wronge out with their fingers not their eies secrete laughing at mens pale lookes and neate attire open reioycinge at their owne comlinesse and mens courtinge Shoote this arrowe among the thickest of them whose bosomes lye open because they woulde be striken with it And seeing men tearme women Iupiters fooles women shall make men Venus fooles This shafte is leade in the head and whose feathers are of the night Rauen a deadly and poysoned shafte which breedeth hate onely against those which sue for loue Take heede Cupid thou hitte not Phao with this shafte for then shall Venus perishe This laste is an old arrow but newlye mended the arrow which hitte both Sapho and Phao working onely in meane mindes an aspiring to superiours in high estates a stooping to inferiours with this Cupid I am galled my selfe till thou haue galled Phao with the other Cupid I warrant you I will cause Phao to languishe in your loue and Sapho to disdaine his Venus Goe loyter not nor mistake your shafte Now Venus hast thou plaide a cunning parte though not curraunt But why should Venus dispute of vnlawfulnesse in loue or faith in affection beeing both the Goddesse of loue and affection knowing there is as litle trueth to be vsed in loue as there is reason No sweete Phao Venus will obtaine because she is venus Not thou Ioue with thūder in thy hand shalt take him out of my hands I haue new arrowes now for my boy and fresh flames at which the Gods shall tremble if they beginne to trouble me But I will expect the euent and tarye for Cupid at the forge Actus quintus Schaena secunda Sapho Cupid Mileta Venus Sapho What hast thou done Cupid Cupid That my mother commaunded Sapho Sapho My thinkes I feele an alteration in my minde and as it were a withstanding in my self of mine own affections Cupid Then hath mine arrow his effect Sapho I pray thee tell me the cause Cupid I dare not Sapho Feare nothing for if Venus fret Sapho canne frowne thou shalt bee my sonne Mileta giue him some sweete meates speake good Cupid and I will giue thee many pretie things Cupid My mother is in loue with Phao she willed mee to strike you with disdain of him and him with desire of her Sapho O spitefull Venus Mileta giue him some of that What els Cupid Cupid I could be euen with my mother and so I will if I shall call you mother Sapho Yea Cupid call me any thing so I may be euen with her Cupid I haue an arrow with which if I strike Phao it will cause him to loth onely Venus Sapho Sweete Cupid strike Phao with it Thou shalt sitte in my lappe I will rocke thee asleepe and feede thee with all these fine knackes Cupid I will about it Exit Cupid Sapho But come quickly againe Ah vnkinde Venus is this thy promise to Sapho But if I gette Cuppid from thee I my selfe will be the Queene of loue I will direct these arrowes with better aime and conquer mine own affections with greater modesty Venus heart shal flame and her loue be as common as her crafte O Mileta time hath disclosed that which my temperance hath kept in but sith I am rid of the disease I will not be ashamed to confesse the cause I loued Phao Mileta a thing vnfit for my degree but forced by my desire Milet. Phao Sapho Phao Mileta of whom nowe Venus is inamoured Milet. And doe you loue him still Sapho No I feele relenting thoughtes and reason not yeelding to appetite Let Venus haue him no shee shall not haue him But here coms Cupid How now my boy haste thou done it Cupid Yea and left Phao rayling on Venus and cursing her name yet stil sighing for Sapho and blasing her vertues Sapho Alas poore Phao thy extreame loue should not be requited with so meane a fortune thy faire face deserued greater fauours I cannot loue Venus hath hardened my heart Venus I meruale Cupid commeth not all this while How now in Saphoes lappe Sapho Yea Venus what say you to it in Saphoes lap Venus Sir boy come hither Cupid I will not Venus What now will you not hath Sapho made you so sawcie Cupid I wil be Saphoes sonne I haue as you commanded striken her with a deepe disdaine of Phao and Phao as she entreated me with a great despite of you Venus Vnhappy wag what hast thou done I will make thee repent it euery vaine in thy heart Sapho Venus be not collerick Cupid is mine he hath giuen me his Arrowes and I will giue him a new bowe to shoote in You are not worthy to be the Ladye of loue that yeelde so often to the impressions of loue Immodest Venus that to satisfie the vnbrideled thoughtes of thy hearte transgressest so farre from the staye of thine honour Howe sayest thou Cupid wilt thou bee with me Cupid Yes Sapho Shall not I bee on earth the Goddesse of affections Cupid Yes Sapho Shall not I rule the fansies of men and leade Venus in chaines like a captiue Cupid Yes Sapho It is a good boy Venus What haue we here you the Goddesse of Loue and you her sonne Cupid I will tame that proud heart els shall the Gods say they are not Venus friendes And as for you sit boy I will teach you how to run away you shal be stript from toppe to toe and whipt with nettles not roses I will set you to blowe Vulcans coales not to beare Venus quiuer I will handle you for this geare well I say no more But as for the new Mistresse of loue or Lady I cry you mercie I think you would be called a Goddesse you shall know what it is to vsurpe the name of Venus I will pull those plumes and cause you to cast your eyes on your feete not your feathers your softe hayre will I turne to harde bristles your tongue to a stinge and those alluring eyes to vnluckynes in which if the Gods ayde me not I will cursse the Gods Sapho Venus you are in a vaine aunswerable to your vanitie whose highe woordes neither beecome you nor feare mee But lette this suffice I will keepe Cupid in dispighte of you and yet with the contente of the Gods Venus Will you why then we shal haue pretie Gods in heauen when you take Gods prisoners on earth Before I sleepe you shall both repent and finde what it is but to thinke vnreuerently of Venus Come Cupid shee knowes not how to vse thee come with mee you knowe what I haue for you will