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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    605Enter Em solus.
    Em. Ielousie that sharps the louers sight,
    And makes him conceiue and conster his intent,
    Hath so bewitched my louely Manuils sences,
    That he misdoubts his Em that loues his soule,
    610He doth suspect corriuals in his loue:
    Which how vntrue it is be iudge my God.
    But now no more: Here commeth Valingford:
    Shift him off now, as thou hast done the other. Enter Valingford.
    Valingf. See how Fortune presents me with the hope I lookt for.
    615Faire Em!
    Em. Who is that?
    Valingf. I am Valingford thy loue and friend.
    Em. I cry you mercie Sir: I thought so by your speech.
    Valingf. What aileth thy eyes?
    620Em. Oh blinde Sir, blind, striken blinde by mishap on a sudden.
    Valingf. But is it possible you should be taken on such a sudden;
    Infortunate Valingford to be thus crost in thy loue.
    Faire Em, I am not a little sorrie to see this thy hard hap:
    Yet neuerthelesse, I am acquainted with a learned Physitian,
    625That will do any thing for thee at my request.
    To him will I resort, and enquire his iudgement,
    As concerning the recouerie of so excellent a sence.
    Em. O Lord Sir: and of all things I cannot abide Physicke:
    The verie name thereof to me is odious.
    630Valingford. No; not the thing will doe thee so much good?
    Sweet Em, hither I came to parley of loue,
    Hoping to haue found thee in thy woonted prosperitie.
    And haue the gods so vnmercifully thwarted my expectation?
    By dealing so sinisterly with thee sweet Em?
    635Em. Good sir, no more, it fits not me
    To haue respect to such vaine fantasies,
    As idle loue presents my eares withall,
    More reason I should ghostly giue my selfe,
    To sacred prayers, for this my former sinne,
    640For which this plague is iustly fallen vpon me,
    Than to harken to the vanities of loue.
    Valingford. Yet sweet Em accept this iewel at my hand,
    Which I bestow on thee in token of my loue.
    Em. A jewell sir, what pleasure can I haue
    645In jewels, treasure, or any worldly thing
    That want my sight that should discerne thereof?
    Ah sir I must leaue you:
    The paine of mine eyes is so extreame
    I cannot long stay in a place. I take my leaue.Exit Em.
    650Valingford. Zounds, what a crosse is this to my conceit;
    But Valingford, search the depth of this deuise.
    Why may not this be fained subtiltie,
    By Mountneyes inuention, to the intent
    That I seeing such occasion should leaue off my suit,
    655And not any more persist to solicite her of loue?
    Ile trie the euent, if I can by any meanes perceiue
    The effect of this deceyte to be procured by his meanes,
    Friend Mountney the one of vs is like to repent our bargain.Exit.
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