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
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
dye Nay die for to sleepe it is impossible and yet I knowe not how it commeth to passe I feele such a heauines both in mine eyes and hart that I am sodainly benummed yea in euery iont it may be wearinesse for when did I rest it may bee deepe melancholy for when did I not sigh Cynthia I so I say Cynthia He falles a sleepe Dipsas Little doost thou knowe Endimion when thou shalt wake for hadst thou placed thy heart as lowe in loue as thy head lieth now in sleepe thou mightest haue commanded Tellus whome nowe in stead of a Mistris thou shalt finde a tombe These eyes must I seale vp by Art not Nature which are to be opened neither by Art nor Nature Thou that laist downe with golden lockes shalt not awake vntill they bee turned to siluer haires and that chin on which scarcely appeareth soft downe shal be filled with brissles as hard as broome thou shalt sleep out thy youth and flowring time and become dry hay before thou knewest thy selfe greene grasse ready by age to step into the graue whē thou wakest that was youthfull in the Courte when thou laidst thee downe to sleepe The malice of Tellus hath brought this to passe which if shee could not haue intreated of mee by fayre meanes she would haue commaunded by menacing for from her gather wee all our simples to maintaine our sorceries Fanne with this hemlocke ouer his face and sing the inchantment for sleepe whilst I goe in and finish those cerimonies that are required in our Art take heede yee touch not his face for the Fanne is so seasoned that who so it toucheth with a leafe shall presently dye and ouer whom the vvind of it breatheth he shall sleepe for euer Exit Bagoa Let me alone I will bee carefull What happe hadst thou Endimion to come vnder the hands of Dipsas O faire Endimion how it grieueth me that that faire face must be turned to a withered skinne taste the paines of death before it feele the reward of loue I feare Tellus will repent that which the heauens themselues seemed to rewe but I heare Dipsas comming I dare not repine least she make me pine and rocke me into such a deepe sleepe that I shall not awakd to my marriage Enter Dipsas Dipsas How now haue you finished Bagoa Yea Dipsas Well then let vs in and see that you doo not so much as whisper that I did this for if you do I will turne thy haires to Adders and all thy teeth in thy heade to tongues come away come away Exeunt Actus tertius Scaena prima Cynthia three Lordes Tellus Cynth. IS the report true that Endimion is striken into such a dead sleep that nothing can either wake him or mooue him Eum. Too true Madame and as much to be pittied as wondered at Tellus As good sleepe and doe no harme as wake and doe no good Cynth. What maketh you Tellus to bee so short the time was Endimion onely was Eum. It is an olde saying Madame that a waking dog doth a farre off barke at a sleeping Lyon Sem. It were good Eumenides that you tooke a nappe with your friend for your speech beginneth to be heauy Eum. Contrarie to your nature Semele which hath beene alwaies accounted light Cynth. What haue we heare before my face these vnseemely and malepart ouerthwarts I will tame your tongues and your thoughts and make your speeches answerable to your dueties and your conceits fitte for my dignitie els will I banish you both my person and the worlde Eum. Pardon I humbly aske but such is my vnspotted faith to Endimion that whatsoeuer seemeth a needle to pricke his finger is a dagger to wound my heart Cynth. If you bee so deere to him howe happeneth it you neither go to see him nor search for remedy for him Eum. I haue seene him to my griefe and sought recure with despaire for that I cannot imagine who should restore him that is the wounder to all men your highnes on whose handes the compasse of the earth is at cōmaund though not in possession may shewe your selfe both worthy your sex your nature and your fauour if you redeeme that honorable Endimion whose ripe yeres foretell rare vertues and whose vnmellowed conceits promise rype counsell Cyn. I haue had tryal of Endimion conceiue greater assurance of his age then I coulde hope of hys youth Tel. But timely Madam crookes that tree that wil be a camock and young it pricks that will be a thorne and therefore he that began without care to settle his life it is a signe without amendment he will end it Cynth. Presumptuous gyrle I will make thy tongue an example of vnrecouerable displeasure Corsites carry