if chast and holy Doe let in wit the Tongue doth let out folly 30 Pre. To all alike be curteous meeke and kind A winning carriage with indifferent mind But not familiar that must be exempt Groomes saucy love soone turnes into contempt Be sure he be at least as good as thee To whom thy freindship shall familiar bee 31 Pre. Iudge not between two freinds but rather see If thou canst bring them freindly to agree So shalt thou both their Loves to thee encrease And gaine a Blessing too for making Peace But if thou should'st decide the cause i' th' end How e're thou judge thou sure shalt loose a freind 32 Pre. Thy credit wary keepe 't is quickly gone Being got by many Actions lost by one 33 Pre. Vnto thy Brother buy not sell nor lend Such Actions have their own peculiar end But rather choose to give him if thou see That thou hast pow'er and hee necessitie 34 Pre. Spare in thy youth least Age should find thee poore When time is past and thou canst spare no more No coupl'd misery is so great in either As Age and Want when both doe meet together 35 Pre. Fly Dunkennesse whose vile incontinence Takes both away the reason and the sence Till with Circaean cups thy mind possest Leaves to be man and wholy turnes a Beast Thinke whilst thou swallowest the capacious Bowle Thou let'st in Seas to wrack and drown the soule That hell is open to remembrance call And thinke how subject drunkards are to Fall Consider how it soone destroyes the grace Of humane shape spoyling the beauteous face Puffing the cheekes blearing the curious eye Studding the face with vitious Heraldry What Pearles and Rubies doth the wine disclose Making the purse poore to enrich the Nose How does it nurse disease infect the heart Drawing some sicknesse into every part The stomack overcloyd wanting a vent Doth up againe resend her excrement And then ô see what too much wine can doe The very soule being drunke spews secrets too The Lungs corrupted breath contagious ayre Belching up fumes that unconcocted are The Braine o'rewarm'd loosing her sweet repose Doth purge her filthy ordure through the nose The veins doe boyle glutted with vitious food And quickly Fevers the distemper'd blood The belly swells the foot can hardly stand Lam'd with the Gout the Palsie shakes the Hand And through the flesh sick waters sinking in Doe bladder-like puffe up the dropsi'd skin It weaks the Braine it spoiles the memory Hasting on Age and wilfull Poverty It drownes thy better parts making thy name To foes a laughter to thy freinds a shame 'T is vertues poyson and the bane of trust The match of wrath the fuell unto lust Quite leave this vice and turne not to 't againe Vpon Presumption of a stronger braine For he that holds more wine then other can I rather count a Hogshead then a man 36 Pre. Let not thy Impotent lust so pow'rfull â—…ee Over thy Reason Soule and Liberty As to enforce thee to a marryed life E're thou art able to maintaine a wife Thou canst not feed upon her lips and face Shee cannot cloth thee with a poore imbrace My selfe being yet alone and but one still With patience could endure the worst of ill When fortune frownes one to the wars may goe To fight against his foes and fortunes too But ô the greife were trebled for to see Thy wretched Bride halfe pin'd with Povertie To see thy Infants make their dumb complaint And thou not able to releive their want The poorest begger when he 's dead and gone Is rich as he that sits upon the Throne But he that having no estate is wâ—…d Starves in his grave being wretched when he 's dead 37 Pre. If e're I take a wife I will have one Neither for beauty nor for portion But for her vertues and I 'le married bee Not for my lust but for posteritie And when I am wed I 'le never iealous bee But make her learne how to be chast by mee And be her face what 't will I 'le thinke her faire If shee within the house confine her care If modest in her words and cloths shee bee Not daub'd with pride and prodigalitie If with her neighbours shee maintaines no strife And beare her selfe to me a faithfull wife I 'de rather unto such a one be wed Then claspe the choicest Helen in my bed Yet though shee were an Angell my affection Should only love not dote on her perfection An Elegie LOve give me leave to serve thee and be wise To keepe thy torch in but restore blind eyes I will a flame into my bosome take That Martyrs Court when they embrace the stake Not dull and smoakie fires but heat divine That burnes not to consume but to refine I have a Mistresse for perfections rare In every eye but in my thoughts most faire Like Tapers on the Altar shine her eyes Her breath is the perfume of Sacrifice And where soe're my fancy would begin Still her perfection lets religion in I touch her like my Beads with devout care And come unto my Courtship as my Praier Wee sit and talke and kisse away the houres As chastly as the morning dews kisse