I goe as you see clothed with Artillary it is not Silkes milksops nor Tyssues nor the fine wooll of Cares but yron steele swords flame shot terror clamor blood and ruine that rocks a sleepe my thoughts which neuer had any other cradle but crueltie Let me see doe you not bleede Dares Why so Tophas Commonly my words wound Samias What then doe your blowes Tophas Not onely confound but also confound Samias Howe darst thou come so neere thy Maister Epi Syr Tophas spare vs Tophas You shall liue You Samias because you are little You Dares because you are no bigger and both of you because you are but two for commonly I kil by the dosen and haue for euerie particular aduersarie a peculiar weapon Samias May we know the vse for our better skyll in warre Tophas You shall Heere is a burbolt for the vglie beast the Black-bird Dares A cruell sight Tophas Heere is the Muskit for the vntamed or as the vulgar sort terme it the wilde Mallard Samias O desperate attempt Epi. Nay my Maister will match them Dares I if he catch them Tophas Heere is a speare and shielde and both necessarie the one to conquer the other to subdue or ouercome the terrible Trowte which although he be vnder the water yet tying a string to the top of my speare and an engine of yron to the ende of my lyne I ouerthrowe him and then heerein I put him Samias O wonderfull warre Dares didst thou euer heare such a dolt Dares All the better we shall haue good sport hereafter if we can get leysure Samias Leysure I will rather loose my Maisters seruice then his companie looke howe hee stroutes But what is this call you it your sword Tophas No it is my Simiter which I by construction often studying to be compendious call my Smyter Dares What are you also learned sir Tophas Learned I am all Mars and Ars Samias Nay you are all Masse and Asse Tophas Mock you mee You shall both suffer yet with such weapons as you shall make choise of the weapon wherewith you shall perrish Am I all a masse or lumpe is there no proportion in me Am I all Asse is there no wit in mee Epi prepare thē to the slaughter Samias I pray sir heare vs speake we call you Masse which your learning doth well vnderstande is all Man for Mas maris is a man Then As as you knowe is a weight and we for your vertues account you a weight Tophas The Latine hath saued your lyues the which a world of siluer could not haue ransomde I vnderstand you and pardon you Dares Well Sir Tophas we bid you farewell at our next meeting we will be readie to doe you seruice Tophas Samias I thanke you Dares I thanke you but especiallie I thanke you both Samias Wiselie Come next time wee le haue some prettie Gentle-women with vs to walke for without doubt with them he will be verie daintie Dares Come let vs see what our Maisters doe it is high time Exeunt Tophas Now will I march into the fielde where if I cannot encounter with my foule enemies I will withdraw my selfe to the Riuer there fortifie for fish for there resteth no minute free from fight Exit Actus primus Saena quarta Tellus Floscula Dipsas Tellus Behold Floscula we haue met with the Woman by chaunce that wee sought for by trauell I will breake my minde to her without ceremonie or circumstance least we loose that time in aduise that should be spent in execution Flosc. Vse your discretion I will in this case neither giue counsell nor consent for there cannot bee a thing more monstrous then to force affection by sorcery neither doe I imagin anie thing more impossible Tellus Tush Floscula in obtaining of loue what impossibilities will I not try and for the winning of Endimion what impieties will I not practise Dipsas whom as many honour for age as wonder at for cunning listen in fewe words to my tale answere in one word to the purpose for that neither my burning desire can afforde long speech nor the short time I haue to stay manie delayes Is it possible by hearbes stones spels incantation enchauntment exorcismes fire mettals plannets or any practise to plant affection where it is not and to supplant it where it is Dipsas Faire Ladie you may imagin that these horie heares are not void of experience nor the great name that goeth of my cunning to bee without cause I can darken the Sunne by my skil and remooue the Moone out of her course I can restore youth to the aged and make hils without bottoms there is nothing that I can not doe but that onely which you would haue me doe and therin I differ from the Gods that I am not able to rule harts for were it in my power to place affection by appointment I would make such euill appetites such inordinate lusts such cursed desires as all the worlde should be filled both with supersticious heates and extreame loue Tellus Vnhappie Tellus whose desires are so desperate that they are neither to be conceiued of any creature nor to be cured by any arte Dipsas This I can breede slacknes in loue though neuer roote it out What is he whom you loue what she that he honoureth Tellus Endimion sweet Endimion is he that hath my hart and Cynthia too too faire Cynthia the myracle of Nature of tyme of Fortune is the Ladie that hee delights in and dotes on euery day and dies for ten thousand times a day Dipsas Would you haue his loue eyther by absence of sicknes aslaked Would you that Cynthia should mistrust him or be iealous of him without colour Tellus It is the onelie thing I craue that seeing my loue to Endimion vnspotted cannot be accepted hys trueth to Cynthia though it be vnspeakeable may bee suspected Dipsas I will vndertake it and ouertake him that all his loue shal be doubted of and therefore become desperate but this will weare out with time that treadeth all things downe but trueth Tellus Let vs goe Dipsas I follow Exeunt Actus secundus Scaena prima Endimion Tellus End O Fayre Cynthia ô vnfortunate Endimion Why was not thy byrth as high as thy thoughts or her beautie lesse then heauenlie or why are not thyne honors as rare as her beautie or thy fortunes as great as thy deserts Sweet Cynthia how wouldst thou be pleased how possessed wil labours patient of all extremities obtaine thy loue There is no Mountain so steepe that I will not climbe no monster so cruell that I will not tame no action so desperate that I will not attempt Desirest thou the passions of loue the sad and melancholie moodes of perplexed mindes the not to be expressed torments of racked thoughts Beholde my sad teares my deepe sighes my hollowe eyes my broken sleepes my heauie countenaunce Wouldst thou haue mee vowde onelie to thy beautie and consume euerie minute of time in thy seruice remember
ENDIMION The Man in the Moone Playd before the Queenes Maiestie at Greenewich on Candlemas day at night by the Chyldren of Paules NOSCE TE IPSUM NE QUID NIMIS LOVE AND LIVE AT LONDON Printed by I. Charlewood for the widdowe Broome 1591 ⧠The Printer to the Reader SInce the Plaies in Paules were dissolued there are certaine Commedies come to my handes by chaunce vvhich were presented before her Maiestie at seuerall times by the children of Paules This is the first and if in any place it shall dysplease I will take more paines to perfect the next I referre it to thy indifferent iudgement to peruse whom I woulde willinglie please And if this may passe with thy good lyking I will then goe forwarde to publish the rest In the meane time let this haue thy good worde for my beuere couragement Farewell The Prologue MOst high and happy Princesse we must tell you a tale of the Man in the Moone which if it seeme ridiculous for the method or superfluous for the matter or for the meanes incredible for three faultes wee can make but one excuse It is a tale of the Man in the Moone It was forbidden in olde time to dispute of Chymera because it was a fiction we hope in our times none will apply pastimes because they are fancies for there liueth none vnder the Sunne that knowes what to make of the Man in the Moone VVee present neither Comedie nor Tragedie nor storie nor anie thing 〈◊〉 whosoeuer heareth may say this VVhy heere is a tale of the Man in the Moone Actus primus Scaena prima Endimion Eumenides End I Finde Eumenides in all thinges both varietie to content satietie to glut sauing onelie in my affections which are so stayed and withall so statelie that I can neither satis-fie my hart with loue nor mine eyes with wonder My thoughts Eumenides are stitched to the starres which beeing as high as I can see thou maist imagin how much higher they are then I can reach Eume. If you be enamored of any thing aboue the Moone your thoughts are ridiculous for that thinges immortall are not subiect to affections if allured or enchaunted with these transitory things vnder the Moone you shew your selfe sencelesse to attribute such lofty tytles to such loue trifles End My loue is placed neither vnder the Moone nor aboue Eum. I hope you be not sotted vpon the man in the Moone End No but setled eyther to die or possesse the Moone herselfe Eum. Is Endimion mad or doe I mistake doe you loue the Moone Endimion End Eumenides the Moone Eum. There was neuer any so peeuish to imagin the Moone eyther capable of affection or shape of a Mistris for