THE LOVERS Melancholy ACTED AT THE PRIVATE HOVSE IN THE BLACKE Friers and publikely at the Globe by the Kings Maiesties Seruants LONDON Printed for H. Seile and are to be sold at the Tygers head in Saint Pauls Church-yard 1629 The Sceane Famagosta in Cyprus The names of such as acted IOHN LOWIN IOSEPH TAYLOR ROBERT BENFIELD IOHN SHANCK EYLYARDT SWANSTON ANTHONY SMITH RICHARD SHARPE THOMAS POLLARD WILLIAM PENN CVRTEISE GRIVILL GEORGE VERNON RICHARD BAXTER IOHN TOMSON IOHN HONYMAN IAMES HORNE WILLIAM TRIGG ALEXANDER GOVGH TO MY WORTHILY RESPECTED FRIENDS NATHANIEL FINCH IOHN FORD Esquires Mt. HENRY BLVNT Mr. ROBFRT ELLICE and all the rest of the Noble Society of Grayes Inne My Honour'd Friends THe account of some leisurable houres is here summ'd vp and offered to examination Importunity of Others or Opinion of mine owne hath not vrg'd on any confidence of running the hazard of a censure As plurality hath reference to a Multitude so I care not to please Many but where there is a Parity of condition there the freedom of construction makes the best musicks This concord hath equally held betweene YOV THE PATRONES and ME THE PRESENTOR I am cleer'd of all scruple of dis-respect on your parts as I am of too slacke a Merit in my selfe My presumption of comming in Print in this kind hath hitherto been vn-reprooueable This Piece being the first that euer courted Reader and it is very possible that the like complement with Me may soone grow out of fashion A practice of which that I may auoid now I commend to the continuance of your Loues the memory of HIS who without the protestation of a seruice is readily your Friend IOHN FORD To my Honour'd Friend Master Iohn Ford on his Louers Melancholy IF that thou think'st these lines thy worth can raise Thou do'st mistake my liking is no prayse Nor can I thinke thy Iudgement is so ill To seeke for Bayes from such a barraine Quill Let your true Critick that can iudge and mend Allow thy Sceanes and Stile I as a friend That knowes thy worth doe onely sticke my Name To shew my Loue not to aduance thy Fame George Donne To his worthy Friend the Author Master Iohn Ford I Write not to thy Play I le not begin To throw a censure vpon what hath been By th' Best approu'd It can nor feare nor want The Rage or Liking of the Ignorant Nor seeke I Fame for Thee when thine owne Pen Hath forc'd a praise long since from knowing Men I speake my thoughts and wish vnto the Stage A glory from thy studies that the Age May be indebted to Thee for Reprieue Of purer language and that Spight may grieue To see It selfe out-done When Thou art read The Theater may hope Arts are not dead Though long conceal'd that Poet-Apes may feare To vent their weaknesse mend or quite forbeare This I dare promise and keepe this in store As thou hast done enough Thou canst doe more William Singleton To the Author Master Iohn Ford BLacke choler Reasons ouer-flowing Spring Where thirsty Louers drinke or any Thing Passion the restlesse current of dull plaints Affords their thoughts who deeme lost beauties Saints Here their best Lectures read collect and see Various conditions of Humanitie Highly enlighten'd by thy Muses rage Yet all so coucht that they adorn'd the Stage Shun Phocions blushes thou for sure to please It is no sinne then what is thy disease Iudgements applause effeminated smiles Studie's delight thy wit mistrust beguiles Establisht Fame will thy Physicion be Write but againe to cure thy Iealousie Hum Howorth Of the Louers Melancholy T Is not the Language nor the fore-plac'd Rimes Of Friends that shall commend to after-times The Louers Melancholy Its owne worth Without a borrowed prayse shall set it forth {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} THE PROLOGVE TO tell yee Gentlemen in what true sense The Writer Actors or the audience Should mold their Iudgemēts for a Play might draw Truth into Rules but we haue no such law Our Writer for himselfe would haue yee know That in his following Sceanes he doth not owe To others Fancies nor hath layne in wait For any stolne Inuention from whose height He might commend his owne more then the right A Scholer claimes may warrant for delight It is Arts scorne that some of late haue made The Noble vse of Poetry a Trade For your parts Gentlemen to quite his paines Yet you will please that as you meet with straines Of lighter mixtures but to cast your eye Rather vpon the maine then on the bye His hopes stand firme and we shall find it true The Louers Melancholy cur'd by you THE LOVERS MELANCHOLY Actus I. Scena I. Enter Menaphon and Pelias Menaphon DAngers How meane you dangers that so courtly You gratulate my safe returne from dangers Pel. From Trauailes noble Sir Men. These are delights If my experience hath not Trewant-like Mis-spent the time which I haue stroue to vse For bettering my mind with obseruation Pel. As I am modest I protest 't is strange But is it possible Men. What Pel. To bestride The frothy fomes of Neptunes surging