flowers Goe wanton Lover spare thy sighs and teares Put on the Livery which thy dotage weares And call it Love where heresie gets in Zeal's but a coale to kindle greater sin Wee weare no flesh but one another greet As blessed soules in separation meet Wer't possible that my ambitious sin Durst commit rapes upon a Cherubin I might have lustfull thoughts to her of all Earths heav'nly Quire the most Angelicall Looking into my brest her forme I find That like my Guardian-Angell keeps my mind From rude attempts and when affections stirre I calme all passions with one thought of her Thus they whose reasons love and not their sence The spirits love thus one Intelligence Reflects upon his like and by chast loves In the same spheare this and that Angell moves Nor is this barren Love one noble thought Begets an other and that still is brought To bed of more vertues and grace increase And such a numerous issue ne're can cease Where Children though great blessings only bee Pleasures repriv'd to some posteritie Beasts love like men if men in lust delight And call that Love which is but appetite When essence meets with essence and soules joyne In mutuall knots that 's the true Nuptall twine Such Lady is my Love and such is true All other Love is to your Sexe not You. An Apologie for his false Prediction that his Aunt Lane would be deliver'd of a Sonne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The best Prophets are but good Guessers ARe then the Sibils dead what is become Of the lowd Oracles are the Augurs dumbe Live not the Magi that so oft reveald Natures intents is Gipsisme quite repeald Is Friar Bacon nothing but a name Or is all witchcraft braind with Doctor Lambe Does none the learned Bungies soule
th' owner of a beuteous face But if a menstruous and illiterate eye Blast her the various specks shall soone descry The foule beholder and proclaime her spoile Not to result from thence but his own foyle ED. GAYTON M. A â—…oan IMmortall BEN is dead and as that ball On Ida toss'd so is his Crowne by all The Infantry of wit Vaine Priests That chaire Is only fit for his true Sonne and Heire Reach here the Lawrell Randolphâ—… 't is thy praise Thy naked Scull shall well become the Bayes See Daphne courts thy Ghost and spite of fate Thy Poems shall be Poet Laureat G. W. Ioan. To his worthy friend Mr ROBERT RANDOLPH of Ch. Ch. on the publishing of his Brothers Poems WE thank you worthy sir that t is our hap To praise even Randolph now without a clap And give our suffrage yet though not our voice To shew the odds betwixt his fame and noyse Whose only modesty we could applaud That seldome durst presume to blush abroad And bear his vast Report and setting forth His vertues grow a suff'rer of his worth Was scarce his own acquaintance and did use To hear himselfe reported but as newes So distant from himselfe that one might dare To say those two were nere familiar Whose pollisht Phancy hath so smoothly wrought That 't is suspected and might tempt our thought To guesse it spent in every birth so writ Not as the guift but Legacy of his wit Whose unbid braine drops so much flowing worth That others are deliver'd he brought forth That did not course in wit and beat at least Ten lines in fallow to put up one Iest Which still prevents our thought we need not stay To th' end the Epigram is in the way The Towne might here grow Poet nay t is se'd Some May'ors could hence as eas'ly rime as read Whose losse we so much weepe we cannot heare His very Comedyes without a teare And when we read his mirth are faine to pray Leave from our griefe to call the worke a play Where fancy plaies with judgement and so fits That 't is enough to make a guard of wits Where lines fulfill themselues and are so right That but a combats mention is a fight His phrase does bring to passe and hee has lent Language enough to give the Things Event The lines pronounce themselves and we may say The Actors were but Echoes of the Play Me thinkes the book does act and we not doubt To say it rather Enters then Comes out Which even you seeme to envy whose device Has made it viler even by its price And taught its value which we count so great That when we buy it cheapest we but cheat And when upon one Page we blesâ—…e our look How-ere we bargaine we have gain'd the book Fresh-men in this are forc't to have their right And 't is no purchase though 't were sold in spight So doe we owe you still that let us know He gave the world the Playes and you the Show IOS HOWE Trin. Coll. OXON On his beloved friend the Author and his ingenious Poems VVHat need these busy wits who hath a Mine His owne thus rich needs not the scatter'd shine Of lesser heapes Day dimmes a taper's light And Lamps are uselesse where there is no night Why then this traine of writers forreigne verse Can adde no honour to a Poet's hearse Whose every line which he to paper lent Builds for