University of Virginia Library

Scæna quarta.

Enter seruants with lights, Ladislaus, Ferdinand, Eubulus.
Ladislaus.
'Tis late go to your rest, but doe not enuy
The happinesse I draw neere to.

Eubulus.
If you inioy it.
The moderate way the sport yeelds I confesse
A pretty titillation, but to much oft
will bring you on your knees, in my yonger daies
I was my selfe a gamster, and I found
By a sad experience, there is no such soker
As a yonger spongie wise, she keepes a thousand
Hor seleches in her box, and the thieues will sucke out
Both bloud, and marrow, I feele a kind of crampe
In my ioynts when I thinke o'nt, but it may bee Queenes
And such a Queene as yours is, has the art

Ferdinand.
You take leaue
To talke my Lord.

Ladislaus.
He may since he can do nothing

Eubu.
If you spend this way to much of your royall stock
Ere long we may be puefellowes.

Ladislaus.
The doore shut,
Knocke gentlie, harder. So, heere comes her woman,
Take of my gowne.

Enter Acanthe.
Acanthe.
My Lord, the Queene by me
This night desires your pardon,

Ladislaus.
How Acanthe!
I come by her appointment 'twas her grant
The motion was her owne

Acanthe.
It may be sir
But by her Doctors Since she is aduis'd
For her health sake to forbeare.

Eubulus.
I do not like
This phisicall lecherie, the old downe right way
Is worth a thousand out.

Ladislaus.
Prethe Acanthe.
Meditate for me.

Eubulus.
O the fiends of hell
Would any man bribe his seruant to make way
To his owne wife, if this be the court state
Shame fall on such as vse it.

Acanthe.
By this iewell
This night I dare not moue her, but to morrow
I will watch all occasion

Ladislaus.
Take this
To be mindfull of me

Exit Acanthe.
Eubulus.
Slight, I though a king
Might haue tooke vp any woman at the Kings Price
And must he buy his owne at a deerer rate
Then a stranger in a brothell?

Ladislaus.
What is that
You mutter sir?

Eubulus.
No treason to your honor
I'll speake it out though it anger you, if you pay for
Your lawfull pleasure in some kind great sir
What do you make the Queene, cannot you clicket
Without a fee? or when she has a suit for you to grant?

Ferdinando.
O hold sir.

Ladislaus.
Off with his head.

Eubu.
Do when you please, you but blow out a taper
That would light your vnderstanding, and in care of't
Is burnt downe to the socket, be as you are sir
An absolute monarch, it did show more Kinglike
In those libidinous Cæsars that compeld
Matrous, and virgins of all rankes to bow
Vnto their ratenous lusts, and did admit
Of more excuse then I can vrge for you,
That slaue your selfe to th'imperious humor
Of a proud beauty.

Ladislaus.
Out of my sight.

Eubulus.
I will sir
Giue way to your furious passion, but when reason
Hath got the better of it I much hope
The counsaile that offends now, will deserue
Your royall thankes, tranquillity of mind
Stay with you sir. I do begin to doubt
Ther's something more in the Queenes strangnes, then
Is yet disclosd, and i'll find it out
Or loose my selfe in the serch.

Ferdinand.
Sure He is honest,
And from your infancy hath truely seru'd you
Let that plead for him and impute this harshnes
To the frowardnes of his age.

Ladislaus.
I am much troubled
And do begin to stagger, Ferdinand good night
To morrow visit vs, backe to our owne lodgings.

Exeunt.