University of Virginia Library

Actus secundi

Scæna prima.

Enter Hilario, Corisca.
Hilario.
You like my speech?

Corisca.
Yes, if you giue it action
In the deliuerie.

Hilario.
If? I pitty you.
I haue plaide the foole before, this is not the first time,
Nor shall be I hope the last.

Corisca.
Nay I thinke so to.

Hila.
And if I put her not out of her dumps with laughter,
Ile make her howle for anger.

Corisca.
Not too much
Of that good fellow Hilario. Our sad Lady
Hath dranke too often of that bitter cup,
A pleasant one must restore her. With what patience
Would she indure to heare of the death of my Lord,
That meerely out of doubt he may miscary
Afflicts her selfe thus?

Hilario.
Vm, 'tis a question
A widdow onely can resolue. There be some
That in their husbands sicknesses haue wep'd
Their pottle of teares a day: but being once certaine
At midnight he was dead, haue in the morning
Dri'd vp their handkerchers, and thought no more on't.

Corisca.
Tush, shee is none of that race, if her sorrow
Be not true and perfit, I against my sex
Will take my oath woman nere wep'd in earnest.
She has made her selfe a prisoner to her chamber,
Darke as a dungeon, in which no beame
Of comfort enters. She admits no visits;
Eares little, and her nightly musicke is
Of sighes and groanes tun'd to such harmonie
Of feeling greefe, that I against my nature
Am made one of the consort. This houre onely
She takes the aire, a custome euery day
She sollemnly obserues, with greedy hopes
From some that passe by to receiue assurance
Of the successe, and safety of her Lord:
Now if that your deuice will take

Hilario.
Nere feare it:
I am prouided cap a pe, and haue
My properties in readinesse.

Sophia
within.
Bring my vaile there.

Corisca.
Be gone, I heare her comming.

Hilario.
If I doe not
Appeare, and what's more, appeare perfit, hisse me.
Exit Hilario.

Enter Sophia.
Sophia.
I was flatter'd once I was a Star, but now
Turn'd a prodigious meteor, and like one
Hang in the aire betweene my hopes, and feares,
And euery howre the little stuffe burnt out
That yeelds a waning light to dying comfort,
I doe expect my fall and certaine ruine.
In wretched things more wretched is delay,
And hope a parasite to me, being vnmasqu'd
Appeares more horrid then despaire, and my
Distraction worse then madnesse: eu'n my prayers
When with most zeale sent vpward, are pull'd downe,
With strong imaginary doubts and feares,
And in their suddaine precipice orewhelme me.
Dreames, and phantastick evisions walke the round
About my widdowed bed, and euery slumber
Broken with lowd alarms: can these be then
But sad presages girle?

Corisca.
You mak 'em so,
And antedate a losse shall ne're fall on you.
Such pure affection, such mutuall loue,
A bed, and vndefil'd on either part,
A house without contention, in two bodies
One will, and Soule like to the rod of concord,
Kissing each other, cannot be short liu'd
Or end in barrennesse: if all these deare Madam
(Sweet in your sadnesse) should produce no fruite,
Or leaue the age no models of your selues,
To witnesse to posterity what you were
Succeeding times frighted with the example
But hearing of your story, would instruct
Their fairest issue to meete sensually,
Like other creatures, and forbeare to raise
True loue, or Himen Altars.

Sophia.
O Corisca,
I know thy reasons are like to thy wishes,
And they are built vpon a weake foundation,
To raise me comfort. Ten long dayes are past,
Ten long dayes my Corisca, since my Lord
Embarqu'd himselfe vpon a Sea of danger,
In his deare care of me. And if his life
Had not beene ship wrack'd on the rocke of war,
His tendernesse of me (knowing how much
I languish for his absence) had prouided
Some trusty friend from wohm I might receiue
Assurance of his safety.

Corisca.
Ill newes Madam,
Are swallow-wing'd, but what's good walkes on crutches:
With patience expect it, and ere long
No doubt you shall heare from him.

A sowgelders horne blowne. A Post.
Sophia.
Ha! What's that?

Corisca.
The foole has got a sowgelders horne
As I take it Madam.

