The Works of John Ford Author:John Ford Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE LOVER'S MELANCHOLY. ACT I. Scene I. A room in the palace. Enter Menaphon and Pelias. Men. Dangers ! how mean you dangers ? that so courtly You g... more »ratulate my safe return from dangers ? Pel. From travels, noble sir. Men. These are delights ; If my experience hath not, truant-like, Misspent the time, which I have strove to use For bettering my mind with observation. Pel. As I am modest, I protest 'tis strange. But is it possible ? Men. What? Pel. To bestride The frothy foams of Neptune's surging waves, When blustering Boreas tosseth up the deep And thumps a thunder-bounce ? Men. Sweet sir, 'tis nothing : Straight comes a dolphin, playing near your ship, Heaving his crooked back up, and presents A feather-bed, to waft ye to the shore As easily as if you slept i' th' court. Pel. Indeed ! is't true, I pray ? Men. I will not stretch Your faith upon the tenters.—Prithee, Pelias, Where didst thou learn this language ? Pel. I this language! Alas, sir, we that study words and forms Of compliment must fashion all discourse According to the nature of the subject. But I am silent:—now appears a sun, Whose shadow I adore. Enter Amethus, Sophronos, and Attendants. Men. My honour'd father ! Soph. From mine eyes, son, son of my care, my love, The joys that bid thee welcome do too much Speak me a child. Men. O princely sir, your hand. Amet. Perform your duties where you owe them first; I dare not be so sudden in the pleasures Thy presence hath brought home. Soph. Here thou still find'st A friend as noble, Menaphon, as when1 Thou left'st at thy departure. Men. Yes, I know it, To him I owe more service— Amet. Pray give leave : He shall attend your entertainments soon, as when Thou...« less