 | The Golden Age. Or The liues of Jupiter and Saturne, with the defining of the Heathen Gods |  |
Actus. 4.
Scœna. 1.
Enter Homer.Homer.
O blind ambition and desire of raine,
What horri'd mischiefe wilt not thou deuise?
The appetite of rule, and thirst of raigne
Besots the foolish, and corrupts the wise.
Behold a King suspicious of his sonne,
Pursues his innocent life, and without cause.
Oh blind ambition what hast thou not done
Against religion, zeale and natures lawes?
But men are borne their owne fates to pursue,
Gods will be Gods, and Saturne finds it true.
A dumbe shew. Enter Iupiter, Iuno, Melliseus, Archas, as to reuels. To them Saturne, drawes his sword to kill Iupiter, who onely defends himselfe, but beeing hotly pursu'd, drawes his sword, beates away Saturne, seiseth his crowne, and sweares all the Lords of Creet to his obeysance, so Exit.
Saturne against his sonne his force extended,
And would haue slaine him by his tyrannous hand,
Whilst Iupiter alone his life defended.
But when no prayers his fury could withstand,
Hee vs'd his force, his father droue from Creet,
And as the Oracle before had told
And Saturnes fortunes are to exile sold.
But leauing him, of Danae that bright lasse,
How amorous Ioue first wrought her to his power,
How shee was closed in a fort of brasse,
And how he skal'd it in a golden showre,
Of these we next must speake, curtious and wise,
Help with your hands, for Homer wants his eyes.
A flourish. Enter Iupiter, Iuno, the Lords of Creet, Melliseus, Archas, Neptune, and Pluto.
Iup.
Our vnkind father double tyrannous,
To prosecute the vertues of his sonne,
Hath sought his owne Fate, and by his ingratitude
Left to our head th'Imperiall wreath of Creet:
Which gladly we receiue. Neptune from Athens,
And Pluto from the lower Tartarie
Both welcome to the Cretan Iupiter.
Those Starres that gouern'd our natiuity,
And stript our fortunes from the hand of death,
Shall guard vs and maintaine vs.
Nept.
Noble Saturne,
Famous in all things, and degenerate onely,
In that inhumaine practise 'gainst his sonnes,
Is fled vs, whom we came to visite freely,
And filiall duties to expresse. Great Athens
The nurse and fostresse of my infancy,
I haue instructed in the sea-mans craft.
And taught them truely how to saile by starres
Besides the vnruly Iennet I haue tam'd
And train'd him to the saddle for my practise.
The horse to mee is soly consecrate.
Pluto.
I from the bounds of lower Tartarie
Haue trauel'd to the fertile plaines of Creet.
Nor am I lesse in lustre of my same,
Then Neptune, or renowned Iupiter.
Those barren Kingdomes I haue richt with spoiles,
And not a people trafficks in those worlds,
For wealth or treasure, but we custome them,
Prey on their Camels, and their laden Mules,
And Pluto's through the world renown'd & fear'd.
And since we haue mist of Saturne lately fled,
It glads me yet, I freely may suruey
The honours of my brother Iupiter.
Nep.
And beauteous Iuno, Empresse of all hearts
Whom Neptune thus embraceth.
Pluto.
So doth Pluto.
Iun.
All diuine honours crowne the royal temples
Of my two famous brothers.
Iup.
King Melliseus welcome them to Creet.
Archas do you the like.
Melli.
Princes your hands.
Archas.
You are my royall vnckles.
Iup.
Nay hand him Lords, he is your kinsman too.
Archas my sonne, of faire Calisto borne,
I hope faire Iuno it offends not you,
It was before your time.
Iuno.
Shee was a strumpet.
Iup.
Shee shall be a Starre.
And all the Qeenes and beautious maides on earth
That are renown'd for high perfections,
We'l woe and winne, wee were borne to sway and rule.
Nor shall the name of wife be curbe to vs.
Or snaffle in our pleasures. Beauteous Io,
And faire Europa, haue by out transhapes,
And guiles of loue already bene deflour'd,
Nor liues shee that is worthy our desires,
But we can charme with court-ship. Royal brothers
what newes of note is rumor'd in those Realmes,
Through which you made your trauels?