Sophia.
It makes this way still,
Neerer and neerer.

Corisca.
From the Campe I hope.

Enter Hilario, with a long white hayre and beard, in an anticke armour, one with a horne before him.
Sophia.
The messenger appeares, and in strange armour.
Heauen if it be thy will!

Hilario.
It is no boote
To striue, our horses tir'd let's walke on foot,
And that the Castle which is very neere vs,
To giue vs entertainment may soone heare vs,
Blow lustily my Lad, and drawing nigh a,
Aske for a Lady which is clep'd Sophia.

Corisca.
He names you Madam.

Hilario.
For to her I bring,
Thus clad in in armes, newes of a pretty thing,
By name Mathias.

Sophia.
From my Lord? O Sir,
I am Sophia, that Mathias wife.
So may Mars fauour you in all your battailes,
As you with speede vnloade me of the burthen
I labour vnder, till I am confirm'd
Both where, and how you left him.

Hilario.
If thou art
As I beleeue, the pigs-ney of his heart,
Know hee's in health, and what's more full of glee,
And so much I was will'd to say to thee.

Sophia.
Haue you no letters from him?

Hilario.
No more words.
In the Campe we vse no pens, but write with swords:
Yet as I am inioyn'd, by word of mouth
I will proclaime his deeds from North to South.
But tremble not while I relate the wonder,
Though my eyes like lightning shine, and my voyce thunder.

Sophia.
This is some counterfeit bragart.

Corisca.
Heare him Madam.

Hila.
The Reere march'd first, which follow'd by the Van,
And wing'd with the Battalia, no man
Durst stay to shift a shirt or louze himselfe;
Yet ere the armies ioyn'd, that hopefull elfe,
Thy deere my dainty duckling, bold Mathias
Aduanc'd, and star'd like Hercules or Golias.
A hundred thousand Turkes, it is no vaunt,
Assail'd him, euery one a Termagaunt,
But what did he then? with his keene edge speare
He cut, and Carbonadode 'em, heere, and there,
Lay leggs and armes, and as 'tis sayd truely
Of Beuis, some he quarter'd all in three.

Sophia.
This is ridiculous.

Hilario.
I must take breath
Then like a Nightingale i'le sing his death;

Sophia.
His death?

Hilario.
I am out.

Corisca.
Recouer dunder-head.

Hilario.
How he escap'd I should haue sung, not dide
For, though a knight, when I said so I lide
Weary he was, and scarse could stand vpright
And looking round for some couragious Knight
To reskue him, as one perplex'd in woe
He cald to me, helpe, helpe Hilario,
My valiant seruant helpe.

Corisca.
He has spoyld all.

Sophia.
Are you the man of armes then? ile make bold
To take of your martiall beard, you had fooles hayre
Enough without it. Slaue, how durst thou make
Thy sport of what concernes me more then life,
In such an anticke fashion? am I growne
Contemptible to those I feed? you mignion
Had a hand in it to, as it appeares,
Your petticote serues for bases to this warrior.

Corisca.
We did it for your mirth.

Hilario.
For my selfe I hope,
I haue spoke like a souldier.

Sophia.
Hence you rascall.
I neuer but with reuerence name my Lord
And can I heere it by thy tongue prophain'd
And not correct thy folly? but you are
Transform'd, and turnd Knight errant, take your course
And wander where you please, for heere I vow
By my Lords life (an oath I will not breake)
Till his returne, or certainty of his safety,
My doores are shut against thee.
Exit Sophia.

Corisca.
You haue made
A fine peece of worke on't: how do you like the quality?
You had a foolish itch to be an actor,
And may strowle where you please.

Hilario.
Will you buy my share?

Corisca.
No certainely, I feare I haue already
Too much of mine owne, I'le onely as a damsell
(As the bookes say) thus far helpe to disarme you,
And so deere Don Quixote taking my leaue,
I leaue you to your fortune.
Exit Corisca.

