Vera Effigies Tho: Midletoni Gent. TWO NEW PLAYES VIZ. More DISSEMBLERS besides WOMEN VIZ. WOMEN beware WOMEN WRITTEN By Tho. Middleton Gent. London Printed for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at his Shop at the Prince's Arms in St. Pauls Churchyard 1657 MORE DISSEMBLERS BESIDES WOMEN A COMEDY BY Tho. Middleton Gent. LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley 1657 TO THE READER WHen these amongst others of Mr. Thomas Middleton's Excellent Poems came to my hands I was not a little confident but that his name would prove as great an Inducement for thee to Read as me to Print them Since those Issues of his Brain that have already seen the Sun have by their worth gained themselves a free entertainment amongst all that are ingenious And I am most certain that these will no way lessen his Reputation nor hinder his Admission to any Noble and Recreative Spirits All that I require at thy hands is to continue the Author in his deserved Esteem and to accept of my Endeavors which have ever been to please thee Farewel UPON The Tragedy of My Familiar Acquaintance THO. MIDDLETON WOmen beware Women 't is a true Text Never to be forgot Drabs of State vext Have Plots Poysons Mischeifs that seldom miss To murther Vertue with a venom kiss Witness this worthy Tragedy exprest By him that well deserv'd among the best Of Poets in his time He knew the rage Madness of Women crost and for the Stage Fitted their humors Hell-bred Malice Strife Acted in State presented to the life I that have seen 't can say having just cause Never came Tragedy off with more applause Nath. Richards The Actors Names LOrd Cardinal of Milan Lactantio his Nephew Andrugio General of Milan Father to Aurelia Lords of Milan Governor of the Fort Servant to Aurelia Crotchet a Singing Master Sinquapace a Dancing Master Usher to Sinquapace Dondolo Servant to Lactantio Dutchess of Milan Celia her Waiting-Gentlewoman Aurelia Mistress to Andrugio and Lactantio Page Lactantio's old Sweet-heart disguised Servants Scaen Milan MORE DISSEMBLERS BESIDES WOMEN The First Part Act. 1. Scaen. 1. Enter Lactantio and Aurelia and Servant Musick SONG TO be chaste is Womans glory 'T is her fame and honors story Here sits she in Funeral weeds Onely bright in vertuous deeds Come and read her life and praise That singing weeps and sighing plays Lact. WElcome Souls Musick I have been listening here To melancholly strains from the Dutchess lodgings That strange great Widow that has vow'd so stifly Never to know loves heat in a second Husband And she has kept the Fort most valiantly To th' wonder of her Sex this seven years day And that 's no sorry tryal A moneths constancy Is held a vertue in a City-widow And are they excel'd by so much more i' ch' Court My faith a rare example for our Wives Heavens blessing of her heart for 't poor Soul Sh 'ad need have somewhat to comfort her What wouldst thou do Faith now If I were dead suppose I wear thy Husband As shortly I will be and that 's as good Speak freely and thou lov'st me Aur. Alas Sir I should not have the leasure to make Vows For dying presently I should be dead Before you were laid out Lact. Now fye upon thee for a hasty dier Wouldst thou not see me buried Aur. Talk not on 't Sir These many years unless you take delight To see me swoun or make a ghost of me Lact. Alas poor Soul I 'll kiss thee into colour Canst thou paint pale so quickly I perceive then thou 'dst go beyond the Dutchess in her vow thou 'dst die indeed What 's he Aur. Be setled Sir Spend neither doubt nor fear upon that fellow Health cannot be more trusty to mans life Then he to my necessities in love Lact. I take him of thy word and praise his face Though he look scurvily I will think hereafter That honesty may walk with fire in 's Nose As well as brave desert in broken clothes But for thy further safety I 've provided A shape that at first sight will start thy modesty And make thee blush perhaps but 't will away After a qualm or two Virginity Has been put often to those shifts before thee Upon extremities a little boldness Cannot be call'd immodesty especially When there 's no means without it for our safeties Thou knowest my Uncle the Lord Cardinal Wears so severe an eye so strict and holy It not endures the sight of Woman-kinde About his Lodgings Hardly a Matron of Four-score 's admitted Though she be worn to gums she comes not there To mumble Mattens all his admiration Is plac'd upon the Dutchess he likes her Because she keeps her vow and likes not any So do's he love that man above his Book That loves no woman for my Fortunes sake then For I am like to be his onely Heir I must dissemble and appear as fair To his opinion as the brow of Piety As void of all impureness as an Altar Thine ear that and we are safe Aur. You make me blush Sir Lact. 