And that kind earth that thought to cover him, Till Nilus raise his seven heads and devour ye. LOVE'S PILGRIMAGE: A COMEDY. BY JOHN FLETCHER. Leocadia leaves her Father's house, disguised in man's apparel, to travel in search of Mark-antonio, to whom she is contracted, but has been deserted by him. When at length she meets with him, she finds, that by a precontract he is the Husband of Theodosia. In this extremity, Philippo, Brother to Theodosia, offers Leocadia marriage. PHILIPPO. LEOCADIA. Phi. Will you not hear me? Leo. I have heard so much, Will keep me deaf for ever. No, Mark-antonio, Phi. Appeal to reason; She will reprieve you from the power of grief, Leo. Oh! Phi. For passion's sake, (Which I do serve, honour, and love in you) If you will sigh, sigh here; if you would vary A sigh to tears, or out-cry, do it here. No shade, no desart, darkness, nor the grave, Phi. That which shall raise your heart, or pull down mine, Quiet your passion, or provoke mine own: We must have both one balsam, or one wound. For know, lov'd fair, I have read you through, And with a wond'ring pity look'd on you. I have observ'd the method of your blood, I knew which blush was anger's, which was love's, Sustain'd in travel; a disguised maid, Wearied with seeking, and with finding lost, I saw it, and have laid it to my heart, And though it were my sister which was righted, Yet being by your wrong, I put off nature, Could not be glad, where I most bound to triumph: But studied your release: and for that day Have I made up a ransom, brought you a health, Preservative 'gainst chance or injury, Leo. Ah! Phi. Nay, do not think me less than such a cure ; Philippo may succeed. My blood and house In their survey; I durst have told my tale too, Leo. My repulse Phi. Let not that torture you which makes happy, Nor think that conscience, fair, which is no shame ; me Phi. You shall think so too, You shall, sweet Leocadia, and do so. ་ Leo. Good sir, no more; you have too fair a shape To play so foul a part in, as the Tempter. Say that I could make peace with fortune: who, Phi. Your contract? Leo. Yes, my contract. Am I not his? his wife? Phi Sweet, nothing less. Leo. I have no name then. Phi. Truly then you have not. How can you be his wife, who was before Leo. Oh though he dispense With his faith given, I cannot with mine. Phi. You do mistake, clear soul; his precontract Doth annul yours, and you have giv'n no faith That ties you, in religion, or humanity: You rather sin against that greater precept, To covet what's another's; sweet, you do, Believe me, who dare not urge dishonest things. Remove that scruple therefore, and but take Your dangers now into your judgment's scale, And weigh them with your safeties. Think but whither Now you can go; what you can do to live: How near you have barr'd all ports to your own succour, Except this one that I here open, love. Should you be left alone, you were a prey To the wild lust of any, who would look Upon this shape like a temptation, And think you want the man you personate; Would not regard this shift, which love put on, As virtue forc'd, but covet it like vice: So should you live the slander of each sex, Go home, and, by the virtue of that charm, If you be chang'd, let a kiss tell me so. Leo. I am; but how, I rather feel than know. [This is one of the most pleasing if not the most shining scenes in Fletcher. All is sweet, natural, and unforced. It is a copy which we may suppose Massinger to have profited by the studying. ] BONDUCA: A TRAGEDY. BY JOHN FLETCHER. Bonduca, the British Queen, taking occasion from a Defeat of the Romans to impeach their Valour, is rebuked by Caratach. BONDUCA, CARATACH, HENGO, NENNIUS, Soldiers. Bon. The hardy Romans! Oye gods of Britain, The rust of arms, the blushing shame of soldiers! Are these the men that conquer by inheritance? The fortune-makers? these the Julians, |