University of Virginia Library

SCÆNA SECVNDA

[A Grove in a Garden.]
ALCIDONVS, SELINA.
Alci.
Now, my Selina, wee will score vp Summs
Of our embraces, and like Prodigalls
(In a full handed Happines) wast those ioyes,
That wo'd serue other Louers many Ages,
And yett to vs it shall not be profusenes.

Seli.
Our Parents Cruelty giues a sad Rellish
To our delights, my dearest Alcidonus.
How happy were this meeting elce?

Alci.
Wee'le stand
The shock of all their anger, thus inshrin'd;
And quick feares shall, like falce Orators,
Be dumbe and silent. What ther is of trouble,
That in our high, and ellemented Loues,
Causeth a trepidation, 'tis the sence
Onely doth suffer, while that purer Spirit
(Which is no part of it) with Doue-like wings
Mounteth aboue their Mallice. Wee were borne
Th'example of their Rigor, and wee'le beare it
With a strickt Patience.

Seli.
But, mee thinks, 'twere better
To lett 'em know the truth; the hand of Heauen,
And all the Ceremoniall Rites of loue,
Haue made an Vnion which they cannot seuer:
'Twill be discouer'd, and 'tis fitter wee
Should do't then others.

Alci.
True! If the sharpe edge
Of their inueterote Mallice were but blunted,
Which I will striue to doe: My fathers anger
Is like an Ouerflow, not to be stopt
Within the Banks, before its Rage be spent;
That were to turne the torrent on our selues.
But this extreame hate is like our affliction,
Too violent to last.

Seli.
Lett's make the best on't.

Alci.
Wee will, Selina, and in our stolne sweets,
Hord vp a treasure that shall ransome all
Our forepast miseries. Wee neede not Blush
When our lips meet; those are the marks of guilt,
And though feare borrowes 'em sometymes, 'tis but
To show how nere that's to it: Our free Soules
Shall not pertake of either. In theise Groues
Lett each day looke vpon our loues, and as
The Buds spring vp, so lett our ioyes grow stronge,
The better to indure the nipping Frosts
Of Seperation; Hymens torch well lighted
Can neuer be extinguisht but with Death.

[Enter] ANTHARIS, GARD.
Antha.
Tymentes has abus'd mee. I ha' bene
Stalking a good while heere and find no—
[Perceiving the lovers].
How?
Are you a Billing; I wilbee your Stickler
You too vntemper'd Vermin!

Alci.
Heare mee, Sir.
Heere are a paire of the most equall Harts
That euer gaue a Beeing to two Bodies;
Lett 'em not bee disioyn'd, wee humbly begg it,
Beg it vpon our knees. See how her teares,
In ouerflowing Silence, plead for her,
My prayers for mee.

Antha.
I must not heare him speake.
[To his Guard.]
Take him away!—Thou disobedient Varlett!
Lay hands on him!

Alci.
I will not bend my sword
Against you, Sir; but if theise handle mee,
It shalbe stiffe to them.

Antha.
Strike! Strike him downe!—
Rebellious knaue!

Alci.
I am not. Heere's my sword.
Your harshnes wounds mee more then can their weapons:
For as two young and neighboring Mirtells leane
By Naturall Simpathy, each to the other,
And so perticipate, no storme can rend one
But it is Death to both; such is your Anger.
O lett vs gently grow vp to be yours.

Antha.
I am not to bee mou'd.

[Enter] CLEPHIS.
Clep.
Ha Minion!
Haue I now found your haunte?

Alci.
Noble lord Clephis,
If you haue sence of Pitty, thinke what 'tis
To part vnited Soules; for as the Mind
Transcends the Body in her faculties,
So the distraction's more. Bee not you cruell, too—

Clep.
Beleeue mee, I doe loue thy generous Nature,
And I could wish thy father had a Vertue
Equall to thyne, that wee might meet your wishes.
But you see what hee is. Come hether, Girle;
Wer't not Antharis sonne, I should commend thee
For such a noble choise, and as hee is
I doe not much mislike it.

Antha.
But I doe, Sir.
Were shee a Serpent wrigling on the Earth,
And cold as it, I'de rather mingle Bloods
With such a one then any of thy yssue.

Clep.
Thy Mallice comes a'the same Broode, persue it.

Antha.
Yes, and I will. [To the Guard.]
Why stay yee? Take him hence!

Alci.
I shall forgett all Rules of Goodnes—Hold!

Antha.
I will not heare a word more—To his Chamber—

Alci.
This is aboue the height of Cruelty.

