Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (1 of 10) - the Custom of the Country eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 94 pages of information about Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (1 of 10).

Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (1 of 10) - the Custom of the Country eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 94 pages of information about Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (1 of 10).

Hip. Be sure Sir, I shall fit you.

Arn. But spare this Virgin.

Hip. I would spare that villain first, Had cut my Fathers throat.

Arn. Bounteous Lady, If in your sex there be that noble softness, That tenderness of heart, women are crown’d for—­

Zen. Kneel not Arnoldo, doe her not that honour,
She is not worthy such submission,
I scorn a life depends upon her pity. 
Proud woman do thy worst, and arm thy anger
With thoughts as black as Hell, as hot and bloody,
I bring a patience here, shall make ’em blush,
An innocence, shall outlook thee, and death too.

Arn. Make me your slave, I give my freedom to ye,
For ever to be fetter’d to your service;
’Twas I offended, be not so unjust then,
To strike the innocent, this gentle maid
Never intended fear and doubt against you: 
She is your Servant, pay not her observance
With cruel looks, her duteous faith with death.

Hip. Am I fair now? now am I worth your liking?

Zen. Not fair, not to be liked, thou glorious Devil, Thou vernisht piece of lust, thou painted fury.

Arn. Speak gently sweet, speak gently.

Zen. I’le speak nobly. 
’Tis not the saving of a life I aim at,
Mark me lascivious woman, mark me truly,
And then consider, how I weigh thy anger. 
Life is no longer mine, nor dear unto me,
Than usefull to his honour I preserve it. 
If thou hadst studied all the courtesies
Humanity and noble blood are linkt to,
Thou couldst not have propounded such a benefit,
Nor heapt upon me such unlookt for honour
As dying for his sake, to be his Martyr,
’Tis such a grace.

Hip. You shall not want that favour, Let your bones work miracles.

Arn. Dear Lady By those fair eyes—­

Hip. There is but this way left ye To save her life.—­

Arn. Speak it, and I embrace it.

Hip. Come to my private chamber presently, And there, what love and I command—­

Arn. I’le doe it, Be comforted Zenocia.

Zen. Do not do this
To save me, do not lose your self I charge you,
I charge you by your love, that love [you] bear me;
That love, that constant love you have twin’d to me,
By all your promises, take heed you keep ’em,
Now is your constant tryal.  If thou dost this,
Or mov’st one foot, to guide thee to her lust,
My curses and eternal hate pursue thee. 
Redeem me at the base price of dis-loyalty? 
Must my undoubted honesty be thy Bawd too? 
Go and intwine thy self about that body;
Tell her, for my life thou hast lost thine honour,
Pull’d all thy vows from heaven, basely, most basely
Stoop’d to the servile flames of that foul woman,
To add an hour to me that hate thee for it,
Know thee not again, nor name thee for a Husband.

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Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (1 of 10) - the Custom of the Country from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.