University of Virginia Library

Act III.

The Argument of the third Act.

Puck-hairy discovers himselfe in the Forrest, and discourseth his offices with their necessities, breifly; After which, Douce, entring in the habit of Earine, is pursued by Karol; who mistaking her at first to be his Sister, questions her, how shee came by those garments. Shee answers, by her mothers gift. The sad Shepherd comming in the while, shee runs away affrighted, and leaves Karol, sodainely; Aeglamour thinking it to be Earines ghost he saw, falls into a melancholique expression of his phantsie to Karol, & questions him sadly about that point, which moves compassion in Karol of his mistake still. When Clarion, and Lionell enter to call Karol to Amie; Karol reports to them Aeglamours passion, with much regreet. Clarion resolves to seeke him. Karol to returne with Lionell. By the way Douce, and her Mother (in the shape of Marian) meet them, and would divert them, affirming Amie to be recovered, which Lionell wondred at to be so soone. Robin-hood enters, they tell him the relation of the Witch, thinking her to be Marian; Robin suspecting her to be Maudlin, lay's hold of her Girdle sodainely, but shee striving to get free, they both run out, and he returnes with the belt broken. Shee following in her owne shape, demaunding it, but at a distance, as fearing to be seiz'd upon againe; and seeing shee cannot recover it, falls into a rage, and cursing, resolving to trust to her old artes, which shee calls her daughter to assist in. The Shepherds content with this discovery, goe home triumphing, make the relation to Marian. Amie is gladded with the sight of Karol, &c. In the meane time enters Lorel, with purpose to ravish Earine, and calling her forth to that lewd end, he by the hearing of Clarions footing, is staid, and forced to commit her hastily to the tree againe, where Clarion comming by, and hearing a voyce singing, drawes neere unto it, but Aeglamour hearing it also, and knowing it to be Earine's, falls into a superstitious commendation of it, as being an Angells, and in the aire, when Clarion espies a hand put forth from the tree, and makes towards it, leaving Aeglamour to his wild phantsie, who quitteth the place, and Clarion beginning to court the hand, and make love to it, there ariseth a mist sodainely, which, darkning all the place, Clarion looseth himselfe, and


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the tree where Earine is inclosed, lamenting his misfortune, with the unknowne nimphs miserie. The Aire clearing, enters the Witch, with her Son and Daughter, tells them how shee had caused that late darkenesse, to free Lorell from surprisall, and his prey from being reskued from him: bids him looke to her, and lock her up more carefully, and follow her, to assist a work, shee hath in hand, of recovering her lost Girdle; which shee laments the losse of, with cursings, execrations, wishing confusion to their feast, and meeting: sends her Sonne, and Daughter to gather certaine Simples, for her purpose, and bring them to her Dell. This Puck hearing prevents, & shewes her error still. The Hunts-men having found her footing, follow the tract, and prick after her. Shee getts to her Dell, and takes her Forme. Enter, Alken has spied her sitting with her Spindle, Threds, and Images. They are eager to seize her presently, but Alken perswades them to let her begin her charmes, which they doe. Her Sonne and Daughter come to her, the Hunts-men are afrighted as they see her worke goe forward. And over-hastie to apprehend her, shee escapeth them all, by the helpe and delusions of Puck.

Scene I.

Puck-hairy.
The Feind hath much to doe, that keepes a Schoole;
Or is the Father of a familie;
Or governes but a country Academie:
His labours must be great, as are his cares,
To watch all turnes, and cast how to prevent 'hem.
This Dame of mine here, Maud. growes high in evill,
And thinkes shee doe's all, when 'tis I, her Divell,
That both delude her, and must yet protect her:
Shee's confident in mischeife, and presumes
The changing of her shape will still secure her.
But that may faile, and diverse hazards meete
Of other consequence, which I must looke to.
Not let her be surpriz'd on the first catch.
I must goe daunce about the Forrest, now,
And firke it like a Goblin, till I find her.
Then will my service come worth acceptation;
When not expected of her, when the helpe
Meetes the necessity, and both doe kisse
'Tis call'd the timing of a dutie, this.

