Berinthia kills her brother Sebastiano sleeping. Cast. Sir, if the opportunity I use Seb. Prithee, boy, be patient. The more I strive to throw off the remembrance Cast. Alas, they are past; Bind up your own for honour's sake, and shew Seb. Alas, good boy, it will but add more weight It has th' exactest unity, but it cannot Cast. Sir, this your couch Seems to invite some small repose: A little leave to sing. BERINTHIA enters softly. Cast. Sweet sleep charm his sad senses; And gentle thoughts let fall Your flowing numbers here; and round about That none offend his quiet. Sleep begins [She sings. And dream on him that dreams not what I am. [She lies down by him. Ber. Nature doth wrestle with me, but revenge Thou art the first shall tell Antonio's ghost, [She stabs him upon his couch. Seb. (waking) Oh, stay thy hand, Berinthia! no: Thou'st done't. I wish thee heaven's forgiveness. I cannot Tarry to hear thy reasons; at many doors My life runs out, and yet Berinthia Doth in her name give me more wounds than these. [Dies. [Act v., Sc. 3.] THE POLITICIAN. A TRAGEDY [PUBLISHED 1655: PRODUCED POSSIBLY ABOUT 1641]. BY JAMES SHIRLEY Marpisa widow of Count Altomarus is advanced to be Queen to the King of Norway, by the practices of her paramour Gotharus. She has by her first husband a young son Haraldus; to secure whose succession to the crown by the aid of Gotharus (in prejudice of the king's son, the lawful heir) she tells Gotharus that the child is his. He believes her, and tells Haraldus; who taking to heart his mother's dishonour, and his own stain of bastardy, falls into a mortal sickness. QUEEN. HARALDUS. Queen. How is it with my child? Yet I must tell you truth, I cannot live. Against my will; and having my desires, Queen. What is't hath made The thought of life unpleasant? which does court And art can study for thee, rich in all things Thy wish can be ambitious of, yet all These treasures nothing to thy mother's love, Har. Oh take heed, mother. Heaven has a spacious ear, and power to punish Queen. Thou art dejected. Have but a will, and live. Har. "Tis in vain, mother. Queen. Sink with a fever into earth! Look up, thou shalt not die. Har. I have a wound within, You do not see, more killing than all fevers. Queen. A wound? where? who has murther'd thee? Har. Gotharus Queen. Ha! Furies persecute him! Har. Oh, pray for him: It is my duty, though he gave me death. Queen. How, thy father? Har. He told me so, and with that breath destroy'd me. I felt it strike upon my spirits, mother : Would I had ne'er been born! Queen. Believe him not. Har. Oh do not add another sin to what Is done already; death is charitable, To quit me from the scorn of all the world. Queen. By all my hopes, Gotharus has abused thee. Thou art the lawful burthen of my womb; Thy father Altomarus. Har. Ha! Queen. Before whose spirit (long since taken up To meet with saints and troops angelical) I dare again repeat, thou art his son. Har. Ten thousand blessings now reward my mother! Speak it again, and I may live: a stream Of pious joy runs through me; to my soul You've struck a harmony, next that in heaven. Can you without a blush call me your child, Dwell in your blood for ever: speak it once, Queen. Were it my latest breath, Thou'rt his and mine, Har. Enough, my tears do flow To give you thanks for't: I would you could resolve me But one truth more; why did my lord Gotharus Call me the issue of his blood? Har. "Tis too late To call 'em back. He thinks I am his son. Queen. I have confess'd too much, and tremble with And heaven, if there be mercy to a crime His active brain for thy advancement, by But thou hast no such stain; thy birth is innocent, Or may I perish ever: 'tis a strange A balsam to thy wound. Live, my Haraldus, And with what tears I'll wash away my sin. Queen. Thou art not. Har. But I am not found, while you are lost. No time Queen. Will nothing comfort thee?1 Har. Give me your blessing; and, within my heart, [Act iv., Sc. 3.8] THE BROTHERS. A COMEDY [PUBLISHED 1653: LICENSED 1626]. BY JAMES SHIRLEY Don Ramires leaves his son Fernando with a heavy curse, and a threat of disinheriting, if he do not renounce Felisarda, the poor niece of Don Carlos, whom he courts, when by his father's command he should address Jacinta the daughter and rich heiress of Carlos, his younger brother Francisco's Mistress. FERNANDO. FRANCISCO. Fer. Why does not all the stock of thunder fall? Or the fierce winds, from their close caves let loose, Now shake me into atoms? [The King enters, four lines omitted.] Mamillus in the Winter's Tale in this manner droops and dies from a conceit of his mother's dishonour. '[Dyce's edition, vol. v.] Fran. Fie, noble brother, what can so deject With all the miseries of man, and triumph Fer. Yes, Francisco : He hath left his curse upon me. Fran. How? Fer. His curse: dost comprehend what that word carries, Shot from a father's angry breath? unless I tear poor Felisarda from my heart, He hath pronounc'd me heir to all his curses. Does this fright thee, Francisco? Thou hast cause To dance in soul for this: 'tis only I Must lose, and mourn; thou shalt have all; I am [Act iii., Sc. 1.1] Don Ramires is seized with a mortal sickness, but forbids Fernando to approach his chamber till he shall send for him, on pain of his dying curse. FERNANDO. Fer. This turn is fatal, and affrights me; but Enter Servant and Physician. VOL. IV.-25 |