The Floating Island - A Tragi-Comedy
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The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
THE FLOATING ISLAND: A TRAGI-COMEDY, Acted before his Majesty at OXFORD, Aug. 29. 1636. By the Students of CHRIST-CHURCH.
Written by WILLIAM STRODE, late Orator of the University of OXFORD.
The Aires and Songs set by Mr. HENRY LAWES, servant to his late Majesty in his public and private Music.
LONDON, Printed by T. C. for H. Twiford in Vine-court Middle-Temple, N. Brooke at the Angel in Cornhill, and J. Place at Furnivals-Inn-gate. 1655.
To the Reader.
B Efore you read so far as the Prologue, be pleased to consider this Tragi-comedy was both written and presented above eighteen years since; and if now it seem (in Language or Plot) to fit these times, it must be by Prophesy, the Author also himself having been long dead. He wrote it at the instance of those who might command him; else he had scarce condescended to a Play, his serious thoughts being filled with notions of deeper consideration. 'It is sufficient for its worth that the best liked it best; the rest (especially those great ones of the weaker Sect) should claim no lawful Judicature over it, since it was not written for them, though they thought themselves too severely dealt with, which yet was an injury to the Author as well as his Poem. Were this translated into Latin or Italian, it would be grateful to foreign Wits; and if at home it find less welcome, 'tis because there is not so much true wit among us as was or ought to be. It is not now inscribed to any for Protection, but left dedicated (as it was by the Author when it was first born) to the Authors noble Patron. If you bid this welcome, you will be gainers by it; for then you will encourage us to publish other Pieces of this Authors, which (we dare say) will convince you to say (what the best and most knowing of this Nation have confessed) that our Author was one of the 〈◊〉 judicious wits of England. Farewell.
To my most Honoured Patron, Sir JOHN HELE, Knight.
THis Draft at once cried Up and Down amain
By divers men, up by the same again
At divers times, hath plainly found thereby
That it hath censured been Tumultuously.
Twixt Actors and Spectators did appear
Small difference; and through a Jealous fear
The Scaffold played the Stage; to sayit I am loath,
Affection against Reason played in both.
Yet Reason at a nearer view gained sway,
The Censure ended just as doth the Play.
After this various Fate, because indeed
Of pleasing more then Four there was small heed,
From
Court
and
Oxford
home it comes to you,
Secure of
Reason
and
Affection
too.
You lent the
Author;
and tis therefore just
The work should yield you Tribute for your Trust:
If Friends make wits, and wit-wrights Poets be,
Then This is His, and He your Poetry.
Your most Humble and most affectionate Servant, WILLIAM STRODE.
Authori Illustri.
MIlle modis superare Tibi conceditur astra,
Quae solùm caelo splendida sunt nitido:
Dum Tua lux tenebras, et opaca nube recessus
Invenit umbrosos, et sine sole vias.
Gemmula nocte micans non est vulgar bus apta
Auribus, aspectum Principis illa decet.
Haud minus ista Tui
Comaedia
Principe digna,
Nec nisi
Regali
conspicienda foro,
Transtulit in Scenam quae res penetralibus imi
Pectoris inclusas, implicitum{que} nefas.
Ipse oculus mundi nostris valedicit ocellis,
Cum semel occiduos aequore mersit equos:
Ter sex (STRODE) tuus solares splendor in annos
Fulsit, et in dubio lumine fulget adhuc.
Tu tamen ecclipsin pateris, signum{que} futuri
Deliquium nostri funeris illud erat.
J. D.
After the Appearance of a FLOATING ISLAND,
Enter the Prologue, as coming out of the Sea.
To the King and Queens Majesty.
WHatever Element we light upon,
(Great
Monarch
& bright
Queen
) 'tis yours alone.
Shook from my station on that giddy Shore,
That flotes in Seas, in wretchedness much more,
I hardly scaped to tell what storms arise
Through rage of the Inhabitants: mine eyes
Behold a wonder; Blustring Tempests there,
Yet Sun and Moon fair shining both so near.
Should your Land stagger thus, I wish the Age,
Might end such acting sooner then the Stage:
Yet in these Tumults you shall only see
A tottring Throne held firm by Majesty.
To the University,
Before whom it was afterwards acted.
WHich is more waving, yonder Sea, or Land,
Or Passions dwelling there, we doubt; but stand
Here firm and safe; for blustering Tempests there
We see in every eye, fair clearness here.
The Sun and Moon, more out of sight then mind,
Have for our comfort left these Stars behind.
We hope to find Spectatours, and we may,
For you will not act the Humours of the Play;
Or fret at Passions e're you read them calm'd
In the next word. Your stomachs feel no Qualm
Rising through smell of rude Philosophy:
Nor shall you find much more then to descry
An Academic Birth. The Royal race
Of
Austria
thinks the swelling lip a grace,
And would not lose that mark by which 'tis known;
Men love the Blot which proves the Child their own.
Whether you come to see a Play or hear,
Whether your censure sit in th' Eye or Eare,
Phancy
or
Judgment,
Carelesse of Event
We aim at Service; cannot miss th' Intent.
-
The Persons.
- Prudentius the King deposed.
- Intellectus Agens his Counselor.
- Sir Amorous a Courtly Knight.
- Hilario his Son a merry jovial Gent.
- Malevolo a Malicious contriver.
- Melancholico a Malcontent turned Puritan.
- Irato an Angry Lord.
- Audax a bold Captain.
- Sir Timerous-Fearall a Cowardly Knight.
- Livebyhope a Favorite
- Desperato a desperate Soldier turned Physician.
- Memor a Lawyer and Recorder.
- Phancy the new instated Queen.
- Concupiscence the lustful daughter of Amorous:
- Fuga the coy daughter of Malevolo.
- Morphe the beautous Mistress of Amorous.
- Morpheus the God of Dreams.
- 6 Dreaming Masquers
- Groome of the Chamber.
- Ovidian a Poet.
- Model a Tireman.
- Painter
- Musician
- Hilario's boy, and Atendants.
The Floating Island.
ACTVS I.
SCENA. I.
The Scene turns to the Court of Prudentius.
Enter from several ways Sr.
Amorous,
and
Morphe.
A
M.
Well met sweet
Morphe,
Empresse of my heart,
And all hearts else, if made of flesh like mine.
You must not pass untouched.
Mor.
What mean you Sir?
Am.
To print you Mine;
Mor.
Hands off Sir
Amorous.
Am.
Why should such coynesse wrinkle such a Brow?
Mor.
Why should such boisterous incivility
Defile your Courtship? All your courtly
Arts
Of Singing, Playing, Dancing, Poetry,
Will grow suspected pleaders of mere Lust:
Forebear for my sake: this rude force in you
May chance to blot a white repute in me.
Am.
The blot I will thus rub out.
(Offers to kiss.
Mor.
I will wash it thus.
(Spits.
Am.
How can the eye, that sees not love the light?
Blame your own beauty if you blame my
Love.
Mor.
I blame th' Expression.
Am.
If the thing be good,
Expression makes it better.
Mor.
Yes, if chaste,
Am.
Chast Love is nothing.
Mor.
Nothing to th' unchaste.
Forebear I pray, and fear a near example.
Do you not know the King hath taught the Passions
Within this Floating Isle more modesty,
By banishing your child Concupiscence?
Am.
Others perhaps shall quickly know
I know it,
And that I know it as rough tyranny.
What for a trick of youth such Discipline?
Doth breeding Subjects call for Banishment?
Or giving life deserve a civil Death?
Hold; stand; in vain you strive; I am resolved;
Should now the King look on, and call a
Kiss
Treason, should poison punish this sweet touch,
Thus far I durst presume.
Mor.
Shame on your rudeness.
(Ex. Mor.
Am.
Are not our Eyes and Lipps and touch our own,
Not to be used without a special warrant?
At length we shall not satisfy mere Nature,
Nor spit without a Counsel. If my Girle
Pertake my spirit, then like me she'l try,
What fury Love can in the Passions raise,
To shake this Stoic from his chair of
Rule.
I will move my Fellows.
SCENA II.
Enter to him
Irato, Malevolo, Audax.
Ir.
How? not fight this Duel?
Duel forbidden to the Valiant?
Am.
Some other cause, it seems, moves these already.
(aside)
Mal.
Be sure,
Irato,
by
Prudentius
law
Personal Valour now is nothing worth.
Hope with his Pen, Sr.
Timerous
with his knife,
Or
Desperato
's man with single Halter
May pass in equal rank with you, or me,
Or Captain
Audax.
Au.
Not with me, I tro.
Mal.
Yes, if this Law should stand.
Am.
Not so however.
Mal.
Not if?
Au.
If to a generous Passion?
Am.
I see these sparks are glowing. Noble
Sparkes,
Let
Amorous
add fire. Love burns with
Hate.
Thy Hand
Malevolo,
and 'gainst the King.
Ir.
Why what's your grief?
Am.
My Daughters Banishment.
Mal.
Great cause: yet none need press a single grief:
We find ourselves all pinched of liberty:
We walk in chains, called Justice, Temperance,
Such rusty curbs; and none can further start
Then the strict keeper will allow us length.
Ir.
It is so; we are used like Dogs, or ring'd like Bears;
Whither
Prudentius
leads us we must follow:
But if we take a loose, or swell and roar,
We must be whipped for it; Sirs,
Prudentius
whips us.
Am.
Can this be brooked by them that draw the Sword?
Ir.
And amongst them, by one that will exact
Life for a word, pay death for crabbed looks?
Au.
And amongst them, by one that scales the wall,
That swims in Armor, flies against the mouth
Of thundering Ordinance? must also He,
Must He be ordered by a sit still thus?
Mal.
So he hath been. For my part, if I broach
Some biting Libel, venomous word or Book
Against some prosprous Object which I hate,
My Ears are questioned. Locks which I have scorned
Must hide my Eare stumps.
Ir.
And me thinks I spy some want upon your Nose.
Mal.
Is your spleen up?
Rage for yourself. You also may remember
Brave Lord
Irato
when you hardly kept
Your Neck. Some fellow Peers, for as few blows,
Have lost it quite.
Ir.
My Veynes will burst.
Mal.
And Captains
Not to be numbered; All as bold and stout
As
Audax
here, for undertaking reskues,
And following them too far in open streets,
Have been casheered of Lberty and Life.
Au.
But shall not be again. I will hang the Law.
Mal.
Then as for you, Sr.
Amorous,
you may talk
Not only of your Daughters Banishment,
But of your Sisters whipped, your carred
Aunts,
And Mulcts upon yourself.
Am.
The truth to tell,
My hard restraint is worst of all. I live
(If it be life) confined to mine own Bed:
Prudentius
bridles up my mouth from kissing,
Yea and from speech, and calls that stinting manners.
I cannot cast a fair inviting look,
But he pulls back the Nerve. I scarce dare think,
Or sigh beyond my stint. One Sigh a day
Is all that I must spend for her that keeps
And may command my breath.
Prudentius
Locks up my wind like
Aeolus;
'tis calm'd,
And may not issue forth to bear a whisper.
Ir.
Mend your Comparison.
Prudentius
Like
Aeolus?
No,
Aeolus
sometimes
Permitts a Tempest: does
Prudentius
so?
Au.
The Passions cannot stretch beyond his line,
But they are censured, Perturbations called,
Breakers of Peace; if calm'd, they nothing are:
We lose both Name and Nature by restraint.
Ir.
For what's a Lord I ask you but his
Anger?
Mal.
Or what's a great man but oppression?
Au.
A Captain but his Cutting?
Am.
And a Knight
What but his Pleasure? O this frost of
Reason
Hath numd my Joynts. I that with sprightly vigor
Dancing to please my Mistress, could have rose
To fetch her from the Moon (had she been there)
Or as she stood salute her, now have lost
Those active legs, and not by doing service
To any Creature but
Prudentius.
I live a Hermit in the Court; to me
It seems a College or a Nunnery.
Ir.
To me a Prison.
Au.
A mere School to me.
Mal.
To me an Inquisition: worse: a
Hell.
Where Objects still we meet, and may not reach.
You
Amorous
like
Tantalus
behold
Two red white Apples in a well made face,
Which you as soon may touch as reach the
Sun;
Which doth but scorch the gazer.
Am.
I will to Hell:
It is less to starve for Apples then for
Cheekes.
Mal.
You being stirred
Irato
thirst for blood,
And thirst you may, but not be satisfied:
You must take blows and bearethem; your Reward
(O poor!) is to orecome by suffering;
As now I kick you; stand: you must not rage,
For this is Patience; now I pull your Nose;
You must not fume, least you impatient prove.
Ir.
Let me kill thee, or serve
Prudentius
still.
Mal.
you must keep Peace. I speak but as a Friend;
And only tell what you have told yourself.
You
Audax,
like
Ixion,
though you dare
To set on Heaven, must wheel about yourself
When Reason bids you.
Au.
Audax
will run on
Though thunder meet him.
Mal.
Yes; but I myself
Like
Titius
vainly feed the Vultur Hate
With mine own heart, and wreck it not on others,
Those Favourits which I hate. Shall this be ever?
Ir.
How long shall I like to a painted
George
Advance my idle Sword? What must I strike
Like Jack o'th clock-house, never but in season?
Mal.
How long shall I like a grim Statue stand,
Look hatred and use none?
Prudentius
Hath he
Medusa
's head?
Am.
Hey ho, how long!
Au.
How long shall I like a fell Mastiff held,
Yelp for the glorious danger that I love!
Water it self if bounded in too straight,
Will foam and swell and break thick bonds of Rock.
I wish we Passions were as strong as water.
SCENA. III.
Enter to them
Hilario
Singing,
Dancing and Passing by.
My limbs I will fling
Out of joint, and sing,
And dancing will shake my hair:
Not how at each beck,
Nor break my neck
With sorrow and deep despair.
Such a chirpiu din,
with mirth within,
And a head not needing a cloute,
Is much better far
Than a careful chair,
And a wreath of thorns without.
(Exitarus.
Am.
The Boy may be our Tutor.
Hilario
my Boy!
Hill.
Sir.
Am.
We were taking care how thou mayest be merry thus always; never be checked for drinking, for singing, or for playing thy pranks.
Hill.
I imagine your design: and thereto promise, give, grant, let, set and submit my full assent and consent: In witness whereof here's my hand with a clap, and my seal with a kiss; Your son and servant Hilario.
Am.
But stay, whence now?
Hill.
