Pier. What, O Heaven, what!
Mar. Dead! 290
Pier. May it not sad your thoughts, how?
Mar. Being laid upon her bed, she grasp’d my hand,
And kissing it, spake thus: “Thou very poor,
Why dost not weep? The jewel of thy brow,
The rich adornment that enchased thy breast,
Is lost: thy son, my love, is lost, is dead.
And do I live to say Antonio’s dead?
And have I lived to see his virtues blurr’d
With guiltless blots? O world, thou art too subtle
For honest natures to converse withal, 300
Therefore I’ll leave thee; farewell, mart of woe,
I fly to clip my love, Antonio!”
With that her head sunk down upon her breast;
Her cheek changed earth, her senses slept in rest,
Until my fool, that press’d unto the bed,
Screech’d out so loud that he brought back her soul,
Call’d her again, that her bright eyes gan ope,
And stared upon him. He, audacious fool,
Dared kiss her hand, wish’d her “soft rest, loved bride;”
She fumbled out, “thanks, good;” and so she died. 310
Pier. And so she died! I do not use to weep;
But by thy love (out of whose fertile sweet
I hope for as fair fruit) I am deep sad.—
I will not stay my marriage for all this.—
Castilio, Forobosco, all,
Strain all your wits, wind up invention
Unto his highest bent, to sweet this night;
Make us drink Lethe by your quaint conceits,
That for two days oblivion smother grief.
But when my daughter’s exequies approach, 320
Let’s all turn sighers. Come, despite of fate,
Sound loudest music, let’s pace out in state!
[The cornets sound.—Exeunt.
[285] “Bable” was the old form of “bauble.”
[286] “Wisards” = wise men. In the Ode on the Nativity Milton styles the wise men from the East wisards:—