• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Although my veins grow beggars. Now I sue

To die far from thee; may we never meet!

Were my soul bid to joy's eternal banquet,

And were assured to find thee there a guest,

I'd sup with torments and refuse that feast.

Oh, thou beguiler of man's easy trust!

"The serpent's wisdom is in women's lust."

Dies.

GOVIANUS

Is death so long a-coming to mankind

It must be met halfways? 'Las, the full time

Is to eternity but a minute, a [.]

Was that so long to stay? Oh, cruel speed!

There's few men pay their debts before their day;

If they be ready at their time, 'tis well,

And but a few that are so. What strange haste

Was made among these people! My heart weeps for't.

[To Servants] Go, bear those bodies to a place more comely.

[Servants carry out the bodies.]

Brother, I came for thy advice, but I

Find thee so ill a counsellor to thyself

That I repent my pains and depart sighing.

The body of my love is still at court;

I am not well to think on't. The poor spirit

Was with me once again about it, troth,

And I can put it off no more for shame,

Though I desire to have it haunt me still

And never give me over, 'tis so pleasing.

I must to court. I've plighted my faith to't;

'T'as opened me the way to the revenge.

Tyrant, I'll run thee on a dangerous shelf,

Though I be forced to fly this land myself.

Exit.

ACT V.ii. The court

Enter Tyrant with attendants.

TYRANT

In vain my spirit wrestles with my blood;

Affection will be mistress here on earth.

The house is hers; the soul is but a tenant.

I ha' tasked myself but with the abstinence

Of one poor hour, yet cannot conquer that;

I cannot keep from sight of her so long:

I starve mine eye too much. Go, bring her forth,

As we have caused her body to be decked

In all the glorious riches of our palace.

[Exit an attendant.]

Our mind has felt a famine for the time;

All comfort has been dear and scarce with us.

The times are altered since. Strike on, sweet harmony!

Music.

A braver world comes toward us.

Enter [First and Second] Soldiers with the Lady. They bring the body in a chair, dressed up in black velvet which sets out the paleness of the hands and face, and a fair chain of pearl 'cross her breast, and the crucifix above it. He stands silent awhile, letting the music play, beckoning the Soldiers that bring her in to make obeisance to her, and he himself makes a low honour to the body and kisses the hand. A song within, in voices.

Song.

Oh, what is beauty, that's so much adored?

A flatt'ring glass that cozens her beholders.

One night of death makes it look pale and horrid;

The dainty preserved flesh, how soon it moulders.

To love it living it bewitcheth many,

But after life is seldom heard of any.

FIRST SOLDIER

[Aside] By this hand, mere idolatry. I make curtsy

To my damnation. I have learned so much,

Though I could never know the meaning yet

Of all my Latin prayers, nor ne'er sought for't.

TYRANT

How pleasing art thou to us even in death!

I love thee yet, above all women living,

And shall do sev'n year hence.

I can see nothing to be mended in thee

But the too constant paleness of thy cheek.

I'd give the kingdom but to purchase there

The breadth of a red rose, in natural colour,

And think it the best bargain

That ever king made yet; but fate's my hindrance,

And I must only rest content with art,

And that I'll have in spite on't! Is he come, sir?

SECOND SOLDIER

Who, my lord?

TYRANT

Dull! The fellow that we sent

For a court schoolmaster, a picture-drawer,

A ladies' forenoon tutor. Is he come, sir?

FIRST SOLDIER

Not yet returned, my lord.

TYRANT

The fool belike

Makes his choice carefully, for so we charged him,

To fit our close deeds with some private hand.

It is no shame for thee, most silent mistress,

To stand in need of art,

When youth and all thy warm friends has forsook thee.

Women alive are glad to seek her friendship

To make up the fair number of their graces,

Or else the reck'ning would fall short sometimes,

And servants would look out for better wages.