himselfe a lasting Monument Brave verse this priviledge hath Though all be dumbe That is the Authors Epitaph and Tombe Which when ambitious Pyles th'ostents of Pride To dust shall fall and in their ruins hide Their then no more remembred Founders Name These like Apollo ever young shall fame The first composer whose weigh'd workes shall tell What Noble thoughts did in his bosome dwell But now I find the cause they that doe praise Desert in others for themselves plant Baies For he that praises merit loves it thus Hee 's good for goodnesse that 's solicitous Else though Hee diamonds keenly pointed write They but proclaime a quainter Hypocrite Thus in the future it shall honour bee That men shall read their names bound up with thee So country Moles that would at Court appeare Intrude some Camels traine that does live there So Creatures that had drown'd else did imbarke With Noah and liv'd by being in his Arke Or if not thus as when in Royall state Nobles attend Kings to inaugurate Or as last yeare when you both courts did see Beget joyes noone in th' Vniversity All the learn'd tribe in reverend Habits meet As if the Schooles were turn'd into the street Where each one strove such duty to put on As might give honour to their own Sunnes Sunne Such honour here our dimmer pennes would have In pompe to wait him to his solemne grave Since what he was his own fruits better show Then those which planted here by others grow Rich jewels in themselves such lustre cast As gold about them is no grace but Wast Such was his Genius Like the eyes quick wink Hee could write sooner then an other think His play was Fancies flame a lightning wit So shot that it could sooner pierce then hit What e're he pleas'd though but in sport to prove Appear'd as true as pitty dwells with love Had he said thus That discreet zeale might stan Both with the Iesuit and the Puritan T 'had been believ'd That â—…tost from heat proceeds That chastity from ease and fulnesse breeds That women ought to wooe as Eve at first Woo'd Man to make the world and man accurst All would be taken up for Truth and sense Which knew Truth coming would not going hence Had he maintain'd Rich Lucans worke had been Meere History there would no pen be seen To call it Poem If for Caesar stood Great Pompey should be neither weak nor Good Oh! had he liv'd to plead the craggy Law Which now unsetled holds the world in awe He would have met some Ostracisme I feare Lest he had charm'd the purple Iudge to erre Nor could he only in his Native speech Robe his ripe thoughts but even the Copious Rich And lofty Greek with Latine did appeare In him as Orient in their proper sphere That when in them himselfe he pleas'd t' expresse The ravisht hearer could not but confesse He might as well old Rome or Athens claime For birth as Britaine circled with the Maine 'T is true we have these lauguages still left But spoken as apparrell got by theft Is worne disguis'd and shadowed Had hee Liv'd but with us till grave maturity Though wee should ever in his change have lost Wee might have gaind enough whereof to boast Our nations better Genius But now Our hopes are nipt e're they began to blow And sure I am his losse must needs strike deep For whom in verse thus Englands Eye doth weepe Whose teares thus dew'd upon his mournefull dust I will not longer trouble They that must Carp though at best things let them
when I wisely aime At greatest honours if I may deserve'm Not for ambition but for my Countryes good And in that vertue all the rest doe dwell In lesser dignities I want a name And when I am not over patient To put up such grosse wrongs as call me coward But can be angry yet in that observe What cause hath mov'd my anger and with whom Looke that it be not suddaine nor too thirsty Of a revenge nor violent nor greater Then the offence know my time when where I must be angry and how long remaine so Then then you may surname me Mansâ—…ude When in my carriage and discourse I keepe The meane that neither flatters nor offends I am that vertue the well nurtur'd Court Gives name and should doe being Courtesy Twixt fly dissembling and proud arrogance I am the vertue time calls daughter Truth Give me my sword and ballance rightly swayd And Iustice is the Title I deserve When on this stage I come with innocent wit And jests that have more of the sait then gall That move the laughter and delight of all Without the griefe of one free chast conceits Not scurrile base obscene illâ—…berall Or contumelious slanders I am then The vertue they have term'd Vrbanity To whom if your least countenance may appeare She vowes to make her constant dwelling here My daughters now are come The Song SCEN. 2. The Masque wherein all the Vertues dance together Mediâ—… You have seene all my daughters Gentlemen Chuse you wives hence you that are Batchelors Can finde no better And the married too May wed 'em yet not