From my blubbering Sister Concupiscence;
who desired me forsooth
To arm and conduct her to Lady Phancy.
Am.
And whether bound?
Hill.
I go to be merry with or upon
Melancholico
and
Desperato,
Either to quicken their dumps, or by laughing
at their dullness to heighten myself.
Am.
Where are they?
Hill.
Not far; close by; here at the
Hart.
Mal.
Courteous Sir, send them hither,
Hill.
I shall or will Sir.
Mal.
We must no longer ripe up grievances,
(Ex. Hill.
But think of Remedy.
Au.
Passions must not stay.
Ir.
Why with a murraine do we stay to say so?
Mal.
In brief do all consent to free themselves
From this oppession?
Ir.
What a Question's that?
Am.
Give a Command that it be asked no more.
Au.
We all consent.
Mal.
All are not here.
Am.
Indeed
We want two serviceable men now sent for.
Ir.
Delayes intolerable!
Am.
We want besides
Sir
Timerous Fear all.
Au.
We'l force that dowty Knight
To know his good when all is done; and so
Prevent his Treason.
Ir.
Consultation too.
Am.
And where is
Livebyhope?
Mal.
No matter where.
His hopes will make him turn to any side
That shall succeed.
Am.
For femal Passions,
Their fortune lies in ours.
Mal.
Then to proceed,
The way to free ourselves lies, thus, or thus;
Kill, or dethrone
Prudentius.
Ir.
I begin
To think on Sr.
Raviliack,
and Sr.
Garnett.
Au.
The boldest way is safest.
Ir.
Yes, if bloodiest.
Am.
Or if he will escape.
Ir.
Let him go far enough.
Mal.
Then who shall do the fear?
Au.
I.
Ir.
I, or else
I will kill some other; what? should I for get
My ancient Trade of killing?
Mal.
Let him dooit
Who first hath opportunity.
Am.
To this
We all must swear.
(They lay two Swords across)
Ir.
By all the wounds which on my flesh are scor'd,
And all the ghosts I have made.
Au.
By all attempts
And all the mines of Bullets in my Entrals;
Mal.
By all my pangs of hare and black designs;
Am.
By all the goodly Nymphes, and
Morphe
chief.
SCENA IIII.
Enter to them
Prudentius, Intellectus
Agens,
and
Liveby hope
with Attendents.
Pru.
D'ee long for action? have ye too much Peace?
Orecloy'd with blessings? you
Malevolo
Bend hate against th' unjust.
Mal.
My hand is crampt;
Strike
Audax.
Au.
O his brow! I turn to fear.
Pru.
You
Amorous
love true beauty,
Honesty.
Mal.
Thy spleen
Irato.
Pru.
Thou
Irato
fight
Meerely for public peace.
Ir.
Sweetness!
Mal.
Witchcraft!
Pru.
Audax,
be bold, but stay till I have bid
Ex. Pru. & Int.
& Liveby▪ following.
Au.
Sit. Liveby hope
Liv.
I must attend his Majesty.
Int.
Go back, and secretly oreheare this meeting.
(Liv. returns▪
Am.
Ha! What Schooling call you this?
Mal.
What Vision?
That Eye of subtle
Intellectus Agent
Troubles me somewhat; and I doubt of
Liveby.
Ir.
Now I could kill myself.
Au.
Now I,
Prudentius
He came upon us like the
Basilisk,
Or like a Wolf; but had we seen him first—
Mal.
You could not do it then: never by day.
Am.
Why so?
Mal.
You saw the cause. His flaming Temples
Strike with such charming Power, such secret Spells,
That if you see the Light upon his Face,
Your spirits quail; it must be done by night.
And
Desperato,
he must be the man.
Au.
Why He above All Us?
Mal.
Tush, we are foyld;
Already foyld; and may be so again.
Besides Irato
spends himself: he's now
So full of heat, I doubt he'l then grow cold.
But
Desperato
to his mischief goes
With art and argued resolution,
Strong in cold blood.
Ir.
I perfectly abhor
All Judgment, Plo
••
s, and Consultations▪
To canvase thoughts, to toile and vex the
In weighing means, and picking out the best,
This is as bad as to have served
Prudentius.
Mal.
And how thinks
Audax?
Au.
So. Or else I am mad.
To plot is base; and to demur contrivance
Of things that should be done, as soon as thought,
Is foolish too. What turn our powder up,
Then smotherit under ground, then by degrees
Give fire! Such creeping mischief hath no luck.
Ir.
Come Martial Law, come Captain
Martial Law
Au.
And wise
Malevolo,
when have you e're heard
Of great attempts without the hand of
Audax?
Come we'l tooit presently.
Mal.
Even as you please.
Liv.
(in secret)
I sweat with hearing.
Il now run with this Least I may come too short of telling more.
Am.
Only this word.
Liv.
Then yet I will stay.
Am.
Be sure,
If you miscarry we are all undone.
Go with
Ulysses
in this night-attempt,
Be each of you to him a Diomed.
Mal.
Stay till they come.
Am.
Lo here they are. Who else?
SCENA V.
Enter to them
Melancholico, Desperato and Sr. Timerous.
Ir.
What and Sr.
Timerous
too? Come▪ mend your pace.
What? doth
Prudentius
moderate your feet?
And make you snayles as well as slaves?
Mal.
Free Passions,
(So ye must be) we know your grievances.
Brother
Melancholy,
discreet you are,
But not expressive; unprefer'd you are,
Because precise; but say, would you with
State
Insold your arms; look sad, and feel content;
Live careful over bags, retire yourself
To solemn grief in Temples of delight,
Sigh in a Sisters bosom, and complain
Of Persecution at a plenteous Feast?
Ir.
Yes, yes. I will answer for him.
Mal.
Sooth, you may.
Sadness is pleasant, but the cause is not.
Au.
And
Desperato,
once my old Comrad,
Once Noble, and again to be the same,
But now as void of cash as of employment,
Would you, in Peace forgot, bard of a Pension,
Having no lands but bare high-ways, now run
All hazards for new Fortune?
Desp.
Yes apace.
Ir.
Why parly then? can he not first draw blood?
Do Cutters ask what money have you first?
Tim.
Blood and Cutters? his speech is rough.
Mal.
he's mad.
Say on.
Ir.
Nought's done through such long talk.
Mal.
Such Choler.
Au.
Wouldst thou have power to raise more flames then
Nero,
To fire the World, prevent his final doom,
Stare awfully, stab others with applause,
Hang, drown thyself, to immortality.
Desp.
Such change I long for; rows'd from Lethargy
I am revived.
Au.
Thou liest, thou art not yet.
(Desp. offers to draw)
Hold, hold thy hand: I did but tempt thy mettle,
To search the truth.
Desp.
And Sir, 'tis well you say so.
Ir.
This Bully,s right, why now I am pleased
Am.
Sr.
Tim.
My fellow Knight, you know (but do not tremble)
How oft the King hath misimpos'd on you
Those dreadful, those horrible, terrible
Tim.
Good Sir.
Am.
Those heart-laboring employments,
Which
Audax
begged.
Tim.
I pray.
Am.
He sought thereby
Meerely to vex and to disgrace your spur▪
But wouldst thou hug thy Pillow or thy Love
Without disturbance, or the noise of danger?
How sayest?
Tim.
I love to live, and love in safety.
Mal.
Then in a word.
Au.
He first kick hence this Knight,
He'l prove a five through fear; his trembling humor
Will shake our secrets out.
Am.
Which to prevent,
He stirs not from this company.
Mal.
Then know,
Our common medicine is
Prudentius
ruin.
Last comers, do ye twist in full consent?
Mel. & Desp.
We do.
Ir.
then kiss the Sacramental Sword.
Am.
Sr.
Tim.
you came unsought, but being come,
You must consent, or will be beaten tooit.
Tim.
I, I do consent—but caution must be had;
This is no common sport: what Engines use ye?
Au.
Not you, be sure. Will
Desperato
join
With me and this brave Count?
Desp.
Yes, and strike home.
Mal.
Then for the time: we think close midnight best.
Mel.
And fittest; cause the crowned
Fox is watchful.
Tim.
Be sure you take disguise to pass unknown,
Though it be night.
Au.
O wit and valor both!
Vizards to Passengers will be but signs
Hang'd out to move suspicion; and to leave
Him ignorant whom we assault is loss▪
Unto the glory of our bold revenge.
Mal.
What shall be done with
Memor
the Recorder,
One whom I hate, yet have no reason for it,
Like an old debt-book, or mine own Conscience▪
Shall he be blotted out, or shall he stand?
Am.
Alas he's all Record, Example, Custom,
What's done
Quadragesimo primo Henrici tertii,
Tricesimo primo Henrici octavi;
And these suit more with Passion then with Reason.
Mal.
What shall be done with Common sense the Judge?
Am.
He also more inclines to sense then Prudence,
Leanes to the Commons rather then the King.
Au.
As for the rest, they never shall trouble us;
Cut off the head, we need not fear the Members.
Mal.
Who shall succeed? I mean, in place, and show,
Not in the tyranny of strict Command;
Who shall assemble, lead, encourage us,
And give some fashion to our Commonwealth?
Am.
What say to Fancie? will not
Fancie doit?
Au.
No better choice: for Fancie nearest is
To unyoak'd Passion.
Am.
And 'tis most proper,
That since by Passion this revolt is made
From Reason unto Sense, the Rule should pass
From man to Woman.
Au.
She, she, Fancie she.
Liv.
(in secret)
O now for wings like thought, this to relate
First to the
Agent
of
Prudentius;
And then to bear first news to new Queen Fancie.
(Ex. Liv.
Au.
She, Fancie's Queen.
Am.
She'l be a pleasant Mistress
Rather then Governesse, leading each Passion
Whether himself inclines. Nay she'l invent
New Objects for their several content.
SCENA VI.
Enter to them
Groome
of the
Chamber.
Groo.
Silence through all the Court, the
King would rest.
Desp.
Let him Eternally.
Mal.
The time grows nigh.
You three to th' task of Blood: the rest to
Fancy.
(Ex. Passions.
Groo.
I doubt this earnest talk portends no good,
The business hath been hot.—
Enter form the Bedchamber
Prudentius
Crown'd, and
Intellectus
Agens.
Pru.
We would be private.
(Ex. Groome.
Liveby
the Relator is most creditable.
Int.
A right ingenuous man.
Pru.
And you have sent him
To take advantage of the changing State,
With Caveat to reserve his heart for Us.
Int.
The Pinch and my best thoughts did so instruct me.
Pru.
It is well, I dearly thank your sharp observance,
Suspecting Treason by their startled brows;
And then your art of finding out, and now
Your Providence for our Restablishment.
But O, O this ungrateful Rout, whom I have taught
Both how to Fear and Love, and what to
Loath,
Wherefore to Greive and Joy, and in what place
To rouse their anger and audacity
By Rule and Circumstance, and with such
Sweetness
As might befit a Wooer more then King.
Have I these Vipers bred within my Brest
With greater Care and Pangs then can a
Mother
The Child within her womb? have I broke sleep
Toss'd after slumbers, early rose, and spent
The day from Sun to Sun in painful Counsel;
Sent Birds about their Coasts, sent Eyes and
Tongues
Abroad the world, to watch and guard,
and work,
And keep all safe, and make them great, for
This
For This Reward? Ask Heaven and Earth, if I
Have not with utmost care procured them
Bread,
Cloth, Health, Peace, Manners, and Religion!
For Prudence is the womb and Forg of all
This mortal bliss. What ere I took from
Them
Was for their use; like Vapour now exhal'd,
And soon returned in Showers to fat their
Land.
Oft have I bore them under both these wings,
One under each, when they inclined to
Fury,
Would push each other down a Precipice,
Not steep like th' Alps, but steep on either side,
There on a narrow ridg, an edge, a Thrid,
(Such is the mean, so placed betwixt two
Gulfes)
I bore them in their Strife. For this and more
They have not paid (what's cheaper?) Single Duty.
Nothing but Grudgings, Whispers, Evil words:
These are their Thanks.
Int.
The greater glory yours:
What Crown like This to govern out of alms!
Pru.
But now they seek the Crown; my life they seek.
Int.
They'l beg hereafter that you will take the Rule,
Which now they wrest out of your hands.
Pru.
Perhaps.
Int.
Mean while your life is safe.
Pru.
And while 'tis safe,
Though they forget their Duty, I, le not leave
A Fathers care, but will be still a King
In love, though not in power.
Int.
This is a sign
Of future greatness. Then cast off this
Crown
As but the sheddings of renewing State,
Now to be burnished. Leave it on your
Pillow:
For that they seek. But it returned shall be
With double service both of Heart and
Knee.
Pru.
Be Thou my Prophet.
Int.
Ware; the Caitiffes come.
SCENA VII.
Enter
Audax, Desperato, Irato
with Swords: the first bearing a
Torch.
Au.
This Torch must out, or some must blind their eyes;
And look not all at once, least all be
struck.
The Chamber's here.
Desp.
Come set your Points
And Postures right; stand sure.
Pru.
Why should not I
Step in, and daunt them?
Int.
It is not safe to tempt
United Impudence too far: withdraw.
Pru.
When Folly's ripe, I will to my Diligence.
Int.
And I to serve you with Intelligence.
I will guide you to some Cloister.
Ir.
Now: there's the Nest.
(Ex. Pru. & Int.
Desp.
But what? the Eagle's flown.
Ir.
Damn'd Trechery!
Treason amongst us Traitors!
Desp.
Less Resolution
Then mine had served this Task.
Au.
How'ere my Lads,
(Brings forth the Crowd.
Our Labor is not lost. Here's what we
seek for.
Ir.
Thus when the Beaver smells the Hunters aim,
He throws away the price of his escape.
Au.
Now shall I offer what affront I please.
Ir.
I will stab with honor at what word mislikes me.
Desp.
No Peace shall stand unless our pleasure make it.
Au.
Fancie, we come. Stay, hark, stand, hark. This sound
Music begins softly.
The Sirens make, 'cause Fancie shall be crowned.
(Ex. Omnes.
Finis actus Primi.
ACTVS II
SCENA. I.
The Scene turns to Fancies Court.
Enter
Concupiscence
and
Fuga.
Conc.
The Day appears in Scarlet; and the Sun
Seconds the luster of our rising Queen.
I nere longed more for night, then for this morning.
Fug.
Twill be to you a double day, and bring
Your Mistress Majesty, you Liberty.
Conc.