you not Cupid Not I Venus Well I will be euen with you both that shortlye Exit Sapho Cupid feare not I will direct thine arrowes better Euery rude asse shall not say he is in loue It is a toye made for Ladies and I will keepe it onely for Ladies Cupid But what will you doe for Phao Sapho I wil wish him fortunate This wil I do for Phao because I once loued Phao for neuer shall it be said that Sapho loued to hate or that out of loue she coulde not be as courteous as she was in loue passionate Come Mileta shut the doore Exeunt Actus quintus Schaena tertia Phao. Sybilla Phao. Goe to Sybilla tell the beginning of thy loue and the end of thy fortune And loe how happilye shee sitteth in her caue Sybilla Syb. Phao welcome what newes Phao. Venus the Goddesse of loue I loth Cupid causd it with a new shafte Sapho disdaineth mee Venus causd it for a new spite O Sybilla if Venus be vnfaithfull in loue where shall one flye for trueth Shee vseth deceite is it not then likely she will dispence with subtiltie And being carefull to commit iniuries will shee not be carelesse to reuenge them I must nowe fall from loue to labour and endeuour with mine oare to gette a fare not with my penne to write a fancie Loues are but smokes which vanish in the seeing and yet hurte whilest they are seene A Ferrie Phao no the starres cannot call it a worser fortune Raung rather ouer the world forsweare affections entreate for death O Sapho thou haste Cupid in thine armes I in my hearte thou kissest him for sporte I muste curse him for spite yet will I not curse him Sapho whome thou kissest This shal be my resolutiō where euer I wāder to be as I were euer kneeling before Sapho my loyalty vnspotted though vnrewarded With as litle malice wil I goe to my graue as I did lye with all in my cradle My life shal be spente in sighing and wishing the one for my bad fortune the other for Saphoes good Sybil. Doe so Phao for destinie calleth thee aswell from Sycily as from loue Other things hange ouer thy head which I must neither tell nor thou enquire And so farewell Phao. Farewell Sybilla and farewell Sycily Thoughtes shal be thy foode and in thy steppes shal be printed beehinde thee that there was none so loyall lefte behinde thee Farewell Syracusa vnworthy to harbour faith and when I am gone vnlesse Sapho be here vnlikely to harbour any The Epilogue THey that treade in a maze walke oftentimes in one path at the last come out where they entred in Wee feare we haue lead you all this while in a Labyrinth of conceites diuerse times hearing one deuice haue now brought you to an end where we first beganne Which wearisome trauaile you must impute to the necessitie of the hystorie as Theseus did his labour to the arte of the Labyrinth There is nothing causeth such giddines as going in a wheele neither cā there any thing breede such tediousnesse as hearing manie words vttered in a small compass But if you accept this daūce of a Farie in a circle wee will herafter at your willes frame our fingers to all formes And so we wish euery one of you a thread to leade you out of the doubts wherwith we leaue you intangled that nothing be mistaken by our rash ouersightes nor misconstrued by your deepe insights Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson for Thomas Cadman
I will instruct thee to dissemble Phao. I will learne any thing but dissembling Venus Why my boy Phao. Because then I must learne to be a woman Venus Thou heardest that of a man Phao. Men speake trueth Venus But trueth is a she and so alwaies painted Phao. I thinke a painted trueth Venus Well farewell for this time for I must visit Sapho Phao exit Actus quartus Schaena prima Venus Sapho Cupid Venus Sapho I haue heard thy complaintes and pittied thine agonies Sapho O Venus my cares are onely knowne to thee and by thee only came the cause Cupid why didst thou wound me so deepe Cupid My mother bad me draw mine arrow to the head Sapho Venus why didst thou proue so hatefull Venus Cupid tooke a wrong shafte Sapho O Cupid too vnkinde to make me so kind that almost I transgresse the modestie of my kinde Cupid I was blind and could not see mine arrow Sapho How came it to passe thou didst hit my hearte Cupid That came by the nature of the head which be ing once let out of the bowe cā finde none other lighting place but the heart Venus Be not dismaide Phao shall yeelde Sapho If hee yeelde then shal I shame to embrace one so meane if not die because I cannot embrace one so meane Thus doe I finde no meane Venus Well I will worke for thee Farewell Sapho Farewell sweet Venus and thou Cupid which art sweetest in thy sharpenesse Exit Sapho Actus quartus Schaena secunda Venus Cupid Venus Cupid what haste thou done put thine arrowes in Phaoes eies and wounded thy mothers heart Cupid You gaue him a face to allure then why should not I giue him eies to pearce Venus O Venus vn happy Venus who in bestowinge a benefit vpon a man haste brought a bane vnto a Goddesse What perplexities dost thou feele O faire Phao and therefore made faire to breede in me a frenzie O would that when I gaue thee golden locks to curle thy head I had shackled thee with yron lockes on thy feete And when I noursed thee Sapho with lettice woulde it had turned to hemlocke Haue I brought a smooth skin ouer thy face to make a rough scarre in my heart and giuen thee a fresh colour like the damask rose to make mine pale like the stained Turkie O Cupid thy flames with Psyches were but sparks and my desires with Adonis but dreames in respecte of these vnacquainted tormentes Laugh Iuno Venus is in loue but Iuno shall not see with whom least shee be in loue Venus belike is become stale Sapho forsooth because she hath many vertues therfore she must haue all the fauours Venus waxeth old and then she was a pretie wench when Iuno was a young wife nowe crowes foote is on her eie and the blacke oxe hath troad on her foote But were Sapho neuer so vertuous doth she thinke to contend with Venus to be as amorous Yeelde Phao but yeeld to me Phao I entreate where I may commaund commaunde