Читать книгу The Maids Tragedy - Beaumont Francis - Страница 3

Dul. Madam, shall we undress you for this fight?

                  The Wars are nak'd that you must make to night.

Evad. You are very merry Dula.

Dul. I should be far merrier Madam, if it were with me as it is with you.

Eva. Why how now wench?

Dul. Come Ladies will you help?

Eva. I am soon undone.

Dul. And as soon done: Good store of Cloaths will trouble you at both.

Evad. Art thou drunk Dula?

Dul. Why here's none but we.

Evad. Thou think'st belike, there is no modesty When we are alone.

Dul. I by my troth you hit my thoughts aright.

Evad. You prick me Lady.

Dul. 'Tis against my will,

                   Anon you must endure more, and lie still.

                   You're best to practise.

Evad. Sure this wench is mad.

Dul. No faith, this is a trick that I have had Since I was fourteen.

Evad. 'Tis high time to leave it.

Dul. Nay, now I'le keep it till the trick leave me;

                   A dozen wanton words put in your head,

                   Will make you lively in your Husbands bed.

Evad. Nay faith, then take it.

Dul. Take it Madam, where? We all I hope will take it that are here.

Evad. Nay then I'le give you o're.

Dul. So will I make

                  The ablest man in Rhodes, or his heart to ake.

Evad. Wilt take my place to night?

Dul. I'le hold your Cards against any two I know.

Evad. What wilt thou do?

Dul. Madam, we'l do't, and make'm leave play too.

Evad. Aspatia, take her part.

Dul. I will refuse it.

                 She will pluck down a side, she does not use it.

Evad. Why, do.

Dul. You will find the play

                 Quickly, because your head lies well that way.

Evad. I thank thee Dula, would thou could'st instill

                 Some of thy mirth into Aspatia:

                 Nothing but sad thoughts in her breast do dwell,

                 Methinks a mean betwixt you would do well.

Dul. She is in love, hang me if I were so,

                 But I could run my Country, I love too

                 To do those things that people in love do.

Asp. It were a timeless smile should prove my cheek,

                 It were a fitter hour for me to laugh,

                 When at the Altar the Religious Priest

                 Were pacifying the offended powers

                 With sacrifice, than now, this should have been

                 My night, and all your hands have been imployed

                 In giving me a spotless offering

                 To young Amintors bed, as we are now

                 For you: pardon Evadne, would my worth

                 Were great as yours, or that the King, or he,

                 Or both thought so, perhaps he found me worthless,

                 But till he did so, in these ears of mine,

                 (These credulous ears) he pour'd the sweetest words

                 That Art or Love could frame; if he were false,

                 Pardon it heaven, and if I did want

                 Vertue, you safely may forgive that too,

                 For I have left none that I had from you.

Evad. Nay, leave this sad talk Madam.

Asp. Would I could, then should I leave the cause.

Evad. See if you have not spoil'd all Dulas mirth.

Dul. That's not so good, let'm shoot any thing but fire, I fear'm not.

Asp. Well wench, thou mayst be taken.

Evad. Ladies good night, I'le do the rest my self.

Dul. Nay, let your Lord do some.

Asp. Lay a Garland on my Hearse of the dismal Yew.

Evad. That's one of your sad songs Madam.

Asp. Believe me, 'tis a very pretty one.

Evad. How is it Madam?

Asp_. Lay a Garland on my Hearse of the dismal yew;

                 Maidens, Willow branches bear; say I died true:

                 My Love was false, but I was firm from my hour of birth;

                 Upon my buried body lay lightly gentle earth_.

Dula_. I could never have the power

                  To love one above an hour,

                  But my heart would prompt mine eye

                  On some other man to flie;_

                  Venus, fix mine eyes fast,

                  Or if not, give me all that I shall see at last.

Evad. So, leave me now.

Dula. Nay, we must see you laid.