'T is but a star shot from a beauteous cheek It blazes Beauties bounty and hurts nothing Aur. The power of Love commands me Lact. I shall wither in comforts till I see thee Exeunt Scaen. 2. Enter L. Cardinal in his Closet and two or three Lords L. Card. My Lords I have work for you when you have hours Free from the cares of State bestow your eyes Upon those abstracts of the Dutchess vertues My studies ornaments I make her Constancy The holy Mistress of my contemplation Whole volumes have I writ in zealous praise Of her eternal vow I have no power To suffer Vertue to go thinly clad I that have ever been in youth an old man To pleasures and to women and could never love but pity 'em And all their momentary frantick follies Here I stand up in admiration And bow to the chaste health of our great Dutchess Kissing her constant name O my fair Lords When we finde grace confirm'd especially In a creature that 's so doubtful as a woman We' are spirit ravish'd men of our probation Feel the Sphears Musick playing in their Souls So long unto the eternizing of her sex Sh 'as kept her vow so strictly and as chaste As everlasting life is kept for Vertue Ev'n from the sight of men to make her oath As uncorrupt as th' honor of a Virgin That must be strict in thought or else that title Like one of Frailties ruines shrinks to dust No longer she 's a Virgin then she 's just 1. Lord Chaste Sir the Truth and Justice of her Vow To her deceased Lord 's able to make poor Mans treasury of praises But methinks She that has no temptation set before her Her Vertue has no conquest then would her constancy Shine in the brightest goodness of her glory If she would give admittance see and be seen And yet resist and conquer There were argument For Angels 't would out-reach the life of praise
conflict in my Brest This tedious War 'twixt two Affections Crown me with victory and my heart 's at peace Enter Hippolito and Guardiano like Shepherds Hip. Make me that happy man thou mighty Goddess Guard But I live most in hope if truest love Merit the greatest comfort Isab. I love both With such an even and fair affection I know not which to speak for which to wish for Till thou great Arbitress 'twixt lovers hearts By thy auspicious Grace design the man Which pitty I implore Both We all implore it Isab. And after sighs contritions truest odors Livia descends like Juno I offer to thy powerful Deity This precious Incense may it ascend peacefully And if it keep true touch my good Aunt Juno 'T will try your immortality er 't be long I fear you 'll never get so nigh Heaven again When you 're once down Liv. Though you and your affections Seem all as dark to our illustrious brightness As nights inheritance Hell we pitty you And your requests are granted You ask signs They shall be given you we 'll be gracious to you He of those twain which we determine for you Loves Arrows shall wound twice the later wound Betokens love in age for so are all Whose love continues firmly all their life time Twice wounded at their marriage else affection Dies when youth ends This favor overcomes me Now for a sign of wealth and golden days Bright-ey'd Prosperity which all couples love I and makes love take that Our Brother Jove Never denies us of his burning treasure T' express bounty Duke She falls down upon 't What 's the conceit of that Fab. As over-joy'd be like Too much prosperity overjoyes us all And she has her lapful it seems my Lord Duke This swerves a little from the Argument though Look you my Lords Guard All 's fast now comes my part to toll him hither Then with a stamp given he 's dispatch'd as cunningly Hip. Stark dead Oh treachery cruelly made away how 's that Fab. Look there 's one of the Lovers dropt away too Duke Why sure this plot 's drawn false here 's no such thing Liv. Oh I am sick to th' death let me down quickly This fume is deadly Oh 't' has poyson'd me My subtilty is sped her art h 'as quitted me My own ambition pulls me down to ruine Hip. Nay then I kiss thy cold lips and applaud This thy revenge in death Fab. Look Juno's down too Cupids shoot What makes she there her pride should keep aloft She was wont to scorn the Earth in other shows Methinks her Peacocks Feathers are much pull'd Hip. Oh death runs through my blood in a wilde flame too Plague of those Cupids some lay hold on 'em Let 'em not 'scape they have spoil'd me the shaft 's deadly