thou where thou shouldest entreate In this case Cupid what is thy coūsell Venus must both play the louer the dissembler therfore the dissembler because the Louer Cupid You will euer be playing with arrows like childrē with kniues thē when you bleede you cry go to Vulcan entreat by praiers threatē with blowes wowe with kisses banne with curses trie al meanes to rid these extremities Venus To what end Cupid That he might make mee new arrowes for nothing can roote out the desires of Phao but a new shafte of inconstancie nor any thing turne Saphoeshart but a new arrow of disdaine And then they dislyking one the other who shall inioy Phao but Venus Venus I will follow thy counsell For Venus though she be in her latter age for yeares yet is she in her Nonage for affections When Venus ceaseth to loue let loue cease to rule But come let vs to Vulcan Exeunt Actus quartus Schaena tertia Sapho Mileta Ismena Eugenna Lamya Fauilla Canope Sapho What dreames are these Mileta and can there be no trueth in dreams yea dreams haue their trueth Me thought I saw a Stock doue or woodquist I knowe not how to tearm it that brought short strawes to build his neast in a tall Caedar where whiles with his bill hee was framing his buylding he lost as many fethers from his wings as he laid strawes in his neast yet scambling to catch hold to harbor in the house he had made he so fell from the bough where he stoode And thē pitifully casting vp his eies he cried in such tearmes as I imagined as might either cōdemne the nature of such a tree or the daring of such a minde Whilest he lay quaking vpō the ground I gazing one the Caeder I might perceiue Antes to breede in the rinde coueting only to hoord caterpillers to cleaue to the leaues labouring only to suck which caused mo leaues to fall frō the tree thē there did feathers before frō the doue Me thought Mileta I sighed in my sleepe pittying both the fortune of the bird the misfortun of the tree but in this time quils began to bud againe in the bird which made him looke as though he would flie vp and then wished I that the body of the tree woulde bowe that hee might but creepe vp the tree then and so Hey ho Milet. And so what Sapho Nothing Mileta but and so I waked But did no bodie dreame but I Milet. I dreamed last night but I hope dreames are contrary that holding my heade ouer a sweete smoke al my haire blazd on a bright flame Me thought Ismena cast water to quench it yet the sparks fell on my bosom and wiping them away with my hand I was all in a gore bloud till one with a few fresh flowers staunched it And so stretching my self as stif I started it was but a dream Isme. It is a signe you shall fall in loue with hearinge faire words Water signifieth counsell flowers death And nothing can purge your louing humour but death Milet. You are no interpreter but an interprater harping alwaies vpon loue till you be as blind as a Harpar Isme. I remember last night but one I dreamed mine eie tooth was lose that I thrust it out with my tonge Milet. It foretelleth the losse of a friende and I euer thought thee so full of prattle that thou wouldest thrust out the best friend with the tatling Isme. Yea Mileta but it was loose beefore and if my friend bee lose as good thrust out with plaine words as kept in with dissembling Euge. Dreams are but dotings which come either by things wee see in the day or meates that we eate and so the common sense preferring it to bee the imaginatiue Isme. Softe Philosophatrix well seene in the secretes of arte and not seduced with the superstitions of nature Sapho Ismenaes tongue neuer lyeth still I think all her teeth will bee loose they are so often iogged againste her
Sapho and Phao Played beefore the Queenes Maiestie on Shroue tewsday by her Maiesties Children and the Boyes of Paules ¶ Imprinted at London for Thomas Cadman 1584 The Prologue at the Black fryers WHere the Bee can suck no honney she leaueth her stinge behinde and where the Beare cannot finde Origanum to heale his griefe he blasteth all other leaues with his breath Wee feare it is like to fare so with vs that seeing you cannot draw from our labours sweete content you leaue behinde you a sowre mislike and with open reproach blame our good meaninges because you cannot reap your wonted mirthes Our intēt was at this time to moue inward delight not outward lightnesse and to breede if it might bee soft smiling not loude laughing knowing it to the wise to be as great pleasure to heare counsell mixed with witte as to the foolish to haue sporte mingled with rudenesse They were banished the Theater at Athens and from Rome hyssed that brought parasites on the stage with apish actions or fooles with vnciuill habites or Curtisans with immodest words We haue endeuoured to be as farre from vnseemely speaches to make your eares glowe as wee hope you will bee from vnkinde reportes to make our cheekes blush The Griffyon neuer spreadeth her wings in the sunne when she hath any sick feathers yet haue we ventured to present out exercise beefore your indgements when we know them full of weak matter yeelding rather our selues to the curtesie which we haue euer sound then to the precisenesse which wee ought to feare The Prologue at the Court THe Arabyās being stuffed with perfumes burn Hemblock a ranck poison in Hybla being cloid with hōney they account it daintie to feede on waxe Your Highnesse eies whom varietie hath filled with fayre showes and whose eares pleasure hath possessed with rare soundes will we trust at this time resemble the princely Eagle who fearing to surfeit on spices stoupeth to bite on wormwood We present no conceites nor warres but deceites and loues wherein the trueth may excuse the plainenesse The necessitie the length the poetrie the bitternesse There is no needelesse point so smal which hath not his cōpasse nor haire so slender which hath not his shadowe nor sporte so simple which hath not his shadowe nor sporte so simple which hath not showe Whatsoeuer we presēt whether it be tedious which we feare or toyishe which we doubt