Scene II.

Karol. Douce, to them Aeglamour.
Kar.
Sure, you are very like her! I conceiv'd
You had been shee, seeing you run afore mee:
For such a suite shee made her 'gainst this Feast;

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In all resemblance, or the verie same;
I saw her in it; had shee liv'd t'enjoy it
Shee had been there an acceptable Guest
To Marian, and the gentle Robin-hood,
Who are the Crowne, and Ghirland of the Wood.

Dou.
I cannot tell: my Mother gave it mee,
And bad mee weare it.

Kar.
Who, the wise good Woman?
Old Maud. of Pappelwicke?

Dou.
Yes, this sullen Man.
I cannot like him. I must take my leave

Aeglamour enters, and Douce goes out.
Aeg.
What said shee to you?

Kar.
Who?

Aegl.
Earine,
I saw her talking with you, or her Ghost;
For shee indeed is drown'd in old Trents bottome.
Did shee not tell who would ha' pull'd her in?
And had her Maiden-head upon the place?
The rivers brim, the margin of the Flood?
No ground is holie enough, (you know my meaning)
Lust is committed in Kings Palaces,
And yet their Majesties not violated!
No words!

Car.
How sad, and wild his thoughts are! gone?

Aeglamour goes out, but comes in againe.
Aeg.
But shee, as chaste, as was her name, Earine,
Dy'd underflowr'd: and now her sweet soule hovers,
Here, in the Aire, above us; and doth haste
To get up to the Moone, and Mercury;
And whisper Venus in her Orbe; then spring
Up to old Saturne, and come downe by Mars,
Consulting Jupiter; and seate her selfe
Just in the midst with Phœbus; tempring all
The jarring Spheeres, and giving to the World
Againe, his first and tunefull planetting!
O' what an age will here be of new concords!
Delightfull harmonie! to rock old Sages,
Twice infants, in the Cradle o' Speculation,
He goes out againe, but returnes as soone as before.
And throw a silence upon all the creatures!

Kar.
A Cogitation of the highest rapture!

Aegl.
The loudest Seas, and most enraged Windes
Shall lose their clangor; Tempest shall grow hoarse;
Loud Thunder dumbe; and every speece of storme
Laid in the lap of listning Nature, husht;
To heare the changed chime of this eighth spheere!
Take tent, and harken for it, loose it not.

Aeglamour departs.

Scene III.

Clarion. Lionell. Karol.
Cla.
O', here is Karol! was not that the sad
Shep'erd, slip'd from him?

Lio.
Yes, I ghesse it was:
Who was that left you, Karol?

Kar.
The last man!
Whom, wee shall never see himselfe againe;
Or ours, I feare! He starts away from hand, so,
And all the touches, or soft stroke of reason!

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Yee can applie. No Colt is so unbroken!
Or hawke yet halfe so haggard, or unmann'd!
He takes all toies that his wild phantsy proffers,
And flies away with them. He now conceives
That my lost Sister, his Earine,
Is lately turn'd a Sphere amid the seven:
And reades a Musique-Lecture to the Planets;
And with this thought, hee's run to cal 'hem, Hearers!

Cla.
Alas, this is a strayn'd, but innocent phant'sie!
I'le follow him, and find him, if I can:
Meane time, goe you with Lionell, sweet Karol,
Hee will acquaint you with an accident
Which much desires your presence, on the place!

Scene IV.

Karol. Lionell.
Kar.
What is it, Lionell, wherein I may serve you?
Why doe you so survey, and circumscribe mee?
As if you stuck one Eye into my brest,
And with the other took my whole dimensions?

