shop at the Signe of the Princes Armes in St Pauls Churchyard MDCXLVI PROLOGUE WIt in a Prologue Poets justly may Stile a new imposition on a Play When Shakespeare Beamont Fletcher rul'd the Stage There scarce were ten good pallats in the age More curious Cooks then guests for men would eat Most hartily of any kind of meat And then what strange variety each Play A Feast for Epicures and that each day But marke how odly it is come about And how unluckily it now fals out The pallats are growne higher number increas't And there wants that which should make up the Feast And yet y' are so unconscionable You 'd have Forsooth of late that which they never gave Banquets before and after Now pox on him that first good Prologue writ He left a kind of rent charge upon wit Which if succeding Poets faile to pay They forfeit all their worth and that 's their play Y' have Ladies humors and y' are growne to that You will not like the man lesse that his boots and hat Be right no play unlesse the Prologue be And Epilogue writ to curiositie Well Gentiles ' â—is the grievance of the place And pray consider 't for here 's just the case The richnesse of the ground is gone and spent Mens braines grow barren and you raise the Rent Francelia ACT I. SCENE I. Enter as to a Duell Samorat Philatell Torcular Samorat BUt my Lords May not this harsh businesse Yet be left undone Must you hate me because I love your sister And can you hate at no lesse rate then death Phil. No at no lesse Thou art the blaster of our fortunes The envious cloud that darknest all our day While she thus prodigally and fondly Throwes away her love on thee She has not wherewithall to pay a debt Unto the Prince Sam. Is this all Tor. Faith what if in short we doe not thinke You worthy of her Sam. I sweare that shall not make a quarrell I thinke so too ' Have urg'd it often to my selfe Against my selfe have sworn't as oft to her Pray let this satisfie Phil. Sure Torcular he thinks we come to talke Looke you Sir drawes And brother since his friend has fail'd him Doe you retire Tor. Excuse me Philatell I have an equall interest in this And fortune shall decide it Phil. It will not need hee 's come Enter Orsabrin Ors Mercury protect me what are these The brothers of the high way Phil. A stranger by his habit Tor. And by his looks a Gentleman Sir will you make one We want a fourth Ors I shall be rob'd with a tricke now Sam. My Lords excuse me This is not civill In what concernes my selfe None but my selfe must suffer Ors A duell by this light Now has his modestie And t'others forwardnes warm'd me goes towards them Gentlemen I weare a sword And commonly in readines If you want one speake Sir to Samorat I doe not feare much suffering Sam. Y' are noble Sir I know not how t' invite you to it Yet there is Justice on my side And since you please to be a witnesse To our actions 't is fit you know our Story Ors No Story Sir I beseech you The cause is good enough as 't is It may be spoil'd i' th telling Phil. Come we trifle then Sam. It is impossible to preserve I see My honor and respect to her And since you know this too my Lord It is not handsome in you thus to presse me But come Torcular beckens to Orsabrin Oh! I understand you Sir Exeunt Philatell and Samoratt fight Phil. In posture still Oh y' are mortall then it seemes A slight wound Sam. Thou hast undone thy selfe rash man For with this bloud thou hast let out a spirit Will vex thee to thy grave Fight agen Samorat takes away Philatells sword and takes breath then gives it him Sam. I 'm coole agen Here my Lord. And let this Present bind your friendship Phil. Yes thus Runs at him Sam. Treacherous and low Enter Orsabrin Ors I have dril'd my gentleman I have made as many holes in him As would sinke a Ship Royall In sight of the Haven How now Samorat upon his knee S'foot yonder 's another going that way too Now have I forgot of which side I 'm on No matter I 'le help the weakest There 's some Justice in that Phil. The Villaine sure has slaine my brother If I have any friends above Guide now my hand unto his heart Orsabrin puts it by runs at him Samo steps in Sam. Hold noble youth Destroy me not with kindnesse Men will say he could have kil'd me And that injustice should not be For honours sake leave us together Ors 'T is not my businesse fighting puts up Th'employment's yours Sir If you need me I am within your call Sam. The gods reward thee Now Philatell thy worst They fight agen and close Samo forces his sword Enter Orsabrin Ors Hell and the Furies are broke loose upon us Shift for your selfe Sir Flyes â—nto the woods sâ—verall wayes pursued by Theeves in Devils habits Enter Torcular weak with bleeding Tor. It will not be My body is a Jade I feele it tire and languish under me Those thoughts came to my soule Like Screech-owles to a sick mans window Enter Theeves back agen Thee Here here Tor. Oh! I am fetcht away alive Exeunt They bend him and carry him away Enter Orsabrin Ors Now the good gods preserve my senses right For they were never in more danger 'I th name of doubt what could this be Sure 't was a Conjurer I dealt withall And while I thought him busie at his praiers 'T was at his circle levying this Regiment Heere they are agen Enter Samoratt Sam. Friend Stranger Noble youth Ors Heere heere Sam. Shift shift the place The wood is dangerous As you love safety Follow me Exeunt Enter Philatell Phi. Th' have left the place And yet I cannot find the body any where May be he did not kill him then But he recover'd strength And reacht the Towne It may be not too Oh that this houre could be call'd backe agen But 't is too late And time must cure the wound that 's given by fate Exit Enter Samoratt Orsabrin Ors I' th shape of Lions too sometimes And Beares Sam. Often Sir Ors Pray unriddle Sam. The wiser sort doe thinke them Theeves Which but assume these formes to rob More powerfully Or. Why does not then the State Set out some forces and suppresse them Sam. It often has Sir but without successe Or. How so Sam. During the time those leavies are abroad Not one of them appeares There have been That have attempted under ground But of those as of the dead There has been no returne Or. Strange Sam. The common people thinke them a race Of honest and familiar Devills For they do hurt to none Unlesse resisted They seldome take away but with exchange And to the poore they often give Returne the hurt and sicke