Nep.
Haue you heard
Of great Acrisius, the braue Arges King,
And of his daughter Danae.
Iup.
His renowne,
And her faire beauty oft hath peirc't our eares.
Nor can we be at peace, till we behold
That face fame hath so blazd on. What of her?
Of her inclosure in the Darreine Tower,
Guirt with a triple Mure of shining brasse.
Haue you not heard?
Iup.
But we desire it highly.
What marble wall, or Adamantine gate,
What Fort of steele, or Castle forg'd from brasse,
Loue cannot scale? or beauty not breake through?
Discourse the nouell Neptune.
Nept.
Thus it was.
The Queene of Arges going great, the King
Sends (as the custome is) to th'Oracle,
To know what fortunes shall betide the babe.
Answer's return'd by Phœbus and his Priests:
The Queene shall childe a daughter beautifull,
Who when she growes to yeares, shall then bring forth
A valiant Princely boy, yet such a one
That shall the King his grandsire turne to stone.
Danae is borne, and as she growes to ripenesse,
So grew her fathers feare: and to preuent
His ominous fate pronounc'd by th'Otacle,
He mowlds this brazen Tower, impregnable
Both for the seat and guard: yet beautifull
As is the gorgeous palace of the Sunne.
Iup.
Ill doth Acrisius to contend and warre
Against th'unchanging Fates, Il'e scale that Tower:
Or raine downe millions in a golden shower.
I long to be the father of that babe,
Begot on Danae, that shall proue so braue,
And turne the dotard to his marble graue.
Tis cast already: Fate be thou my guide,
Whil'st for this amorous iourney I prouide.
Mel.
But is the Lady there immur'd, and clos'd
From all society and sight of man?
Nept.
So full of iealous feares is King Acrisius,
That, saue himselfe, no man must neere the Fort.
Only a guard of Beldams past their lusts,
Vnsensible of loue, or amorous pitty,
Partly by bribes hir'd, partly curb'd with threats,
Plut.
Too pittilesse, and too obdur's the King,
To cloyster beauty from the sight of man.
But this concernes not vs.
Iup.
That fort I'le scale,
Though in attempting it be death to faile.
Brothers and Princes, all our Courts rarities
Lye open to your royal'st entertainment
Yet pardon me, since vrgence cals me hence
To an inforced absence. Nay Queene Iuno
You must be pleas'd, the cause imports vs highly.
Feast with these Princes till our free returne.
Attendance Lords, we must descend in gold.
Or yon imprisoned beauty ne'r behold.
Exit.
Enter foure old Beldams, with other women.
1. Beld.
Heer's a coyle to keep fire and tow a sunder. I wonder
the King should shut his daughter vp so close: for any thing
I see, she hath no minde to a man.
2. Beld.
Content your selfe, you speake according to your
age and appetite. We that are full fed may praise fast. We that in
our heate of youth haue drunke our bellyfuls, may deride those
that in the heate of their blouds are athirst. I measure her by
what I was, not by what I am. Appetite to loue neuer failes an
old woman, till cracking of nuts leaues her. When Danae hath
no more teeth in her head then you and I, Il'e trust a man in her
company, and scarce then: for if we examine our selues, wee
haue euen at these yeares, qualmes, and rhumes, and deuises
comes ouer our stomakes, when we but look on a proper man.
1. Beld.
That's no question, I know it by my selfe, and whil'st
I stand centinell, I'le watch her for that I warrant her.
2. Bel.
And haue we not reason, considering the penalty?
1. Bel.
If any stand centinel in her quarters, we shall keep quarter
here no longer. If the Princesse miscarry we shall make gunpowder,
and they say an old woman is better for that then Saltpeter.
The 'larme bell rings.
3. Beld.
The larme bell rings,
It should be K. Acrisius by the sound of the clapper.
4. Beld.
Then clap close to the gate and let him in.
Acri.