waues When blustring Boreas tosseth vp the deepe And thumps a thunder bounce Men. Sweet Sir 't is nothing Straight comes a Dolphin playing neere your ship Heauing his crooked backe vp and presents A Feather-bed to waft'ee to the shoare As easily as if you slept i' th 'i th' Court Pel. Indeed is 't true I pray Men. I will not stretch Your Faith vpon the Teinters prethee Pelias Where didst thou learne this language Pel. I this language Alas Sir we that study words and formes Of complement must fashion all discourse According to the nature of the subiect But I am silent now appeares a Sunne Whose shadow I adore Enter Amethus Sophronos and Attendants Men. My honour'd Father Soph. From mine eyes son son of my care my loue The ioyes that bid thee welcome doe too much speake me a child Men. O Princely Sir your hand Amet. Performe your duties where you owe them first I dare not be so sudden in the pleasures Thy presence hath brought home Soph. Here thou still findest A Friend as noble Menaphon as when Thou left'st at thy departure Men. Yes I know it To him I owe more seruice Amet. Pray giue leaue He shall attend your intertainements soone Next day and next day for an houre or two I would engrosse him onely Soph. Noble Lord Ame. Y' are both dismist Pel. Your creature and your Seruant Exeunt all but Ameth Menap Ame. Giue me thy hand I will not say Th' art welcome That is the common roade of cōmon friends I am glad I haue thee here O I want words To let thee know my heart Men. 'T is peec'd to mine Ame. Yes 't is as firmely as that holy thing Call'd Friendship can vnite it Menaphon My Menaphon now all the goodly blessings That can create a Heauen on earth dwell with thee Twelue monthes we haue been sundred but henceforth We
come on iust appointment welcome Gentlemen Haue you won Rhetias Corax Cora. Most sincerely Cucul. Saue yee Nobilities doe your Lordships take notice of my Page T is a fashion of the newest edition spick and span new without example Doe your honour Houswife Grill. There 's a cursey for you and a cursey for you Soph. T is excellent we must all follow fashion and entertaine Shee-waiters Aret. 'T will be Courtly Cucul. I thinke so I hope the Chronicles will reare me one day for a head-piece Rhet. Of Woodcocke without braines in 't Barbers shall weare thee on their Citternes and Hucksters set thee out in Ginger-bread Cucul. Deuill take thee I say nothing to thee now canst let me be quiet Gril. Y' are too perstreperous Sauce-box Cucul. Good Girle if we begin to puffe once Pel. Prethee hold thy tongue the Lords are in the presence Rhet. Mum Butterflye Pel. O the Prince stand and keepe silence Cucul. O the Prince Wench thou shalt see the Prince now Soft Musicke Enter Pallador the Prince with a Booke in his hand Soph. Aret. Sir Gracious Sir Prince Why all this Company Cora. A Booke is this the early exercise I did prescribe in stead of following health Which all mē couet you pursue your disease Where 's your great Horse your Hounds your set at Tennis Your Balloone ball the practice of your dancing Your casting of the sledge or learning how To tosse a Pike all chang'd into a Sonnet Pray Sir grant me free liberty to leaue The Court it do's infect me with the sloth Of sleepe and surfet In the Vniuersity I haue imployments which to my profession Adde profit and report Here I am lost And in your wilfull dulnesse held a man Of neither Art nor honesty you may Command my head pray take it doe 't were better For me to lose it then to lose my wits And liue in Bedlam you will force me too 't I am almost mad already Prince I beleeue it Soph. Letters are come from Creete which do require A speedy restitution of such ships As by your Father were long since detain'd If not defiance threatned Aret. These neere parts Of Syria that adioyne muster their friends And by intelligence we learne for certaine The Syrian will pretend an ancient interest Of tribute intermitted Soph. Through your Land Your subiects mutter strangely and imagine More then they dare speake publikely Cora. And yet They talke but odly of you Cucul. Hang 'em Mungrels Prince Of me my subiects talke of me Cora. Yes scuruily And thinke worse Prince Prince I le borrow patience A little time to listen to these wrongs And from the few of you which are here present Conceiue the generall voyce Cora. So now he is nettled Prince By all your loues I charge ye without feare Or flattery to let me know your thoughts And how I am interpreted Speake boldly Soph. For my part Sir I will be plaine and briefe I thinke you are of Nature milde and easie Not willingly prouokt but withall head-strong In any passion that misleades your Iudgement I thinke you too indulgent to such motions As spring out of your owne affections To old to be reform'd and yet too young To take fit councell from your selfe of what Is most amisse Prince So Tutor your conceit Aret. I think you doate with pardon let me speak it Too much vpon your pleasures and these