University of Virginia Library

SCEN. 3.

Rhodon, Acanthus.
Rho.
What houre of night is't friend Acanthus?

Ac.
Th' eleventh at least: for see Orion hath
Advanced very high his starry locks in our horizon.

Rho.
Me thinks the stars looke very ruddy,
As if they did portend tempestuous weather.

Ac.
They doe but blush to see what crimes are acted
By mortall under covert of the night.

Rho.
Saw'st thou yon star that Northward fell.

Ac.
I saw the blazing meteor stoupe,
And bend his course toward the humble Center.

Rho.
This seem'd a glorious, and resplendent star,
Yet was it but a grosse ill temperd meteor.
This meteor seem'd as if it had bin fix'd
In an orbe for a perpetuity,
Yet in a moment it is fallen, thou seest,
And who regards this foolish and ignoble fire,
Or lookes upon the place from whence it fell.

Ac.
He that by honourable meanes is rais'd,
And hath his seat establish'd on the square
Of never sliding vertue, cannot fall.

Rho.
But if young Phaeton shall undertake
To guide the Charret of the great Apollo,
And in that action shall miscarry, so
That the whole universe shall be ingag'd
To utter ruine and destruction,
Then ought great Jove to have a speciall care
For to preserve and keepe the common good.
And if he shall dismount the Chariotter,
And with a deadly blow lay him along,
The world then for his justice shall thanke Jove,
And Phaetons foole-hardiness reprove.

Ac.
Who dares contest with Jove, or question what
His Soveraigne highnesse shall doe or determine.

Enter Egl. Poneria.
Rho.
Tis altogether wicked & unjust: (Acanthus) retire.
For now me thinkes I see a glimpse of Iris,
Who promised to meet me here this night. Exit Ac.

Loe how the lustre of her beauty penetrates
The envyous clouds of these nocturnall shades.

Po.
See yonder the beguiled lover walkes
In vaine, expecting the comming of his deare Iris,
Now, Eglantine remember my instructions,
Have a care that your tongue betray you not.
Be not too talkative in any case.
Forget not the posture I so oft told you of,
Under pretence that these cold nightly dewes are
Offensive, you may knit your veile more close,
And conceale your feature.

Eg.
Poneria, retire: I will addresse my selfe unto him.

Po.
But be sure you perswade him to take the
Potion before he sleepes;
You'll remember those vertues which I told you it containes.
Forget not to declare them amply.

Eg.
Make no doubt on't: thou hast arm'd me
For all assaies.

Exit. Pon.
Rho.
Thou brightest star that shin'st this night,
Auspitious be thy influence to thy Rhodon.
My dearest Iris, I am surcharg'd with joy
To meet thee here.

Eg.
(Deare Rhodon) who, like the vernall Sunne,
Dost lend refreshing heats to my affections.
Tak't not amisse, that I have chose this houre
And unfrequented place t'enjoy thy company.

Rho.
Sweet Iris know that I esteeme this houre of night,
Since I enjoy thy sweet society,
'Bove all the dayes that I e're hitherto beheld.

Eg.
But from a maidens modesty (faire Sir)
It may seeme much to derogate,
To be abroad so late at night.

Rho.
Since no immodest act is here intended,
The time cannot be prejudiciall
To thy unstained modesty.

Eg.
Great pitty tis indeed, Sir, that true love
Should be disparag'd, because 'tis so true.

Rho.
I tell thee, I till now was never happy:
All those delights which I ere saw before,
Were but meere transitory dreames,
Compar'd with that felicity which now I finde.

Eg.
The sodaine newes of this late kindled warre,
Wherein I heare (to my great griefe) you are ingag'd,
Made me transgresse the bounds of modesty so farre,
That I desir'd once more to see your face,
Ere your departure to the field of danger.

Rho.
Since my good fortune and thy constant love
Have joy'd me once againe with thy sweet presence,
I blesse my lot, and to the field will hasten,
As ready to out-face danger, as scorne death;
And if I there finde fortunate successe,
Of all my good Ile count thee patronesse.

Eg.
And here on you I doe bestow this viall,
Which such a precious dosis doth containe,
That it doth farre exceed the height of value.
It is a potion made by wondrous art,
Nectar is no more comparable to it,
Than Bonniclabar is to Husquobath;
And Aurum potabile is as far short of it,
As poore Metheglin is of rich Canary:
All the confections even from the lowest degree
Of Sage-ale, to the height of Aqua-Celestis,
Are no more like it then the beere of the Low-countries
Is to the High-country wine:
A dram of it taken before you goe to bed
Cheeres the heart, prevents the Incubus
And all frightfull dreames; cheeres the blood,
Comforts the stomacke, dispels all collickes,
Cures all aches, repayres the liver, helpes
The lungs, rectifies the braine, quencheth
All the senses, strengthens the memory, refresheth
The spirits.
Taken fasting it breaks the stone in bladder
Or kidnyes, cures the gout, expels a quartane ague:
Outwardly apply'd it kils the gangrene,
And destroyes the wolfe, heales all sorts of wounds,
Bruses, boyles, and sores.
And not to use more multiplicity of words,
I tell you gentle Rhodon you shall finde,
It cures all griefes of body and of minde.

Rho.
(Faire one) verball expression cannot shew
What I to thee for this great gift doe owe:
But till for all I full requitall make,
My constant love thou for a pledge shalt take.

Eg.
But (gentle Sir) although your constitution
So well attemper'd seemes, that no disease
Can either hurt or over-throw your health,
Yet if my counsell might prevaile with you,
I should perswade you to make tryall of this
Rare water this night before you sleepe.

Rho.
Since thou vouchsaf'st to be my kinde Physician,
For this time I will act a patients part,
And ere that sleepe shall with his leaden keyes
Locke up the portals of my drowsie eyes,
Ile taste of this most precious liquor:
But lest the gealed moisture of the night
Should prejudice thy health, (sweet Iris)
Let me conduct thee homeward.

Eg.
Since these nocturnall distillations
May be offensive to your health (sweet Rhodon)
I will be well contented to be gone,
Though wondrous loth from you to part so soone.

Rho.
But in my absence be assur'd of this,
That Rhodons heart in thy possession is.

Exeunt.