as impossible it is to make loue fit to her humor which no man knoweth as a coate to her forme which continueth not in one bignesse whilst she is measuring Cease of Endimion to feede so much vpon fancies That melancholy blood must be purged which draweth you to a dotage no lesse miserable then monstrous End My thoughts haue no vaines and yet vnlesse they be let blood I shall perrish Eum. But they haue vanities which beeing reformed you may be restored End O fayre Cynthia why doe others terme thee vnconstant whom I haue euer founde vnmoueable Iniurious tyme corrupt manners vnkind men who finding a constancy not to be matched in my sweete Mistris haue christned her with the name of wauering waxing and waning Is shee inconstant that keepeth a setled course which since her first creation altereth not one minute in her mouing There is nothing thought more admirable or commendable in the sea then the ebbing and flowing and shall the Moone from whom the Sea taketh this vertue be accounted fickle for encreasing decreasing Flowers in theyr buds are nothing worth till they be blowne nor blossomes accounted till they be ripe fruite and shal we then say they be changeable for that they growe from seedes to leaues from leaues to buds from buds to theyr perfection then why be not twigs that become trees children that become men and Mornings that grow to Euenings termed wauering for that they continue not at one stay I but Cynthia being in her fulnes decayeth as not delighting in her greatest beautie or withering when she should be most honoured When mallice cannot obiect any thing folly will making that a vice which is the greatest vertue What thing my Mistris excepted being in the pride of her beauty latter minute of her age that waxeth young againe Tell mee Eumenides what is hee that hauing a Mistris of ripe yeeres infinite vertues great honors and vnspeakeable beauty but woulde wish that shee might grow tender againe getting youth by yeeres and neuer decaying beauty by time whose fayre face neyther the Summers blase can scorch nor VVinters blast chappe nor the numbring of yeeres breede altering of colours Such is my sweete Cynthia whom tyme cannot touch because she is diuine nor will offend because she is delicate O Cynthia if thou shouldest alwaies continue at thy fulnes both Gods and men woulde conspire to rauish thee But thou to abate the pride of our affections dost detract from thy perfections thinking it sufficient if once in a month we enioy a glymse of thy maiestie and then to encrease our greefes thou doost decrease thy glemes comming out of thy royall robes wherewith thou dazelist our eyes downe into thy swath clowtes beguiling our eyes And then Eum. Stay there Endimion thou that committest Idolatry wilt straight blaspheme if thou be suffered Sleepe woulde doe thee more good then speech the Moone heareth thee not or if shee doe regardeth thee not End Vaine Eumenides whose thoughts neuer grow higher thē the crowne of thy head Why troublest thou me hauing neither heade to conceiue the cause of my loue or a hart to receiue the impressions followe thou thine owne fortunes which creepe on the earth suffer me to flye to mine whose fall though it be desperate yet shall it come by daring Farewell Eum. Without doubt Endimion is bewitched otherwise in a man of such rare vertues there could not harbor a minde of such extreame madnes I wil follow him least in this fancie of the Moone he depriue himselfe of the sight of the Sunne Exit Actus primus Scaena secunda Tellus Floscula Tellus Trecherous and most periurde Endimion is Cynthia the sweetnes of thy life and the bitternes of my death What reuenge may be deuised so full of shame as my thoughts are replenished with mallice Tell me Floscula if falsenes in loue can possibly be punished with extremitie of hate As long as sworde fire or poison may be hyred no traytor to my loue shall liue vnreuenged Were thy oathes without number thy kisses without measure thy sighes without end forged to deceiue a poore credulous virgin whose simplicity had beene worth thy fauour and better fortune If the Gods sitte vnequall beholders of iniuries or laughers at Louers deceipts then
let mischiefe be as well forgiuen in women as periurie winked at in men Flosc. Madame if you woulde compare the state of Cynthia with your owne and the height of Endimion his thoughts with the meanenesse of your fortune you would rather yeeld then contende being betweene you and her no comparison and rather wonder then rage at the greatnes of his minde beeing affected with a thing more then mortall Tellus No comparison Floscula and why so is not my beauty diuine whose body is decked with faire flowers and vaines are Vines yeelding sweet liquor to the dullest sprits whose eares are Corne to bring strength and whose heares are grasse to bring abundance Doth not Frankinsence Myrthe breath out of my nostrils and all the sacrifice of the Gods breede in my bowels Infinite are my creatures without which neyther thou nor Endimion nor any could loue or liue Flosc. But knowe you not fayre Ladie that Cynthia gouerneth all things Your grapes woulde be but drie huskes your Corne but chaffe and all your vertues vaine were it not Cynthia that preserueth the one in the bud and nourisheth the other in the blade and by her influence both comforteth all things and by her authoritie commaundeth all creatures Suffer then Endimion to followe his affections though to obtaine her be impossible and let him flatter himselfe in his owne imaginations because they are immortall Tellus Loth I am Endimion thou shouldest die because I loue thee well and that thou shouldest liue it greeueth mee because thou louest Cynthia too well In these extremities what shall I doe Floscula no more words I am resolued He shall neyther liue nor die Flosc. A strange practise if it be possible Tellus Yes I will entangle him in such a sweet nette that he shall neither find the meanes to come out nor desire it All allurements of pleasure will I cast before his eyes insomuch that he shall slake that loue which he now voweth to Cynthia and burne in mine of which he seemeth carelesse In thys languishing betweene my amorous deuises and his owne loose desires there shall such dissolute thoughts take roote in his head and ouer his hart grow so thicke a skinne that neither hope of preferment nor feare of punishment nor counsel of the wisest nor company of the worthiest shall alter his humor nor make him once to thinke of his honor Flosc. A reuenge incredible and if it may be vnnaturall Tellus Hee shall knowe the mallice of a woman to haue neither meane nor ende and of a woman deluded in loue to haue neither rule nor reason I can doe it I must I will All his vertues will I shadow with vices his person ah sweet person shall he decke with such rich Roabes as he shall forget it is his owne person his sharp wit ah wit too sharpe that hath cut off all my ioyes shall hee vse in flattering of my face and deuising Sonnets in my fauour The prime of his youth and pride of his time shall be spent in melancholy passions carelesse behauiour vntamed thoughts and vnbridled affections Flosc. When thys is done what then shall it continue tyll hys death or shall he doate for euer in this delight Tellus Ah Floscula thou rendest my hart in sunder in putting me in remembrance of the end Flosc. Why if this be not the end all the rest is to no ende Tellus Yet suffer mee to imitate Iuno who woulde turne Iupiters louers to beastes on the earth though she knew afterwards they should be starres in heauen Flosc. Affection that is bred by enchauntment is like a flower that is wrought in silke in colour and forme most like but nothing at all in substance or sauour Tellus It shall suffice me if the world talke that I am fauoured of Endimion Flosc. Well vse your owne wyll but you shal finde that loue gotten with witch-craft is as vnpleasant as fish taken with medicines vnwholsome Tellus Floscula they that be so poore that they haue neyther nette nor hooke will rather poyson dowe then pyne with hunger and she that is so opprest with loue that shee is neyther able with beauty nor wit to obtaine her freende wyll rather vse vnlawfull meanes then try vntollerable paines I will doe it Exit Flosc. Then about it Poore Endimion what traps are layde for thee because thou honourest one that all the world wondreth at And what plots are cast to make thee vnfortunate that studiest of all men to be the faithfullest Exit Actus primus Scaena tertia Dares Samias Sir Tophas Epiton Dares Now our Maisters are in loue vp to the eares vvhat haue wee to doe but to be in knauery vp to the crownes Samias O that we had Sir Tophas that braue Squire in the midst of our myrth ecce autem vvyl you see the deuill Enter Sir Tophas Tophas Epi Epi. Heere syr Tophas I brooke not thys idle humor of loue it tickleth not my lyuer from whence the Loue-mongers in former age seemed to inferre they should proceede Epi. Loue sir may lye in your lunges and I thinke it doth and that is the cause you blow and are so pursie Top. Tush boy I thinke it but some deuise of the