A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ix Part 61

Zounds, he looks as though his mother were a midwife.

SOPHOS.

Now, gentle Jove, great monarch of the world, Grant good success unto my wand'ring hopes.

CHURMS.

Now Phoebus' silver eye is drench'd in western deep, And Luna 'gins to show her splendent rays, And all the harmless quiristers of woods Do take repose, save only Philomel; Whose heavy tunes do evermore record With mournful lays the losses of her love.

Thus far, fair love, we pa.s.s in secret sort Beyond the compa.s.s of thy father's bounds, Whilst he on down-soft bed securely sleeps, And not so much as dreams of our depart The dangers pa.s.s'd, now think on nought but love; I'll be thy dear, be thou my heart's delight.

SOPHOS.

Nay, first I'll send thy soul to coal-black night. [_Aside_.]

CHURMS.

Thou promis'dst love, now seal it with a kiss.

FORTUNATUS.

Nay, soft, sir; your mark is at the fairest.

Forswear her love, and seal it with a kiss Upon the burnish'd splendour of this blade, Or it shall rip the entrails of thy peasant heart.

SOPHOS.

Nay, let me do it, that's my part.

CHURMS.

You wrong me much, to rob me of my love.

SOPHOS.

Avaunt, base braggard! Lelia's mine.

CHURMS.

She lately promis'd love to me.

FORTUNATUS.

Peace, night-raven, peace! I'll end this controversy.

Come, Lelia, stand between them both, As equal judge to end this strife: Say which of these shall have thee to his wife.

I can devise no better way than this.

Now choose thy love, and greet him with a kiss.

LELIA.

My choice is made, and here it is.

[_She kisses Sophos_.

SOPHOS.

See here the mirror of true constancy, Whose steadfast love deserves a prince's worth.

LELIA.

Master Churms, are you not well?

I must confess I would have chosen you, But that I ne'er beheld your legs till now; Trust me, I never look'd so low before.

CHURMS.

I know, you use to look aloft.

LELIA.

Yet not so high as your crown.

CHURMS.

What, if you had?

LELIA.

Faith, I should ha' spied but a calf's head.

CHURMS.

Zounds, cosen'd of the wench, and scoff'd at too!

'Tis intolerable; and shall I lose her thus?

How it mads me, that I brought not my sword And buckler with me.

FORTUNATUS.

What, are you in your sword-and-buckler terms?

I'll put you out of that humour.

There, Lelia sends you that by me, And that, to recompense your love's desires; And that, as payment for your well-earn'd hire. [_Beats him_.

Go, get thee gone, and boast of Lelia's love.

CHURMS.

Where'er I go, I'll leave with her my curse, And rail on you with speeches vild.

FORTUNATUS.

A crafty knave was never so beguil'd.

Now Sophos' hopes have had their lucky haps, And he enjoys the presence of his love: My vow's perform'd, and I am full reveng'd Upon this h.e.l.l-bred race of cursed imps.

Now rests nought but my father's free consent, To knit the knot that time can ne'er untwist, And that, as this, I likewise will perform.

No sooner shall Aurora's pearled dew O'erspread the mantled earth with silver drops, And Phoebus bless the orient with a blush, To chase black night to her deformed cell, But I'll repair unto my father's house, And never cease with my enticing words, To work his will to knit this Gordian knot: Till when I'll leave you to your am'rous chat.

Dear friend, adieu; fair sister, too, farewell: Betake yourselves unto some secret place, Until you hear from me how things fall out.

[_Exit_ FORTUNATUS.

SOPHOS.

We both do wish a fortunate good-night.

LELIA.

And pray the G.o.ds to guide thy steps aright.

SOPHOS.

Now come, fair Lelia, let's betake ourselves Unto a little hermitage hereby, And there to live obscured from the world, Till fates and fortune call us thence away, To see the sunshine of our nuptial day.

See how the twinkling stars do hide their borrow'd shine, As half-asham'd their l.u.s.tre is so stain'd By Lelia's beauteous eyes, that shine more bright Than twinkling stars do in a winter's night-- In such a night did Paris win his love.

LELIA.

In such a night Aeneas prov'd unkind.

SOPHOS.

In such a night did Troilus court his dear.

LELIA.

In such a night fair Phillis was betray'd.