THE Wandring Lover A TRAGY-COMEDIE BEING Acted several times privately at sundry places by the Author and his friends with great applause Written by T. M. Gent. Quic quid amor jussit non est contìnmere tutum Regnat in Superios I. C. Ovidius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LONDON Printed by T. L. for T. C. and W. Burden and are to be sold in Cannon-street neer London-stone 1658. TO The Ingenuous Judicious and the much honoured Gentleman Fran. Wright Esquire SIR My intentions wandring upon the limits of vain cogitations was at the last arrived at the prospicious brinks of an Anglicis of performance where seeing Diana and Venus in a martial combat and such rare atchievements performed by so two ininimate Goddesses did lend to the aspect of their angelical eyes my selfe to be the sole spectator of their foregoing valour where then their purpose was to choose me their Arbitrator the which I perceiving did with a milde complexion knowing my selfe impotent relent backwards thinking thereby to lose less credit and gaine more honour to set pen to paper and to relate some certain and harmless Dialogues that while I was present betwixt them past which is this Poem And having now compos'd it did then take care upon whose shoulder to father this my abortive infant So then examining the Store-house of my friends after some silent search did finde no splendor of friendship to be more orient in my eyes then yours unto whose favour I commit this my poor Elf it being the first as yet I presented to any though not the first I writ for certain it is I writ two Books of the same nature viz. The Severall Affairs a Comedy and The Chast Virgin a Romance but they have been my pocket companions and but shown to some private friends So desisiring your candid acceptance which if it not finde it will carp the Blossome of my youth but if it do it will incourage mee to perform that work I now have in hand which may deserve better your acceptance and accumilate joy upon him who is Sir Yours inseperably T. M. To his much deserving friend M. T. M. on his excellent Comedy entituled The Wandring Lover This pen of mine it should be dipt Having my tongue with Muses tipt Or my dul fancy in a font Made more clear then Hellespont Amongst the rest that I might raise Setting a monument of thy praise More is thy worth then I can frame Except beyond my bounds I straine Ripping the valley of my wit In aiming at that I's never hit Try I wil weather swim or sink O why should I thus vainly think No man is able with pen or ink R B Dramatus Personae HERMON An old Gentleman EUPHRATES His Son THROPHEUS A Merchant MEDEA His Daughter FERCOR His Factor POMPE A Student PERCO BREMON LERMO Three Courtiers of Thessaly PUDD Euphrates man CRECEA Medea's Maid NESTO Friend to Thropheus DROSANUS Friend to Euphrates GRECEANA Euphrates Mistris A Boy and Ladies The Prologue MOst silent audience to you I speak The Author bids you welcom doth you greet With this his harmless Poem not full out Six moneths old or penn'd into a book The wandring Lover is the name of this You must expect no great tologies Nor Nectors Drum nor no Ambrosian phrase He once doth shew or out of it doth raise But Mother-like tongue plainly writ and spoke As in pursuit you 'l finde it in his Book The Storie 's good to pass the gentle â—ime With Love-conceits that run in easie rime Of most bold Perco with his martial browe And milde Euphrates wound with Cupid's bowe How they do differ and how matchless bee In their affections neither doth agree But why should I thus trifle time away For 't is full season that our Comick Play Should be now acted in our solemn doom Lo here the Player 's come and I will give in room THE WANDERING LOVER ACT. I. SCAEN I. HERMON EVPHRATES Her THE cause of that strange and unexpected Accident Euphrates Eup. Your Ingenuitie best knows Sir Her No no I pray thee relate it to me Eup. I am no Orator muchless no Hudorigrapher Her Why I 'm sure Perco would offer you no abuse he looks not as if Mars were seated in his Brows or Dame Envie in his innocent Brest or Fury to be the overswayer of his amoricious will pray thee the reason Eup. Many words umbrage dissimulation Father I beseech your patience Oh my dear Grievance for why even for thy sake my soul doth die Her Fie fie Son extirpate those fond Flames and illuring Contemplations out of memorie for it is a thing neither decent beseeming nor comelie for such a noble spirit as yours muchlesse these are not times for Love-Fancies why