Hilario.
Haue I sweate
My braines out for this quaint and rare inuention,
And am I thus rewarded? I could turne?
Tragœdian, and rore now, but that I feare
'Twould get me too great a stomacke hauing no meat
To pacifie Colon, what will become of me?
I cannot begge in armor, and steale I dare not:
My end must bee to stand in a corne feild
And fright away the crowes for bread, and cheese,
Or finde some hollow tree in the high way,
And there vntill my Lord returne sell switches
No more Hilario, but Dolorio now.
Ile weepe my eyes out, and bee blind of purpose
To moue compassion, and so I vanish,
Exit Hilario.

Scæna secunda.

Enter Eubulus, Vbaldo, Ricardo, and others.
Eubulus.
Are the gentlemen sent before as it was order'd
By the Kings direction to entertaine
The Generall?

Ricardo.
Long since, they by this haue met him,
And giu'n him the beinvenue.

Eubulus.
I hope I neede not
Instruct you in your parts.

Vbaldo.
How! vs my Lord!
Feare not, we know our distances and degrees
To the very inch where we are to salute him.

Ricardo.
The state were miserable if the Court had none
Of her owne breede, familiar with all garbes.
Gracious in England, Italie, Spaine or France,
With forme, and punctuallity to receiue
Sranger Embassadours. For the Generall
Hee's a meere natiue, and it matters not
Which way we doe accost him.

Vbaldo.
'Tis great pitty
That such as sit at the helme prouide no better
For the tiraning vp of the Gentry. In my iudgement
An Academie erected, with large pensions
To such as in a table could set downe
The congees, cringes, postures, methods, phrase,
Proper to euery Nation.

Ricardo.
O it were
An admirable piece of worke!

Vbaldo.
And yet rich fooles
Throw away their charity on Hospitals
For beggers, and lame souldiers, and nere study
The due regard to complement and court-ship,
Matters of more import, and are indeed
The glories of a Monarchie.

Eubulus.
These no doubt
Are state, points, gallants, I confesse, but sure,
Our court needs no aydes this way, since it is
A schoole of nothing else: there are some of you
Whom I forbeare to name, whose coyning heads
Are the mints of all new fashions, that haue donne
More hurt to the Kingdome by superfluous brauerie
Which the foolish gentry imitate then a war
Or a long famine, all the treasure by
This soule excesse, is got into the marchants,
Embroiderers, silkemans, Iewellers, Taylors hand,
And the third part of the land to, the nobility
Ingrossing titles onely.

Ricardo.
My lord you are bitter.

Enter a seruant.
a trumpet,
Ser.
the Generall is alighted, and now entred.

Ricardo.
Were he ten Generals I am prepard
And know what I will doe.

Eubulus.
Pray you what Ricardo?

Ricardo.
Ile fight at complement with him.

Ubaldo.
Ile charge home to.

Eubulus.
And thats a desperate seruice if you come off well.

Enter Ferdinand, Mathias, Baptista, two captaines.
Ferdinand.
Captaine command the officers to keepe
The souldier as he march'd in ranke and file
Till they heare farther from me.

Eubulus.
Heer's one speakes
In another keye, this is no canting language
Taught in your Academie.

Ferdinand.
Nay I will present you
To the King my selfe.

Mathias.
A grace beyond my merit,

Ferdinand.
You vndervalew what I cannot set
Too high a price on,

Eubulus.
With a friends true heart
I gratulate your returne.

Ferdinando:
Next to the fauour
Of the great King I am happy in your friendship:

Ubaldo.
By courtship, course on both sides,

Ferdinando.
pray you receiue
This stranger to your knowledge, on my credit
At all parts hee deserues it.

Eubulus.
Your report
Is a strong assurance to mee, sir most welcome

Mathias.
This sayd by you, the reuerence of your age
Commands mee to beleeue it.

Ricardo.
this was pretty.
But second mee now, I cannot stoope too lowe
To doe your excellence that due obseruance
Your fortune claimes.

Eubulus.
Hee nere thinks on his vertue.

Ricardo.
For beeing, as you are, the soule of souldiers,
And bulwarke of Bellona,

Vbaldo.
The protection
Both of the court and King.

Ricardo.
and the sole mignion
Of mighty Mars

Ubaldo.
One that with iustice may
Increase the number of the worthies.