Duke I have lost my self in this quite Hip. My great Lords we are all confounded Duke How Hip. Dead and I worse Fab. Dead my Girl dead I hope My Sister Juno has not serv'd me so Hip. Lust and forgetfulness has been amongst us And we are brought to nothing Some blest Charity Lend me the speeding Pitty of his Sword To quench this fire in blood Leantio's death Has brought all this upon us now I taste it And made us lay plots to confound each other The event so proves it and mans understanding Is riper at his fall then all his life time She in a madness for her lovers death Reveal'd a fearful Lust in our near bloods For which I am punish'd dreadfully and unlook'd for Prov'd her own ruine too Veng'ance met Vengeance Like a set match as if the plague of sin Had been agreed to meet here altogether But how her fawning partner fell I reach not Unless caught by some spring of his own setting For on my pain he never dream'd of dying The plot was all his own and he had cunning Enough to save himself but 't is the property Of guilty deeds to draw your wisemen downward Therefore the wonder ceases Oh this torment Duke Our Guard below there Enter a Lord with a Guard Lord My Lord Hip. Run and meet death then And cut off time and pain Lord Behold my Lord h 'as run his Brest upon a weapons point Duke Upon the first night of our nuptial honors Destruction play her triumph and great mischiefs Mask in expected pleasures 't is prodigious They 're things most fearfully ominous I like 'em not Remove these ruin'd bodies from our eyes Bran. Not yet no change when falls he to the Earth Lord Please but your Excellence to peruse that Paper Which is a brief confession from the heart Of him that fell first ere his soul departed And there the darkness of these deeds speaks plainly 'T is the full scope the manner and intent His Ward that ignorantly let him down Fear put to present flight at the voice of him Bran. Nor yet Duke Read read for I am lost in sight and strength L. Card. My noble Brother Bran. Oh the curse of wretchedness My deadly hand is faln upon my Lord Destruction take me to thee give me way The pains and plagues of a lost soul upon him That hinders me a moment Duke My heart swells bigger yet help here break 't ope My brest flies open next Bran. Oh with the poyson That was prepar'd for thee thee Cardinal 'T was meant for thee L. Card. Poor Prince Bran. Accursed Error Give me thy last breath thou infected bosome And wrap two spirits in one poyson'd vapor Thus thus reward thy murderer and turn death Into a parting kiss My soul stands ready at my lips Ev'n vext to stay one minute after thee L. Card. The greatest sorrow and astonishment That ever struck the general peace of Florence Dwells in this hour Bran. So my desires are satisfied I feel deaths power within me Thou hast prevail'd in something cursed poyson Though thy cheif force was spent in my Lords bosom But my deformity in spirit 's more foul A blemish'd face best fits a leprous soul What make I here these are all strangers to me Not known but by their malice now th' art gone Nor do I seek their pities Card. O restrain Her ignorant wilful hand Bran. Now do 't is done Leantio Now I feel the breach of marriage At my heart-breaking Oh the deadly snares That Women set for Women without pity Either to soul or honor Learn by me To know your foes In this belief I die Like our own Sex we have no Enemy no Enemy Lord See my Lord What shift sh 'as made to be her own destruction Bran. Pride Greatness Honors Beauty Youth Ambition You must all down together there 's no help for 't Yet this my gladness is that I remove Tasting the same death in a cup of love L. Card. Sin what thou art these ruines show too piteously Two Kings on one Throne cannot sit together But one must needs down for his Titles wrong So where lust raigns that Prince cannot raign long Exeunt FINIS
a Tutor he 'ld have taught thee that Come come that I may be gone Boy Musick Page SONG CUpid is Venus onely joy But he 's a wanton Boy A very very wanton Boy He shoots at Ladies naked Brests He is the cause of most mens Crests I mean upon the Forehead Invisible but horrid Of the short Velvet Mask he was deviser That wives may kiss the husband 's ne'r the wiser 'T was he first thought upon the way To keep a Ladies Lips in play Dond. Oh rich ravishing rare and inticing Well go thy ways for as sweet a Brested Page as ever lay at his Masters feet in a Truckle-bed Page You 'll hie you in straight Dondolo Exit Dond. I 'll not miss you This smockified shirt or shirted smock I will go toste let me see what 's a clock I must to th' Castle straight to see his love Either by hook or crook My Master storming Sent me last night but I 'll be gone this morning Exit Act. 2. Scaen. 