things now we that live in London cannot help and they are as great news to men that sit in Boxes at Black-Fryars as the affairs of Love to Flannel-Weavers For my own part I think I have made a great complement when I have wisht my self with you and more then I dare make good in Winter and yet there is none would venture farther for such a happines then Your humble servant The Wine-drinkers to the Water-drinkers greeting WHereas by your Ambassador two daies since sent unto us we understand that you have lately had a plot to surprize or to speak more properly to take the waters and in it have not onely a little miscarryed but also met with such difficulties that unlesse you be speedily relieved you are like to suffer in the adventure We as well out of pitty to you as out of care to our State and Common-Wealth knowing that Women have ever been held necessary and that nothing relisheth so well after Wine have so far taken it into our consideration that we have neglected no means since we heard of it first that might be for your contents or the good of the cause and therefore to that purpose we have had divers meetings at the Bear at the Bridge-foot and now at length have resolv'd to dispatch to you one of our Cabinet-Councel Colonel Young with some slight Forces of Canary and some few of Sherry which no doubt will stand you in good steed if they do not mutiny and grow too head-strong for their Commander him Captain Puffe of Barton shall follow with all expedition with two or three Regiments of Claret Monsieur de Granville commonly called Lieutenant Strutt shall lead up the Reer of Rhenish and White These succors thus timely sent we are confident will be sufficient to hold the Enemy in Play and till we hear from you again we shall not think of a fresh supply For the Waters though perchance they have driven you into some extremities and divers times forc't their passages through some of your best guarded places yet have they if our intelligence fail us not hitherto had the worst of it still and evermore at length plainly run away from you Given under our hands at the Bear this fourth of July SInce Joy the thing we all so Court is but our hopes stript of our fears pardon me if I be still pressing at it and like those that are curious to know their fortunes aforehand desire to be satisfied though it displeases me afterward To this Gentleman who has as much in-sight as the t'other wanted Ey-sight I have committed the particulars which would too much swell a Letter if they shall not please you 't is but fresh subject still for Repentance nor ever did that make me quarrel with any thing but my owne starres To swear new oaths from this place were but to weaken the credit of those I have sworn in another if heaven be to forgive you now for not beleeving of them then as sure as it was a sin heaven forgive me now for swearing of them then for that was double sin More then I am I cannot be nor list Yours I. S. I am not so ill a Protestant as to beleeve in merit yet if you please to give answer under your owne hand such as I shall for ever rely upon if I have not deserv'd it already it is not impossible but I may To a Cosin who still loved young Girles and when they came to be mariageable quitted them and fell in love with fresh at his fathers request who desired he might be perswaded out of the humour and marry Honest Charles VVEre there not fooles enow before in the Common-Wealth of Lovers but that thou must bring up a new Sect Why delighted with the first knots of roses and when they come to blow can satisfie the sence and do the end of their Creation dost not care for them Is there nothing in this foolish transitory world that thou canst find out to set thy heart upon but that which has newly left off making of dirt-pyes and is but preparing it self for loam and a green sicknes Seriously Charles and without ceremony 't is very foolish and to love widdows is as tolerable an humour and as justifiable as thine for beasts that have been ridd of their legges are as much for a mans use as Colts that are un-way'd and will not go at all Why the divel such yong things before these understand what thou wouldst have others would have granted Thou dost not marry them neither nor any thing else 'Sfoot it is the story of the Jack-an-apes and the Partridges thou starest after a beauty till it is lost to thee then let'st out another and starest after that till it is gone too Never considering that it is here as in the Thames and that while it runs up in the middle it runnes down on the sides while thou contemplat'st the comming-in-tide and flow of Beauty that it ebbes with thee and that thy youth goes out at the same time After all this too She thou now art cast upon will have much ado to avoid being ugly Pox on 't Men will say thou wert benighted and wert glad of any Inne Well! Charles there is another way if you could find it out Women are like Melons too green or too ripe are worth nothing you must try till you find a right one Tast all but hark you Charles you shall not need to eat of all for one is sufficient for a surfet Your most humble servant I should have perswaded you to marriage but to deal ingeniously I am a little out of arguments that way at this present 'T is honourable there 's no question on 't but what more in good faith I cannot readily tell Madam TO tell you that neither my misfortunes nor my sins did draw from me ever so many sighs as my departure from you has done and that there are yet tears in mine eyes left undryed for it or that melancholy has so deeply seized me that colds and diseases hereafter shall not need above half their force to destroy me would be I know superfluous and vain since so great a goodnesse as yours cannot but have out-beleeved already what I can write He never knew you that will not think the losse of your Company greater then the Imperialists can all this time the losse of all their Companies and he shall never know you that can think it greater then I who though I never had neither wisdom nor wit enough to admire you to your worth yet had my Judgement ever so much right in it as to admire you above all And thus he saies that dares swear he is Your most devoted servant Madam THe distrust I have had of not being able to write to you any thing which might pay the charge of reading has perswaded me to forbear kissing your hands at this distance So like Women that grow proud because they are chaste I thought I might
issue of 's brain Was seldom brought forth but with trouble and pain And All that were present there did agree A Laureat Muse should be easie and free Yet sure 't was not that but 't was thought that his Grace Consider'd he was well he had a Cup-bearers place Will. Davenant asham'd of a foolish mischance That he had got lately travelling in France Modestly hoped the handsomnesse of 's Muse Might any deformity about him excuse And Surely the Company would have been content If they could have found any President But in all their Records either in Verse or Prose There was not one Laureat without a nose To Will Bartlet sure all the wits meant well But first they would see how his snow would sell Will smil'd and swore in their judgements they went lesse That concluded of merit upon successe Suddenly taking his place agen He gave way to Selwin who streight stept in But alas he had been so lately a wit That Apollo hardly knew him yet Toby Mathews pox on him how came he there Was whispering nothing in some-bodies ear When he had the honour to be nam'd in Court But Sir you may thank my Lady Carleil for't For had not her care furnisht you out With something of handsome without all doubt You and your sorry Lady Muse had been In the number of those that were not let in In haste from the Court two or three came in And they brought letters forsooth from the Queen 'T was discreetly done too for if th 'had come Without them th 'had scarce been let into the room Suckling next was call'd but did not appear But strait one