 | The Swisser |  |
SCÆNA PRIMA
[A Street, before the House of Clephis.][Enter] ALCIDONVS [and] BOY.
This is her Window! But the Infant Morne,
From Nights black wombe, appeares but now. Selina!
I feare to wake thee; thou more glorious Light,
Vp, from that Sphere, thy bed, and make the Day
The brighter by thyne Eyes. Begin the song, Boy.
SONGE
So doth the early larke salute the day,
So the young kids do skip and play,
When the Suns cherfull beames arise,
Such is the pretious Lusture of thyne Eyes;
For without that delight,
To mee 'tis endlesse night!
So the young kids do skip and play,
When the Suns cherfull beames arise,
Such is the pretious Lusture of thyne Eyes;
For without that delight,
To mee 'tis endlesse night!
46
By them I liue, I spring, I growe, and haue
By their Ecclipses, a sad graue.
When our hard Parents enterpose
A World of Earthy thoughts, this light wee lose;
Which doth procure great paine,
Till it renewes againe.
By their Ecclipses, a sad graue.
When our hard Parents enterpose
A World of Earthy thoughts, this light wee lose;
Which doth procure great paine,
Till it renewes againe.
But wee will borrow from pure Loue, his fire,
To kindle, and inflame Desire;
That, when our Eyes meet not, wee may
By that warmth thinke there is another Day;
Then meeting, 'twill appeare
A thousand tymes more cleare.
To kindle, and inflame Desire;
That, when our Eyes meet not, wee may
By that warmth thinke there is another Day;
Then meeting, 'twill appeare
A thousand tymes more cleare.
[SELINA appears above at a window.]
Seli.
Who's that? My Loue! Art thou gott loose?
Alci.
The tye
I haue to thee doth breake all other Bonds;
O lett mee breath my Soule into thyne armes!
Seli.
I can but onely wish thee heere; the meanes
For thy accesse is quite debar'd.
Clep.
(within).
Selina!
Seli.
My father calls—I'le meet thee the Ninth hower
Within the Garden groue—take all my Prayers—
Clep.
[within].
Selina!
Seli.
Yes, my lord— [to Alci.]
and my best wishes—
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I come!—the Garden groue—
[With the last words, enter] TIMENTES.
Alci.
I will not faile thee. (Exit Selina)
Hart, thou art toe full,
To vtter thy affection.
Exit.
Tim.
Who is that?
This is some quarrell, sure; they haue appointed
A meeting in the Garden groue. This fighting
I doe not greatly like. My lord Antharis
Against my will did make mee Generall,
Onely to crosse Arioldus; I had no mind to't.
But I will striue against Nature, I shall grow
A pastime for the Boyes elce. Who is that?
[Enter] ANTHARIS.
Anth.
You are a fine Man! A gallant Souldier!
Tim.
I did tell you at first, that I should hardly
Indur't.
Anth.
For your owne Creditt
And mine, be not so hartlesse.
Tim.
I doe find,
My selfe a' changing, and to make it good,
I'le tell you of a quarrell.
Anth.
Where?
Tim.
Too gentlemen
Appointed meeting in the garden groue,
This morning at the ninth hower.
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'Tis my Duty
To intercept 'em, then. Come, will you aide mee?
Tim.
I haue some busines—
Anth.
Sett by all excuse,
For you shall goe; ther is no danger in't.
Tim.
No danger in fighting!
Anth.
I'le be your Protection;
You shall not need to feare 'em.
Tim.
Well!—I'le meet yee.
Anth.
Keepe the hower—
Exit ANTHARIS.
Tim.
Yes; neuer—catch mee parting of 'em,
And trusse mee vp for a wigen, and then spitt mee.
'Tis pritty hansome sport to see a mans gutts
Hanging about his heeles like Sausages.
Fry mee if I come nere 'em. Yett more trouble!
[Enter] ANDRVCHO, ASPRANDVS, ISEAS with SERVANTS and a Coffin.
Andru.
[whispers].
Are all things ready? Is the Coffin come?
Aspr.
[in a low voice].
It is.
Andru.
Aduance, then.
Altogether.
[to Timentes].
Oh, my Lord—
Tim.
What meane you?
Will yee beseidge mee, Gentlemen?
Andru.
Sir, our Duties
Calls vs to this; you were our Generall!
Iseas.
And wee are bound to tell yee.
Aspra.
