LUST'S DOMINION; OR, THE LASCIVIOUS QUEEN. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. Enter ZARACK, BALTAZAR, two Moors, taking tobacco; music sounding within: enter QUEEN MOTHER of SPAIN with two PAGES: ELEAZAR, sitting on a chair: the curtain is suddenly drawn.* ELEAZ. ON me does music spend this sound! on me, That hate all unity! ah! Zarac, Baltazar ! Q. Mo. My gracious lord. ELEAZ. Are you there with your beagles! hark, you slaves! Did not I bind you on your lives to watch, That none disturb'd us? Q. Mo. Gentle Eleazar. ELEAZ. There, off: is't you that deaf me with this noise? [Exeunt two Moors. *The curtain, in front of the old theatres, divided in the middle, and was drawn to the sides: and beside the prin cipal curtain they sometimes used others as substitutes for scenes." Malone. Q. Mo. Why is my love's aspect so grim and horrid ? Look smoothly on me ; Chime out your softest strains of harmony, And on delicious music's silken wings Send ravishing delight to my love's ears, ELEAZ. Away, away! Q. Mo. No, no, says aye; and twice away, says stay: Come, come, I'll have a kiss; but, if For one denial, you shall forfeit five. you strive, ELEAZ. Nay, prithee, good queen, leave me ; I am now sick, heavy, and dull as lead. Q. Mo. I'll make thee lighter by taking something from thee. ELEAZ. Do: take from me this ague, and these fits; That, hanging on me, Shake me in pieces, and set all my blood A boiling with the fire of rage; away, away! And laugh'st to see my wrath wear antic shapes : Q. Mo. What means my love? Burst all those wires; burn all those instruments; To make me fond and long. Oh! you men Q. Mo. Away! what way? I pr'ythee speak more kindly; Why dost thou frown? at whom? ELEAZ. At thee. Q. Mo. At me! Oh! why at me? For each contracted frown, But let my punishment be this, and this; [Kisses him. Then frown on me, I'll die: I pr'ythee smile. Bestow one smile, one little little smile VOL. II. 14 ELEAZ. Why, what to do? Lust's arms do stretch so wide That none can fill them: I lay there! away! Q. Mo. Where hast thou learn'd this language, that can say No more but two rude words? away, away. ELEAZ. Ugly as hell. Q. Mo. Thou lov❜dst me once. ELEAZ. That can thy bastards tell. Q. Mo. What is my sin? I will amend the same. ELEAZ. Hence, strumpet! use of sin makes thee past shame. Q. Mo. Strumpet! ELEAZ. Aye, strumpet. Q. Mo. Too true 'tis, woe is me! I am a strumpet, but made so by thee. ELEAZ. By me! No no, by these young bawds: fetch thee a glass Only to feed your lust? (these boys have ears,) [aside. Q. Mo. I murder thee! ELEAZ. I cannot ride through the Castilian streets, But thousand eyes, through windows and through doors, Throw killing looks at me; and every slave At Eleazar darts a finger out, And every hissing tongue cries, "There's the Moor; There goes the minion of the Spanish queen; Because some new love makes thee loathe thine old. ELEAZ. Harlot, I'll not hear thee speak. Q. Mo. I'll kill myself unless thou hear'st me speak. My husband-king upon his death-bed lies, 2 Boys. Murder! the queen's murder'd! |