sweete or sowre absolute or imperfect or whatsoeuer in al humblenesse we all I on knee for all entreate that your Highnesse imagine your self to be in a deepe dreame that staying the conclusiō in your rising your Maiestie vouchsafe but to saye And so you awakte Actus primus Schaena prima Phao Venus Cupid Phao. THou art a Ferriman Phao yet a free man possessing for riches content and for honors quiet Thy thoughts are no higher thē thy fortunes nor thy desires greater then thy calling Who climeth standeth on glasse and falleth on thorne Thy hearts thirste is satisfied with thy hands thrift and thy gentle labours in the day turne to sweete slumbers in the night As much doth it delight thee to rule thine oare in a calme streame as it dooth Sapho to swaye the Scepter in her braue court Enuie neuer casteth her eie lowe ambition pointeth alwaies vpwarde and reuenge barketh onely at starres Thou farest dilicately if thou haue a fare to buy any thing Thine angle is ready when thine oar is idle and as sweet is the fish which thou gettest in the ryuer as the fowle which other buye in the market Thou needst not feare poyson in thy glasse nor treason in thy garde The winde is thy greatest enemy whose might is withstoode with pollicy O sweete life seldom found vnder a goldē couert oftē vnder a thached cotage But here commeth one I will withdrawe my selfe aside it may be a passenger Venus It is no lesse vnseemely then vnwholsom for Venus who is most honoured in Princes courtes to soiourne with Vulcan in a smithes forge where bellowes blow in steede of sighes dark smokes rise for sweet perfumes for the panting of louing hearts is only heard the beating of steeled hāmers Vnhappy Venus that cariing fire in thine own breast thou shouldest dwel with fire in his forge What doth Vulcan all day but endeuour to be as crabbed in maners as he is crooked in body driuing nailes when he should giue kisses and hammering hard armours when he should sing sweete Amors It came by lot not loue that I was lincked with him He giues thee bolts Cupid in steed of arrowes fearing belike iealous foole that he is that if he shuld giue thee an arrow head he should make himself a broad head But come we wil to Syracusa where thy deitie shal be shown and my disdaine I will yoke the necke that yet neuer bowed at which if Ioue repine Ioue shal repent Sapho shal know be she neuer so faire that there is a Venus which can cōquer were she neuer so fortunate Cupid If Ioue espie Sapho he wil deuise some new shape to entertaine her Venus Strike thou Sapho let Ioue deuise what shape he can Cupid Mother they say she hath her thoughtes in a string that she conquers affections and sendeth loue vp and downe vpon arrandes I am afraid she wil yerke me if I hit her Venus Peeuish boy can mortal creatures resist that which the immortall Gods cannot redresse Cupid The Gods are amorous and therefore willing to be pearsed Venus And she amiable therefore must be pearsed Cupid I dare not Venus Draw thine arrow to the head els I wil make thee repent it at the heart Come away and behold the ferry boy ready to conduct vs Prety youth de you keep the ferry that bendeth to Syracusa Phao. The ferrie faire Lady that bendeth to Syracusa Venus I feare if the water should begin to swel thou wilt want cunning to guide Phao. These waters are commonly as the passengers be and therefore carying one so faire in shew there is no cause to feare a rough sea Venus To passe the time in thy boate canst thou deuise any pastime Phao. If the winde be with me I can angle or tell tales if against me it will be pleasure for you to see mee take paines Venus I like not fishing yet was I borne of the sea Phao. But he may blesse fishing that caught such an one in the sea Venus It was not with an angle my boy but with a nette Phao. So was it said that vulcan caught Mars with Venus Venus Didst thou heare so It was some tale Phao. Yea Madame and that in the boate I didde meane to make my tale Venus It is not for a ferry man to talk of the Gods loues but to tell how thy father could dig and thy mother spinne But come let vs away Phao. I am ready to waite Exeunt Actus primus Schaena sccunda Trachinus Pandion Cryticus Molus. Trachi. Pandion since your comming from the vniuersitie
insomuch that he galleth with ingratitude And then Ladies you know how it cutteth a woman to become a wooer Euge. Tush children and fooles the fairer they are the sooner they yeeld an apple will catch the one a baby the other Isme. Your loouer I thinke be a faire foole for you loue nothing but fruit and puppets Milet. I laugh at that you all call loue and iudge it onely a worde called loue Me thinks lyking a curtesie a smile a beck and such like are the very Quintessence of loue Fauilla I Mileta but were you as wise as you would be thought faire or as faire as you think your self wise you would bee as ready to please men as you are coye to pranke your selfe as carefull to bee accounted amorous as you are willing to be thought discrete Milet. No no men are good soules poore soules who neuer enquire but with their eies louing to father the cradle though they but mother the childe Giue me their giftes not their vertues a graine of their golde weigheth downe a pound of their witt a dram of giue me is heauier then an ounce of heare me Beleeue mee Ladies giue is a pretie thing Isme. I cannot but oftentimes smile to my selfe to heare men call vs weake vesselles when they proue thēselues broken hearted vs fraile when their thoughtes cannot hang togeather studying with words to flatter and with bribes to allure when we commōly wish their tongues in their purses they speake so simply and their offers in their bellies they doe it so peeuishly Milet. It is good sporte to see them want matter for then fall they to good manners hauing nothing in their mouthes but sweet mistresse wearing our hands out with courtly kissings when their wits faile in courtly discourses Now rufling their haires now setting their ruffes then gazing with their eies then sighing with a priuie wring