Ladies well done: I like this prouidence
And carefull watch ore Danae: let me finde you
Faithlesse, you dye, be faithfull and you liue
Eterniz'd in our loue. Go call her hither,
Be that your charge: the rest keep watchfull eye
On your percullist entrance, which forbids
All men, saue vs, free passage to this place.
See! Danae is descended. Faire daughter
Enter Danae.
How do you brook this palace?
Dan.
Like a prison:
What is it else? you giue me golden fetters,
As if their value could my bondage lessen.
Acri.
The architectur's sumptuous, and the building
Of cost inualuable, so rich a structure
For beauty, or for state, the world affoords not.
Is not thy attendance princely, like a Queenes?
Are not all these thy vassails to attend?
Are not thy chambers faire, and richly hung?
The walkes within this barricadoed mure
Full of delight and pleasure for thy taste
And curious palate, all the chiefest cates
Are from the furthest verges of the earth
Fetch't to content thee. What distates thee then?
Dan.
That which alone is better then all these,
My liberty. Why am I cloyster'd thus,
And kept a prisoner from the sight of man?
What hath my innocence and infancy
Deseru'd to be immur'd in brazen walls?
Can you accuse my faith, or modesty?
Hath any loose demeanour in my carriage
Bred this distrust? hath my eye plaid the rioter?
Or hath my tongue beene lauish? haue my fauours
Vn-virginlike to any beene profuse,
That it should breed in you such ielousie,
Or bring me to this durance?
Acri.
None of these.
I loue my Danae. But when I record
That makes this thy reteinement.
Danae.
The Oracle?
Wherein vnto the least of all the Gods
Hath Danae beene vnthankfull, or profane,
To bondage me that am a princesse free,
And votaresse to euery deity?
Acri.
Il'e tell thee Lady. The vnchanging mouth
Of Phœbus, hath this Oracle pronoun'st,
That Danae shall in time childe such a sonne
That shall Acrisius change into a stone.
Danae.
See your vaine seares. What lesse could Phœbus say?
Or what hath Danae's fate deseru'd in this?
To turne you into stone; that's to prepare
Your monument, and marble sepulcher.
The meaning is, that I a sonne shall haue,
That when you dye shall beare you to your graue.
Are you not mortall? would you euer liue?
Your father dy'd, and to his Monument
You like a mourner did attend his herse.
What you did to your father, let my sonne
Performe to you, prepare your sepulcher.
Or shall a stranger beare you to your tombe,
When from your owne bloud you may store a Prince
To do those sacred rights: or shall vaine feares
Cloister my beauty, and consume my yeares?
Acri.
Our feares are certaine, and our doome as fix't
As the decrees of Gods. Thy durance here
Is with limit endlesse. Go attend her
Exit Danae.
Vnto her chamber, there to liue an Ankresse
And changelesse virgin, to the period
Of her last hower. And you, to whom this charge
Solely belongs, banish all womanish pitty:
Be deafe vnto her prayers, blinde to her teares,
Obdure to her relenting passions.
Should she (as heauen and th'Oracle forbid)
By your corrupting loose that precious Gemme
Your liues are doom'd. Be faithfull we desire,
And keepe your bodies from the threatned fire.
Exit.
1, Beld.
Heauen be as chary of your Highnesse life,
As we of Dana's honour. Now if shee bee a right woman, shee
will haue a minde onely to loose that, which her father hath such
care to keepe. There is a thing that commonly stickes vnder a
womans stomacke.
2. Beld.
What do we talking of things? there must be no medling
with things in this place, come let vs set our watch, and
take our lodgings before the Princesse chamber,
Exit.
Enter Iupiter like a Pedler, the Clowne his man, with packs at their backes.
Iup.
Sirrah, now I haue sworne you to secrecy attend your charge
Clo.
Charge me to the mouth, and till you giue fire I'l not of.
Iup.
Thou know'st I haue stuft my packe with rich iewels,
to purchase one iewell worth all these.
Clowne.
If your pretious stones were set in that Iewell it
would be braue wearing.
Iup.
If we get entrance, sooth me vp in all things: & if I haue
recourse to the Princesse, if at any time thou seest me whisper to
her, find some tricke or other to blinde the Beldams eyes.
Clow.
