University of Virginia Library

Actus primi

Scena prima.

Enter Carionil, and Falorus.
Fal.
She has out-gone my belief by't,
I did not think that project would have fail'd;
I cannot speak her.

Car.
The Alpian snow is not more cold.

Fal.
Her disposition is most strange.

Car.
'Twere easier far
To spurn the soultry Cyclops Anvil down,
And kick it thus into Atomes in the air,
Then to obtain her love;
It were, my dear Falorus.

Fal.
O think not so Carionil.

Car.
Have I not cause?

Fal.
At last after a constant and a brave pursuit
She may be won.

Car.
Could I but hope so much,
Did all the stars malignant influences
Threaten fate opposite to my happiness,
I would not deem them worthy my observance,
But persevere till I obtain'd, or fell.

Fal.
Conjecture still the best.

Car.
Tis easier to advise then to perform;
Had you, Falorus, been so oft dismist
Comfortless, scornfully sent away,
By her own lips, (O heavens!) you could not think it.

Fal.
I could and would.

Car.
With hope friend?

Fal.
Yes with an assurance.

Car.
Upon what ground would you build it?

Fal.
Upon a womans frequent dissimulation.
Can you believe, when envious clouds deprive
Your eyes from the suns beams, that it shines not?
In these times young Ladies for a while
Do mantle their affections in dislike:
Let not an ignorance of Virgins wiles
Disturb your noble breast with weak despaire;
Carionil assume a confidence:
Were you inferiour unto her in blood,
Or any whit deform'd, after her nayes
You might suspect the period: but seeing
'Tis known, as noble blood runs through your veins,
And that nature compos'd you in a mould
As excellent as she was form'd in, and
With substance of as beauteous a gloss;
You need not let doubts puzzle you.

Enter above Lucora and Nentis.
Car.
Stay and admire with me; exalt your eyes to happiness.

Fal.
Your Mistress and her Woman, my Carionil.

Car.
Lucora, She's a transcendent of Epithets.

Fal.
I see a Lute: let us escape their sight,
And it is likely we shall hear her sing.

Lucora.
Now give it me. Is it in tune?

Nen.
Yes Madam.

Car.
Forbear awhile to play upon the spheres,
Ye servants to the Deities: the Gods
Will blame you, if your musick keep the ayr
Of her all-ravishing harmony from their eares.


A song.

Car.
How! a votress to Diana,
The heavens forbid that injury to earth.
Had the deceitful Syrens such a voice,
And bodies of so rare a form, I would
Nere come on shipboard, for fear of being drawn
To drown my self by swimming after them.

Nen.
I do not like her Madam.

Luco.
Who ever yet spoke ill of Daphne? fie!
Banish such impious censures from you.

Nen.
Troth, Madam, I should have been glad to a been my Lady Apollo.

Luco.
O rellish more of purity Nentis. Alas, 'tis a fraile comfort can come with a husband.

Nen.
I think otherwise indeed Madam.

Luco.
Be all such thoughts remote from my breast,
My resolution shall be never to marry.

Exeunt.
Car.
Now you have heard her thoughts Falorus.

Fal.
That she disguises not her love you mean.

Car.
True, and I am most miserable.

Fal.
My happy friend you will be.
Tis an ignorant common custome among young ones to do so.

Car.
But she's a fixed star, and cannot move.

Fal.
Fixed in your heart tis likely,
But otherwise I doubt nor do you.

Car.
Y'ave stird a feeble belief within me, Friend,
That the excellent Lucora may be won,
And I will nourish it unto some height.

Fal.
A necessary that none must want, which do
Desire fruition of those whom they wooe.

Enter Jaques.
Car.
O honest Iaques!

Iaq.
My Lady presents her service to your Lordship.

Car.
She is in health I hope.

Iaq.
Very well. And I am glad to see your Honour so, though I say it.

Car.
She is not towards another husband yet?

Iaq.
No certainly.

Car.

Methinks her fortunes should give her a
various choice. You are elsewhere employed I
perceive: remember my best respects unto your
Lady.

Exit Iaques.
Y'ave heard of my cousin Vandona, Falorus?

Fal.
But very little.

Car.

She's the most phantastick piece of woman-kind
I ere chang'd breath with, but a young one,
wealthy, and truly not unhandsome.

Fal.
Lorece does intend to make love unto her.

Car.
Your brother, my Falorus?

Fal.
Yes, so he told me.

Car.
May he obtain her if you wish it.

Fal.
Her estate would make the match a good one.
Enter Cleanthe.
Is this the boy you so commended to me?