Poet to get money Epi. A Poet what 's that Tophas Doost thou not know what a Poet is Epi. No Top. Why foole a Poet is as much as one shoulde say a Poet But soft yonder be two Wrennes shall I shoote at them Epi. They are two lads Tophas Larkes or wrennes I will kill them Epi. Larkes are you blinde they are two lyttle Boyes Top. Byrdes or boyes they are both but a pittance for my breakefast therefore haue at them for theyr braines must as it were imbroder my bolts Sam. Stay your courage valiant Knight for your wisdome is so wearie that it stayeth it selfe Dares Why Syr Tophas haue you forgotten your olde freendes Top. Freendes Nego argumentum Sam. And why not freends Top. Because Amicitia as in old Annuals we find is inter pares now my pretty companions you shall see how vnequall you be to mee but I will not cut you quite off you shall be my halfe friendes for reaching to my middle so farre as from the ground to the wast I wil be your freend Dares Learnedly But what shall become of the rest of your bodie from the wast to the crowne Top. My children quod supra vos nihil ad vos you must thinke the rest immortall because you cannot reach it Epi. Nay I tell ye my Maister is more then a man Dar. And thou lesse then a mouse Top. But what be you two Sam. I am Samias page to Endimion Dar. And I Dares page to Eumenides Tophas Of what occupation are your Masters Dares Occupation you clowne why they are honourable and warriers Top. Then are they my prentises Dares Thine and why so Tophas I was the first that euer deuised warre and therefore by Mars himselfe giuen me for my Armes a whole Armorie and thus
my solitarie life almost these seauen yeeres whom haue I entertained but mine owne thoughts and thy vertues What companie haue I vsed but contemplation Whom haue I wondred at but thee Nay whom haue I not contemned for thee Haue I not crept to those on whom I might haue troden onelie because thou didst shine vpon them Haue not iniuries beene sweet to mee if thou vouchsafest I should beare them Haue I not spent my golden yeeres in hopes waxing old with wishing yet wishing nothing but thy loue With Tellus faire Tellus haue I dissembled vsing her but as a cloake for mine affections that others seeing my mangled and disordered minde might thinke it were for one that loueth me not for Cynthia whose perfection alloweth no companion nor comparison In the midst of these distempred thoughts of myne thou art not onelie iealous of my truth but careles suspicious and secure which strange humor maketh my minde as desperate as thy conceits are doubtfull I am none of those Wolues that barke most when thou shynest brightest But that fish thy fish Cynthia in the floode Aranis which at thy waxing is as white as the driuen snowe and at thy wayning as blacke as deepest darknes I am that Endimion sweet Cynthia that haue carryed my thoughts in equall ballance with my actions being alwaies as free from imagining ill as enterprysing That Endimion whose eyes neuer esteemed anie thing faire but thy face whose tongue termed nothing rare but thy vertues and whose hart imagined nothing miraculous but thy gouernment Yea that Endimion who diuorsing himselfe from the amiablenes of all Ladies the brauerie of all Courts the companie of al men hath chosen in a solitarie Cell to liue onely by feeding on thy fauour accounting in the worlde but thy selfe nothing excellent nothing immortall thus maist thou see euerie vaine sinew muscle and artery of my loue in which there is no flatterie nor deceipt error nor arte But soft here commeth Tellus I must turne my other face to her like Ianus least she be as suspicious as Juno Enter Tellus Tellus Yonder I espie Endimion I will seeme to suspect nothing but sooth him that seeing I cannot obtaine the depth of his loue I may learne the height of his dissembling Floscula and Dipsas with-drawe your selues out of our sight yet be within the hearing of our saluting How now Endimion alwaies solitary no companie but your owne thoughts no freende but melancholie fancies Endimion You know fayre Tellus that the sweet remembrance of your loue is the onely companion of my life and thy presence my paradise so that I am not alone when no bodie is with mee and in heauen it selfe when thou art with me Tellus Then you loue me Endimion End Or els I liue not Tellus Tellus Is it not possible for you Endimion to dissemble End Not Tellus vnlesse I could make me a woman Tellus Why is dissembling ioyned to theyr sex inseparable as heate to fire heauines to earth moysture to water thinnesse to ayre End No but founde in their sex as common as spots vpon Doues moles vpon faces Caterpillers vpon sweet apples cobwebs vpon faire windowes Tellus Doe they all dissemble Endimion All but one Tellus Who is that End I dare not tell For if I shoulde say you then would you imagin my flattery to be extreame if another then woulde you thinke my loue to be but indifferent Tellus You will be sure I shall take no vantage of your words But in sooth Endimion without more ceremonies is it not Cynthia Endimion You know Tellus that of the Gods we are forbidden to dispute because theyr dieties come not within the compasse of our reasons and of Cynthia we are allowed not to talke but to wonder because her vertues are not within the reach of our capacities Tellus Why she is but a woman End No more was Venus Tellus Shee is but a virgin Endimion No more was Vesta Tellus She shall haue an ende Endim. So shall the world Tellus Is not her beautie subiect to time End No more then time is to standing still Tellus Wilt thou make her immortall End No but incomparable Tellus Take heede Endimion lest like the Wrastler in Olimpia that striuing to lifte an impossible weight catcht an incurable straine thou by fixing thy thoughts aboue thy reach fal into a disease without al recure But I see thou art now in loue with Cynthia Endim. No Tellus thou knowest that the statelie Cedar whose toppe reacheth vnto the clowdes neuer boweth his head to the shrubs that growe in the valley nor Iuie that climeth vp by the Elme can euer get hold of the beames of the Sunne Cynthia I honour in all humilitie whom none ought or dare aduenture to loue whose affections are immortall vertues infinite Suffer me therefore to gaze on the Moone at whom were it not for thy selfe I would die with wondering Exeunt Actus secundus Scaena secunda Dares Samias Scintilla Fauilla Dares Come Samias diddest thou euer heare such a sighing the one for Cynthia the other for Semele both for moone shine in the water Sam. Let them sigh and let vs sing how say you gentlewomen are not our Masters too farre in loue Scint. Their tongues happily are dipt to the roote in amorous words and sweete discourses but I thinke their hearts are scarce tipt on the side with constant desires Dares How say you Fauilla is not loue a lurcher that taketh mens stomacks away that they cannot eate their spleene that they cannot laugh their harts that they cannot fight theyr eyes that they cannot sleepe and leaueth nothing but lyuers to make nothing but Louers Fauil. Away peeuish boy a rodde were better vnder thy girdle than loue in thy mouth it will be a forward Cocke that croweth in the shell Dares Alas good olde gentlewoman how it becommeth you to be graue Scint. Fauilla though she be but a sparke yet is shee fyre Fauil. And you Scintilla bee not much more then a sparke though you would be esteemed a flame Sam. It were good sport to see the fight betweene two sparkes Dares Let them to it and wee will warme vs by theyr wordes Scint. You are not angry Fauilla Faui. That is Scintilla as you list to take it Sam. That that Scnit. This it is to be matched with girles who comming but yesterday from making of babies would before to morrowe be accounted Matrons Fauil. I crye your Matronship mercy because your Pantables bee higher with corke therefore your feete must needs be higher in the insteppes you will be mine elder because you stande vppon a stoole and I on the flowre Sam. Good good Dar. Let them alone and see with what countenance they will become friendes Scint. Nay you thinke to bee the wyser because you meane to haue the last worde Sam. Step betweene them least they scratch In faith gentlewomen seeing wee came out to bee merry let not your iarring marre our iestes be friendes how say you Scint. I