Eubulus.
hoye day.

Ricardo.
It beeing impossible in my armes to circle
Such giant worth.

Ubaldo.
At distance wee presume
To kisse your honored gauntlet.

Eubulus.
What replie now
Can he make to this fopperie?

Ferdinand.
You haue sayd
Gallants, so much, and hitherto done soe little,
That 't ill I learne to speake, and you to doe
I must take time to thanke you.

Eubulus.
As I liue
Answer'd as I could wish. How the fops gape now!

Ricardo.
This was harsh, and scuruie.

Vbaldo.
We will be reueng'd
When he comes to court the ladies, and laugh at him.

Eubulus.
Nay doe your offices gentlemen, and conduct
The Generall to the presence.

Ricardo.
Keepe your order.

Ubaldo.
Make way for the Generall.

Exeunt omnes præter Eubulum.
Eubulus.
What wise man
That with iudicious eyes lookes one a souldier
But must confesse that fortunes swinge is more
Ore that profession, then all kinds else
Of life pursu'd by man, they in a state
Are but as chirurgions to wounded men
Euen desperate in their hopes, while paine and anguish
Make them blaspheme, and call in vaine for death;
Their wiues and children kisse the chirurgions knees
Promise him mountaines, if his sauing hand
Restore the tortur'd wretch to former strength.
But when grimme death by Æsculapius art
Is frighted from the house, and health appeares
In sanguin colours on the sicke mansface,
All is forgot, and asking his reward
Hee's payd with curses, often receaues wounds
From him whose woundes hee curde, so souldiers
Though of more worth and vse, meete the same fate,
As it is too apparent. I haue obseru'd
In one hue.
When horrid Mars the touch of whose rough hand
With Palsies shakes a kingdome, hath put on
His dreadfull Helmet, and with terror fills
The place where helike an vnwelcome guest
Resolue to reuell, how the Lords of her, like
The tradesman, marchant, and litigious pleader
(And such like Scarabes bred'ith dung of peace)
In hope of their protection humbly offer
Their daughters to their beds, heyres to their seruice,
And wash with teares, their sweate their dust, their scars,
But when those clouds of war that menaced
A bloudy deluge to th'affrighted state,
Are by their breath dispers'd, and ouer blowne,
And famine, bloud, and death Bellona's pages
Whip'd from the quiet continent to Thrace
Souldiers, that like the foolish hedge sparrow
To their owne ruine hatch this Cucckow peace,
Are straight thought burdensome, Since want of meanes
Growing from want of action breedes contempt,
And that the worst of ills fall to their lot
Their seruice with the danger soone forgot.

Enter a seruant.
Ser.
The Queene, my Lord, hath made choyce of this roome.
To see the masque.

Eubulus.
Ile be looker on
My dancing dayes are past.

Loud musicke as they passe, a song in the praise of war, Vbaldo, Ricardo, Ladislaus. Ferdin. and Honoriu, Mathias, Silua, Acanthe, Baptista, and others.
Ladislaus.
This courtesie
To a stranger My Honoria, keepe faire ranke
With all your rarities, after your trauaile
Looke on our court delights; but first from your
Relation, with erected eares i'll heare
The musicke of your war which must be sweet
Ending in victory.

Ferdinand
Not to trouble
Your maiesties with description of a battaile
To full of horror for the place, and to
Avoyd perticulers which I should deliuer
I must trench longer on your pacience then
My manner will gieue way to, in a word sir
It was well fought on both sides, and almost
With equall fortune, it continuing doubtfull
Vpon whose tents plum'd victory would take
Her glorious stands, impatient of delay
With the flower of our prime gentlemen I charg'd
Their maine Bartalia, and with their assistance
Brake in, but when I was almost assur'd
That they were routed, by a Stratagem
Of the subtill Turke, who opening his grosse body,
And ralyng vp his troopes on either side,
I found my selfe so far ingag'd (for I
Must not conceale my errors) that I knew not
Which way with honor to come off.

Eubulus.
I like
A Generall that tells his faults, and is not
Ambitious to ingrosse vnto himselfe
All honour as some haue, in which with iustice
They could not claime a share.

