MARIA

Hist Carracus ascend. All is as clear as in our hearts we wished. Oh love why do so. Nor any Creature pass this way this hour. But I fear we possessing of each others presence, shall overslip the time, will your friend call. Come then deer Carracus, thou now shalt rest, Upon that bed, where fancy oft hath thought thee; Which kindness until now, I never did grant thee, Nor would I now, but that thy loyal faith I have so often tried, even now, Seeing thee come to that most honoured end, Through all the dangers, which black night presents, For to convey me hence and marry me. I do believe thee, and will hate thee never. But do not stay, what if you find not Albert, If you should now deceive me, having gained, what you men seek for. At your first call I will descend. Be sure you stay not long, farewell, I cannot lend and ear to hear you partly, My Carracus, are you so soon retournd? I see, yowl keep your promise. Is your friend Albert with you? Hold me from falling Carracus. You are merry sir: But what d'ee intend with this your scaling ladder, To leave it thus, or put it forth of sighed? Carracus I am weary, are the horses far? Come Carracus I have sought you all about, Your servant told me you were much disquieted Prithee love be not so, come walk in, I'll charm thee with my lute from forth disturbance. It may be 'ts nothing else, & theres no doubt He'll soon remember his accustomed friendship He thinks, as yet, peradventure that his presence Will but offend, for that our marriage rites Are but so newly passed. 'Tis one you lost love, when I did bestow A jewel of sarre greater worth on you. As if you knew not, why dee mak't so strange Why in my chamber that most gladsome night When you enriched your love by my escape. Sure Carracus I will be angry with you If you seem so forgetful, I took it up Then when you left my lodge and went away, Glad of your conquest for to seek your friend: Why stand you so amazed, sir I hope that kindness Which then you reaped, does not prevail So in your thoughts, as that you think me light. Cease now thy steps Maria, and look back Upon that place, where distressed Carracus Hath his sad being, from whose virtuous hosome, Shame hath constrained me fly never to return: I will go seek some unfrequented path, Either in desert woods or wilderness, There to bewail my innocent mishaps, Which heaven hath justly poured down on me. In punishing my disobediency. O see my brother So now Maria, here thou must forgo What nature lent thee to repay to death; Famine I thank thee, I have found thee kindest, Thou settest a perjod to my misery. Sure some thing spoke, or else my feebled sense Hath lost the use of its endue property; Which is more likely, then that in this place, The voice of humane creature should be herd; This is far distant from the paths of men, Nothing breathes here but wild and ravening beasts, With airy monsters, whose shadowing wings do seem To taste a vale of death in wicked livers; Which I live dreadless of, and every hour Strive to meet death, who still unkind avoids me: But that now gentle famine does begin For to give end to my calamities. See, here is carved upon this trees smooth bark, Lines knit in verse, a chance far unexpected; Assist me breath a little to unfold, what they include. I that have writ these lines, amone, whose sin Is more then grievous; for know, that I have been A breaker of my faith, with one whose breast Was all composed of truth: but I digressed. And fled, them brats of his deer friendships love, Clasping to falsehood did a vilane prove, As thus shall be expressed: my worthy friend Loved a fair beauty, who did condescend In dearest affection to his virtuous will He then a night appointed to fulfil Hymen's blest-rites, and to convey away His loves fair person, to which peerless pray I was acquainted made, and when the hour Of her escape drew on, then lust did power Enraged appetite through all my veins. And base desires in me let lose the reins To my licentious will, and that black night When my friend should have had his chased delight, I feigned his presence, and by her, thought him Robbed that fair virgin of her honours Jem: For which most heinous, crime upon each tree I write this story that men's eyes may see, None but a damned one would have done Like me. Is Albert then become so penitent, As in these deserts to deplore his facts, Which his unfeigned repentance seems to clear: How good man is, when he laments his ill? Who would not pardon now that men misdeeds, Whose griefs bewail them thus, could I now live, I'de remit thy fault with Carracus: But death no longer will afford repreeve Of my abundant woes: wronged Carracus farewell, Live, and forgive thy wrongs, for the repentance Of him that eaus'd them, so deserves from thee; And since my eyes do witness Alberts grief, I pardon Albert in my wrongs the chief. Oh who disturbs me, I was hand in hand, Walking with death unto the house of rest. Like one embracing death withal his parts, Reaching at life but with one little finger; His mind so firmly knit unto the first, That unto him the latter seems to be What may be pointed at, but not possessed. But can we live here in this desert wood, If not, isle die, for other places seem, Like tortures to my griefs, may I live here? And can you help to the sighed of him? I am walked forth from my preferuers cave, To search about these woods, only to see The penitent Albert, whose repentant mind Each tree expresses: o that some power divine Would hither send my virtuous Carracus; Not for my own content, but that be might See how his distressed friend repents the wrong, Which his rash folly, most unfortunate Acted against him and me, which I forgive A hundred times a day, for that more often My eyes are witness to his said complaints, How the good Hermit seems to share his mones, Which in the day time he deplores'mongst trees, And in the night his Cave is filled with sighs; No other bed does his weak limbs support Then the cold earth, no other harmony To rock his cares asleep, but blustering winds, Or some swift Current, headlong rushing down From a high Mountains top, powering his force Into the Ocean's gulf, where being swallowed, Seems to be wail his fallen with hideous words: No other sustentation to suffice What Nature claims, but raw vnsauowry roots, With troubled waters, where untamed beasts, Do bath themselves: Ay me! what things are these? What pretty harmless things they seem to be? As if delight had no where made abided, But in their nimble sport. Yonders the courteous Hermit, and with him Albert it seems, o see 'tis Carracus, Joy do not now confound me. So does Maria to. My late mishap (repented now by all, And therefore pardoned) compelled me to fly, Where I had perished for want of food, Had not this courteous man awaked my sense, In which, death's self had partly interest. And woful'st liver in calamity. Which heaven confirm. You may see brother, unlooked for guests proof of ten troublesome. I have herd enough my Carracus to bereave me of this little breath, she sounds.