That Stoick was mistaken who avouch'd A hearty true faithfull and loyal friend Long sought is seldom found and hardly kept Whereas our friendship has from younger years Been ever pregnant like a forward Spring As lasting as the Plant Live-ever My Dearest Nisus Nic. My Euryalus Sap. My faithfull Achates Nic. My self Sap. Selfly the same I live in thee But should we die for now Almachius vows The death of Christians may our twin-like souls Be joyntly breath'd to mount to equal bliss Nic. A happy period to our friendship when Chang'd 't is still a more transcendent Love Sap. True but tell me my Nicephorus Did I not yesterday confute the Pagan With whom I disputed kill'd him dead with A Syllogysme Lodg'd him in Bocardo And then you heard how the miscreant enrag'd Threaten'd to complain to Almachius Menac'd tortures and death At this tell me Did I so much as sympathize with terrour Nay did you not observe a chearfull look Like that of morn that ushers a sair day Was it not so Nicephorus Nic. Most true it was But. Sap. But why Sir bring you the But And then I 'le fix the white i' th midst as much of Candour as a friend can bring But and then silent On your too cautious friend pray use a freedom And that impartially Nic. Nay I but gently whisper My dear Saphricius what I have observ'd Sap. As freely vent it forth as sharply too As when rough Boreas blusters in the Ayre Nic. Why then but you 'l be angry will you not Should I but tell you Sap. What is' t I dare not hear What Obloquy can blast mine innocence Nic. Nay 't is but a Peccadillo Not so much as a defect or omission rather A supererrogation which I many times have noted VVhen the fact spake of it self to blazon it the more Like to a curious Limner you heighten'd it Extoll'd and magnifi'd the work yet in An humble seeming way which some too rash VVould judge to be vain-glory Sap. So so you mince it Nic. Nay good Saphricius wrinckle not your brow I may mistake Sap. Then I will tell you Sir 'T was a reflexive lustre from my actions VVhose brighter coruscation was too fierce For such weak eyes to gaze on Nic. Pray be not angry Sap. No must let your pride And sawcy Arrogance curb what is generous Nic. Nay dear Saphricius be not so incens'd Sap. Hence Sycophant Nic. Steep not your tongue in gall Sap. Drench it absynth I spurn at my Actions Nic. But like the loving Mare which oft we see Spares not to kick her young and tender foal Yet hurts it not I was as wary not to give offence Sap. Away thy friendship is a meer Imposture Now Experience tells a friend is hardly found Nic. More hardly kept since you are fleeting thus But for a word Sap. A word a tempest rather such a blast As has for ever shatter'd that goodly Vessel Your friend-ship Sir a Ship wherein I sayl'd Secure these twenty years but now I finde The Pilot treachetous and his Sea-starre But proper interest then let it split For ever suffer wreck And this bent brow Contract eternal srowns Exit Nic. Ah! was it not A fault in me that did not heretofore In th'Infancy of friendship make that known VVhich now habitual is a second Nature But then I fear'd to lose him in the Nonage Of Amity more solid now I thought It could not but subsist immoveable Yet I hope I shall recover him if not With that stern Stoick I will not contend That said 't is hard to find and keep a Friend Exit ACT III. Scene I. Enter Phantasio and Metricio with Songs Phan. M Etricio Come to the Barre Met. Call at the Barre Thou wouldst say for a quart of richer Wine Pha. No come to the Barre I say I must arraign thee For Theft and Burglary Theft in a high degree Cause in thy Poems thou hast enrich'd thy Verse With others labours Burglary because Th' hast violently broken into the Magazines Of Apollo ransack't and rob'd and tane away Invito Domino hos ego versiculos Met. Why good my Lord Phantasio say 't were so Nil dictum quod non dictum prius Pha. Nay there Y' are in an errour too th' Orator says Dixi the Poet Cecini th' one says At th' end of his Oration I have said Th' other I have sung at th' end of his Poem I will not therefore ask what thou canst say For thy self Poet but what canst thou sing Met. Then what I speak my Lord must be in rhime Phan. Not speak but sing I say and I 'le keep time Song Met. Then fraught with Crotchets and with Quavers 'T is for you we are such shavers If by theft we