Gard yee well, Sir,
Your life is sought for.
49
Why, what haue I done?
Ise.
Ther's three or foure lay waite for yee.
Andru.
One a Souldier,
That had the gard of a fort; you cudgel'd him,
And cal'd him foole for holding out so long.
And then, you beat a drummer at the Alarum,
For keeping such a Noise.
Tim.
I ne're struck man yett.
Aspra.
Besids, some Courtiers, that say, you tell all
You heare, or see, to the King.
Ise.
Nay, the black gard toe,
Because you had a proiect to reduce 'em.
Tim.
Alas! 'twas but propos'd.
Andru.
Their rage is boyling,
And ruine comes vpon you like a Deluge,
Without a quick preuention.
Tim.
Gentlemen!
You are my freinds.
Altogether.
Wee are so.
Tim.
Giue mee Councell.
Andru.
The best I can aduise is to giue out
That you are dead.
Ise.
And that will bate their Mallice.
Aspra.
For who will thinke vpon Reuenge, the Subiect
Being ta'ne away?
Andru.
Then, when their Anger's past,
You may reuiue agen.
Ise.
Quickly! Resolue on't!
50
Tim.
Any thing—
Andru.
Goe buy a Coffin soudainely.
Aspra.
Heere is one!
Andru.
Euery thing falls out to your wish. Come—In!—
Tim.
Softly, good Gentlemen! Lett mee haue breath—
Andru.
Wee will not hurt yee. Soe—Where is the Epitaph?
EPITAPH
Coffin! though thou bee'st of Wood,
Thou art for our Generalls good;
And Honor 'tis to thee enough,
That hee is made of the same Stuffe.
A Block cutt out in shape, for showe,
With no more Spirit then made it goe;
So that it scarcly could bee sed,
Whether hee were aliue or Dead.
A walking Ghost there was, that staid
With vs a while; but now 'tis Laid.
Andru.
Pin't on. [In a low voice]
Begin your parts.
Ise.
[disguising his voice].
Wo'd we co'd find him!
Andru.
Who do you seeke for, Gentlemen?
Aspra.
[disguising his voice].
Timentes!
That was late Generall.
Andru.
What should hee doe?
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Our Angers should instruct our Swords a way
Vnto Reuenge, if wee could find him out.
Aspra.
No fortresse can protect him! Heap vp mountaines!
Sett Pelion vpon Ossa, and there place him:
The iustnes of our Cause wo'd fetch him downe,
Into the lowest depth.
Andru.
Alas, hee's low enough!
Hee's past your Angers, gentlemen; hee's dead.
Ise.
How, dead? Where is his Body?
Andru.
[pointing at the coffin].
Heere.
Aspra.
Wee'le burne it.
And with his asshes scoure our rusty blades
To make 'em bright agen; then shake his dust
Into the wind, till it outflies his feares.
Ise.
What's this?
Andru.
His Epitaph.
Aspra.
Heere lyes a Wooden Generall indeed.
Wee'le try if hee can swim; his body shall
To Sea with vs; a Sharke will shatter him.
Ise.
Or lett vs place him on some barren Rock,
Naked, for Eagles to pick out his Eyes.
Andru.
You are too cruell, and Humanitie
Tyes vs to see ther shall no iniurie
Be offred to the dead.
Aspra.
[whispers to Andru.]
Yee come of too soone.
Andru.
[whispers to Aspra.]
If wee proceede the apprehention
May strike him dead indeed; the Jeast is spoil'd then.
[Opens the coffin.]
52
Ise.
How, 'tis impossible; lett's heaue him vp.
Aspra.
Rub him, and pinch him by the nose.
Andru.
Hee's cold.
Aspra.
Sffoot, we ha' fool'd it finely! Could his feares
Vsurpe his Spiritt so much?
Andru.
Your great words kil'd him.
Ise.
But see the stronge Power of th'Imagination,
How it doth tiranize?
Andru.
Pox a' Philosophie!
Wee shalbe all hang'd for experiment.
Aspra.
What shall wee doe?
Andru.
Conuay him hence; I'le instantly
To the king for Pardon for vs all.
Exit.
Ise.
Away!
Aspra.
Take vp this Body, Sirs. Wee'le sweare, and truly,
That hee dyed soudainely.
Ise.
Wee ha' made an Noose
For our owne Necks, and then where hangs the ieast?
Exeunt with the Coffin.
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