1. Enter Dutchess and Celia Dutch SEek out the lightest colours can be got The youthful'st dressings Tauny is too sad I am not thirty yet I have wronged my time To go so long in black like a Petitioner See that the Powder that I use about me Be rich in Cassia Cel. Here 's a sudden change Dutch Oh I 'm undone in Faith Stay art thou certain Lactantio Nephew to the Cardinal Was present in the late entertainment of the General Cel. Upon my reputation with your Excellence These eyes beheld him He came foremost Madam 'T was he in black and yellow Dutch Nay 't is no matter either for himself Or for the affectation of his colours So you be sure he was there Cel. As sure as sight Can discern man from man Madam Exit Dutch It suffices Oh an ill cause had need of many helps Much art and many friends I and those mighty Or else it sets in shame A Faith once lost Requires great cunning er 't be entertain'd Into the Brest of a belief again There 's no condition so unfortunate Poor miserable to any Creature given As hers that breaks in vow she breaks with Heaven Enter Lord Cardinal L. Card. Increase of health and a redoubled courage To Chasteties great Soldier what so sad Madam The memorie of her seven yeares deceased Lord Springs yet into her eyes as fresh and full As at the seaventh houre after his departure What a perpetual Fountain is her vertue Too much to afflict your self with ancient sorrow Is not so strictly for your strength requird Your vow is charge enough beleive me 't is Madam You need no waightier task Dutch Religious Sir You heard the last words of my dying Lord L. Card. Which I shall nev'r forget Dutch May I entreat Your goodness but to speake 'em over to me As neere as memory can be friend your utterance That I may think a while I stand in presence Of my departing Husband L. Card. What 's your meaning In this most vertuous Madam Dutch 'T is a curtesie I stand in need of Sir at this time specially Urge it no further yet as it proves to me You shall hear from me onely I desire it Effectually from you Sir that 's my request L. Card. I wonder yet I 'll spare to question farther You shall have your desire Dutch I thank you Sir A blessing come along with 't L. Card. You see my Lords what all Earths glory is Rightly defin'd in me uncertain breath A dream of threescore years to the long sleeper To most not half the time Beware Ambition Heaven is not reach'd with Pride but with submission And you Lord Cardinal labor to perfect Good purposes begun be what you seem Stedfast and uncorrupt your actions noble Your goodness simple without gain or art And not in vesture hollier then in heart But 't is a pain more then the pangs of death To think that we must part Fellows of life Thou richness of my joys kinde and deer Princess Death had no sting but for our separation T' would come more calm then an ev'nings peace That brings on rest to labors Thou art so precious I should depart in everlasting envy Unto the man that ever should enjoy thee Oh a new torment strikes his force into me When I but think on 't I am rack'd and torn Pity me in thy vertues Dutch My lov'd Lord Let you confirm'd opinion of my life My love my faithful love seal an assurance Of quiet to your spirit that no forgetfulness Can cast a sleep so deadly on my Sences To draw my affections to a second liking L. Card. 'Tas ever been the promise and the spring Of my great love to thee For once to marry Is honorable in woman and her ignorance Stands for a vertue coming new and fresh But second marriage shews desires in flesh Thence lust and heat and common custom grows But she 's part Virgin who but one man knows I here expect a work of thy great Faith At my last parting I can crave no more And with thy vow I rest my self for ever My soul and it shall flie to Heaven together Seal to my spirit that quiet satisfaction And I go hence in Peace Dutch Then here I vow never L. Card Why Madam Dutch I can go no further L. Card. What have you forgot your vow Dutch I have too certainly L. Card. Your vow that cannot be it follows now Just where I left Dutch My frailty gets before it Nothing prevails but ill L. Card. What ail you Madam Dutch Sir I 'm in love L. Card. Oh all you powers of Chastity Look to this woman let her not faint now For honor of your selves If she be lost I know not where to seek my hope in woman Madam Oh Madam Dutch My desires are sickned Beyond recovery of good counsel Sir L. Card. What mischeif ow'd a malice to the