Fuga,
the case is alterd; he that banished,
Himself is vanished. Thus the King and I,
Or I and he, are up and down like
Buckets.
Ha wench! these Moral men are taught,
I tro,
What 'tis to wrong kind hearts. Return with me
Periwigs, Powders, Fucuses for Ladies,
Chioppiens for short, for crooked Farthingals;
For tainted Artificial breath; Teeth moveable;
Such as may serve a Family by turns,
To eat, and laugh abroad: now welcome helps
For all decays of Nature, Arts for allurement;
Be licenc'd Ladies for Variety
Now to mistake your Servant, Usher, Page,
For your own Lord's, and without Heresy
In marri'd State.
Fug.
Fie Madam how you talk!
Conc.
How talk I Madam Simpers? do not thus
And broader too as mincing Dames as you,
When met together? Do you see your
Servant?
SCENA II.
Enter to them Sr.
Timerous
with a Paper.
Conc.
Sr.
Timerous Fear-all
inches and inches to you
Just like a Spy.
He steals to Fuga and offers the Paper, she refuses; Concup. snatches and reads it.
Fug.
And still he comes in secret
Least he be spied.
Conc.
What's this? a silent motion?
The Bill hung out will show us what it is.
Lady, I dare not with the praise of arts
With anything but Love assay your parts;
Which are so rare, that when I strive to write,
The scant Expression seems not Love but spite.
Well wrote Sr.
Tim.
Fug.
You cannot say well spoke.
Conc.
Can you not use your mouth? no way, Sr
Tim.?
Why do you love? you are not fit to love;
Think me your Mistress; now address yourself
In form befitting.
Tim.
Hum!
He offers to Salute and steps back again; she makes to him.
Conc.
I must make up
Your will with my performance.
Tim.
Hum—I fear
Fuga
will frown.
Conc.
Thy Mother was a
Fuga.
Nor give nor take? not in a fair Salute?
Tongue-tide and Lip-bound too? O that
it were
In fashion for my Sex, my Sex, to woo.
Fug.
Lady, you seem to me in word and action
Too loose and open.
Conc.
My Complexion
Is I confess the same with
Messaline
's;
We might have lain together in one Egg
As well a
Helena
and
Clytemnestra.
To me no such desire as of our Like,
No Joy like Union. But your ears and age
Want breeding yet;
I am sorry for offending:
I thought I knew my Sex; but if I do not,
I know myself.
SCENA III.
Enter to them
Hilario.
Hill.
What here ye whirlygigs, while Queen Fancie calls you? Where's Concupiscence, where's Concupiscence? After all your Starching, Quilling, Turning, Seeking, Pinning; after your Jury of Pedlars, Tirewomen, Lacemakers and Semsters, still where's Concupiscence? Your Lady Fancie finds many grievous defects; there wants a Pin or two at least. One of her ribband Fancies are loose; a long hair hath un weav'd it self out of its curl'd Sphere, and passionatly broke forth out of Order. Fly, fly, ye Baggases.
(Ex. Conc.
Fug.
Baggases?
Hill.
As for my Sister, she's one I am sure: She colors for it; her willow gown with • ay me forsaken wretch is a Challeng, a mere Challeng to all pitiful-minded Amoroses: She's true touch, all the world can tell. Wu'd you were so too Lady for Sr. Tim's sake. Stay Fuga, you must stay one minute; for I must show on you how Sr. Tim. must woo.
Fug.
I see everyone's ready to be a Dunces Teacher.
Singing and Dancing he drives her to the drink of the Stage;
She returns to escape.
So twice or thrice.
Hill.
Thus Sr.
Tim.
This is Loves Trenchmore.
Fug.
Fie on you all.
(Ex. Fuga.
Hill.
A prity wench. Sr.
Tim,
but that she's saw'd
With some of her Fathers Humour; this coynesse calls her
Ma'evolo
's Daughter. But what of that?
Every coy lasse is of Cockeril condition,
And must be wooed as Cockerils fight, chase and retreat;
And then sheel love you like your shadow;
Fly thou, sheel follow; follow thou, sheel fly,
For I say no, and for her no say I.
Thus when a long time ye have turned backs one to another,
Ye may at length turn faces.
Tim.
Sr. I shall sometimes
Repaire to your wit for my direction.
Hill.
You may—and I shall readily afford it to your folly
(Ex. Tim.
For mine own merriment.
Enter Hilario's Boy.
Boy.
The Queen's at hand.
Hill.
And they not ready yet with their tedious Phantastticalia!
SCENA IIII.
Enter also
Fancie, Concupiscence
going backward before, carrying an
Umbrella over her,
Fuga
and
Memor
following. After a while the
Solemnity.
Mem.
Just in that Posture, Madam, as you walked,
Horacius
killed three men.
Conc.
Three? what no more? Why, I have killed three hundred, would three thousand.
Fan.
Where's that appearance which we have expected? And where's my glass?
Fug.
You have one in your watch.
Fan.
That's not big enough. Run Fuga; come hither Concupiscence, pin this handsomer.
Ir.
Au. Desp.
(within)
I will bear
The Crown or nothing.
Mel.
(within)
I the Crown or nothing.
Liv
(Enters and out again)
I will fit each
Passion to his own content.
Hill.
Boy, fill up the Time with noise.
Boy.
(Sings)
Hail thou great Queen of varous Humours,
Some loving hearts, some raging tumours,
Some sadder souls embracing Rumours;
Such a mixed crew
None yet ever knew
So steady and true
As these in heaping honors on you.
Enter in the midst of the song
Amorous
ushering the solemnity,
Irato
bearing the Sword,
Malevolo
the
Scepter; then six others bearing six
Crowns, two in a rank. First
Audax
on the right hand bearing a
Crown of Gold, and with him Poet
Ovidian
a Laurel: then
Desperato
a Turkish Turbant, and with him
Timerous
a Persian Cydaris:
Lastly
Livebyhope
a Crown of all color'd feathers circled at the bottom with Pearl, and with him
Model
her Tireman a Coronet of black beaugled wire set with black and Silver spangles. Having done obeisance, they stand and present in
Order.
Am.
Great goddess, most adored of men, behold,
Amorous
thy lovingst Passion, brings the rest
To offer at thy Feet Ensigns of State.
Ir.
I that unsheath'd my anger with my Sword
To make thee great, present this Sword of
Justice.
Mal.
I that with Plots have wrung this awful Secpter
From other hands, will hold hold it fast in thine.
I will find or make new matter of great ruin
To raise thy Throne,
Au.
This massy Crown of Gold,
The price of nightly danger, won by
Audax,
Left by
Prudentius,
let it crown thy Temples,
Ovid.
Else let thy shining brow recrown this Laurel,
Worn but by
Caesar
Monarch of the world,
And thy
Ovidii,
makers made of thee.
Desp.
Let
Desperato
wrap thy semal head
With Imniu State, the Crown of that grand
Seignior
Who worships most these two, Woman and Fate.
Tim.
But
Timerous
brings the Persian
Cydaris,
Which dropped from
Xerxes
Temples in his flight.
Liv.
Liveby
a Crown of Feathers here presents
To represent the light and easiy yoke,
Which all the Passions hope.
Mod.
Model thy Tireman
Offers for company this Crown, not costly,
But yet of pretty Fancie, new Invention.
Fan.
We thank the wit and pains of all your service.
We'l wear these Crowns in turn, and try them all.
Liveby,
reach hither.—Where's Recorder
Memor?
Liv.
reaches his feathered Crown.
Au.
reaches the
Golden, Mal. the
Scepter.
Mem.
Here.
Au.
First take this, the chief true real
Crown.
Mal.
These were the honors which
Prudentius
wore.
Fan.
Were those his honors? they shall never be mine.
Those only I except.
Ir.
Wisely excepted:
Am.
Great Lady, say not so: put on this Crown,
And with your Head crown it: then let
your Hand
Give Life unto this Scepter, and to Us:
Fan.
I will rather not be Empresse, then assume
Or that, or this.
Au.
Say so?
Hill.
Prettiest of pretties;
We here would have a Queen, and she'l not wear
The Badge and Ensign that should make her so.
Fan.
Is none a Prince, but she whose head supports
The burden of a Crown?
Liv.
Indeed Authority
Lies not in this: then Kings could do no more
Without the leave of this Authentic toy
Then can a Constable without his staff.
Fan.
A Crown would crook my neck, which for a Realm
I would not mar.
Hill.
Nor mar that Ruff for three.
Fan.
If this condition needs must be enforced,
I willingly resign what you confer.
Mal.
Then some of us shall be a gainer by it.
Am.
Do not so slight the labor of your Servants,
Who ventured far to gain this wreath; in which
Lies the significance of all the rest.
Ir.
Let her refuse once more.
Fan.
My Noble friends,
It signifies too much, too great a Care,
Too high Command. Should my free wandering thoughts
Be hoop'd and compassed in with weight and care,
Or should that staff keep down your sprightly humors,
Fancie
might then be stilled
Prudentia.
No; though I reign, provide yourselves live free.
This only is my Law, that each man use
His proper humor, be it Vice or Virtue,
Inordinate or stayed. Who minds his pleasure
Shall best deserve; myself will teach him how;
And guide him init. For your own sakes and mine,
Offer no more that badge of Tyranny.
All but It. Mal. Au. & Desp.
Fancie beyond all Fancie.
Ir.
Plague on Dissemblers;
First on her self; then on these rascals here;
Who first persuaded her to take the Crown,
And then admire her for refusing it.
Liv.
Pleases your highness with your radiant hair
To grace some other badge of Majesty?
Fan.
To show I do not quite reject your Favors,
Nor slight the proffered Rule, reach me the
Laurel,
Liv. reaches the Crowns in turn.
Mem.
Even thus did mighty
Caesar!
Fan.
Ti's too Imperious This.
Mem.
Wit beyond
Caesar's!
Au.
Excellent Lady!
Fan.
It is too
Imperious
If rule it mean; if height of wit, too low:
It is like a Tavern, Bush and begs for sale,
Which
Fancy
scorns. Small Poet, take it you.
What's next? the Turbant.—What a Turk am I now!
Had I with this a large Seraglio,
I'd lend them to Sr.
Amorous.
—The next.—
This Persian Cydaris hath made some
Sophies
That scarce were wise before: when I sit next
In Solemn Counsel, I will wear This.—
But now;—
This feather'd Crown like a Mercurial hat
Shall lift me from the ground; herein I will grace
The present Fashion.—The Tiremans
Coronet
May be in Fashion too; and pity 'tis not;
I like it well.—But
Liveby,
tis your Favor
That must take place, and give us Majesty.
Set it on firm, and somewhat glancing.—So.
I, marry Sir; why, this befits us right.
Hill.
Wu'd I had brought my Fools
Cap to present her,
My fools Cap would have gotten the start of Favor
From
Live by
forever.
Fan.
Thanks
Liveby,
and I will study a
Reward.
Liv.
Your humblest Creature.
Fan.
This fits the Quality
Of our intended Rule, which shall be light,
Light as your
Liveby
said, and soft and sweet,
And various, and pliable to every passion.
I am bound to All, and much to
Amo ous,
And most to
Liveby
For besides this present,
You brought me tidings first of this advancement,
And Crown'd me in my Eare. Who likes the news,
Must needs regard the teller.—One I miss
Amongst the Passions,
Melancholico.
Liv.
He sullen grew because he might not bear
The massy Crown.—
SCENA V.
Enter to them
Melancholico
bringing
Fancies
Picture Crown'd with
Gold.
Painter
and
Musician.
Conc.
—Now he hath brought himself.
Fug.
And somewhat else.
Mel.
Although I wanted Grace
To plant the massy Crown upon your head
In the true substance, yet I found a way
To crown you in this Picture. Here's the
Painter;
And here a tried Musician; men of Arts,
Which Melancholy much affects.
Fan.
And I.
But mende your piece. That Crown delights not me.
Some sudden business calls me to confer
With certain Femal Artists!—
Liveby,
Take you the keeping of those Ornaments.—
(She offers to go forth.
Mal.
What? have we made a shittlecock our Queen?
(She returns.)
Fan.
Stay, I had quite forgot to strew mine honors
On these deservers. You
Malevolo
Be our chief Counselor: be you
Irato
The Lord Controwler:
Livebyhope
shall be
The Master of Requests: you
Amorous
Shall be the Master of our Ceremonies;
For which here's Poet, Painter, man of
Music,
And man of Properties: I give you leave
To use them for yourself in wooing
Morphe.
But you my Poet whom I well respect,
Shall be my Secretary, and you shall turn
The long-breathed style of Proclamation
To Lyrick Verse.
Liv.
Most understanding Queen!
Ir.
A pretty Curr! my hands now itch to try
Whether he be true Spaniel breed, or no;
O I could beat and kick him, and see whether
He'l fawn then to.—You were not best to flatter
Your self into an Earldom, one degree
Above mine Honor.
Tim.
Take heed my Lord: he's likely to be great;
A Favorite can hurt.
Ir.
What then? must I
Therefore take heed? bid me take heed again,
And it shall be the last, last Caution,
You ere shall give. What? give a Lord
good Counsel?
Fan.
The rest, if they themselves can find a way
How I may pleasure them, I am crowned their servant:
You know your Law; each man pursue his humor.
I will rule by Fancie since I am Queen
Fan;
And use as little wisdom as I can.
Au.
And so it seems.
Ex. Fan. with her women. Am. Liv.
Mem. Poet, Mus.
(I'v eman.
Ex.
Paint.
Sr. Shall I mend
This piece?
Mel.
Mend! mar, or break it if you will.
Now shall I turn far more precise then ever,
And praise
Prudenius
days throw discontent.
Au.
Slighted? contemned? bafled? fools preferred?
(Ex. Mel. and Paint.
I am well rewarded.
Ir.
Hark Sr.
Timerous,
You gave me Counsel.
Tim.
Out of Love indeed
Sir.
Ir.
You gave
Prudentius
warning to escape.
Tim.
Not I, indeed not I, Sr.
Amorous
knows
Ir.
How ere I will kick thee now, cause tis my humor;
I will take thee to be
Liveby,
tis my Humour.
Tim.
The Queen shall know how you
have kicked my Knighthood.
Ir.
I kicked thy breech, two foot above thy Knighthood.
I trust I shall have cause to kill thee too.
Mean while, to stir my choler, I will controwle
Roughly, most roughly.
Desp.