wrong their former wives Two may have the same wife and the same man May wed two Vertues yet no Bigamie He that weds most is chastest These are all The daughters of my wombe I have five more The happy Issue of my Intellect And thence syrnam'd the intellectuall Vertues They now attend not on their Mothers train We hope they Act in each spectators braine I have a Necce besides a beauteous one My daughters deare companion louely Friendship A royall Nymph her we present not to It is a vertue we expect from you Exit cum Chorocantantium SCEN. 3. Bird. O Sister what a glorious traine they be Flow They seeme to mee the Family of Love But is there such a Glasse good Roscius Rosci There is sent hither by the great Apollo Who in the worlds bright eye and every day Set in his Car of light survaies the earth From East to West who finding every place Fruitfull in nothing but fantastique follies And most ridiculous humors as he is The God of Physique thought it appertain'd To him to finde a cure to purge the earth Of ignorance and sinne two grand diseases And now grown Epidemicall many Receits He thought upon as to have planted Hellebore In every Garden But none pleas'd like this He takes out water from the Muses spring And sends it to the North there to be freez'd Into a Christall That being done he makes A Mirror with it and instills this vertue That it should by reflection shew each man All his deformities both of soule and body And cure 'em both Flow. Good Brother le ts goe see it Saints may want something of perfection Rosc. The Glasse is but of one daies continuance For Pluto thinking if it should cure all His Kingdome would grow empty for 't is sin That Peoples hell went to the fates and bid 'em Spin it too short a thred for every thing As well as man is measur'd by their spindle They as they must obey gave it a thread No longer then the Beast's of Hyppanis That in one day is spun drawne out and cut But Phoebus to require the black Gods envy Will when the Glasse is broke transfuse her vertue To live in Comedy If you meane to see it Make hast Flow. We will goe post to reformation Exeunt Ros. Nor is the Glasse of so short life I feare As this poore labour our distrustfull Author Thinkes the same Sun that rose upon her cradle Will hardly set before her funerall Your gratious and kind acceptance may Keepe her alive from death or when shee s dead Raise her again and spin her a new thread SCEN. 4. Enter Flowrdew and Bird. Flow. This ignorance even makes religion sin Sets zeale upon the rack and stretches her Beyond her length Most blessed Looking-glassâ—… That didst instruct my blinded eyes to day I might have gone to hell the Narrow-way Bird. Hereafter I will visit Comedies And see them oft they are good exercises I 'le teach devotion now a milder temper Not that it shall loose any of her heat Or Purity but henceforth shall be such As shall burne bright although not blaze so much Exeâ—…nt EPILOGVS Roscius solus Y'Have seen The Muses Looking-glasse Ladyes fair And Gentle-youths And others too who ere Have fill'd this Orbe it is the end we meant Your selves unto your selves still to present A souldier shall himselfe in Hector see Grave Councellors Nestor view themselves in thee When Lucrece Part shall on our Stage appeare Every chast Ladie sees her shaddow there Nay come who will for our indifferent Glasses Will show both fooles and knaves and all their faces To vexe and cure them But we need not feare We doe not doubt but each one now that 's here That has a faire soule and a Beauteous face Will visit oft the Muses Looking-glasse FINIS AMYNTAS OR THE IMPOSSIBLE DOVVRY A PASTORALL ACTED before the KING QUEENE at White-Hall Written by THOMAS RANDOLPH Pastorem Tityre pingues Pascere oportet oves diductum dicere Carmen OXFORD Printed by Leonard Lichfield for Francis Bowman 1638. Drammatis Personae Pilumnus The high Priest of Ceres Father to Damon and Vrania Medorus Father to Laurinda Claius A wild Sylvan father to Amyntas and Amaryllis Corymbus An under Priest Two Rivalls in Laurinda's Love Damon Alexis Amyntas A mad Sheapheard Laurinda A wavering Nymph Vrania A sad Nymph enamoured on Amyntas Amarillis A distressed sheapheardesse in love with Damon Thestylis An old Nymph sister to Claius Iocastus A fantastique sheapherd fairy Knight Bromius His man a blunt Clowne Mopsus A foolish Augur enamoured on Thestylis Dorylas A knavish boy Echo Chorus of Priests Chorus of Sheapheards Chorus of Nymphs Quorum fit mentio Philaebus Lalage Mycon The Scene Sicilie in the holy Vale. The time an Astrologicall day from Noone to Noone PROLOGVS Nymph Shepheard Nym. I Le speak the Prologue Sheap Then you doe mee wrong Nym. Why dare your Sexe compare with ours for Tongue Sheap A Female Prologue Nym. Yes as well as Male. Shep. That 's a new trick Nym. And t'other is as stale Shep. Men are more eloquent then women made Nym. But women are more powrfull to perswade Shep. It seemes so for I dare no more contend Nym. Then best give ore the strife and make an end Sheap I will not yeeld Nym. Shall we divide it then Sheap You to the Woemen speak Nym. You