she 's dead there 's no recalling of her and why should you now wrap yourself in the Robes of Discontentment Time may put a Period to my years where are you then in a Lake of Miserie Eup. If she be dead and here me left Of life mortal â—he hath bereft Me and I wish I had run the race That I might her sweet Corps embrace But here I swear by Mars Divine That ere before the Sun doth shine Or trace about the Zodiack round This hand shall great Perco confound Her Be not so obstinate there 's in the world as beautiful as she Eâ—p But not so virtuous Her Yes virtuous too The tallest Cedar that ever grew there was some to parallel it both in hight and straightness Eup. I shall desire your pardon at the present Father for being thus absurd to leave you which I am forc't by some indispotìon of my Body and return to my Chamber Where with divine and sacred contemplation Passe the time as in a recreation Of bright Greciana Idea until be past Those careless hours that do run so fast Farewell Father Exit Euphrates Her Farewel Son I wish some good event come of 't Exit Thropheus ACT. I. SCAEN II. Thropheus Fercor Neslo Thr. FERCOR Fer. Sir Thr. Where be those Bills of Exchange that came yesterday let them be drawn Fer. They are in your Closet Sir amongst the rest that came from Spain Thr. What! you onely stay for a happie Gale you have all things ready for the Voyage Fer. All sir. Enter Neslo Nesl. Oh happie friend well met once at home Thr. Oh Neslo once more in the prospect of these mortal eyes of mine What News What News Nesl. News that doth even terrifie me with the most vigorous strength of sorrow that could have happened Thr. What is' t Nesl. The Lady Greceana this last night stolne away by two insolent fellows and by a third one more wittier but wickeder I may term him in knavery conducted and conveyed to the Thessalian Court which as we all know are open Enemies to us Germanes Thr. 'T is true Fer. Know you their Names Nesl. Perco Bremon and Lermo oh wretched Villains that dor'st attempt such an inhumane thing Hark the people
the Letter to whom you Rascal did I send you in hast and you have loitered all this time Pud Sir I stayed to bring him with me because the contents of your Letter as I heard said required speed therefore he was come half the way staid to talk with two Gentlemen and said he would wait upon you presently Eup. In this thou hast satisfied me in some respect But noble friend Drosamus I trespass too much upon your patience Dros No sir I take it for an honor that I am able to serve you in any thing Eup. Your love sir is more then I deserve Dros Your desert is more then I am able to require but stay who comes here it should be Pompe by 's gaite 't is him Eup. Then his counsel I 'le in this matter and so I go inspight of Fate or Fortune Pud And so I too in spight of the Devil and his Monky Enter POMPE Pom. Are you one Mr. Euphrates Eup. I am the man sir. Pom. From you I had a Letter this day by a man whose tenor I very well understand and have pondered on it a seasonable time and likewise my Judgement is as followeth First Sir I am compelled by duty to praise your fidelity in the war-like attempt of Venus and notwithstanding your Martial Animoscity in the civil Combate of Mars if you be resolved as I hereby understand I would advise you by the reason they know you to attire your self in womens Apparel taking another Sociate with you and you may by Arts and Fortune accomplish your desires Eup. I shall do herein my endeavour and Metamorphise my self with smiling looks Pom. Then go prosperouslie Exit Pompe Pud And I with him sir you wish Eup. By your many savours and kinde replies the minde of your servant is impleated with so much advantage as to crave your companie in this same dismal undertaking Dros Sir I accompanie you with helexitie Eup. My Father must not know of it so attend me tomorrow morning betwixt four and five at the back Window in the Garden and you shall finde me readie to take shipping in the Lyon Dros Your will shall be fulfilled Exeunt E. D. manet Pudd Pud And what must I be left behinde marry godamercie I believe you will misse your before you return he doth not mind me nor I will not minde him afterwards and if any one ask me whose man I am I can tell thee I am mine own Master now but I 'le be sure fiâ—st before I say so I 'le go see him safe Exit Pudd ACT. II. SCAEN I. Lermo Bremon Perco Greceana Ladies Ler. WHat here 's no man yet in prospect what prodigies have happened by the way sure something must