I to feed my humor,
(For little I shall have to feed my body)
Must run some desperate course. The stream of Favor
(Ex Desp.
Runs cross from me, to
Hope
and
Amcrous.
Au.
Did we expose ourselves to utmost danger
To gain a Crown for Her that more regards
A
Cap
and Feather?
Mal.
I her Counselor
Who alters with each puff, more flickering
Then Flag or Streamer? Then I will write on Sand,
Or print the Air. But still I wonder much,
How
Liveby
being absent from our Counsels,
Carri'd the first Intelligence. His telling
In Her esteem outweighs our Action.
Au.
This shows what women love, the Tong and
•
atling.
Mal.
How says this man of Fate? is
Livebyhope,
That primrose thing, that forward bud, long lived?
Ir.
Ha! I think no; unless I may control him
To be no Favorite.
Mal.
Men of that calling,
If I might counsel them for their best safety,
Ought not to live too long. For we can hate.
Au.
Challeng.
Ir.
Or stab.
Au.
And call these things our Humours.
SCENA. VI.
Enter to them
Intellectus Agens.
Int.
The safest Armor is un weapon'd boldness.
Thus privileged I will trust their savage hands.
All happiness, that is, true Liberty
Unto the Passions;
how
d'e like your choice?
Au.
First tell us where
Prudentius
hides himself.
Int.
Within a Sanctuary, where his thoughts
Are sequestered from earthly cares to heaven.
Au.
Our choice we like beyond
Prudentius,
Just so, as
Fancie Livebys
feather'd crown
Beyond my Golden.
Mal.
We like the power of choosing.
Ir.
And some variety though joined with loosing—
Ex. Passions.
Int.
Who ere Usurps, considers not his task,
How he must sooth the lowest of his villains,
Give highest place and all to everyone,
Else all will be displeased. The King shall know,
What seeds of discontent and headlon folly
Appeare already in this warring state.
Clos'd in too safe, they broke their hedge; what less
Then wandering now through wretched wilderness?
Ex. Int. Agens.
Finis Actus secun.
ACTVS III
SCENA I.
Enter
Memor
and Sr.
Timerous.
Mem.
I think your cause exceeds the Cognisance
Of common sense. He like a Juryman
Can only find and judge the outward fact:
As whether now your kicks look white or blew;
Whether his threatening words were high or low;
What favor followed, whether sweet or sour;
Whether the kicks were Rough or gentle;
(Rough
Your Grinkling says) These with some other notions
Thereto belonging, as the quantity,
The Figure, Number, the swift motion,
Or ceasing of your kicks; these he can judge of.
But as for higher speculations
Of Passions rising out of mere conceit,
How it was raised, what punishment is
due,
This proper lbyelongs to
Fancie
's audience.
Was there no cause?
Tim.
None given, but apprehended.
Mem.
The worse for you; this shows there was no malice,
But single heat. Were the kicks thick and many?
Tim.
Six strong ones in one instant.
Mem.
Still the worse.
It shows mere heat. What said he, 'twas his humor?
Tim.
Even so.
Mem.
Yet worse. It is Law, that every
Passion
May follow his own humor. Anger's his.
Besides he's writ a Lord: all things considered,
I give you counsel to be patient,
To ask if he be pleased to give you more;
To break a Tooth, pull Haire, strik out an
Eye.
Tim.
Accept my thanks: I see the
Law it self
Is very Timerous against great Persons.—
(Ex. Tim.
Mem.
I now can see no use of Law at all,
Law is casheer'd: where all things are permitted
What need of plea? what can be called unjust?
And are not these the Popular days we looked for,
When we expected Cunning should be
Sovereign?
SCENA II.
Enter to him
Malevolo.
Mal.
In mischief we must use the men we hate.
You are the man I seek. Have you considered
Those State-projections?
Mem.
Sr. we want some Laws,
Such as were made for certain Lord Protectors.
Mal.
Indeed this lawful murder is an
Art
Of Excellence, and yet as easy too
For Statesmen Lawyers as Physicians.
Mem.
An Art familiar in the Roman
State,
As ancient too as the first Monarchy.
O I could tell you Laws worth millions to us,
By fair intrapping of the wealthy Clergy.
;Mal.
Have you no model to ensnare a Prince?
Mem.
Henry
the third, though wise and valiant,
Was caught in a strong line knit by himself,
Here ith mad Parliament,
Mal.
As how?
Mem.
Twelve Peers
Under pretence of evil Officers
And grand abuses, were selected out,
Strengthen'd with Laws to prune Prerogatives,
To tutor and reform the State; to size
The Kings expense, and to appoint him
Servants,
Both menial and forinsecal.
Mal
I'st possible
The King should seal to this?
Mem.
O Poverty,
She to Obedience is the Lay-mother.
As some say Ignorance is the Clarklike,
Betwixt Superiors and Inferiors,
Look either way, this rule is mutual,
The poorer must be servant to the richer.
Henry
brought low with various Action
Could not subsist without their subsidies.
Keep thy Prince poor, then thou shalt rule thy Ruler,
And subject thy Commander.
Mal.
This we tried
To fasten on
Prudentius:
but he
Too wise, too frugal was. Now
Fancie
Through giddiness of mind, and vast expense,
Will prove less wary and more prodigal.
Mem.
Let some insnareing Law be once proposed,
Fancie
will yield, not ponder.
Mal.
Well, think you;
I will speak and speed. O 'tis the praise of hate
To practice ruin and pretend the State.
Mem.
But Sir, I trust upon your furtherance
(Mal. about to go.
About impropriations.
Mal.
You I will remember
First, or myself I ever shall forget.
(Ex. Mal.
SCENA III.
Enter
Fancie
in a Cydaris,
Concupiscence,
Fuga, Hilario
before them.
Fan.
The Cydaris well fits me; now must I
〈◊〉
••
er this Persian Crown with mutual fitness.
What thing was proper to the Persian
Kings,
Say
Memor.
Mem.
Persian Kings did wed their
Sisters.
Fan.
Though in my Person thus I cannot wed,
I will license others. You
Hilario
May, if you please, enjoy your lively Sister
Concupiscence.
Hill.
I thank your Majesty
Both that I may, and may not; for to me
Nothing so pleasing is as Liberty.
I would not be bound to that neither, though I love it best;
If I were, I should long for the prison.
Bind me to be rich, I shall play at Ducks and Drakes with pieces;
Bind me to my good behavior, I shall feel an itching desire to beat the Justice.
O what a Prentise should I make! I should run away no oftener then I came in fight
Of the threshold. And most of the Passions,
I think, have a spice of this humor.
Fan.
But can no bond please you like
Liberty?
Hill.
Neither bond of Matrimony, nor bond of friendship,
Nor bond of Usury, nor bond of iniquity;
I rejoice in the present, I desire nothing, and therefore would be tied to nothing.
Fan.
Concupiscence
your Sister's of another mind.
Conc.
I
could well endure to be bound, so
I
might be loose too.
Fan.
The Theme which
I
proposed was Royalty,
No less then Persian. Then Concupiscence,
How ist we are so thinly waited on,
By Femal Passions? are there no more women
Of Passion kind?
Conc.
Of Passionate enough.
But to say Truth, the Femal Passions
As soon as they are born, turn all to sins
And they are all my Children.
Mem.
Then have you
More Daughters far then
Danaus,
or
Margaret
Countess of
Henneberg:
whereof one did equal
The weeks, and th' other the days of the year
With numerous issue.
Conc.
I have more by thousands.
I am as Fruitful and quick of Delivery
As any Uermin, spreading as Potatoes;
My race ruas over the World.
Fan.
Or what age are they?
Conc.
As old as myself very near.
Mem.
Then you
Continued a maid no longer then
Quartilla.
Conc.
O never at all that I can remember.
Mem.
You bear your age exceeding well.
Conc.
I hope
I shall be young forever; I have the virtue
Of making old folks young by touching them.
Fan.
Are none of those your Children ripe and handsome
And fit for our attendance?
Conc.
Pride my Eldest
She is the likeliest.
Fan.
Let her be admitted.
Conc.
She's now in the Spanish Court; but when she comes—
Hill.
Then the Court and her Mother will teach her to fall both ways,
Forward and Backward.
Fan.
Till she return, isit not in Fancie's power
To change a Sex, and make some Passion
Female?
Mem.
The like hath been; I have heard of a Femal
By mere force of Fancy turned Male. So
Iphis
A Maid, in love with a Maid, was transformed
Just on the marriage Eve.
Tiresias
Was Male and Femal annually by turns;
Some Hermaphrodites have been both at once.
Conc.
Wud I could live and turn Hermaphrodite.
Fug.
Wud I could live and be of neither
Sex.
Fan.
What think ye of transforming
Amorous?
Hill.
He's undone then: he cannot show his legs, nor use his Postures
Nor enjoy his Idol
Morphe.
No, change Sir
Timerous,
He's as fearful as a Hare, and may be as changable:
He hath many Symbolical conditions of womanhood already:
He is Femal in every part but one, and half Femal in his clothes
Give me but an Inch of Ribband from
Fuga,
and I will undertake to present him
The Lady
Timida.
(Ex. Hill.
Fan.
Fuga
Give him one of your changable Fancie's,
Thus first ourselves must whet our own
Invention;
Else others will not stir. Men do not strive
Methinkes to please me as they ought to do.
No other rarities these many Ages
But Powder, Printing, Seaman Card, and Watches?
So much vain dotage for the fond Elixir?
Why are not yet my Christals malleable,
To make our Gold no Gold, and foil the Di'mond?
Why want I Instruments to measure out
The Year, the Day, the Houre, without the help
Of Sun, or turning of these tedious wheels?
Nothing to carry me but Barges, Coaches?
Sedans, and Litters? through the Air I'd pass
By some new waftage▪ I must have my house
Convey'd by wheels and sails and plummers hung
In some deep pit, deep as the way is distant,
To hurry me, my Family, and it,
Whether I please. I will travel like the Snaile,
With all my house; but swifter then the Faulcon.
Fug.
Rare Lady!
Conc.
Ravishing Inventions!
Fan.
Why have not I not my Beds stuffd all with wind,
Baths filled with Maydew, Flowers preserved till winter,
As well as Snow till Summer: choicest Fruits
Growing and ripe in midst of
January?
Why have not I Ponds running through my Cellars,
For Bottles and for Fish called by their names?
Why not in drough an Artificial rain,
Scattered by spowtes, to cheer my Paradise?
Mem.
I wish you had these things; I nere saw such.
Fan.
Cheape I can have
Aeolian
bellows made
Within the Bowles of Andirons, where the water
Shall blow the fire by which 'tis rarified.
I will have Vaults which shall convey my whispers
In steed of Embasies to foreign Nations;
Places for Ecchoes to pronounce a speech,
Or give a Suffrage like a multitude:
Consorts well played by water; Pictures taught
By secret Organs both to move and speak:
We spend ourselves too much upon the Taylor;
I rather would new mold new fashion Nature.
SCENA IIII.
Enter
Amorous
and
Liveby
one way,
Malevolo
another way. After a while a Shew.
Am.
Pleases your Highness to behold a Shew,
Wherein some Passions are displayed by Dreams
How they affected are by Day.
Fan.
I will see it.
What means that whisper?
(Mal. & Mem. whisper.
Mal.
It is an honest project
Thought on by
Memor,
out of love to Churches,
To buy back saleable impropriations
With charitable money. Doth it please you?
Fan.
This task was fitter for
Prudentius
Then Sense or Passion. This although
I
grant,
Yet take it with condition.
Memor
knows
Conveyance old and new, the Right and Wrong.
In things not sacred he may use his cunning,
In this he must be just. To you I say,
It was not seasonable to move this business
When Shewes were coming.
Mal.
This yourself did move
By asking.
Mem.
Now.
Mal.
Then make you here a Law,
That none these three days shall prefer a Sute
Or motion under forfeiture of life.
Me you shall find content;
I
'm no Troubler.
Mem.
This trap is laid full right.
Liv.
Stay, stay great Queen.
This Law will seal my mouth, and tie your hands,
And stop the necessary speed of business,
Whereby your Crown may be dissolved.
Fan.
Away,
Away
Malevolo.
Mal.
My snare for
Liveby
Is brok, but violence shall it supply.
You
Memor
have your wish.
(Ex. Mal. & Mems
Enter
Amorous
with the show.
Morpheus in a Cloud-coloured Cassock with a wreath of Poppies and a Caduceus from a black Cell. Then at his call, six sleeping Persons in their night caps half down their Faces, and in their wastcoates, representing in their clothes downwards Memor, Malevolo, Irato, Timerous, Hilario, Desperato. Morpheus shakes his Caduceus over them severally as they stand in Couples. Being moved they fall successively into their proper gestures, and lastly all dance together in those gestures.
More.
I Morpheus King of Dreams, whose might
Can equal
Fanci's
in the night,
Have caused the night six dreams to send:
As I appointed they attend
They enter from a black Cave.
Now
Memor
turn thy Books and prate,
Plead with thy hands and fees then take.
Shrug, scratch,
Malevolo,
and grin,
Grasp thy foul heart and feel thy sin.
Irato,
bend thy fist and draw,
Offer to thrust, keep fear in awe.
Shak
Timerous,
offer to fly,
Begin to sink, offer to die.
Hilario clap thy hands and laugh,
Skip, leap, and turn, offer to quaff.
Despair start, stand, and crush thy throat,
Then stab thy breast and groan death's note.
The Dance.
(After the dance, Ex. Masquers.
Fan.
Whose labor was this sport?
Am.
Livebys
invention and my contriving.
Fan.
For this I will send you to your dearest
Morphe.
Go at what hour you please, and say I want
Her company at Court. You, Hope, for this,
And for preventing that pernicious Law,
Ask what you will.
Liv.
Grant the Monopoly
Of Watches, or of Beavers.
Fan
take them both;
And ask again.
Liv.
When woodlands shall be turned
To other use, grant me a twelfth as forfeit.
Fan.
Be it confirmed▪
Liv.
I was about to ask
The Patronage of Churches in Sea-towns;
Where popular choice maintains a Faction
Brought in with Merchandize from foreign parts.
But that were better taken to the Crown.
Fan.
Take what thou wilt. Thou
begst to give us share.
None can please all, the best the better fare.
(Ex. Omnes.
SCENA. V.
The Scene turns to fields, walks & scattered houses.
Enter
Hilario,
and then Sir
Timerous
with
Fuga's
ribband.