wench I dare not stay Least I displease my Father who in this age Of haplesse lovers watches me as close As did the Dragon the Hesperian fruit Farewell Exit Laur. Thest. Farewell Laurinda Thus poore â—…oole I toyle for others like the painfull Bee From every flower cull hony drops of love To bring to others hives Cupid does this Cause I am Claius sister Other Nymphs Have their varietie of loves for every gowne Nay every petticote I have only one The poore foole Mopsus yet no matter wench Fooles never were in more request then now I le make much of him for that woman lyes In weary sheetes whose Husband is too wise SCEN. 3. Thestylis Mopsus Iocastus Mop. Iocastus I love Thestylis abominably The mouth of my affection waters at her Io. Be wary Mopsus learne of mee to skorne The mortalls choose a better match goe love Some Fairy Lady Princely Oberon Shall stand thy friend and beauteous Mab his Queene Give thee a Maid of Honour Mop. How Iocastus Marry a puppet Wed a mote i th' Sunne Goe looke a wife in nutshells wooe a gnat That 's nothing but a voice No no Iocastus I must have flesh and blood and will have Thestylis A fig for Fairies Thes. T is my sweet-heart Mopsus And his wise brother O the twins of folly These doe I entertaine only to season The poore Amyntas madnesse Mop. Sacred red and white How fares thy reverend beauty The. Very ill Since you were absent Mopsus where have you Beene all this live-long houre Mop. I have been Discoursing with the birds The. Why can birds speake Io. In Fairy land they can I have heard 'em chirpe Very good Greeke and Latin Mop. And our Birds Talke better farre then they a new-laid egge Of Sicilie shall out talke the bravest Parrat In Oberons Vtopia The. But what languages Doe they speake servant Mop. Severall languages As Cawation Chirpation Hootation Whistleation Crowation Cackleation Shreekation Hissation The. And Fooleation Mop. No that 's our language we our selves speak that That are the learned Augurs The. What successe Does your Art promise Mop. Very good The. What Birds Met you then first Mop. A Wood-cock and a Goose. The. Well met Mop. I told 'em so The. And what might this portend Mop. Why thus and first the Wood-cock Wood and Cock Both very good signes For first the wood doth signify The fire of our love shall never goeout Because it has more fuell wood doth signify Morefuell The. What the Cock Mop. Better then t'other That I shall crow ore those that are my rivalls And roost my selfe with thee The. But now the Goose Mop. I I the Goose that likes me best of all Th' ast heard our gray-bâ—…ard sheapherds talk of Rome And what the Geese did there The Goose doth signify That I shall keep thy Capitâ—…ll The. Good gander Io. It cannot choose but strangely please his highnesse The. What are you studying of Iocastus ha Io. A rare devise a Masque to entertaine His Grace of Fairy with The. A Masque what i' st Io. An Anti-masque of fleaes which I have taught To dance Currantoes on a spiders thread Mop. An Anti-masque of fleaes brother me thinkes A masque of Birds were better that could dance The morrice in the aire Wrens and Robin-redbrests Linnets and Titmise Io. So and why not rather Your Geese Wood-cocks Mortall hold thy tongue Thou dost not know the mystery The. T is true He tells you Mopsus leave your Augurie Follow his counsell and be wise Mop. Be wise I skorne the motion follow his counsell and be wise That 's a fine trick i'faith is this an age For to be wise in The. Then you mean I see T' expound the Oracle Mop. I doe mean to be Th'interpreter Io. And then a jig of Pismires Is excellent Mop. What to interpret Oracles A foole must be th'interpreter The. Then no doubt But you will have the honour Mop. Nay I hope I am as faire for 't as another man If I should now grow wise against my will And catch this wisdome The. Never feare it Mopsus Mop. T were dangerous ventring Now I think on 't too Pray Heaven this aire be wholsome is there not An antidote against it what doe you think Of garlick every morning The. Fy upon 't 'T will spoile our kissing and besides I tell you Garlick's a dangerous dish eating of garlick May breed the sicknesse for as I remember T is the Phylosophers dyet Mop. Certainly I am infected now the fit 's upon mee T is some thing like an ague sure I caught it With talking with a Scholar next my heart The. How sad a life live I Betwixt their folly and Amyntas madnesse For Mopsus I le prescribe you such a diet As shall secure you Mop. Excellent she Doctor Your women are the best Physitians And have the better practice The. First my Mopsus Take heed of fasting for your hungry meales Nurse wisdome Mop. True O what a