Cynthia haue beene heere he shall not be vncouered Therefore away Dar. A watch quoth you a man may watch 7. yeres for a wise worde yet goe without it Their wits are all as rustie as their bils But come on Ma. Const. shall we haue a song before we goe Const. With all my hart Song Exeunt Actus quartus Scaena tertia Corsites solus Corsites I am come in sight of the Lunary bank without doubt Tellus doteth vpon me and cunningly that I might not perceiue her loue shee hath sette mee to a taske that is done before it is begunne Endimion you must change your pillowe and if you be not wearie of sleepe I vvill carrie you where at ease you shall sleepe your fill It were good that without more ceremonies I tooke him least beeing espyed I be intrapt and so incurre the displeasure of Cynthia who commonly setteth watch that Endimion haue no wrong He lifts What nowe is your Maistership so heuie or are you nayld to the ground Not styrre one whit then vse all thy force though he feele it and wake VVhat stone still turnd I thinke to earth with lying so long on the earth Didst not thou Corsites before Cynthia pul vp a tree that fortie yeeres was fastned with rootes and wrethed in knots to the grounde Didst not thou with maine force pull open the yron Gates which no Ram or Engine could moue Haue my weak thoughts made braunfallen my strong armes or is it the nature of loue or the Quintessence of the mind to breede numnesse or lythernesse or I knowe not what languishing in my ioynts and sinewes beeing but the base strings of my bodie Or dooth the remembraunce of Tellus so refine my spirits into a matter so subtill and diuine that the other fleshie parts cannot worke whilst they muse Rest thy selfe rest thy selfe nay rent thy selfe in peeces Corsites and striue in spight of loue fortune and nature to lift vppe this dulled bodie heauier then deade and more sencelesse then death Enter Fayries But what are these so fayre fiendes that cause my hayres to stand vpright and spirits to fall downe hags out alas Nymphes I craue pardon Aye me out what doe I heere The Fayries daunce and with a song pinch him and hee falleth a sleepe thy kisse Endimion and depart Cynthia Floscula Semele Panelion Zontes Pythagoras Gyptes Corsites Cynthia You see Pythagoras what ridiculous opinions you hold and I doubt not but you are nowe of another minde Pytha. Madam I plainlie perceiue that the perfection of your brightnesse hath pearced through the thicknesse that couered my minde in so much that I am no lesse gladde to be reformed then ashamed to remember my grosenes Gyptes They are thrise fortunate that liue in your Pallace where Trueth is not in colours but life vertues not in imagination but execution Cynthia I haue alwaies studied to haue rather liuing vertues then painted Gods the bodie of Trueth then the tombe But let vs walke to Endimion it may bee it lyeth in your Artes to deliuer him as for Eumenides I feare he is dead Pytha. I haue alledged all the naturall reasons I can for such a long sleepe Gyptes I can doe nothing till I see him Cynthia Coine Floscula I am sure you are glad that you shall behold Endimion Flosc. I were blessed if I might haue him recouered Cynthia Are you in loue with his person Flos. No but with his vertue Cynthia VVhat say you Semele Semele Madame I dare say nothing for feare I offende Cynthia Belike you cannot speake except you bee spightfull But as good be silent as saucie Panelion what punishment were fitte for Semele in whose speech and thoughts is onely contempt and sowrenesse Pane. I loue not Madam to giue any iudgement Yet sith your highnesse commaundeth I thinke to commit her tongue close prisoner to her mouth Cynthia Agreed Semele if thou speake thys twelue-month thou shalt forfet thy tongue Behold Endimion alas poore Gentleman hast thou spent thy youth in sleepe that once vowed all to my seruice Hollow eyes gray haires wrinckled cheekes and decayed limmes Is it destinie or deceite that hath brought this to passe If the first who could preuent thy wretched starres If the latter I would I might knowe thy cruell enemie I fauoured thee Endimion for thy honor thy vertues thy affections but to bring thy thoughts within the compasse of thy fortunes I haue seemed strange that I might haue thee staied and nowe are thy dayes ended before my fauour beginne But whom haue we heere is it not Corsites Zon. It is but more like a Leopard then a man Cyn. Awake him Howe nowe Corsites what make you heere How came you deformed Looke on thy hands and then thou seest the picture of thy face Corsites Myserable wretch and accursed How am I deluded Madame I aske pardon for my offence and you see my fortune deserueth pittie Cynthia Speake on thy offence cannot deserue greater punishment but see thou rehearse the trueth else shalt thou not find me as thou wishest me Corsites Madam as it is no offence to be in loue beeing a man mortall so I hope can it be no shame to tell with whom my Ladie beeing heauenlie Your Maiestie committed to my charge fayre Tellus whose beautie in the same moment tooke my hart captiue that I vndertooke to carry her bodie prisoner Since that time haue I found such combats in my thoughts betweene loue and dutie reuerence and affection that I coulde neyther endure the conflict nor hope for the conquest Cynthia In loue A thing farre vnsitting the name of a Captaine and as I thought the tough and vnsmoothed nature of Corsites But forth Corsites Feeling this continuall warre I thought rather by parlee to yeeld then by certaine danger to perrish I vnfolded to Tellus the depth of my affections and framed my tongue to vtter a sweet tale of loue that was wont to found nothing but threats of warre Shee too fayre to be true and too false for one so fayre after a nice deniall practised a notable deceyt commaunding me to remooue Endimion from this Caban and carrie him to some darke Caue which I seeking to accomplish founde impossible And so by Fayries or fiendes haue beene thus handled Cynthia Hovve say you my Lordes is not Tellus alwaies practising of some deceites In sooth Corsites thy face is novve too foule for a Louer and thine hart too fonde for a Souldiour You may see when VVarriors become wantons howe theyr manners alter with theyr faces Is it not a shame Corsites that hauing liued so long in Mars his Campe thou shouldest now bee rockt in Venus Cradle Doost thou we are Cupids Quiuer at thy gyrdle and make Launces of lookes Well Corsites rouse thy selfe and be as thou hast beene and let Tellus who is made all of loue melt herselfe in her owne loosenes Corsites Madam I doubt not but to recouer my former state for Tellus beautie neuer wrought such loue in my minde as
because it is a thing that beautie maketh blamelesse which the more it exceedeth fairenes in measure the more it stretcheth it selfe in disdaine Thy deuises against Corsites I smyle at for that wits the sharper they are the shrewder they are But this vnacquainted and most vnnaturall practise with a vile Enchauntresse against so noble a Gentleman as Endimion I abhorre as a thing most malicious and will reuenge as a deede most monstrous And as for you Dipsas I will send you into the Deserte amongst wilde beastes and try whether you can cast Lyons Tygars Bores and Beares into as deade a sleepe as you did Endimion or turne them to trees as you haue doone Bagoa But tell me Tellus what was the cause of this cruel part farre vnfitting thy sexe in which nothing should be but simplenes and much disagreeing from thy face in which nothing seemed to bee but softnes Tellus Diuine Cynthia by whom I receiue my life and am content to ende it I can neyther excuse my faulte without lying nor confesse it without shame Yet were it possible that in so heauenlie thoughts as yours there coulde fall such earthly motions as mine I would then hope if not to bee pardoned without extreame punishment yet to be heard without great maruell Cynthia Say on Tellus I cannot imagine anie thing that can colour such a crueltie Tellus Endimion that Endimion in the prime of his youth so rauisht my hart with loue that to obtaine my desires I coulde not finde meanes nor to resite them reason What was shee that fauoured not Endimion being young wise honorable and vertuous besides vvhat mettall was shee made of be shee mortall that is not affected with the spice nay infected with the poyson of that not to be expressed yet alwaies to be felt Loue which breaketh the braines and neuer brooseth the browe consumeth the hart and neuer toucheth the skinne and maketh a deepe skarre to be seene before any wounde at all be felt My hart too tender to vvithstande such a diuine furie yeelded to Loue Madame I not without blushing confesse yeelded to Loue Cynthia A strange effect of loue to worke such an extreame hate How say you Endimion all this was for loue End I say Madam then the Gods sende mee a womans hate Cynthia That were as bad for then by contrarie you shoulde neuer sleepe But on Tellus let vs heare the ende Tellus Feeling a continuall burning in all my bowels and a bursting almost in euerie vaine I could not smoother the inwarde fyre but it must needes bee perceiued by the outwarde smoke and by the flying abroade of diuers sparkes diuers iudged of my scalding flames Endimion as full of arte as witte marking mine eyes in which hee might see almost his owne my sighes by which he might euer heare his name sounded aymed at my hart in which he was assured his person was imprinted and by questions wrunge out that which was readie to burst out VVhen he sawe the depth of my affections he sware that mine in respect of his were as fumes to Aetna vallies to Alpes Ants to Eagles and nothing could be compared to my beautie but his loue and eternitie Thus drawing a smooth shoe vppon a crooked foote hee made me beleeue that which all of our sexe willinglie acknowledge I was beautifull And to wonder which indeede is a thing