Hill.
By this way Sir Timerous should come; whom I as sent from his wronged Lady Fuga have engaged in a quarrel against Audax. And yonder comes the pitiful Earthquake most lovingly trembling.
Tim.
What should I do here? some desperate knave or other, Desperato himself (it may be) hath robbed me of my best weapon. I thought not to have fought with steel, but with Gold; and to have brought this needy Captain to an honorable submission by dint of Cash. What disasters have I? That unreasonablly wicked, that divlish two faced Cutter knew me too well: for when I drew this harmless blade, he looked upon it as slightly as upon a riding wand; and bad me familiarly put up that, and draw my purse. Certainly I have too much of the Mother; I am that which they call a Coward, and all the world knows it. Wherefore (O Ribband) I take it extreme scurvily of Fuga, that she being of the same temper her self, doth not consider her temper in me.
Hill.
Now this Craven stands as ticklish on the point of running as a Bowle on the top of a ridg.
Tim.
Two steps further I will move. I have been coming a quarter of a mile these two hours at least; and yet I sweat till the very drops run a race; my shaking fever is turned to a cold sweat, and that's a true Prognostication of death.
Puts on his Cap.
Good night to all the world; for this is that fatal piece of ground which I shall anon-measure with my Carcasse. Never a Bush nor Hole here? though it be called Champion ground I shall not fight: perhaps I shall make use of its plainness, and give ground a mile or two; that shall be my way of fighting. For if I the Challenger stand still on my guard, it will not stand with mine honor: And then while I keep my backsword point still in his face (I have seen the play at cudgells) he will wheel about me, and falsifying a blow at the head will strike me just on the legs where my heart lies. Then shall I be quite spoiled for running away; which I think I had best do presently, for I hear him coming. O—
Hill.
Now I see Sir Tim, thou art a Lad of mettle.
Tim.
Mettle? I protest Sir I had rather drink this cold iron filed small to dust and be a Lad of mettle so, then to thrust it whole into any man's flesh whatsoever; much less into my Enemies. You see then what power Love hath, and how Fuga is beholding to me.
Hill.
Most dreadfully.
Tim.
Is not the time yet past? I think I may retire with honor, and say he durst not meet me.
Hill.
It wants yet half an hour. If you hold not out your time, then he will assault you openly in Court, and make your shame public, which otherwise will be but private. I will stand secretly by you, and if need require will step in and part you.
Tim.
Stand not far off I beseech you for when I am killed I shall not be able to call.—O my heart!—the Giant's coming—O— Hilario — Malevolo passes by.
Mal.
Saw you not here Irato?
Tim.
No believe me Sir; no I thank heaven. Hilario! —Now comes Audax. O— I have but a minute to live. Irato passes by.
Ir.
How now stinkerd, how does thy breech? sawst thou not here Malevolo?
Tim.
He past by in hast; just now in hast.—Well. Two Furies are past. I will not wait for the third, go Love and Honor whither they will. Hilario! —I fear he hath left me. I will raze my Flesh with a slight cut, and swear I received that wound in fight. But now I think on it better, I have an issue under my left arm; I will force that bigger till it bleed, and swear that into a wound. For sure a fresh one would be far greater pain. Soft, I am loath to suffer so much, if I may choose Hilario? —
Hill.
What a Champion are you? not dare to look a man in the face?
Tim.
Sweet Hilario, I consider thou hast no Sword to help me: stretch thy wit, and invent some speedy way, how I may escape with honor, and not fight?
Hill
You cannot possibly escape fighting.
Tim.
Sweet Hilario do not kill me before hand with saying so.
Hill.
Why then will you be ruled by me?
Tim.
In anything, anything. Quickly for love of Life.
Hill.
I have promised to furnish the Queen with a new Lady attendant.
Tim.
What then?
Hill.
Put on Woman's apparel, you shall be she; by name of Madam Timida.
Tim.
Ha! Say on.
Hill.
Then shall you be free, not only from this quarrel, but from all future beatings and challenges.
Tim.
Safe and sound!
Hill.
Then shall you have perpetual access to Fuga, bully.
Tim.
Safe and delicious!
Hill.
Then to steal her affection you may habit yourself like her.
Tim.
Safe and wise!
Hill.
Then as for you honor, who can upbraid you when you are nowhere to be sound: twill be supposed by your sweet friend, that you died in her quarrel, Audax if he himself talk will be dangerously questioned.
Tim.
But will you be secret?
Hill.
For mine own sake, mine own sake, Sir Tim.
Tim.
Dearest Hilario, thou art my preserving Angel.
Hill.
Make hast, before you can new cast yourself I will come to present you.
(Ex. Tim
Poor snake, I delivered no Challeng; I only frighted him to a more willing Metamorphosis.
SCENA VI.
Enter by him
Concupiscence
in a
Citizens habit.
Conc.
Hey ho for a husband; Two three, or more,
As many as I meet; 'tis fit, that we
Ladies Attendant should be qualified
For three at least.
Hill.
What ere the habit be, this is the Face
The Voice and language of
Concupiscence,
Why, how now Sister, taking the Air alone?
Conc.
A safe Conscience never fears any man.
Hill.
I think thou fear'st not any, but lov'st all.
Such was thy wont; and hast thou now a Conscience?
Conc.
Be grave or silent, know I am rectified.
Hill.
Pox on your train: by feigned honesty
You seek to woo me. I will unvaile you straight.
What think you of two husbands, three, or more,
As many as you meet?
Conc.
Why didst thou hear me?
Hill.
Ladies Attendant should be qualified
For three at least.
Conc.
That I spoke merrily.
Hill.
If thou hadst ten, thou still wouldst cry more
Hymens.
Conc.
If so you think, think on, I think so too.
Hill.
But when will all thy maidenheads be spent?
Tell me sincerely, truly, and bodily.
Conc.
They come again like Teeth, I am breeding now.
Hill.
Then are thy maidenheads like
Hydra's
heads,
Not to be tamed but by a
Hercules.
Who has the next?
Conc.
I am resolved to part it
Betwixt a Courtier and a Citizen:
The Courtier has the maid, the Citizen
Shall have the head.
Hill.
Sister, I cannot wed you,
You have too much complexion for my use:
But I will provide you one shall bear the name
Of Husband.
Conc.
Let him be honest, quiet.
Hill.
Of you own garb, say he be
Melancolico.
And so I will rid myself of
Fanci's
march.
Conc.
I care but for his shadow having Servants.
Hill.
Farewell Carnality.
(Ex. Hill.
Conc.
Hilario
thinks
He took me, when alas twas my intent
The Boy should overheare, and so become
If not a Husband, such an Officer.
SCENA VII.
Enter to her
Audax.
Au.
What's here?
Concupiscence?
Conc.
Nor stare, nor startle;
As I hope to look fair, I am nothing changed
In mind or body. No where, but in habit.
Au.
And why in This?
Conc.
O for Variety.
Fancy permits all change. This dress sometimes
Pleases the Courtier better then his
Ladies.
Au.
Is it but so? come then my Paphian drum,
I will brace the close.
Conc.
Soft Sir, you march too feircely.
I have a task which first you must perform;
I fear you will not doit; you do not love
me;
Promise me first; the task I can assure you,
Befitts your Valour, and will pay it self.
Au.
Is it to kill the Queen, that thou mayst reign?
Conc.
No, nor her maid; thou shalt but use her kindly.
Au.
Speak plain, be bold.
Conc.
Then thou shalt ravish
Fuga.
She twits me with my Servants, Favors, Lookes,
My Words, and scapes: in This you bear a share.
If this to me bring shame, you are not free.
Au.
Is this your heavy task? no more but This?
Only to ravish? is not the work Reward?
I will doit effectually; Her self shall thank me.
Conc.
But I will outthank her far; I will ravish thee
With fast embraces. Take this kiss in earnest
Of future payment. Though I seem a
Vestal,
To thee I am
Venus.
Au.
Venus,
be secured.
(Ex. Au.
Conc.
Then, when her fruit shall swell, and I stand simpring,
Turn'd to a seeming Saint, O how I will triumph
In grave reproof and holy Admonition!
This 'tis to be too chaste.—here come the Stagemen.
SCENA VIII.
Enter to her
Malevolo, Irato,
Memor.
Mal.
Sir you and we were acted at the Court.
We losers are made laughing-stocks, and sport
For open Stages.
Ir.
Tell my Sword the Author;
That it my write his doom upon his flesh.
Mal.
This Creature can inform us.
Who I pray
Were your late witwrights in the Masque?
Conc.
Hope pend it,
My Father
Amorous
(without Offence)
(Ex. Conc.
Contriv'd the Shew.
Mem.
This trick
Malevolo
Was chiefly meant to you, because your pen
Hath scourged the Stage.
Ir.
However Lord
Irato
Shall act a red Catastrophe on
Liveby:
(Ex. Ir. and Mem.
Mal.
I will watch his haunt and hunt
him to his fall;
You
Amorous
too. This mirth of theirs at last
Shall close their sweetness with an Aloed taste.
These once removed, who can be great but I;
Whose word shall sway but mine? Then power is sweet
When Rubs are made the stairs to mount our feet.
(Ex. Mal.
Finis Actus 3.
ACTVS IIII
SCENA I.
Enter
Desperato
in a Physicians habit.
Desp.
Whatever change succeed, still wretchedness
My old inseparable mate hangs on.
Therefore I seem ridiculous; my grief
Is others mirth;
Malevolo
says
I
'm acted▪
Henceforth I will find new Company: since
Fate
Barrs me from others happiness, I will spread
My misery to others; and I will thrive
Meerely in spite, to make men miserable.
This is my humor; 'tis begun already.
The Gold
I
took from
Timerous,
if questioned,
I
can defend;
I
took it in my humor;
And that's good law;
I
took it in a humor
Most desperately bent; and it hath made me
Such as men see, an able man for mischief;
Clad me in th' outside of a mystery,
Furnish'd my shelves with Pots, with
Boxes, Names,
Slight Medicines, and strong Poysons. Time hath been,
When I in War served Death a Prentiship;
There learned to open Veynes, to lance and kill;
Now I am free o'th Trade; a Soldier then,
Physician now; I will do the self same work,
But now more Artificially.—
SCENA II.
Enter to him
Melancholico.
Mel.
—The godly
〈◊〉
in distress; the wicked, that usurp
The Children's right, do here grow fat and prosper:
Wherefore I thought of drowning. Verily
••
ulesse that Conscientious Lawyer,
Good
Memor,
from rebought Impropriations,
Had thus deducted and distributed
The better part to us oppressed Brethren,
Affliction some, and some Devotion
Had brought me to despair. Now I will not see him.
Desp.
Methinkes dejected
Melancholico
Should prove fit Timber for my fatal work.
What,
Melancholico?
not know your friend,
Whose medci'nal skill cures Body, Mind, and State?
Trust thou art not over lucky; art?
Do'st feel no misery?
I thought ere this should have had thy custom.
Mel.
Verily
My sickness could but little cure your purse.
Desp.
It might have brought me practice howsoever,
And that's the only Fee of new professors.
Mel.
But are you then indeed a true professor,
And one of Us? Sooth I profess sincerity,
Desp.
Hath not the same which caused sincerity,
Caus'd a foul spleen? no Hypocondrick
Vapours?
Mel.
For that a godly Lawyer gave me physic:
Desp.
Then take it next from a Divine.
Mel.
That Lawyer
First took it from Divines, then gave it me.
And I can give you counsel to your physic:
You have a fair advantage in men's sickness
To prick the Conscience, and to let them know,
Their only way is to relieve the Breren,
And
〈◊〉
their stock of holy usury
For new Plantations. You shall have a share.
Desp.
This is a verier rogue then I myself.
Mel.
And what I pray moved you to turn Physician?
Desp.
Want set me on, a booty set me up.
Now let me know of mutual courtesy,
What was your Dos?
Mel.
'Twill buy all yours; 'twas Gold.
Desp.
Why then, thou'st run unto presumption,
Not to despair. I hear you are to marry;
Which if thou dost, then thou wilt come to me,
For Ratsbane, Hensbane, some such wholesome banes,
To cure thy bands of Matrimony.
Mel.
Hence.
(Ex. Desp.
SCENA III.
Enter to him
Hilario
and
Concupiscence.
Hill.
Friend
Melancholico,
How isit? Sister, stand by a while. Methinks
Upon a sudden you are grown brisk and cheereful,
Fit company for me, nay for a wife.
Mel.
You will never leave your waggery and jesting.
" You called Peculiars rags of Popery.
Hill.
Sometimes you are too sad and solitary:
Is this jesting? and solitariness
Requires due Recreation; Is this jesting?
And Recreation much consisteth in
The yoke of a meet helper; you may call
This jesting too; but isit not sport in earnest?
Mel.
The Saints allow no sport.
Hill.
Then love in earnest.
You know you cannot well converse with men;
Your looks are indispos'd, your language sparing,
Your manners different.
But to a woman
A long Parenthesis of busi'd silence
Does passing well. Then in her company
You have a world, and none to contradict.
And in her Ear you may reform the Church,
Or purg the State, as safe, as if you spake
Unto the Air or whisper'd to yourself,
For so she is. Think on a wife.
Mel.
No wife.
Hill.
Then on a spouse.
Mel.
Now you say somewhat.
Hill.
Now.
He'l marry words not substance. The word whore
Would have spoiled all. This blockhead suites with me
As frost with fire. But for your sake I will thaw him.
Mel.
Have you not injured that fair promising
Sister
By leaving her alone?
Hill.
She meditates.
Mel.
She walketh gravely, turns her eye devoutly.
Hill.
The white's pure, the black as full of Adultery
As thou art of Hypocrisy; she harbours
A good conceit of you. Shall she concive
Further?
Mel.
If that her name be right.
Hill.
She was
Concupiscence, now called Temperance
Sister
This is your Husband whom I so commended.
Conc.
I choose not for myself.
Mel.
Sister and Spouse,
If so you please, our hands sha'l us unite
Marches are made in Heaven; few words suffice
The Night consummates. As for other rites
I hold them superstitious Ceremonies.
I had forgot her Portion.
Hill.
She's a widow,
He show you her Estate.
Mel.
He first retire
And clasp her hand in zeal.
Conc.
my Lord and Bridegroom.
Hill.
The Devil and his Dam you are.
Come Brother.
Mel.
Once more. I like your meditation,
But do not spend yourself therewith too much.
(Ex. Hill. and Mel.
