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Act
One Act
Two Act
Three Act
Four Act
Five
Note
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The Maids Tragedie.
A S I T H
A T H B E E N E
diuers times Acted at the Black-Friers by
the Kings Maiesties
Seruants.
Newly perused, augmented, and inlarged,
This second Impression.
L O N D O N,
Printed for Francis Constable,
and are
to be sold at the White LION in
Pauls Church-yard. 1622.
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[EEBO
1/43]
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S P E A K E R S.
K I N G.
L I S I P P V S
brother to the king.
A M I N T O R.
E V A D N E,
wife to A M
I N T O R.
M E
L A N T I V S
D I P H I L V
S |
brothers to E
V A D N E. |
A S P A T I A troth-plight
wife to A M I N
T O R.
C A
L L I A N A X an old
humorous Lord, and father to
A
S P A T I A.
C L
E O N
S T R A T O |
Gentlemen. |
D I A G O R A S
a seruant.
A N
T I P H I L A
O L I M P I A
S |
waiting Gentlewomen to A
S P A T I A. |
D V L A a
Lady.
N I
G H T
C I N T H I A
N E P T V N E
E O L V S
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Maskers. |
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[Signature A1v, end page 1]
The Maydes Tragedy.
Actus.
I. Scæn. I.
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.
 |
L
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
[Signature A2, end page 2, catchword: euer, EEBO
2/43]
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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
[Signature [A2v], end page 3, catchword: The]
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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
[Signature misprinted as B 3, actually A3, end page 4, catchword:
Bent, EEBO
3/43]
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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
[Signature [A3v], end page 5, catchword: In]
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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
[Signature [A4], end page 6, catchword: She, EEBO
4/43]
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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.
[1.2] Enter
Calianax, with Diagoras.
Cal.
Diagoras looke to the doores better for shame:
you let in all the world, and anone
the King will raile at
me: why very well said, by Ioue
the King will haue the [180]
show i'th the Court.
Diag.
Why doe you sweare so my Lord?
You know heele haue it heere.
Cal.
By this light if he be wise, he will not.
Diag.
And if he will not be wise, you are forsworne.
Cal.
One may sweare his heart out with swearing, and
get thankes on no side, Ile be gone,
looke too't who will.
Diag.
My Lord, I shall neuer keepe them out.
Pray stay, your lookes will terrifie
them.
Cal.
My lookes terrifie them, you coxcombly asse you, [190]
Ile be iudge by all the company, whether
thou hast not a
worse face then I.
Diag.
I meane because they know you, and your office.
Cal.
Office, I would I could put it off I am sure I sweat
quite through in my office, I might
haue made roome at my
daughters wedding, they ha nere kild
her amongst them.
And now I must doe seruice for him that
hath forsaken
her, serue that will. Exit
Calianax.
Diag.
Hee's so humorous since his daughter was forsa-
ken: harke, harke, there, there, so,
so codes, codes. [200]
What now? within
Knocke
within.
Mel.
Open the doore.
Diag.
Who's there?
Mel.
Melantius.
Diag.
I hope your Lord-ship brings no troope with
you, for if you do, I must returne them. Enter
Melantius
Mel.
None but this Lady sir. and
a Lady.
Diag.
The Ladies are all plac'd aboue, saue those that
come in the Kings troope, the best of
Rhodes sit there,
[Signature [A4v], end page 7, catchword: there]
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and theres roome. [210]
Mel. I
thanke you sir: when I haue seene you placed ma-
dam, I must attend the King, but the maske
done, Ile waite on
you againe.
Diag.
Stand backe there, roome for my Lord Melantius,
pray beare backe, this is no place for
such youths and their
truls, let the dores shut agen: I, do
your heads itch? ile scratch
them for you: so now thrust and hang:
againe, who i'st now,
I cannot blame my Lord Calianax
for going away, would he
were here, he would run raging amongst
them, and breake a
dozen wiser heads than his own in the
twinckling of an eie: [220]
whats the newes now? within
I pray you can you helpe mee to the
speech of the Master
Cooke?
Diag. If
I open the dore Ile cooke some of your Calues
heads. Peace rogues. -- againe, -- who
i'st?
Mel.
Melantius. within Enter
Calianax to Melantius.
Cal.
Let him not in.
Diag. O
my Lord a must, make roome there for my
Lord, is your Lady plac't?
Mel.