by the hand thinking vs like to be wowed by signes and ceremonies Euge. Yet we when we sweare with our mouthes wee are not in loue then we sigh from the heart and pine in loue Cano. Wee are madde wenches if men marke our wordes for whē I say I would none cared for loue more then I what meane I but I woulde none loued but I where we cry away doe we not presently say go too when men striue for kisses we exclaime let vs alone as though we would fall to that our selues Fauilla Nay then Canope it is time to goe and beehold Phao Isme. Where Fauilla In your heade Ismena no where els but let vs keepe on our way Isme. Wisely Exeunt Actus secundus Schaena prima Phao Sybilla Phao. Phao thy meane fortune causeth thee to vse an oare and thy sodaine bewtie a glasse by the one is seene thy need in the other thy pride O Venus in thinking thou hast blest me thou hast curst me adding to a poore estate a proud heart and to a disdained man a disdaining minde Thou doest not flatter thy selfe Phao thou art faire faire I feare me faire be a word too foule for a face so passing fayre But what auaileth bewtie hadst thou all things thou wouldest wish thou mightst die to morrow and didst thou want al things thou desirest thou shalt liue till thou diest Tushe Phao there is growne more pride in thy minde then fauour in thy face Blush foolish boy to think on thine own thoughts cease complaints craue counsell And loe behold Sybilla in the mouth of her caue I will salute her Ladye I feare me I am out of my way and so benighted withall that I am compelled to aske your direction Syb. Faire youth if you will be aduised by mee you shal for this time seeke none other Inne then my caue for that it is no lesse perillous to trauaile by night then vncomfortable Phao Your curtesie offered hath preuented what my necessity was to entreate Syb. Come neere take a stoole and sit downe Now for that these winter nights are long and that children delight in nothing more then to heare old wiues tales we will beguile the time with some storie And though you behold wrinkles and furrowes in my tawny face yet may you happily finde wisdome and counsell in my white haires Phao Lady nothing can content me better thē a tale neither is there any thing more necessary for mee then counsell Syb. Were you borne so faire by nature Phao No made so faire by Venus Syb. For what cause Phao I feare me for some curse Syb. Why doe you loue and cannot obteine Phao No I may obteine but cannot loue Syb. Take heede of that my childe Phao I cannot chuse good Madame Syb. Then hearken to my tale which I hope shall be as a streight thread to leade you out of those crooked conceites and place you in the plaine path of loue Phao I attend Syb. When I was young as you nowe are I speake it without boasting I was as bewtifull for Phoebus in his Godhead sought to gette my mayden head but I fonde wench receiuing a benefit from aboue began to waxe sqemishe beneath not vnlike to Asolis which beeing made greene by heauenly droppes shrinketh into the grounde when there fall showers or the Syrian mudde which being made white chalk by the sunne neuer ceaseth rolling til it lie in the shadow He to sweete praiers added great promises I either desirous to make trial of his power or willing to prolong mine owne life caught vp my handful of sand consenting to his suite if I might liue as many yeares as there were graines Phoebus for what cannot Gods doe and what for loue will they not do graunted my petition And then I sighe and blushe to tell the rest I recalled my promise Phao. Was not the God angry to see you vnkinde Syb. Angry my boy which was the cause that I was vnfortunate Phao What reuenge for such rigor vsed the Gods Syb. None but suffring vs to liue and know wee are no Gods Sapho I pray tell on Syb. I will Hauing receiued long life by Phoebus rare bewtie by nature I thought all the yeere woulde haue beene May that fresh colours would alwaies continue that time fortune could not weare out what Gods and nature had wrought vppe not once imagining that white and read should returne to black and yellow the Iuniper the longer it grew the crookedder it waxed or that in a face without blemish there should come wrinkles without number I did as you do go with my glasse rauished with the pride of mine own bewtie you shall do as I doe loath to see a glasse disdaining deformitie There was none that heard of my fault but shunned my fauour insomuch as I stooped for age before I tasted of youth sure to be long liued vncerteine to bee beloued Gentlemen that vsde to sigh from their heartes for my sweete loue began to point with their fingers at my withered face laughed to see the eies out of which fire seemed to sparkle to be suckered
are as desperate as soldiours and cookes prouide as good weapons as cutlers Criti. O valiaunt kinght Molus I will die for it what greater valor Criti. Schollers fight who rather seeke to choak their stomackes then see their blood Molus I will stand vppon this point if it bee valour to dare die he is valiaunt howsoeuer he dieth Criti. Well of this hereafter but here commeth Calipho we will haue some sporte Caly. My mistresse I think hath got a Gadfly neuer at home and yet none can tel where abrode My maister was a wise man when he matcht with such a womanne When she comes in we must put out the fire because of the smoake hang vp our hammers because of the noise and doe no worke but watch what shee wanteth She is faire but by my troath I doubt of her honestie I muste seeke her that I feare Mars hath found Criti. Whom doest thou seeke Caly. I haue found those I seeke not Molus I hope you haue found those which are honest Caly. It may be but I seeke no such Molus Cryticus you shall see me by learning to proue Calipho to bee the deiull Cryti. Let vs see but I pray thee proue it better then thou didst thy self to be valiant Molus Calipho I will proue thee to bee the diuell Caly. Then will I sweare thee to bee a God Molus The diuell is black Caly. What care I Molus Thou art black Caly. What care you Molus