break the Law 'T is for your Sol Fa Mi La That you may have for your Notes Songs to fill your warbling Throats What were else all that you sing But a Sol Fa sense-less thing What Chromatiques what were Brawles What your Ditones Intervals And if all your Songs were gone What were Diatessaron Diatonicks would not please What were all your Syncopes What your Mesons Hypatons Or your Hyperboleons What your Nothi bastards ha You beget in Fa Sol Fa Moods not apt for Diapente Yet Fa mi sometimes has twenty Phan. Here Poet here 's for thy pains Nothing ha ha Ut re mi nil donas but Fa there is wit And I am thy Sole Friend La then we be quit But come hither in good earnest Metricio The last Sonnet here which I have set to 'th Organ Pleases me well but will not so my Lord Marcus 'T is too serious Met. Such only my Lady desires Otherwise thou know'st my humour is For light Ayres and pleasant Madrigales But she 'l have none but grave and substantiall A Poet according to the Greek Etymon Is a Maker and so as in the Court There be some Creatures made solid and serviceable Others legier and ayrie so are made by us Poems and Sonnets Pha. But here too you entrench Upon the Musitian Met. I when 't is for my purpose A Poet has his Long and his Large sometimes With a prolix and tedious Preamble Sic costam longo subduximus Apenino Another has his Brief in a Spnnet And a Seml-brief in an Epigram VVhen it ends acutely But will my Lady Sing that my Sonnet next Pha. She will but his Lordship Must not hear nor see it he 's all for light Ayres Amorous Dities that his Daughter may Resolve to marry the young Lord Valeran Phan. snatches the Verses and attempts to read Pha. Let me see Mount mount my soul Met. Nay Phantasio let me read and grace My own you in Prick-sing I better vers'd In Coma's Colons Semi-briefs Periods Et caetera Reads Mount mount my soul mount with a higher strain From this sad vale where pleasure mixt with pain Can have no Alt. Heaven is my dwelling place And earth below for mourning is the base I live to love but
Vertue has Allays That can dispence with either passion and Submit his Judgement and with-hold his hand M. M. Drammatis Personae Valerian Twins and Noblemen of Rome Tiburtius Twins and Noblemen of Rome Marcus Father and Mother to Cecilie Flavia Father and Mother to Cecilie Cecilie their Daughter Angusta her Waiting-Woman Metricio her Poet. Phantasio her Musitian Palinodio her Gentleman-Usher Turcius Almachius a Judge Maximus his chief Officer Saphricius Christians Nicephorus Christians Urbanus Bishop of Rome Angel Devil Headsman Officers Watchmen Attendants St. CECILIE OR The Converted Tvvins ACTUS I. Enter TIBURTIUS SOLUS Tib. A Younger Brother true I am but so Yet younger is comparative why then I may compare in blood in worth in all But that of time when the surrounding Sun Rides Circuit in his Sphere And what are dayes But ever-dying Brothers hatcht by light Till Sol turns Retrograde and then good night But now 't is morn to which I open first A pair of Chrystals And in this respect While yet Valerian sleeps I seem to be The Elder Brother Say he did out-strip Me once an hour or such a matter when We twins were bedding in one darksome room Where first he wak'd and from the tyring house The Wombe came to the Stage of this vast world To act the mournfull silly Babe and cry Yet now as not surviving he nor eats Nor drinks nor hears nor understands so much As that he lives have I not then gain'd hours Of him that sleeps May seem the elder brother At least in one precedence if the light His mistris darts illustrates first my sight This is the house the Pallace might have said Where Lady Cecilie the fair is lodg'd Enter Valerian It were too great a happiness to see But those her brighter Starres But ah too soon My Brother 's here Suspition is a restless Inmate and Jealousie too swift of wing Will not permit a Rival in his Love The goodly structure here I must admire And not the Beauty that 's contain'd within Gaze on the Cabinet not view the Gemme Val. Good morrow Brother Tib. The gods give you as much Val. Y' are wondrous godly grown of late as if Heaven were your Book or turn'd Astronomer Were rapt in Contemplation viewing-how With equal measure in the Azure plain Each Constellation keeps his course and round Tib. 