Shee that hath the best eyes of them all, I haue a trick
to make her nose stand in her light.
Iup.
No more K. Iupiter but goodman Pedler, remember that
Clow.
I haue my memorandums about mee. As I can beare a
packe, so I can beare a braine, & now I talke of a packe, though
I know not of the death of any of your freinds, I am sorry for
your heauinesse.
Iup,
Loue and my hopes doe make my loade seeme light,
This wealth I will vnburthen in the purchase
Of yon rich beauty. Prethee ring the bell,
Clow.
Nay do you take the rope in your hand for lucke sake.
The morall is, because you shall ring all-in.
He rings the bell,
Iup.
I care not if I take thy counsell.
Enter the 4 Beldams.
1. Beld.
To the gate, to the gate, and know who tis ere you
open.
I learn't that in my youth, still to know who knockt
before I would open.
Iup.
Saue you gentle Matrons: may a man be so bold as aske
what he may call this rich and stately Tower?
3. Beld.
Thou seem'st a stranger to aske such a question,
For where is not the tower of Darreine knowne?
Clow.
It may be cal'd the tower of Barren for ought I see, for
heere is none but are past children.
4. Beld.
This is the rich and famous Darreine Tower,
Where King Acrisius hath inclos'd his daughter,
The beautious Danae, famous through the world
For all perfections.
Iup.
Oh then 'tis here; I here I must vnload.
Comming through Creet, the great King Iupiter
Intreated me to call here at this Tower,
And to deliuer you some speciall Iewels,
Of high pris'd worth, for he would haue his bounty
Renown'd through all the earth. Downe with your packe,
For here must wee vnload.
1. Beld.
Iewels to vs?
2. Beld.
And from Iupiter?
Iup.
Now gold proue thy true vertue. Thou canst all things
and therefore this.
3. Beld.
Comes he with presents, and shall he vnpacke at the
gate? nay come into the Porters lodge good Pedlers.
Clowne,
That Lady hath some manners, shee hath bene well
brought vp I warrant her.
4. Beld.
And I can tell thee pedler, thou hast that curtesy that
neuer any man yet found but the King Acrisius.
Iup.
You shall be well paid for your curtesy,
Here's first for you, for you, for, for you, for you.
1. Beld.
Rare!
2. Beld.
Admirable!
3. Beld.
The best that e're I saw!
4. Beld.
I'l run and shew mine to my Lady.
1. Beld.
Shut the gate for feare the King come, and if he ring
clap the Pedlers into some of yon old rotten corners. And hath
K. Iupiter bene at all this cost? hee's a courteous Prince, & bountifull.
Keepe you the pedler cópany, my Lady shall see mine too.
Meane you the Princesse Danae? I haue tokens from
Iupiter to her too.
1. Bel.
Runne, runne, you that haue the best legges, and tell
my Lady. But haue you any more of the same?
Clowne.
Haue we quoth he? We haue things about vs, wee
haue not shewed yet, and that euery one must not see, would
make those few teeth in your head to water, I would haue you
thinke, I haue ware too as well as my Mayster.
Enter in state Danae with the Beldams, looking vpon three seuerall iewels.
1. Bel.
Yonder's my Lady. Nay neuer bee abasht Pedler,
There's a face will become thy iewels, as well as any face in
Creet or Arges either. Now your token.
Iup.
I haue lost it. Tis my heart, beauty of Angels,
Thou art o're matcht, earth may contend with heauen,
Nature thou hast to make one compleate creature
Cheated euen all mortality. This face
Hath rob'd the morning of her blush, the lilly
Of her blanch't whitnes, and like theft committed
Vpon my soule: shee is all admiration.
But in her eyes I ne're saw perfect lustre.
There is no treasure vpon earth but yonder.
Shee is! (oh I shall loose my selfe)
Clowne.
Nay Sir, take heed you be not smelt out.
Iupi.
I am my selfe againe.
Dan.
Did hee bestow these freely? Dana's guard
Are much indebted to King Iupiter.
If he haue store wee'l buy some for our vse,
And wearing. They are wondrous beautifull,
Where's the man that brought them?