stomach have I To be her patient The. Besides take speciall care You weare not thred-bare clothes 't will breed at least Suspicion you are wise Io. I marry will it The. And walke not much alone or if you walke With company be sure you walke with fooles None of the wise Mop. No no I warrant you I le walke with no body but my brother here Or you or mad Amyntas The. By all meanes Take heed of Travell your beyond-sea wit Is to be feard Mop. If ere I travell hang mee Io. Not to the Fairy land The. Thither he may But above all things we are no beards long beards Are signes the braines are full because the excrements Come out so plentifully Io. Rather empty Because they have sent so much out as if Their brains were sunk into their beards King Oberon Has ne're a beard yet for his wit I am sure He might have beene a Gyant Who comes here Enter Dorylas Dor. All haile unto the fam'd interpreter Of fowles and Oracles Mop. Thankes good Dorylas Dor. How fares the winged cattell are the woodcocks The jayes the dawes the cuckoes and the owles In health Mop. I thank the gracious starres they are Dor. Like health unto the president of the jigs I hope King Oberon and his joyall Mab Are. well Io. They are I never saw their Graces Eate such a meale before Dir. E'ne much good doe 't em Io. They 're rid a hunting Do. Hare or Deere my Lord Io. Neither a brace of snailes of the first head The. But Dorylas there 's a mighty quarrell here And you are chosen umpire Dor. About what The. The exposition of the Oracle Which of these two you think the verier foole Dor. It is a difficult cause first let me pose'em You Mopsus cause you are a learned Augur How many are the seven Liberall Sciences Mop. Why much about a dozen Dor. You Iocastus When Oberon shav'd himselfe who was his Barber Io. I knew him well a little dapper youth They call him Periwinckle
life Amar. It was my selfe Or one as deare Cla. Who 's that Ama. I 'le rather dye Then name him though it be a name I use Oft to repeat and every repetition Is a new soule unto mee 't is a name I have taught the birds to caroll every Laurell and Cedar beares it registred Vpon his tender barke it is a name In which is all the life I yet have left A name I long to speake yet I had rather Dye all the severall sorts of death twice over Then speake it once Clai I charge thee by that duty Thou ow'st to me Amarillis that thou owest to me Who gave thee life Pil. What should this mean Corymbus Cl. And by the womb that bare thee by the breasts Of thy dead mother Lalage Cor. This is strange Cla. Conceale him not in plain I am thy father Thy father Amarillis that commands thee By these gray haires to tell mee I am Claius Pilum How Claius and so fortunatly found Claius I glut your hate Pilumnus let your soule That has so long thirsted to drinke my blood Swill till my veines are empty and carowse Deep in my heart till you grow drunke and reele And vomit up the surfet that your cruelty Quaft off with so much pleasure I have stood Long like a fatall oake at which great Iove Levels his thunder all my boughes long since Blasted and wither'd now the trunke falls too Heaven end thy wrath in mee Pilum Blessed be Ceres What unexpected happines is here Rejoyce Sicilians miserable lovers Crowne all your browes with roses and adore The Deity that sent him he is come Whose blood must quench the fire of Ceres wrath And kindle more auspitious flames of love In every brest Cla. I doe I feare not death Let every Virgins hand when I am slaine Ring me a knell of Plaudits let my Dirges Be amorous Ditties and in stead of weeping Dance at my funerall T is no griefe for mee To dye to make my countrymen some sport Here 's one in whom I only wish to live Another age Amar. What joy have I to live That nere liv'd yet the time that I have spent Since first I wept then when I first had entrance Into this world this cold and sorrowfull world Was but a scene of sorrow wretched I Fatall to both my parents For my birth Ruin'd my mother and my death my father O Tragick life I either should have been Nere borne or nere have died When I began To be my sinne began why should it then Out live mee for though now I cease to be That still continues Eyes flow forth a pace And be asham'd to see my wound run blood Faster then you drop teares Enter Damon See here he comes His absence never untill now I wisht Dam. My Conscience brings me back the feet of guilt Goe slow and dull 't is hard to run away From that we beare about us Cla. The Murtherer Is in this place the issue of her blood Is stop'd o th' sudden Cruell man 't is thou Hast done this bloudy act that will disgrace The story of our nation and imprint So deepe a blemish in the age we live in For savage Barbarisme that eternity Shall nere weare out Pilumnus on my knees I beg the justice of Sicilian lawes Against this monster Pilum Claius 't is your hate And old revenge instructs