'T is even so But when I lower stoop My greedy ear from you bright Casement charm'd Would hear those sweeter strains of harmony To ravish my dull soul with Admiration Val. No more of that Be Uranoscopos A Fish whose goggle-eyes fixt on his Crown Is gazing on the starry spangled skie So you stoop not t'an earthly Deity Tib. Mark but the sway an Elder brother bears Sir when Gemini predominate they say The heats are doubled You and I were twins May then participate in Love as well As heretofore in life Val. Know your Devoir And let the Nonage though but of an hour Tib. What Val. Make you know your self Tib. To be your Brother We hadbut one Horoscopus but one Ascendent in Nativity If under Venus you were born why not I or else Val. What else but that you are impertinent Tib. Else Mars became my Zenith and not yours Val. Yet I can wield a Sword Tib. And I dare fight Enter Palinodio in huste Pal. Gentlemen or Lords or whatso'ere you be I must be bold to interrupt you Val. How Pal. Crave but a period to your loud discourse Val. Speak that agen and Pal. Nay speak your pleasures Gentlemen and if your voyce be consonant To what you promise outwardly Val. VVhat then Pal. Y' are worthy Gentlemen Yet I could wish A moderation of your Dialect Tib. VVhy what art thou Pal. My Name may intimate That I am courteous and respectful too Palinodio not to cant but to recan If I transgress beyond the precincts of A Gentleman Usher Val. To whom Pal. Unto no less than to the vertuous And most incomparable Lady Cecilie VVho 'bove th' Horizon of this Earthly Ball Rais'd to the service of th' immortal power Each day outstrips Aurora in her course And cause she 's now within her Oratory It is my duty to divert from hence Th' obstrepercus Tib. The obstreperous Pal. Not you Gentlemen but such as are her servants Val. Such am I and thousands mo my Attendants Pal. VVe have no employment Sir for so many Val. They are my thoughts which from an endless source Spring up and like a swelling torrent flow To rest in her and find a sweet repose Pal. Rest and repose if you knew how wakeful She is and how she watches night by night You 'd seek repose elsewhere That Sir is the Short I cannot say the long of the business For her sleeps go but by snatches like pocket Purse raptures snap and away Witness here Enter Angusta yawning My Ladies Woman Mrs. Angusta By Name who by watching is as you see Ang. Au-gusta Au-gusta who calls me there Pal. Oh! the ambition of a waiting woman Who even yawning gapeth after honour Her Name 's Angusta rather Angustula Ang. Au-gusta Do's any body call me there Pal. Marry that do I. Ang. Marry that marry pish Marry such a Skipjack Gentlemen Usher No I warrant you Pal. Warrant me Gossip I am warranted by a vertuous Lady To be an observant vigilant and Ang. A malapert impertinent extravagant Gentleman-Usher Marry thee Au-gusta Pal. Oh what greatness she yawnes gapes barn-wide To strike in at last with a thread-bare serving creature Ang. Gentlemen or Lords pardon my exorbitance I know not your occasions but this shadow Of man had so distracted my better thoughts That till now they were not so observant As the quality of your personages Might more than exact of your humblest servant Pal. So now she begins to collogue to some purpose Tib. It seems you are both servants to one Lady Ang. He as a Cipher I a digit I In her Bed-chamber from thence he as remote As our Alpes from the Pyrenaean Mountains My Lady is a chast Lady lives reserv'd Follows not the vogue of our vainer times Val. Yet if you have a priviledge 'bove the rest May we not by your powerful privacy Come to the Speech Ang. What of my Lady Sir No but if I lend your eyes an happiness To see and hear her sing will 't not suffice For the first time Val. Most abundantly Ang. Next time the wakeful clock shall notice give Her customary time of prayer expir'd She on her Organ plays to which she addes The heavenly rapture of harmonious accents Clock strikes Hark now it strikes Gentlemen come near I dare Contract the Curtain that the ecchoing Air May usher to the heavens her sweeter voice And that you may be confident I have A free recourse unto her private Chamber Behold a Sonnet not compos'd by her But by Metricio her ingenious Poet. Pal. I there goes the Hare away a petulant Poet to make her Anagrams is stil'd Ingenious I shall remember