whisperd Apollo i' th ' ear That of all men living he cared not for 't He loved not the Muses so well as his sport And prized black eyes or a lucky hit At bowls above all the Trophies of wit But Apollo was angry and publiquely said 'T were fit that a fine were set upon 's head Wat Montague now stood forth to his tryal And did not so much as suspect a denial But witty Apollo asked him first of all If he understood his own Pastoral For if he could do it 't would plainly appear He understood more than any man there And did merit the Bayes above all the rest But the Mounsier was modest and silence confest During these troubles in the Court was hid One that Apollo soon mist little Cid And having spied him call'd him out of the throng And advis'd him in his ear not to write so strong Murrey was summon'd but 't was urg'd that he Was Chief already of another Company Hales set by himself most gravely did smile To see them about nothing keep such a coil Apollo had spied him but knowing his mind Past by and call'd Faulkland that sate just behind But He was of late so gone with Divinity That he had almost forgot his Poetry Though to say the truth and Apollo did know it He might have been both his Priest and his Poet. At length who but an Alderman did appear At which Will. Davenant began to swear But wiser Apollo bade him draw nigher And when he was mounted a little higher Openly declared that the best signe Of good store of wit 's to have good store of coyn And without a Syllable more or lesse said He put the Laurel on the Aldermans head At this all the wits were in such a maze That for a good while they did nothing but gaze One upon another not a man in the place But had discontent writ in great in his face Onely the small Poets clear'd up again Out of hope as 't was thought of borrowing But sure they were out for he forfeits his Crown When he lends any Poets about the Town Loves World IN each mans heart that doth begin To love there 's ever fram'd within A little world for so I found When first my passion reason drown'd Instead of Earth unto this frame I had a faith was still the same For to be right it doth behoove It be as that fixt and not move Yet as the Earth may sometime shake For winds shut up will cause a quake So often jealousie and fear Stolne into mine cause tremblings there My Flora was my Sun for as One Sun so but one Flora was All other faces borrowed hence Their light and grace as stars do thence My hopes I call my Moon for they Inconstant still were at no stay But as my Sun inclin'd to me Or more or lesse were sure to be Sometimes it would be full and then Oh! too too soon decrease agen Eclip'st sometimes that 't would so fall There would appear no hope at all My thoughts ' cause infinite they be Must be those many Stars we see Of which some wandred at their will But most on her were fixed still My burning flame and hot desire Must be the Element of fire Which hath as yet so secret been That it as that was never seen No Kitching fire nor eating flame But innocent hot but in name A fire that 's starv'd when fed and gone When too much fewel is laid on But as it plainly doth appear That fire subsists by being near The Moons bright Orbe so I beleeve Ours doth for hope keeps love alive My fancy was the Ayre most free And full of mutability Big with Chimera's vapours here Innumerable hatcht as there The Sea 's my mind which calm would be Were it from winds my passions free But out alas no Sea I find Is troubled like a Lovers mind Within it Rocks and Shallows be Despair and fond credulity But in this World it were good reason We did distinguish Time and Season Her presence then did make the Day And Night shall come when shee 's away Long absence in far distant place Creates the Winter and the space She tarryed with me well I might Call it my Summer of delight Diversity of weather came From what she did and thence had name Somtimes sh'would smile that made it fair And when she laught the Sun shin'd clear Sometimes sh'would frown and sometimes weep So Clouds and Rain their turns do keep Sometimes again sh'would be all ice Extreamly cold extreamly nice But soft my Muse the world is wide And all at once was not descride It may fall out some honest Lover The rest hereafter will discover Song WHy so pale and wan fond Lover prethee why so pale Will when looking wel can't move her looking ill prevail prethee why so pale Why so dull and mute young sinner prethee why so mute Will when speaking well can't win her saying nothing doe 't prethee why so mute Quit quit for shame this will not move this cannot take her If of her self she will not love nothing can make her the divel take her Sonnet I. 1. DO'st see how unregarded now that piece of beauty passes There was a time when I did vow to that alone but mark the fate of faces That red
and white works now no more on me Then if it could not charm or I not see 2. And yet the face continues good and I have still desires Am still the self same flesh and blood as apt to melt and suffer from those fires Oh! some kind power unriddle where it lies Whether my heart be faulty or her eyes 3. She every day her Man does kill and I as often die Neither her power then nor my will can question'd be what is the mystery Sure Beauties Empires like to greater States Have certain periods set and hidden fates Sonnet II. 1. OF thee kind boy I ask no red and white to make up my delight no odd becomming graces Black eyes or little know-not-whats in faces Make me but mad enough give me good store Of Love for her I Court I ask no more T is love in love that makes the sport 2. There 's no such thing as that we beauty call it is meer cousenage all for though some long ago Like't certain colours mingled so and so That doth not tie me now from chusing new If I a fancy take To black and blue That fancy doth it beauty make 3. T is not the meat but 't is the appetite makes eating a delight and if I like one dish More then another that a Pheasant is What in our watches that in us is found So to the height and nick We up be wound No matter by what hand or trick Sonnet III. 1. OH for some honest Lovers ghost Some kind unbodied post Sent from the shades below I strangely long to know Whether the nobler Chaplets wear Those that their mistresse scorn did bear Or those that were us'd kindly 2. For what-so-e're they tell us here To make those sufferings dear 'T will there I fear be found That to the being crown'd T' have lov'd alone will not suffice Unlesse we also have been wise And have our Loves enjoy'd 3. What posture can we think him in That here unlov'd agen Departs and 's thither gone Where each sits by his own Or how can that Elizium be Where I my Mistresse still must see Circled in others Armes 4. For there the Judges all are just And Sophonisba must Be his whom she held dear Not his who lov'd her here The sweet Philoclea since she dy'de Lies by her Pirocles his side Not by Amphialus 5. Some Bayes perchance or Myrtle bough For difference crowns the brow Of those kind souls that were The noble Martyrs here And if that be the onely odds As who can tell ye kinder Gods Give me the Woman here To his much honoured the Lord Lepinton upon his Translation of