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  • Title: Fair Em (Quarto 2, 1631)
  • Editors: Brett Greatley-Hirsch, Kevin A. Quarmby
  • ISBN:

    Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editors: Brett Greatley-Hirsch, Kevin A. Quarmby
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Fair Em (Quarto 2, 1631)

    The Millers daughter
    Mountney. For this good fortune, Venus be thou blest,
    465To meet my loue, the mistres of my heart,
    Where time and place giues opportunitie
    At full to let her vnderstand my loue.
    He turnes to Em &offers to take her by the hand, &she goes from him.
    Faire mistres, since my fortune sorts so well:
    470Heare you a word. What meaneth this?
    Nay stay faire Em.
    Em. I am going homewards, Sir:
    Mountney. Yet stay (sweet loue) to whom I must disclose
    The hidden secrets of a louers thoughts,
    475Not doubting but to finde such kinde remorse
    As naturally you are enclined to.
    Em. The Gentleman your friend Sir,
    I haue not seene him this foure dayes at the least.
    Mountney. whats that to mee? I speake not (sweet) in person of (my friend,
    480But for my selfe, whom if that loue deserue
    To haue regard being honourable loue:
    Not base affects of loose lasciuious loue,
    Whom youthfull Wantons play and dally With:
    But that Vnites in honourable bands of holy rytes,
    485And knits the sacred Knot that Gods.Here Em cuts him off.
    Em. What meane you sir to keepe me here so long?
    I cannot vnderstand you by your signes,
    You keepe a pratling with your lips,
    But neuer a word you speake that I can heare.
    490Mountney. What is she deafe? a great impediment.
    Yet remedies there are for such defects.
    Sweete Em, it is no little griefe to mee,
    To see where nature in her pride of Art
    Hath wrought perfections rich and admirable.
    495Em. Speake you to mee Sir?
    Mountney. To thee my onely ioy.
    Em. I cannot heare you.
    Mountney. Oh plague of fortune: Oh hell without compare.
    What boots it vs to gaze and not enioy?
    Em.