A Select Collection of Old English Plays Part 14

[_Exit_ PETRUCHIO.

So I'll make fast The door: goodness, bear witness 'tis a potent Power outweighs my duty.

ANT. Amazement! on what tenters do you stretch [me].

O, how this alteration wracks my reason! I m[ust try]

To find the axletree on which it hangs!

Am I asleep?

AUR. Shake off thy wonder; leave that seat; 'twas set To sink thy body for ever from the eyes Of human sight; to tell thee how would be A fatal means to both our ruins----briefly, My love has broke the bands of nature With my father to give you being.

ANT. Happy, [O] happy vision! the bless'd preparative To this same hour; my joy would burst me else.

AUR. Receive me to thy arms.

ANT. I would not wish to live but for thee: [but for thee,]

Life were a trouble; welcome to my soul.

AUR. Stand; I have a ceremony To offer to our safety, ere we go.

[_She takes a dog, and ties it to the chair: she stamps: the chair and dog descend: a pistol-shot within: a noise of a mill._

Had not my love, like a kind branch Of some o'erlooking tree, catch'd thee, Thou'dst fallen, never to look upon the world again.

ANT. What shall I offer to my life's preserver?

AUR. Only thy heart, crown'd with a wreath of love.

Which I will ever keep; and in exchange Deliver mine.

ANT. Thus I deliver: in this kiss receive't.

AUR. In the same form Aurelia yields up hers.

[_A noise._

ANT. What noise is that?

AUR. I fear my father.

ANT. What's to be done?

AUR. Through the back-ward, of which I have The key, we'll suddenly make 'scape; Then in two gowns, of which I am provided, We'll clothe ourselves, till we be pa.s.s'd all fear.

ANT. Be't as you please: 'tis my good genius' will That I obey--command; I'll follow still.

[_Exeunt._

_Enter_ PETRUCHIO _with servants_.

PET. She's gone unto her prayers; may every bead Draw down a blessing on her, that like seed May grow into a harvest: 'tis a girl My age is proud of; she's indeed the model Of her dead mother's virtues, as of shape.

Bear hence this banquet.

[_Exit with the banquet._

GIOVANNO _is discovered sleeping in the lap of_ EVADNE.

EVAD. Thou silent G.o.d, that with the leaden mace Arresteth all save those prodigious birds, That are fate's heralds to proclaim all ill; Deafen Giovanno: let no fancied noise Of ominous screech-owl's or night-raven's voice Affright his quiet senses: let his sleep Be free from horror or unruly dreams; That may beget a tempest in the streams Of his calm reason: let 'em run as smooth, And with as great a silence, as those do That never took an injury; where no wind Had yet acquaintance: but like a smooth crystal Dissolv'd into a water that ne'er frown'd, Or knew a voice but music.

_Enter_ ANTONIO _and_ AURELIA _in hermits' gowns_.

Holy hermits, for such your habits speak you, Join your prayers with a distressed virgin's, That the wits of this distracted young man may Be settled.

ANT. Sure, 'tis my sister, and that Sleeping man, Giovanno. She loves him still.

[_He wakes._

GIO. O, what a blessedness am I bereft of!

What pleasure has the least part of a minute Stolen from my eyes? methought I did embrace A brother and a friend; and both Antonio.

EVAD. Bless'd be those gentle powers that----

GIO. What, Evadne----have deceived my eyes, Take heed, Evadne, worship not a dream, 'Tis of a smoky substance, and will shrink Into the compa.s.s of report that 'twas, And not reward the labour of a word.

Were it substantial! could I now but see That man of men, I'd by my practice Of religious prayers add to the calendar One holy-day, and keep it once a year.

ANT. Behold Antonio!

EVAD. Brother!

[_To_ ANTONIO.

AUR. Brother!

[_To_ GIOVANNO.

ANT. What earthquake shakes my heart!

With what a speed she flew into his arms!

EVAD. Some power, that hearkens to the prayer of virgins, Has been distill'd to pity at my fortunes, And made Evadne happy.

AUR. Now my longing, That was grown big, is with your sight delivered Of a joy that will become a giant, and o'ercome me.

Welcome, thrice welcome, brother.

ANT. Ha, her brother! Fortune has bound me so Much in their debts, I must despair to pay 'em: Twice has my life been by these twins of goodness Pluck'd from the hand of death; that fatal enmity Between our houses here shall end, Though my father at his death commanded me To eternity of hatred.

What tie binds stronger than reprieve from death?

Come hither, friend. Now, brother, take her, Thou'st been a n.o.ble tailor.

GIO. Be moderate, my joys, do not o'erwhelm me: Here, take Aurelia: may you live happy!

O Antonio! this, this was the cause of my disguise; Sebastiano could not win Evadne's love, But Giovanno did; come now to our father's castle.