Enter C L E O N, S T R A T O, L I S I P P V S, D I P H I L V S.
CL E O N. The rest are making ready sir,
L Y S. So let them, theres time enough.
D I P H. You are the brother to the King my
Lord, wee'le take your word.
L I S. Strato thou hast some skill in poetrie,
What think'st thou of a maske, will it be well?
S T R. As well as masks can be. 
L I S. As masks can be.                                     [10]
S T R A. Yes, they must commend, and speake in praise of
the assembly, blesse the Bride and groome, in person of
some god, there tied to rules of flatterie.
C L E. See good my Lord who is return'd.
L I S. Noble Melantius,                          Enter Melantius
the land by me welcomes thy vertues home, thou that with
blowes abroad bringst vs our peace at home, the breath
of Kings is like the breath of gods, my brother wisht thee
here, and thou art here, he will be kinde; and wearie thee
with often welcome, but the time doth giue thee a wel-        [20]
come, aboue his, or all the world.
M E L. My Lord, my thankes, but these scratcht limbes
of mine, haue spoke my loue and truth vnto my friends,
more then my tongue ere could, my mind's the same it e-
uer was to you; where I finde worth
I loue the keeper, till he let it goe,
And then I follow it.
D I P H. Haile worthy brother,
He that reioyces not at your returne
In safetie, is mine enemy for euer.                       [30]
M E L. I thanke thee Diphilus: but thou art faultie,
I sent for thee to exercise thine armes
With me at Patria, thou camst not Diphilus:
Twas ill.
D I P H. My noble brother my excuse
Is my Kings straight command, which you my Lord
Can witnesse with me.
L I S. Tis most true Melantius,
He might not come till the solemnities
Of this great match were past.                   [40]
D I P H. Haue you heard of it.
M E L. Yes, and haue giuen cause to those, that here
Enuy my deedes abroad, to call me gamesome,
I haue no other busines here at Rhodes.
L I S. We haue a maske to night,
And you must tread a souldiers measure.
M E L. These soft and silken warres are not for me,
The musicke must be shrill and all confus'd
That stirs my blood, and then I daunce,
But is Amintor wed?            [50]
D I P H. This day?
M E L. All ioyes vpon him, for he is my friend,
Wonder not that I call a man so young;
His worth is great, valiant he is,
And one that neuer thinkes his life his owne,
If his friend neede it, when he was a boy,
As oft as I return'd (as without boast)
I brought home conquest, he would gaze vpon me,
And view me round, to finde in what one limbe
The vertue lay to doe those things he heard,                    [60]
Then would he wish to see my sword, and feele
The quicknesse of the edge, and in his hand
Weighes it, he oft would make me smile at this;
His youth did promise much, and his ripe yeares
Will see it all perform'd.                     Enter Aspatia passing
Hail Maide and Wife.                              with attendance.
Thou faire Aspatia, may the holy knot,
That thou hast tied to day, last till the hand
Of age vndoe't, mayst thou bring a race
Vnto Amintor, that may fill the world                   [70]
Successiuely with souldiers.
A S P. My hard fortunes
Deserue not scorne, for I was neuer proud
When they were good.                      Exit Aspatia.
M E L. Howes this.
L I S. You are mistaken sir, she is not married.
M E L. You said Amintor was.
D I P H. Tis true, but
M E L. Pardon me, I did receiue
Letters at Patria from my Amintor                                 [80]
That he should marie her.
D I P H. And so it stood,
In all opinion long, but your arriuall
Made me imagine you had heard the change.
M E L. Who has he taken then?
L I S. A Ladie sir,
That beares the light aboue her, and strikes dead
With flashes of her eye, the fair Euadne
Your vertuous sister.
M E L. Peace of heart betwixt them,                                           [90]
But this is strange.
L I S. The King my brother did it
To honour you, and these solemnities
Are at his charge.
M E L. Tis royall like himselfe,
But I am sad, my speech beares so infortunate a sound
To beautifull Aspatia, there is rage
Hid in her fathers breast Calianax,
Bent long against me and 'a should not thinke,
Could I but call it backe, that I would take                             [100]
Such base reuenges as to scorne the state
Of his neglected daughter.
L I S. O t'were pittie, for this Lady sir,
Sits discontented with her watrie eyes bent on the earth,
In vnfrequented woods are her delight,
Where when she sees a bancke stucke full of flowers,
Then she will sit, and sigh, and tell
Her seruants, what a prittie place it were
To burie louers in, and make her maides
Pluck'em, and strow them ouer her like a corse,           [110]
She carries with her an infectious griefe,
That strikes all her beholders, she will sing
The mournfulst things that euer eare hath heard,
And swound, and sing againe, and when the rest
Of your young Ladyes in their wanton blood,
Tell mirthfull tales in course that fils the roome
With laughter, she will with so sad a looke
Bring forth a storie of the silent death
Of some forsaken virgin, which her griefe
Will put in such a phrase, that ere she end                [120]
Shee'le send them weeping one by one away.