Sex To work this spightful ill better the man Had never known Creation then to live Th' unlucky ruine of so fair a Temple Yet think upon your vow revive in Faith Those are eternal things What are all pleasures Flatteries of men and Follies upon Earth To your most excellent goodness Oh she 's dead Stark cold to any vertuous claim within her What now is heat is sins Have I approved Your constancy for this call'd your Faith noble Writ volumes of your victories and vertues I have undone my judgment lost my praises Blemish'd the truth of my opinion Give me the man that I may pour him out To all contempt and curses Dutch The mans innocent Full of desert and grace his name Lactantio L. Card. How Dutch Your Nephew L. Card. My Nephew Dutch Beshrew the sight of him he lives not Sir That could have conquer'd me himself excepted L. Card. He that I lov'd so dearly does he wear Such killing poyson in his eye to sanctity He has undone himself for ever by 't Has lost a friend of me and a more sure one Farewel all
if a privy search were made amongst 'em they should finde other manner of ware about 'em Cups Rings and Silver Spoons by 'r Lady Bracelets Pearl Neck-laces and Chains of Gold sometimes they are the wittiest theeves I 'll stay no longer but ev'n go look what I can steal now presently and so begin to bring my self acquainted with 'em Exit Lact. Nothing I fear so much as in this time Of my dull absence her first love the General Will wind himself into her affection By secret gifts and Letters there 's the mischief I have no enemy like him though my policy Dissembled him a welcome no mans hate Can stick more close unto a loath'd disease Then mine to him Enter Lord Cardinal L. Card. What ails this pretty Boy to weep so often Tell me the cause childe how his eyes stand full Beshrew you Nephew you 're too bitter to him He is so soft th' unkindness of a word Melts him into a woman 'lass poor Boy Thou shalt not serve him longer 't were great pity That thou shouldst wait upon an angry Master I have promis'd thee to one will make much of thee And hold thy weak youth in most deer respect Page Oh I beseech your Grace that I may serve No Master else L. Card. Thou shalt not Mine's a Mistress The greatest Mistress in all Milan Boy The Dutchess self Page Nor her nor any L. Card. Cease Boy Thou knowest not thine own happiness through fondness And therefore must be learn't go dry thine eyes Page This rather is the way to make 'em moister Exit Page L. Card. Now Nephew Nephew Lact. Oh y'have snatcht my spirit Sir From the divinest Meditation That ever made Soul happy L. Card. I am afraid I shall have as much toil to bring him on now As I had pains to keep her off from him I have thought it fit Nephew considering The present barrenness of our name and house The onely Famine of succeeding honor To move the ripeness of your time to marriage Lact. How Sir to marriage L. Card. Yes to a fruitful life We must not all be strict so generation Would lose her right thou' rt yong 't is my desire To see thee bestow'd happily in my life time Lact. Does your Grace well remember who I am When you speak this L. Card. Yes very perfectly Y' are a yong man full in the grace of life And made to do love credit proper handsome And for affection pregnant Lact. I beseech you Sir Take off your praises rather then bestow 'em Upon so frail a use alas you know Sir I know not what love is or what you speak of If woman be amongst it I shall swoun take her away For contemplation's sake most serious Uncle Name no such thing to me L. Card. Come come you 'r fond Prove but so strict and obstinate in age And you are well to pass There 's honest love Allow'd you now for recreation The years will come when all delights must leave you Stick close to Vertue then in the mean time There 's honorable joys to keep youth company And if death take you there dying no adulterer You 'r out of his eternal reach defie him List hither come to me and with great thankfulness Welcome thy Fortunes 't is the Dutchess loves thee Lact. The Dutchess L. Card. Dotes on thee Will die for thee Unless she may enjoy thee Lact. She must die then L. Card. How Lact. Alas do you think she ever means to do 't Sir I 'll sooner believe all a woman speaks Then that she 'll die for love She has a vow my Lord That will keep life in her L. Card. Believe me then That should have bounteous interest in thy Faith She 's thine and not her vows the more my sorrow My toil and my destruction Lact. My blood dances L. Card. And though that bashful Maiden vertue in thee That never held familiar league with woman Binds fast