Malvezzi his Romulus and Tarquin IT is so rare and new a thing to see Ought that belongs to young Nobility In print but their own clothes that we must praise You as we would do those first shew the waies To Arts or to new Worlds You have begun Taught travel'd youth what'tis it should have done For 't has indeed too strong a custome bin To carry out more wit then we bring in You have done otherwise brought home my Lord The choisest things fam'd Countries do afford Malvezzi by your means is English grown And speaks our tongue as well now as his own Malvezzi he whom 't is as hard to praise To merit as to imitate his waies He does not shew us Rome great suddenly As if the Empire were a Tympany But gives it natural growth tells how and why The little body grew so large and high Describes each thing so lively that we are Concern'd our selves before we are aware And at the wars they and their neighbours wag'd Each man is present still and still engag'd Like a good Prospective he strangely brings Things distant to us and in these two Kings We see what made greatnesse And what 't has been Made that greatnesse contemptible again And all this not tediously deriv'd But like to Worlds in little Maps contriv'd 'T is he that doth the Roman Dame restore Makes Lucrece chaster for her being whore Gives her a kind Revenge for Tarquins sin For ravish't first she ravisheth again She says such fine things after 't that we must In spite of vertue thank foul Rape and Lust Since 't was the cause no woman would have had Though she 's of Lucrece side Tarquin lesse bad But stay like one that thinks to bring his friend A mile or two and sees the journeys end I straggle on too far long graces do But keep good stomacks off that would fall too Against Fruition STay here fond youth and ask no more be wise Knowing too much long since lost Paradise The vertuous joyes thou hast thou would'st should still Last in their pride and would'st not take it ill If rudely from sweet dreams and for a toy Tho'wert wak't he wakes himself that does enjoy Fruition adds no new wealth but destroyes And while it pleaseth much the palate cloyes Who thinks he shall be happyer for that As reasonably might hope he might grow fat By eating to a Surfet this once past What relishes even kisses loose their tast Urge not 't is necessary alas we know The homeliest thing which mankind does is so The World is of a vast extent we see And must be peopled Children there must be So must bread too but since there are enough Born to the drudgery what need we plough Women enjoy'd what e're before t' have been Are like Romances read or sights once seen Fruition's dull and spoils the Play much more Than if one read or knew the plot before 'T is expectation makes a blessing dear Heaven were not heaven if we knew what it were And as in Prospects we are there pleas'd most Where somthing keeps the eye from being lost And leaves us room to guesse so here restraint Holds up delight that with excesse would faint They who know all the wealth they have are poor Hee 's onely rich that cannot tell his store 1. THere never yet was woman made nor shall but to be curst And oh that I fond I should first of any Lover This truth at my own charge to other fools discover 2. You that have promis'd to your selves propriety in love Know womens hearts like straws do move and what we call Their sympathy is but love to jett in general 3. All mankind are alike to them and though we iron find That never with a Loadstone joyn'd 't is not the irons fault It is because the loadstone yet was never brought 4. If where a gentle Bee hath fall'n and laboured to his power A new succeeds not to that Flower but passes by 'T is to be thought the gallant else-where loads his thigh 5. For still the flowers ready stand one buzzes round about One lights one tasts gets in gets out all all waies use them Till all their sweets are gone and all again refuse them Song 1. NO no fair Heretick it needs must be But an ill love in me And worse for thee For were
use that I shall make of that Sex now will be no other then that which the wiser sort of Catholiques do of Pictures at the highest they but serve to raise my devotion to you Should a great Beauty now resolve to take me in as that is all they think belongs to it with the Artillery of her eyes it would be as vain as for a Thief to set upon a new robd passenger You Madam have my heart already nor can you use it unkindly but with some injustice since besides that it left a good service to wait on you it was never known to stay so long or so willingly before with any After all the wages will not be high for it hath been brought up under Platonicks and knows no other way of being paid for service then by being commanded more which truth when you doubt you have but to send to its master and Your humble Servant J. S. A disswasion from Love Jack THough your disease be in the number of those that are better cured with time then precept yet since it is lawful for every man to practise upon them that are forsaken and given over which I take to be your state I will adventure to prescribe to you and of the innocence of the Physick you shall not need to doubt since I can assure you I take it daily my self To begin Methodically I should enjoyn you Travel for Absence doth in a kind remove the cause removing the object and answers the Physitians first Recipez vomiting and purging but this would be too harsh and indeed not agreeing to my way I therefore advise you to see her as often as you can for besides that the rarity of visits endears them this may bring you to surprise her and to discover little defects which though they cure not absolutely yet they qualifie the fury of the Feaver As neer as you can let it be unseasonably when she is in sicknes and disorder for that will let you know she is mortal and a Woman and the last would be enough to a wise man If you could draw her to discourse of things she understands not it would not be amisse Contrive your self often into the Company of the cryed up Beauties for if you read but one book it will be no wonder if you speak or write that stile variety will breed distraction and that will be a kind of diverting the humour I would not have you deny your self the little things for these Agues are easier cured with Surfets than abstinence rather if you can tast all for that as an old Author saith will let you see That the thing for which we wooe Is not worth so much ado But since that here would be impossible you must be content to take it where you can get it And this for your comfort I must tell you Jack that Mistresse and Woman differ no otherwise then Frontiniack and ordinary Grapes which though a man loves never so well yet if he surfet of the last he will care but little for the first I would have you leave that foolish humour Jack of saying you are not in love with her and pretending you care not for her for smothered fires are dangerous and malicious humors are best and safest vented and breathed out Continue your affection to your Rival still that will secure you from one way of loving which is in spite and preserve your friendship with her woman for who knows but she may help you to the