M E L. She has a brother vnder my command
Like her, a face as womanish as hers,
But with a spirit that hath much outgrowne
The number of his yeares.                       Enter Amintor.
C L E. My Lord the Bridegroome.
M E L. I might run fiercely, not more hastily
Vpon my foe, I loue thee well Amintor,
My mouth is much too narrow for my heart,
I ioy to looke vpon those eyes of thine,                    [130]
Thou art my friend, but my disordred speech
Cuts off my loue.
A M I N. Thou art Melantius,
All loue is spoke in that, a sacrifice
To thanke the gods, Melantius is return'd
In safty, victory sits on his sword
As she was wont, may she build there, and dwell,
And may thy armour be as it hath beene,
Onely thy valour and thine innocence,
What endlesse treasures would our enemies giue,                              [140]
That I might hold thee still thus. 
M E L. I am poore in words, but credit me young man
Thy mother could do no more but weep, for ioy to see thee
After long absence, all the wounds I haue,
Fetcht not so much away, nor all the cries
Of widdowed mothers: But this is peace
And that was warre.
A M I N T. Pardon thon holy god
Of marriage bed, and frowne not, I am for'st
In answere of such noble teares as these,                             [150]
To weepe vpon my wedding day.
M E L. I feare thou art growne too cruell, for I heare
A Lady mournes for thee, men say to death,
Forsaken of thee, on what tearmes I know not.
A M I N T. She had my promise, but the King forbad it,
And made me make this worthy change, thy sister
Accompanied with graces about her,
With whom I long to loose my lusty youth,
And grow olde in her armes.
M E L. Be prosperous.                                                    [160]
A M I N T. My Lord the maskers rage for you.
L I S. We are gone,
Cleon, Strato, Diphilus.
                    Exeunt Lysippus, Cleon, Strato, Diphilus.
A M I N T. Weele all attend you, we shall trouble you
With our solemnities.
M E L. Not so Amintor.
But if you laugh at my rude carriage
In sports, il'e doe as much for you in warre
When you come thither, but I haue a mistresse               [170]
To bring to your delights, rough though I am,
I haue a mistresse and she has a heart
She saies, but trust me, it is stone, no better,
There is no place that I can challenge gentlemen,
But you stand still, and here my way lies.           Exeunt.

    Enter C L E O N, S T R A T O, L I S I P P V S, D I P H I L V S.
CL E O N. The rest are making ready sir.
   Stra. So let them, theres time enough.
   Diph. You are the brother to the King
my Lord, wee'le take your word.
  Lis. Strato thou hast some skill in
poetrie, What think'st          of a maske,
will it be well?
    Stra. As well as masks can be.                         [10] 
    Lis. As masks can be?            
    Stra. Yes, they must commend their King, & speake in
praise of the assembly, blesse the Bride and Bridegroome,
in person of some God, they'r tied to rules of flatterie.
    Cle. See good my Lord who is return'd.
    Lis. Noble Melantius,                              Enter Melantius.
The land by me welcomes thy vertues home to Rhodes,
thou that with blood abroad buyest vs our peace. The
breath of Kings is like the breath of Gods: my brother
wisht thee here, and thou art here: he will be too kind, and        [20]
wearie thee with often welcomes: but the time doth giue
thee a welcome, aboue his, or all the worlds.
    Mel. My Lord, my thankes, but these scratcht limbes
of mine, haue spoke my loue and truth vnto my friends,
More then my tongue ere could, my mind's the same it
euer was to you; where I finde worth,
I loue the keeper, till he let it goe,
And then I follow it.
     Diph. Haile worthy brother,
He that reioyces not at your returne               [30]
In safety, is mine enemie for euer.        
     Mel. I thanke thee Diphilus: but thou art faultie,
I sent for thee to exercise thine armes
With me at Patria: thou camst not Diphilus;
Twas ill.
     Diph. My noble brother, my excuse
Is my Kings strict command, which you my Lord
Can witnesse with me.
     Lis. Tis true Melantius,
He might not come till the solemnitie                   [40]
Of this great match were past.
         Diph. Haue you heard of it?
     Mel. Yes, I haue giuen cause to those that
Enuy my deeds abroad, to call me gamesome,
I haue no other businesse heere at Rhodes.
     Lis. We haue a maske to night,
    And you must tread a souldiers measure.
     Mel. These soft and silken warres are not for me,
The musicke must be shrill and all confus'd,
That stirres my bloud, and then I dance with Armes:            [50]
    But is Amintor wed?
         Diph. This day.
