Classic Poem

ACT II. Scene VI.

Charistus, Olyndus. Cha .

Not see me, say you, though I were the Soul
Of all Mankind? Olyn .
They were the words return'd —
But if he have a true undoubted friend,
Send him, I'l tell him more. Cha .
Have I deserted
My Country, now in danger, where I had
Took Honour Captive, and for ever fixt her
As an Intelligence unto my Sword,
To move and guide it? have I scorn'd my Fortunes,
And laid aside the Prince? have I contemn'd
That much priz'd thing call'd Life, and wrestled with
Both Winds and Flouds, through which I have arriv'd
Hither at last? and all this not to see her? Olyn .
Doth She betray, or undisguise you to
The State? Doth She forbid you, Sir, to love?
Affection is not wanting, where 'tis wise.
She only doth forbid you that you see her. Cha .
Only forbid me to be happy, only
Forbid me to enjoy my self; What could
She more, were I her Enemy? Olyndus
Hast thou at no time told her, that there was
A Cretan call'd thee Friend? Olyn .
Why doe you ask? Cha .
Perhaps Sh' hath found this way to send for thee. Olyn .
Though I have thought it worth the boasting, that
Charistus is my friend, yet by that Word,
Sacred to Noble Souls, I never had
So much accesse to tell her any thing,
Much lesse my Friendship. Cha .
Thou shalt goe Olyndus . Olyn .
When my eyes see her, yours doe; when I talk,
'Tis you that talk; we are true friends, and one,
Nay that one interchang'd; for I am you. Cha .
'Tis true thou art my friend, so much my friend,
That my self am not more my self, than thou art.
If thou dost goe. I goe — — But stay — — Didst not
Thou say mine eyes were thine? thou didst: if that
Be so, then thou must love her too, and then — —
Olyndus , thou must stay. Olyn .
She loves you so,
(As my Eumela doth informe me) that
No humane Image can deface the Print
That you have drawn i'th' Tablet of her Soul. Cha .
If that She loves me so, why then She must
Love thee so too; for thou and I are one. Olyn .
Why then, Sir, if you go your self, the issue
Will be the same however, so, when She
Loves you, Shee'l love me too. Cha .
We are both one
In hearts and minds Olyndus : but those Minds
Are cloath'd with Bodies, Bodies that do oft —
I know not what — yet thou hast an Eumela ,
A fair Eumela trust me — Thou must go —
But use not any Language, Gesture, Looks,
That may be constru'd ought above Respect;
For thou art young and Beautiful, & Valiant,
And all that Ladies long for. Olyn .
When I prove
So treacherous to my Friend, my self, my fair
Eumela , mark me with that hatefull brand
That Ignominy hath not discover'd yet,
But doth reserve to sear the foulest Monster
That shall appear in Nature. Cha .
I beleeve thee:
Yet something bids me still not let thee go.
But I'l not hearken to it; though my Soul
Should tell me 'twere not fit, I'd not beleeve
My Soul could think so. Olyn .
How resolve you then? Cha .
Do what thou wilt. I do beleeve — and yet
I do — I know not what — O my Lucasia !
O my Olyndus ! divers waies I bend,
Divided 'twixt the Lover, and the Friend.