Volume I Part 78 (1/2)

_Silv._ I am not-- well--

_Cleo._ Sleep, Sir, will give you ease.

_Silv._ I cannot sleep, my Wounds do rage and burn so, as they put me past all power of rest.

_Cleo._ We'll call your Surgeon, Sir.

_Silv._ He can contribute nothing to my Cure, But I must owe it all to thee, _Cleonte_.

_Cleo._ Instruct me in the way, give me your Arm, And I will bathe it in a thousand Tears, [Goes to untie his Arm.

And breathe so many Sighs into your Wound--

_Silv._ Let that slight hurt alone, and search this-- here.

[To his Heart.

_Cleo._ How! are you wounded there, And would not let us know it all this while?

_Silv._ I durst not tell you, but design'd to suffer, Rather than trouble you with my Complaints: But now my Pain is greater than my Courage.

_Fran._ Oh, he will tell her, that he loves her sure. [Aside.

_Cleo._ Sit down and let me see't.

[He sits down, she puts her Hand into his Bosom.

_Fran._ Oh foolish Innocence-- [Aside.

_Cleo._ You have deceiv'd me, Brother, here's no Wound.

_Silv._ Oh take away your Hand-- It does increase my Pain, and wounds me deeper.

_Cleo._ No, surely, Sir, my Hand is very gentle.

_Silv._ Therefore it hurts me, Sister; the very thoughts Of Touches by so soft and fair a Hand, Playing about my Heart, are not to be indur'd with Life.

[Rises in pa.s.sion.

_Cleo._ Alas, what means my Brother?

_Silv._ Can you not guess, fair Sister? have my Eyes So ill exprest my Soul? or has your Innocence Not suffer'd you to understand my Sighs?

Have then a thousand Tales, which I have told you, Of Broken Hearts, and Lovers Languishments, Not serv'd to tell you, that I did adore you?

_Cleo._ Oh let me still remain in Innocence, Rather than sin so much to understand you.

_Fran._ I can endure no more-- [Goes out.

_Silv._ Can you believe it Sin to love a Brother? it is not so in Nature.

_Cleo._ Not as a Brother, Sir; but otherwise, It is, by all the Laws of Men and Heaven.

_Silv._ Sister, so 'tis that we should do no Murder, And yet you daily kill, and I, among the number Of your Victims, must charge you with the sin Of killing me, a Lover, and a Brother.