Hanging on every leaf an orient pearl, Fill'd suddenly with troops of knights and dames, Luc. Yes, now I know thee. Ench. Come then, confirm this knowledge with a kiss. Luc. Nay, stay; you are not he: how strange is this! Ench. Thou art grown passing strange, my Love, To him that made thee so long since his Bride. Luc. O was it you? come then. O stay awhile. I know not where I am, nor what I am; THE GENTLEMAN OF VENICE: A TRAGI-COMEDY. BY JAMES SHIRLEY, 1665. Giovanni, of noble extraction, but brought up a Gardener, and ignorant of any greater birth, loves Bellaura, a Princess; and is beloved again. BELLAURA. GIOVANNI. Bell. How now, Giovanni; What, with a sword! You were not used to appear Bell. Not to a soldier? Gio. It is a title, Madam, will much grace me; And with the best collection of my thoughts Bell. You have? Gio. O 'tis a brave profession and rewards A name within their registry, that bring The wealth, the harvest, home of well-bought honour. Bell. Yet I can see Through all this revolution, Giovanni, Tis something else has wrought this violent change. Pray let me be of counsel with your thoughts, And know the serious motive; come, be clear. I am no enemy, and can assist Gio. You may be angry, Madam, and chide it as a saucy pride In me to name or look at honour; nor Is my unskilful arm to aid a country. Bell. I may therefore justly suspect there is Something of other force, that moves you to The wars. Enlarge my knowledge with the secret. Gio. At this command I open my heart. Madam, I must confess there is another cause, Which I dare not in my obedience Obscure, since you will call it forth; and yet Bell. It would ill Become my breeding, Giovanni Gio. Then, Know, Madam, I am in love. Bell. In love with whom? Gio. With one I dare not name, she is so much Above my birth and fortunes. Bell. I commend Your flight. But does she know it? Gio. I durst never Appear with so much boldness to discover My heart's so great ambition; it is here still Bell. And you think absence Gio. Or death Bell. I may presume You think she's fair Gio. I dare as soon question your beauty, Madam, The only ornament and star of Venice, Pardon the bold comparison; yet there is Something in you, resembles my great Mistress. She blushes-(aside). Such very beams disperseth her bright eye, Powerful to restore decrepit nature; But when she frowns, and changes from her sweet THE DEVIL'S LAW CASE: A TRAGI-COMEDY. BY JOHN WEBSTER, 1623. Clergy-comfort. I must talk to you, like a Divine, of patience.— I have heard some talk of it very much, and many Of their own slightest injuries, but stark mad Sepulture. Two Bellmen, a Capuchin; ROMELIO, and others. Cap. For pity's sake, you that have tears to shed, Sigh a soft requiem, and let fall a bead, For two unfortunate Nobles*, whose sad fate Rom. Denied Christian burial! I pray, what does that? Or the dead lazy march in the funeral? Or the flattery in the epitaph ?-which shows More sluttish far than all the spiders' webs, Shall ever grow upon it: what do these Add to our well-being after death? • Slain in a duel. 3 Rom. Very well then I have a certain meditation, (If I can think of,) somewhat to this purpose;— I'll say it to you, while my mother there Numbers her beads. "You that dwell near these graves and vaults, Note what a small room does suffice And are to the Drapers a good hearing; To th' Altar offerings: tho' their fame, To remove you to a place more airy, Of sacrilege have turn'd graves to vilder uses. Here rest these bones to the Last Day; When Time, swift both of foot and feather, May bear them the Sexton knows not whither ?— Be in the desart, or in the deep; |