Act III

SCENE I. — Waltham Forest .

Enter JASPER and LUCE.

Jasp . Come, my dear dear; though we have lost our way
We have not lost ourselves. Are you not weary
With this night’s wandering, broken from your rest,
And frighted with the terror that attends
The darkness of this wild unpeopled place?

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,
Tell the long weary steps, and number time,
Start at a shadow, and shrink up their blood,
Whilst I (possessed with all content and quiet)
Thus take my pretty love, and this embrace him.

Jasp . You have caught me, Luce, so fast, that, whilst I live,
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 than you are;
I know you are not skilful in these watches,
For women are no soldiers: be not nice,
But take it; 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.

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 . Dissemble it no more; I see the god
Of heavy sleep lay on his heavy mace
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 ravished soul
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!
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 governed by the moon; both ebb and flow,
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,
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