A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ix Part 46

NURSE.

Peace, mistress, stand aside; here comes somebody.

_Enter_ SOPHOS.

SOPHOS.

_Optatis non est spes ulla potiri_.

Yet, Phoebus, send down thy tralucent beams, Behold the earth that mourns in sad attire; The flowers at Sophos' presence 'gin to droop, Whose trickling tears for Lelia's loss Do turn the plains into a standing pool.

Sweet Cynthia, smile, cheer up the drooping flowers; Let Sophos once more see a sunshine-day: O, let the sacred centre of my heart-- I mean fair Lelia, nature's fairest work-- Be once again the object to mine eyes.

O, but I wish in vain, whilst her I wish to see: Her father he obscures her from my sight, He pleads my want of wealth, And says it is a bar in Venus' court.

How hath fond fortune by her fatal doom Predestin'd me to live in hapless hopes, Still turning false her fickle, wavering wheel!

And love's fair G.o.ddess with her Circian cup Enchanteth so fond Cupid's poison'd darts, That love, the only loadstar of my life, Doth draw my thoughts into a labyrinth.

But stay: What do I see? what do mine eyes behold?

O happy sight! It is fair Lelia's face!

Hail, heav'n's bright nymph, the period of my grief, Sole guidress of my thoughts, and author of my joy.

LELIA.

Sweet Sophos, welcome to Lelia; Fair Dido, Carthaginians' beauteous queen, Not half so joyful was, when as the Trojan prince Aeneas landed on the sandy sh.o.r.es Of Carthage' confines, as thy Lelia is To see her Sophos here arriv'd by chance.

SOPHOS.

And bless'd be chance, that hath conducted me Unto the place where I might see my dear, As dear to me as is the dearest life.

NURSE.

Sir, you may see that fortune is your friend.

SOPHOS.

Yet fortune favours fools.

NURSE.

By that conclusion you should not be wise. [_Aside_.

LELIA.

Foul fortune sometimes smiles on virtue fair.

SOPHOS.

'Tis then to show her mutability: But since, amidst ten thousand frowning threats Of fickle fortune's thrice-unconstant wheel, She deigns to show one little pleasing smile, Let's do our best false fortune to beguile, And take advantage of her ever-changing moods.

See, see, how Tellus' spangled mantle smiles, And birds do chant their rural sugar'd notes, As ravish'd with our meeting's sweet delights: Since then, there fits for love both time and place, Let love and liking hand in hand embrace.

NURSE.

Sir, the next way to win her love is to linger her leisure. I measure my mistress by my lovely self: make a promise to a man, and keep it. I have but one fault--I ne'er made promise in my life, but I stick to it tooth and nail. I'll pay it home, i' faith. If I promise my love a kiss, I'll give him two; marry, at first I will make nice, and cry _Fie, fie_; and that will make him come again and again. I'll make him break his wind with come-agains.

SOPHOS.

But what says Lelia to her Sophos' love?

LELIA.

Ah, Sophos, that fond blind boy, That wrings these pa.s.sions from my Sophos' heart, Hath likewise wounded Lelia with his dart; And force perforce, I yield the fortress up: Here, Sophos, take thy Lelia's hand, And with this hand receive a loyal heart.

High Jove, that ruleth heaven's bright canopy, Grant to our love a wish'd felicity!

SOPHOS.

As joys the weary pilgrim by the way, When Phoebus wanes[144] unto the western deep, To summon him to his desired rest; Or as the poor distressed mariner, Long toss'd by shipwreck on the foaming waves, At length beholds the long-wish'd haven, Although from far his heart doth dance for joy: So love's consent at length my mind hath eas'd; My troubled thoughts by sweet content are pleas'd.

LELIA.

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 scorns proud Mammon's golden mines, And better likes of learning's sacred lore, Than of fond fortune's glistering mockeries.

But, Sophos, try thy wits, and use thy utmost skill To please my father, and compa.s.s his goodwill.

SOPHOS.

To what fair Lelia wills doth Sophos yield content; Yet that's the troublous gulf my silly ship must pa.s.s: But, were that venture harder to atchieve Than that of Jason for the golden fleece, I would effect it for sweet Lelia's sake, Or leave myself as witness of my thoughts.

NURSE.

How say you by that, mistress? He'll do anything for your sake.

LELIA.

Thanks, gentle love: But, lest my father should suspect-- Whose jealous head with more than Argus' eyes Doth measure ev'ry gesture that I use-- I'll in, and leave you here alone.

Adieu, sweet friend, until we meet again.

Come, nurse, follow me.

[_Exeunt_ LELIA _and_ NURSE.

SOPHOS.

Farewell, my love, fair fortune be thy guide!

Now, Sophos, now bethink thyself, how thou May'st win her father's will to knit this happy knot.

Alas! thy state is poor, thy friends are few.

And fear forbids to tell my fate to friends:[145]

Well, I'll try my fortunes; And find out some convenient time, When as her father's leisure best shall serve To confer with him about fair Lelia's love.

[_Exit_ SOPHOS.

_Enter_ GRIPE, _old_ PLOD-ALL, CHURMS, _and_ WILL CRICKET.

GRIPE.

Neighbour Plod-all and Master Churms, y'are welcome to my house. What news in the country, neighbour? You are a good husband; you ha' done sowing barley, I am sure?

PLOD-ALL.

Yes, sir, an't please you, a fortnight since.

GRIPE.

Master Churms, what say my debtors? can you get any money of them yet?

CHURMS.

Not yet, sir; I doubt they are scarce able to pay. You must e'en forbear them awhile; they'll exclaim on you else.

GRIPE.

Let them exclaim, and hang, and starve, and beg. Let me ha' my money.

PLOD-ALL.

Here's this good fellow too, Master Churms, I must e'en put him and his father over into your hands; they'll pay me no rent.

WILL CRICKET.

This good fellow, quotha? I scorn that base, broking, brabbling, brawling, b.a.s.t.a.r.dly, bottle-nosed, beetle-browed, bean-bellied name.

Why, Robin Goodfellow is this same cogging, pettifogging, crackropes, calf-skin companion. Put me and my father over to him? Old Silver-top, and you had not put me before my father, I would ha'--