Ferdinand.
Being thus hem'd in
Their Cimitars rag'd among vs, and my horse
Kil'd vnder me, I euery minute look'd for
An honourable end, and that was all
My hope could fashion to me, circl'd thus
With death and horror, as one sent from heauen
This man of men with some choise horse that followed
His braue example, did pursue the tract
His sword cut for'em, and but that I see him,
Already blush to heare what he being present,
I know would wish vnspoken, I should say sir
By what hee did, we bouldly may beleeue
All that is writ of Hector.

Mathias.
Generall
Pray spare these strange Hyperboles.

Eubulus.
Do not blush
To heare a truth, heere are a payre of Monsiuers
Had they beene in your place would haue run away
And nere chang'd countenance.

Vbaldo.
We haue your good word still.

Eubulus.
And shall while you deserue it.

Ladislaus.
Silence, on.

Ferdinand.
He as I sayd, like dreadfull lightning throwne
From Iupiters shield dispersd the armed Gire
With which I was enuirond horse and man,
Shruncke vnder his strong arme more with his lookes
Frighted, the valiant fled with which encourag'd
My souldiers (like young Eglets praying vnder
The wings of their fierce dame) as if from him
They tooke both spirit, and fire brauely came on.
By him I was remounted, and inspir'd
Wiih trebble courage, and such as fled before
Bouldly made head againe, and to confirme 'em
It suddainely was apparent, that the fortune
Of the day was ours, each souldier and commander
Performd his part, but this was the great wheele
By which the lesser mou'd, and all rewards
And signes of honour, as the Ciuicke garland,
The murall wreath, the enemies prime horse,
With the Generals sword, and armour (the old honors
With which the Roman crowne their seueral leaders)
To him alone are proper.

Ladislaus.
And they shall
Deseruedly fall on him, sit, tis our pleasure,

Ferdinand.
Which I must serue, not argue,

Honoria.
You are a stranger,
But in your seruice for the King, a natiue.
And though a free Queene, I am bound in duty
To cherish vertue wheresoere I find it:
This place is yours.

Mathias.
It were presumption in me
To sit so neere you.

Honoria.
Not hauing our warrant

Ladislaus.
Let the masquers enter by the preparation
Tis a French brawle, an apish imitation
Of what you really performe in battaile,
And Pallas bound vp in a little volume
Apollo with his lute attending on her
Song and dance:
Serue for the induction.

Enter the two Boyes, one with his lute, the other like Pallas, A song in the prayse of souldiers, especially being victorious: the song ended the King goes on.
Song by Pallas.

Ladislaus.
Our thanks to all
To the banquet thats prepard to entertaine 'em,
What would my best Honoria?

Honoria.
May it please
My King that I who by his suffrage euer
Haue had power to command, may now intreat
An honor from him.

Ladislaus.
Why should you desire
What is your owne, what ere it be you are
The mistris of it.

Honoria.
I am happy in
Your grant: my sute sir is, that your commanders
Especially this stranger, may as I
In my discretion shall thinke good, receiue
What's due to their deserts.

Ladislaus.
What you determine
Shall know no alteration.

Eubulus.
The souldier
Is like to haue good vsage when he depends
Vpon her pleasure? are all the men so bad
That to giue satisfaction we must
A woman threasourer, heauen helpe all.

Honoria.
With you sir
I will begin, and as in my esteeme
You are most eminent expect to haue,
What's fit for me to giue, and you to take;
The fauour in the quicke dispatch being double
Goe fetch my casket, and with speed.

Eubulus.
The Kingdome
Exit Acanthe.
Is very bare of mony: when rewards
Issue from the Queenes iewell house, giue him gold
And store, no question the gentleman wants it.
Good Madam what shall he doe with a hoop ring,
And a sparke of diamond in it, though you tooke it
Enter Acanthe.
For the greater honor from your maiesties finger,
'Twill not increase the value. He must purchase
Rich suites, the gay comparison of court-shipp,
Reuell, and feast, which the war ended is
A souldiers glory, and tis fit that way
Your bountie should prouide for him

