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(From The Maid’s Tragedy)
ASPATIA. ’T is enough, my wench. | |
| Show me the piece of needlework you wrought. | |
ANTIPHILA. Of Ariadne, madam?
ASP. Yes, that piece. | |
| This should be Theseus; he ’s a cozening face. | |
You meant him for a man?
ANT. He was so, madam. | 5 |
| ASP. Why, thus, ’t is well enough. Never look back, | |
| You have a full wind and a false heart, Theseus. | |
| Does not the story say his keel was split, | |
| Or his masts spent, or some kind rock or other | |
Met with his vessel?
ANT. Not as I remember. | 10 |
| ASP. It should have been so. Could the gods know this, | |
| And not of all their number raise a storm? | |
| But they are all as evil. This false smile | |
| Was well expressed; just such another caught me. | |
| You shall not go so. | 15 |
| Antiphila, in this place work a quicksand, | |
| And over it a shallow smiling water, | |
| And his ship ploughing it; and then a tear: | |
| Do that tear bravely, wench. | |
| ANT. ’T will wrong the story. | 20 |
| ASP. ’T will make the story, wronged by wanton poets, | |
| Live long and be believed. But where ’s the lady? | |
| ANT. There, madam. | |
| ASP. Fie, you have missed it here, Antiphila; | |
| You are much mistaken, wench: | 25 |
| These colors are not dull and pale enough | |
| To show a soul so full of misery | |
| As this sad lady’s was. Do it by me, | |
| Do it again by me, the lost Aspatia; | |
| And you shall find all true but the wild island. | 30 |
| Suppose I stand upon the sea-beach now, | |
| Mine arms thus, and mine hair blown with the wind, | |
| Wild as that desert; and let all about me | |
| Tell that I am forsaken. Do my face | |
| (If thou hadst ever feeling of a sorrow) | 35 |
| Thus, thus, Antiphila: strive to make me look | |
| Like Sorrow’s monument; and the trees about me, | |
| Let them be dry and leafless; let the rocks | |
| Groan with continual surges; and behind me | |
| Make all a desolation. | 40 |
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