remedy A jolly glasse and right Company would much conduce to the cure for though in the Scripture by the way it is but Apocrypha Woman is resolved stronger than Wine yet whether it will be so or not when wit is joyned to it may prove a fresh question Marrying as our friend the late Ambassador hath wittily observed would certainly cure it but that is a kind of live Pigeons laid to the soals of the feet a last remedy and to say truth worse than the disease But Jack I remember I promised you a letter not a Treaty I now expect you should be just and as I have shewed you how to get out of love so you according to our bargain should teach me how to get into it I know you have but one way and will prescribe me now to look upon Mistris Howard but for that I must tell you aforehand that it is love as in Antipathy The Capers which will make my Lord of Dorset go from the Table another man will eat up And Jack if you would make a visit to Bedlam you shall find that there are rarely two there mad for the same thing Your humble Servant THough Madam I have ever hitherto beleeved play to be a thing in it self as meerly indifferent as Religion to a States-man or love made in a privie-chamber yet hearing you have resolved it otherwise for me my faith shall alter without becomming more learned upon it or once knowing why it should do so so great and just a Soveraignty is that your reason hath above all others that mine must be a Rebel to it self should it not obey thus easily and indeed all the infallibility of judgement we poor Protestants have is at this time wholy in your hands The losse of a Mistris which kills men onely in Romances and is still digested with the first meat we eat after it had yet in me raised up so much passion and so just a quarrel as I thought to Fortune for it that I could not but tempt her to do me right upon the first occasion yet Maddame has it not made me so desperate but that I can sit down a loser both of that time and money too when there shall be the least fear of losing you And now since I know your Ladyship is too wise to suppose to your self impossibilities and therefore cannot think of such a thing as of making me absolutely good it will not be without some impatience that I shall attend to know what sin you will be pleased to assigne me in the room of this something that has lesse danger about it I conceive it would be and therefore if you please Madam let it not be Women for to say truth it is a dyet I cannot yet rellish otherwise then men do that on which they surfetted last Your humblest Servant J. S. Madam BEfore this instant I did not beleeve Warwickshire the other world or that Milcot walks had been the blessed shades At my arrival here I am saluted by all as risen from the dead and have had joy given me as preposterously and as impertinently as they give it to men who marry where they do not love If I should now die in earnest my friends have nothing to pay me for they have discharged the Rites of Funeral sorrow before hand Nor do I take it ill that report which made Richard the second alive so often after he was dead should kill me as often when I am alive The advantage is on my side
a Lover dye it grieves Although 't is in worse language that he lives Will like't w are confident since here will bee That your Sex ever lik'd varietie Prologue to the Court. T Is strange perchance you 'll thinke that she that di ' dâ— At Christmas should at Easter be a Bride But 't is a privilege the Poets have To take the long-since dead out of the grave Nor is this all old Heroes a sleepe 'Twixt marble coverlets and six foot deepâ— In earth they boldly wake and make them doe All they did living here sometimes more too They give fresh life reverse and alter Fate And yet more bold Almightie-like create And out of nothing onely to deifie Reason and Reasons friend Philosophie Fame honour valour all that 's great or good Or is at least ' mongst us so understood They give heav'ns theirs no handsome woman dies But if they please is strait some star i' th' skies But oh How those poore men of Meetre doe Flatter themselves with that that is not true And ' cause they can trim up a little prose And spoile it handsomly vainly suppose Th' are Omnipotent can doe all those things That can be done onely by Gods and Kings Of this wild guilt hee faine would bee thought free That writ this Play and therefore Sir by mee Hee humbly begs you would be pleas'd to know Aglaura's but repriev'd this night and though Shee now appeares upon a Poets call Shee 's not to live unlesse you say shee shall ACTUS V. SCENA I. Enter Ziriff Pasithas and Guard hee places 'em and Exit A State set out Enter Ziriff Jolas Ariaspes Iol. A Glorious night Ari. Pray Heav'n it prove so Are wee not there yet Zir. 'T is about this hollow They Enter the Cave Ari. How now what region are we got into Th'enheritance of night Have wee not mistaken a turning Ziriff And stept into the confines of some melancholy Devils Territorie Iol. Sure 't is a part of the first Chaos That would not suffer any change Zir. No matter Sir 't is as proper for our Purpose as the Lobbie for the waiting womans Stay you here I 'le move a little backward And so we shall be sure to put him past Retreat you know the word if it be the prince Ziriff goes to the doore Enter King Ziriff Here Sir follow me alâ—'s quiet yet King Is hee not come then Zir. No. King Where 's Ariaspes Zir. Waiting within Iol. I do not like this waiting Nor this fellowes leaving of us Ari. This place does put odd thoughts into thee Then thou art in thine owne nature too As jealous as Love or Honour weare thy sword In readinesse and thinke how neere we are a Crowne Zir. Revenge Guard seiseth on 'em King Ha! what 's this Zir. Bring them forth Brings them forth Ari. The King Zir. Yes and the Princes friend Discovers himselfe D' you know this face King Zorannes Zor The very same The wrong'd Zorannes King D you stare Away with them where I appointed King Tâ—aytours let mee goe Villaine thou dar'st not doe this Zor Poore Counterfeit How faine thou now would'st act a King and art not Stay you to Ariaspes Unhand him Whispers Leave us now Exeunt Manet Ariasp Zoran Ari. What does this meane Sure hee does intend the Crowne to mee Zor Wee are alone Follow mee out of the wood and thou shalt be Master of this againe And then best aâ—me and title take it Ari. Thy offer is so noble in gratitude Icannot But propound gentler conditions Wee will divide the Empire Zor Now by my fathers soule I doe almost repent my first intents And now could kill thee scurvily for thinking If I had a minde to rule I would not rule alone Let not thy easie faith lost man Foole thee into so dull an heresie Orbella is our quarrell I have thought it fit That love should have a nobler way of Justice Than Revenge or Treason If thou dar'st die handsomly follow me Ex. And enter both agen Zor There Gives him his sword Ari. Extremely good Nature tooke paines I sweare The villaine and the brave are mingled handsomely Zir. 