her to the Castle in the Deserte there to remaine and weaue Cors. Shall she worke stories or poetries Cynthia It skylleth not which goe to in both for she shall find examples infinite in eyther what punishment long tongues haue Eumenides if eyther the Sooth-sayers in Egipt or the Enchaunters in Thessaly or the Philosophers in Greece or all the Sages of the worlde can find remedie I will procure it therefore dispatch with al speede you Eumenides into Thessalie You Zontes into Greece because you are acquainted in Athens You Panthon to Egypt saying that Cynthia sendeth and if you will commaundeth Eum. On bowed knee I giue thanks and with wings on my legs I flye for remedie Zon. We are readie at your highnes commaund hope to returne to your full content Cyn. It shall neuer be said that Cynthia whose mercy and goodnes filleth the heauens with ioyes the world with meruailes will suffer eyther Endimion or any to perrish if he may be protected Eum. Your Maiesties wordes haue beene alwaies deedes and your deedes vertues Exeunt Actus tertius Scaena secunda Corsites Tellus Cors. Heere is the Castle fayre Tellus in which you must weaue till eyther time end your dayes or Cinthia her displeasure I am sorrie so fayre a face shoulde bee subiect to so hard a fortune and that the flower of beautie which is honoured in Courts shoulde heere wither in pryson Tellus Corsites Cynthia may restraine the libertie of my bodie of my thoughts she cannot and therefore doe I esteeme my selfe most free though I am in greatest bondage Cors. Can you then feede on fancie and subdue the mallice of enuie by the sweetnes of imagination Tellus Corsites there is no sweeter musicke to the miserable then dispayre and therefore the more bitternesse I feele the more sweetnes I find for so vaine were liberty and so vnwelcome the following of higher fortune that I chuse rather to pine in this Castle then to be a Prince in any other Court Cors. A humor contrary to your yeeres and nothing agreeable to your sex the one commonly allured with delights the other alwaies with soueraigntie Tellus I meruaile Corsites that you being a Captain who should sound nothing but terror and suck nothing but blood can
onely tickleth the heade with hopes and wishes friendshippe the image of eternitie in which there is nothing moueable nothing mischeeuous As much difference as there is betweene Beautie and Vertue bodies and shadowes colours and life so great oddes is there betweene loue and friendshippe Loue is a Camelion which draweth nothing into the mouth but ayre and nourisheth nothing in the bodie but lunges beleeue mee Eumenides Desire dyes in the same moment that Beautie sickens and Beautie fadeth in the same instant that it flourisheth When aduersities flowe then loue ebbes but friendship standeth stifflie in stormes Time draweth wrinckles in a fayre face but addeth fresh colours to a fast friende which neither heate nor cold nor miserie nor place nor destiny can alter or diminish O friendship of all things the most rare and therefore most rare because most excellent whose comforts in misery is alwaies sweet and whose counsels in prosperitie are euer fortunate Vaine loue that onely comming neere to friendship in name woulde seeme to be the same or better in nature Eum. Father I allowe your reasons and will therefore conquer mine own Vertue shall subdue affections wisdome lust friendship beautie Mistresses are in euery place and as common as Hares in Atho Bees in Hybla foules in the ayre but friends to be founde are like the Phaenix in Arabia but one or the Philadelphi in Arays neuer aboue two I will haue Endimion sacred Fountaine in whose bowels are hidden diuine secrets I haue encreased your waters with the teares of vnspotted thoughts and therefore let mee receiue the reward you promise Endimion the truest friende to mee and faithfullest louer to Cynthia is in such a dead sleepe that nothing can wake or mooue him Geron Doost thou see any thing Eumenides I see in the same Piller these wordes When shee whose figure of all is the perfectest and neuer to bee measured alwaies one yet neuer the same still inconstant yet neuer wauering shall come and kisse Endimion in his sleepe hee shall then rise els neuer This is straunge Geron What see you els Eum. There commeth ouer mine eyes either a darke mist or vppon the fountaine a deepe thicknesse for I can perceiue nothing But howe am I deluded or what difficult nay impossible thing is this Geron Me thinketh it easie Eum. Good father and howe Geron Is not a