pleasures Are so wrapt vp in selfe-loue that you couet No other change of fortune would be still What your birth makes you but are loth to toyle In such affaires of State as breake your sleepes Cora. I thinke you would be by the world reputed A man in euery point compleat but are In manners and effect indeed a childe A boy a very boy Pel. May it please your Grace I thinke you doe containe within your selfe The great Elixer soule and quintessence Of all diuine perfections are the glory Of mankind and the onely strict example For earthly Monarchies to square out their liues by Times miracle Fames pride in Knowledge Wit Sweetnesse Discourse Armes Arts Prince You are a Courtier Cucul. But not of the ancient fashion an 't like your Highnesse T is I I that am the credit of the Court Noble Prince and if thou would'st by Proclamation or Patent create me Ouerseer of all the Taylers in thy Dominions then then the golden dayes should appeare againe bread should be cheaper fooles should haue more wit knaues more honesty and beggers more money Gril. I thinke now Cucul. Peace you Squall Prince You haue not spoken yet Cucul. Hang him hee 'l nothing but raile Gril. Most abominable out vpon him Cora. Away Cuculus follow the Lords Cucul. Close Page close They all fall backe and steale out Manet Prince and Rhetias Prince You are somewhat long a thinking Rhet. I doe not thinke at all Prince Am I not worthy of your thought Rhet. My pitty you are But not my reprehension Prince Pitty Rhet. Yes for I pitty such to whom I owe seruice who exchange their happinesse for a misery Prince Is it a misery to be a Prince Rhet. Princes who forget their soueraignty and yeeld to affected passion are weary of command You had a Father Sir Prince Your Soueraigne whiles he liu'd But what of him Rhet. Nothing I onely dar'd to name him that 's all Prince I charge thee by the duty that thou ow'st vs be plaine in what thou meanest to speake there 's something that we must know be free our eares are open Rhet. O Sir I had rather hold a Wolfe by the eares then stroake a Lyon the greatest danger is the last Prince This is meere trifling Ha are all stollen hence We are alone Thou hast an honest looke Thou hast a tongue I hope that is not oyld With flattery Be open though t is true That in my younger dayes I oft haue heard Agenors name my Father more traduc'd Then I could then obserue yet I protest I neuer had a friend a certaine friend That would informe me throughly of such errors As oftentimes are incident to Princes Rhet. All this may be I haue seene a man so curious in feeling of the edge of a keene knife that he has cut his fingers My flesh is not of proofe against the metall I am to handle the one is tenderer then the other Prince I see then I must court thee Take the word Of a iust Prince for any thing thou speakest I haue more then a Pardon thankes and loue Rhet. I will remember you of an old Tale that somthing concernes you Meleander the great but vnfortunate Statesman was by your Father treated with for a Match betweene you and his eldest daughter the Lady Eroclea You were both neere of an age I presume you remember a Contract and cannot forget Her Prince She was a louely beauty Prethee forward Rhet. To Court was Eroclea brought was courted by your Father not for Prince Palador as it followed but to be made a prey to some
Amitye Which you haue long betweene yee vow'd and kept Is sacred and inuiolable secrets Of every nature are in common t' ee I haue trespass'd and I haue been faulty Let not too rude a Censure doome me guilty Or iudge my errour wilfull without pardon Men. Gracious and vertuous Mistris Ame. T is a tricke There is no trust in female cunning friend Let her first purge her follies past and cleere The wrongs done to her honor by some sure Apparant testimony of her constancy Or wee will not beleeue these childish plots As you respect my friendship lend no eare To a reply Thinke on 't Men. Pray loue your fame Exeunt Men Amet. Tham. Gon I am sure awakt Kala I finde You haue not been so trusty as the duty You ow'd requir'd Kala Not I I doe protest I haue been Madam Tham. Bee no matter what I 'me pay'd in mine owne Coyne something I must And speedily so seeke out Cuculus Bid him attend me instantly Kala That Anticke The trim old Youth shall wait yee Tham. Wounds may be mortall which are wounds indeed But no wounds deadly till our Honors bleed Exeunt Enter Rhetias and Corax Rhet. Thar' t an excellent fellow Diabolo O this lousie close-stoole Empricks that will vndertake all Cures yet know not the causes of any disease Dog-leaches By the foure Elements I honor thee coo'd finde in my heart to turne knaue and bee thy flatterer Cora. Sirra t is pitty th' ast not been a Scholer Th' art honest blunt and rude enough O Conscience But for thy Lord now I haue put him too 't Rhet. He chafes hugely fumes like a stew-pot Is he not monstrously ouergone in frenzy Cora. Rhetias t is not a madnesse but his sorrow 's Close