Therfore thou art the diuell Caly. I denie that Molus It is the conclusion thou must not denie it Caly. In spite of all conclusions I will denie it Criti. Molus the Smith holdes you hard Molus Thou seest he hath no reason Criti. Trie him againe Molus I will reason with thee now from a place Caly. I meane to aunswere you in no other place Molus Like maister like man Caly. Yt may be Molus But thy maister hath hornes Caly. And so maist thou Molus Therefore thou hast hornes and ergo a deuill Caly. Be they all diuelles haue hornes Molus All men that haue hornes are Caly. Then are there moe diuels on earth thē in hell Molus But what doest thou answere Caly. I deny that Molus What Caly. Whatsoeuer it is that shall proue mee a diuell But hearest thou scholler I am a plaine fellow and can fashion nothing but with the hammer What wilt thou say if I proue thee a smith Molus Then will I say thou art a scholler Cryti. Proue it Calipho and I will giue thee a good Colaphum Caly. I will proue it or els Criti. Or els what Caly. Or els I will not prooue it Thou art a Smith therefore thou art a smith The conclusion you say must not bee denyed therfore it is true thou art a smith Molus I but I denie your Antecedent Caly. I but you shal not Haue I not toucht him Cryticus Criti. You haue both done learnedly for as sure as he is a smith thou art a diuell Caly. And then he a deuill because a smith for that it was his reasō to make me a deuil being a smith Molus There is no reasoning with these Mechanical doltes whose wits are in their hands not in their heads Criti. Be not cholericke you are wise but let vs take vp this matter with a song Caly. I am content my voice is as good as my reason Molus Than shall we haue sweete musick But come I will not breake of Song Exeunt Actus secundus Schaena quarta Phao Sybilla Phao What vnacquainted thoughtes are these Phao farre vnfit for thy thoughtes vnmeet for thy birth thy fortune thy yeares for Phao vnhappy canst thou not be content to beholde the sunne but thou muste couet to build thy nest in the Sunne Doth Sapho bewitch thee whome all the Ladies in Sicily coulde not wooe Yea poore Phao the greatnesse of thy mind is far aboue the bewtie of thy face and the hardnesse of thy fortune beyonde the bitternesse of thy words Die Phao Phao die for there is no hope if thou bee wise nor safetie if thou be fortunate Ah Phao the more thou seekest to suppresse those mounting affections they soare the loftier the more thou wrastlest with them the stronger they waxe not vnlike vnto a ball which the harder it is throwne against the earth the higher it boundeth into the ayre or our Sycilyan stone which groweth hardest by hammeringe O diuine loue and therefore diuine because loue whose deitie no conceite canne compase and therfore no authoritie canne constraine as miraculous in working as mightie no more to bee suppressed then comprehended Howe now Phao whether art thou caried committing idolatrie with that God whome thou hast cause to blaspheme O Sapho faire Sapho peace miserable wretch enioy thy care in couert we are willow in thy hatte and baies in thy hart Leade a Lamb in thy hand a Fox in thy head a doue on the back of thy hand a sparow in the palme Gold boyleth best whē it bubleth least water runneth smoothest where it is deepest Let thy loue hang at thy hearts bottome not at the tongues brimme Things vntold are vndone there can be no greater comforte then to know much nor any lesse labour then to saye nothing But ah thy bewty Sapho thy bewty Beginnest thou to blabbe I blabbe it Phao as long as thou blabbest her bewty Bees that die with honney are buried with harmonie Swannes that end their liues with songs are couered when they are dead with flowers and they that till their latter gaspe commend bewty shall be euer honoured with benefites In these extreamities I will goe to none other Oracle then Sybilla whose olde yeares haue not beene idle in these young attemptes whose sound aduice may mitigate though the heauēs cannot remoue my miseries O Sapho sweete Sapho Sapho Sibilla Syb. Who is there Phao One not worthy to be one Syb. Faire Phao Phao Vnfortunate Phao Syb. Come in Phao So I wil and quite thy tale of Phoebus with one whose brightnesse darkeneth Phoebus I loue Sapho Sybilla Sapho ah Sapho Sybilla Syb. A short tale Phao and a sorowfull it asketh pitie rather then counsell Phao So it is Sybilla yet in those firm yeares me thinketh there shold harbour such experience as may deferre though not take away my destinie Syb. It is hard to cure that by wordes which cannot be eased by hearbes and yet if thou wilt take aduice be attentiue Phao I haue brought mine eares of purpose and will hāg at your mouth til you haue finished your discourse Syb. Loue faire child is to be gouerned by arte as thy boat by an oare for fancie thogh it cōmeth by hazard is ruled by wisdome If my preceptes may perswade and I pray thee let them perswade I woulde wish thee first to be diligent for that womenne desire nothing more then to haue their seruants officious Be alwaies in sight but neuer slothful Flatter I meane lie litle things catch light mindes and fancy is a worme
