Beaumont & Fletcher\'s Works (1 of 10) - the Custom of the Country
THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY. * * * * * Persons Represented in the Play. Count Clodio, _Governour and a dishonourable pursuer of_ Zenocia. Manuel du Sosa, _Governour of_ Lisbon, _and Brother to_ Guiomar. Arnoldo, _A Gentleman contracted to_ Zenocia. Rutilio, _A merry Gentleman Brother to_ Arnoldo. Charino, _Father to_ Zenocia. Duarte, _Son to_ Guiomar, _a Gentleman well qualified but vain glorious_. Alonzo, _a young_ Portugal _Gentleman, enemy to_ Duarte. Leopold, _a Sea Captain Enamour'd on_ Hippolyta. Zabulon, _a_ Jew, _servant to_ Hippolyta. Jaques, _servant to_ Sulpitia. Doctor. Chirurgion. Officers. Guard. Page.
Thus, great King! are counted up the five felicities of life.
For the son the sire is honored; though the bow-cane bendeth true,
Let the strained string crack in using, and what service shall it do?"
"Nevertheless," mused the King, "I know it is urged that human efforts
are useless: as, for instance--
"That which will not be, will not be--and what is to be, will be:--
Why not drink this easy physic, antidote of misery?"
"But then that comes from idleness, with people who will not do what
they should do. Rather,
"Nay! and faint not, idly sighing, 'Destiny is mightiest,'
Sesamum holds oil in plenty, but it yieldeth none unpressed.
Ah! it is the Coward's babble, 'Fortune taketh, Fortune gave;'
Fortune! rate her like a master, and she serves thee like a slave."
"For indeed,
"Twofold is the life we live in--Fate and Will together run:--
Two wheels bear life's chariot onward--will it move on only one?"
"And
"Look! the clay dries into iron, but the potter moulds the clay:--
THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY. * * * * * Persons Represented in the Play. Count Clodio, _Governour and a dishonourable pursuer of_ Zenocia. Manuel du Sosa, _Governour of_ Lisbon, _and Brother to_ Guiomar. Arnoldo, _A Gentleman contracted to_ Zenocia. Rutilio, _A merry Gentleman Brother to_ Arnoldo. Charino, _Father to_ Zenocia. Duarte, _Son to_ Guiomar, _a Gentleman well qualified but vain glorious_. Alonzo, _a young_ Portugal _Gentleman, enemy to_ Duarte. Leopold, _a Sea Captain Enamour'd on_ Hippolyta. Zabulon, _a_ Jew, _servant to_ Hippolyta. Jaques, _servant to_ Sulpitia. Doctor. Chirurgion. Officers. Guard. Page.