griping griefe and anguish of the soule That torture him he carries Hell on earth Within his bosome 't was a Princes tyranny Caus'd his distraction and a Princes sweetnes Must qualifie that tempest of his minde Rhet. Corax to prayse thy Art were to assure The misbeleeuing world that the Sunne shines When t is in th' full Meridian of his beauty No cloud of blacke detraction can eclipse The light of thy rare knowledge henceforth casting All poore disguises off that play in rudenesse Call me your seruant onely for the present I wish a happy blessing to your Labours Heauen crowne your vndertakings and beleeue me Ere many houres can passe at our next meeting The bonds my duty owes shall be full cancelled Exit Cora. Farwell a shrewd-braine Whorson there 's pith In his vntoward plainenesse Enter Trollio with a Murrion on Now the newes Troll. Worshipfull Master Doctor I haue a great deale of I cannot tell what to say t' ee My Lord thunders euery word that comes out of his mouth roares like a Cannon the house shooke once my young Lady dares not be seene Cora. We will roare with him Trollio if he roare Trol. He has got a great Poll-axe in his hand and fences it vp and downe the house as if he were to make roome for the Pageants I haue prouided me a Murrion for feare of a clap on the Coxcombe Cora. No matter for the Murrion here 's my Cap Thus I will pull it downe and thus out-stare him Trol. The Physicion is got as mad as my Lord O braue a man of Worship Cor. Let him come Trollio I will firke his Trangdido And bounce and bounce in metall honest Trollio Trol. Hee vapours like a Tinker and struts like a Iuggler Menander within So ho So ho Troll. There there there looke to your Right Worshipfull looke to your selfe Enter Meleander with a poll-axe Mel. Show me the Dog whose triple throated noyse Hath rowzd a Lyon from his vncoth den To teare the Curre in pieces Cor. Stay thy pawes Couragious beast else lo the gorgeous skull That shall transforme thee to that restlesse stone Which Sysiphus roules vp against the hill Whence tumbling downe againe it with his waight Shall crush thy bones and puffe thee into Ayre Mel. Hold hold thy conqu'ring breath t is stronger far Then Gun-powder and Garlike If the Fates Haue spun my thred and my spent-clue of life Be now vntwisted let vs part like friends Lay vp my weapon Trollio and be gone Trol. Yes Sir with all my heart Exit Trollio Mel. This friend and I will walke and gabble wisely Cor. I allow the motion On Mel. So Polititians thriue That with their crabbed faces and sly tricks Legerdemayne ducks cringes formall beards Crisp'd haires and punctuall cheats do wriggle in Their heads first like a Foxe to roomes of State Then the whole body followes Cor. Then they fill Lordships steale womens hearts with them and their 's the world runnes round yet these are square men still Mel. There are none poore but such as ingrosse offices Cor. None wise but vnthrifts bankrupts beggers Rascals Mel. The hangman is a rare Phisician Cor. That 's not so good it shal be granted Mel. All the buz of Drugs and Myneralls and Simples Bloud-lettings Vomits Purges or what else Is coniur'd vp by men of Art to gull Liege-people and reare golden piles are trash To a well-strong-wrought halter there the Goute The stone yes and the Melancholy deuill Are cur'd in lesse time then a paire of minutes Build me a Gallows in this very plot And I le dispatch your businesse Cora. Fix the knot right vnder the left eare Mel. Sirra make ready Cora. Yet doe not be too sudden grant me leaue To giue a farewell to a creature long Absented from me t is a daughter Sir Snatcht from me in her youth a handsome girle Shee comes to aske a blessing Mel. Pray where is shee I cannot see her yet Cora. Shee makes more haste In her quicke prayers then her trembling steppes Which many griefes haue weakened Mel. Cruell man How canst thou rip a heart that 's cleft already With iniuries of time whilst I am franticke Whilst throngs of rude diuisions huddle on And doe disranke my braines from peace and sleepe So long I am insensible of cares As balls of wild-fire may be safely toucht Not violently sundred and throwne vp So my distemper'd thoughts rest in their rage Not hurryed in the Ayre of repetition Or memory of my misfortunes past Then are my griefes strooke home When they are reclaym'd To their owne pitty of themselues Proceed What of your daughter now Cor. I cannot tell yee T is now out of my head againe my braines Are crazie I haue scarce slept one sound sleepe These twelue moneths Mel. 'las poore man canst thou imagine To prosper in the taske thou tak'st in hand By practising a cure vpon my weakenesse And yet be no Physician for thy selfe Goe goe turne ouer all thy bookes once more And learne to thriue in modesty for impudence Does least become a Scholer Thou art a foole A kind of learned foole Cor. I doe confesse it Mel. If thou canst wake with me forget to eate Renounce the thought of Greatnesse tread