Conc.
Now I am double shelter'd in my hear,
With name of Husband, and this formal guise.
SCENA IIII.
Enter to her
Audax.
Conc.
Now welcome Servant; have you won the Fort?
Au.
Hell take her, she's a man.
Conc.
A man?
Au.
Just so
I found, scarce left him so.
Conc.
O you mistook.
Sir
Timerous
is transformed to wait at
Court:
Twas
Phanci's
own device. O I could laugh.
Au.
I made him so much woman as to cry;
" Else I had made him woman with my Sword.
Conc.
Alas poor
Timida.
Au.
The thing so trembled,
No leaf nor ague like him.
Conc.
Ha ha ha.
Au.
Did you intend to put this trick upon me?
Conc.
No by the kisses which shall satisfy
Thy height forthwith, and pay thy error full.
Besides I am satisfied with this mistake
As well as with the right. Aspersion
Shall blot the name of
Fuga
full as much.
SCENA V.
Enter to them
Sir Tim.
as
Timida.
After a while
Fuga,
alike dressed.
Au.
What's this? the He or She?
Conc.
No matter which.
Au.
If it be she, I will ravish her; if he,
Then thou shalt doit.
Conc.
Neither▪ tis done enough.
Au.
Tim
hath a fine time on it.
Conc.
Come, you have a better.—
Tim.
Is this to be a woman? O
I
could tear,
(Ex. Conc. & Au.
As timorous as
I
am, my lawnes to rags,
And scratch my face, and stick my heart with pins,
Or straight turn valiant. Wud my
Fuga
knew,
What she hath scaped through me.
And here she comes.
(Enter Fuga.
O
Fuga,
female habit and strang sufferings
Have lent me tongue enough. Now I can speak;
And boldly say I have deserved your love.
Fug.
Wherein Sir Lady?
I Tim.
Now in this your habit saved you from a hideous ravishing.
Audax
with whom I should have fought, came on me
With love more rude then rage, blasted my face
With breath like brimstone, turned my limbs like twigs;
I live by miracle.
Fug.
You came too near
Uuto a Sex from which you should keep further.
Tim.
Shall I not then be near and dear unto you?
Fug.
Experience tells you what a boisterous thing
It is to be ruffled by a man.
Tim.
Still so? Why I have been a woman for thy sake;
I hear within these weeds a mind as tender,
White skin, blew veins, and arms as soft as thine.
Fug.
But still you are a man, and I still
Fuga.
Tim.
Nothing can merit love from pevishnesse.
What shall I do? I will straight turn man again,
And suffer for myself. Farewell coy woman,
Ungrateful, and unwise. My ravishment
Is fairly past, but yours may be the next.
How ere when I appear myself, the noise
Of what is past will light upon your name.
I bore the loathsome suffering for thee,
Now shalt thou bear the foul reproach for me.
(Ex. Tim.
Fug.
Much I was overseen, too much extremely;
I could run after him; but if he turn
I shall run back again. O I am lost;
My Honor, Safety, and perhaps some liking,
All these are lost, with these I am lost, lost
Fuga.
SCENA VI.
Enter to her
Amorous.
Am.
This change of State gains me small perfect pleasure.
Meer meditation on
Morphe's
beauty
Will not suffice. Come
Fuga,
since thy Ocean
Cannot be minish'd by some drops, give freely
What
Audax
forced.
Fug.
That I am miserable
Isit not enough, unless I bear more burdens
Of common scorn, or (which is worse) true stayning?
Good Sir, of all the Passions you are gentlest;
Though you esteem me light, which I am not,
Yet take some weight unto yourself.
Consider
That after this you cannot worthy be
Of
Morphe,
never woe with confidence.
Am.
Thus still a Female Sermon puts me by,
And I gain nothing by my Liberty.
Once more I ask.
Fug.
Once was too much before.
Am.
Once more.
Fug.
First kill me.
Am.
Then to make you quick
Is past my cunning.
(Ex. Amorous.
SCENA VII.
Enter
Hilario, Concupiscence,
after a while
Melancholico.
Hill.
Joy to you Madam
Fuga,
you know why.
(Ex. Hill.
Conc.
If I could give you Joy of what
I loath,
And you delight in, this if I could do
Without a sin, I would.
Fug.
Is false report
Worse then true guilt? how i'st this filthy
Strumpet
Lookes like a Saint, and I as foul as hell?
Conc.
Lady, an Eye refined sees more then dull ones,
And Holiness far clearer then Uncleaness.
I wonder what loose words and actions
Have passed from you, to give incouragment
To the kind ravisher; for I have heard
None can be ravished without some consent.
Be humbled, know you fault, live chaster
Lady.
(Enter Mel.
Fug.
Sure I should think I am guilty.
Mel.
Out upon thee.
Fie Temperance, what here? wilt thou have Eggs
And rotten Oranges flung at thee too?
What can you choose no other company
But this lewd, cracked abominable piece?
Conc.
You see your company is scandalous,
I must take leave.
(Ex. Mel. & Conc.
Fug.
If there be any power
To see and judge, I challenge his assistance.
What have I done, unless too steadfast coynesse
Be now accounted looseness? what's my
Crime,
That such a general storm of loud disgrace
Conspires to bear down Innocence? Hold heart,
Hold my weak spirits: for if this continue
I shall grow desperate.—
SCENA VIII.
Enter to her
Malevolo.
Fug.
—Pitty me Father,
My name is stained beyond all patience.
Sir
Timerous
having foolishly put on
My shape; instead of me was rudely ravished
By blustering
Audax.
The reproach is mine.
You know a darksome cloud can much obscure
The face of water though as pure as Crystal.
Mal.
Audax
shall rue this base attempt, whose shadow
Blots your opinion, and portends more danger
Unto your Person. Cast your cares on me.
Fug.
I may communicate, not cast them off.
(Ex Fug.
Mal.
I
thought to use him in a bold design
Gainst
Liveby,
and
I
will; 'tis dangerous
Unto himself. If combat rain one,
Vengeance pursues the other: thus I will make
The vanquished and the victor both my prey,
And whilst they fight, myself shall win the day.
SCENA IX.
Enter by him
Irato
and
Audax
quarreling.
Ir.
What, you that Office? know your turn; give place
First to your betters. You be General?
Au.
Yes I. And know, that whilst I hold a Sword
To prove my worth, the Sun beholds none better.
Neither your Lordship nor Controwlership
Can dastard me.
Ir.
But I shall teach you distance.
Au.
Make me draw back one inch, and gain this place,
Then thou gain'st That. Be calmer good
Irato.
Ir.
Unwing the Lightning, stop
Araxes
floods,
Then mayest thou stop my wrath, and guard thyself
Against my stroke.
Mal.
Hold, hold; what means this
Fury?
May I be Umpire in your difference?
Au.
Know it you may; this fierce and haughty Lord
Crosses my aim, and stands Competitour
For what he understands not, to be General.
Ir.
Not understand? give way
Malevolo.
Au.
You may be fit to quarrel in a
Tavern,
But not to lead an Army.
Ir.
Give me scope;
Unless thou wouldst be broach'd on the same blade,
And coupled plung in Styx; open the way.
Mal.
Why would you seek this Office?
Ir.
Cause I scorn
That any man should be preferred before me.
Mal.
And why would you?
Au.
Because I can do service;
And would gain honor, equal unto His.
Mal.
There's yet no Army levi'd, there's no cause,
But doubtful Rumour.
Au.
When there is, I will lead it.
Mal.
Yes, both alike; while you contend for shadows,
Liveby
will bear the substance from you both.
Rid him, then you may talk.
Au.
What says
Irato?
Ir.
Agreed.
Mal.
Then you shall take him now in th' Evening,
Comming from
Intellectus:
there's his haunt,—
(Ex. Ir. & Au.
Now try your fury on a third; for I
Stanch'd not this combat out of love, but hate,
To turn them hot, and mad, on
Liveby's
blood;
That done, meet seas again; I will be no
Isthmus;
But spur their heat, and clap them on the shoulder.
For I myself first raised this brute of war,
For fuel of some new commotion;
Which luckily takes fire betwixt these two.
SCENA X.
Enter by him
Amorous
and
Musician.
Then
Morphe.
Mal.
Now
Amorous;
you sit in Fortunes lap,
Your Mistress sits in yours; you spend your days
In Honor, and Delight.
Am.
I shall the more,
If with your liking.
Mal.
Mine? I am your Theme
For mirth at Court; one of your Hobby-horses:
And glad of such perferment; but I will dash
And poison your sweet delicates.
Am.
Your hate
(Ex. Mal.
Shall not break off my Scene of Love.
Stand there,
And send thy notes like shafts through
Morphe's
Eare.
Musician Sings.
Sweet
Morphe
lend a feeling ear
To the soft strains wherein I bear
My soul, and sigh it out to thee
Compos'd of sweeter harmony;
With one kind word or smile
Reprive the man a while,
Who life doth crave
Thy print to save,
And fears to make his breast, thy Pictures grave.
Mor.
(Above)
Why do you trouble both yourself and me,
With such fond circumstance of open wooing?
Am.
I am glad at any rate to hear your voice,
Though sent in chiding. But my dearest
Morphe,
I have a business to you from the Queen,
Besides mine own.
Mor.
This you pretend to wrong me.
Though I be loyal, yet my loyalty
Ought not to make me Traitor to myself.
Am.
If I be false or any way immodest,
Accuse and shun me.
Mor.
Shall I then believe you?
Am.
Add to that curse a greater if you can,
And may it fall upon me.
Mor.
Well, I come.
(Mor. descends.
Am.
Now having liberty to act my will,
No Law but this vain curse to hold me in,
How shall I bear myself?
Mor.
What wills the Queen?
Am.
She calls you to her company at Court.
She wants your privacy; you likewise want
Her public presence: O you wrong your beauty
By shutting such a Jewel from the gaze
Of solemn adoration.
Mor.
Pray excuse me;
If I have beauty, let me keep it well.
The various Fashions, and new Fancies there,
In the opinion of us plainer beauties,
Do but Sophisticate the Elements
Of native Colour, and distort the lines
Of proper figure. What should I do there?
Say I am sickly, as this news hath made me.
Farewell Sir
Amorous.
Am.
Nay, tis not modesty
But blunt stupidity to part so soon.
May I not walk and take you by the arm,
And pass a fair discourse? what hurt in
This?
May I not feed my spirits with the air
That fans your cheeks? lighten mine eye from yours?
Is this immodest?
Mor.
Hark.
Am.
'It is the clash of weapons.
SCENA. XI.
Enter
Live by hope
pursued by
Audax
and
Irato
They speed him and pass along.
Liv.
Help
Amorous,
help.—O—it comes too late.
Am.
Ignoble Swords, and bloody butcherers!
Who would believe that two such
Hercules
Should join against a single
Hylas
thus.
It was not manly.—
Morphe
—O my life!
(Mor. Sownes.
This hideous sight hath struck her gentle spirits
With frighted numbness. Water, spirits, help.—
Enter Mus. and out again
Out strip the wind, fly for a Physician.—
I will rub her Temples, rouse her by the name
Which she best knows:
Morphe.
Liv.
O!
Am.
Life there appears;
Is there none here? how should I save them both?
Help there, 'tis but a Sowne. I feel some breath.
I will bear her hence.—O that my arms might clasp
(Ex. Am
Her living thus, and willing.—
SCENA XII.
Enter
Intellectus Agens.
Int.
—Hence did thrill
That piercing noise. What's here? see false mine eyes!
Poor
Liveby
slain? then for thy Sovereigns favor
Thou diedst a Martyr.
Liv.
O,
Intellectus
help.
Int.
He speaks; there's hope of life. If Art can save
A thread so mangled, thus I will bear thee toit.
Although my breast have used to bear it's burden
(Ex. Int. bearing Liv.)
Within, and not without.—
Am.
(above)
—Look carefully
Unto your Lady. Let the Physitan
First speak with me.—Now to my second load.—
(He descends.)
What? vanished? I have heard of walking ghosts,
Never of walking carcasses. Then surely
The Murderers have dragged him hence. His blood
Will rise upon their cheeks; and it shall speak
Loud on my Tongue.—
SCENA XIII.
Enter by him
Fancie
in a Turbant,
Fuga,
after a while
Musician,
Desperato.
Fan.
—Now in my Turkish Turbant
I walk to find Sir
Amorous
in his heaven.
Be not so deeply discontented
Fuga.
Fug.
Unless you clear me openly, I die.
Fan.
I find you
Amorous
somewhat near your Center.
Your
Morphe
fittest is to be a Queen.
I go to wait on her, and fetch her home
With me.
Am.
Sweet Soul (that's all she is by this)
I cannot tell you in what world she is,
Nor where I am myself.
Fan.
And why?
Am.
She's dying,
Frighted with such a dismal accident,
That when
I
tell it,
I
much fear your highness
Will be as weak as she.
Fan.
Speak, I am armed.
Where's
Livebyhope?
Am.
The same I fain would know:
Last when I saw him, he was laid for dead.
Fan.
How dead?
Am.
It is so. Just now: not far from hence,
Two bloody Villaines,
Audax
and
Irato,
Persued and sped him with two mortal wounds.
I ran to help;
Morphe
fell in a Sownd;
I bore her hence; mean while his Corps were gone.
Fan.
I am perplexed beyond my power of bearing.
My arm is lopped, my Kingdom is all tumult▪
The Passions taking vantage of my Law,
Follow their humors to their mutual ruin;
Enter Mus. with Desp. Am. seems to talk with him.
And run like Vessels till they quite run out.
Am.
Mix some ingredient to excite her
Love.
Doctor, thou shalt be rich,
Desp.
I will fit you all.
Morphe
for physic sends,
Malevolo
Hath purchased me long since to give her poison;
Sir
Amorous
buys a Love-pill:
I
myself,
Even I, that will be Master in conclusion,
Intend to mix them all: then fight confusion.
(Ex. Desp.
SCENA XIIII.
Enter to them
Audax
and
Irato,
at length
Malevolo
secretly.
Au.
Pleases your highness to decide by choice,
Or leave it to our Swords, who shall be
General?
Fan.
Then
I
am bound to honor one of them
For their good service. Bloodhounds, have ye murdered
One worth you both? and dare to ask reward
Of me? of me so wronged? So both will join
In mutual revenge, and fall together,
Fight for it.
Ir.
Fond Queen, what if our rage proceed,
To hew Sir
Amorous
for telling this,
You for distasting? all will be but humor.