1. Beld.
Here forsooth Lady, hold vp your head and blush
not, my Lady will not hurt thee, I warrant thee.
Iup.
This iewell Madam did King Iupiter.
Command me to leaue heere for Danae.
Are you so stil'd?
Danae.
If sent to Danae,
'Tis due to me. And would the King of Creet,
Iup.
Madame he shall. Sirrah set ope your pack,
And what the Ladies like let them take freely.
Dan.
Much haue I heard of his renowne in armes,
His generousnesse, his vertues, and his fulnesse
Of all that Nature can bequeath to man.
His bounty I now tast, and I could wish,
Your eare were his, that I might let him know
What interest he hath in me to command;
Iup.
His eare is myne, let me command you then.
Behold I am the Cretan, Iupiter,
That rate your beauty aboue all these gems;
What cannot loue, what dares not loue attempt?
Despight Acrisius and his armed guards,
Hether my loue hath brought me to receiue
Or life or death from you, onely from you.
Dan.
We are amaz'd, and the large difference
Betwixt your name and habite, breeds in vs
Feare and distrust. Yet if I censure freely
I needes must thinke that face and personage
Was ne're deriu'd from basenesse. And the spirit
To venture and to dare to court a Queene
I cannot stile lesse then to be a Kings.
Say that we grant you to be Iupiter,
What thence inferre you?
Iup.
To loue Iupiter.
Dan.
So far as Iupiter loues Dana's honour,
So farre will Danae loue Iupiter.
2. Beld.
We waight well vpon my Lady.
Iup.
Madam you haue not seene a cleere stone,
For coulour or for quicknesse.
(sweete your eare.
Dan.
Beware your ruine, if yon Beldams heare.
Iup.
Sirrah shew all your wares, and let those Ladies best
please themselues.
Clowne.
Not all at these yeares. I spy his knauery. Now would
he haue mee keepe them busied, whilst he courts the Lady.
3, Beld.
Doth my Lady want nothing?
Shee lookes backe
As for example, heer's a silner bodkin, this is to remoue
dandriffe, and digge about the roots of your siluer-hair'd
furre. This is a tooth-picker, but you hauing no teeth, heere is
for you a corrall to rub your gums. This is cald a Maske.
1. Beld.
Gramarcy for this, this is good to hide my wrinckles,
I neuer see of these afore.
Clown.
Then you haue one wrinckle more behinde. You that
are dim ey'd put this pittifull spectacle vpon your nose.
Iup.
As I'am sonne of Saturne, you haue wrong
To be coop't vp within a prison strong.
Your father like a miser cloysters you,
But to saue cost: hee's loth to pay your dower,
And therefore keepes you in this brazen Tower.
What are you better to be beautifull,
When no mans eye can come to censure it?
What are sweet cates vntasted? gorgeous clothes
Vnworne? or beauty not beheld? yon Beldams
With all the furrowes in their wrinkled fronts
May claime with you like worth; ey and compare.
For eye to censure you none can, none dare.
Dan.
All this is true.
Iup.
Oh thinke you I would lye
(With any saue Danae.) Let me buy
This iewell, your bright loue, though rated higher
Then Gods can giue, or men in prayers desire.
Dan.
You couet that, which saue the Prince of Creet
None dares.
Iup.
That shewe how much I loue you (sweet)
I come this beauty, this rare face to saue,
And to redeeme it from this brazen graue.
Oh do not from mans eye this beauty skreene,
These rare perfections, which no earthly Queene
Enioyes saue you: 'twas made to be admir'd.
The Gods, the Fates, and all things haue conspir'd
With Iupiter, this prison to inuade,
And bring it forth to that for which 'twas made.
Loue Iupiter, whose loue with yours shall meet,
Kings lay their crownes, & mighty Emperours kneele:
Oh had you but a touch of what I feele,
You would both loue and pitty.
Dan.
Both I do.
But all things hinder, yet were Danae free,
She could affect the Cretan.
Iup.
Now by thee
(For what I most affect, by that I sweare)
I from this prison will bright Danae beare,
And in thy chamber will this night fast seale
This couenant made.
Dan.
Which Danae must repeale.