Lio.
I wish you had a windo' i' your bosome
Or i your back: I might look thorough you,
And see your in-parts, Karol, liver, heart;
For there the seat of Love is. Whence the Boy
(The winged Archer) hath shott home a shaft
Into my sisters brest, the innocent Amie,
Who now cries out, upon her bed, on Karol,
Sweet singing Karol! the delicious Karol!
That kist her like a Cupid! In your eyes,
Shee saies, his stand is! and between your lipp's
He runs forth his divisions, to her eares,
But will not bide there, 'lesse your selfe do bring him.
Goe with me Karol, and bestow a visit
In charitie, upon the afflicted Maid,
Who pineth with the languor of your love.

Mar.
Whither intend you? Amy is recover'd,
To them Maud and Douce, but Maud appearing like Marian.
Feeles no such griefe as shee complain'd of, lately:
This Maiden hath been with her from her Mother
Maudlin, the cunning Woman, who hath sent her
Herbes for her head, and Simples of that nature,
Have wrought upon her a miraculous Cure;
Setled her braine, to all our wish, and wonder!

Lio.
So instantly? you know, I now but left her,
Possess'd with such a fit, almost to'a phrensie;
Your selfe too fear'd her, Marian; and did urge
My haste, to seeke out Karol, and to bring him.

Mar.
I did so. But the skill of that wise woeman
And her great charitie of doeing good

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Hath by the readie hand of this deft lasse
Her daughter, wrought effects, beyond beleife,
And to astonishment; wee can but thanke
And praise, and be amazed, while wee tell it.

They goe out.
Lio.
'Tis strange, that any art should so helpe nature
In her extremes.

Kar.
Then, it appeares most reall
When th'other is deficient.

Rob.
Wherefore, stay you
Enter Robin-hood
Discoursing here, and haste not with your succours
To poore afflicted Amie, that so needes them?

Lio.
Shee is recover'd well, your Marian told us
But now here: See, shee is return'd t'affirme it!

Enter Maudl: like Marian. Maudl: espying Robin-hood would run out, but he staies her by the Girdle, and runs in with her. Her returnes with the Girdle broken, and shee in her owne shape.
Rob.
My Marian?

Mar.
Robin-hood? Is hee here?

Rob.
Stay!
What was't you ha' told my friend?

Mar.
Helpe, murder, helpe.
You will not rob me Out-law? Theife, restore
My belt that yee have broken!

Rob.
Yes, come neere,

Mau.
Not i' your gripe.

Rob.
Was this the charmed circle?
The Copy that so couzen'd, and deceiv'd us?
I'le carry hence the trophie of your spoiles.
My men shall hunt you too upon the start,
And course you soundly.

Mau.
I shall make 'hem sport
And send some home, without their leggs, or armes.
I'le teach 'hem to climbe Stiles, leape Ditches, Ponds,
And lie i'the Waters, if they follow mee.

Rob.
Out murmuring Hagge.

Mau.
I must use all my powers,
Lay all my witts to piecing of this losse.
Things run unluckily, Where's my Puck-hairy?

Scene V.

Maud. Puck.
[Mau.]
Hath he forsooke mee?

Puc.
At your beck, Madame.

Mau.
O Puck, my Goblin! I have lost my belt,
The strong theife, Robin Out-law, forc'd it from mee.

Puck.
They are other Cloudes and blacker threat you, Dame;
You must be wary, and pull in your sailes,
And yeeld unto the wether of the tempest.
You thinke your power's infinite as your malice;
And would do all your anger prompts you to:
But you must wait occasions, and obey them:
Saile in an egg-shell, make a straw your mast,
A Cobweb all your Cloth, and passe, unseen,
Till you have scap'd the rockes that are about you.

Mau.
What rock's about mee?

Puc.
I do love, Madam,
To shew you all your dangers, when you are past 'hem.
Come, follow mee, I'll once more be your pilot,
And you shall thanke mee.

Mau.
Lucky, my lov'd Goblin!
Where are you gaang, now?

Lor.
Unto my tree,
Lorel meetes her.
To see my Maistres.

Mau.
Gang thy gait, and try
Thy turnes, with better luck, or hang thy sel'.

The End.