University of Virginia Library

Scœn. 10.

Menander, Phevdippe, Malindo, Amilcar, Lelio, Hipponax, Hyarchvs, Evphorbvs, Favorina, Lesbia, Titio, Milites.
Ioue, or what-else supernall Deity,
The Gods and Goddesses who gouerne Kings,
Who arbitrate the schisme of month and yeares,
Whose sacred essence heauen and earth adore,
To whom the greatest potentates below,
Do sacrifice their Greekish Hecatombes,
These are accustom'd to dispence with ioy,
And in remembrance of their holy acts,
(As now) we often solemnize the day,
Recorded long from all antiquity,
And ciuill ioy perhibite without feare;
Mirth may refresh not disanull my care.
Pheudippe (friend) sit heere; all do agree,
That each mans place should answere dignity.
So, call for this appointed melody.

Ti.
A quiet calme foretels tempestious winde,
And faire-plum'd swans sing sweetest when they dye.
Gesture doth oft conceale a traytors minde,
And many golden dreames do proue a lye,
Sent and inspir'd by heauens high thundring Ioue,
I bid you arme, desist from iollity,
Those who pretend, shew colourable, loue,
What ere avoids the test, is flattery
Gliding a farre from out the Thracian soile,
I could espy Malindo's friend in armes,
Swiftly addressing his battalions,
Heere to entrap and fully ruinate
You ancient Magistrates, thee matchlesse King.

Mal.
Soueraigne the fellow is lunaticke,
Remoue the mad man sirs; away with him.

Ti.
Not mad Malindo, thou a traytor art,
Take witnesse from that paper, his owne part,

Me.
Lalio, Lord Generall, giue speedy battell.

Le.
Arme souldiers, arme, cry conquest and approach.

Me.
Make ready forces to repell the foe.

Mal.
Arise from foggy Lerua some foule smoake.
Each liuing creature without mercy choake.
Be euer clouded Phœbus, may thy light,
Turne in a moment to æternall night:
Returne obliuion, or the antique age;
Forgotten Chaos, and the pilgrimage
Of vndefiled mans first innocence,
That I all torment may escape on earth,
And be accounted guiltlesse (as at birth)
O for inchantments, for a potent charme,
A magicke spell that may con-iure the clouds,
To couer mee with darknesse at noone-day!
For such a charme would I expose the wealth
Of Tagus, or the Ocean (were it mine)
Helpe, ô assist mee some infernall aid,
Now be propitious (Hell) I am betraid.
Fortune, ô strumpet! Il'e aduance the darke
And fearefull habitation of the dead,
Il'e worship witches, and extoll the praise
Of Pluto, Il'e preferre impiety,
Canonize all before thy Deity.
The bloud of Nessus neuer did inforce
A Hercules to halfe such vehemence.

Me.
Was't you Malindo, that through mischiefes baite
Compos'd this ensigne of a hollow heart?
Alas I lou'd thee well, why didst deuise
Such fatall Scœnes, fashion'd of bloud and death?
The paper mourn'd when thou thy mind hadst writ,
Yes, mourn'd in blacke meerely to thinke on it:
But you persist in deepe obdurasie.
I mourne my selfe, yet am deuoid of pitty,
Because thy error is ambitious pride.

Mal.
The man whom fate hath from æternity,
From since the words beginning, hath enrol'd
Amidst mis-fortunes mournefull Catalogue,
Whose downfall frowning planets haue conspir'd,
Who neuer was the bounded fauorite
Of way-ward rumor; whom aduersity
Hath wholly seiz'd, whom heauens appointed awe
Prepares as fatall obiect of disdaine
To leuell her inuenom'd aime against.
O let him euer dwell in mothers wombe,
Or let that Infants cradle be his tombe.

Me.
Conduct him Souldiers to the Carnifex,
Euphorbus, you attend the finall gaspe,
Then giue to Cassius the decouped scull.

Mal.
Ambition leades vs to the fountaines brinke,
But then affoord's destruction 'stead of drinke.