storm will rise Lose not your Sea-mark Heaven but boldlysteer The Tempest past dark clouds shall disappear Next Day eternal shine Blest three adieu None shall behold your wreatths but such as you Exit Val. Come then Disasters Fire and Sword and Racks Tib. Come what can come what spiteful hell can belch Or Heaven shall please to send or shall permit Val. Or come whatsoe're it be as we embrace We 'le hug their torments What is' t once to die To live so many lives eternally Cec. My dear Valerian now as fully mine As I am yours and both linkt to a third Your dearest brother summon'd now by heaven To be ingulf'd in a tempestuous Mayne Let 's to his Standard flie who now invites His souldiers to a Combate His pure-white Of Innocence and flowing purple tells Ours must be like although no parallels SCENE 2. Enter Almachius and Officers Maximus and Attendants 1 Off. There my Lord those two we dog'd from Via Appia Alm. Valerian and Tiburtius Christians I thought as much Val. But not so much as we can act of Christians Alm. Nor could I think so much of Sorcery As can this younger Lady actuate Enter Marcus and Flavia. Lay hold of her and those her two Disciples Mar. VVhat have we here to do Disturb me in My own house Alm. And carry hence your Daughter too That 's more for Justice has no limit Take her Away Mar. It shall not need my Lord I passe My word she shall be forth coming Alm. Nay here Your house is ample we can soon dispatch Let first the Brothers come Val. VVe rather flie T' embrace the worst of deaths thou canst invent Alm. Y' are Noble adore our mighty Gods and live Tib. That were t' offend th' Almighty Power of Heaven Alm. You know the penalty to lose your goods Confiscate Val. Goods They are but breeding evils But now disburs'd amongst the poor a treasure laid up in Heaven Alm. I there she stands who Wrought this policy VVe 'l come to hear the fource of all this mischief Mean while my Lords you to resolve retire Either t' adore the Gods or be beheaded Val. VVhat two extreams are these Or make a Stock Or Stone a God renouncing him above t' incur everlasting death or die This I. Tib. And I embrace Val. To die but once Tib. Live ever Thus I am resolv'd Val. And I. Alm. Then take 'hem hence Exeunt Val. Tib. Bring in the Lady Offic. She 's here my Lord. Alm. Sitting down Cecile thou art here arraign'd for hainous crimes Which who could think were lurking in a breast So young and tender In a Damosel fair And by extraction Noble But when Vice Usurpes a hold in better Natures soon They are deprav'd like richer wines which once Corrupted taint the Vessel more where th' are Enclos'd So young yet could'st by Magick Art Enchaunt the Lord Valerian who enamour'd Was by thy powerful and bewitching charmes bound in the chains of a prodigious love Then was he wrought upon t' abjure the Gods And march among the superstitious rank Of such Impostors as thy self This done For mischief has no period you engross His Goods his Plate and Jewels Was content To feign a Marriage more t' endear your self Though 't were by prostitution Next you were content He might be publickly traduc'd For Christianisme and now to lose his head With his as Noble Brother Lord Tiburtius VVho else might have enjoy'd his full estate Lastly to cheat the Emperour of his Right VVhich comes for want of heir they have I see VVhich was a plot of yours they have no place No other Magazine where they have hid Their treasure but Beggars Rogues and Rascals Apostates and such like scum of th' earth All 's gone all given away by which you hope Forsooth to gratifie your poor-born God Is not this true and verified by many Which I could name amongst the rest Saphricius A holy Convert who was one of yours Well vers'd in all your plots But why should I Exaggerate what of it self is so Enormous No I pity Lady your More tender years and Noble Parents here Pity a beauty which deserves to be Enthron'd upon a Princely Seat rather Than be so vilified and made so base As to consort with sordid despicable And abject riff-raffe vipers vermines worms Which creep in th' earth and lurk in horrid Caves What say you Lady deny or guilty yield Cec. What need I traverse this Indictment all Compacted of untruths know then I am A Christian not therefore base but you Who in your Gods do homage to the Devil Christian and base O! had I breath enough To eccho in the air this glorious