miraculous that any of his sexe should be faithfull Cynthia Endimion how will you cleere your selfe End Madam by mine owne accuser Cynthia Well Tellus proceede but breefelie least taking delight in vttering thy loue thou offende vs with the length of it Tellus I will Madame quickly make an ende of my loue my tale Finding continuall increase of my tormenting thoughts and that the enioying of my loue made deeper woundes then the entering into it I could finde no meanes to ease my griefe but to followe Endimion and continually to haue him in the obiect of mine eyes who had me slaue and subiect to his loue But in the moment that I feared his falsehoode and fryed my selfe most in myne affections I founde ah griefe euen then I lost my selfe I founde him in most melancholie and desperate termes cursing hys starres his state the earth the heauens the world and all for the loue of Cynthia Of whom Tellus speake boldly Tellus Madame I dare not vtter for feare to offende Cynthia Speake I say who dare take offence if thou be commaunded by Cynthia Tellus For the loue of Cynthia Cynthia For my loue Tellus that were strange Endimion is it true End In all things Madame Tellus doth not speak false Cynthia What will this breede to in the ende Well Endimion wee shall heare all Tellus I seeing my hopes turnde to mishaps and a setled dissembling towards me and an vnmooueable desire to Cynthia forgetting both my selfe and my sexe fell vnto this vnnaturall hate for knowing your vertues Cynthia to be immortall I coulde not haue an imagination to withdraw him And finding mine owne affections vnquenchable I coulde not carrie the minde that any els should possesse what I had pursued For though in maiestie beautie vertue and dignitie I alwaies humbled and yeelded my selfe to Cynthia yet in affections I esteemed my selfe equall with the Goddesses all other creatures according to theyr states with my selfe For stars to theyr bignes haue theyr lights and the sunne hath no more And little pytchers when they can holde no more are as full as great vessels that runne ouer Thus Madam in all trueth haue I vttered the vnhappinesse of my loue and the cause of my hate yeelding wholy to that diuine iudgement which neuer erred for want of wisedom or enuied for too much partiality Cynthia How say you my Lords to this matter But what say you Endimion hath Tellus tolde troth End Madame in all things but in that shee saide I loued her and swore to honour her Cynthia Was there such a time when as for my loue thou didst vowe thy selfe to death and in respect of it loth'd thy life speake Endimion I will not reuenge it with hate End The time was Madam and is and euer shall be that I honoured your highnesse aboue all the world but to stretch it so far as to call it loue I neuer durst There hath none pleased mine eye but Cynthia none delighted mine eares but Cynthia none possessed my hart but Cynthia I haue forsaken all other fortunes to followe Cynthia and heere I stande ready to die if it please Cynthia Such a difference hath the Gods sette between our states that all must be dutie loyaltie and reuerence nothing without it vouchsafe your highnes be termed loue My vnspotted thoughts my languishing bodie my discontented life let them obtaine by princelie fauour that which to challenge they must not presume onelie wishing of impossibilities with imagination of which I will spende my spirits and to my selfe that no creature may heare softlie call it loue And if any vrge to vtter what I whisper
am not angry but it spited mee to see howe short she was Fauil. I ment nothing till she would needs crosse me Dares Then so let it rest Scint. I am agreede Fauil. And I yet I neuer tooke any thing so vnkindly in my life Scint. T ys I haue the cause that neuer offered the occasion Dares Excellent and right like a woman Sam. A strange sight to see water come out of fire Dares It is their propertie to carrie in their eyes fire and water teares and torches and in their mouthes honie and gall Scint. You will be a good one if you liue but what is yonder formall fellowe Enter Sir Tophas Dares Sir Tophas syr Tophas of whom we tolde you if you bee good wenches make as though you loue him and wonder at him Fauil. Wee will doo our parts Dares But first let vs stand aside and let him vse his garbe for all consisteth in his gracing Tophas Epi Epi. At hand syr Tophas How likest thou this Martiall life where nothing but bloud besprinkleth our bosomes Let me see be our enemies fatte Epi. Passing fat and I would not chaunge this life to be a Lord and your selfe passeth all comparison for other Captaines kill and beate and there is nothing you kill but you also eate Tophas I will drawe out their guttes out of their bellies and teare the flesh with my teeth so mortall is my hate and so eger my vnstaunched stomacke Epi. My master thinkes himselfe the valiantest man in the world if hee kill a wren so warlike a thing he accompteth to take away life though it be from a Larke Tophas Epi I finde my thoughtes to swell and my spirite to take winges in so much that I cannot continue within the compas of so slender combates Fauil. This passeth Scint. Why is he not madde Sam. No but a little vaine glorious Tophas Epi Epi. Syr Tophas I will encounter that blacke and cruell enemie that beareth rough and vnhewed lockes vpon his bodie whose Syre throweth downe the strongest walles whose legs are as many as both ours on whose head are placed most horrible hornes by nature as a defence from all harmes Epi. What meane you Master to be so desperate Tophas Honour inciteth mee and very hunger compelleth mee Epi. What is that monster Tophas The Monster Ouis. I haue saide let thy wits worke Epi. I cannot imagin it yet let me see a black enemie with rough lockes it may be a sheep and Ouis is a sheep his Syre so strong a Ram is a sheepes Sire that beeing also an engine of war hornes he hath and foure legs so hath a sheepe without doubt this monster is a blacke sheepe Is it not a sheepe that you meane Tophas Thou hast hit it that Monster will I kill and sup with Sam. Come let vs take him off Syr Tophas all haile Tophas Welcome children I seldome cast mine eyes so low as to the crownes of your heads and therfore pardon me that I spake not all this while Dares No harme done here be faire Ladies come to wonder at your person your valour your witte the report whereof hath made them careles of their owne honours to glut their eyes and harts vpon yours Tophas Report cannot but iniure mee for that not knowing fully what I am I feare shee hath beene a niggard in her praises Scint. No gentle knight Report hath beene prodigal for shee hath left you no equall nor her selfe credite so much hath she tolde yet no more than we now see Dares A good wench Fauil. If there remaine as much pittie toward women as there is in you courage against your enemies thē shall we be happie who hearing of your person came to see it and seeing it are now in loue with it Tophas Loue me Ladies I easily beleeue it but my tough heart receiueth no impression with sweet words Mars may pearce it Venus shall not paint on it Fauil. A cruell saying Sam. Ther 's a girle Dares Will you cast these Ladyes away and all for a little loue doo but speake kindly Tophas There cōmeth no soft syllable within my lips custome hath made my wordes bloudy and my hart barbarous that pelting word loue how watrish it is in my mouth it carrieth no sound hate horror death are speaches that nourish my spirits I like hony but I care not for the bees I delight in musicke but I loue not to play on the bagpipes I can vouchsafe to heare the voice of women but to touch their bodies I disdaine it as a thing childish and fit for such men as can digest nothing but milke Scint. A hard heart shall wee dye for your loue and finde no remedy Tophas I haue already taken a surfet Epi. Good master pittie them Tophas Pittie them Epi no I do not thinke that this breast shal be pestred with such a foolish passion What is that the gentlewoman carrieth in a chaine Epi. Why it is a Squirrill Tophas A Squirril O Gods what things are made for money Dares Is not this gentleman ouerwise Fauil. I could stay all day with him if I feared not to be shent Scint. Is it not possible to meete againe Dares Yes at any time Fauil. Then let vs hasten home Scint. Sir Tophas the God of warre deale better with you than you doo with the God of loue Fauil. Our loue we may dissemble disgest we cannot but I doubt not but time will hamper you and helpe vs Tophas I defie time who hath no interest in my heart come Epi let me to the battaile with that hideous beast loue is pappe and hath no relish in my taste because it is not terrible Dares Indeede a blacke sheepe is a perrilous beast but let vs in till another time Fauil. I shall long for that time Exeunt Actus secundus Scaena tertia Endimion Dipsas Bagoa End No rest Endimion still vncertaine how to settle thy steps by day or thy thoughts by night thy trueth is measured by thy fortune and thou art iudged vnfaithfull because thou art vnhappy I will see if I can beguile my selfe with sleep if no slumber will take hold in my eyes yet will I imbrace the golden thoughts in my head and wish to melt by musing that as Ebone which no fire can scorch is yet cōsumed with sweet sauours so my heart which cannot bee bent by the hardnes of fortune may be brused by amorous desires On yonder banke neuer grewe any thing but Lunary and hereafter I will neuer haue any bed but that banke O Endimion Tellus was faire but what auaileth Beautie without wisedome Nay Endimion she was wise but what auaileth wisdome without honour Shee was honourable Endimion belie her not I but howe obscure is honor without fortune Was she not fortunate whome so many followed Yes yes but base is fortune without Maiestie thy Maiestie Cynthia al the world knoweth and wondereth at but not one in the world that can immitate it or comprehend it No more Endimion sleepe or