Yes sir, I thanke you: my Lord Calianax, well met? [230]
Your causelesse hate to me I hope is buried.
Cal. Yes
I doe seruice for your sister here,
That brings my owne poore child to timelesse
death,
She loues your friend Amintor,
such another false hearted
Lord as you.
Mel. You
doe me wrong,
A most vnmanly one, and I am slow
In taking vengeance, but be well aduis'd.
Cal. It
may be so: who plac'd the Lady there so neere the
presence of the King? [240]
Mel. I
did.
Cal. My
Lord she must not sit there.
Mel. Why?
Cal. The
place is kept for women of more worth.
Mel. More
worth than she, it mis-becomes your age,
And place to be thus womanish, forbeare,
[Signature B, end page 8, catchword: What, EEBO
5/43]
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What you haue spoke I am content to
thinke
The palsey shooke your tongue too.
Cal.
Why tis well if I stand here to place mens wenches.
Mel.
I shall forget this place, thy age, my safety, and [250]
through all, cut that poore sickly weeke
thou hast to liue
away from thee.
Cal.
Nay I know you can fight for your whore.
Mel.
Bate the King, and be hee flesh and blood
A lies that sayes it, thy mother at
fifteene
Was blacke and sinfull to her.
Diag.
Good my Lord. (man,
Mel.
Some god pluck threescore yeeres from that fond
That I may kill him, and not staine
mine honor,
It is the curse of souldiers, that in
peace, [260]
They shall be braued by such ignoble
men,
As (if the land were troubled) would
with teares
And knees beg succor from 'em, would
that blood
(That sea of blood) that I haue lost
in fight,
Were running in thy veines, that it
might make thee
Apt to say lesse, or able to maintaine,
Shouldst thou say more,---This Rhodes
I see is nought
But a place priuiledg'd to do men wrong.
Cal.
I, you may say your pleasure. Enter
Amintor.
Amint.
What vilde iniurie [270]
Has sturd my worthy friend, who is as
slow
To fight with words as he is quick of
hand?
Mel.
That heape of age, which I should reuerence,
If it were temperate, but testie yeeres
Are most contemptible.
Amint.
Good sir forbeare.
Cal.
There is iust such another as your selfe.
Amint.
He will wrong you, or me, or any man,
And talke as if he had no life to lose
Since this our match: the King is comming
in, [280]
I would not for more wealth then I enioy
He should perceiue you raging, he did
heare
You were at difference now, which hastned
him.
Cal.
Make roome there.
[Signature [B1v], end page 9, catchword: Hoyboyes]
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Hoboyes
play within.
Enter
King, Euadne, Aspatia, Lords and Ladies.
King.
Melantius thou art welcome, and my loue
Is with thee still; but this is not
a place
To brabble in; Calianax, ioyne
hands.
Cal.
Hee shall not haue mine hand. [290]
King.
This is no time
To force you too't, I do loue you both,
Calianax you looke well to your
office,
And you Melantius are welcome
home,
Begin the Maske.
Mel.
Sister I ioy to see you, and your choyse,
You lookt with my eies when you
tooke that man,
Be happy in him. Recorders
Euad.
O my deerest brother,
Your presence is more ioyful then this
day can be vnto me. [300]
The
Maske.
Night rises in mists.
Nig.
Our reigne is come, for in the raging sea
The Sun is drownd, and with him fell
the day:
Bright Cinthia heare my voice,
I am the night
For whom thou bearst about thy borrowed
light,
Appeare, no longer thy pale visage shrowde,
But strike thy siluer hornes quite through
a cloud,
And send a beame vpon my swarthie face,
By which I may discouer all the place [310]
And persons, and how many longing eies,
Are come to waite on our solemnities. Enter
Cynthia.
How dull and blacke am I? I could not
finde
This beautie without thee, I am so blinde,
Me thinkes they shew like to those Easterne
streakes,
That warne vs hence before the morning
breakes,
Back my pale seruant, for these eies
know how,
[Signature B 2, end page 10, catchword: To, EEBO
6/43]
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To shoote farre more and quicker rayes
then thou.
Cinth.
Great Queene they be a troope for whom alone
One of my clearest moones I haue put
on, [320]
A troope that lookes as if thy selfe
and I
Had pluckt our reines in, and our whips
laid by
To gaze vpon these mortals, that appeare
Brighter then we.
Nigh.
