Philaster; Or, Love Lies a Bleeding
1620
Philaster; Or, Love Lies a Bleeding is a tragicomedy written by Francis Beaumont and first published in 1620. Set in a fictionalized Sicily, the play explores themes of love, jealousy, and betrayal through the story of Philaster, the heir to the crown, who faces challenges regarding his claim to the throne and his love for Arethusa, the King's daughter. The narrative weaves a complex plot filled with romantic entanglements and courtly intrigue, reflecting the dramatic style of the early 17th century and its connections to Shakespearean drama.
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“Bellario. Sir, you did take me upWhen I was nothing; and only yet am somethingBy being yours. You trusted me unknown;And that which you were apt to consterA simple innocence in me, perhapsMight have been craft, the cunning of a boyHardened in lies and theft: yet ventured youTo part my miseries and me; for which,I never can expect to serve a ladyThat bears more honour in her breast than you.””
— Francis Beaumont