Car.
'Tis he, and think him you worthy the praise I gave him.

Clean.
He'l come and wait upon you at night, my Lord.

Car.
'Tis well Anclethe.

Fal.
You spoke him not unto his merits.

Car.
You are beholding to my friend (Ancleth.)

Enter a Page.
Fal.
Your Lord's in health?

Page
And desires to speak with your Lordship,

Fal.
Where may I find him?

Pag.
He'l be at this lodgings these two houres.

Fal.
I'le wait upon him presently.
Exit Page.
I am his servant. Carionil, I must take my leave.

Car.

The Gods go with you. He may be my father
in law, but will not if he can prevent it:
Adieu friend.

Exit Falorus.

O my Anclethe! thou canst not guess the world of
torments I nourish here; I cannot number them
my self, and because I cannot, I fear the Gods
will not.

Clean.
What can you ail my Lord?

Car.
Canst thou imagine me free from misery?

Clea.
Indeed I did.

Car.
No, there's a Lady (she's above all Ladies,
And were she pitiful, I should swear a goddess)
That does deny me happiness.
As thou hast me, Idalian Archer, so
On her use thy eternal stringed bow:
Draw to the head thy shaft, and let it fly;
For love but love there is no remedy.
Exit Car.

Clean.
Wretched Cleanthe! to what a multitude
Of woful sighes my destinies have driven me!
Could all the tears that I abundantly have wept,
But find that recompence I dare not look for,
O they were showers to be belov'd like those
That deck the spring with bravery! Carionil
(For whom I languish in disguise) it seems
Hath setled his affections on a Lady
Does not return him love. May she continue
Obstinate ever: but I must blame her judgement,
Who can behold a man (with all the art
Of nature) fram'd to curiosity,
And heare the world report his vertues equal
Unto his form, and not admire and love him.

Enter Lorece.
Lore.

Now my young sweet face! what pretty
foolish whimsies trouble thy pate, that thou lookest
so composedly?

Clea.

Sir, I am as I use to be.

Lore.

Then you use to be scurvy. Use the Tavern
once or twice a day. You must not be so melancholy.

Clean.

It best becomes me.

Lore.

Canst thou swear?

Clean.

The Gods forbid.

Lore.

Canst thou sing.

Clean.

Not worth your hearing Sir.

Lore.

Say'st thou so! Then will I something
worth thine.

Cle.

Y'are not melancholy Sir, your brother is
more solemn.

Core.

I melancholy! I scorne it boy. Yet I'me not
so merry as I was wont, the young gunner Mr. Cupid
had somewhat tam'd me: but I am good mettle still
(thank my jovial fates) and will sound melodiously,
my young Paris.

Enter Jaques.

Welcome to Hercules noble Theseus. Good boy,
Go wait on thy master.

Exit Cleanthe.

How do'st, thou old magazine of precious knavery?

Iaq.

I am glad to see your Worship well.

Lore.

My noble milner of words, thou that dost
grind thy speeches with a merry pronunciation, wilt
be my bosome, my cabinet, my friend Iaques?

Iaq.

I will obey your good Worship.

Lore.

Liberally spoken! when I have opened me,
will you be privy?

Iaq.

Very secret and officious: it is good manners
in me, your command shall wedge my tongue,
hedge my heart, and tye a true lovers knot upon it
with the strings of it.

Lore.

Thou art an honest clod of earth, Iaques.
Tis pity the malicious sun-shine warm'd thee not
into a diamond.

Iaques.

Your Worship speakes above my brains.

Lore.

I am marvellously enamour'd on your Lady,
Iaques. Vandona is my Mistris.

Iaq.

Wonderful news! Is my Lady your Worships
sweet-heart?

Lore.

Yes. But ignorant of my affection yet.

Iaq.

I could be drunk were you my Master, Sir.

Lore.

I would have a Wine-cellar o'th purpose.
My estate Iaques is but mean: It must be craft
must get her: Knowest thou any possible way to
win her?

Iaq.

Sir, I am passing empty of invention, but
wherein I can pleasure you, tell me at any time,
and I will not fail you. But the Gods bless your good
Worship: Sir, would you marry her?

Lore.

Yes my old trusty Perithous. Why dost
wonder at it?

Iaq.

She does nothing all day but read little
Comedies, and every night spends two or three hours
on a great Tragedy of a merry fellow Dametas, and
a company of strange-nam'd learned Lovers, she's
no more houswife then you or I Sir, on my own
proper knowledge, I swear, vow and protest it.

Lore.

