University of Virginia Library

SCENE THE FIRST

outside of ye Court
Enter LODOVICO and OCTAVIO
LODO.
It is not in my Apprehension, why
the Queene should euery Day Renew her Graces
vpon This stranger.

OCTA.
How does the Duke
Guarini take it? He cannot Chuse but see
Himselfe much lessened.

LODO.
yet shee does her knack
so Cunningly, shee sometymes is so sweet
vpon his Grace.—

OCTA.
when the other's Absent,

LODO.
But wee that constantly Attend can see
which way the wind blowes fayrest: shee's here.

Enter LEONIDAS with the QUEENE Attended and Passing over the Stage.
OCTA.
And our New Blazeing starre.
Pray Heauen it bode no Ill to Naples.

LODO.
Courts neuer want theise Prodigyes;
shee's young and tis no Breach of Duty
To wish things well; but leaue her to her Fancy.
lett's Talke of something else.
Enter FLORELLI
What's the matter Signior?
What Sunneshyne makes you looke so pleasant?

FLO.
If you haue a mind to Laugh Gentlemen
Here's a spectacle hard by—

LODO.
what is't

FLO.
A Thing Calls himselfe a Country Gentleman
A strange medly, made vp of Foole & Knave.
That has it seemes money in his Purse:
And is Come to Court in hopes to Buy an office.
And he Talkes with as much Confidence, as if
he had one already.

OCTA.
Prethee where is he?

FLO.
Nay, he knowes not, tis a labarynth
to him and he is lost in't. He moves vp & downe
lyke a fireworke vpon a lyne:
most of his Discourse is Three Questions;
where is the Queene: How to Gett an office,
And which is the way out of the Court, for hee's lost.
But see the Pageant Appeares himselfe.

Enter ASINELLO
ASI.
The strangest place that ere I Came in! D'ee heare.
you looke lyke Civill Gentlemen, Pray which is the way
out of the Court? I haue been in't theise two Houres,
And I can find neither Beginning, nor Ending.

LODO.
The way out oth Court. cannot you find that, Sir?

ASI.
No, but would you would Instruct me, Sir.

LODO.
why Faces about, tis the very same way you Came in Sir;
there's no way lyke it.

ASI.
But I cannot tell that, here are so many windings
and Turnings, that I haue lost my selfe.

OCTA.
You are not the first man has been lost at Court.

ASI.
I should be sorry Sir, if I now Add to the Number.
To Tell you truely I come for preferment
on Honorable Tearmes.

FLO.
As how Sir?

ASI.
why I haue sould some estate in the Country,
to Facilitate my way. I hope you'l Grant
I am so farre noble.

LODO.
It cannot be Deny'd.—

OCTA.
And may Quallify you here, if well Imployd.

ASI.
I was told I must Confesse, that ere I went farre
In this Elizium, I should meet with a Cerberus
or so that would looke Grimme vpon my passage,
And I haue here my Chips of Gold to winne
All of that Complexion.

LODO.
The Queene has no Courtiers
of such Craveing Appetites, I Assure you.

ASI.
I Honour the Queene Sir, and all her Relations.
But they say the King of Hungary, has
some subjects in all Courts.

FLO.
you are Cunning in Metaphor I perceaue.

ASI.
I should be loath to Disoblige any,
As farre as my Abillityes Extend.

OCTA.
A most Ingenuos Expression.

ASI.
And doe you thinke I may pretend to so much witt,
As will make me a Courtier?

LODO.
why not Sir?
But how come you to leaue the Country?

ASI.
A dull sweatty place, not fitt for the Aiery, & Refyn'd.

OCTA.
This is the oddest peice of Foppery.

ASI.
Besides here are the fine things, the fayre things,
the Amorous things—I could wish, I might
Present my Agillitys to the Queene, & her ladyes.

FLO.
I wounder being a stranger, that you can keepe
your feet so well, the pavement here is slippery.

ASI.
My feet? they cost me more, then all the Rest of my Body.

LODO.
As how Sir?

ASI.
Why since I came out of the Country in Learning
to Dance: I was told it was a Quallity very much
Respected here; and I have liv'd three months
together in a Dancing schoole, this is
the first Day I came out.

FLO.
you haue had a merry tyme on't;
Sure you fedd on nothing but Songs and varietyes
of Ayres, you are so nimble.

ASI.
wee had all the french, spanish and best Italian
Curiositys to feed vpon; euery morning I had
a fresh Salabrand stew'd with Corantoes,
for my Breakfast, Boyld, Bak'd, & Roasted Galliardos
with Jiggs and Hornepipes to no Tune. Indeed
for the first moneth I Dyn'd onely with Country Dances,
And supp'd with the whisking Canaries.
My feet neuer fayl'd me but when I was Drunke;
And now I talke of Drynke, which is the way
Into the wine Cellar?

FLO.
He has found another Question.

OCTA.
You may find your way out of the Court
a great deale sooner, then the way into the wine Cellar.

ASI.
Here's a fine place that a man knows not,
which way to Goe in or out; Court Call you it?
I shall wish myselfe in the Country againe.
But I would see the Queene first. Pray where is ye Queene?
They say shee's a Compleat Lady.

LODO.
The Queene? oh Sir—

OCTA.
This Fellow flyes at euery thing—
Doe you Aske where the Queene is?

ASI.
yes that I Doe.

Flagellett be ready
OCTA.
Excuse your Servant—

FLO.
would you see the Queene Sir?

ASI.
Tis my Greatest Buisnesse, and in hopes of
some preferment, would doe much for her Majesty.

LODO.
That's another matter.

OCTA.
And more possible,—But the Queene Sir—

FLO.
But the office Sir? what ist? In this a man
may doe you a Curtesy, wee are all the Queenes Servants,

ASI.
I Desyre your better Acquaintance: But which of you
Is the Procuring or Taking Gentleman?

LODO.
Wee are no selling Gentlemen.

ASI.
you are much Abus'd in the Country then;
I heard there a man might Bid for an office.
I haue enough to Buy one, two three, foure & five.

OCTA.
But with your favour Sir, for what place
Doe you hold your selfe best Quallifyd?

ASI.
I thought you had been a more vnderstanding
here play.
Courtyer, Quallify'd? wo'not this Quallify?
showes Gold.
Ha! what's that! Excuse me Gentlemen,
one playes within vpon a Flagellett.
I cannot hold, though I were to be presently
Hang'd vp by the Heeles.

Exit, Dancing after the pipe.
LODO.
What thinke you of this Fellow?
lett's follow, and see what Becomes of him.

Exeunt