Sunday, February 25, 2007

Two Gentlemen of Verona - Water Conceit

Mike,

We have another water conceit for you, to go into your drop in the ocean collection from Comedy of Errors. The speakers are Julia and her maid Lucetta:

LUCETTA:
I do not seek to quench your love’s hot fire,
But qualify the fire’s extreme rage,
Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason.

JULIA:
The more thou dam’st it up, the more it burns:
The current that with gentle murmur glides,
Thou know’st, being stopp’d, impatiently doth rage;
But when his fair course is not hindered,
He makes sweet music with th’ enamell’d stones,
Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge
He overtaketh in his pilgrimage;
And so by many winding nooks he strays
With willing sport to the wild ocean.
Then let me go, and hinder not my course:
I’ll be as patient as a gentle stream,
And make a pastime of each weary step,
Till the last step have brought me to my love
And there I’ll rest, as after much turmoil
A blessed soul doth in Elysium. (II.vii.21-38)

Gil

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