Name A title 't is Encomium that transcends 'Bove humane things by Christian I am made More noble than by birth more powerful than Your Caesars more victorious Tell me of Goods Gold Plate and Jewels These I more contemn Than what I trample on Unworthy Judge That call'st me prostitute I defie Thee and thy Goddesses that were but such Harlots and Queans thy Gods adulterous Va'erian is my Spouse but far more dear By that which now he is A Christian This our glory this is our true renown To gain by combate an immortal Crown Alm. Our patience is abus'd our Gods contemn'd To whom or sacrifice or die Cec. But die Die but one death must I but lose one life To purchase an eternal Oh! how good How bounteous heaven which by a quick return Renders for death a life for ever happy Alm. Bring 'hem forth there Sha't see to what thou 'st brought A wretched pair who late were Noble Lords Enter Headsman Val. and Tib. and Cec. And if good Nature be not utterly In thee deprav'd thy more relenting heart Cannot but have remorse See here they come Poor Lords dejected men that fix on thee Their heavy eyes from whence the mischief sprang Cec. Not heavy eyes not sad but chearful clear Made such by the reflexive light of heaven My Lords you my dear Spouse and you his brother You have th' honour first t' invest your selves Within the lists where I should first have been Who first shew'd you the way but y'have out-stript Your Leader as lesse worthy who shall be Happier to trace the manly steps you tread Val. Dear Spouse and Mistriss not in Venus School But that of Heaven by you we first were taught A lesson which we now have got by heart That humane love is like a coal of fire Which lies on th' hearth but by the mounting flame A love divine is figur'd which transcends Therefore salute you with a chast embrace Farewel dear Spouse Embraces her Cec. Death parts but for a while I 'le hasten after that as our bodies bed In earth-together our souls may reunite Tib. May I be Paranymph and lead the way Who though I last come hither of us two May by this birth precede Cec. O! force of love Or first or last ambitious in desire Of heaven you happy twins
shall meet again But Lords you suffer here as Kings shall reign Alm. Away with 'hem to th' place of execution O! now they 're coming back and will recant Val. Madam Cec. My Lord Val. Dear Love adieu Cec. Dear Spouse adieu Tib. We crave your prayers t' assist us in the way Exeunt Val. and Tib. Alm. Peace Cec. Blest be your night that brings eternal day Alm. Peace Sorceresse with thy enchaunting tongue Or smoke shall stop the passage of thy breath Fire shall consume thee Witch take her away into her own dry bath Beset her round with fagots and dissolve To ashes that polluted corps Away with her Cec. Thus happy may I be and lose my breath Midst flames of Love and die a Phaenix death Exit with Officers Al. Maximus Max. My Lord. Alm. Go see them beheaded Max. I will my Lord. Exit Max. Alm. Dispatch and bring me word Enter Marcus and Flavia and kneel Now my Lord Marcus and my Lady there What is' t you now petition on your knee Mar. O! Sorrow till now deny'd to give a vent To my surcharged soul Alm. What is' t you crave Mar. That th' execution of the law may be Suspended our Daughter may be reclaim'd She 's young Alm. No no you should have had a care In time 't is now too late she 's so poyson'd Enter Maximus looking up in the air an Officer following With Christian superstition Now Maximus Are the two poppy heads cut from their stems Max. Dead th' are and yet not dead see where see see Th' are mounting in the air Alm. The fellow 's mad Max. No no the glorious souls I see of that Blest pair Valerian and Tiburtius Alm. Imaginary Visions in the air Or else the Twins Pollux and Castor which We call Tyndarides Max. No 'bove the height of the rich spangled skies Two winged Wights more bright than sunny beams I see transporting of their fulgent souls Great is Valerian and Tiburtius God Alm. Yet more Witchcraft Max. No the Gods are Devils Which have bewitch'd you with their fopperies Alm. Out upon the Villain blasphemous Renegade Enter an Officer Take him away to burn with the Enchauntresse If she already be not burn Exit Maximus with Officers Headsman Not burnt my Lord The flames at distance keep and dare not touch So much as that which doth her body vest Alm. Yet