A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 26

Now weary lay thee down, thy fortune to fulfil: Go, yield thee captive to thy care, to save thy life or spill.

The pleasures of the field, the prospect of delight, The blooming trees, the chirping birds, are grievous to thy sight.

The hollow, craggy rock, the shrieking owl to see, To hear the noise of serpent's hiss, that is thy harmony.

For as unto the sick all pleasure is in vain, So mirth unto the wounded mind increaseth but his pain.

But, heavens! what do I see? thou nymph or lady fair, Or else thou G.o.ddess of the grove, what mak'st thee to repair To this unhaunted place, thy presence here unfit?

FIDELIA.

Ancient father, let it not offend thee any whit, To find me here alone. I am no G.o.ddess, I, But a mortal maid, subject to misery.

And better that I might lament my heavy moan, I secret came abroad to recreate myself awhile alone.

BOMELIO.

Take comfort, daughter mine, for thou hast found him then, That is of others all that live the most accursed'st man.

O, I have heard it said, our sorrows are the less, If in our anguish we may find a partner in distress.

FIDELIA.

O father! but my grief relieved cannot be: My hope is fled, my help in vain, my hurt my death must be.

Yet not the common death of life that here is led, But such a death as ever kills, and yet is never dead.

BOMELIO.

Fair maid, I have been well acquainted with that fit: Sometime injured with the like, I learn to comfort it.

Come, rest thee here with me, with[in] this hollow cave; There will I reckon up at large the horrors that I have.

FIDELIA.

I thank you, father; but I must needs walk another way.

BOMELIO.

Nay, gentle damsel, be content a while with me to stay.

FIDELIA.

The longer that I stay with you, the greater is my grief.

BOMELIO.

The longer that you stay with me, the sooner is relief.

FIDELIA.

I am provided other ways; good father, let me go.

BOMELIO.

To him that off'reth thee no wrong, be not uncourteous so.

FIDELIA.

Perhaps another time I'll come, and visit thee.

BOMELIO.

Both then and now, if so you please, you shall right welcome be.

[_Enter_ ARMENIO.

ARMENIO.

Shall she be welcome unto thee, old wretch, indeed?

I'll welcome both of you: come, maid, away with speed.

FIDELIA.

O brother!

ARMENIO.

Brother! Peace!

FIDELIA.

Good father, help me now.

BOMELIO.

Have I no weapons, wretch that I am? Well, youth, I'll meet with you.

ARMENIO.

Must you be gone? is this your meeting-place?

Come, get you home; and pack you, sir, apace.

Were't not for reverence of thine age, I swear, Thou should'st accurse the time I met thee here.

But, i'faith, sister, my father shall welcome you.

BOMELIO.

Go tell thine errand, if thou canst.

FIDELIA.

Hermione, adieu; Ten times adieu: farewell for ever now.

ARMENIO.

I thank thee. Fortune, that thou didst this deed allow.

[_Exeunt_.

BOMELIO.

Thou heaven and earth, and ye eternal lamps That restless keep his course in order due; Thou, Phoebe bright, that scatterest the damps Of darksome night, I make my plaints to you.

And thou, Alecto, hearken to my call; Let fall a serpent from thy snaky hair; Tisiphone, be swift to plague them all, That make a pastime of my care and fear!

And thou, O Jove, that by thy great foresight Rulest the earth and reign'st above the skies; That wreak'st the wrongs of them that master right Against the wretches that thy name despise.

And Rhadamanth, thou judge of hateful h.e.l.l, Where d.a.m.ned ghosts continual moaning make, Send forth a fury that may further well The just revenge that here I undertake.

Henceforth accursed be thou evermore, Accursed all thou tak'st in hand to do, The time, the day, accursed be the hour, The earth, the air, and all that 'long thereto!

Dole and despair henceforth be thy delight, Wrapped now in present and woes to come, To wail the day and weep the weary night; And from this time henceforth I strike thee dumb.

Think'st thou I knew thee not? Yes, well, i-wis, And that thy sister, daughter to my prince.

Now brag abroad what thou hast got by this: So live thou dumb: that be thy recompense; And when thy ghost forsakes thy body quite, Vengeance I wish upon thy soul to light.

_Enter_ HERMIONE.

HERMIONE.

Good even, good father: pardon my rudeness here.

BOMELIO.

O joy and grief! I will dissemble yet my cheer. [_Aside_.

HERMIONE.

Good sir, methought I heard you speak of one right now, Daughter unto a prince: that made me bold to trouble you.