Then let vs keepe 'em here,
And neuer more our Chariots driue away,
But keepe our places and out-shine the
day. (speake
Cinth.
Great Queene of shaddowes you are pleasde to
Of more then may be done, we may not
breake
The gods decrees, but when our time
is come, [330]
Must driue away and giue the day our
roome.
Yet whil'st our raigne lasts, let vs
stretch our power
To giue our seruants one contented houre,
With such vnwonted solemne grace and
state
As may for ever after force them hate
Our brothers glorious beames, and with
the night,
Crown'd with a thousand starres, and
our cold light:
For almost all the world their seruice
bend
To Phœbus, and in vaine my light
I lend,
Gaz'd on vnto my setting from my rise [340]
Almost of none, but of vnquiet eyes.
Nigh. Then shine at full faire
Queene, and by thy power
Produce a birth to crowne this happy
houre,
Of Nimphes and shepheards, and let their
songs discouer,
Easie and sweet who is a happy louer,
Or if thou w'oot then call thine owne
Endimion
From the sweet flowrie bed he lies vpon,
On Latmus top thy pale beames
drawne away,
And of this long night let him make
this day. (mine,
Cin.
Thou dreamst darke Queene, that faire boy was not [350]
Nor went I downe to kisse him, ease
and wine
Haue bred these bold tales, Poets when
they rage
Turne Gods to men, and make an houre
an age,
But I will giue a greater state and
glory,
[Signature [B2v], end page 11, catchword: And]
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And raise to time a noble memory
Of what these louers are: rise, rise,
I say,
Thou power of deepes, thy surges laid
away,
Neptune great King of waters,
and by me
Be proud to be commanded. Neptune
rises.
Nep.
Cinthia see, [360]
Thy word hath fetcht me hither, let
me know
Why I ascend.
Cinth.
Doth this maiesticke show
Giue thee no knowledge yet?
Nep.
Yes, now I see
Something entended Cinthia worthy
thee,
Goe on, Ile be a helper.
Cinth.
Hie thee then,
And charge the winde goe from his rockie
den,
Let loose thy subiects, onely Boreas
[370]
Too foule for our intentions as he was,
Still keepe him fast chaind, we must
haue none here
But veranll blasts and gentle winds
appeare,
Such as blow flowers, and through the
glad bowes sing
Many soft welcomes to the lusty spring.
These are our musicke: next thy watrie
race
Bring on in couples, we are pleasd to
grace
This noble night each in their richest
things
Your owne deeps or the broken vessell
brings,
Be prodigall and I shall be as kind, [380]
And shine at full vpon you.
Nep.
Oh, the wind Enter
Eolus out of a Rocke.
Commanding Eolus.
Eol.
Great Neptune.
Nept.
He.
Eol.
What is thy will?
Nept.
We doe command thee free
Fanonius
and thy milder winds to waite
Vpon our Cinthia, but tie Boreas
straight,
Hee's too rebellious. [390]
Eol.
I shall doe it.
[Signature B 3, end page 12, catchword: Nep., EEBO
7/43]
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Nep. Doe great
master of the floud, and all below
Thy full command has taken.
Eol.
O! the Maine
Neptune.
Nep.
Heere.
Eol.
Boreas has broke his chaine,
And strugling with the rest has got
away.
Nep.
Let him alone Ile take him vp at sea,
He will not be long thence, goe once
againe
[400]
And call out of the bottomes of the
Maine,
Blew Protheus, and the rest,
charge them put on
Their greatest pearles and the
most sparkling stone
The beaten rocke breeds, till
this night is done
By me a solemne honor to the
Moone,
Flie like a full saile.
Eol.
I am gone.
Cin.
Darke night,
Strike a full silence, doe a
thorow right
To this great Chorus,
that our Musicke may [410]
Touch high as heauen, and make
the east breake day
At mid-night. Musique.
Song.
Cinthia to
thy power and thee
we obey.
Ioy to this great company,
and no day
Come to steale this night
away
Till the rites of loue are
ended,
And the lusty Bridegroome
say,
Welcome light of all befriended.
Pace out you watery powers
below,
let your feete
Like the gallies when they
row
euen beate.
Let your vnknowne measures
set
To the still windes, tell
to all
That gods are come immortall great,
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[Signature [B3v], end page 13, catchword: To]
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To honor this great Nuptiall.
The
Measure.
Second
Song.