finde in your hart to talke such smooth wordes for that it agreeth not with your calling to vse words so soft as that of loue Cors. Ladie it were vnfit of warres to discourse with womē into whose minds nothing can sinck but smoothnes besides you must not thinke that Souldiours bee so rough hewne or of such knottie mettle that beautie cannot allure and you beeing beyonde perfection enchaunt Tellus Good Corsites talke not of loue but let me to my labor the little beautie I haue shall be bestowed on my Loome which I now meane to make my Louer Cors. Let vs in and what fauour Corsites can shewe Tellus shall commaund Tellus The onely fauour I desire is now and then to walke Exeunt Actus tertius Scaena tertia Syr Tophas and Epi. Tophas Epi Epi. Heere sir Tophas Vnrigge mee Hey ho Epi. What 's that Tophas An interiection whereof some are of mourning as eho vah Epi. I vnderstand you not Tophas Thou seest me Epi. I Tophas Thou hearst me Epi. I Tophas Thou feelest me Epi. I Tophas And not vnderstand'st me Epi. No Tophas Then am I but three quarters of a Nowne substantiue But alas Epi to tell thee the troth I am a Nowne Adiectiue Epi. Why Tophas Because I cannot stand without another Epi. Who is that Tophas Dipsas Epi. Are you in loue Top. No but loue hath as it were milkt my thoughts and drained from my hart the very substance of my accustomed courage it worketh in my heade like newe Wine so as I must hoope my skonce with yron least my head breake and so I bewray my braines but I pray thee first discouer me in all parts that I may be like a Louer and then will I sigh and die Take my gunne and giue me a gowne Caedant arma togae Epi. Heere Tophas Take my sworde and shielde and giue mee beard brush and Cyssers bella gerant alii tu pari semper ama Epi. Will you be trimd sir Tophas Not yet for I feele a contention within me whether I shall frame the bodkin beard or the bush But take my pike and giue mee pen dicere que puduit scribere iussit amor Epi. I wyll furnish you sir Tophas Nowe for my bowe and bolts giue me ynke and paper for my Smiter a pen-knife for Scalpellum calami atramentum charta libelli sint semper studiis arma parata meis Epi. Sir will you giue ouer warres play with that bable called loue Tophas Giue ouer warres no Epi Militat omnis amans et habet sua castea Cupido Epi. Loue hath made you very eloquent but your face is nothing fayre Tophas Non formosus erat sed erat facundus Vlisses Epi. Nay I must seeke a newe Maister if you can speake nothing but verses Tophas Quicquid conabar dicere versus erat Epi I feele all Ouid de arte amandi lie as heauie at my heart as a loade of logges O what a fine thin hayre hath Dipsas what a prettie low forehead VVhat a tale statelie nose What little hollowe eyes What great and goodly lyppes Howe harmelesse shee is beeing toothlesse her fingers fatte and short adorned with long nayles like a Bytter In howe sweete a proportion her cheekes hang downe to her brests like dugges and her pappes to her waste like bagges VVhat a lowe stature shee is and yet what a great foote shee carryeth Howe thrifty must she be in whom there is no waste Hovve vertuous is shee like to be ouer whom no man can be ielous Epi. Stay Maister you forget your selfe Tophas O Epi euen as a dish melteth by the fire so doth my wit increase by loue Epi. Pithily and to the purpose but what beginne you to nodde Tophas Good Epi let me take a nappe for as some man may better steale a horse then another looke ouer the hedge so diuers shall be sleepie when they woulde fainest take rest He sleepes Epi. Who euer saw such a woodcock loue Dipsas without doubt all the world will novve account him valiant that ventureth on her whom none durst vndertake But heere commeth two wagges Enter Dares and Samias Sam. Thy Maister hath slept his share Dares I thinke he doth it because he would not paie me my boord wages Samias It is a thing most strange and I thinke mine will neuer returne so that wee must both seeke nevve Maisters for we shall neuer liue by our manners Epi. If you want Maisters ioyne with me and serue Sir Tophas who must needes keepe more men because he is toward marriage Samias What Epi wher 's thy Maister Epi. Yonder sleeping in loue Dares Is it possible Epi. Hee hath taken his thoughts a hole lower and sayth seeing it is the fashion of the world hee will vaile bonet to beautie Samias how is he attyred Epi. Louelie Dares Whom loueth this amorous knight Epi. Dipsas Samias That vglie creature Why shee is a foole a scold fat without fashion and quite without fauour Epi. Tush you be simple my Ma. hath a good marriage Dares Good as how Epi. Why in marrying Dipsas hee shall haue euerie day twelue dishes of meate to his dinner though there be none but Dipsas with him Foure of flesh four of fish foure of fruite Sam. As how Epi Epi. For flesh these woodcock goose bitter rayle Da. Indeed he shal not misse if Dipsas be there Epi. For fish these crab carpe lumpe and powting Sam. Excellent for of my word she is both crabbish lumpish and carping Epi. For fruite these fretters medlers hartichockes and Lady longings Thus you see hee shall fare like a King though he be but a begger Dares Well Epi dine thou with him for I had rather fast then see her face But see thy Ma. is a sleepe let vs haue a song to wake this Amorous knight Epi. Agreed Sam. Content Song Top. Sleepe is a bynding of the sences loue a loosing Epi. Let vs heare him awhile Tophas There appeared in my sleepe a goodly Owle who sitting vpon my shoulder cryed twyt twyt before myne eyes presented her selfe the expresse image of Dipsas I meruailed what the Owle said til at the last I perceiued twyt twyt to it to it onely by contraction admonished by thys vision to make account of my sweet Venus Sam. Sir Tophas you haue ouer-slept your selfe Top. No youth I haue but slept ouer my loue Dares Loue Why it is impossible that into so noble and vnconquered a courage loue should creepe hauing first a head as hard to pearce as steele then to passe to a hart arm'd with a shirt of male Epi. I but my Maister yawning one day in the Sun loue crept into his mouth before he could close it and there kept such a tumbling in his bodie that he was glad to vntrusse the poynts of his hart and entertaine Loue as a stranger Tophas If there remaine any pittie in you pleade for me to Dipsas Dares Pleade Nay wee will presse her to it Let vs goe with him to Dipsas and
knowe that on the Lunary bancke sleepeth Endimion Corsites I knowe it Tel. If you will remoue him from that place by force and conuey him into some obscure caue by pollicie I giue you here the faith of an vnspotted virgine that you onelie shall possesse me as a louer and in spight of malice haue mee for a wife Cor. Remooue him Tellus Yes Tellus hee shall bee remooued and that so soone as thou shalt as much commend my dilligence as my force I goe Tellus Stay will your selfe attempt it Corsites I Tellus as I would haue none partaker of my sweete loue so shall none be partners of my labours but I pray thee goe at your best leysure for Cynthia beginneth to rise and if she discouer our loue we both perish for nothing pleaseth her but the fairenesse of virginitie All thinges must bee not onely without lust but without suspicion of lightnes Tellus I will depart and goe you to Endimion Corsites I flye Tellus beeing of all men the most fortunate Exit Tel. Simple Corsites I haue set thee about a taske being but a man that the gods thēselues cannot performe for little doost thou knowe howe heauie his head lies howe hard his fortune but such shiftes must women haue to deceiue men and vnder colour of things easie intreat that which is imposible otherwise we should be cūbred with importunities oathes sighes letters and all implements of loue which to one resolued to the contrary are most lothsome I will in and laugh with the other Ladies at Corsites sweating Exit Actus quartus Scaena secunda Samtas Dares and Epiton Sam. Will thy master neuer awake Dares No I thinke hee sleepes for a wager but how shall wee spende the time Sir Tophas is so farre in loue that he pineth in his bedde and commeth not abroade Sam. But here commeth Epi in a pelting chafe Epi. A poxe of all false Prouerbes and were a Prouerbe a Page I would haue him by the eares Sam. Why art