Thou art too earnest my old-fac'd Saturn,
I think her not the worse woman. Houswifery is the
superficies of a genteel female, and the Parenthesis
of a Lady, which may well be left out.

Iaq.

You are a Scholar, your bookship shall direct
me.

Enter Phyginois.
Lore.

Who's that? knowest thou him Iaques?
He walkes corantoly, and looks big.

Iaq.

And like your Worship, this tide first brought
him to my eyes.

Lore.
He came not by water, did he old Boy?

Iaq.
I meant Time Sir, the London word.

Phy.
When we this passion into us receive,
Our former pleasures we do loath and abandon:

Iaq.
Leave, by your leave.

Phy.
If it were foolishness in us to take
Affection, why did heaven two sexes compose?

Iaq.
Make, would make Rhime.

Phy.
Why Period to the Phœnix doth fire give,
But because it doth against nature consist?

Iaq.

Live, he should say. This is some very smal
Poet.

Phy.
Ile on, and am resolved to preferre
My life to be a service unto her.

Lore.
What an affected utterance has this fellow!

Iaq.

He'l nere make good Ballad warrant him,
that will not rhime when he may.

Lore.

The Catastrophe was in rhime though. He
would be lik'd for a stage Poet.

Phy.

Noble Heroes! the Gods extend your fortunes
to your thoughts.

Lore.

An Academical Idiome: enquire his name
Iaques, he delivers his mind after the garb of a
Signior.

Iaq.

Have you a name friend?

Phy.

I answer to Draculemyon.

Iaq.

Good Sir, let's trudge hence; this is some
great Conjurer.

Lore.

Are you a Necromancer?

Iaq.

Mr. Lorece, I fear he is some Saracen, he
looks so dismal.

Lore.

Art thou a Panim, speak?

Iaq.

For all your great looks Termegant is an Idol.

Phy.

I am nor one nor other, but your Honours vassall,
and a poor Englishman. Wilt please you to
hear the Musick of Helicon?

Iaq.

Law you now Sir, how one may be deceiv'd! I
believe the whorson is a Fidler. Can you sing
(sirra?) answer me.

Phy.

I am no Fidler; but live by my tongue and legs:
will you hear me (noble Sir) speak a Parnassian
Oration, or see me measure the ground with a
dance?

Lore.

What saiest thou Iaques?

Iaq.

Why now Sir, tis dinner time with my Lady,
and I dare not neglect her, neither will I my own
stomach, and therefore for me he may shew us a
fair pair of heels, and be gone.

Lor.

Well then—spend this for me.

Phy.

Y'are, Sir, the best part of a moralist: you are
most liberal.

Lor.
Come Iaques.

Iaq.
I follow you Sir, farewell goodman Draculemyon.

Phy.
The Gods bless me, there's a name!
Exeunt.
Proceed Phyginois, and be fortunate;
This project will furnish me with mony to cloth me
Both fashionably and rich enough, and then
I dare assail my Nentis with some confidence:
Politick Lovers seldom miss.
Smile heaven upon my plot, that there may be
A crowned Period to my policy.

Exit.

Scena Secunda.

Enter Polidacre and Falorus.
Pol.

How do you like Lucora?

Fal.

She's a Lady above my thoughts, much
more my tongue.

Pol.

Could not you wish her yours? I have a desire
to make her so.

Fal.
Ambrosia Hebe's Cates are for the Gods:
Princes she doth deserve to wooe her love.

Pol.
You undervalue her my Lord;
The best is not too good for him that gets her.
Your breeding has been worthy your descent;
I've known you from your Infancy, and am
Desirous to make you mine.

Fal.

He enforceth me to an acceptance. I must temporize
with him,
Most worthy Polidacre, I cannot attain to a greater
happiness on earth, then to bear the name of your
Son in law.

Pol.

I thank thee my Falorus. Ile go presently, & get
my daughters consent. As you shall not want beauty
with her, so you shall not money. Ile take my leave.

Fal.
I am your most humble servant, my Lord.
Exit Pol.
VVhat envious Star when I was born, divin'd
This adverse Fate, who having such a beauty
Profer'd him, would refuse it? The pin'd man
VVhom Poets phantasies have plac'd in Hell
VVith fruit before him, had not such a cross.
The true regard I bear unto my friend.
The brave Carionil must not be slighted;
The sacred truth of friendship ever shoo'd
By force enfeeble all rebellious blood.
Enter Carionil.
VVell met my dear Carionil.

Car.

I am happy in your company: y'are my hearts
best treasury, Falorus.

Enter Lucora and Nentis.
But give me leave my friend.

Fal.
O! I see the cause; your Mistris.