you to accuse My Sonne you would have fellowes in your death And to that purpose you pretend I know not What mysteries of art Cla. Speak Amaryllis I' st not this wolfe Pilum Say virgin was it hee Ama. O I am angry with my blood for stopping This coward ebbe against my will betraies mee The streame is turn'd my eyes run faster now Pilum Can you accuse my sonne Amar. By Ceres no I have no heart to doe it does that face Look cruell doe those eyes sparkle with hate Or malice Tell me Father lookes that brow As if it could but frowne Say can you thinke T is possible Damon could have the heart To wound a Virgin surely barbarous cruelty Dwels not in such a brest mercy and mildnesse Courtesy love and sweetnesse breath in him Not Anger wrath or murther Damon was not Fed at a Thracian teat Venus did send Her Doves to nurse him and can he be cruell Whence should he learne so much of barbarisme As thus to wrong a Virgin if he wound mee T is only from his eyes where loves blind God Whets his pil'd arrowes He besides you know Had never cause to wrong mee for he knowes Alwaies I lov'd him Father doe not wrong An innocent his soule is white and pure T is sinne to thinke there lives a sinne in him Impiety to accuse him Clai In his lookes He carries guilt whose horror breeds this strange And obstinate silence shame and his conscience Will not permit him to deny it Amar. T is alas His modest bashfull nature and pure innocence That makes him silent think you that bright rose That buds within his cheekes was planted there By guilt or shame no he has alwaies been So unacquainted with all act of sinne That but to be suspected strikes him dumb With wonder and amazement For by Ceres I think my oath be lawfull I my selfe Was cause of this Cla. Still I am confident 'T was hee Pilum It is your envy makes you so SCEN. 9. Alexis Laurinda Lau. I will Alexis And so he must if oathes be any tye Alex. To lovers they are none we break those bonds As easily as threds of silke A bracelet Made of your maidens haire 's a stronger chaine Then twenty cobweb oathes which while we break Venus but laughs it must be your perswasion That works him to it Lau. Damon you must stand To what you promis'd how shall I believe Those other oathes you sweare if you respect This one no better It was my device To have her judge was it not Amarillis How all in blood Cla. Yes this unmercifull man If he be man that can doe such a crime Has wounded her Amar. Indeed it was not hee Pil. You see her selfe frees him Lau. When last we left her She was with Damon Ama. Pray believe her not She speaks it out of anger I nere saw Damon to day before Alex. And when we left 'em He was incens'd Amar. You are no competent witnesse You are his Rivall in Laurinda's love And speak not truth but malice 't is a plot To ruin innocence Lau. O ungratefull man The wolfe that does devoure the brest that nurst it Is not so bad as thou here here this Letter Th' eternall Chronicle of affection That ought with golden characters to be writ In Cupids Annals will false man convince thee Of fowle ingratitude you shall hear me read it The Letter Laurinda you have put it unto mee To choose a husband for you I will be A judge impartiall upright just and true Yet not so much unto my selfe as you Alex. Now I expect to hear my blessed
to the Men. Sheap Gentlemen looke not from us Rurall swains For polish'd speech high lines or Courtly straines Expect not we should bring a labour'd Scene Or complements we ken not what they meane Nym. And Ladies we poore Country Girles doe come With such behaviour as we learn'd at home How shall we talke to Nymphs so trim and gay That nere saw Lady yet but at a May She. His Muse is very bashfull should you throw A Snake into her Cradle I doe know Shee is no Hercules to outlive your Ire Nym. One Hisse would make the fearfull foole expire Without a sting Shep. Gentlemen doe but you Like this no matter what the Woemen doe Nym. It was a sawcy Swaine thus to conclude Ladies the Gentlemen are not so rude If they were ever school'd by powrefull love As to dislike the things you shall approve If you but like him 't will be greater praise Then if each Muse of Nine had fetch'd him Baies AMYNTAS ACTVS I. SCENA 1. Laurinda Dorylas Dor. T Is newes Laurinda that will ravish you Laur. How ravish mee if 't be such desperat newes I pray conceale it Dor. So I will Lau. Nay Dorylas Pray tell it though Dor. T is desperat newes Laur. But prithee doe Dor. I must conceale it Laur. Doe not Dor. Mistresse you have prevail'd I will relate it Laur. No matter though whether you doe or no. Dor. No then I will not tell you Laur. Yet I care not Much if I heare it Dor. And I care not much Whether I tell 't or no. Laur. What is it Dor. Nothing Laur. Sweet Dorylas let me know Dor. What pretty weather-cocks These women are I serve a Mistresse here Fit to have made a Planet shee le waxe