Iup.
You shall not, by this kisse.
1. Beld.
Tis good to haue an eye. (She lookes backe.)
Clown.
Your nose hath not had these spectacles on yet.
Dan.
Oh Iupiter.
Iup.
Oh Danae.
Dan.
I must hence:
For if I stay, I yeeld: Il'e hence, no more.
Iup.
Expect me for I come.
Dan.
Yon is my doore,
Dare not to enter there. I will to rest.
Attendance.
Iup.
Come I will.
Dan.
You had not best.
Exit Danae.
2. Beld.
My Lady calls. Wee haue trifled the night till bedtime.
Some attend the Princesse: others see the Pedlers pack't
out of the gate.
Clown.
Will you thrust vs out to seeke our lodging at Midnight.
We haue paid for our lodging, a man would thinke, we
might haue laine cheaper in any Inne in Arges?
Iup.
This castle stands remote, no lodging neere,
Spare vs but any corner here below,
Bee't but the Inner porch, or the least staire-case,
And we'l begone as early as you please.
2. Beld.
Consider all things, we haue no reason to deny that.
Prince that breathes would be aduis'd ere he durst presume to
court the princesse Danae.
1. Beld.
He court a princesse? hee lookes not with the face.
Well pedlers, for this night take a nap vpon some bench or other,
and in the morning be ready to take thy yard in thy hand
to measure me some stuffe, and so to be gone before day. Well,
good-night, we must attend our princesse.
Iup.
Gold and reward, thou art mighty, and hast power
O're aged, yong, the foolish, and the wise,
The chaste, and wanton, fowle, and beautifull:
Thou art a God on earth, and canst all things.
Clown.
Not all things, by your leaue. All the gold in Creete
cannot get one of yon old Crones with childe. But shall we go
sleepe?
Iup.
Sleep thou, for I must wake for Danae.
Hence cloud of basenesse, thou hast done inough
Hee puts off his disguise.
To bleare yon Beldams. When I next appeare
To you bright Goddesse, I will shine in gold,
Deck't in the high Imperiall robes of Creet,
And on my head the wreath of Maiesty:
For Ornament is a preuailing thing,
And you bright Queene I'le now court like a King.
Exit.
Enter the foure old Beldams, drawing out Dana's bed: she in it. They place foure tapers at the foure corners.
Dan.
Command our Eunuch's with their pleasing'st tunes
To charme our eyes to rest. Leaue vs all, leaue vs.
The God of dreames hath with his downy fanne
Swept or'e our eye-lids, and sits heauy on them.
1. Bel.
Hey-ho, Sleepe may enter in at my mouth, if
he be no bigger then a two-peny-loafe.
Dan.
Then to your chambers, & let wakelesse slūbers
Charme you in depth of silence and repose.
All.
Good night to thee faire Danae.
Dan.
Let musick through this brazen fortresse sound
Till all our hearts in depth of sleepe be drown'd.
Iup.
Silence that now hath empire through the world
Expresse thy power and Princedome. Charming sleepe
Deaths yonger brother, shew thy selfe as still-lesse
As death himselfe. None seeme this night to liue,
Saue Ioue and Danae. But that Goddesse wonne
Giue them new life breath'd with the morning sunne,
Yon is the doore, that in forbidding me
She bad me enter. Womens tongues and hearts
Haue different tunes: for where they most desire,
Their hearts cry on, when their tongues bid retire.
Al's whist, I heare the snorting Beldams breathe
Soundnesse of sleepe, none wakes saue Loue and we
Yon bright imprisoned beauty to set free.
Oh thou more beauteous in thy nakednesse
Then ornament can adde to—
How sweetly doth she breath? how well become
Imaginary deadnesse? But Il'e wake her
Vnto new life. This purchase I must win,
Heauens gates stand ope, and Iupiter will in.
Danae?
He lyes vpon her bed.
Dan.
Who's that?
Iup.
'Tis I, K. Iupiter.
Dan.
What meane you Prince? how dare you enter here?
Knowing if I but call, your life is doom'd,
And all Creetes treasure cannot guard your person.
Iup.