Hold backe thy houres darke night till we haue done,
The day will come too soone,
Young Maydes will curse thee
if thou steal'st away,
And leau'st their blushes open
to the day,
Stay, Stay, and hide
the blushes of the Bride.
Stay gentle night, and with
thy darkenesse couer
the kisses of her louer.
Stay and confound her teares
and her shrill cryings,
Her
weake denials, vowes and often dyings,
Stay and hide all,
but helpe not though she call.
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Nep. Great
Queene of vs and heauen,
Heare what I bring to make this houre
a full one,
If not her measure.
Cinth.
Speake Seas King.
Nep. Thy
tunes my Amphitrites ioyes to haue,
When they will dance vpon the rising waue,
And court me as the sayles,
my Tritons play [450]
Musicke to lead a storme, Ile lead the
way.
Song Measure
To bed, to bed, come Hymen
lead the Bride,
Ale width="416" border="0">
|
To honor this great Nuptiall.
The
Measure.
Second
Song.
Hold backe thy houres darke night till we haue done,
The day will come too soone,
Young Maydes will curse thee
if thou steal'st away,
And leau'st their blushes open
to the day,
Stay, Stay, and hide
the blushes of the Bride.
Stay gentle night, and with
thy darkenesse couer
the kisses of her louer.
Stay and confound her teares
and her shrill cryings,
Her
weake denials, vowes and often dyings,
Stay and hide all,
but helpe not though she call.
|
Nep. Great
Queene of vs and heauen,
Heare what I bring to make this houre
a full one,
If not her measure.
Cinth.
Speake Seas King.
Nep. Thy
tunes my Amphitrites ioyes to haue,
When they will dance vpon the rising waue,
And court me as the sayles,
my Tritons play [450]
Musicke to lead a storme, Ile lead the
way.
Song Measure
To bed, to bed, come Hymen
lead the Bride,
And lay her by her husbands
side:
Bring in the virgins euery one
That greeue to lie alone;
That they may kisse, while they
may say a maid,
Tomorrow t'will be other kist
and said:
Hesperus be long a shinning,
Whilst these louers are a twining.
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Eol. Ho
Neptune.
Nep. Eolus.
Eol. The
sea goes hie,
Boreas has rais'd a storme, goe
and apply
[Signature [B4], end page 14, catchword: Thy, EEBO
8/43]
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Thy trident, else I prophesie, ere day
Many a tall ship will be cast away:
Descend with all the gods, and all their
power
To strike a Calme.
Cinth.
A thanks to euery one, and to gratulate
So great a seruice done at my desire, [470]
Ye shall haue many flouds fuller and higher
Then you haue wisht for, no ebbe shall
dare
To let the day see where your dwelling
are:
Now backe vnto your gouernment in hast,
Lest your proud charge should swell aboue
the wast,
And win vpon the Iland.
Nept.
We obay. Neptune
descends, and
the
Sea Gods.
Cin. Hold
vp thy head dead night, seest thou not day?
The East begins to lighten, I must downe [480]
And giue my brother place.
Night.
Oh I could frowne
To see the day, the day that flings his
light
Vpon my Kingdomes, and contemnes old night,
Let him goe on, and flame, I hope to see
Another wild fire in his axletree,
And all fall drencht, but I forget, speake
Queene,
The day growes on, I must no more be seene.
Cin. Heaue
vp thy drowsie head agen and see
A greater light, a greater Maiestie [490]
Betweene our sect and vs, whip vp thy
teame
The day breakes here, and yon same flashing
streame
Shot from the South, say, which way wilt
thou goe?
Night.
Ile vanish into mists. Exeunt.
Cinth.
I into day Finis
Maske.
King. Take
lights there Ladies, get the Bride to bed,
We will not see you laid, good night Amintor,
Weele ease you of that tedious ceremonie,
Were it my case I should thinke time runne
slow:
If thou beest noble youth, get me a boy [500]
That may defend my Kingdomes from my foes.
[Signature [B4v], end page 15, catchword: Amin.]
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Amin.
All happinesse to you.
King.
Good night Melantius. Exeunt.
Actus
Secundus.
Enter
Euadne, Aspatia,
Dula, and other Ladyes.
|
D
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V L. Madam shall we vndresse you for this fight?
The wars are nak't that you must make to night.
|
Eua. You are very merry Dula.