Car.
Retire ye Clouds, and weep our showers of woe,
Because ye may no longer stand and gaze
On her, for whom the heavens their circuits go,
That they may see, and wonder at her face.
Dear Falorus withdraw your self awhile.

Fal.
The Gods assist your suit.

Car.
Thanks worthy friend.
He withdraws.

Hail natures most perfect work, and the continual
Idea of my admiring Soul, for whom (if it be your
will) I must dye, and by whom (if it is your pleasure)
I shall live, live in an unspeakable felicity by
enjoying you, who shall dye happily for wanting
you, and I cannot live in such a penury.

Nen.

VVoo'd I had such a servant: I should not serve
him scurvily.

Car.

Honour your poor adorer, Lady, with a gracious
look of your beloved eyes, and my misery for

you both with commiseration and remedy.

Luco.
My Lord, if you presume upon a womans
Feign'd carriage to her wooers, leave it now.
For (if you'l give me leave) I'le call to witness
Every particular Deity we adore,
That I will never have a husband: and
For your saying you must dye for me, I hold it
A common Complement of idle Lovers;
And wish you so much happiness, that you
May live well without me.

Cario.
O be not so unmerciful!
Let not that tongue erre into virulent words,
VVhich could have cal'd Euridice from Hell.
Had your most excellent mother (fairest Lady)
Inexorable been, you had not been,
Nor Crimson Roses ever spread upon
Your lovely cheeks, nor had the world discover'd
Two Planets more: hath nature liberally
Heaped the rarest perfections (she could give
Mortality) upon you to no end?
No surely, nor can I believe that she
Ment to enclose a mind infractible
Within a body so powerful to subdue.
As you (even your dear self) was daughter to
A beauteous mother, so you also should
Indebt the world unto you by your issue:
Be not so cruel therefore (dear Lucora)
Let not your tongue degenerate from your form.

Luco.
Sir, you have heard me speak what I intend.

Car.
Be not a Tygres Lady.

Luc.
Any thing but a wife:
Sir, I must leave you, and leave you this humour;
The Court hath many Ladies, take your choice. Nentis!

Nen.
Madam

Luc.
Come my Lord take my counsel.

Nen.
I could use him kindlyer.

Car.
What say you Lady?

Nen.
Nothing my Lord.

Exeunt Luco. Nent.
Car.
Doth a fair face presage a cruel heart?
I'st not a meer full contrary in Nature,
That the softest body should be hard'st to win?
Nature is grown decrepit, and all things
Sublunary erre against her rule of order.
Stir not then thou glorious Fabrick of the heavens,
And periodize the Musick of the spheres.
Thou ever yet fast fixed Globe of earth,
Whirl-round in a perpetual Motion.
Ye Stars and Moon that beautifie the night,
Change rule with clear Hyperion, and so cast
Succeeding time into another mould.
Then with thy powerful beams, Apollo, draw
The Ocean into clouds, and drown the world:
So there a new creation may befall,
And this life be a life celestial.
Enter Falorus,
O all my happiness on earth, my true Falorus!
Lucoraes beauty triumphs in my breast,
And shortly will destroy me: There's no beast
That haunts the vastest Affrican wilderness.
Of such a merciless constitution.
She'l never marry man.

Fal.

She will Carionil. Her father would have her,
and she has not so much evil to contradict his
will: where then can she make such a choice as
you? that in a duel, your Grandfather did kill
hers, y've heard her oft protest she valued not.

Car.

Does he desire it, or does your love flatter me
into a little possibility of obtaining her? Alas, if
she could like me, her father would very difficultly
consent. He loves not my family.

Fal.

Polidacre could not hinder you, were she willing.
But (friend) her father means to marry her.
His own lips offer'd her to me.

Car.
O ye just heavenly powers! then I am lost,
Sunk into misery beneath a spark
Of this lives happiness.
Falorus, you shall not have her.

Fal.
I would not wrong my noble friend so much.

Car.
A puff of wind and gone. For her who would not
Do all mankind an injury, and out-act
In horrid deeds all those that ere profess'd
Licentious Atheisme? unsheath your sword;
I will not take that life basely away
Which next unto Lucoraes I esteem,
Yet stay.

Fal.
He's frantick! withdraw this frensie O ye Gods.

Car.
You are my friend?

Fal.
I have been so accounted by you.