'T was Fate that tooke it when it decreed Wee two should meet nor shall they mingle now Wee are but brought together strait to part Fight Ari. Some Devill sure has borrowed this shape My sword ne're staid thus long to finde an entrance Zir. To guiltie men all that appeare is Devill Come trifler come Fight Ari. Dog thou hast it Zir. Why then it seemes my star's as great as his Ariaspes pants and runs at him to catch his sword I smile at thee Thou now would'st have me kill thee And 't is a courtesie I cannot afford thee I have bethought my selfe there will be use Of thee Pasithas to the rest with him Exit Enter Pasithas and two of the Guard Exeunt Enter Thersames Ther. The Dog-star's got up high it should be late And sure by this time every waking eare And watchfull eye is charm'd and yet mee thought A noyse of weapons struck my eare just now 'T was but my Fancie sure and were it more I would not tread one step that did not lead To my Aglaura stood all his Guard betwixt With lightning in their hands Danger thou Dwarfe drest up in Giants clothes That shew'st far off still greater than thou art Goe terrifie the simple and the guiltie such As with false Opticks still doe looke upon thee But fright not Lovers wee dare looke on thee In thy worst shapes and meet thee in them too Stay these trees I made my marke t is hereabouts Love guide mee but right this night And Lovers shall restore thee back againe Those eyes the Poets tooke so boldly from thee Exit A Taper Table out Enter Aglaura with a Torch in one hand a Dagger in the other Agl. How ill this does become this hand much worse This suits with this one of the two should goe The shee within mee sayes it must be this Honor sayes this and honour is Thersames friend What is that shee then is it not a thing That sets a Price not upon me but on Life in my name leading me into doubt Which when 'tas done it cannot light me out For feare does drive to Fate or Fate if wee Doe flie oretakes and holds us till or death Or infamie or both doe seize us Puts out the light Ha! would 't were in agen Antiques strange mishapes Such as the Porter to my Soule mine Eye Was ne're acquainted with Fancie lets in Like a disrouted multitude by some strange accident Piec'd together feare now afresh comes on And charges Love too home Hee comes he comes A little noyse below Woman if thou would'st be the Subject Of mans wonder Not his scorne hereafter Now shew thy selfe Enter Thersames from the vault she stabs him as hee riseth Ther. Unkindly done Agl. The Princes voyce defend it Goodnesse Ther. What art thou that thus poorely Hast destroy'd a life
the Court Things thus unsetled if you please to have Orb. Where 's Ariaspes Zir. In 's dead sleepe by this time sure Orb. I know he is not find him instantly Zir. I 'm gone Turnes back againe But Madam why make you choyce of him from whom If the succession meet disturbance All must come of danger Orb. My Lord I am not yet so wise as to be Jealous Pray dispute no further Zir. Pardon me Madam if before I goe I must unlock a secret to you such a one As while the King did breathe durst know no aire Zorannes lives Orb. Ha! Zir. And in the hope of such a day as this Has lingred out a life snatching to feed His almost famish'd eyes Sights now and then of you in a disguise Orb. Strange this night is big with miracle Zir. If you did love him as they say you did And doe so still 't is now within your power Orb. I would it were my Lord but I am now No private woman if I did love him once as 't is so long agoe I have forgot My youth and ignorance may well excus't Zir. Excuse it Orb. Yes excuse it Sir Zir. Though I confesse I lov'd his father much And pitie him yet having offer'd it Unto your thoughts I have discharg'd a trust And zeale shall stray no further Your pardon Madam Exit Orb. May be 't is but a plot to keep off Ariaspes Greatnesse which he must feare because he knowes Hee hates him for these great States-men That when time has made bold with the King And Subject throwing downe all fence That stood betwixt their power And others right are on a change Like wanton Salmons comming in with flouds That leap o're wyres and nets and make their way To be at the returne to every one a prey Enter Ziriff Zir. Looke here vaine thing and see thy sins full blown There 's scarce a part in all this face thou hast Not been forsworne by and Heav'n forgive thee for 't For thee I lost a Father Countrey friends My selfe almost for I lay buried long And when there was no use thy love could pay Too great thou mad'st the principle away Prompt As wantons entring a Garden take The first faire flower they meet and Treasur't in their laps Then seeing more doe make fresh choyce agen Throwing in one and one till at the length The first poor flower o're-charg'd with too much weight Withers and dies So hast thou dealt with me And having kill'd me first I will kill Orb. Hold hold Not for my sake but Orbella's Sir a bare And single death is such a wrong to Justice I must needs except against it Find out a way to make me long a dying For death 's no punishment it is the sense The paines and feares afore that makes a death To thinke what I had had had I had you What I have lost in losing of my selfe Are deaths farre worse than any you can give Yet kill me quickly for if I have time I shall so wash this soule of mine with teares Make it so fine that you would be afresh In love with it and so perchance I should Again come to deceive you She rises up weeping hanging down her head Zir. So rises day blushing at nights deformitie And so the prettie flowers blubber'd with dew And over washt with raine hang downe their heads I must not looke upon her Queen Goeâ— towards him Orb. Were but the Lillies in this face as fresh As are the Roses had I but innocence Joyn'd to these blushes I should then be bold For when they went a begging they were ne're deni'de 'T is but a parting kisse Sir Enter Pasithas and two Guard Zir. I dare not grant it Pasithas away with her A bed put â—â—t Thersames and Aglaura on it Andrages by Ther. Shee wake't me with a sigh And yet shee sleepes her selfe Sweet Innocence Can it be sinne to love this shape And if it be not why am I persecuted thus Shee sighs agen sleepe that drownes all cares Cannot I see charme loves blest pillowes Through whose finenesse does appeare The Violets Lillies and the Roses You are stuft withall to whose softnesse I owe the sweet of this repose Permit me to leave with you this Kisses them shee wakes See if I have not wake't her Sure I was borne Aglaura to destroy Thy quiet Agl. Mine my Lord Call you this drowsinesse a quiet then Beleeve me Sir 't was an intruder I much Struggled with and have to thanke a dreame Not you that it thus left me Ther. A dreame what dreame my Love Agl. I dreamp't Sir it was day And the feare you should be found here Enter Ziriff Zir. Awake how is it with you Sir Ther. Well extreamly well so well that had I now No better a remembrancer than paine I should forget I e're was hurt Thanks to Heav'n and good Andrages Zir. And more than thanks I hope we yet shall Live to pay him How old 's the night And. Far-spent I feare my Lord. Zir. I have a cause that should be heard Yet ere day breake and I must needs intreat You Sir to be the Judge in 't Ther. What cause Zorannes Zir. When you have promis'd Zorannes Ther. 