Philaster - 2nd Folio Edition (1679)

Actus Secundus. Scena Prima.

Enter Philaster and Bellario.

Phi.

560

ND thou shalt find her honourable boy,
Full of regard unto thy tender youth,

For thine own modesty; and for my sake,
Apter to give, than thou wilt be to ask, I, or deserve.
Bell. Sir, you did take me up when I was nothing;
And only yet am something, by being yours;
You trusted me unknown; and that which you are apt
To conster a simple innocence in me,
Perhaps, might have been craft; the cunning of a boy
Hardened in lies and theft; yet ventur'd you,

570

To part my miseries and me: for which,
I never can expect to serve a Lady
That bears more honour in her breast than you.
Phi. But boy, it will prefer thee; thou art young,
And bearest a childish overflowing love

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To them that clap thy cheeks, and speak thee fair yet.
But when thy judgment comes to rule those passions,
Thou wilt remember best those careful friends
That plac'd thee in the noblest way of life;
She is a Princess I prefer thee to.

580

    Bell. In that small time that I have seen the world,
I never knew a man hasty to part
With a servant he thought trusty; I remember
My Father would prefer the boys he kept
To greater men than he, but did it not,
Till they were grown too sawcy for himself.
    Phi. Why gentle boy, I find no fault at all in thy behaviour.
    Bell. Sir, if I have made
A fault of ignorance, instruct my youth;
I shall be willing, if not apt to learn;

590

Age and experience will adorn my mind
With larger knowledge: And if I have done
A wilful fault, think me not past all hope
For once, what Master holds so strict a hand
Over his boy, that he will part with him
Without one warning? Let me be corrected
To break my stubbornness if it be so,
Rather than turn me off, and I shall mend.
Phi. Thy love doth plead so prettily to stay,
That (trust me) I could weep to part with thee.

600

Alas! I do not turn thee off, thou knowest
It is my business that doth call thee hence,
And when thou art with her thou dwel'st with me:
Think so, and 'tis so; and when time is full,
That thou hast well discharged this heavy trust,
Laid on so weak a one, I will again
With joy receive thee; as I live, I will,
Nay weep not, gentle boy, 'Tis more than time
Thou didst attend the Princess. Bell. I am gone;
But since I am to part with you my Lord,

610

And none knows whether I shall live to do
More service for you, take this little prayer;
Heaven bless your loves, your fights, all your designs.
May sick men, if they have your wish, be well;
And Heavens hate those you curse, though I be one.   [Exit.
    Phi. The love of boyes unto their Lords is strange,
I have read wonders of it, yet this boy
For my sake (if a man may judge by looks,
And speech) would out do story. I may see
A day to pay him for his loyalty.          [Exit Phi.