be the cause but what 's uncertain Bre. In the Court not long since there were some debates by men of superioritie in war-like Atchievements of which the rumor did passe amongst the vulgar and commons as then I did lend an attentive ear That a Ladie of an unknown birth was to be enjoyed by the encounter of two Knights Ler. Not the Lady Greceana Bre. Time will divulge it But now yonder I perceive the happie sight of long-wish'd for friends the Lady 's well I hope Enter Perco Greceana and two Ladyes Per. Very well she advancing nigh Grecea On unhappie Girl thus to be rape away by Wolves Beares what shall I term them in mans shape and by most illitable resolutions First begot in vain Conversation and then brought up by cruelty the unhappy Nurse in their infidelious hearts and conducted here to a pensive Habitation which affordâ— no pleasure to the eye but objects of misery none to the ear but self-undoing outcryes Oh Euphrates where art thou in what cavern of despair Ladyes Madam why so melancholic Grece Oh that these innocent hands were wreath'd about thy ever-flourishing Breast then might I sit down and crown my self with contentation but until then what fate and unhappie fortune recommends to a desolate Virgin Lad. 2. Sir wil't please you to receive your Enterprise into companie Per. Madam remember your self here behold as great virtue but far greater Braverie and I speak to you without fabulating and you may believe me you in Germany have onelie meer shrines of love and wise gods but we their persons and likewise their Virtues and what can be recorded that hath been found out by Arts and Sciences but the nobleness of a Courtier hath found out by practise I should term them most seemless and void of reason that think to gather more Fruit then Leaves or see more at the Candle snuff then at the Sun beams what may 't please you answer is not all this true Ler. Bre. All true all true Grece Sir Your speech is good but not aptlie placed in my disposition there is one thing yet draws my minde even as the Load-stone draws to it Iron away when you think me most attentive for why Gentlemen I must confess it is far more difficulter for me to glance any pleasing look or shape a state of dissembling than to utter the truth and realitie of the matter Ler. Why Madam was ever that frail cogitation cast into your memorie as once to imagine that us Courtiers can feign our selves otherwise then we are my meaning is to dissemble Bre. Lo Mr. Lermon this may be recorded Qui niscit disâ—imulare nesâ—it regnare Gre. Sir my meaning will be concealed for I desire the Place of my disconsolation wherein I may take my turbulent repast Ladyes Madam we attend you Per. And we also Exeunt omnes ACT. II. SCAEN II. Hermon Thropheus Pudd Thro. SIR your saying is very aptlie located and I wish it may come to an effect Her Sir if once the flames of bright Greceana's love not once take place nor in his breast there move their ever-flashing Furies or so cruel betwixt Diana and Venus there to keep a duell our matter may be effected and with speed we might perceive brave Greceana dead and only there vertuous Medea rest in his most true and ever faithful Breast Even at that prospect with my head then bare And hand lift up gave everlasting prayer To the immortal Gods great Mars and Jove For his unfeigned and unmatched Love Thro. Well! but Mr. Hermon this I am possest with much temerousness that her love is so radicated in his contemplation that it is like that famous and unparaleld Stone Aâ—beston found in Arabia of iron colour which being once made hot can hardlie or never be quenched but send for him if he be willing my Daughter shall not resist Her I will fulfil your pleasure Who attends there where 's your Master Enter Pudd Pud He 's gone to the Lyon Sir Her What to drink his Mornings-draught Thro. The Ship sir that set out for Thessalia this day the name of it was Lyon Pud I sir that 's the thing he 's gone to Her Oh what and how much terror hath overwhelm'd the faculties of my soul how