Asp. Madam good night, may all the marriage joys

                 That longing Maids imagine in their beds,

                 Prove so unto you; may no discontent

                 Grow 'twixt your Love and you; but if there do,

                 Enquire of me, and I will guide your moan,

                 Teach you an artificial way to grieve,

                 To keep your sorrow waking; love your Lord

                 No worse than I; but if you love so well,

                 Alas, you may displease him, so did I.

                 This is the last time you shall look on me:

                 Ladies farewel; as soon as I am dead,

                 Come all and watch one night about my Hearse;

                 Bring each a mournful story and a tear

                 To offer at it when I go to earth:

                 With flattering Ivie clasp my Coffin round,

                 Write on my brow my fortune, let my Bier

                 Be born by Virgins that shall sing by course

                 The truth of maids and perjuries of men.

Evad. Alas, I pity thee. [Exit Evadne.

Omnes. Madam, goodnight.

1 Lady. Come, we'l let in the Bridegroom.

Dul. Where's my Lord?

1 Lady. Here take this light.

Dul. You'l find her in the dark.

1 Lady. Your Lady's scarce a bed yet, you must help her.

Asp. Go and be happy in your Ladies love;

                 May all the wrongs that you have done to me,

                 Be utterly forgotten in my death.

                  I'le trouble you no more, yet I will take

                 A parting kiss, and will not be denied.

                 You'l come my Lord, and see the Virgins weep

                 When I am laid in earth, though you your self

                 Can know no pity: thus I wind my self

                  Into this willow Garland, and am prouder

                  That I was once your Love (though now refus'd)

                  Than to have had another true to me.

                  So with my prayers I leave you, and must try

                  Some yet unpractis'd way to grieve and die.

Dul. Come Ladies, will you go? [Exit Aspatia.

Om. Goodnight my Lord.

Amin. Much happiness unto you all.

                   I did that Lady wrong; methinks I feel

                   Her grief shoot suddenly through all my veins;

                   Mine eyes run; this is strange at such a time.

                   It was the King first mov'd me to't, but he

                   Has not my will in keeping—why do I

                   Perplex my self thus? something whispers me,

                   Go not to bed; my guilt is not so great

                   As mine own conscience (too sensible)

                   Would make me think; I only brake a promise,

                   And 'twas the King that forc't me: timorous flesh,

                   Why shak'st thou so? away my idle fears.

                  Yonder she is, the lustre of whose eye

                  Can blot away the sad remembrance

                  Of all these things: Oh my Evadne, spare

                  That tender body, let it not take cold,

                  The vapours of the night will not fall here.

                  To bed my Love; Hymen will punish us

                  For being slack performers of his rites.

                  Cam'st thou to call me?

Evad. No.

Evad. I am not well.

Evad. Good my Lord, I cannot sleep.

Amin. Evadne, we'l watch, I mean no sleeping.

Evad. I'le not go to bed.

Amin. I prethee do.

Evad. I will not for the world.

Amin. Why my dear Love?

Evad. Why? I have sworn I will not.

Amin. Sworn!

Evad. I.

Amint. How? Sworn Evadne?

Evad. If I should name him, the matter were not great.

Amin. Come, this is but the coyness of a Bride.

Evad. The coyness of a Bride?

Amin. How prettily that frown becomes thee!

Evad. Do you like it so?

Amin. Thou canst not dress thy face in such a look But I shall like it.

Evad. What look likes you best?

Amin. Why do you ask?

Evad. That I may shew you one less pleasing to you.

Amin. How's that?

Evad. That I may shew you one less pleasing to you.

Amint. I prethee put thy jests in milder looks. It shews as thou wert angry.

Evad. So perhaps I am indeed.

Amint. Why, who has done thee wrong?

                 Name me the man, and by thy self I swear,

                 Thy yet unconquer'd self, I will revenge thee.

Evad. Now I shall try thy truth; if thou dost love me,

                 Thou weigh'st not any thing compar'd with me;

                 Life, Honour, joyes Eternal, all Delights

                 This world can yield, or hopeful people feign,

                 Or in the life to come, are light as Air

                 To a true Lover when his Lady frowns,

                 And bids him do this: wilt thou kill this man?

