T Fools, ah fools are we that so contrive, And do strive, In each gaudy ornament, Who shall his corpse in the best dish present. BLURT, MASTER CONSTABLE: A COMEDY. BY T. Lover kept awake by Love. Ah! how can I sleep? he, who truly loves, Burns out the day in idle fantasies; And when the lamb bleating doth bid good night Unto the closing day, then tears begin To keep quick time unto the owl, whose voice Love's eye the jewel of sleep oh! seldom wears. With silken strings the cover of Love's eye; Violetta comes to seek her Husband at the house of a Curtizan. Vio. By your leave, sweet Beauty, pardon my excuse, which sought entrance into this house: good Sweetness, have you not a Property here, improper to your house; my husband? Imp. Hah! your husband here? Vio. Nay, be as you seem to be, White Dove, without gall. Do not mock me, fairest Venetian. Come, I know he is here. I do not blame him, for your beauty gilds over his error. "Troth, I am right glad that you, my Countrywoman, have received the pawn of his affections. You cannot be hardhearted, loving him; nor hate me, for I love him too. Since we both love him, let us not leave him, till we have called home the ill husbandry of a sweet Straggler. Prithee, good wench, use him well. Imp. So, so, so Vio. If he deserve not to be used well (as I'd be loth he should deserve it), I'll engage myself, dear Beauty, to thine honest heart: give me leave to love him, and I'll give him a kind of leave to love thee. I know he hears me. I prithee try my eyes, if they know him; that have almost drowned themselves in their own saltwater, because they cannot see him. In truth, I'll not chide him. If I speak words rougher than soft kisses, my penance shall be to see him kiss thee, yet to hold my peace. Good Partner, lodge me in thy private bed; I know thou wilt. Imp. Good truth, pretty Wedlock, thou makest my little eyes smart with washing themselves in brine. I mar such a sweet face!-and wipe off that dainty red! and make Cupid toll the bell for your love-sick heart! —no, no, no—if he were Jove's own ingle Ganymedefie, fie, fie-I'll none. Your Chamber-fellow is within. Thou shalt enjoy him. Vio. Star of Venetian Beauty, thanks! HOFFMAN'S TRAGEDY, OR REVENGE FOR A FATHER, 1631. AUTHOR UNKNOWN. The Sons of the Duke of Saxony run away with Lucibel, the Duke of Austria's Daughter.-The two Dukes, in separate pursuit of their children, meet at the Cell of a Hermit: in which Hermit, Saxony recognizes a banished Brother; at which surprised, all three are reconciled. Aust. That should be Saxon's tongue. Sax. Indeed I am the Duke of Saxony. Sax. Oh subtle Duke, Thy craft appears in framing the excuse. My Lucibel for beauty needs no art; But by the charms and forcings of thy sons. Sax. O would thou would'st maintain thy words, proud Duke! Her. I hope, great princes, neither of you dare Commit a deed so sacrilegious. This holy Cell Is dedicated to the Prince of Peace. The foot of man never profan'd this floor; Humility with Abstinence combined, I proclaim truce. Why dost thou sullen stand? Sax. Thus do I plight thee truth, and promise peace. That shews th' intention in the outward face. Sax. First give me leave to view awhile the person Of this Hermit—Austria, view him well. Is he not like my brother Roderic? Aust. He's like him. But I heard, he lost his life Long since in Persia by the Sophy's wars. Her. I heard so much, my Lord. But that report Was purely feign'd; spread by my erring tongue, As double as my heart, when I was young. I am that Roderic, that aspired thy throne; That vile false brother, that with rebel breath, Drawn sword, and treach'rous heart, threaten'd your death. Sax. My brother! lay by nay then i' faith, old John Thy sorrowing thoughts; turn to thy wonted vein, Mad Roderic, art alive?-my mother's son, Her joy, and her last birth!-oh, she conjured me To use thee thus; [embracing him] and yet I banished thee.-~ Body o' me! I was unkind, I know; But thou deserv'dst it then: but let it go. Say thou wilt leave this life, thus truly idle, Her. I thank your Highness; I will think on it : Sax. Tut, tittle tattle, tell not me of sin.- But if, as I believe, they mean but honour, (As it appeareth by these Jousts proclaim'd,) Then thou shalt be content to name * him thine, And thy fair daughter I'll account as mine. Aust. Agreed. Sax. Ah, Austria ! 'twas a world, when you and I Ran these careers; but now we are stiff and dry. Aust. I'm glad you are so pleasant, good my Lord. Sax. 'Twas my old mood: but I was soon turn'd sad. With over-grieving for this long lost Lad, And now the Boy is grown as old as I; His very face as full of gravity. By one of the Duke's sons (her Lover) in honour of Lucibel. |