You tell me now how much I rate your beauty,
Which to attaine, I cast my life behinde me,
As lou'd much lesse then you.
Dan.
Il'e loue you too,
Would you but leaue me.
Iup.
Repentance I'd not buy
At that high rate, ten thousand times to dye.
You are mine owne, so all the Fates haue sed.
And by their guidance come I to your bed.
The night, the time, the place, and all conspire
To make me happy in my long desire.
Acrisius eyes are charm'd in golden sleepe,
All drown'd in Lethe (saue your downy bed,
White shetes, and pillow where you rest your head)
None heares or sees; and what can they deuise,
When they (heauen knowes) haue neither eares nor eyes.
Dan.
Beshrow you sir, that for your amorous pleasure
Could thus sort all things, person, place and leasure.
Exclaime I could, and a loude vproare keepe,
But that you say the Crones are all a sleepe.
And to what purpose should I raise such feare,
My voyce being soft, they fast, and cannot heare?
Iup.
They are deafe in rest, then gentle sweetly further,
If you should call, I thus your voyce would murther,
And strangle with my kisses.
Dan.
Kisses, tush.
I'le sinke into my sheetes, for I shall blush.
I'le diue into my bed.
Iup.
And I behind?
No: wer't the Ocean, such a gemme to find,
I would diue after.
Iupiter puts out the lights and makes vnready.
Dan.
Good my Lord forbeare
What do you meane? (oh heauen) is no man neere.
If you will needs, for modesties chast law,
Before you come to bed, the curtaines draw,
But do not come, you shall not by this light,
If you but offer't, I shall cry out right.
Oh God, how hoarse am I, and cannot? fie
Danae thus naked and a man so nye.
Pray leaue me sir: he makes vnready still,
Well I'le euen winke, and then do what you will.
The bed is drawne in, and enter the Clowne new wak't.
Clowne.
I would I were out of this tower of Brasse, & from
all these brazen fac't Beldams: if we should fall asleepe, and the
King come and take vs napping, where were we? My Lord staies
long, & the night growes short, the thing you wot of hath cost
him a simple sort of Iewels. But if after all this cost, the thing
you wot of would not do: If the pedler should shew himselfe
it, what a snorting forward and backeward these Beldams keep?
But let them sleepe on, some in the house I am sure are awake,
and stirring too, or I misse my aime. Well, here must I sit and
waite the good howre, till the gate be open, and suffer my eyes
to do that, which I am sure my cloake neuer will, that is, to take
nap.
Exit.
Enter Iupiter and Danae in her night-gowne.
Danae.
Alasse my Lord I neuer lou'd till now,
And will you leaue me?
Iup.
Beauteous Queene I must,
But thus condition'd; to returne againe,
With a strong army to redeeme you hence,
In spight of Arges, and Acrisius,
That doom's you to this bondage.
Danae.
Then fare-well.
No sooner meete but part? Remember me:
For you great Prince I neuer shall forget!
I feare you haue left too sure a token with me
Of your remembrance.
Iup.
Danae, be't a sonne,
It shall be ours when we haue Arges wonne.
Danae.
But should you faile?
Iup.
I sooner should forget
My name, my state, then faile to pay this debt,
The day-starre 'gins t'appeare, the Beldams stir,
Ready t'vnlocke the gate, faire Queene adue.
Dan.
All men proue false, if Ioue be found vntrue.
Iup.
My man?
Exit.
Clown.
My Lord.
Iup.
Some cloud to couer mee, throw or'e my shoulders
Some shadow for this state, the Crones are vp,
And waite t'vnprison vs, nay quickly fellow.
Clow.
Here My Lord, cast your old cloake about you.
Enter the foure Beldams in hast.
1. Beld.
Where be these Pedlers? nay quickly, for heauen
sake: the gate is open, nay when? fare-well my honest friends,
Iup.
King Iupiter shall know your gratitude, Farewell.
2. Beld.
Nay, when I say fare-well, fare-well.
Clow.
Farewell good Miniuers.
Exeunt diuers waies.
| The Golden Age. Or The liues of Jupiter and Saturne, with the defining of the Heathen Gods | |