faire houses Thy Tortoys haue I nourished vnder my fig tree my chāber haue I ceeled with thy Cockleshels dipped thy spung into the freshest waters Didst thou nourse me in my swadling clouts with wholsome hearbes that I might perish in my flowting yeares by fancie I perceiue but to late I perceiue and yet not too late because at last that straines are caught aswell by stooping too low as reaching to high that eies are bleared as soone with vapours that come from the earth as with beames that procede from the sunne Loue lodgeth sometimes in caues thou Phoebus that in the pride of thy hearre shinest all day in our Horizon at night dippest thy head in the Ocean Resiste it Sapho whilest it is yet tender Of Acornes comes Oakes of droppes floudes of sparkes flames of Atomies Elementes But alas it fareth with mee as with waspes who feeding on serpents make their stings more venomous for glutting my selfe on the face of Phao I haue made my desire more desperate Into the neast of an Alcyon no birde can enter but the Alcyon and into the hart of so great a Ladie can any creep but a great Lord There is an hearbe not vnlike vnto my loue whiche the further it groweth from the sea the salter it is and my desires the more they swarue from reason the more seeme they reasonable When Phao commeth what thē wilt thou open thy loue Yea No Sapho but staring in his face till thine eies dasell and thy spirites fainte die before his face then this shall be written on thy Tomb that though thy loue were greater then wisdome could endure yet thine honour was such as loue could not violate Mileta Milet. I come Sapho It wil not be I can take no reste which way soeuer I turne Milet. A straunge maladie Sapho Mileta if thou wilt a Martiredom But giue me my lute and I will see if in songe I can beguile mine owne eies Milet. Here Madame Sapho Haue you sent for Phao Milet. Yea Sapho And to bring simples that will procure sleepe Milet. No Sapho Foolish wensh what should the boy do heere if he bring not remedies with him you thinke belike I could sleep if I did but see him Let him not come at al yes let him come no it is no matter yet will I trie lette him come doe you heare Milet. Yea Madame it shall be doone Peace no noise shee beginneth to fall asleepe I will goe to Phao Isme. Goe speedily for if she wake and finde you not heere shee will bee angry Sicke folkes are testie who though they eate nothing yet they feede on gall The song Actus tertius Schaena prima Mileta Phao Ismena Sapho Venus Milet. I woulde eyther your cunning Phao or your fortune might by simples prouoke my Lady to some slumber Phao. My simples are in operation as my simplicitie is which if they do litle good assuredly they can doe no harme Milet. Were I sicke the verye sight of thy faire face would driue me into a sound sleepe Phao. Indeede Gentlewomen are so drowsie in their desires that they can scarce hold vp their eies for loue Milet. I meane the delight of bewtie would so blinde my senses as I shoulde bee quickly rocked into a deepe rest Phao. You women haue an excuse for an aduauntage which must be allowed because onely to you women it was allotted Milet. Phao thou art passing faire able to drawe a chaste eie not only to glaunce but to gaze on thee Thy yong yeares thy quick wit thy staied desires are of force to controll those which should commaund Phao. Lady I forgot to commend you first and leaste I shoulde haue ouerslipped to praise you at all you haue brought in my bewtie which is simple that in curtisie I might remember yours which is singular Milet. You mistake of purpose or miscōster of malice Phao. I am as farre from malice as you from loue to mistake of purpose were to mislike of peeuishnes Milet. As far as I from loue Why think you me so dul I cannot loue or so spitefull I will not Phao. Neither Lady but how shoulde men imagine women can loue when in their mouths there is nothing rifer then in faith I do not loue Milet. Why wil you haue womēs loue in their tongs Phao. Yea els do I think there is none in their harts Milet. Why Phao. Because there was neuer any thing in the bottō of a womans hart that commeth not to her tongs end Milet. You are too young to cheapen loue Sapho Yet old ynough to talk with market folkes Milet. Well let vs in Isme. Phao is come Sapho Who Phao Phao let him come neere but who sent for him Milet. You Madame Sapho I am loath to take any medicins yet must I rather thē pine in these maladies Phao you may make me sleepe if you will Phao. If I can I must if you will Sapho What hearbes haue you brought Phao Phao. Such as will make you sleepe Madame though they cannot make me slumber Sapho Why how can you cure me when you cannot remedy your selfe Phao. Yes Madame the causes are contrary For it is onely a drinesse in your braines that keepeth you from rest But Sapho But what Phao. Nothing but mine is not so Sapho Nay then I despaire of helpe if our disease bee not all one Phao. I would our diseases were all one Sapho It goes hard with the pacient whē the Phisition is desperate Phao. Yet Medea made the euerwaking Dragon to snorte when shee poore soule could not winke Sapho Medaea was in loue nothing could cause her rest but Iason Phao. Indeede I know no hearb to make louers sleepe but Heartes ease which beecause it groweth so high I cannot reach for Sapho For whom Phao. For such as loue Sapho It groweth very low and I can neuer stoope to it that Phao. That what Sapho That I may gather it but why doe you sight so Phao Phao. It is mine vse Madame Sapho It will doe you harme and mee too for I neuer heare one sighe but I must sight also Phao. It were best then that your Ladyship giue mee leaue to be gone for I can but sigh Sapho Nay stay for now I beginne to sighe I shall not leaue though you be gone But what do you thinke best for your sighing to take it away Phao. Yew Madame Sapho Mee Phao. No Madame yewe of the tree Sapho Then will I loue yewe the better And indeede I think it would make mee sleepe too therfore all other simples set aside I will simply vse onely yewe Phao. Doe madame for I think nothing in the world so good as yewe Sapho Farewell for this time Venus Is not your name Phao Phao. Phao faire Venus whom you made so faire Venus So passing faire O faire Phao O sweete Phao what wilt thou doe for Venus Phao. Anything that commeth in the compasse of my poore fortune Venus Cupid shal teach thee to shoote