Exit Gard with ALCIDONVS.
Clep.
Come, wee'le away, too, Girle.

Antha.
Your Lordship may
Hang vp that peece for a signe and 't may bring custome.
Pray, lett mee see't with myne no more.

Clep.
Thou worse
Then wickednes can name, but yt I loath
To haue myne Anger fall on such a Wretch,
I now wo'd spitt thee dead; thou know'st my Blood,
Nobler then thine. I scorne to bragg, or Braule,
They suit too well with thee

Exeunt CLEPHIS, SELINA.
Antha.
Ha, ha, ha!
Well, I must take another course; this Busines
Shall not be carried thus. Who's that I pray?

[Enter] ASPRANDVS, ISEAS, SERVANTS with the Coffin.
Aspra.
The Lord Tymentes.

Antha.
How! the day is not
Thrice sixty minutes elder then it was,
When I last saw him.

Ise.
True! But now, hee's dead.

Antha.
By what strange meanes?

Aspra.
All his liues faculties
Were mastered by a soudaine fright.

Antha.
Is't possible?
Hee was my kinsman, and I stroue to sett him
In the Worlds Eye, but his feares made a Blemish,
Which blinded all his Vertues. I confesse
That my Ellection was not good, but fixt once,
My loue's as Constant as my Hate. I'le pay
My last Rites to him heere; sett downe ye Body.

[Kneels and opens the coffin.]
[Enter] ANDRVCHO.
Andru.
I ha' bene at the Court and ther's no admittance;
The king's in priuate, and the publicke Mouth
Giues out hee is in Loue. What Captiue's that
Hee had from Arioldus?

Ise.
I ne'er saw her.

Aspra.
What's to bee done then?

Andru.
Hang our selues for preuention;
For 'twill come out.

Aspra.
Then thy great Beard and Bulke
Will grace the Gallowes well.

Andru.
I shall take it Heauily;
But you two litle Pigmies will make light on't.

Ise.
Sfoot, 'tis no Jeasting matter.

Andru.
But it is
A Jeasting matter was the Cause on't.

Antha.
[to the body of Tim.]
Well!
I'le doe thee this last Right, since thou art gon,
That who soeuer caus'd this, with their Bloods
Shall Laue thy funerall Pile.

Andru.
[aside to the others].
Ther's Comfort yett.

Ise.
[aside].
Lett's shift our selues away.

Tim.
My lord Antharis—

Andru.
Pox a' your small pipe, are you squeaking?

Antha.
Gentlemen!
Am I to bee abus'd? [To Andru.]
This is your Plott,
Sir Liberall a' the Tougne,—I'le clip ye shorter.

TIMENTES rises out of ye Coffin.
Andru.
[pointing at Tim.]
Aske him, I pray.

Tim.
Where are they? Are they gon?

Antha.
Who?

Tim.
Heer's the Gentlemen that sau'd mee.

Andru.
[to Antha.]
Law yee now.

Tim.
I must confesse my life and safety onely
Depends on them.

Andru.
[to Antha.]
What thinke yee?

Tim.
A swarme of Villaines
Seaz'd on mee in the streets; some cry'd “Lett's burne him”,
Some “Hang him!”, and some “Drowne him!”; nay they had mee
Vp in their Armes to do't. Alas, I lay
In a Cold sweat; they pincht and tumbled mee;
But stirr I durst not, no, not breath[e]; I hop't now
Of nothing but the easiest way to dye,
Vntill I heard your voice.

Andru.
[aside].
Wee were fine fooles,
To thinke him dead!

Tim.
Andrucho spoke to 'em.

Andru.
Wee did our best, Sir.

Antha.
But what Rogues were theise?

Andru.
Some of the cast troopes. Wee had much a'doe!

Tim.
I know you had. My good freinds!

Antha.
This is strange:
Send search out after 'em.

Tim.
O by no meanes,
Lett 'em alone, ther's danger to recall 'em.

Andru.
There is indeed.

Antha.
Well, I must hence.

Tim:
I'le wi' yee.

Exeunt ANTHARIS TIMENTES.
Andru.
Pack vp your trumperie; if wee had gott a Pardon
For killing this liue foole, what had wee bene?

Aspra.
Why little better.

Ise.
But is't possible
Wee should be cousen'd thus?

Aspra.
Sfoot, I thinke
We wanted all our sences.

Andru.
'Tis but Justice,
Wee thought to fright him, and hee frightned vs.
I'le leaue of fooling now; it is high tyme
To bee more serious.

Aspra.
O how graue a' the Soudaine?

Exeunt.