Scene II THE SW/SSER

Ise. Somebody has made him drunke and now Hee playes the Termogant, beats all 'fore him, And proues a fighting General 1 indeed.

Aspra. A strange inuersion.

Ise. I co'd hardly scape him.

Aspra. Heere's the Prediction !

Enter timentes druukc.

Tim. What are you —

Both. Wee're men. 45

Tim. rie try that presently — if you bee men — Stand mee but one thrust — Come, haue at ye — {Exeunt?)

What! — D'yee giue ground ? — 'Tis base — I will giue any man A thousand Ducketts for a thrust — Tie follow 'em.

Exit TIMENTES.

SC.ENA SECVNDA \A Grove.^

ALCIDONVS, SELINA.

Alci. It wo'd be harsh indeed if it could part vs; But wee'le be one still.

Seli. How? when the Deuorse Of Brother and Sister steales into our Bloods?

Alci. In r3eath, Selina, one earth : theise two Bodies

92 THE SWISSER Act V

Into one Substance may résolue themselues, 5

By Natures law, and there perticipate, In spight of Blood or kindred.

Sell. 'Tis too terrible.

Alci. 'Tis our best Refuge. There wee may find ease To all our toy les, and vnder the soft wing Ol Blessed Peace, meet an Eternall rest. 10

Seli. Is there such Hapines?

Alci. In those blest shades Where Pure loue makes abode, the rauisht Soule Hath a Delight aboue the reatch of Sence And on those pleasant Bancks wee may renewe Our loues, an vnknowne way; the name of Brother 15

Shalbe no opposition to those ioyes; But in a ioynt Contexture wee will moue, Farr from the Rules of flesh; no whisperings Shall call our Meetings Incest, nor no shame Shadowe the Essence of our Loues

Seli. But must wee 20

Part heere so soone ?

Alci. They that desire to Hue Are to much Centered to the Earth, and Carry A waight to heauy for 'em to gett vp. What Wiseman is not vext wo'tt, when hee sees This vnfirme Flesh subiect to Leprosies 25

And worse Diseasses? Nay the Soule as long As 'tis hous'd heere, how full of Passions, And changes too, of ioy, greife, Anger, Pittie.^

Just like a frantique in an Hospitall.

But shake theise chaînes of flesh of, it returnes 30

To its first purenes.

Sell. I would not trouble mee So much, to dye, as for the Cause, the fault !

Aid. A fault, Selina; do not wrong thyne Inocence To call it soe. Is it a fault to Loue?

The Mistique Character that Nature printed 35

Within our Breasts did prompt vs to't Can wee Resist that Power? To loue was Naturall.

Sell. Like Brother and Sister.

Alci. Should wee stint our selues, And call iust Heauen to account for our Creation, When all the faculties of Reason, yeilded 40

A f reedome to vs ? No, what wee haue done Shall not be numbred to our faults, Selina; But in such White Robes as pure Loue putts on, Shall wee stand guiltles without shame, or feare. Yett why do I tell thee of Death, when Myne 45

Redeemes the peace of Both? This small drop do's it. Farwell for euer. Offers to drink Poison.

Sell. Hold ! O Alcidonus, You haue bene kind till now, neuer deny mee The last of all our Suffrings. Haue 1 borne The Burthen of 'em constantly? i\nd when 50

I looke for ease, shall I bee loaded more? Can theise Eyes see you breathles, and not close Themselues for euer? Can this hart which had

94 THE SWISSER Act Y

A Beeing but from you, now, bee without you ?

This greiues mee more then all my greifs, that you 55

Wo'd vse mee so vngently. Wee haue liued,

The worst of trouble; Loued, the best of freindship;

And lett's together dye, the Last of Sorrow.

Alci. Thy Death will more afflict mee then my ne owne.

Seli. Is not yours so to mee? Come, lett's dye nobly. 60

Alci. Thou warm'st mee with new fire. Come forth agen You Antidotes of Peace. That power y* gaue The Spiritt toy le made theise allay es. Lett's kneele, And take our last leaues, till our pale Ghosts meete Within another World. In theise sad groues, 6$

Where wee did signe our Loues, wee'le seale our Deaths; Sister and wife, farwell.

Seli. Brother and Husband, The strongest tyes of Loue, farw^ell for euer They drink.

Alci. How dost thou now?

Seli. Why well. I feele a tingling Through all my vaines; a Numbdnes seazes mee, 70

A heauy sleepe; lett vs embrace and Dye.

Alci. The ioy of a Blest life crowne thy sweet vSoule, rie follow thee, farwell.

[Enter] antharis.

Antha. I haue belyed my selfe, and lay'd the staine Of Bastardy vpon my lawfull Child, 75

Onely to crosse this Match; yett 'twill not part 'em. Shall I still striue with Heauen and fate?

[Efl/cr] ISEAS, ASPRANDVS.