                 Swear my Amintor, and I'le kiss the sin off from

                 thy lips.

Amin. I will not swear sweet Love,

                 Till I do know the cause.

Evad. I would thou wouldst;

                 Why, it is thou that wrongest me, I hate thee,

                 Thou shouldst have kill'd thy self.

Amint. If I should know that, I should quickly kill

                 The man you hated.

Evad. Know it then, and do't.

Amint. Oh no, what look soe're thou shalt put on,

                 To try my faith, I shall not think thee false;

                 I cannot find one blemish in thy face,

                 Where falsehood should abide: leave and to bed;

                 If you have sworn to any of the Virgins

                 That were your old companions, to preserve

                 Your Maidenhead a night, it may be done without this

                 means.

Evad. A Maidenhead Amintor at my years?

Amint. Sure she raves, this cannot be

                 Thy natural temper; shall I call thy maids?

                 Either thy healthful sleep hath left thee long,

                 Or else some Fever rages in thy blood.

Evad. Neither Amintor; think you I am mad,

                 Because I speak the truth?

Amint. Will you not lie with me to night?

Evad. To night? you talk as if I would hereafter.

Amint. Hereafter? yes, I do.

Evad. You are deceiv'd, put off amazement, and with patience mark

                  What I shall utter, for the Oracle

                  Knows nothing truer, 'tis not for a night

                  Or two that I forbear thy bed, but for ever.

Amint. I dream,—awake Amintor!

Evad. You hear right,

                  I sooner will find out the beds of Snakes,

                  And with my youthful blood warm their cold flesh,

                  Letting them curle themselves about my Limbs,

                  Than sleep one night with thee; this is not feign'd,

                  Nor sounds it like the coyness of a Bride.

Amin. Is flesh so earthly to endure all this?

                 Are these the joyes of Marriage? Hymen keep

                 This story (that will make succeeding youth

                 Neglect thy Ceremonies) from all ears.

                 Let it not rise up for thy shame and mine

                 To after ages; we will scorn thy Laws,

                 If thou no better bless them; touch the heart

                 Of her that thou hast sent me, or the world

                 Shall know there's not an Altar that will smoak

                 In praise of thee; we will adopt us Sons;

                 Then vertue shall inherit, and not blood:

                 If we do lust, we'l take the next we meet,

                 Serving our selves as other Creatures do,

                 And never take note of the Female more,

                 Nor of her issue. I do rage in vain,

                 She can but jest; Oh! pardon me my Love;

                 So dear the thoughts are that I hold of thee,

                 That I must break forth; satisfie my fear:

                 It is a pain beyond the hand of death,

                 To be in doubt; confirm it with an Oath, if this be true.

Evad. Do you invent the form:

                  Let there be in it all the binding words

                  Devils and Conjurers can put together,

                  And I will take it; I have sworn before,

                  And here by all things holy do again,

                  Never to be acquainted with thy bed.

                  Is your doubt over now?

Amint. I know too much, would I had doubted still;

                  Was ever such a marriage night as this!

                  You powers above, if you did ever mean

                  Man should be us'd thus, you have thought a way

                  How he may bear himself, and save his honour:

                  Instruct me in it; for to my dull eyes

                  There is no mean, no moderate course to run,

                   I must live scorn'd, or be a murderer:

                  Is there a third? why is this night so calm?

                  Why does not Heaven speak in Thunder to us,

                  And drown her voice?

Evad. This rage will do no good.

Amint. Evadne, hear me, thou hast ta'ne an Oath,

                 But such a rash one, that to keep it, were

                 Worse than to swear it; call it back to thee;

                 Such vows as those never ascend the Heaven;

                 A tear or two will wash it quite away:

                 Have mercy on my youth, my hopeful youth,

                  If thou be pitiful, for (without boast)

                 This Land was proud of me: what Lady was there

                 That men call'd fair and vertuous in this Isle,

                 That would have shun'd my love? It is in thee

                 To make me hold this worth—Oh! we vain men

                 That trust out all our reputation,

                 To rest upon the weak and yielding hand

                 Of feeble Women! but thou art not stone;

                 Thy flesh is soft, and in thine eyes doth dwell

                 The spirit of Love, thy heart cannot be hard.

