LELIA

See how the earth (this fragrant spring) is clad, And mantled round in sweet Nymph Flora's robes. Here grows the alluring Rose, Sweet Marigolds, and the lovely Hyacinth: Come Nurse, gather: A crown of Roses shall adorn my head, I'll prank my self with flowers of the prime, And thus I'll spend away my primerose time. Why what knowest thou Nurse? prithee tell me. A Husband, Nurse? why thats good ne be a good one. No, no, my Father did butiest: thinkest I can stoop so low to take a brown bred a Clown thats brought up at the Cart Ah Nurse, sweet Sophos is the man, Whose love is locked in Lelias tender breast, This heart hath vowed, (if heavens do not deny,) My love with his entombed in earth shall lie. Foul Fortune sometime smiles on virtue fair. Ah Sophos, that found blind boy, That wrings these passion from my Sophos heart, Hath likewise wounded Lelia with his dart, And force perforce I yield the fortress up: Here Sophos take thy Lelias hand, And with this hand receive a loyal heart. High Jove that ruleth heavens bright Canopy, Grant to our love, a wished felicity. My father recks not virtue, But vows to wed me to a man of wealth, And swears, his gold shall counterpoise his worth; But Lelia scorn's proud Mammon's golden mines, And better likes of learning's sacred lore, Then of found Fortune's glistering mockeries: But Sophos try thy wits, and use thy utmost skill To please my father, and compass his good will. Thanks gentle love. But least my father should suspect, Whose jealous head with more than Argus eyes, Does measure every gesture that I use, I'll in and leave you here alone, Adieu sweet friend until we meet again, Come Nurse follow me. What sorrow seizeth on my heavy heart? Consuming care possesses every partly: Heart-sad Eri keeps his mansion Here, Within the Closure of my woeful breast; And black despair with Iron S epter stands, And guides my thoughts, down to his hateful Cell. The wanton winds with murmur bear My piercing plaints along the de ert plains, And woods and groves do echo forth my woes, The earth below relents in Crystal tears, When heavens above by some malignant cour Of fatal stars are authors of my grief. Found Love, go hide thy shafts in Follies den, And let the world forget thy Childish force, Or else fly, fly, pierce Sophos tender breast, That he may help to sympathise these plaints That wring these tears from Lelias weeping eyes. I, thats the point, that pierceth to the quick, Would Atropos would cut my vital thread And so make lavish of my loathed life: Or gentle heavens would smile with fair aspect, And so give better Fortune's to my love. Why, is't not a plague to be a prisoner to mine own father? Thats more then we need at this time, for we are doing nothing. But its more wisdom to say nothing at all, then speak to no purpose. And mine, is n r to wed you. What would you with me? I have herd much of your wealth: but I never, knew your manners before now. I cannot live content in discontent. For as no music can delight the ears, Where all the parts of Discords are composed: So wedlock bans will still consist in jars, Where in condition theres no sympathy. Then rest your self contented with this answer, I cannot love. I'll not stick for that. Farewell Peter. Exit Peter. Thus Lucre, set in golden Chair of state, When learning's bid, Stand by, and keeps a loof: This greedy humour fits my father's vain, Who gapes for nothing but for golden gain. Because, Sir, we desire no other company but our own. That cannot be: mine own is nearer then my self. And yet my self, alas, am not mine own: Thoughts, fears, despairs, ten thousand dreadful dreams: Those are mine own, and these do keep me company. Why Master Churms, I had thought you had been my father's great Counsellor in all these actions. So Lelia shall accept thee as her friend: Mean while, Nurse lets : My long absence I know, will make my father muse. Father did you send for me? How love and fortune both with eager mood, Like greedy hounds do hunt my tired heart, Roused forth the thickets of my wonted joys! And Cupid winds his shrill note bugle horn, For joy my silly heart so near is spent. Desire that eager Cur pursues the chase, And Fortune rides amain unto the fallen: Now sorrow sings, and mourning bears a partly, Playing harsh descant on my yielding heart. Nurse, what news? Nay, first I'll mount me on the winged wind, And fly for succour to the farthest Ind. Must I love Master Churmes? As how I pray thee? From whom? My brother Fortunatus? From my Love? From neither? Prithee leave thy foolery, and let me know thy news. Is Fortunatus then returned from the wars? This ring my brother sent I know right well, But this my true love pledge I more esteem Then all the golden mines the solid earth contains: And see, in happy time here comes M. Churms: Enter Chur. Now love and fortune both conspire, And sort their drifts to compass my desire. M. Churms yare well met, I am glad to see you. I must confess, I once loved Sophos well, But now I cannot love him, whom all the world knows to be a dissembler. M r . Churms, me thinks 'tis strange, you should make such a motion: Say I should yield, and grant you love; When most you did expect a sunshine day, My father's will would mar your hoped for hay, And when you thought to reap the fruits of love, His hard constraint would blast it in the bloom. For he so do es on Peter Ploddals pelf, That none but he forsooth must be the man, And I will rather match my self, Unto a groom of Pluto's grisly den, Then unto such a silly golden ass. But to be short: I have a secret friend that dwells from hence, Some two days journey, thats the most, And if you can, as (well I know) you may, convey me thither secretly: For company I desire no other then your own, Here take my hand: That once performed my heart is next. When nights black mantle overspreads the sky, And days bright lamp is drenched in the west, To morrow night I think the fittest time, That silent shade may give our safe convoy, Unto our wished Hope's unseen of living eye. And on your resolution I'll depend, Until to morrow at appointed time, when I look for you: till when I'll leave you, and go make preparation for our journey. My choice is made: and here it is Master Churms are you not well? I must confess I would have chosen you, But that I never beheld your legs till now: Trust me I never looked so low before. Yet not so high as your crown. Faith I should would spied but a Calves head. And pray the Gods to guide thy steps aright. In such a night, Aeneas proved unkind. In such a night, fair Phyllis was betrayed. And I as constant as Penelope. And Lelia here falls prostrate on her knee. And craves a pardon for her late offence. Then wished content knit up our Nuptial right: And future joys our former griefs requite. Sweet Sophos welcome to Lelia, Fair Dido Carthaginians beauteous Queen, Not half so joyful was when as the Trojan Prince, Enaeas, landed on the sandy shores Of Carthage confines as thy Lelia is, To see her Sophos here arrived by chance. Alas Nurse, my father's jealous brain Does scarce allow me once a month to go, Beyond the compass of his watchful eyes, Nor once affords me any conference, With any man except with M r . Churms, Whose crafty brain beguiles my father so, That he reposes trust in none but him: And though he seeks for favour at my hands, He takes his mark amiss and shoots awry. For I had rather see the devil himself, Then Churms the Lawyer: Therefore how I should meet them by the forest side, I cannot possibly devise. Then you were best leave of your suit till some oh there time: and when my leisure serves me to love you, I'll send you word.