Dul. I
should be far merrier Madame, if it were with me
As it is with you. [510]
Euad. Why
how now wench?
Dul. Come
Ladies will you helpe?
Euad. I
am soone vndone.
Dul. And
as soone done:
Good store of clothes will trouble you
at both.
Euad. Art
thou drunke Dula?
Dula. Why
heeres none but we.
Euad. Thou
thinkst belike there is no modesty
When we are alone.
Dul. I
by my troth, you hit my thoughts aright. [520]
Euad. You
pricke me Lady.
Dul. Tis
against my will,
Anon you must indure more and lie still,
You're best to practise.
Euad. Sure
this wench is mad.
Dul. No
faith, this is a tricke that I haue had
Since I was foureteene.
Euad. Tis
high time to leaue it.
Dul. Nay
now Ile keepe it till the trick leaue me,
A dozen wanton words put in your head, [530]
Will make you liuelier in your husbands
bed.
Euad. Nay
faith then take it.
Dul. Take
it Madam, where?
We all I hope will take it that are here.
[Signature C, end page 16, catchword: Euad., EEBO
9/43]
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Euad.
Nay then Ile giue you ore.
Dul.
So will I make
The ablest man in Rhodes or his
heart ake.
Euad.
Wilt take my place to night?
Dul.
Ile hold your cards against any two I know.
Euad.
What wilt thou doe? [540]
Dul.
Madame weele doo't, and make'm leaue play too.
Euad.
Aspatia take her part.
Dul.
I will refuse it.
She will plucke downe a side, she does
not vse it.
Euad.
Why doe.
Dul.
You will find the play
Quickly, because your head lies well
that way.
Euad.
I thanke thee Dula, would thou couldst instill
Some of thy mirth into Aspatia:
Nothing but sad thoughts in her brest
doe dwell. [550]
Me thinkes a meane betwixt you would
doe well.
Dul.
She is in loue, hang me if I were so,
But I could run my Countrey I loue too,
To doe those things that people in loue
doe.
Asp.
It were a timelesse smile should proue my checke,
It were a fitter houre for me to laugh,
When at the Altar the religious Priest
Were pacifying the offended powers
With sacrifice, then now, this should
haue beene
My night, and all your hands haue been
imployd [560]
In giuing me a spotlesse offering
To young Amintors bed, as we
are now
For you: pardon Euadne, would
my worth
Were great as yours, or that the King,
or he,
Or both thought so, perhaps he found
me worthlesse,
But till he did so, in these eares of
mine,
(These credulous eares) he powred the
sweetest words
That art or loue could frame, if he
were false
Pardon it heauen, and if I did want
Vertue, you safely may forgiue that
too, [570]
For I haue lost none that I had from
you.
[Signature [C1v], end page 17, catchword: Euad.]
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Euad.
Nay leaue this sad talke Madame.
Aspat.
Would I could, then I should leaue the cause.
Euad. See
if you haue not spoild all Dulas mirth.
Asp. Thou
thinkst thy heart hard, but if thou beest
caught remember me; thou shalt
perceiue a fire
shot suddenly into thee.
Dul. Thats
not so good, let'em shoot any thing
but fire, I feare'm not.
Asp. Well
wench thou maist be taken. [580]
Euad. Ladies
good night, Ile doe the rest my selfe.
Dul. Nay
let your Lord doe some.
Asp. Lay
a garland on my hearse of the dismall Yew.
Euad. Thats
one of your sad songs Madame.
Asp. Beleeue
me tis a very prety one.
Euad. How
is it Madame?
Song.
Asp.
Lay a garlnd on my hearse of the dismall Yew,
Maidens willow branches beare, say I died
true,
My loue was false, but I was firme, from
my houre of birth, [590]
Vpon my buried body lay lightly gently
earth.
Euad. Fie
ont Madame, the words are so strange, they are
able to make one dreame of hobgoblines.
I could neuer
haue the power, sing that Dula.
Dula. I
could neuer haue the power
To loue one aboue an houre,
But my heart would prompt mine eie
On some other man to flie,
Venus fix mine eies fast,
Or if not, giue me all that I shall see
at last. [600]
Euad. So
leaue me now.
Dula. Nay
we must see you laid.