Car.
Let me consult it out, shall one word.
Na (which is less) one sillable (friend extract
Out of me all the interest that I
Have to Lucora, by affecting her:
But this is a safe medium, a true friend
Exceeds all words, and syllables at height;
A man may, nay he should poize equally
His love, and part unto his friend the justice of it,
Which is the full half; so that it appears
They should be lov'd by's as we love our selves.
But to a Mistress who would not give more?
Who can choose to give more? the love that we
Bear to a friend, it is an accident, a meer one:
But tis our nature to affect a woman,
And 'tis a glory to preserve a Mistress
Entire to ones self without competitors.
My reason's satisfi'd: no friendship can
Keep in the sword of any rival'd man.

Fal.
Collect your self Carionil.

Car.
You'l fight with me?

Fal.
I do not wear a weapon for such a Quarrel.

Car.
What more affliction! yet tis against manhood,
(A most ignoble murther) to take his life
Who makes no opposition. And yet if death
Prevent him not she will be his. Sad fates!
You shall not have Lucora.

Fal.
You wrong our amity by this suspicion:
I swear I will not.

Car.
How!

Fal.
Consider (dear Carionil) I grieve
To see my friend so over-passionate,
It is a weakness in you to be pittied.

Car.
My love ore-sway'd my reason: pardon me
My best Falorus, I believe your vertue
Would not act such an injury against
Your own Carionil.

Fal.
Shall we walk? and I'le tell you all that pass'd
'Twixt me and Polidare.

Car.
I am a thousand waies obliged yours.

Fal.
You are my Carionil, I wish no more
From you then a perpetuity of love,
And that our hearts may never be unti'd.

Car.
You are too worthy for my friendship.

Exunt.

Scena tertia.

Enter Antiphila sola reading.

It is a great I know not what. I have not Poetry
enough in me to give it a name. These Lovers

are the prettiest fooles (I think) in the world.
And t'were not for them I cannot tell what we
women should do. We desire nothing more then
to be praised, and their love to us will do it
beyond our wishes. I gave Philander upon
his long importunity a lock of hair, and see into
what a vein it has put him! I'me sorry he had it
not a week sooner, I should then perhaps a had
a Sonnet-book ere this: 'tis pitty wit should lie
obscurely in any, if a lock will give it vent. I love
him not; I shood rather choose his father, who is
as earnest a suitor to me as he: yet I know, because
of his age, very few Ladies wood be of my
mind; but as yet I care for neither of them.

Enter Philander.

Now I must expect an assault, 'tis in's ear already,
he's very fine.

Phi.
My dear Anniphila, you have receiv'd.

Anti.
Your verses (Sir?) I have.

Phi.
I am your true adorer for them Lady.

Wood your white hand had done me the honour it
did them!

Anti.

In what Sir you must explain.

Phi.

That a touch of your skin might have ravish'd
me into happiness.

Anti.

The Lock has alter'd your discourse, I wood
it had shut your mouth.

Phil.

Ther's no need of that (excellent Antiphila)
I wood rather deprive my self of my tongue, then
that any word of mine should be offensive unto
you

Anti.

You relish too much of the Court.

Phi.

Polite words can never misbecome a speaker
who hath such a subject.

Anti.

Am I your subject? you have cal'd me
Mistress.

Phi.

You are my Saint Lady, and I must pray to you.

Anti.

Saints hear no prayers some say.

Phi.

Pray you shew otherwaies by granting mine.

Anti.

Have you any more papers?

Phi.

My mouth shall speak mine own errand.

Anti.

You must pardon me now Sir, I must leave
you.

Exit Antiphila.

Phi.
She yet is obstinate: but I am free
From doubt she will continue in that way;
There is no cause of fears in womens nayes,
For none of that sex means the thing she saies.
Enter Rosinda.
Now Tandorix! where's my father?

Ros.
Faith I know not Sir.

Phi.

You are one of the melancholiest servants he
keeps.

Ros.

It pleases you to say so Sir.

Phi.

They all report so of you.

Ros.

I cannot tell Sir.

Phi.

Y'are overlonely: be merrier, you shood put
your self into more companie, you should Tandorix;
I respect you for my mothers sake, for
whose last sad letter you was entertained here.

Ros.
I thank you (Sir) for your kindness.

Phy.
Farwel Tandorix.
Exit Phy.

Ros.
My son perceives my sadness, but the cause
Deserves it fully; tis now above a year
Since I did write that I did drown my self,
And bare the Paper to my husband, when
I thought his memorie was somewhat lost,
And I inur'd unto this habit, drawn
To't by a fond desire to know if he
Would keep his promise to me, with which oathes
He oft hath made, that never (if he should
Survive me) he would take another wife;
But he (as other men) esteems no more
Of perjury then common breath; 'twere fit
That husbands vows upon the sands were writ.

Exit.