Act 3 — Scene I.[3063]

Jasp. Come, my dear dear; though we have lost our way, We have not lost ourselves. Are you not weary With this night’s wand’ring, broken from your rest, And frighted with the terror that attends The darkness of this wild unpeopled place?5 Luce. No, my best friend; I cannot either fear, Or entertain a weary thought, whilst you (The end of all my full desires) stand by me. Let them that lose their hopes, and live to languish Amongst the number of forsaken lovers,10 Tell the long weary steps, and number time, Start at a shadow, and shrink up their blood, Whilst I (possest with all content and quiet) Thus take my pretty love, and thus embrace him. Jasp. You have caught me. Luce, so fast, that, whilst I live,15 I shall become your faithful prisoner, And wear these chains for ever. Come, sit down, And rest your body, too, too delicate For these disturbances.—[They sit down.] So: will you sleep? Come, do not be more able[3064] than you are;20 I know you are not skilful in these watches, For women are no soldiers. Be not nice,[3065] But take it;[3066] sleep, I say. Luce. I cannot sleep; Indeed, I cannot, friend. Jasp. Why, then we’ll sing, And try how that will work upon our senses.25 Luce. I’ll sing, or say, or any thing but sleep. Jasp. Come, little mermaid, rob me of my heart With that enchanting voice. Luce. You mock me, Jasper. [They sing.]

Jasp. Tell me, dearest, what is love? Luce. ’T is a lightning from above;30 ’T is an arrow, ’t is a fire, ’T is a boy they call Desire; ’T is a smile Doth beguile Jasp. The poor hearts of men that prove.35 Tell me more, are women true? Luce. Some love change, and so do you. Jasp. Are they fair and never kind? Luce. Yes, when men turn with the wind. Jasp. Are they froward?40 Luce. Ever toward Those that love, to love anew.

Jasp. Dissemble it no more; I see the god Of heavy sleep lay on his heavy mace44 Upon your eyelids. Luce. I am very heavy. [Sleeps.] Jasp. Sleep, sleep; and quiet rest crown thy sweet thoughts! Keep from her fair blood distempers, startings, Horrors, and fearful shapes! Let all her dreams Be joys, and chaste delights, embraces, wishes, And such new pleasures as the ravisht soul50 Gives to the senses!—So; my charms have took.— Keep her, you powers divine, whilst I contemplate Upon the wealth and beauty of her mind! She is only fair and constant, only kind, And only to thee, Jasper. Oh, my joys!55 Whither will you transport me? Let not fulness Of my poor buried hopes come up together And overcharge my spirits! I am weak. Some say (however ill) the sea and women Are govern’d by the moon; both ebb and flow,60 Both full of changes; yet to them that know, And truly judge, these but opinions are, And heresies, to bring on pleasing war Between our tempers, that without these were Both void of after-love and present fear;65 Which are the best of Cupid. Oh, thou child Bred from despair, I dare not entertain thee, Having a love without the faults of women, And greater in her perfect goods than men! Which to make good, and please myself the stronger,70 Though certainly I am certain of her love, I’ll try her, that the world and memory May sing to after-times her constancy.— [Draws his sword.] Luce! Luce! awake! Luce. Why do you fright me, friend, With those distempered looks? What makes[3067] your sword75 Drawn in your hand? Who hath offended you? I prithee, Jasper, sleep; thou art wild with watching. Jasp. Come, make your way to Heaven, and bid the world, With all the villanies that stick upon it, Farewell; you’re for another life. Luce. Oh, Jasper,80 How have my tender years committed evil, Especially against the man I love, Thus to be cropt untimely? Jasp. Foolish girl, Canst thou imagine I could love his daughter84 That flung me from my fortune into nothing? Discharged me his service, shut the doors Upon my poverty, and scorn’d my prayers, Sending me, like a boat without a mast, To sink or swim? Come; by this hand you die; I must have life and blood, to satisfy90 Your father’s wrongs.

Luce. Oh, Jasper, be not cruel!100 If thou wilt kill me, smile, and do it quickly, And let not many deaths appear before me. I am a woman, made of fear and love, A weak, weak woman; kill not with thy eyes. They shoot me through and through. Strike, I am ready;105 And, dying, still I love thee.

Vent. Whereabouts? Jasp. No more of this; now to myself again. [Aside.] Hum. There, there he stands, with sword, like martial knight, Drawn in his hand; therefore beware the fight, You that be wise; for, were I good Sir Bevis, I would not stay his coming, by your leaves.111 Vent. Sirrah, restore my daughter! Jasp. Sirrah, no. Vent. Upon him, then! [They attack Jasper, and force Luce from him.] Wife. So; down with him, down with him, down with him! Cut him i’ th’ leg, boys, cut him i’ th’ leg!116 Vent. Come your ways, minion: I ’ll provide a cage For you, you ’re grown so tame.—Horse her away. Hum. Truly, I ’m glad your forces have the day. Exeunt all except Jasper. Jasp. They are gone, and I am hurt; my love is lost,120 Never to get again. Oh, me unhappy! Bleed, bleed and die! I cannot. Oh, my folly, Thou hast betray’d me! Hope, where art thou fled? Tell me, if thou be’st any where remaining, Shall I but see my love again? Oh, no!125 She will not deign to look upon her butcher, Nor is it fit she should; yet I must venture. Oh, Chance, or Fortune, or whate’er thou art, That men adore for powerful, hear my cry, And let me loving live, or losing die! Exit.