'T were hard I should deny thee any thing Exit Know'st thou Andrages what he meanes And. Nor cannot ghesse Sir Draw in the bed I read a trouble in his face when first Hee left you but understood it not Enter Zorannes King Ariaspes Jolas Queene and two or three Guard Zor Have I not pitcht my nets like a good Huntsman Looke Sir the noblest of the Herd are here Ther. I am astonished Zor This place is yours Helps him up Ther. What wouldst thou have me doe Zor Remember Sir your promise I could doe all I have to doe alone But Justice is not Justice unlesse 't be justly done Here then I will begin for here began my wrongs This woman Sir was wondrous faire and wondrous Kinde I faire and kind for so the storie runs She gave me looke for looke and glance for glance And every sigh like eccho's was return'd Wee sent up vow by vow promise on promise So thick and strangely multiplyed That sure we gave the heavenly Registers Their businesse and other mortalls oaths Then went for nothing we felt each others paines Each others joyes thought the same thought And spoke the very same Wee were the same and I have much a doe To thinke she could be ill and I not Be so too and after this all this Sir Shee was false lov'd him and him And had I not begun revenge Till she had made an end of changing I had had the Kingdome to have killd What does this deserve Ther. A punishment he best can make That suffered the wrong Zor I thanke you Sir For him I will not trouble you His life is mine I won it fairly And his is yours he lost it foully to you To him Sir now A man so wicked that he knew no
sanke downe As water in a weather-glasse Prest by a warme hand Mens A cordiall of kind lookes Enâ—er a Trumpet blinded From the King M. Let 's withdraw And heare him Exit Enter Brennoralt Doran Raguelin Dor. Yes to be married What are you mute now Bren. Thou cam'st too hastily upon me puâ—â—â— So close the colours to mine eye I could Not see It is impossible Dor. impossible If 't were impossible it should be otherwise What can you imagine there of Constancy Where 't is so much their nature to love change That when they say but what they are They excuse themselves for what they doe Bren. She hardly knowes him yet in such an instant Dor. Oh you know not how fire flies When it does catch light matter woman B. No more of that She is Yet the most precious thing in all my thoughts If it be so Studies I am a lost thing in the world Doran D. How Bren. Thou wilt in vaine perswade me to be other Life which to others is a Good that they Enjoy to me will be an evill I Shall suffer in Dor. Looke on another face that 's present remedy Bren. How ill thou doest conclude ' Cause there are pestilent ayres which kill men suddenly In health must there be soveraigne as suddenly To cure in sicknes 't never was in nature Exit and Enters againe hastily Bren. I was a foole to thinke Death only kept The doores of ill-pay'd love when or disdaine Or spite could let me out as well Dor. Right were I as you It should no more trouble me To free my selfe of love Then to spit out that which made me sicke Bren. I 'le tell her so that she may laugh at me 〈◊〉 at a prisoner threatning his Guard He will breake loose and so is made the faster She hath charmes Studies Doran can fetch in a rebellious heart 〈◊〉 while it is conspiring liberty Oh she hath all The vertues of her sexe and not the vices Chaste and unsullied as first op'ning Lillies Or untouch'd buds Dor. Chaste why do you honour me Because I throw my selfe not off a precipice 'T is her ruine to be otherwise Though we blame those that kill themselves my Lord We praise not him that keeps himselfe alive And deserves nothing Bren. And 't is the least She doe's triumph when she doe's but appeare I have as many Rivals as beholders Dor. All that encreases but our jealousies If you have now such qualmes for that you havenot What will you have for that you shall possesse Bren. Dull haeritique Know I have these because I have not her When I have her I shall have these no more Her fancy now her vertue then will governe And as I use to watch with doubtfull eye The wavering needle in the best Sun-dyall Till it has setled then the trouble 's o're Because I know when it is Fixt it 's True So here my doubts are all afore me Sure Doran crown'd Conquerours are but the types Of Lovers which enjoy and really Possesse what th' other have in dreames I 'le send A challenge to him Dor. Do and be thought a mad-man To what purpose If shee love him shee will but hate you more Lovers in favour Brenkoralt are Gamesters In good fortune the more you set them The more they get Bren. I 'le see her then this night by Heaven I will Dor. Where in the Cittadell Bren. Know what and why Dor He raves Brennoralt Bren. Let me alone I conjure thee by the discretion Left betwixt us that 's thine For mine 's devour'd by injuries of fortune Leave me to my selfe Dor. I have done Bren. Is there such a passage As thou hast told me of into the Castle Rag. There is my Lord. Bren. And dar'st thou let me in Rag. If you my Lord will venture Bren. There are no Centry's neare it Rag. None Bren. How to the chamber afterward Rag. Her woman Bren. What 's shee Rag. A wicket to my Ladies secrets One that stands up to marriage with me Bren. There upon thy life be secret flings a purse Rag. Else All punishment to ingratitude Bren. Enough I am a storme within till I am there Oh Doran That that which is so pleasant to behold Should be such paine within Dor. Poore Brennoralt Thou art the Martyr of a thousand tyrants Love Honour and Ambition raigne by turnes And shew their power upon thee Bren. Why let them I 'm still Brennoralt Ev'n Kings Themselves are by their servants rul'd sometimes Let their own slaves govern them at odde houres Yet not subject their Persons or their Powers Exeunt ACT III. SCENE I. Enter Iphigene as in a Garden Iphi. WHat have I got by changing place But as a wretch which ventures to the Wars Seeking the misery with paine abroad He found but wisely thought h 'had left at home Fortune thou hast no tyranny beyond This usage Weepes Would I had never hop't Or had betimes dispair'd let never in The gentle theife or kept him but a guest Not made him Lord of all Tempests of wind thus as my stormes of griefe Carry my teares which should relieve my heart Have hurried to the thankelesse Ocean clouds And showers that needed not at all the curtesie When the poore plaines have languish't for the want And almost burnt asunder I 'le have this Statues place and undertake At my own charge to keepe the water full Lies down Enter Francelia Fran. These fond impressions grow too strong upon me They were at first without designe or end Like the first Elements that know not what And why they act and yet produce strange things Poore innocent desires journeying they know Not whether but now they promise to themselves Strange things grow insolent threaten no rest Till they be satisfied What difference was between these Lords The one made love as if he by assault Would take my heart so forc't it to defence While t'other blew it up with secret mines And lest no place for it here he is Teares steale too from his eyes As if not daring to be knowne To passe that way make it good cunning griefe Thou knowst thou couldst not dresse thy selfe In any other lookes to make thee lovely spies Francelia Iphi. Francelia If through the ignorance of places I have intruded on your privacies Found out forbidden paths 't is fit you pardon Madam For 't is my melancholly not I offends Fran. So great a melancholly would well become Mischances such as time could not repaire Those of the warre are but the petty cures Of every comming hower Iphi. Why should I not tell her all since 't is in her To save my life who knowes but she may be Gallant so far as to undo her selfe To make another happy Madam The accidents of war contribute least To my sad thoughts if any such I have Imprisonment can never be Where the place holds what we must love and yet Fran. My Lord Iphi. In this imprisonment Fran. Proceed my Lord Iphi. I dare not