all pity to her heart that loves thee Let me prevail my counsel stands up to thee Embrace it as the fulness of thy Fortunes As if all blessings upon Earth were clos'd Within one happiness for such an other Whole life could never meet with go and present Your service and your love but on your hopes Do it religiously What need I doubt him Whom Chastity locks up Lact. Oh Envy hadst thou no other means to come by vertue But by such treachery The Dutchess love Thou wouldst be sure to aim it high enough Thou knew'st full well 't was no prevailing else Sir what your will commands mine shall fulfil I 'll teach my heart in all t' obey your will Enter Lords L. Card. A thing you shall not lose by Here come the Lords Go follow you the course that I advised you The comfort of thy presence is expected Away with speed to Court she languishes For one deer sight of thee For life's sake haste You lose my favor if you let her perish Lact. And art thou come brave Fortune the reward Of neat hypocrisie that ever book't it Or turn'd up transitory white o' th' eye After the Feminine rapture Dutchess and I Were a fit match can be deny'd of no man The best dissembler lights on the best woman 'T were sin to part us Exit L. Card. You Lights of State Truths Friends much honored Lords Faithful admirers of our Dutchess vertues And firm Believers it appears as plain As knowledge to the eyes of industry That neither private motion which holds counsel Often with womans frailty and her blood Nor publick sight the lightning of temptations Which from the eye strikes sparks into the bosom And sets whole hearts on fire hath power to raise A heat in her 'bove that which feeds chaste life And gives that cherishing means she 's the same still And seems so seriously imploy'd in soul As if she could not tend to cast an eye Upon deserts so low as those in man It merits famous memory I confess Yet many times when I behold her youth And think upon the lost hopes of posterity Succession and the royal fruits of Beauty All by the rashness of one vow made desperate It goes so near my heart I feel it painful And wakes me into pity oftentimes When others sleep unmov'd 1 Lord I speak it faithfully For 't is poor fame to boast of a disease Your Grace has not endured that pain alone T' has been a grief of mine but where 's the remedy L. Card. True there your Lordship spake enough in little There 's nothing to be hoped for but repulses She 's not to seek for armor against love That has bid battel to his powers so long He that should try her now had need come strong And with more force then his own Arguments Or he may part disgrac'd being put to flight That Soldier 's tough has been in seven years fight Her vow 's invincible for you must grant this If those desires train'd up in flesh and blood To war continually 'gainst
build the ruines there 's a work of Grace Duke I kiss thee for that spirit thou hast prais'd thy wit A modest way On on there Hoboys L. Card. Lust is bold And will have veng'ance speak er 't be controld Exeunt Act. 5. Scaen. 1. Enter Guardiano and Ward Guard SPeak hast thou any sence of thy abuse Do'st thou know what wrong 's done thee Ward I wear an Ass else I cannot wash my face but I am feeling on 't Guard Here take this Galtrop then convey it secretly Into the place I shew'd you look you Sir This is the trap-door to 't Ward I know 't of old Uncle since the last triumph here rose up a Devil with one eye I remember with a company of fire-works at 's tail Guard Prethee leave squibbing now mark me and fail not but when thou hear'st me give a stamp down with 't The villain 's caught then Ward If I miss you hang me I love to catch a villain and your stamp shall go currant I warrant you But how shall I rise up and let him down too All at one hole that will be a horrible puzzle You know I have a part in 't I play Slander Guard True but never make you ready for 't Ward No my clothes are bought and all and a foul Fiends head with a long contumelious tongue i' th' chaps on 't a very fit shape for Slander i' th' out-parishes Guard It shall not come so far thou understandst it not Ward Oh oh Guard He shall lie deep enough ere that time And stick first upon those Ward Now I conceive you Gardiner Guard Away list to the privy stamp that 's all thy part Ward Stamp my Horns in a Morter if I miss you and give the powder in White-wine to sick Cuckolds a very present remedy for the head-ach Exit Ward Guard If this should any way miscarry now As if the fool be nimble enough 't is certain The Pages that present the swift wing'd Cupids Are taught to hit him with their