Lady-Errant, The. A Tragi-Comedy - Act 2. Scene 4

ACT . II. S CEN . IV.

Lucasia to Eumela . Luc .

Eumela you are come most opportunely. Eu .
This to your Highness from my L. Olyndus .
[ delivers the Letter .] Luc .
You're happy that your Love is with you still,
That you can see, and hear, and speak to him.
Venus doth favour you more than the whole
Kingdome Eumela; Mars for her sake's kind to you. Eum .
I must confess it happy: but Olyndus
Cannot be brought to think it so; he fears
His sickness will by some be constru'd Love;
Which, if his Valour in his Country's danger
Durst give the upper hand, ev'n at the Altar,
Though Venus did her self look on, hee'd pull
Out of his Breast, and cast aside, as some
Unhallow'd part o'th' Sacrifice. Luc .
His King
Hath found him truly valiant. E'r I open
This Paper, you must state one Point, Eumela ,
Suppose me busie in the holy Rites
Of our adored Venus: if by chance.
I cast mine Eye upon some Princely visage,
And feel a Passion, is the Goddess wrong'd?
Or the Religion lesse? Eum .
Our Loves what are they
But howerly Sacrifices, only wanting
The prease and tumult of Solemnity?
If then i'th' heat and Achme of Devotion
We drink a new flame in, can it be ought
But to increase the Worship? and what Goddess
Was ever angry that the holy Priest
Increas'd her Fires, and made em burn more clear? Luc .
True, but suppose the Face then seen doth never
Appear more after, is not that a sign
The Goddess is displeas'd? Eum .
That it a while
Appears not, is to cherish, not extinguish
The Passion thence conceiv'd: as Persecutions
Make Piety stronger still, and bring th' Afflicted
Unto the glory of renowned Martyrs. Luc .
But is there then no hope but that? Alas!
This man perhaps might perish in some War
As now (But O ye Gods avert the Fate!)
And then th' unhappy sighing Virgin fall
From that her feigned Heaven. Eum .
It cannot be;
Venus destroyes her Deity, if She shew
And then delude: She will not lose what once
Sh' hath made her own; She that knits hearts by th' Eyes,
Will keep the knot fast by their Entercourse;
If you have once but seen, and lov'd, permit
The rest unto the Deity. Will it please
Your Highness to peruse the Letter? 'tis
Of moment I presume: why blush you Madam?
And, while I ask you, why look pale? Luc .
Eumela ,
The supposition's truth; lately, thou knowest.
I did assist at Venus Sacrifice;
He, whom I saw, and lov'd, saw, and lov'd too,
And now hath writ — but let Olyndus tell him
I will not see him, though he were the Soul
Of all Mankind. Eum .
I will. Luc .
Hear me — yet if
He have a true undoubted Friend, he may
Send him, I'l meet him in the Myrtle Grove,
And tell him more. Eum .
I will obey. Luc .
But stay —
And yet that's all. Eum .
I go. Luc .
The Soul doth give
Brightness to th' Eye, and some say, That the Sun,
If not enlight'ned by th' Intelligence
That doth inhabit it, would shine no more
Than a dull Clod of Earth: so Love, that is
Brighter than Eye, or Sun, if not enlight'ned
By Reason, would so much of Lustre lose
As to become but gross, and foul Desire;
I must refine his Passion; None can wooe
Nobly, but he that hath done Nobly too.
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