     Mel. All ioyes vpon him, for he is my friend:
Wonder not that I call a man so young my friend;
His worth is great, valiant he is and temperate,
And one that neuer thinkes his life his owne,
If his friend neede it: when he was a boy,
As oft as I return'd (as without boast)
I brought home conquest, he would gaze vpon me,
And view me round, to finde in what one limbe                    [60]
The vertue lay to doe those things he heard,
Then would he wish to see my sword, and feele
The quicknesse of the edge, and in his hand
Weigh it, he oft would make me smile at this;
His youth did promise much, and his ripe yeares
Will see it all performd.                         Enter Aspatia,
    Melan. Haile Maid and Wife.                    passing by.
Thou faire Aspatia, may the holy knot
That thou hast tied to day, last till the hand
Of age vndoe't, mayst thou bring a race                   [70]
Vnto Amintor, that may fill the world
Successiuely with Souldiers.
    Aspa. My hard fortunes
Deserue not scorne, for I was neuer proud
When they were good.                              Exit Aspatia.
    Mel. Howes this?
    Lis. You are mistaken, for she is not married.
    Mel. You said Amintor was.
    Diph. Tis true, but
    Mel. Pardon me, I did receiue                                 [80]
Letters at Patria from my Amintor
That he should marrie her.
    Diph. And so it stood,
In all opinion long, but your arriuall
Made me imagine you had heard the change.
    Mel. Who hath he taken then?
    Lis. A Ladie sir,
That beares the light about her, and strikes dead
With flashes of her eye, the fair Euadne
Your vertuous sister.                                           [90]
    Mel. Peace of heart betwixt them,
But this is strange.
    Lis. The King my brother did it
To honor you, and these solemnities
Are at his charge.
    Mel. Tis royall like himselfe,
But I am sad, my speech beares so vnfortunate a sound
To beautifull Aspatia: there is rage
Hid in her fathers brest, Calianax
Bent long against me, and he should not thinke,                             [100]
If I could call it backe, that I would take
Such base reuenges as to scorne the state
Of his neglected daughter: holds he still his greatnesse
    Lis. Yes, but this Lady walkes        (with the king?
Discontented, with her watrie eies bent on the earth:
The vnfrequented woods are her delight,
And when she sees a bancke stucke full of flowers,
Shee with a sigh will tell
Her seruants, what a prittie place it were
To bury louers in, and make her maids           [110]
Pluck'em, and strow her ouer like a corse.
She carries with her an infectious griefe,
That strikes all her beholders, she will sing
The mournfulst things that euer eare hath heard,
And sigh, and sing againe, and when the rest
Of our young Ladyes in their wanton bloud,
Tell mirthfull tales in course that fill the roome
With laughter, she will with so sad a looke
Bring forth a story of the silent death
Of some forsaken virgin, which her griefe                [120]
Will put in such a phrase, that ere she end
Shee'le send them weeping one by one away.
    Mel. She has a brother vnder my command
Like her, a face as womanish as hers,
But with a spirit that hath much outgrowne
The number of his yeares.                       Enter Amintor.
    Cle. My Lord the Bridegroome.
    Mel. I might runne fiercely, not more hastily
Vpon my foe: I loue thee well Amintor,
My mouth is much too narrow for my heart,                    [130]
I ioy to looke vpon those eies of thine,
Thou art my friend, but my disordered speech
Cuts off my loue.
    Amin. Thou art Melantius,
All loue is spoke in that, a sacrifice
To thanke the gods, Melantius is return'd
In safety, victory sits on his sword
As she was wont; may she build there, and dwell,
And may thy armour be as it hath beene,
Only thy valor and thine innocence.                              [140]
What endlesse treasures would our enemies giue,
That I might hold thee still thus!
    Mel. I am poore in words, but credit me, young man
Thy mother could no more but weep, for ioy to see thee
After long absence: all the wounds I haue,
Fetcht not so much away, nor all the cries
Of widowed mothers: But this is peace,
And that was warre.
    Amint. Pardon thou holy god
Of mariage bed, and frowne not, I am forc'd                             [150]
In answer of such noble teares as those,
To weepe vpon my wedding day.
    Mel. I feare thou art growne too fickle, for I heare
A Lady mournes for thee, men say to death,
Forsaken of thee, on what termes I know not.
    Amint. She had my promise, but the King forbade it,
And made me make this worthy change, thy sister,
Accompanied with graces about her,
With whom I long to lose my lusty youth,
And grow old in her armes.                                        [160]
    Mel. Be prosperous.            
              Enter Messenger.
    Messenger. My Lord the maskers rage for you.
    Lis. We are gone,
    Cleon, Strato, Diphilus.
    Amint. Weele all attend you, we shall trouble you
With our solemnities.
    Mel. Not so Amintor.
But if you laugh at my rude cariage
In peace, Il'e doe as much for you in warre               [170]
When you come thither: but I haue a mistresse
To bring to your delights, rough though I am,
I haue a mistresse and she has a heart
She saies, but trust me, it is stone, no better,
There is no place that I can challenge:
But you stand still, and here my way lies.   Exit.