joy swells me. Will you leave us? Or I'll never trust poison more. To be your King; fie on this circumstance, My longing will not brook it: say, Will you obey us as your Kings and Queens. aside. Say, are you agreed? Alas my Lord is wounded. Stabs him. O. Machvile thy hand, I can't repent, farewell: My burdened conscience Sinks me down to hell. Dies. Alas he faints, Oh my Antonio : Cursed Machvile, may thy soul— Oh my griefs, are you not strong enough To break my heart? pray tell me, tell me true; Can it be thought a sin? or is it so, By my own hand to ease my breast of woe? You advice well: indeed it was a fault To break the bonds of duty, and of law; But love, Oh Love; thou whose all conquering power, Builds Castles on the hearts of easy maids, And makes they strong unto attempt those dangers: That but rehearsed before, wo'd fright their souls Into a Jelly. Brother, I must leave you; And Father, when I send to you a note, that shall Desire a yearly stipend to that holy place My tired feet has found to rest them in; Pray confirm it. And now great King Aurelia begs of you, To grace Antonio in the mournful March Unto his grave, which be where you think fit: We needs not be interred both in one Vault. Then I leave you, my prayers shall still attend you As I hope yours shall accompany me. Father your blessing, and ere long expect To hear where I am entertained a Nun Brother, and Sister, to you both adue; Antonio dead, Aurelia marries new. Exit. Good Father let Aurelia, your daughter, Do this same act of Justice, let me tread the pin: The fact of his being so foul, so hateful, Has lent me through a maid such fortitude. I have a thought tell's me it is religious, To sacrifice a murderer to death; Especially one that did act a deed, So generally accounted odious. Pray sir lend me the Key of the back ward, For though my conscience tells me it's and act I may hereafter boast off; yet isle pass unto our Ladies Chapel when 'tis done, to be confessed Ere I am seen of any He wakes, pray leave me sir. Exit Pet. So I'll make fast the door, Goodness bear witness it's a potent power Outweighs my duty. Shake thy wonder off, and leave that seat, 'Twas set to sink thy body for ever From the eyes of humane sighed; To tell thee how would be a fatal means To both our ruins—briefly my love Has broke the Bans of nature with my father, To give your being. Receive me to thy arms. Only thy heart, Crowned with a wreathe of love, Which I will ever keep; and in exchange Deliver mine. In the same form Aurelia yields up hers. I fear my Father. Through the back ward, of which I have The Key; weel suddenly make escape, Then in two Gowns of which I am provided, Weel cloth our selves till we be passed all fear. Brother. To Giovanno. Now my longing that was grown big, Is with your sighed delivered of a joy, That will become a Giant; and overcome me. Welcome, thrice welcome brother. Do good brother. But that your entrance in this formal speech Betrayed you are a Courtier; I had been angry At your Rank flattery. What have you done? A Queen Oh don't dissemble; you have robbed me Of greater pleasure, than the fancied bliss Elizium owns: Oh for a pleasure real, that Wo'd appear in all unto my dream: that I may Frown, and then kill; smile, and create again. Were there a Hell, as doting age wo'd have, To fright from lawless courses heed less youth: For such a short lived happiness as that, I wo'd be lost unto eternity.