University of Virginia Library

SCÆNA V.

Archidamus, Lyncestes, Polydamas, Theagines, Meleager.
Archid.
My Lords, Lyncestes and Polydamas,
You Two stoppe all the passages by which
The Prince of Thrace is to returne; That done,
Put the new forces you have brought in posture.
And fit Array, if need be, to suppresse
All Campe Commotions. We are not safe 'mongst Women.

Lync.
It shall be done.

Arch.
And let th'old Forces be
In Readinesse, if th'Adverse Army doe
Invite us to joyne Battle; to entertaine it,
And meet them in the Feild.

Polyd.
It shall be Order'd.

Arch.
But is it credible Eurymedon
Should have the Confidence to trust Himselfe
To a thinne weake Disguise, and in a Cloud
So open and transparent, should passe through
My Campe, on such a treacherous Enterprize?

Theag.
He's now Sit at the Queenes Tent, where they hold
A secret Consultation.

Mel.
We saw him enter
Just at the Instant when two of her Ladies,
The One Lieutenant Generall of the Army,
The Other Lady Marshall of the Feild,
Were telling us the plot.

Arch.
That 'tis concluded,
Roxane shall be carried backe to Thrace,
Barsene be restored (perhaps deflour'd)
And He to choose Hyppolyta, or her Sister,
Instead of Mine to be his Queene?

Theag.
Yes, Sir,
They are indifferent, and are resolved.
Since you refused 'em, to wedde by Lottery.
Of which refusall they are so sensible,
That when both armies joine, 'tis too contriv'd,
(Which I do wonder they should, yet discover)
The Amazons, upon the signe given, shall
Turne to the other side; And sacrifice
Your overthrow to their Revenge; Or what's
More to be feared, your Kingdome to their Nuptialls.

Mel:
Antiope, the sister, wants a portion;
And if she bring your Crowne, and Scepter with her;
Or, if t'enlarge her Husbands Territories,
She adde yours to 'em, the Match will be more Princely,
And she appeare so much the more her selfe, Sir,
If she can raise a Dowry from your Conquest.

Arch:
Oh the deceitfullnesse of Women! whose
Affection's like the Rainbow, can shew painted,
And Court us with a thousand Beauteous Colours,
Yet all this onely serve to guild a Storme:
And make a Tempest looke more flattering.
We must use Plot 'gainst Plot. To seize upon
The Ladies were dishonourable; And
To take these Captive who are now our Guests,
(Though they deserve it, having forfeited
The Stile of Friends they brought, for Enemies)
Would be our blot in History. You two, therefore,
Seize on the Prince at his returne, His Ransome
Shall be the Restitution of our Ladies.
A Battle beaten within,
Enter Macrinus.
Hark, what means this?

Macr.
Arme, arme your selves; Both Campes
Are joined; And th'Amazons have put themselves
In Armes against us, 'Tis rumor'd through the Field,
To charge us in the Reare, The Thracians
In Front: and so t'encircle us in a
Parenthesis of Enemies, compos'd
Of Men before us, and Women, Sir, Behinde.

Arch:
We'l to the field straight. O false Sex! The Winde
May be made constant, but not Womankinde.

Exeunt.