                 Come lead me from the bottom of despair,

                 To all the joyes thou hast; I know thou wilt;

                 And make me careful, lest the sudden change

                 O're-come my spirits.

Evad. When I call back this Oath, the pains of hell inviron me.

Evad. Why so perhaps they are.

Amint. I'le drag thee to my bed, and make thy tongue

                  Undo this wicked Oath, or on thy flesh

                  I'le print a thousand wounds to let out life.

Evad. I fear thee not, do what thou dar'st to me;

                   Every ill-sounding word, or threatning look

                   Thou shew'st to me, will be reveng'd at full.

Amint. It will not sure Evadne.

Evad. Do not you hazard that.

Amint. Ha'ye your Champions?

Evad. Alas Amintor, thinkst thou I forbear

                  To sleep with thee, because I have put on

                  A maidens strictness? look upon these cheeks,

                  And thou shalt find the hot and rising blood

                  Unapt for such a vow; no, in this heart

                  There dwels as much desire, and as much will

                  To put that wisht act in practice, as ever yet

                  Was known to woman, and they have been shown

                  Both; but it was the folly of thy youth,

                  To think this beauty (to what Land soe're

                  It shall be call'd) shall stoop to any second.

                  I do enjoy the best, and in that height

                  Have sworn to stand or die: you guess the man.

Amint. No, let me know the man that wrongs me so,

                  That I may cut his body into motes,

                  And scatter it before the Northern wind.

Evad. You dare not strike him.

Amint. Do not wrong me so;

                  Yes, if his body were a poysonous plant,

                  That it were death to touch, I have a soul

                  Will throw me on him.

Evad. Why 'tis the King.

Amint. The King!

Evad. What will you do now?

Amint. 'Tis not the King.

Evad. What, did he make this match for dull Amintor?

Amint. Oh! thou hast nam'd a word that wipes away

                  All thoughts revengeful: in that sacred name,

                  The King, there lies a terror: what frail man

                  Dares lift his hand against it? let the Gods

                  Speak to him when they please;

                  Till then let us suffer and wait.

Evad. Why should you fill your self so full of heat,

                  And haste so to my bed? I am no Virgin.

Amint. What Devil put it in thy fancy then

                  To marry me?

Evad. Alas, I must have one

                  To Father Children, and to bear the name

                  Of Husband to me, that my sin may be more honourable.

Amint. What a strange thing am I!

Evad. A miserable one; one that my self am sorry for.

Amint. Why shew it then in this,

                   If thou hast pity, though thy love be none,

                   Kill me, and all true Lovers that shall live

                   In after ages crost in their desires,

                   Shall bless thy memory, and call thee good,

                   Because such mercy in thy heart was found,

                   To rid a lingring Wretch.

Evad. I must have one

                   To fill thy room again, if thou wert dead,

                   Else by this night I would: I pity thee.

Amint. These strange and sudden injuries have faln

                  So thick upon me, that I lose all sense

                  Of what they are: methinks I am not wrong'd,

                  Nor is it ought, if from the censuring World

                   I can but hide it—Reputation,

                  Thou art a word, no more; but thou hast shown

                  An impudence so high, that to the World

                   I fear thou wilt betray or shame thy self.

Evad. To cover shame I took thee, never fear

                  That I would blaze my self.

Amint. Nor let the King

                  Know I conceive he wrongs me, then mine honour

                  Will thrust me into action, that my flesh

                  Could bear with patience; and it is some ease

                  To me in these extreams, that I knew this

                  Before I toucht thee; else had all the sins

                  Of mankind stood betwixt me and the King,

                   I had gone through 'em to his heart and thine.