Honoria.
You are rude,
And by your narrow thoughts proportion mine.
What I will doe now, shall be worth the enuie
Of Cleopatra open it, see heere
Honoria descends
The Lapidares Idol gold is trash
And a poore salarie fit for groomes, weare these
As studded stars in your armour, and make the Sun
Looke with iealousie of a greater light
Then his beames guild the day with: when it is
Expos'd to view, call it Honorias guift,
The Queene Honorias guift that loues a soulder,
And to giue ornament, and lustre to him
Parts freely with her owne, yet not to take
From the magnificence of the King, I will
Dispence his bounty to but as a page
To wait on mine, for other tosses take
A hundred thousand crownes, your hand deere sir,
And this shall be thy warrant.

Takes of the Kings signes.
Eubulus.
I perceiue
I was cheated in this woman now she is
I th'giruing veine to souldiers, let her be proud
And the King dote, soe she goe on, I care not

Honoria.
This done, our pleasure is that all arrearages
Be payd into the Captaines, and their troopes
With a large donatiue to increase their Zeale
For the seruice of the kingdome.

Eubulus.
Better still,
Let men of armes be vsd thus, if they do not
Charge desperately vpon the Cannons mouth
Though the Diuell ror'd, and fight like dragons, hang me.
Now they may drinke sacke, but small beere, with a pasport
To begge with as they trauaile, and no money,
Turnes their red blood to buttermilke.

Honoria.
Are you pleas'd sir
With what I haue done?

Ladislaus.
Yes, and thus confirme it,
With this addition of mine owne, you haue sir
From our lou'd Queene receaued some recompence
For your life hazarded in the late action,
And that we may follow her great example
In cherishing valor without limit, aske
What you from vs can wish

Mathias.
If it be true,
Dread sir as 'tis affirmd, that euery soyle
Where he is well, is to a valiant man
His naturall country, reason may assure me
I should fix heere, where blessings beyond hope
From you the spring like riuers flow vnto me.
If wealth were my ambition, by the Queene
I am made rich already, to the amazment
Of all that see, or shall hereafter read
The story of her bounty, if to spend
The remnant of my life in deedes of armes
No 'region is more fertill of good knights
from whom my knowledg that way may be beterd
Then this your warlike Hungary; if fauour,
Or grace in court could take me, by your grant
Far far beyond my merrit, I may make
In yours a free election, but alas sir
I am not mind owne, but by my destiny
(Which I cannot resist) forc'd to prefer
My countries smoke before the glorious fire
With which your bounties warme me all I aske sir
Though I cannot be ignorant it must rellish
Of foule ingratitud is your gracious licence
For my departure.

Ladislaus.
Whether?

Mathias.
To my owne home sir
My owne poore home, which will at my returne
Grow rich by your magnificence, I am heere
But a body without a soule, and till I finde it
In the embraces of my constant wife, & to set of that constancy
In her beauty and matchlesse excellencies without a riuall
I am but halfe my selfe.

Honoria.
And is shethen
So chast, and faire as you infer?

Mathias.
O Madam
Thoug it must argue weakenes in a rich man
To show his gold before an armed thiefe,
And I in praysing of my wife, but seed,
The fire of lust in others to attempt her,
Such is my full sayld confidence in her vertue
Though in my absence She were now beseeg'd
By a strong army of lasciuious wooers,
And euery one more expert in his art,
Then those that tempted chast Penelope,
Though they raisd batteries by Prodigall guifts,
By admorous letters, vowes made for her seruice
With all the Engins wanton appetite
Could mount to shake the fortresse of her honor,
Heere, heere is my assurance she holdes out
kisse the picture.
And is impregnable,

Honoria.
What's that?

Mathias.
Her faire figure.

Ladislaus.
As I liue an excellent face!

Honoria.
You haue seene a better.

Ladislaus.
I euer except yours, nay frowne not sweetest,
The Cyprian Queene compard to you, in my
Opinion is a Negro, as you orderd
I'll see the souldier payd, and in my absence
Pray you vse your powerfull arguments to stay
This gentleman in our seruice.

Honoria.
I will doe
My parts.

Ladislaus.
On to the campe.