thou angry Epi. Why you knowe it is sayd the tyde tarieth no man Sam. True Epi. A monstrous lye for I was tide two houres and tarried for one to vnlose mee Dares Alas poore Epi Epi. Poore No no you base conceited slaues I am a most complyt Gentleman although I bee in disgrace with sir Tophas Dares Art thou out with him Epi. I because I cannot gette him a lodging with Endimion hee would faine take a nappe for fortie or fifty yeeres Dares A short sleepe considering our long life Sam. Is he still in loue Epi. In loue why he doth nothing but make Sonets Sam. Canst thou remember any one of his Poems Epi. I this is one The beggar Loue that knows not where to lodge At last within my hart when I slept he crept I wakt and so my fancies began to fodge Sam. That 's a verie long verse Epi. Why the other was shorte the first is called from the thombe to the little finger the second from the little finger to the elbowe and some hee hath made to reach to the crowne of his head and downe again to the soule of his foote it is sette to the tune of the blacke Saunce ratio est because Dipsas is a black Saint Dares Very wisely but pray thee Epi how art thou complet and beeing from thy Maister what occupation wilt thou take Epi. No my harts I am an absolute Microcosmus a pettie worlde of my selfe my library is my heade for I haue no other bookes but my braines my wardrope on my backe for I haue no more apparrell then is on my body my armorie at my fingers ends for I vse no other Artillarie then my nailes my treasure in my purse Sic omnia mea mecum porto Dares Good Epi. Now syrs my Pallace is pau'd with grasse and tyled with starres for celo tegitur qui non habet vrnam he that hath no house must he in the yard Samias A braue resolution But how wilt thou spend thy time Epi. Not in any Melancholie sort for mine exercise I will walke horses Dares Too bad Epi. Why is it not saide It is good walking when one hath his horse in his hand Sam. Worse and worse but how wilt thou liue Epi. By angling O t is a stately occupation to stande foure houres in a colde Morning and to haue his nose bytten with frost before hys baite be mumbled with a Fish Dares A rare attempt but wilt thou neuer trauell Epi. Yes in a Westerne barge when with a good winde and lustie pugges one may goe ten miles in two daies Samias Thou art excellent at thy choyse but what pastime wilt thou vse none Epi. Yes the quickest of all Samias What dyce Epi. No when I am in hast xxj. games at Chesse to passe a fewe minutes Dares A life for a little Lord and full of quicknesse Epi. Tush let mee alone but I must needes see if I can finde where Endimion lieth and then goe to a certaine fountaine hard by where they say faithfull Louers shall haue althings they will aske If I can finde out any of these ego et Magister meus erimus in tuto I and my Maister shall be freendes He is resolued to weep some three or foure payle-fuls to auoyde the rume of loue that wambleth in his stomacke Enter the Watch Samias Shall we neuer see thy Maister Dares Dares Yes let vs goe nowe for to morrowe Cynthia will be there Epi. I will goe with you But hovve shall wee see for the Watch Samias Tush let me alone I le begin to them Maisters God speede you 1. Watch Sir boy we are all sped alreadie Epi. So me thinks for they smell all of drinke like a beggers beard Dares But I pray sirs may we see Endimion 2. Watch No we are commanded in Cynthias name that no man shall see him Sam. No man Why we are but boyes 1. Watch Masse neighbours hee sayes true for if I sweare I will neuer drinke my liquor by the quart and yet call for two pints I thinke with a safe conscience I may carouse both Dares Pithily and to the purpose 2. Watch Tush tush neighbors take me with you Samias This will grow hote Dares Let them alone 2. Watch If I saie to my wife wife I will haue no Reysons in my pudding she puts in Corance smal Reysons are Reysons and boyes are men Euen as my wife shoulde haue put no Reysons in my pudding so shall there no boyes see Endimion Dares Learnedly Epi. Let Maister Constable speake I thinke hee is the wisest among you Ma. Const. You know neighbors t is an an old said saw children and fooles speake true All say True Ma. Const. Well there you see the men bee the fooles because it is prouided from the children Dares Good Ma. Const. Then say I neighbors that children must not see Endimion because children fooles speak true Epi. O wicked application Samias Scuruily brought about 1. Watch Nay he sais true therefore till
looking-glasse wherein seeing how ill anger became Ladies shee refrained from intended violence She was accompanied with other Damsels one of which with a sterne countenance as it were with a setled malice engrauen in her eyes prouoked her to execute mischeefe an other with visage sad and constant onelie in sorrow with her armes crossed and watery eyes seemed to lament my fortune but durst not offer to preuent the force I started in my sleepe feeling my verie veines to swell and my sinewes to stretch with feare and such a colde sweate bedewed all my bodie that death it selfe could not be so terrible as the vision Cynth. A straunge sight Giptes at our better leysure shall expound it Eum. After long debating with her selfe mercie ouercame anger and there appeared in her heauenly face such a diuine Maiestie mingled with a sweete mildenes that I was rauished with the sight aboue measure and wished that I might haue enioied the sight without end and so she departed with the other Ladyes of which the one retained still an vnmoueable crueltie the other a constant pittie Cynth. Poore Endimion how wast thou affrighted What els End After her immediatly appeared an aged man with a beard as white as snow crying in his hand a book with three leaues speaking as I remēber these words Endimion receiue this booke with three leaues in which are contained counsels policies and pictures and with that he offered mee the booke which I reiected wherwith moued with a disdainefull pittie hee rent the first leafe in a thousand shiuers the second time hee offered it which I refused also at which bending his browes and pitching his eyes fast to the ground as though they were fixed to the earth and not againe to be remoued then sodainlie casting them vp to the heauens he tore in a rage the second leafe and offered the booke only with one leafe I know not whether feare to offende or desire to knowe some strange thing moued mee I tooke the booke and so the olde man vanished Cynthia What diddest thou imagine was in the last leafe End There I portraid to life with a colde quaking in euery ioynt I behelde many wolues barking at thee Cynthia who hauing ground their teeth to bite did with striuing bleede themselues to death There might I see ingratitude with an hundred eyes gazing for benefites and with a thousand teeth gnawing on the bowelles wherein shee was bred Trecherie stoode all cloathed in white with a smyling countenance but both her handes bathed in blood Enuye with a pale and megar face whose bodie was so leane that one might tell all her bones and whose garment was so totterd that it was easie to number euery thred stood shooting at starres whose dartes fell downe againe on her owne face There might I beholde Drones or Beetles I knowe not howe to terme them creeping vnder the winges of a princely Eagle who being carried into her neast sought there to sucke that veine that woulde haue killed the Eagle I mused that thinges so base shoulde attempt a facte so barbarous or durst imagine a thing so bloody And manie other thinges Madame the repeticion whereof may at your better leysure seeme more pleasing for Bees surfette sometimes with honnie and the Gods are glutted with harmony and your highnesse may be dulled with delight Cynth. I am content to bee dieted therefore lette vs in Eumenides see that Endimion bee well tended least eyther eating immoderatlie or sleeping againe too long hee fall into a deadly surfette or into his former sleepe See this also bee proclaimed that whosoeuer will discouer this practise shall haue of Cynthia infinite thankes and no small rewardes Exit Flosc. Ah Endimion none so ioyfull as Floscula of thy restoring Eum. Yes Floscula let Eumenides be somewhat gladder and doe not that wrong to the setled friendship of a man as to compare it with the light affection of a woman Ah my deere friend Endimion suffer mee to dye with gazing at thee End Eumenides thy friendshippe is immortall and not to be conceiued and thy good will Floscula better then I haue deserued But let vs all wayte on Cynthia I maruell Semele speaketh not a word Eum. Because if shee doe shee loseth her tongue End But how prospereth your loue Eum. I neuer yet spake worde since your sleepe End I doubt not but your affection is olde and your appetite colde Eum. No Endimion thine hath made it stronger and nowe are my sparkes growne to flames and my fancies almost to frenzies but let vs followe and within wee will debate all this matter at large Exeunt Actus quintus Scaena secunda Sir Tophas Epiton Tophas Epi loue hath iustled my libertie from the wall and taken the