Asp. Madame
goodnight, may all the Mariage ioyes
That longing maids imagine in their beds
Proue so vnto you, may no discontent
Grow twixt your loue and you, but if there
doe,
Enquire of me and I will guide your mone,
And teach you an artificiall way to grieue,
[Signature C 2, end page 18, catchword: To, EEBO
10/43]
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To keepe your sorrow waking, loue your
Lord
No worse then I, but if you loue so
well, [610]
Alas you may displease him, so did I,
This is the last time you shall looke
on me:
Ladies farewell, as soone as I am dead,
Come all and watch one night about my
hearse,
Bring each a mournefull story and a
teare
To offer at it when I goe to earth;
With flattering Iuy claspe my coffin
round,
Write on my brow my fortune, let my
beere
Be borne by Virgins that shall sing
by course
The truth of maides, and periuries of
men. [620]
Euad.
Alas I pittie thee. Exit
Euadne.
Omnes.
Madame good night.
1. Lad. Come weele let in the
Bridegroome.
Dul.
Where's my Lord?
1. Lad. Heere take this light.
Enter
Amintor.
Dul.
You'le finde her in the darke. (her.
1. Lad. Your Ladye's scarse a bed
yet, you must helpe
Asp.
Goe and be happy in your Ladies loue,
May all the wrongs that you haue done
to me,
Be vtterly forgotten in my death, [630]
Ile trouble you no more, yet I will
take
A parting kisse, and will not be denied,
You'le come my Lord and see the virgins
weepe,
When I am laid in earth; though you
your selfe
Can know no pitty: thus I winde my selfe
Into this willow garland, and am prouder
That I was once your loue. (though now
refus'd)
Then to haue had another true to me.
So with my praiers I leaue you, and
must trie
Some yet vnpractis'd way to grieue and
die. [640]
Dul. Come
Ladies will you goe? Exit
Aspatia.
Om. Good night
my Lord.
Amin. Much
happinesse vnto you all. Exeunt
Ladies.
I did that Lady wrong, me thinkes I
feele
Her griefe shoot suddenly through all
my veines:
[Signature [C2v], end page 19, catchword: Mine]
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Mine eies runne, this is strange at
such a time.
It was the King first mou'd me too't,
but he
Has not my will in keeping, -- why doe
I
Perplex my selfe thus? something whispers
me,
Goe not to bed: my guilt is not so great [650]
As mine owne conscience ( too sensible)
Would make me thinke, I onely brake a
promise,
And twas the King that forst me: timorous
flesh,
Why shakst thou so? away my idle feares.
Enter
Euadne.
Yonder is she, the luster of whose eie
Can blot away the sad remembrance
Of all these things: oh my Euadne
spare
That tender body, let it not take cold,
The vapors of the night shall not fall
here:
To bed my loue, Hymen will punish
vs, [660]
For being slacke performers of his rites,
Camst thou to call me?
Euad. No.
Amint.
Come, come, my loue,
And let vs loose our selues to one another,
Why art thou vp so long?
Euad. I
am not well.
Amint.
To bed, then let me winde thee in these armes,
Till I haue banisht sicknesse.
Euad. Good
my Lord I cannot sleepe. [670]
Amin. Euadne
weele watch, I meane no sleeping.
Euad. Ile
not goe to bed.
Amin. I
prethee doe.
Euad. I
will not for the world.
Amin. Why
my deere loue?
Euad. Why?
I haue sworne I will not.
Amint.
Sworne! Euad.
I.
Amin. How
sworne Euadne?
Euad. Yes,
sworne Amintor, and will sweare againe.
If you will wish to heare me. [680]
Amin. To
whom haue you swonre this?
Euad. If
I should name him the matter were not great.
[Signature C 3, end page 20, catchword: Amin., EEBO
11/43]
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Amin.
Come, this is but the coynesse of a bride.
Euad. The
coynesse of a bride?
Amin. How
pretily that frowne becomes thee.
Euad. Doe
you like it so?
Amin. Thou
canst not dresse thy face in such a looke,
But I shall like it.
Euad. What
looke likes you best?
Amin. Why
doe you aske? [690]
Euad. That
I may shew you one lesse pleasing to you.
Amin. Howes
that?
Euad. That
I may shew you one lesse pleasing to you.
Amin. I
prethee put thy iests in milder lookes,
It shewes as thou wert angry.
Euad. So
perhaps I am indeede.
Amin. Why,
who has done thee wrong?
Name me the man, and by thy selfe I sweare,
Thy yet vnconquered selfe, I will reuenge
thee.