and wane Twice in a minute Laur. But good Dorylas Your newes Dor. Why excellent Newes Laur. But what Dor. Rare newes Newes fit Laur. For what Dor. To be conceal'd why Mistresse The Rivalls those on whom this Powerfull face Doth play the tyraâ—…t Laur. Dorylas what of them Dor. Now now shee wanes O for a dainty Husband To make her a full Moone The amorous couple Your brace of sweet hearts Damon and Alexis Desire your audience Lau. Is this all your newes You may conceale it Dor. Now you have heard it told I may conceale it well I thanke thee Nature Thou didst create mee Man for I want wit Enough to make up woman but good Mistresse What doe you think of Damon Laur. As a man Worthy the best of Nymphs Dor. What of Alexis Laur. As one that may deserve the fairest Virgin In Sicilie Dor. What Virgin Lau. Proserpine Were shee yet Ceres daughter Dor. And what Damon Lau. Hee Ceres selfe were she not yet a Mother Dor. Creet Creet There is no Labyrinth but a womanâ—… Laurinda gentle Mistresse tell mee which Of these you love Lau. Why Damon best of any Dor. Why so that 's well and plain Lau. Except Alexis Dor. Why then you love Alexis best Lau. Of any Dor. I am glad on t Lvu. But my Damon Dor. Be this true And I le be sworne Cupid is turn'd a jugler Praesto you love Alexis best but Damon And Damon but Alexis Love you Damon Lau. I doe Dor. And not Alexis Lau. And Alexis Dor. Shee would ha'both I thinke Laur. Not I by Ceres Dor. Then you love neither Lau. Yes I doe love either Dor. Either and yet not both both best yet neither Why doe you torture those with equall Racks That both vow service to you If your love Have pre fer'd Damon tell Alexis of it Or if Alexis let poore Damon know it That he which is refus'd smothering his flame May make another choice now doubtfull hope Kindles desires in both Lau. Ah Dorylas Thy yeares are yet uncapable of love Thou hast not learn'd the mysteries of Cupid Dost thou not see through all Sicilia From gentlest sheapheards to the meanest swaines What inauspitious torches Hymen lights At every wedding what unfortunate hands Linke in the wedding ring Nothing but feares Iarres discontents suspicions jealousies These many yeares meet in the Bridall sheetes Or if all these be missing yet a Barrennesse A curse as cruell or Abortive births Are all the blessings crowne the Geniall bed Till the successe prove happier and I finde A blessed change I le temper my affection Conceale my flames dissemble all my fires And spend those yeares I owe to Love and Beauty Only in choosing on whose love to fixe My Love and beauty Dor. Rare Feminine wisdome Will you admit ' em Lau. Yes goe call them hither Yet doe not now I thinke on 't yet you may too And yet come back againe Dor. Nay I will goe Lau. Why Dorylas Dor. What newes Lau. Come back I say Dor. Yes to be sent againe Lau. You 'l stay I hope Dor. Not I by Ceres Lau. Dorylas Dor. No good Mistresse Farewell for I at length have learn'd to know You call me back only to bid mee goe Exit Lau. T is no great matter sirrah when they come I le beare my selfe so equall unto both As both shall thinke I love him best this way I keepe both fires alive that when I please I may take which I please But who comes here SCEN. 2. Laurinda Thestylis O Thestylis y' are welcome Thest. If Laurinda My too abrupt intrusion come so rudely As to disturbe your private Meditations I beg your pardon Lau. How now Thestylis Grown Orator of late has learned Mopsus Read Rhetorique unto you that you come To see me with Exordiums Thest. No Laurinda But if there be a charme call'd Rhetorique An art that woods and forrests cannot skill That with persuasive magique could command A pitty in your soule I would my tongue Had learn'd that powerfull art Lau. Why Thestylis Thou know'st the brests I suck'd were neither wolves Nor Tygers and I have a heart of waxe Soft and soone melting try this amorous heart 't is not Of flint or marble The. If it were Laurinda The teares of her whose orator I come Have power to soften it Beuteous Amaryllis Shee that in this unfortunate age of love This haplesse time of Cupids tyranny Plac'd her affection on a skornfull sheapheard One that disdaines her love Lau. Disdaines her love I tell thee Thestylis in my poore judgement And women if no envy blind their eyes Best judge of womens beauties Amaryllis May make a Bride worthy the proudest sheapheard In all Sicilia but wherein can I Pitty this injur'd Nymph The. Thus she desires you As you desire to thrive in him you love As you doe love him whom you most desire Not to love Damon Damon alas repaies Her love with skorne T is a request she saies She knowes you cannot grant but if you doe not Shee will not live to aske again Lau. Poore Nymph My Amaryllis knowes my fidelity How often have we sported on the Lawnes And danc'd a roundelay to Iocastus pipe If I can doe her service Thestylis Be sure I will Good