 | Histrio-mastix. Or The Player whipt |  |
Actus Sextus
Scæna 1.
Enter Pouerty, Famine, Sicknesse, Bondage, and Sluttishnesse.Pouer.
Raigne Pouerty in spite of tragick warre,
And tiumph ouer glittering vanitie,
Though want be neuer voide of bitter woes,
Yet slow-pac'd remedy, true patience showes,
See worldling worlds of Vertue lin'd within,
Though sinners all; yet least repleat with sinne.
I scorne a scoffing foole about my Throne,
An Artlesse Ideot; that (like Esops Dawe,
Plumes fairer fether'd birds: no, Pouerty,
Will dignifie her chaire with deepe Diuines,
Philosophers and Schollers feast with me,
As well as Martialists in misery.
First change the houre from fiue to fatall sixe,
Then ring forth knells of heauie discontent,
With sighes and groanes whil'st I haue gouernment.
Famin.
Thin Famine needs must follow Pouerty.
My bones lye open, like a withered tree
By stormes disbarkt of her defending skinne,
So neere the heart the weather beates within.
Sick.
O end thy Age! that we may end our dayes,
For after feeble Sicknesse death ensues,
And endeth griefe that happy ioye renews.
Bond.
Then Bondage shall vnbolt those cruell barres,
That thralls faire honour in obscure reproach,
And sauage-like yoakes vp humanity,
To bind in chaines true-borne ciuillity.
Slut.
Though Sluttishnesse be loathsome to her selfe,
Penurious time must be obscæne and base,
Who hates the rich must dwell with Pouerty,
Since rule in any thing, is Soueraignty.
Pouer.
Were Pouerty a word more miserable
Then Mans austere inuention could propound,
Yet is poore Honesty rich Honors ground:
Whose eyes vnuail'd like to th'vnhoodded Hawke,
Looke straight on high, and in the end aspire,
To feele the warmth of Princes holy fire.
Yet Honor, Wealth, Lands, and who wins the prize,
Obtaines but Uanity of Vanities.
Come follow me my neuer failing friend.
Exeunt.
Enter Mauortius and Philarchus at seuerall doores.
Mauo.
The broyles of warre wherein I gloried more
Then Priams Hector, who by burning walls,
Was traild along (dread victories deepe fall)
So from these gates my selfe in meane disgrace
Am banisht forth, pinch't through with pouerty,
Who tels vs all 'tis true that shee hath sed,
Poore flyes will tickle Lyons being dead.
Phil.
The thirst of Honour call'd me to the warres,
Where I haue drunke a health (too deepe a draught)
My full-mouthd bags may now be fild with ayre,
The Diuell and Ambition taught it me.
Mauo.
Is that Philarchus that complaines? 'tis so,
Phil.
See how Mauortius turnes away his face,
Mauo.
Time was, I could haue din'd amongst my friends,
Now stands at euery doore a Iack and Apes
And tels me 'tis too late, his Lord hath din'd.
Phi.
This miserable world would make one mad;
I stept vnto a Vintner at the Barre,
And offered him my Rapier for a pawne;
The sawcie slaue tooke it in such a scorne,
And flung it in the streets, replying thus,
Meere want brings weapons out of vse with vs.
Mauo.
See poore Philarchus powring out his plaints,
To vnrelenting walls, relentlesse men.
Phil.
Are wounds rewards for Souldiers in the field?
What? sell our lands, are these the fruits of Warre?
Then dye Philarchus, let not shame suruiue,
Thy fainting honour, dead and yet aliue.
Mauo.
Heere come our wiues, how wretchedly they looke.
Enter Perpetuana and Bellula.
Bel.
My Iewels pawnd, my rings are gone to wrack,
The greedy Vsurer hath gotten all.
Perp.
I am a prey to wretched Pouerty,
Ill featur'd Famine will deuoure vs vp,
Whose wrinkled face, is like pale deaths aspect.
Phil.
Behold my wife like Winters parramour,
Rob'd and bereau'd of nuptiall Ornaments.
“Hide thee Philarchus lower then the graue,
“The Earth will couer though it cannot saue.
Perp.
If men lament, whose wonted yron-hearts,
Were harder then the Armour they haue worne,
And waile the Agent of a womans voyce,
What shall weake women and poore Ladies doe?
Fall to those teares, that we were borne vnto.
Exeunt.
Mauo.
Could I but learne (with Cræsus) to endure
The falling sicknesse of sad Pouerty,
Patience would prooue a tutor to my grieues.
Chri.
Thou want's a Solon to consort with thee,
To proue affliction is the perfect way
That leads to Ioues tribunall dignity;
Ill hast thou gouern'd thy prosperity,
That canst not smile in meere aduersity.
Looke vppon me (the poorest slaue in shew,
That euer fortune buried in mishappe:)
Yet this is Natures richest Iewell-house
And teacheth me to weepe at all your wants.
Phil.
Why, thou art farre more wretcheder then wee,
How canst thou teach vs then tranquillity?
Chri.
See'st thou this poore and naked bozome heere?
Dost thou behold this scorn'd vncouered head?
