University of Virginia Library

Sce 5.

Placenta. Lucius. Pandora. Neander, Endymion. Liuely. Constantina
Plac.
Can yee belieue it yet? are your eyes yet
Instructed?

Luc.
Tis my boy Endymion,
Now hell and tortures!

Pan.
Were all odours lost,
And beggered Nature had not sweetes enough
T'embalme the dying Phœnix left, from hence
From this same lip, Shee might restore her selfe.

Nean.
Ah Lucius! must he not dye?

Luc.
Neander,
It is a sacriledge vnpardonable
To pluck him from that Altar.

Pan.
Once more sweet—
Two pendant Cherryes when some gentle gale
Makes them to kisse, meete not with such a touch!

[They both draw, and run at him, he saues himselfe behind Pandora.]
Luc.
Villaine, and Traytour dye.

End.
O me! my Master.—

Plac.
What doe you meane? ah.

Pan.
Alas.—Sweet Gentlemen.—

[Shee layes hold on Neanders arme.
Luc.
Did all mankinde inhabit in that breast,
I'de put the Gods vnto a second trouble
For to create that species a new.

Nean.
Woman forbeare.

Liu.
I doe not like these tumults.
I'le get me home and drinke a cup of Sack.

Pand.
Neander,—
Lucius,—
Ah by that Monster of my loue, your friendship,
Lucius, by these eyes of mine, which thou
A thousand times and more hast dar'd to liken
Vnto the brighter starre of Venus, which
Is both the Prologue and the Epilogue
Vnto the glorious Sun: By thine owne eyes
Which are two clearer starres, I doe coniure thee
Forbeare to prosecute such a reuenge
Vpon this innocent Boy: for here I sweare
By all those blessed powers, which know our thoughts,
I neuer lou'd him.

Nean.
Most impudent woman,
Did not our eyes behold it?

Luc.
O Neander,
Why doe we stand thus coldly here? and not
Hew out a passage through this prostitute
To trauaile to the iust destruction
Of her base Louer, and my baser vassaile?

Pan.
Rather let all your fury end in me,
See here my naked brest imploy your valours:
Why doe you stand and gaze one on another?
What is the naked bosome of a Virgin
A spectacle of such terrour? if it be,
And that the fight of it hath cool'd your blouds,
Then heare me speake: you Lucius may remember
That ancient stock of loue, those many vowes,
Those many teares, those many longings, which
Haue past betwixt vs: nor can you iustly stile it
A fault of mine, that Time is now so old
And yet does see vs two; but partly yours
Partly my fathers neerenesse (for I must not
Giue it the name it merits, Couetousnesse)
Who seeing your so feruent loue vnto me,
Did striue to thrust me out with nothing, or
At least with such a portion, as you lik'd not;
Whilst thus I wauered, betwixt hope, and feare,
It fortun'd, that this Gentleman Neander
Became your Riuall: who had not long beene here,
Not long sollicited, but I (shame of women)
Began to loue yee both, and which is more
I lou'd yee with an equall flame, (but see
What Pageants Cupid can play I) it chanc'd
(Contrary to all mens expectations)
That by degrees such a strong tye of friendship
Did grow betwixt yee, that each of yee refus'd
(For his friends sake) what then was proferr'd you,
My loue; whilst I bewayl'd my miseries
Vnto this Midwife here, my friend, and grieu'd
At this my harder fortune—Good Placenta
Shee weepes.
Giue them the rest.

Plac.
Then take it in a word.
Supposing it the onely way to winne
One of you to her, I counsail'd her to faine
A loue vnto some other Gentleman.
Whilst we were busie in these Consultations,
As fortune would, your Page Endymion
Came hither (Lucius) to seeke his Master.
We lay the trayne for him, shee courts the Boy,
And he (poore Lad) thinking her serious
Was caught immediatly.

Luc.
But is this true?

Pan.
Would I could call it false—But otherwise
Then was expected hath it prospered.

Shee weepes.
Con.
Placenta, ah Placenta.

Pla.
Who's that calls me?

Con.
Shall I disclose my selfe? I am asham'd.

[They put vp their swords.]
Nean.
If it be so, Pandora, we craue pardon.
And doe restore him life; but now (faire soule)
If thou do'st ayme to reach a life so happy
So full of all content, that thou may'st sit
Within thy Sphere (like Venus) and looke downe
On all thy Sex, and pitty them; loue this man.

Nean.
Loue this man. For as for my selfe I am
Already furnish'd with a Mistris, see
My wife here—Sweetest wife.

Pand.
Is this your wife?
I judge her happy who so e're shee is,

Luc.
Beleeue him not, this is a Boy, a villaine
(Whom I, but that—)

Nean.
Lucius forbeare.

Luc.
Drest vp
In womans Cloathes by that same dotard Liuely.
Sweetest Neander leaue.

Nean.
It is a woman.

Luc.
By all the gods, it is a boy, 'tis false.
But for to rob you of all hope of mee
Giue me but eare, I am an Eunuch, if
You can endure to haue a frozen statue,
Sleepe by your side, whilst you awake, recount
The tedious minutes of your widdowed nights
And sigh, and thinke, and thinke, and sigh againe,
Behold an husband for you, I am he.

Shee swonnes.
Pan.
O me! an Eunuch?

Plac.
Hold the Gentlewoman
Ay me! shee swonnes, sweetest Pandora, ah.

Luc.
What is the matter?

Plac.
Ah good Lucius helpe,
Shee's gone—alas good heart. What shall I doe?

Nean.
But see shee breathes againe.

Plac.
Ah hony sweet
Pandora speake.

Pan.
Ah!
Hands off thou out-side of a man; and thou
Uxorious creature, I doe craue no ayde
From you, forbeare.

Plac.
How doe's my sweetest hony?

Pan.
I am not well Placenta, let vs goe
Into your house a while.

Luc.
Please you faire Lady
To vse my seruice?

Pan.
How? Your seruice sir?
You can doe nothing, nor doe I expect it.
But if your loue towards me be worthy, lend mee
Your Page, but for an houre.

Luc.
Hee is yours.

Pan.
Then sir adiew.

Nean.
Shall I be vanquish'd thus
Exeunt Plac. Endym.
In friendship? But I will once more to Liuely.
And see what further counsell hee will giue mee,
Faire wife let's goe—Rise vp you villaine boy;
Lucius farewell.

Exit.
Luc.
What is he gone? so soone?
To's Engineer I know, to his contriuer;
But I will follow them so fast, that not
A syllable shall passe without my Knowledge.
Stipes runnes against Lucius.
How now you Rascall? where are your eyes I wonder?

Exit.