A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 134

EUG. Very poor.

VIR. Would you not gladly take a course to get money, and a great sum of money?

EUG. Yes, gladly, if your lords.h.i.+p would but show me the way.

VIR. Hark ye.[431]

EUG. O, my lord, conscience!

VIR. Fie! never talk of conscience; and for law, thou art free; for all men think him dead, and his father will be ashamed to follow it, having already given him for dead; and then, who can know it? Come, be wise, five hundred crowns I'll give.

EUG. Well, 'tis poverty that does it, and not I: when shall I be paid?

VIR. When thou hast done it.

EUG. Well, give me your hand for it, my lord.

VIR. Thou shalt.

EUG. In writing, to be paid when I have poisoned him; and think it done.

VIR. Now thou speak'st like thyself: come in, I'll give it thee.

EUG. And this shall stop thy mouth for ever, count. [_Exeunt._

LEUCOTHOe [_in male attire_] _sola_.

LEU. There is no creature here; I am the first.

Methinks this sad and solitary place Should strike a terror to such hearts as mine; But love has made me bold. The time has been,[432]

In such a place as this I should have fear'd Each rolling leaf, and trembled at a reed Stirr'd in the moons.h.i.+ne: my fearful fancy Would frame a thousand apparitions, And work some fear out of my very shadow.

I wonder Philocles is tardy thus; When last we parted, every hour (he said) Would seem a year till we were met again; It should not seem so by the haste he makes.

I'll sit and rest me; come, I know, he will.

_Enter_ PHILOCLES _and_ CLERIMONT.

PHIL. This, Clerimont, this is the happy place, Where I shall meet the sum of all my joys, And be possess'd of such a treasury As would enrich a monarch.

LEU. This is his voice! My Philocles!

PHIL. My life! my soul! what, here before me?

O, thou dost still outgo me, and dost make All my endeavours poor in the requital Of thy large favours. But I forget myself; Sweet, bid my friend here welcome; this is he, That I dare trust next mine own heart with secrets.

But why art thou disguised thus?

LEU. I durst not venture else to make escape.

PHIL. Even now, methinks, I stand as I would wish, With all my wealth about me. Such a love And such a friend, what can be added more To make a man live happy? Thou dark grove, That hast been call'd the seat of melancholy, And shelter for the discontented spirits, Sure, thou art wrong'd; thou seem'st to me a place Of solace and content; a paradise, That giv'st me more than ever court could do, Or richest palace. Bless'd be thy fair shades; Let birds of music ever chant it here, No croaking raven or ill-boding owl Make here their baleful habitation, Frighting thy walks; but may'st thou be a grove Where love's fair queen may take delight to sport: For under thee two faithful lovers meet.

Why is my fair Leucothoe so sad?

LEU. I know no cause; but I would fain be gone.

PHIL. Whither, sweet?

LEU. Any whither from hence, My thoughts divine of treason, whence I know not.

There is no creature knows our meeting here But one, and that's my maid; she has been trusty, And will be still, I hope; but yet I would She did not know it: prythee, let's away; Anywhere else we are secure from danger.

Then let's remove, but, prythee, be not sad.

What noise is that? [_Noise within._

LEU. Ah me!

PHIL. O, fear not, love! [_Draws._

_Enter_ POLYMETES, ROSCIO, EUGENIO, _and_ OFFICERS.

POL. Upon 'em, officers, yonder they are.

PHIL. Thieves! villains!

POL. Thou art the thief, and the villain too.

Give me my daughter, thou ravisher.

PHIL. First take my life.

POL. Upon 'em, I say; knock 'em down, officers, if they resist.

[_Fight. They are taken._

LEU. O, they are lost! ah, wicked, wicked Psectas!

POL. So, keep 'em fast; we'll have 'em faster shortly; and for you, minion, I'll tie a clog about your neck for running away any more.

LEU. Yet do but hear me, father.

POL. Call me not father, thou disobedient wretch, Thou runaway; thou art no child of mine; My daughter ne'er wore breeches.

LEU. O sir, my mother would have done as much For love of you, if need had so requir'd: Think not my mind transformed as my habit.

POL. Officers, away with him! peace, strumpet!

You may discharge him:[433] he's but an a.s.sistant.

LEU. O, stay and hear me yet; hear but a word, And that my last, it may be: do not spill The life of him in whom my life subsists; Kill not two lives in one! Remember, sir, I was your daughter once, once you did love me: And tell me, then, what fault can be so great To make a father murderer of his child?

For so you are in taking of his life.

O, think not, sir, that I will stay behind him, Whilst there be asps and knives, and burning coals.

No Roman dame shall in her great example Outgo my love.

PHIL. O, where will sorrow stay!

Is there no end in grief, or in my death Not punishment enough for my offence, But must her grief be added to afflict me?

Dry up those pearls, dearest Leucothoe, Or thou wilt make me doubly miserable: Preserve that life, that I may after death Live in my better part. Take comfort, dear: People would curse me if such beauty should For me miscarry: no, live happy thou, And let me suffer what the law inflicts.

LEU. My offence was as great As thine, and why should not my punishment?