tongue But say on Eugenua Euge. There is all Sapho What did you dreame Canope Cano. I seldome dreame Madame but sithence your sicknesse I cannot tell whether with ouer watching but I haue had many phantastical visions for euen now slumbring by your beddes side mee thought I was shadowed with a clowd where labouring to vnwrap my selfe I was more intangled But in the midst of my striuing it seemed to myself gold with faire drops I filled my lap and running to shew it my fellowes it turned to duste I blushed they laughed and then I waked being glad it was but a dreame Isme. Take heede Canope that gold tempt not your lappe and then you blush for shame Cano. It is good lucke to dreame of gold Isme. Yea if it had continued gold Lamya I dreame euery night and the last night this Me though that walking in the sunne I was stung with the flye Tarantula whose venom nothing can expell but the sweete consent of musicke I tried all kinde of instruments but found no ease till at the last two Lutes tuned in one key so glutted my thirsting eares that my griefe presently seased for ioye whereof as I was clapping my handes your Ladyship called Milet. It is a signe that nothing shall asswage your loue but mariage for such is the tying of two in wedlocke as is the tuning of two Lutes in one key for strikinge the stringes of the one strawes will stirre vpon the stringes of the other and in two mindes lincked in loue one cannot be delighted but the other reioyceth Fauil. Mee thought going by the sea side amonge Pebels I sawe one playing with a rounde stone euer throwing it into the water when the sunne shined I asked the name hee saide it was called Abeston which being once whotte would neuer be cold he gaue it me and vanished I forgetting my selfe delighted with the fayre showe woulde alwayes shewe it by candle light pull it out in the Sunne and see howe bright it woulde look in the fire where catching heate nothing could coole it for anger I threwe it against the wall and with the heauing vp of myne arme I waked Milet. Beware of loue Fauilla for women hearts are such stones which warmed by affection cannot be coold by wisdome Fauil. I warrant you for I neuer credit mennes words Isme. Yet be warie for women are scorched somtimes with mens eies though they had rather consume then confesse Sapho Cease your talking for I would faine sleepe to see if I can dreame whether the birde hath feathers or the Antes winges Draw the curteine Actus quartus Schaena quarta Venus Vulcan Cupid Venus Come Cupid Vulcans flames must quench Venus fires Vulcan Vulc. Who Venus Venus Vulc. Ho ho Venus Venus Come sweete Vulcan thou knowest how sweete thou hast found Venus who being of all the gooddesses the most faire hath chosen thee of all the Gods the most foule thou must needes then confesse I was most louing Enquire not the cause of my suite by questions but preuent the effects by curtisie Make me six arrowe heads it is giuen thee of the Gods by permission to frame them to any purpose I shall request them by praier Why lowrest thou Vulcan wilt thou haue a kisse holde vppe thy head Venus hath young thoughtes and fresh affections Rootes haue stringes when boughs haue no leaues But hearken in thine eare Vulcan how saiest thou Vulc. Vulcan is a God with you when you are disposed to flatter A right womanne whose tongue is lyke a Bees stinge which pricketh deepest when it is fullest of honnye Because you haue made mine eies dronk with fayre lookes you wil set mine eares on edge with sweete words You were woont to say that the beating of hammers made your head ake and the smoake of the forge your eies water and euery coale was a blocke in your way You weepe rose water when you aske and spitte vineger when you haue obteined What would you now with new arrowes belike Mars hath a tougher skin one his heart or Cupid a weaker arme or Venus a better courage VVell Venus there is neuer a smile in your face but hath made a wrinkle in my forehead Ganymedes must fill your cuppe and you wil pledge none but Iupiter But I wil not chide Venus Come Cyclops my wife must haue her will let vs doe that in earth which the Gods cannot vndoe in heauen Venus Gramercie sweete Vulcan to your worke The Song in making of the Arrowes Vulc. Heere Venus I haue finished these arrowes by arte bestowe them you by witte for as great aduise must he vse that hath them as hee cunning that made them Venus Vulcan nowe you haue done with your forge lette vs alone with the fancye you are as the Fletcher not the Archer to meddle with the arrowe not the aime Vulc. I thought so when I haue done working you haue done woowing Where is now sweete Vulcan Wel I can say no more but this which is enoughe and as much as any can say Venus is a woman Venus Bee not angrye Vulcan I will loue thee agayne when I haue eyther businesse or nothing els to doe Cupid My mother will make muche of you when there are no more men then Vulcan Actus quintus Schaena prima Venus Cupid Venus Come Cupid receiue with thy fathers instruments thy mothers instructions for thou must be wise in conceite if thou wilt be fortunate in execution This arrow is feathered with the winges of Aegitus which neuer sleepeth for feare of his hen the heade toucht with the stone Perillus which causeth mistruste and ielousie Shoote this Cupid at men that haue faire wiues which will make them rubbe the browes when they swell in the braines This shaft is headed with Lidian steel which striketh a deepe disdain of that which we most desire the feathers are of Turtel but dipped in the bloud of a Tigresse draw this vp close to the head at Sapho that she may despise where now she doates Good my boye gall her on the side that for Phaos loue she may neuer sighe This arrow is feathered with the Phoenix winge and headed with the Eagles bill it maketh mē passionate in desires in loue constant and wise in conueiaunce melting as it were their fancies into faith this arrowe sweete childe and with as great ayme as thou canst must Phao be striken withall and cry softly to thy selfe in the very loose Venus Sweete Cupid mistake me not I wil make a quiuer for that by it selfe The fourth hath feathers of the Peacocke but glewed with the gum of the Mirtle tree headed with fine golde and fastened with brittle Chrysocoll this shoote at daintie and coy Ladies at amiable and young Nymphes chuse no other white but women for this will worke lyking in their mindes but not loue affabilitie in speach but no faith courtly fauours to bee Mistresses ouer many but constant to none sighes to be fetcht from the longes not the heart and teares to bee