shafts of love Fitting his part which I have cunningly poyson'd He cannot 'scape my fury and those ills Will be laid all on Fortune not our Wills That 's all the sport on 't for who will imagine That at the celebration of this night Any mischance that hap's can flow from spight Exit Florish Scaen 2. Enter above Duke Brancha L. Cardinal Fabritio and other Cardinals Lords and Ladies in State Duke Now our fair Dutchess your delight shall witness How y' are belov'd and honor'd all the glories Bestow'd upon the gladness of this night Are done for your bright sake Bran. I am the more In debt my Lord to loves and curtesies That offer up themselves so bounteously To do me honor'd Grace without my merit Duke A goodness set in greatness how it sparkles Afar off like pure Diamonds set in Gold How perfect my desires were might I witness But a fair noble peace 'twixt your two spirits The reconcilement would be more sweet to me Then longer life to him that fears to die Good Sir L. Card. I profess Peace and am content Duke I 'll see the Seal upon 't and then 't is firm L. Card. You shall have all you wish Duke I have all indeed now Bran. But I have made surer work this shall not blinde me He that begins so early to reprove Quickly rid him or look for little love Beware a Brothers envy he 's next heir too Cardinal you die this night the plot 's laid surely In time of sports Death may steal in securely then 't is least thought on For he that 's most religious holy Friend Does not at all hours think upon his end He has his times of frailty and his thoughts Their transportations too through flesh and blood For all his zeal his learning and his light As well as we poor soul that sin by night Duke What 's this Fabritio Fab. Marry my Lord the model Of what 's presented Duke Oh we thank their loves Sweet Dutchess take your seat list to the Argument Reads THere is a Nymph that haunts the Woods and Springs In love with two at once and they with her Equal it runs but to decide these things The cause to mighty Juno they refer She being the Marriage-Goddess the two Lovers They offer sighs the Nymph a Sacrifice All to please Juno who by signs discovers How the event shall be so that strife dies Then springs a second for the man refus'd Grows discontent and out of love abus'd He raises Slander up like a black Fiend To disgrace th' other which pays him i' th' end Bran. In troth my Lord a pretty pleasing Argument And fits th' occasion well Envy and Slander Are things soon rais'd against two faithful Lovers But comfort is they are not long unrewarded Musick Duke This musick shews they 're upon entrance now Bran. Then enter all my wishes Enter Hymen in Yellow Ganymed in a Blue robe powdered with Stars and Hebe in a White robe with golden Stars with covered Cups in their hands They dance a short dance then bowing to the Duke c. Hymen speaks Hym. To thee fair Bride Hymen offers up Of nuptial joys this the Celestial Cup Taste it and thou shalt ever finde Love in thy Bed peace in thy minde Bran. We 'll taste you sure 't were pitty to disgrace So pretty a beginning Duke 'T was spoke nobly Gan. Two Cups of Nectar have we begg'd from Jove Hebe give that to Innocence I this to love Take heed of stumbling more look to your way Remember still the Via Lactea Hebe Well Ganymed you have more faults though not so known I spil'd one Cup but you have filtch'd many a one Hym. No more forbear for Hymens sake In love we met and so let 's part Exeunt Duke But soft here 's no such persons in the Argument As these three Hymen Hebe Ganymed The Actors that this model here discovers Are onely four Juno a Nymph two Lovers Bran. This is some Antemask belike my Lord To entertain time now my peace is perfect Let sports come on a pace now is their time my Lord Musick Hark you you hear from 'em Duke The Nymph indeed Enter two drest like Nymphs bearing two Tapers lighted then Isabella drest with flowers and Garlands bearing a Censor with fire in it they set the Censor and Tapers on Juno's Altar with much reverence this Ditty being sung in parts Ditty IUno Nuptial-Goddess thou that rul'st o'r coupled bodies Ty'st man to woman never to forsake her thou onely powerful marriage-maker Pitty this amaz'd affection I love both and both love me Nor know I where to give rejection my heart likes so equally Till thou set'st right my Peace of life And with thy power conclude this strife Isab. Now with my thanks depart you to the Springs I to these Wells of Love Thou sacred Goddess And Queen of Nuptials Daughter to great Saturn Sister and Wife to Jove Imperial Juno Pitty this passionate