Ant. "Tis done. Sebastiano shall report Antonio falls in a duel by the sword of Sebastiano. Sebastiano is disconsolate for having killed his friend. In his penitence, he is visited by Antonio's sister, Castabella, disguised as a page. Cast. He that hath sent you, sir, this gift, did love you; You'll say yourself he did. Seb. Ha, name him prithee. Cast. The friend I came from was Antonio. Seb. Who hath sent thee To tempt Sebastiano's soul to act on thee Another death, for thus affrighting me? Cast. Indeed I do not mock, nor come to affright you; Heaven knows my heart. I know Antonio's dead. But 'twas a gift he in his life design'd To you, and I have brought it. Seb. Thou dost not promise cozenage: what gift is 't? I was his boy; but never did boy lose So kind a master; in his life he promis'd And named you, sir, if heaven should point out And good opinion to me, Seb. Can it be Thou wert his boy? Oh, thou should'st hate me then. Thou Thou shew'st thee now unfaithful, to accept His cruel'st enemy. Cast. Indeed I am sure it was; he spoke all truth; To be your boy; alas, I am willing, sir, Seb. All is as true As oracle by heaven; dost thou believe so? Seb. Yet be not rash; 'Tis no advantage to belong to me: I have no power nor greatness in the court So much observance, as I shall expect Cast. All the ambition of my thoughts shall be Seb. Besides, I shall afflict thy tenderness Only in love with sorrow, never merry, In th' height I. break them. Come, I shall undo thee. In any of your sorrows; I ne'er had So hard a heart but I could shed a tear Hh 2 To To bear my master company. Seb. I will not leave thee, if thou'll dwell with me, For wealth of Indies: be my loved boy Come in with me; thus I'll begin to do Some recompence for dead Antonio. Berinthia kills her brother Sebastiano sleeping. Cast. Sir, if the opportunity I use To comfort you be held a fault, and that Seb. Prithee boy, he 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 Accord my thoughts. 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 (She sings.) Your flowing numbers here; and round about That That none offend his quiet. Sleep begins And dream on him that dreams not what I am. (She lies down by him.) Ber. Nature doth wrestle with me, but revenge Doth arm my love against it; justice is Above all tie of blood. Sebastiano, Thou art the first shall tell Antonio's ghost, How much I lov'd him. (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 can not 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. Be friends again. (Dies.) THE THE POLITICIAN. A TRAGEDY. 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. How is it with my child? Yet I must tell you truth, I cannot live. Queen. What is't hath made The thought of life unpleasant? which does court 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. |