Exeunt Ladislaus, Ferdinand, Eubulus, Baptista, Captaines.
Honoria.
I am full of thoughts.
And something there is heere I must giue forme to
Though yet an Embrion, you Signiers
Haue no businesse with the souldier, as I take it,
You are for other warfare, quit the place,
But be within call.

Ricardo.
Imployment on my life boy.

Ubaldo.
If it lie in our road we are made foreuer.

Exeunt Ubaldo, Ricardo
Honoria.
You may perceiue the King is no way tainted
With the disease of iealousie, since he leaues mee
Thus priuate with you.

Mathias.
It were in him Madam
A sinne vnpardonable to distrust such purenesse,
Though I were an Adonis.

Honoria.
I presume
He neither does, nor dares: and yet the story
Deliuered of you by the Generall
With your Herc'nk courage (which sinckes deepely
Into a knowing womans heart) besides
Your promising presence might beget some scruple,
In a meaner man, but more of this heereafter
I'll take another Theme now and coniure you
By the honors you haue woone, and by the loue
Sacred to your deere wife, to answere truely
To what I shall demand.

Mathias.
You need not vse
Charmes to this purpose Madam.

Honoria.
Tell me then
Being your selfe assur'd 'tis not in man
To sully with one sport th'immaculate whitenes
Of your wifes honor, if you haue not since
The Gordion of your loue was tide by marriage
Playd false with her?

Mathias.
By the hopes of mercy neuer.

Honoria.
It may be, not frequenting the conuerse
Of handsome ladies, you were neuer tempted
And so your faith's vntride yet.

Mathias.
Surely Madam,
I am no woman hater, I haue beene,
Receiued to the society of the best,
And fairest of our climate, and haue met with
No common entertainement, yet nere felt
The least heat that way,

Honoria.
Strange; and doe you thinke still
The earth can show no beauty that can drench
In Lethe all remembrance of the fauour
Your now beare to your owne?

Mathias.
Nature must find out
Some other mold to fashon a new creature
Fairer then her Pandora, ere I proue
Guilty or in my wishes, or my thoughts,
To my Sophia.

Honorio.
Sir consider better
Not one in our whole sex?

Mathias.
I am constant to
My resolution.

Honoria.
But dare you stand
The oposition, and bind your selfe
By oath for the performance?

Mathias.
My faith else
Had but a weake foundation.

Honoria.
I take hold
Vpon your promise, and inioyne your stay
For one month heere

Mathias.
I am caught.

Honoria.
And if I do not
Produce a lady in that time that shall
Make you confesse your error I submit
My selfe to any penualtie you shall please
T'impose vpon me, in the meane space write
To your chast wife, acquainte her with your fortune
The iewells that were mine you may send to her,
For better confirmation, I'll prouide you
Of trusty messengers, but how far distant is she?

Mathias.
A dayes hard riding.

Honoria.
Thers no retiring
I'll bind you to your word.

Mathias.
Wel since there is,
Noe way to shun it I will stand the hazard
And instantly make ready my dispatch
'Till then, I'll leaue your maiesty.
Exit Mathias.

Honoria.
How I burst
With enuie that there liues besides my selfe
One faire, and loyall woman, 'twas the end
Of my ambition to be recorded
The onely wonder of the age, and shall I
Giue way to a competitor? nay more
To adde to my affliction, the assurances
That I plac'd in my beautie haue deceau'd me
I thought one amorous glance of mine could bring
All hearts to my subiection, but this stranger
Vnmoud as rockes contemnes me, but I cannot
Sit downe so with any honor, I will gaine
A double victory by working him
To my desire, and tainte her in her honor
Or loose my selfe, I haue read that sometime poyson
Is vsefull, to suplant her ile imploy
With any cost Vbaldo, and Ricardo
Two noted courtiers of approued cunning
In all the windings of lusts labirinthe,
And in corrupting him I will our goe
Nerbs Poppæa, if he shut his eares,
Against my Siren notes, le boldly sweare
Vlysses liues againe, or that I haue found
A frozen Cynike, cold in spite of all
Allurements, one, whom beauty cannot mone
Nor softest blandishments entice to loue.
Exit Honoria.