my Lord And were they all lockt up you are a spye Once entred in my chamber at strange houres Iphi. The vertue of Francelia is too safe To need those little arts of preservation Thus to divide our selves is to distrust our selves A Cherubin dispatches not on earth Th' affaires of heaven with greater innocence Then I will visit 't is but to take a leave I begg Franc. When you are going my Lord Exeunt Enter Almerin Morat Almer Pish Thou liest thou liest I know he playes with woman kind not loves it Thou art impertinent Mor. 'T is the campe talke my Lord though Al. The camp 's an asse let me hear no more on 't Exeunt Talking Enter Granivert Villanor Marinel Grani. And shall we have peace I am no sooner sober but the State is so too If 't be thy will a truce for a month only I long to refresh my eyes by this hand They have been so tyr'd with looking upon faces Of this country Villa And shall the Donazella To whom we wish so well-a Look Babies agen in our eyes-a Grani. Ah a sprightly girle above fifteen That melts when a man but takes her by the hand Eyes full and quick with breath Sweet as double violets And wholesome as dying leaves of Strawberries Thick silken eye-browes high upon the fore-head And cheeks mingled with pale streaks of red Such as the blushing morning never wore Villa Oh my chops my chops Grani. With narrow mouth small teeth And lips swelling as if she pouted Villa Hold hold hold Grani. Haire curling and cover'd like buds of Marioram Part tyed in negligence Part loosely flowing Marin Tyrant tyrant tyrant Grani. In pinck colour taffata petticoate Lac't smock-sleeves dangling This vision stolne from her own bed And rustling in ones chamber Villa Oh good Granivert good Granivert Grani. With a waxe candle in her hand Looking as if she had lost her way At twelve at night Marm. Oh any hower any hower Grani. Now I thinke on 't by this hand I le marry and be long liv'd Villa Long liv'd how Grain Oh he that has a Wife eats with an appetitâ— ' Has a very good stomacke to 't first This living at large is very destructive Variety is like rare sawces provokes too far And draws on surfets more then th' other Enter Doran Dor. So is this a time to foole in G. What 's the matter Dor. Draw out your choise men and away to Your Coronell immediately There 's worke Towards my boyes there 's worke Grain Art in earnest Dor. By this light Grain There 's something in that yet This moiety Warre Twilight Neither night nor day Pox upon it A storme is worth a thousand Of your calme There 's more variety in it Exeunt Enter Almerin Francelia as talking earnestly Alm. Madam that shewes the greatnes of my passion Fran. The imperfection rather Jealousie 's No better signe of love my Lord then feavers are Of Life they shew there is a Being though Impair'd and perishing and that affection But sicke and in disorder I like 't not Your servant Exit Al. So short and sowre the change is visible Enter Iphigene Iph. Deare Almerin welcome y' have been absent long Alm. Not very long Iph. To me it hath appeared so What sayes our Camp am I not blamed there Alm. They wonder Iph. While we smile How have you found the King inclining Alm. Well The Treaty is not broken nor holds it Things are where they were 'T has a kind of face of peace You my Lord may when you please returne Iph. I Almerin Alm. Yes my Lord I 'le give you an escape Iph. 'T is least in my desires Alm. Hum Iph. Such prisons are beyond all liberty Alm. Is 't possible Iph. Seemes it strange to you Alm. No not at all What you finde the Ladies kinde Iph. Civill smiles A. You make love well too they say my Lord. Iph. Passe my time Alm. Addresse unto Francelia Iph. Visit her Al. D' you know she is my Mistres Pallatine Iph. Ha Alm. D' you know she is my Mistresse Iph. I have been told so Alm. And doe you court her then Iph. Why smiles If I saw the enemy first Would you not charge Alm. He doe's allow it too by Heaven Laughs at me too thou filcher of a heart False as thy title to Francelia Or as thy friendship which with this I doe drawes Throw by draw Iph What doe you meane Alm. I see the cunning now of all thy love And why thou camest so tamely kinde Suffering surprise Draw Iph. I will not draw kill me And I shall have no trouble in my death Knowing 't is your pleasure As I shall ha ve no pleasure in my life Knowing it is your trouble Alm. Oh poor I lookt for this I knew th' wouldst find 't was easier to doe a wrong Then justifie it but Iphi. I will not fight heare me If I love you not more then I love her If I doe love her more then for your sake Heaven strangely punish me Alm. Take heed how thou dost play with heaven Iphi. By all that 's just and faire and good By all that you hold deare and men hold great I never had lascivious thought or ere Did action that might call in doubt my love To Almerin Alm. That tongue can charme me into any thing I doe beleev 't prethee be wiser then Give me no further cause of jealousie Hurt not mine honour more and I am well Iphi. But well Of all Our passions I wonder nature made The worst foule jealousie her favorite And if it be not so why took she care That every thing should give the monster Nourishment And left us nothing to destroy it with Alm. Prethee no more thou plead'st so cunningly I feare I shall be made the guilty And need thy pardon Iphi. If you could read my heart you would I will be gone to morrow if that will satisfie Indeed I shall not rest untill my innocence Be made as plain as objects to the sence Alm. Come You shall not goe I le think upon 't no more Distrusts ruine not friendship But build it fairer then it was before Exeunt Enter Brennoralt Captaines Stratheman Doran Bren. No more but ten from every company For many hands are theeves and rob the glory While they take their share how goes the night Stra. Halfe spent my Lord. We shall have straight The Moones weaker light Bren. 'T is time then call in the officers Friends if you were men that must be talkt Into a courage I had not chosen you Danger with its vizard oft before this time Y'have look'd upon and out-fac'd it too We are to doe the trick agen that 's all Here drawes his sword And yet we will not sweare For he that shrinks in such an action Is damn'd without the help of perjury Doran if from the virgin tow'r thou spiest A flame such as the East sends forth about The time the day should break goe tell the King I hold