Au.
Then give us not occasion to proceed.
Fan.
Proceed, I pray you, do. Lo, here's my breast.
Tent it; to find the grief which I conceive
For
Livebys
Death, and your more horrid
Lives.
What, have ye surfeited with blood? good
Amorous,
Doit thou, doit straight: what these refuse as Rebels,
Do as a Friend. Kill me, but kill me gently,
With some sad strain under this spreading
Oak.
Am.
I hope 'twill ease not kill you.
Sing of
Venus.
(Musician Sings.
Once
Venus
cheeks that shamed the morn
Their hue let fall;
Her lips, that Winter had out born,
In
June
looked pale:
Her heat grew cold, her nectar dry.
No juice she had but in her eye,
The wonted fire and flames to mortify.
When was this so dismal sight?
When
Adonis
bad good night.
(Ex. Mus.
Fan.
The same which turned her beauty, turns my Fancy,
Alas poor
Liveby.
—What dee mean to thrust?
Fie what a press is here? stand off; for
I
Am but a Cloud: your Elbowes pierce me through;
Your hot and angry breaths will straight dissolve me.
(Enter Malevolo secretly.
And I shall crack into a shower of Tears.
Am.
Alas she's crak'd indeed, the
Queen's distempered.
Fan.
Do you not see, and hear a Lamb there bleating?
Pray kill him not, he bears the head of
Liveby.
Au.
In a mad world what use of place? what business?
Ir.
Now had I any anger left, I'd shred
That Fidler into Atoms.
Au.
O, I am struck
(Plague on
Malevolo
that fets us on!)
I am struck at heart with leaden heaviness!
Ir.
I feel my veins now curdled; what success
But Horror of this Fact?
Mal.
I see and hear
(Ex. Ir. & Au.
Enough to grate me. O that plots well laid
(Ex. Mal.
Should thus be dashed and foyld.—
SCENA XV.
Enter Melancholico with a Petition, after him Sir Timerous in man's habit.
Mel.
—That naughty Boy
Hilario
hath matched me to the Devil.
Hell flames are in her; she hath stuck a brand
" Into my bones;
I
sue for just divorcement.
Am.
Did not you snuffle till you matched my Daughter?
Peace, or you will shame yourself.
Fan.
A pretty Picture,
Here's Day and Night united in one piece;
Look here a Swan, look there a foul black
Raven.
Tim.
Justice great Queen against a multitude.
Am.
That's hard to be obtained.
Tim.
Against
Irato,
Tilario, Desperato, Audax:
Some beat, some cheat, some rob, some ravish me.
Fan.
What sayest? Go on and still that howling kennel.
I know you well, for all you are a Tortesse,
And have lived like a frog in diverse Elements.
Of what Gender are you? Go learn of
Protens
How to do tricks. If you be dull and blockish,
You must be beaten. Come to me for
Justice?
Judge one another, or get you all to
Liveby.
Tim.
He's in his grave.
Fan.
And therefore get ye to him.
Tim.
No doing's here: I am gone.
Mel.
And I: but whither?
Ex. Tim. & Mel.
Fan.
No
Amorous, Liveby
sleeps, but
Morphe
's dead.
Am.
Heaven help you Lady.
Fan.
But I can soon restore her.
" Take you the sent of a Travelers toes,
" The sneeze of a Sleeper fresh from his nose;
" The fat of a Frier well fed with fasting,
" The lean of a Drunkard consumed with tasting;
" The juice of a Lemmon tha's civil at seasons,
" Twelve dancing Capers, ten lunatic Reasons;
" Two dying notes of an ancient Swan,
" Three Sighes a thousand years kept if you can:
" Some scrapings of
Giges
his Ring may pass,
" With the skin of a Shadow caught in a glass;
" Six penny worth of Thoughts untold,
" The jelly of a Star before it be cold;
" One ounce of Courtship from a country-Daughter,
" A grain of Wit, and a quart of Laughter.
" Boyle these on the Fire of Zeal or of Lust,
" With some beech Coals, least the Vessel bust.
" If you can get these Ingredients, I'e compound them for you.
" Then when she is perfectly recovered, she shall be married
In rich cloth of Rainbow lac'd with Sun-beams.
Am.
I hope
Desperato
hath given her other Physic.
Fan.
Desperato?
is he her Physician?
Since hope is dead, we all must to despair.
SCENA XVI.
Enter
Model
bringing a message.
Mod.
Pardon the messenger if he relate
What he could wish were false.
Morphe
once was:
But after physic brought by
Desperato,
Raging and crying
Amorous,
She died.
Fan.
Lo now, believe your Cybill next.
Ex. Fan. Fug. Mod.—
Am.
—If madness
Be now so near allied to prophecy,
I shall grow Prophet too. What angry Star
Thus frowns on all the Passions, most on me?
Ere since
Prudentius
days, we only toil'd
In wretched mazes of confusion,
Mischeif, and discontent. I have not passed
One hour in those delights whereof I dreamed;
And now the object of my happiness
Is clean extinct. But how? O there's the torment!
My torment's doubled through myself the cause.
Curs'd be my heedless Love, which not content
With likely hopes, with honest ways of wooing,
The ways to long enjoining, headlong ran
To arts forbid. She had such Innocence
Even in her body, Temper so unforc'd,
That violent mixtures tending but to Love
To her were poisons. Yet methinks, sometimes,
There's Death in
Desperato's
looks; perchance
He's devil in his dumps, as I in lust.
Where shall we find the bottom of our woe,
Who but on Passion have no ground to go!
Ex. Am.
Finis Actus IIII.
ACTVS V
SCENA I.
The Scene turns to the house of Despair. A Table there laid.
Enter
Desperato.
Desp.
Grow blacker yet my thoughts, grow blacker yet:
Your Plummets have not fadom'd the full depth
Of Passions misery. I have invited them;
But I must change their Cheere; and make it stronger
Then food and bare discourse. I only live
For others-death, and then I will fill the heap
With mine own ruin: rather with mine ease:
For now the Passions flow like shoales of Fish
Into my net; they sue to me for Counsel;
Even to me; whose joy is in their death.
Just so the fearful Deere persu'd with dogs,
Flies to the keepers lodge, a surer Fate.
To poison is dull art; myself am sorry
For doing ill so poorly; my design
Is now more glorious; for I will make them act
Their death upon themselves, and thank me for it
Amidst their groanings. There have been with me
Fancie
herself, distracted for her
Liveby;
Irato, Audax
for massacring him;
Sir
Timerous
and
Fuga
for impatience
Of their abuse. Unless Recorder
Memor
Skil'd in the Law, have ways to scape my
Noose,
I doubt of none. I have bid them to a Feast;
But such a one, as
Tantalus
would shun;
Where I shall feed on all the guests that come.
SCENA II.
Enter Sir
Amorous.
Am.
Black
Desperato,
did I lay two thrids
Upon thy spindle? hast thou cut them both,
Morphe's
and mine?
Desp.
Why Sir, I mixed your Philtre.
Am.
She lives not me to love nor to be loved.
Didst thou mix nothing else?
Desp.
You know sometimes
That
Death
and
Cupid
do mistake their sh
•••
es:
Had I mixed Poison too and served two humors,
Both mine and yours, it might be well digested.—
Am.
If I had not a dear request unto thee,
To give me of the same, I would exact
Thy life for hers, however it was spilled.
Desp.
If
I
had not designed to kill some others
Out of mere kindness, thou shoulst try my skill
Of letting blood as well as giving physic.
But since
I
owe thee kindness out of hate,
Come to my Banquet, thou shalt have thy sauce.
There thou shalt meet thy friend
Malevolo,
Who shar'd in this, and gave as much for
Poison
As you did for your Philtre.
I
dealt honestly,
And pleasure'd Both. Come, thou shalt have thy sauce.
Am.
Devil,
I
thank thee.—
(Ex. Am.
SCENA III.
Enter
Malevolo.
Desp.
—Now▪
Malevolo.
Mal.
To hate was still my honey. But this gall
Of being hated totally of all,
I cannot bear: for now I cannot hurt,
Having no Credit. Give me from thy store
A dram of Poison. I have been thy friend,
Let it be strong.
Desp.
First shake hands you must
With all the Passions, or at least make show
Of formal reconcilement: stay a while,
My Guests and Cheer are coming.—
SCENA IIII.
Enter to them
Irato, Audax.
Ir.
—Have we found
This monster here? we'll send thy ugly soul
Unto her fellow Feinds for tempting us.
Mal.
I prompted you to kill. Were not you ready
To do as bad as I could say? Mean while
I turned you from destroying one another.
Au.
Twas for thine one black Ends.
Mal.
And say it was:
Might not I hate, as well as you might kill?
My humor was as lawful.
Au.
Hadst thou kept it
Home to thyself.
Mal.
I labor not excuse,
But accusation of your equal Crimes.
Desp.
He says the right; and hospitality
Doth now require, ye should defer your
Broyles.
(Ex. Desp.
SCENA V.
Enter to them
Fancie
in the
Tiremans
Coronet, hair dissheveld, in black and Silver habit.
Fuga,
Amorous, Timerous.
Fan.
Sir, here's a Crown, (and tis the worst of mine)
Not to be matched in all the globe of heaven
Now shall I feed upon
Ambrosia?
Most divelishly. What gods are these two
Mars-es?
Am.
Hell is broke loose; here are more Feinds then two.
Fug.
It shames me to look up; through grief I cannot.
Tim.
Wud I could die a sleep in some dark hole
Unknown unto myself and all the world.
Am.
Malevolo,
th' art damned.
Mal.
How know you that?
Am.
And thou must sink to hell now instantly
For killing
Morphe.
Thou shalt drink the same
That very Poison.
Mal.
Well, so you will begin.
SCENA VI.
Enter
Hilario
before
Melancholico
and
Concupiscence,
brought in a Sedan.
Hill.
Now Sister you are right: now you can snuffle
' As well a
Melancolico. Care
of fiction
" With help of somewhat else hath brought perfection.
" None come in Pomp but you: weakness is stately.
" Twere brave if these two beasts that draw without
" And these two rotten carcasses within
' Made it not look so Cart-like. My clean couple,
If you would be divorc'd, there's none can doit
Like
Desperato;
he can separate
At a worlds distance; that ye ner'e shall meet
To clamour me or others, or yourselves.
Fan.
A pretty kind of Coach; one horse before
And one behind!
Am.
Horses? why, these are Men.
Fan.
I see it now; it is the glassmans pack.
Have you good choice of Glasses, made in Figure
Of Guns and Trumpets, or of Rats and
Owls?
Last time I saw the like, I bid a Gallant
Begin a health, and after break his glass:
So did the rest; but do not do so now,
Least for a Glass some should mistake a
Lady.
Hill.
Femals are Venice mettle.
Am.
These sad men
Use to be sumptuous in their Feasts.
Hill.
And witty.
Tim.
I fear 'twill be too great.
Ir.
Too tedious.
Au.
Wellcome and bold I will be.—
SCENA VII.
Enter
Desperato
before his banquet served in covered dishes,
Desp.
—Aerious Queen,
Here are no
Phoenix
eggs; had nature any,
You should have some: and eggs sublim'd with Amber
I thought too mean. I have not now selected
Rare filling meats, but rarely physical,
And swiftly curing all the maladies
Which time can throw upon the face of man.
Each dish contains a general remedy,
Beyond th' Elixir, or the golden Liquour,
Though it were drunk in th' Antimonial
Cup.
Open and try.
Am.
What's here? Knives, Bodkins,
Daggers?
Mal.
Ropes, silken, hairy, hempen?
Tim.
Little papers,
Of witty, loving, raging, sleeping poisons?
Desp.
There's Wine to temper them.
Hill.
So, where's the Wine?
I still come somewhat merry to a Feast,
And still go merrier back. This is my mess:
All this to all.
Fan.
Is this our entertainment?
Desp.
Could Art invent, or Wealth procure you better?
The Greatest, Wisest, Stoutest, and the fairest
Have chose these Cates to relish their last palates:
Have you not heard of
Mithridates, Cato,
Of Hannibal,
and
Cleopatra?
These?
These gods on earth have travl'd to their home
With such provision. Taste. One taste of these
Forever frees from Hunger, Thirst, Want,
Griefe:
These are receites for immortality.
Tim.
But through a mortal way.
Desp.
That sleeping Dos
Will steal thy fearful soul insensibly.
Tim.
Then that shall bear me hoodwink'd unto
Lethe;
There I will forget my wrongs.
Hill.
Manners however;
First let the Queen begin. I broke that
Rule
My self, and therefore m
•
m.—Well danc'd youd Scaffold.
He falls into a Chair.
Desp.
These things the most of you desired; All want,
Y'are welcome all.
Hill.
No, no more I thank you.
Desp.
Death to the wretched soul as needful is,
As sleep unto the weary. Why should men
Condemnd to misery thus toile to mend
Their Fates which cannot alter?
Hill.
This
Desperate
What a gift he has! he never was at th'
University;
Never took Orders, and yet lectures as good Divinity
As commonly we find in most Dutch
Systems
Or City-conventicles.
Desp.
Pleases your Highness
To choose and give the signal, that we all
May wait upon your dying.
Fan.
Reach me then
The witty poison.
Am.
Me the loving mixed;
That when I die, embracing her
Idea,
My Soul may keep that print, and bear from hence
A heaven within me. He that stripped of flesh
And lust still loves, will show true love indeed.
But you
Malevolo
shall take my part.
Mel.
My place in heaven is sure; what need I hast?
Yes, 'cause I live in hell.
Desp.
Then take these banes
Mentioned before.
Hill.
Do; as good he poison thee
As thou else drown thyself.
Mel.
Poison I have too much,
Already, and in vain. Reach me your halter.
Hill.
Hoh hoh hoh; a halter? a dagger, he's so rotten,
He'l never hold hanging. Now for my part, sleep
Kills me sufficiently; I will die before hand.
Conc.
In lust I lived with man; to kill that sin
Lend me that ponyard, so I will manly die.
Fug.
This Bodkin is my husband; this alone
Shall know my flesh, and find I was a Virgin.
Au.
Come join
Irato,
as we lived lets hang,
Two nooses and one rope will serve us both.
Ir.
It is a dogs death, and therefore not unfit.
Hill.
Hoh hoh hoh.
Mal.