When thou wast rich and Peerelesse in thy pride,
Content did neuer harbour in thy brest,
Nor ere had loue, her residence in thee,
(I meane the loue of perfect happinesse)
But skillesse grudging from a haughty spirit
Did blind thy sences with a slender merit.
Whil'st I (poore man) not subiect to such thought
Gaue entertaine to those sweet blessed babes,
Which Sapience brought from Wisedomes holy brest,
And thought me rich to haue their company.
By nursing them in Peace I shun'd all Sloth,
Nor yet did Plenty make me prodigall:
Pride I abhor'd and term'd the Beggers shield:
Nor euer did base Euuie touch my heart.
Yet alwayes loou'd to beare (as Solon sed,)
A Turtles eye within an Aspicks head:
Nor could the ratling fury of fierce warre
Astonish me more then the mid-night clock,
The Trumpetter to Contemplation:
For Pouerty, I shake her by the hand,
As welcome Lady to this wofull Land.
How might we tread the path's to happy ends,
Since foes to Learning are not Vertues friends.
Chri.
First entertaine submission in your soules
To frame true concord in one vnity.
Behold the faire proportion of a man,
Whome heauens haue created so compleate,
Yet if the arme make warre against the head,
Or that the heart rebell against the braine,
This elementall bodie (thus compact,)
Is but a scattred Chaos of reuenge;
Your lawes appoincted to be positiue,
(By Warre confounded) must be brought againe.
For law is that which Loue and Peace maintaine.
Phili.
Thou Sonne of knowledge (richer then a man)
We censure thy aduise as oracles.
Chri.
Follow, and Ile instruct you what I can:
Ma,,
We followed beasts before but now a man.
Exeunt.
Enter Fourcher; Uourcher, Lyon-rash, and Uelure.
Four.
O Heauens powring high-pryzd sauours forth,
Like to the honny dew that sweetes the Leaues,
Once send vs Peace, that fairest Palme-crownd Queene.
Vour.
Ruine and Warre the precedents of Wrath,
That crop't the fifty Sonnes of Hecuba,
Haue rid their circuite through this fertile soyle,
And quite transform'd it to a Wildernesse.
Vel.
Come let vs sit and mourne with sad laments,
The heauy burdens of our discontents.
Lyon.
To waile our want let speaking slacke the paine,
For words of griefe diuide the griefe in twaine.
Vel.
Our Shops (sometimes) were stuft with cloath of gold,
But Warre hath emptied them, and Spyders build
Their Cob-web-tents; weauing foule dusty lawne
For poore woe-working Pouerty to weare.
Four.
O woes! behold our poore distressed wiues.
Perp.
From Pouerty to Famine, worse and worse
Fili.
The scurge of Pride, and Heauens detested curse.
Perp.
Wher's that excesse consum'd vpon the back?
Fili.
Suncke downe to Hell whil'st hunger feeles the lacke.
Perp.
Who now will pity vs, that scorn'd the poore?
Fili.
Pitty is past when Peace is out of doore.
Perp.
Drincke thou my teares and I will drinke vp thine,
For nought but teares is miseries salt wine.
Fill.
We that haue scornd to dresse our meate our selues,
Now would be glad if we had meate to dresse.
Perp.
And if Lament were remedie for want
Their cates weare course that in Lament were scant,
Lyon.
Comfort sweete wife, ill lasts not alwaies so:
And good (some-times) makes end of lingring woe.
Perp.
My griefe is thine,
Lyon.
And mine is most for thee.
Per.
My care is thine.
Lyon.
Be mine for thee and me.
Exeunt.
Enter country seruing-men.
1.
Faith Pouerty hath paid my wife on the petticoate.
2.
From these deuowring woormes, eate men aliue,
And swollow vp whole Mannours at a bit
The whil'st our hungry bodies die for lacke,
And honest husbandy must goe to wracke.
1.
Pray sirs for Peace, that best may please vs all.
From citties Pryde the country takes his fall.
2.
Tis Time, for plough-shares (now) are turned to bills,
Carte-horses prest to cary Caualliers,
True laboring seruants counted Souldiours slaues,
1.
Though Famine hungerstarue yet heauen saues.
Omn.
Then let vs pray to heauen all for Peace.
Exeunt.
Enter Posthast with his Hostesse.
Host.
Post me no posting; pay me the shot,
Yow liue by wit; but we must liue by mony.
Post.
Goody sharpe, be not so short,
Ile pay you, when I giue you mony.
Host.
When you giue mee mony? goe to, Ile beare no
Longer.
Post.
What and be vnder fifty?
Enter Cunstable.
Host.
Maister Cunstable hoe, these Players wil not pay their
shot.
Post.
Faith sir, Warre hath so pinch't vs we must pawne.
Cun,
Alasse poore Players: hostis; what comes it to?
Host.
The Sharers dinners six pence a peece, the hirelings
pence.
Post.
What sixepence an Egge, and two and two at an
Egge.
Host.
Faith Famine affords no more.
Post.
Fellowes bring out the hamper choose somew-what
out o'th Stocke.
What will you haue this cloke to pawne,
what thinke you it's worth?
