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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1865]

By Root 19479 0

What's that? Who is not here? I'm forced to question it.

Some idle sounds the beaten vaults send forth.

On a sudden, in a kind of noise like a wind, the doors clattering, the tombstone flies open, and a great light appears in the midst of the tomb; his Lady, as went out, standing just before him all in white, stuck with jewels, and a great crucifix on her breast.

Mercy, look to me! Faith, I fly to thee!

Keep a strong watch about me! Now thy friendship!

Oh, never came astonishment and fear

So pleasing to mankind! I take delight

To have my breast shake and my hair stand stiff.

If this be horror, let it never die!

Came all the pains of hell in that shape to me,

I should endure 'em smiling. Keep me still

In terror, I beseech thee. I'd not change

This fever for felicity of man

Or all the pleasures of ten thousand ages.

LADY

Dear lord, I come to tell you all my wrongs.

GOVIANUS

Welcome! Who wrongs the spirit of my love?

Thou art above the injuries of blood;

They cannot reach thee now. What dares offend thee?

No life that has the weight of flesh upon't

And treads as I do can now wrong my mistress.

LADY

The peace that death allows me is not mine;

The monument is robbed. Behold, I'm gone;

My body taken up.

GOVIANUS

'Tis gone indeed!

What villain dares so fearfully run in debt

To black eternity?

LADY

He that dares do more:

The tyrant!

GOVIANUS

All the miseries below

Reward his boldness!

LADY

I am now at court

In his own private chamber. There he woos me

And plies his suit to me with as serious pains

As if the short flame of mortality

Were lighted up again in my cold breast,

Folds me within his arms and often sets

A sinful kiss upon my senseless lip,

Weeps when he sees the paleness of my cheek,

And will send privately for a hand of art

That may dissemble life upon my face

To please his lustful eye.

GOVIANUS

Oh, piteous wrongs!

Inhuman injuries without grace or mercy!

LADY

I leave 'em to thy thought, dearest of men.

My rest is lost; thou must restore 't again.

GOVIANUS

Oh, fly me not so soon!

LADY

Farewell, true lord.

Exit Lady.

GOVIANUS

I cannot spare thee yet. I'll make myself

Over to death too, and we'll walk together

Like loving spirits; I prithee let's do so!

She's snatched away by fate, and I talk sickly.

I must dispatch this business upon earth

Before I take that journey.

I'll to my brother for his aid or counsel.

So wrong'd! Oh, heav'n, put armour on my spirit!

Her body I will place in her first rest,

Or in th' attempt lock death into my breast.

Exit.

ACT V.i. Anselmus' house, the bedchamber

Enter Votarius with Anselmus the husband.

VOTARIUS

You shall stand here, my lord, unseen, and hear all.

Do I deal now like a right friend with you?

ANSELMUS

Like a most faithful.

VOTARIUS

You shall have her mind e'en as it comes to me,

Though I undo her by't. Your friendship, sir,

Is the sweet mistress that I only serve.

I prize the roughness of a man's embrace

Before the soft lips of a hundred ladies.

ANSELMUS

And that's an honest mind of thee.

VOTARIUS

Lock yourself, sir,

Into that closet, and be sure none see you.

Trust not a creature. We'll have all run clear

E'en as the heart affords it.

ANSELMUS

'Tis a match, sir.

[Retires to closet.]

VOTARIUS

Troth, he says true there. 'Tis a match indeed.

He does not know the strength of his own words,

For, if he did, there were no mast'ring on him!

H'as cleft the pin in two with a blind man's eyes.

Though I shoot wide, I'll cozen him of the game.

Exit. [Enter] Leonella above in a gallery with her love Bellarius.

LEONELLA

Dost thou see thine enemy walk?

BELLARIUS

I would I did not.

LEONELLA

Prithee rest quiet, man; I have fee'd one for him:

A trusty catchpole, too, that will be sure on him.

Thou know'st this gallery well: 'tis at thy use now;

'T'as been at mine full often. Thou mayst sit

Like a most private gallant in yon corner,

See all the play and ne'er be seen thyself.

BELLARIUS

Therefore I chose it.

LEONELLA

Thou

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