Euad. Now
I shall trie thy truth, if thou doest loue me. [700]
Thou weighest not any thing compar'd with
me,
Life, honour, ioyes eternall, all delights
This world can yeeld, or hopefull people
faine,
Or in the life to come, are light as aire
To a true louer when his Lady frownes,
And bids him do this: wilt thou kill this
man?
Sweare my Amintor, and ile kisse
the sin
Off from thy lips.
Amin. I
wonnot swear sweet loue,
Till I do know the cause. [710]
Euad. I
wood thou wouldst,
Why, it is thou that wrongst me, I hate
thee,
Thou should'st haue kild thy selfe.
Amin. If
I should know that, I should quickly kill
The man you hated.
Euad. Know
it then, and doo't.
Amin. Oh
no, what looke so ere thou shalt put on,
To trie my faith, I shall not thinke thee
false,
I cannot finde one blemish in thy face,
[Signature [C3v], end page 21, catchword: Where]
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Where falsehood should abide, leaue
and to bed, [720]
If you haue sworne to any of the virgins
That were your old companions to preserue
Your maidenhead a night, it may be done
Without this meanes.
Euad.
A Maidenhead Amintor at my yeares?
Amin. Sure
she raues, this cannot be
Thy naturall temper, shall I call thy
maides?
Either thy healthfull sleepe hath left
thee long,
Or else some feauer rages in thy blood.
Euad.
Neither Amintor thinke you I am mad, [730]
Because I speake the truth.
Amin.
Will you not lie with me to night?
Euad.
To night? you talke as if I would hereafter.
Amin.
Hereafter, yes I doe.
Euad.
You are deceiu'd, put off amazement, & with pa-
What I shall vtter, for the Oracle (
tience marke
Knowes nothing truer, tis not for a
night
Or two that I forbeare thy bed, but
euer.
Amin. I
dreame, ---- awake Amintor.
Euad.
You heare right, [740]
I sooner will find out the beds of Snakes,
And with my youthfull bloud warme their
cold flesh,
Letting them curle themselues about
my limbes,
Then sleepe one night with thee; this
is not faind,
Nor sounds it like the coynesse of a
bride.
Amin.
Is flesh so earthly to endure all this?
Are these the ioyes of mariage? Hymen
keepe
This story (that will make succeeding
youth
Neglect thy ceremonies) from all eares.
Let it not rise vp for thy shame and
mine [750]
To after ages, we will scorne thy lawes,
If thou no better blesse them, touch
the heart
Of her that thou hast sent me, or the
world
Shall know ther'es not an altar that
will smoke
In praise of thee, we will adopt vs
sons,
Then vertue shall inherit, and not blood:
[Signature [C4], end page 22, catchword: If, EEBO
12/43]
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If we doe lust, wee'le take the next
we meet,
Seruing our selues as other creatures
doe,
And neuer take note of the female more,
Nor of her issue. I doe rage in vaine, [760]
She can but iest; Oh pardon me my loue,
So deare the thoughts are that I hold
of thee,
That I must breake forth; satisfie my
feare:
It is a paine beyond the hand of death,
To be in doubt; confirme it with an oath,
If this be true.
Euad. Doe
you inuent the forme,
Let there be in it all the binding words
Diuels and Coniurers can put together,
And I will take it, I haue sworne before,
[770]
And here by all things holy doe againe,
Neuer to be acquainted with thy bed.
Is your doubt ouer now?
Amin. I
know too much, would I had doubted still:
Was euer such a mariage night as this?
You powers aboue, if you did euer meane
Man should be vs'd thus, you haue thought
a way
How he may beare himselfe, and saue his
honour:
Instruct me with it, for to my dull eyes
There is no meane, no moderate course
to runne [780]
I must liue scorn'd, or be a murderer:
Is there a third? why is this night so
calme?
Why does not heauen speake in thunder
to vs,
And drowne her voice?
Euad. This
rage will doe no good.
Amin. Euadne,
heare me, thou hast tane an oath,
But such a rash one, that to keepe it,
were
Worse then to sweare it, call it backe
to thee,
Such vowes as those neuer ascend the heauen,
A teare or two will wash it quite away: [790]
Haue mercy on my youth, my hopefull youth,
If thou be pittifull, for (without boast)
This land was proud of me: what Lady was
there
[Signature [C4v], end page 23, catchword: That]
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| That men cald faire and v | | |