more sorcery why hast thou not a sword To sever head from shoulders Headsman Yes my Lord Sharp as a razor Alm. Hast a vigorous arm Headsm And dextrous too to slice as from the stalke A limber Dasie or a Daffadil Alm. Then come with me I 'le be spectator Exeunt Almach Attendants Mar. Come Flavia shall we not see our daughter Fla. Our Daughter murther'd Can the loving Ewe Behold her tender lamb snatch'd from her side And see it slaughter'd by the Butchers hand I cannot husband be a cruel witness Of the disasterous death of my dear lamb Mar. If flames could not consume why should the sword Be more injurious to an innocent Or if her God with a more powerful hand Could curb the raging fire why may not he Contract the Nerves of that more cruel Butcher Or arm her Neck against the dint of Steel Enter Headsman looking on his Sword But see our hopes are vain She 's dead she 's dead Behold his murthering Sword besmear'd with blood Headsman Hum what prodigy is this my Sword 's not dull Nor was my arm bereav'd of wonted strength Why then while thrice I struck and thrice my sword Had passage as I thought 'twixt joynt and joynt Why fell not down her mown off tottring head Like ice on cragged rock dissolv'd by heat Enter Cecilie lead by her servants See here she comes what soder could she have To cement what this sword dis joynted thrice Or this is Magick Art or else she has An Esculapius 'bove all power of Gods Mar. Lives still our daughter or by your support Is she but held Fla. Breaths still this virgin head Which has a languid yet a sweet aspect Cec. Dear Parents yet I live could you believe The fabulous story of your Hercules Who slic'd off Hydru's heads which grev again In number moe yet not believe your eyes VVhich see I live or ears which hear me speak Mar. Still may'st thou live whom now we living see Cec. Still would you have me live Dos't not suffice That bounteous heaven has granted me three dayes At my more humble suit to intercede For your Conversion Fla. Alas what are three dayes To enjoy a Child Cec. This was the boon I begg'd That with your leave this house may be transform'd And consecrated to the power above To be a Church where true believers may Adore their Maker and by frequent prayer Appease his wrath by whose permission now Enter Angel and stands by her Th' are persecuted Soft what whispering voice Is that which by prophetick spirit tells That this my body to be buried here Shall when a thousand and four hundred years Are fully past and gone be found entire Mar. I Daughter might we live till then and see it I then would be a Christian Flae So would I. Cec. You would Ah! Infidelity when thou Hast long been fostred in a darksome breast How hard it is for light to be transfus'd Or heat of love into decrepit age Happy who young begin to live and love Dos't hear Angusta Ang. Yes forsooth Madam Cec. Thou weep'st I see there can no richer pearls Adde listre to a virgins face than tears VVhich are distill'd for expiation of A fin-sick soul Tiburtius thou didst love Valeaian was my Spouse They are gone before T'eternal happiness I follow myne O! may'st thou emulate succeed to thyne Palinodio Pal. Here Madam Cec. Thou 'st been But staggering in thy Faith suiting too much VVith Palinodie ready to recant When but a whipping menac'd to thy skin A transitory pain Pal. 'T is true Madam I never lov'd such transitory things Which by the world entic'd or threaten'd me Cec. Thou 'st been my Gentleman-usher Pal. Yes forsooth I have been so Cec. Henceforth shall be no more To usher thee to Heaven I go before Metricio Met. Here sweet Madam Cec. Thou hast been My Poet to compose in facred Verse Spiritual Sonnets ayres that suited best With th'Organ my delight at vacant hours Yet much adoe I had to curb that strain Of levity thou hadst which too propense To amorous Ditties did profusely vent It self to please the humour of the time In vainer Raptures of Prophaning Love Desist from this and in a pious way Thy strayns shal raise dull thoughts to things on high Vertue 's the soul of Verse not Vanity Phantasio my Musitian where are you Phan. Here Madam I. Cec. Insist not much on that That I or self-conceit predominates In thee too much What is' t to have a Voyce To raise 'bove Ela while the drooping soul Below the base of abject things descends Thou tun'st mine Organ Tune thy