circle of all Figures the perfectest Eum. Yes Geron And is not Cynthia of all cyrcles the most absolute Eum. Yes Geron Is it not impossible to measure her who still worketh by her influence neuer standing at one stay Eum. Yes Geron Is shee not alwaies Cynthia yet seldome in the same bignesse alwaies wauering in her waxing or wayning that our bodies might the better bee gouerned our seasons the daylier giue their increase yet neuer to bee remooued from her course as long as the heauens continue theirs Eum. Yes Geron Then who can it bee but Cynthia whose vertues beeing all diuine must needes bring things to passe that bee myraculous Goe humble thy selfe to Cynthia tell her the successe of which my selfe shall bee a witnesse And this assure thy selfe that shee that sent to finde meanes for his safetie will now worke her cunning Eum. How fortunate am I if Cynthia be she that may doo it Geron Howe fonde art thou if thou doo not beleeue it Eum. I will hasten thither that I may intreat on my knees for succour and imbrace in mine armes my friend Geron I will goe with thee for vnto Cynthia must I discouer all my sorrowes who also must worke in mee a contentment Eum. May I nowe knowe the cause Geron That shall bee as wee walke and I doubt not but the straungnesse of my tale will take away the tediousnesse of our iourney Eum. Let vs goe Geron I followe Exeunt Actus quartus Scaena prima Tellus Corsites Tellus I Maruell Corsites giueth me so much libertie all the worlde knowing his charge to bee so high and his nature to bee most straunge who hath so ill intreated Ladies of great honour that he hath not suffered them to looke out of windowes much lesse to walke abroade it may bee hee is in loue with mee for Endimion hard harted Endimion excepted what is he that is not enamourd of my beautie But what respectest thou the loue of all the world Endimion hates thee Alas poore Endimion my malyce hath exceeded my loue and thy faith to Cynthia quenched my affections Quenched Tellus nay kindled them a fresh in so much that I finde scorching flames for dead embers and cruell encounters of warre in my thoughtes in steede of sweete parlees Ah that I might once againe see Endimion accursed girle what hope hast thou to see Endimion on whose head already are growne gray haires and whose life must yeelde to Nature before Cynthia ende her displeasure Wicked Dipsas and most deuilish Tellus the one for cunning too exquisit the other for hate too intollerable Thou wast commanded to weaue the stories Poetries wherin were shewed both examples punishments of tatling tongues and thou hast only imbrodered the sweet face of Endimion deuises of loue melancholy imaginations and what not out of thy worke that thou shouldst studie to picke out of thy mind But here cometh Corsites I must seeme yeelding and stoute ful of mildnesse yet tempered with a Maiestie for if I be too flexible I shall giue him more hope then I meane if too froward enioy lesse liberty then I would loue him I cannot therfore will practise that which is most contrarie to our sex to dissemble Enter Corsites Cor. Faire Tellus I perceiue you rise with the Larke and to your selfe sing with the Nightingale Tellus My Lord I haue no play-fellow but fancy being barred of all companie I must question with my selfe and make my thoughts my frindes Cor. I would you would account my thoughtes also your friends for they be such as are only busied in wondering at your beautie wisdome some such as haue esteemed your fortune too hard and diuers of that kind that offer to set you free if you will set them free Tellus There are no colours so contrarie as white and blacke nor Elements so disagreeing as fire and water nor any thing so opposite as mens thoughts their words Cor. He that gaue Cassandra the gift of prophecying with the curse that spake shee neuer so true shee should neuer be beleeued hath I think poysoned the fortune of men that vttering the extremities of their inward passions are alwayes suspected of outward periuries Tellus Well Corsites I will flatter my selfe and beleeue you What would you doe to enioy my loue Cor. Sette all the Ladies of the Castle free and make you the pleasure of my life more I cannot doe lesse I will not Tellus These be great wordes and fit your calling for Captaines must promise things impossible But wil you doe one thing for all Cor. Any thing sweet Tellus that am ready for all Tellus You
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
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