not his affection Med. Father if you did know how I do loath the sight of this man I am perswaded then you would no further me urge I cannot give him one good word muchless one pleasing look or with him dissemble in the Climate of Affection Fer. Madam if your fraile mind unto one of these particulars will yeild I hope you will not shut me so far out of memory but I to have so much priviledg in your affection as to beautifie my self with the real Badge of your smiles and to be reckoned amongst the honored company of your servants Med. Certainly the man doth rave let him go to bed and have more sleep and I hope he will be more himself Thro. Nay take your choice if you do make him your by-word not yeilding to his intreats be sure your self whensoe're your Petition comes to my ear it shall not once pierce my mind Med. Euphrates is the man whom you very well know that ever since I knew the force of Loves Weapons hath imbalmed him up to be the only carper of the Blossoms of my Virginity Fer But say Euphrates should be engaged to that only Paramour of Virgins Greceana by name then I hope some other should be the happy Extorser of your youth prime Thro. What answer you Med. That he should Manet ACT. V. SCAEN V. Euphrates Greceana Hermon Drosanus Thropheus Fercor Medea Nesto Puad Eup. AFter so many storms as Wind and Seas have threatned to our Weather-beaten ship at last sweet fairest we are safely arrived on our dear Mothers earth ungratefull only to heaven and us in yeelding not before our happy arrival How farest thou my Dearest yet Grece Confirmed in health by which I may better undergo the roughest face of change but I shall learn patience to hope since silence courts affection for comforts to this truly noble Gentleman rare exampled patern of a friend Dros I wait but as the shadow to the body for Madam without you let me be nothing Eup. Though she hath cost me many a redouning blow in fetching her to this her native Land yet without license of a Fathers will I will be Her Question not my liberality my onlie son my onlie dear and and joy I here imbrace thee likewise wishing thee to imbrace Greceana for the sake of me injoy her and take her Eup. Father your bountie in granting to your child his desire is not to be paralleld therefore when bright Sol descends his fiery Trigion into the more concavity of the Earth or pale Cynthia traces about her Orb then shall you by real aspect confirm us to be man and wife Her I rejoyce to hear it Thro. Medea now behold he is gone whom you thought alwayes had been sure therefore be no more thus obstinate but bend your minde to his affection Med. Certainly it was nere decreed by Fate or Fortune for him and me to be once made one Eup. Come then my dearest thou and I le be gon I hope thus far in my own opinion For now you imbrace Virginitie For to imbrace wedlock for perpetuitie Grece My dutie stil stand obedient to your wil not daring to resist nor can without breaking a solemn oath Therefore your pleasure is a command for me to obey with great gratitude thinking to me an immense beatitude Pud Wood I's behangd it was a dangerous business I took in hand for standing sitting lying and tumbling I believe nere a Jack-â—udding in town wil do it Nest. Thy reason Pudd Pudd Ha ha ha I have neither sense nor reason ha ha ha Stay messe yonder comes my Master I wil go salute him with a rare sentence only of my own brains invention Oh how my tongue now warbles in my mouth to thinke of ' t Blew leu leu leu Nest. Go go thou art not mad why loyterest thou Pudd Master Eup. What then Pudd I am here Eup. Art thou alive Pudd Stil for you to beat Eup. Me to beat Pudd Me into good service Eup. Thou shat be my man while man I keep Seeing how faithfully I thee have beat Pudd I have been in study ever since you were gone in Sciences of invaluble worth and hath profited very little Grece Name some of those I desire to hear him talk Eup. What are they Pud Nandivigation Astronimation Mucinification Fidlication and Lutination Do you understahd me Master if please your worship Eup Very wel and excellent Pudd I am versed but little yet hoping to be better Thro Give over musing I wil thee interrupt give me my answer Med Father what your indulgent clemency thinks most convenient for my youth and person I am ready to give ear Thro My minde is to have Fercor Med. Parents must have their wils and children must obey therefore compeld Fercor I am thine Fer Gladly recevd thou art Come all you Hloy Sisters Muses nine Unto our Nuptials and us combine With solemns most sure ne're to be broke With hanous crimes or vanisht in a smoke For shee 's the North-Pole to which all starrs doth bend And I the Ursa minor doth on her attend FINIS * Stretches his hand * Enter Fercor EPILOGUE WIth Tragick sights this Play it doth begin But afterwards with mirth it sought to win From thence to joy and not long after It did produce us Love with some small laughter Seeing it ended in a loving Qâ—u Even so I hope it is with us and you