Classic Poem

[SCENE III.]

Enter C ASTABELLA alone . Casta .

O Loue, thou chast affection of the Soule,
Without th' adultrate mixture of the bloud,
That vertue, which to goodnesse addeth good, —
The minion of heauen's heart. Heauen! is't my fate
For louing that thou lou'st, to get thy hate,
Or was my Charlemont thy chosen Loue,
And therefore hast receiu'd him to thy selfe?
Then I confesse thy anger's not unjust.
I was thy riuall. Yet to be diuorc'd
From loue, has beene a punishment enough
(Sweete heauen!) without being marryed unto hate.
Hadst thou beene pleas'd, O double miserie
Yet, since thy pleasure hath inflicted it,
If not my heart, my dutie shall submit.

Enter L EUIDULCIA , R OUSARD , C ATAPLASMA , S OQUEITE , and Fresco with a lanthorne . Leu .

Mistresse Cataplasma, good night. I pray when your Man has brought you home let him returne and light me to my house. Cata .
He shall instantly waite upon your Ladiship. Leu .
Good Mistresse Cataplasma! for my seruants are all drunke, I cannot be beholding to 'em for their attendance.

Exeunt C ATAPLASMA , S OQUEITE , and Fresco .

O here's your Bride! Rous .

And melancholique too, methinkes. Leu .
How can shee choose? Your sicknesse will
Distaste th' expected sweetnesse o' the night
That makes her heauie Rou .
That should make her light. Leu .
Looke you to that. Casta .
What sweetnesse speake you of?
The sweetnesse of the night consists in rest Rou .
With that sweetnesse thou shalt be surely blest
Unlesse my groning wake thee. Doe not moane. Leu .
She'd rather you would wake, and make her grone. Rou .
Nay 'troth, sweete heart, I will not trouble thee.
Thou shalt not lose thy maiden-head to-night. Casta .
O might that weaknesse euer be in force,
I neuer would desire to sue divorce. Rou .
Wilt goe to bed? Casta .
I will attend you, sir. Rou .
Mother, good night. Leu .
Pleasure be your bed-fellow.

Exeunt R OUSARD and C ASTABELLA .

Why sure their Generation was asleepe
When shee begot those Dormice, that shee made
Them up so weakely and imperfectly.
One wants desire, the t'other habilitie,
When my affection euen with their cold blouds
(As snow rubb'd through an actiue hand does make
The flesh to burne) by agitation is
Inflam'd, I could imbrace and entertaine
The ayre to coole it

Enter S EBASTIAN . Seba .

That but mitigates
The heate; rather imbrace and entertaine
A younger brother; he can quench the fire. Leu .

Can you so, sir? Now I beshrew your eare.
Why, bold Sebastian, how dare you approach
So neare the presence of your displeas'd Father? Seba .
Under the protection of his present absence. Leu .
Belike you knew he was abroad then? Seba .
Yes.
Let me encounter you so; I'll perswade
Your meanes to reconcile me to his loue Leu .
Is that the way? I understand you not
But for your reconcilement meete m' at home;
I'll satisfie your suite. Seba .
Within this halfe houre? Leu .

Or within this whole houre. When you will. —
A lusty bloud! has both the presence and spirit of a man. I like the freedome of his behauiour.
— Ho! — Sebastian! Gone? — Has set
My bloud o' boyling i' my veynes. And now,
Like water poured upon the ground that mixes
It selfe with eu'ry moysture it meetes, I could
Clasp with any man.

Enter Fresco with a Lanthorne .

O, Fresco, art thou come?
If t'other faile, then thou art entertain'd.
Lust is a Spirit, which whosoe'er doth raise,
The next man that encounters boldly, layes.