Choice I neglect whatever can dispatch
Loath'd life is sweet. My hate would fain turn home,
But cannot: Still me thinks I feel content
In seeing such a fruitful race of mischief,
Because it sprung from me. If
Fancies
madness
Had not unhing'd the course of my design,
And brought remediless confusion
On all the Passions here at once; unseen
Beloved and honored, I with Art and Pleasure
Had done what
Desperato
does by chance.
He only held the Net; I hunted in
The store of game: The praise is mine. And now
I die not with remorse of hate, but want
Of objects to be hated. Thus the worm
Having consumed the
Orb
wherein it lived,
Doth lastly turn its hunger on it self.
Should I survive I could not find more work,
Unless I learn,d to pity what is done.
That's worse then death.
Desp.
When I have rid you all,
If I slink off let all the world besides
Fling stones. In such good company to fall,
Must needs be lightsome. And before out death
A Hymn is necessary. Then sing good
Fellow.
An Attendant sings in a base.
Come heavy souls oppressed with the weight
Of Crimes, or Pangs, or want of your delight,
Come down in
Lethe's,
sleepy lake
Whatever makes you ache.
Drink health from poison'd bowles
Breathe out your cares together with your souls.
Cool Death's a salve
Which all may have
There's no distinction in the grave;
Lay down your loads before deaths iron door,
Sigh, and sigh out, groan once, and groan no more.
SCENA VIII.
Enter towards the end of the song
Intellectus Agens
with a book.
Livebyhope
and
Morphe.
Au.
Ha! thou comest to challenge: but thou art spirit,
I cannot wound thee. Stay some few short minutes,
Till I have quite undress'd me of my flesh;
And stand on equal terms, then I will fight.
Else if thou canst, kill me; and take my flesh;
Then I will kill thee again. Thus over and over
Well'l kill each other and be ghosts by turns.
Ir.
My anger is not high: I only guess
He comes to show the way to following ghosts.
Fan.
I gave him once a house, my most remote,
Perchance 'tis in
Elysium,
he invites me.
Am.
But
Morphe
stands as if she bid me come
Like a clear spirit fitly to salute her.
Mal.
Why should that sight fling Ice into this heart?
Tim.
and
Fug.
O horrid!
Desp.
Come what will, I can but die.
Mal.
Hath this shrewd Scholar conjur'd up these ghosts?
Int.
I see you are amazd; the snares of death
Are tangled on your hands: you think these sights
A pair of ghosts; feel, and when you feel them
True flesh, alive and warm, next you must know
They are a token sent from
Prudentius.
Am.
How? from
Prudentius?
hath he raised the dead
And wretched both at once? and sent me
Morphe?
Fan.
And given me hope again? a dainty show,
Who'ere contrived it.
Am.
Be thou shade or substance,
Since thou appear'st in such a lovely shap,
My soul
I
'e mingle with thine airy hand,
And strive to suck from thence the hated poison.
But soft, I may do rashly.
Int.
Know once more,
These are not ghosts, nor ever were; but live
Preserv'd with care, and sent with love from him,
Whom ye refused, your King
Prudentius.
Am.
By heaven, true flesh and warm.
Fan.
Why speaks not
Hope
If he have breath?
Ir.
Speak: free us from thy blood,
For which we have been angry with ourselves.
Au.
Speak, if thou canst, thou must.
Liv.
I
feared to startle
Unsettled heads with unexpected speech.
High Mistress, your distracted grief for me
Had almost killed me when I was recovered.
Fan.
I
am recovered by this voice.
Then tell me
Thy preservation.
Liv.
Audax
and
Irato
Know how they left me.
Au.
Kill us for amends:
Liv.
Alas your death's would profit me no more
Then mine could you: but gracious
Intellectus
Found and releiv'd me, while Sir
Amorous
Carri'd in
Morphe.
Int.
Him
I
took up gasping
Temper'd like Ice before it thaw and crack,
In such a glimmering state of doubtful life.
As Candles have before they blaze and vanish.
Mal.
These ropes will all be mine.
Int.
And her
I
saved.
By looking on her mixed and poysnous physic.
The simples
I
extracted, and gave out
The same effect which likely would have followed.
Am.
Pardon my fault,
I
nothing mixed but love,
Those villains added poison.
Mor.
Heaven forgive
As
I
forgive you all.
Am.
Give me some poison,
(Int. Liv. and Mor. stay him.
You stay me too?
Mor.
Although
I
love thee not
Beyond an honest man,
I
cannot see
Thee die neglected.
Hill.
What a coile is here
With ghosts?
I
cannot take my rest for ghosts.
People, y'ar welcome to this world. How fare
My fellow sleepers, ghosts, your Countrymen.
Int.
Thank not my care for this, but thank
Prudentius;
Ask not what
Genius
sent me to relieve
Expiring Hope, it was
Prudentius:
Ask not what star compel'd my timely visit
Of
Morphe
poison-trap'd, it was
Prudentius.
From him proceeds their preservation;
And yours in them. Snatch'd from the jaws of death
As lights blown in again you live through him.
This is your cast-away, your dross,
Prudentius.
Ir.
I think we wronged him in our heedless anger.
Au.
And yet his love seems payment for desert.
Fan.
How shall I rule this craz'd and tottring State?
Mal.
I smell in what half point the wind is turning.
One breath will carry all the Passions
Back to
Prudentius
sails. Now for a fetch.
Well, I will prevent them all. Call back
Prudentius,
(alowde)
Let's sue to him for grace.
Au.
Call back
Prudentius.
(alowde)
Mal.
It is quickly done. If this way lead to peace
I opend it; but still I would stand safer.
Audax,
you have a Drum. Now do not you
And Lord
Irato
end your business sneaking.
Fan.
Liveby
you kept the Crowns: go with him
Amorous,
Carry his own: I never esteemed the Golden.
I can be Queen alone, and govern subjects.
Of mine own making; more, then Kings can muster
Or Earth bring forth.
Am.
I will take Recorder
Memor
To lay our suit in form. Then on our knees
We'l beg to serve him so, even so forever.
Hill.
Come, to our old new Sun.
Int.
He's in his Court;
And now me thinks his presence guilds the walls.
(Ex. Int. Liv. Am.
Mel.
Though weak we'll go along.
Conc.
Weak legs can kneel.
Desp.
This piece of mine own banquet le assume
And walk in penance of a solemn halter.
(Ex. Om. preter. Mal.
Mal.
I will go some nearer way, and recompense
My forward breach with much more forward duty.
For this Event spun out by
Intellectus
Makes me think honesty may weigh with cunning.
Some sheep, some Fox will make a perfect man.
Howe're, me thinks, these Sword-men might compound
Our Peace in Arms, and plead with violence.
SCENA. IX.
The Scene returns to
Prudentius
his
Court.
Enter one way
Prudentius, Memor
with the Crown,
Intellectus, Livebyhope,
Amorous
with the Sword.
By another way
Malevolo
soon after.
Mem.
Without a Seizin no possession.
Your Crown is undefiled, untouched.
Pru.
Place thou
The world in my balance, place in theirs
All Levity, then weigh them both. Next tell me
How ended those commotions which arose
Betwixt the third King
Henry
and his
Rebells?
Mem.
He sentenced his Metropolis to flames
Their goods to his Exchequer, and their lives—
Pru.
No more. Should I do so? do not I know
What dooms have passed upon untrusty
Lawyers?—
Mem.
I Sink before your mercy, beit like
Henries.
Mal.
Kneeling is but a Subjects Complement.
I sink.
Am.
And I.
(a Drum.)
Mal.
we might have stayed to hear
What means this Drum.
SCENA X.
Enter
Irato, Audax.
Au.
—We have descri'd a Fleet;
And therefore called to arms.
Ir.
Submissively
We prostrate our repentance with a suit,
That I and
Audax
may decide in Duel
Who shall be sacrificed for both to justice,
And the Surviver may be General.
Pru.
The Fleet which you suspect, is your defense;
Unknown to you I sent it forth to guard
This Island from the dangers you have called,
By Tumult, Lust, Debate, and Discontent.
As for your Duel, 'tis a Savadg fury
By us forbid. But you have lately tried
A new found Duel, (was it honorable?)
Two upon one. Or was it Captain like
To kill a friend? In any likely way
Hope would have furthered
Audax:
but when boldness
Growes impudent it turns a foe to Hope.
SCENA XI.
Enter
Fancie, Fuga, Hilario,
Timerous, Melancholico
and
Concupiscence.
Soon after
Desperato.
Fan.
King of Affections:—
Pru:
Queen of Inventions.—
Fan.
Unless you think yourself beholding to me
You are not fit to be my King. The
Passions
I have so suffered in absurdity,
That now they beg your reign which they shook off.
Hill.
I see there is some mirth in misery.
Fan.
I kneel unto your grace to use me so,
As one that hath been Queen, and yet no
Queeen,
Rather a show then Sovereign. I walked
But in mock-majesty. Say it were true,
I sought it not, and what is worth a taking
If not a Kingdom?
Hill.
Down my frolic joints,
Kneeling is now in fashion. Down, down
Fuga;
Concupiscence
and
Melancholico
Favor yourselves with kneeling.
Mel.
I kneel not
To thee, but to thy power; I kneel to thee
But not adore thee.
Conc.
Pardon.
Enter Desperato.
Desp.
—Thus attir'd
I wear my sentence. Sir, I can but offer
That power of doom which I myself might take.
Pru.
If you ask pardon, ask it of your
Prince;
For I nor am, nor will be.
Au.
Royal Sir,
Why have you given us lives, if not to take
Or to preserve them?
Am.
Hope,
speak for us
Hope.
Liv.
Be pleased thou god on earth.
Int.
I likewise join
In this request.
Pru.
I will send them
Epimetheus
My Brother
Afterwit;
and he shall rule them.
Those fools whom Prudence cannot prerestrain,
The lash of
Afterwit
brings home again.
Au.
We'l die upon this place.
Mal.
And each man turn
To his own grave.
Pru.
Do, and do not burden
Me with new cares for new Rebellion.
Au.
We groan unto you?
Pru.
Why? for here are many
That would be Kings,
Amorous,
this gay thing,
He offers about his Crown.
Which overlookes a
Kingdom, may command
All Choice of pleasure: take it for that use:
No? then
Malevolo
to devour your flock,
T' engross the Elements, and let none breath
That may resist, and only spare a few
That may for fear do service, i'st not glorious?
Work with this Engine. No? are you grown modest?
Then
Desperato,
what a life it is
To have the power of hanging, or of causing
Some to prevent the gallows in their prison.
What, hang your head so dully at a Crown.
Hill.
This is to offer Sallets unto dogs.
Pru.
Irato,
anger is a Kings perfection
As roaring is the Lions. When his eye
Darts lightning, when he snaps his dagger hard
Cries hah and starts, doth he not then seem god like,
And well deserve the name of Thunderer?
Be thou that
Jove.
Not you? Then Captain
Audax.
You took great pains to win, now wear this Crown.
Au.
Any but yours I would.
Pru.
Could ye get Crowns
Abroad as soon as pull off one at home,
Ye should be Kings or Deputies all over.
Now there can be but one: would that be
Memor.
Mem.
In all records I find no Lawyer Crown'd.
Hill.
A Lawyer needs it not: to pen the Law,
And then interpret it as much as making.
Pru.
Fancie
you must be troubled once again
With this bright load.
Fan.
I loathed it at the first.
Grant me the Sovereignty of changing fashions,
Promotion of new Projects, leave to wear
Such Coronets at these, I ask no more.
Pru.
When I am King, be this thy Royalty.
Poor Diadem, since here thou canst not get
A Master, lie thou there for the next commer,
Or sink into thy Oare.—None stoop
to take thee?
What all refuse, I once refused of all
Am fit to wear.
Au.
Long live
Prudentius.
(Int. & Liv.
Crown him.)
Pru.
Then once more chained in Gold, I will bear your burden.
Henchforth to awe your folly, be assured,
None of your crooked actions words or looks
Hath scaped my notice. They camefresh unto me
With tongues of spirits: But I will leave the chiding
To your own Conscience. Now, thus reconciled,
I will pardon your deserts, cannot reward them.
If you expect in sign of peacesome matches
You are deceived.
Amorous
shall not wed
Morphe,
without a fair probation.
And
Timerous
I forbid; such must not marry
As have no mettle, least they spoil their race.
But
Melancolico
and
Concupiscence
Shall keep their state; in the suburbs, or new-England.
Now rise. For show of future correspondence,
Rank yourselves friendly with your opposites.—
Am.
I live not by my line of life, but yours.
Mal.
Love is a willing Passion, full of sweetness,
But not so serviceable as loyal hate;
This loves with zeal and with comparison,
Works against all for one. to serve your State
Let others love, whilst I for you shall hate;
My self, if that you please; and others so,
That hate with virtue hand in hand shall go.
Pru.
It is well, tis very well. Live as you look,
Irato
bear the Sword: I will view them all.
Thus betwixt love of good, and hate of ill.
With slight of this; and chaste desire of that,
With sadness to be wise, joy for good ends
Boldness for just attemps, Fear of unfit;
Hope for true peace, despair of nothing less
Then mere Impossibilities, we'll walk
To Immortality upon those lines
Which a wise Princes breast naught else defines.
Exeunt Omnes.
-
A Scheme of Posture.
- Prudentius
- Fancie
- Amorous
- Concupiscence
- Hilario
- Audax
- Livebyhope
- Irato
- Intellectus
- Memor
- Malevolo
- Fuga
- Melancolico
- Timerous
- Desperato
After the music ended, the Island appearing Setled. Enter the Epiloge.
To His Majesty.
BY this short Model of self-policy,
We find what use of Outward Sovereignty.
The Isle is settled, rage of Passion, laid,
And Phancy stoops to Prudence. Things so staid,
Our Scene which was but Fiction now is true;
No King so much Prudentius as you:
Whose Rule is Reason, Throne the heart; And now
No souls so Passionate as we; that bow
Both with the weight of Duty and of Debt.
Henceforth our hearts all motion shall forget
But yours. Your Rule alone is fit to sway;
Yet we no less your benefits obey.
Twixt both, our loyalty will nameless prove;
That makes it Virtue, these will have it Love.
To the University.
THe Isle is settled, Rage of Passions laid
Phancy to Prudence bows. Let all be staid
In your Acceptance too, and then each breast
Will cease its Floating, and as firmly rest
As doth our Scene. One Passion still would prove
An Actor when the Scene is shut, Our Love.
FINIS.
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