vpper hand of my reason Epi. Let me then trippe vp the heeles of your affection and thrust your goodwill into the gutter Tophas No Epi Loue is a Lorde of misrule and keepeth Christmas in my corps Epi. No doubt there is good cheere what dishes of delight doth his Lordshippe feast you withal Tophas First with a great platter of plum-porrige of pleasure wherein is stued the mutton of mistrust Epi. Excellent loue lappe Tophas Then commeth a Pye of patience a Henne of honnie a Goose of gall a Capon of care and many other Viandes some sweete and some sowre which proueth loue to bee as it was saide of in olde yeeres Dulce venenum Epi. A braue banquet Tophas But Epi I praye theee feele on my chinne some thinge prycketh mee VVhat doost thou feele or see Epi. There are three or foure little haires Tophas I pray thee call it my bearde howe shall I bee troubled when this younge springe shall growe to a great wood Epi. O sir your chinne is but a quyller yet you will be most maiesticall when it is full fledge But I maruell that you loue Dipsas that olde Crone Tophas Agnosco veteris vestigia flammae I loue the smoke of an olde fyre Epi. Why shee is so colde that no fyre can thawe her thoughts Tophas It is an olde goose Epi that will eate no oates olde Kine will kicke olde Rats gnawe cheese and olde sackes will haue much patching I preferre an old Cony before a Rabbet sucker and an ancient henne before a younge chicken peeper Epi. Argumentum ab antiquitate My master loueth anticke worke Tophas Giue mee a pippin that is withered like an olde wife Epi. Good sir Tophas Then a contrario sequitur argumentum Giue me a wife that lookes like an olde pippin Epi. Nothing hath made my master a foole but flat Schollership Tophas Knowest thou not that olde wine is best Epi. Yes Tophas And thou knowest that like will to like Epi. I Tophas And thou knowest that Venus loued the best Wine Epi. So Tophas Then I conclude that Venus was an olde woman in an olde cuppe of wine For est Venus in vinis ignis in igne fuit Epi. O lepidum caput O mad cap master You were worthy
then will I name it honor From this sweet contēplation if I be not driuen I shall liue of al men the most content taking more pleasure in mine aged thoughts then euer I did in my youthful actions Cyn. Endimion this honorable respect of thine shal be christned loue in thee my reward for it fauor Perseuer Endimion in louing me I account more strength in a true hart then in a walled Cittie I haue laboured to win all and studie to keepe such as I haue wonne but those that neither my fauour can mooue to continue constant nor my offered benefits gette to bee faithfull the Gods shal eyther reduce to trueth or reuenge their trecheries with iustice Endimion continue as thou hast begun and thou shalt finde that Cynthia shyneth not on thee in vaine End Your Highnesse hath blessed mee and your wordes haue againe restored my youth mee thinkes I feele my ioyntes stronge and these mouldy haires to molt all by your vertue Cynthia into whose hands the Ballance that weigheth time fortune are committed Cynth. What younge againe then it is pittie to punish Tellus Tellus Ah Endimion now I know thee and aske pardon of thee suffer mee still to wish thee well End Tellus Cynthia must commaund what she will Flosc. Endimion I reioyce to see thee in thy former estate End Good Floscula to thee also am I in my former affections Eum. Endimion the comfort of my life howe am I rauished with a ioy matchlesse sauing onelie the enioying of my mistrisse Cynth. Endimion you must nowe tell who Eumenides shrineth for his Saint End Semele Madame Cynth. Semele Eumenides is it Semele the very waspe of all women whose tongue stingeth as much as an Adders tooth Eum. It is Semele Cynthia the possessing of whose loue must onelie prolong my life Cynth. Nay sith Endimion is restored wee will haue all parties pleased Semele are you content after so long triall of his faith such rare secresie such vnspotted loue to take Eumenides Why speake you not Not a word End Silence Madame consents that is most true Cynth. It is true Endimion Eumenides take Semele Take her I say Eum. Humble thanks Madame now onely doe I begin to liue Semele A harde choyce Madame either to be married if I say nothing or to lose my tongue if I speake a word Yet doe I rather choose to haue my tongue cut out then my heart distempered I will not haue him Cynth. Speakes the Parrat shee shall nod heereafter with signes cut off her tongue nay her heade that hauing a seruant of honourable birth honest manners 〈◊〉 true loue will not be perswaded Semele He is no faithfull I 〈…〉 or then would he haue asked his Mistris Geron Had he not beene faithfull he had neuer seene into the fountaine and so lost his friend and Mistrisse Eum. Thine own thoughts sweet Semele witnesse against thy wordes for what hast thou founde in my life but loue and as yet what haue I founde in my loue but bitternesse Madame pardon Semele and let my tongue ransome hers Cyn. Thy tongue Eumenides what shouldst thou liue wanting a tongue to blaze the beautie of Semele Well Semele I will not commaund loue for it cannot bee enforced let me entreat it Semele I am content your Highnesse shall command for now only do I thinke Eumenides faithfull that is willing to lose his tongue for my sake yet loth because it should doe me better seruice Madame I accept of Eumenides Cynth. I thanke you Semele Eu. Ah happie Eumenides that hast a friend so faithfull and a mistris so faire with what sodaine mischiefe will the Gods daunt this excesse of ioye Sweet Semele I liue or dye as thou wilt Cynth. What shall become of Tellus Tellus you know Endimion is vowed to a seruice from which death cannot remooue him Corsites casteth still a louely lookes towards you how say you will haue your Corsites and so receiue pardon for all that is past Tellus Madame most willingly Cynthia But I cannot tel whether Corsites be agreed Corsites I Madame more happie to enioy Tellus then the Monarchie of the world Eum. Why she caused you to be pincht with Fairies Cor. I but her fairenesse hath pinched my hart more deepelie Cynthia Well enioy thy loue But what haue you wrought in the Castle Tellus Tellus Onely the picture of Endimion Cynthia Then so much of Endimion as his picture commeth to possesse and play withall Corsites Ah my sweete Tellus my loue shal be as thy beautie is matchlesse Cynthia Now it resteth Dipsas that if thou wilt forsweare that vile Arte of Enchaunting Geron hath promised againe to receiue thee otherwise if thou be wedded to that wickednes I must and will see it punished to the vttermost Dipsas Madam I renounce both substance and shadow of that most horrible and hatefull trade vowing to the Gods continuall penaunce and to your highnes obedience Cynthia Howe say you Geron will you admit her to your Wife Geron I with more ioy then I did the first day for nothing could happen to make me happy but onely her forsaking that leude and detestable course Dipsas I imbrace thee Dipsas And I thee Geron to whom I will heereafter recite the cause of these my first follies Cynthia Well Endimion nothing resteth nowe but that we depart Thou hast my fauour Tellus her friend Eumenides in Paradice with his Semele Geron contented with Dipsas Sir Tophas Nay soft I cannot handsomly goe to bed without Bagoa Cynthia Well Syr Tophas it may bee there are more vertues in mee then my selfe knoweth of for Endimion I awaked and at my words he waxed young I will trie whether I can turne this tree againe to thy true loue Tophas Turne her to a true loue or false so shee be a wench I care not Cynthia Bagoa Cynthia putteth an end to thy harde fortunes for being turnd to a tree for reuealing a truth I will recouer thee againe if in my power be the effect of truth Tophas Bagoa a bots vpon thee Cynthia Come my Lordes let vs in you Gyptes and Pythagoras if you cannot content your selues in our Court to fall from vaine follies of Phylosophers to such vertues as are here practised you shall be entertained according to your deserts for Cynthia is no stepmother to strangers Pytha. I had rather in Cynthias Court spende tenne yeeres then in Greece one houre Gyptes And I chuse rather to liue by the sight of Cynthia then by the possessing of all Egipt Cynthia Then follow Eumenides We all attend Exeunt FINIS ⧠The Epilogue A Man walking abroade the wind and Sunne stroue for soueraignty the one with his blast the other with his beames The wind blew hard the man wrapped his garmēt about him harder it blustred more strongly he then girt it fast to him I cannot preuaile sayd the wind The Sunne casting her Christall beames began to warme the man he vnlosed his gowne yet it shined brighter he then put it off I yeelde sayd the winde for if thou continue shining he will also put off his cote Dread Soueraigne the malicious that seeke to ouerthrowe vs with threats do but stiffen our thoughts and make them sturdier in stormes but if your Highnes vouch safe with your fauorable beames to glaunce vpon vs we shall not onlie stoope but with all humilitie lay both our handes and hearts at your Maiesties feete