Host.
Some fower groats,
Oun.
The pox is in this age, heer's a braue world fellowes.
Post.
You may see what it is to laugh at the Audience.
Host.
Well it shall serue for a paune.
Exit Hostesse.
Soft sirs I must talke with you for taxe mony,
To releeue the poore, not a penny paid yet,
Post.
Sir, (at few words we shar'd but xv. pence last weeke.
Cun.
But tis well knowne, that each maintaines his Puncke,
And tauernes it with druncken suppers still.
Omn.
Alasse they are our wiues.
Cun.
Yee are not all married.
Post.
Who are not are glad to bring such as they can get.
Bels.
Before Ile giue such a president, Ile leaue playing.
Gul.
Faith and I too: Ile rather fal to worke.
Post.
Fall to worke after playing vnpossible.
Cun.
Sirs, will you here the truth.
Gut.
Sir you may choose,
Cun.
But you must all choose
Whither youle be ship and set a shore no man
Knowes where as the Romaines did:
Or play for the maintenance of the poore;
And your selues kept like honest men.
Omn.
We choose neither.
Post,
Sauing your sad tale, will you take a pot or two.
Cun.
The dearth of Malt denies it
Clou.
Its a hard world if the Constable dispise it.
Guls,
Must we be shipt in earnest,
Or doe you make vs Sheepe in ieast,
Cun.
Ecce signum.
Post.
Cunstable doe you know what you doe.
Cun.
I, banish idle fellowes out o'th'land,
Bels.
Why Cunstable doe you know what you see.
Cun,
I, I see a Madge howlet: and she sees not see.
Post.
Know you our credit with Sir Oliuer?
Cun.
True, but your boasting hath crakt it, (I feare.)
Gut.
Faith I must fall to making fidle strings againe.
Bles.
And I to curle horse tailes to make fooles beards.
Post.
Ile boldy fall to ballading againe.
Sirs, those prouisoes will not serue the turne,
What hoe, Saylers, ship away these players.
Enter Saylers.
Sayl.
The winde blowes faire, and we are ready sir.
Cunst.
No matter where it blowes; away with them.
Post.
It's an ill winde blowes a man thus cleane out of ballading.
Exeunt.
Enter Peace, Bacchus, Ceres, and Plenty, bearing the Cornu copiæ, at the one doore: At the other Pouerty, with her attendants; who beholding Peace approach, vanish.
Peace.
Bondage, wan Sicknesse, and bare Pouerty,
Vanish like clowds before the Easterne light,
Now Peace appeares, hence all to endlesse night,
And you deiected spirits, crusht with want,
Mount vp your mindes vnto the fairest hope,
Neede hath nurst Peace within your Horoscope,
The warme reflexion of whose cheering beames,
Makes you as rich as bright Pactolus streames.
Shine plentuous Bountie, crowne the naked world,
With odourous wreaths of thy aboundant sweetes,
Laborious Artizanes, now bustle vp,
Your drouping spirits with alacritie.
Peace giues your toyling sweat a due regard,
Crowning your labour with a rich reward.
Ceres be lauish, Bacchus swell to brimme,
And all to Peace sing a propitious himne,
They begin to sing, and presently cease.
A Song,
With Lawrell shall our Altars flame,
In honour of thy sacred name.
Peace.
No more:
Be dumbe in husht obseruance at this sight,
Heere comes Amazements obiect, wonders height,
Peaces patronesse, Heauens miracle,
Uertues honour, Earths admiration,
Chastities Crowne, Iustice perfection,
Whose traine is vnpolute Virginity,
Whose Diadem of bright immortall Fame,
Is burnisht with vnvalued respect,
Ineffable wonder of remotest lands;
Still sway thy gratious Scepter, I resigne;
What I am is by Thee, my selfe am thine,
Q. Eliza.
Astræa mounts vnto the Throne.
Mount Emperesse, whose praise for Peace shall mount,
Whose glory, which thy solid vertues wonne,
Shall honour Europe whil'st there shines a Sunne.
Crown'd with Heauens inward beauties, worlds applause,
Thron'd and reposd within the louing feare
Of thy adoring Subiects: liue as long
As Time hath life, and Fame a worthy tongue.
Still breath our glory, the worlds Empresse,
Religions Gardian, Peaces patronesse;
Now flourish Arts, the Queene of Peace doth raigne,
Vertue triumph, now shee doth sway the stemme,
Who giues to Vertue, honours Diadem.
All sing Pæans to her sacred worth,
Which none but Angels tongues can warble forth:
Yet sing, for though we cannot light the Sunne,
Yet vtmost might hath kinde acceptance wonne.
Song.
Religion, Arts, and Merchandise,
triumph, triumph:
Astræa rules, whose gracious eyes,
triumph, triumph.
O're Vices conquest, whose desires,
triumph, triumph:
Whose all to chiefest good aspires,
then all triumph.
In the end of the Play.
Plenty,
Pride,
Enuy,
Warre, and
Pouerty.
To enter and resigne their seuerall Scepters to Peace, sitting in Maiestie.
FINIS.
| Histrio-mastix. Or The Player whipt | |