University of Virginia Library

Scene. 3.

Soft musicke, a Table with lights set out. Arras spread.
Enter Roxano leading Tymethes. Mazeres meetes them.
Tym.
How farre lacke I yet of my blind pilgrimage?

Maz.
Whist, Roxano!

Rox.
You are at your—In my Lord, away, Ile helpe
You to a disguise.

Maz.
Enough.

Exit.
Tym.
Me thinkes I walke in a Vault all under ground.

Rox.
And now your long lost eyes againe are found: good morrow sir.

Puls off the hood.
Tym.
By the masse the day breakes.

Rox.
Rest here my Lord and you shall finde content,
Catch your desires, stay here, they shall be sent.

Tym.
Though it be night, tis morning to that night which brought me hither,
Ha! the ground spread with Arras? what place is this?
Rich hangings? faire roome gloriously furnish'd?
Lights and their luster? riches and their splendor?
Tis no meane creatures, these dumbe tokens witnesse;
Troth I begin t'affect my Hostesse better;
I love her in her absence, though unknowne.
For courtly forme that's here observ'd and showne.

Loud musicke. Enter 2. with a Banquet; other 2. with lights; they set 'em downe and depart, making obeysance. Roxano takes one of them aside.
Rox.
Valesta? yes, the lame; tis my Ladies pleasure,
You give to me your coate, and vizarded attend without
Till she employ you—so now, this disguise
Serves for my Lord Mazeres, for he watches
But fit occasion: Letcher, now beware,
Securely sit and fearelesse quaffe and eate,
You'le finde sowre sauce still after your sweete meate.

Exit.
Tym.
The servants all in vizards? by this light
I doe admire the carriage of her love;
For I account that woman above wise
Can sinne and hide the shame from a mans eyes.
They never doe their easie sexe more wong,
Than when they venture fame upon mans tongue.
Yet I could sweare concealement in loves plot,
But happie woman that beleeves me not.
What ere is spoke or to be spoke seemes fit,
All still concludes her happinesse and wit.

Loud Musicke, Enter Roxano, Mazeres and the 4. Servants, with dishes of sweete meates, Roxano places them: each having delivered his dish makes low obeysance to Tymethes.
Rox.
This banquet from her owne hand received grace
Her selfe prepar'd it for you; as appeares
By the choyce sweetes it yeelds, able to move
A man past sence, to the delights of love,
I bid you welcome as her most priz'd guest,
First to this banquet, next to pleasures feast.

Tym.
Who ere she be we thanke her, and commend
Her care and love to entertaine a friend.

Rox.
That speakes her sexes rarenesse, for to woman,
The darkest path love treads is cleare and common;
She wishes your content may be as great
As if her presence fill'd that other seate.

Tym.
Convey my thankes to her, and fill some wine.

Maz.
My Lord?

Rox.
My Lord Mazeres caught the Office
I can't but laugh to see how well he playes
The Devill in a vizard; damnes where he crouches; little thinks the Prince
Vnder that face lurkes his lives enemie,
Yet he but keepes the fashion; great men kill
As flatterers stab, who laugh when they meane ill.

Maz.
Now could I poyson him fitly, aptly, rarely,
My vengeance speakes me happy; there it goes.

Tym.
Some wine?

Maz.
It comes my Lord.

Enter a Lady with wine.
La.
My Lady begun to you sir, and doth commend,
This to your heart, and with it her affection.

Tym.
Ile pledge her thankefully; there remove that.

Spils the wine.
Maz.
And in this my revenge must be remov'd
Where first I left it, now my abused wrath
Pursues thy ruine in this dangerous path.

Rox.
That cup hath quite dasht my Lord Mazeres.

Tym.
Returne my faith, my reverence, my respect,
And tell her this, which courteously I finde,
She hides her face, but lets me see her minde.

Rox.
I would not taste of such a Banquet to feele that which followes it,
For the love of an Empresse. Tis more dangerous to be a letcher
Than to enter upon a breach; yet how securel he munches
His thoughts are sweeter than the very meates before him:
He little dreames of his destruction;
His horrible fearefull ruine which cannot be withstood,
The end of Venery is disease or blood.

Soft Musicke. Enter the Queene masked in her night-gowne; her mayd with a shirt and a Night cap.
Tym.
I have not knowne one happier for his pleasure
Than in that state we are; tis a strange tricke,
And sweetely carried; by this light a delicate creature,
And should have a good face if all hit right;
For they that have good bodies and bad faces
Were all mismatcht, and made up in blinde places.

Rox.
The wind and tide serve sir, you have lighted upon
A Sea of pleasure; here's your sayle sir, and your top streamer,
A faire wrought shirt and a night-cap.

Tym.
I shall make a sweete voyage of this.

Rox.
I, if you knew all sir.

Tym.
Is not all knowne yet? what's to be told?

Rox.
Five hundred Crownes in the shirt sleeve in gold.

Tym.
How?

Rox.
Tis my good Ladies pleasure,
No Clouds ecclipse her bounty, she shines cleare,
Some like that pleasure best that costs most deare;
Yet I thinke your Lordship is not of that minde now;
You like that best that brings a Banquet with it, and 500. Crownes.

Tym.
I by this light doe I; and I thinke thou art of my minde.

Rox.
We jumpe somewhat neere sir.

Tym.
But what does she meane to reward me afore hand?
I may prove an Eunuch now for ought she knowes.

Rox.
Oh sir, I nere knew any of your hayre but he was absolute at the game.

Tym.
Faith we are much of a colour; but here's a Note, what sayes it?
He reads.
I'de be loath to venture so farre for the sight of any Creature under heaven.

Rox.
Nay sir I thinke you may see a thousand faces better cheap.

Tym.
Well, I will shift me instantly, and be content
With my groaping fortune.

Exit.
Rox.
Oh sir, you'le groape to purpose.

Exit.
Maz.
Ile after thee, and see the measure of my vengeance upheapt
His ruine is my charge; I have seene that
This night would make one blush through this vizard.
Like lightning in a Tempest her lust shewes,
Or drinking drunke in Thunder, horrible:
For on this Act a Thousand dangers waite,
The King will seize him in his burning fury
and seale his vengeance on his reeking brest,
Though I make Panders use of eare and eye
No office vile to damme mine Enemie.
This course is but the first, twill not rest there,
The next shall change him into fire and Ayre.

Exit.