University of Virginia Library

Actus Primus.

Scæna Prima.

Enter Dorialus, Agenor, Nisus.
Agenor.

Trust me my Lord Dorialus, I had mist of
this, if you had not call'd me; I thought
the Princesses birth-day had been to morrow.

Nisus.

Why, did your Lordship sleep out the day.

Dor.

I marvel what the Duke meant to make such an
idle vow.

Nis.

Idle, why?

Dor.

Is't not idle, to swear to grant his Daughter any
thing she shall ask on her birth-day? she may ask an impossible
thing: and I pray heaven she do not ask an unfit thing
at one time or other; 'tis dangerous trusting a mans vow
upon the discretion on's Daughter.

Age.

I wonder most at the Marquiss her Brother, who
is always vehemently forward to have her desires granted.

Dor.
He's acquainted with 'em before.

Age.
She's doubtless very chaste and virtuous

Dor.
So is Leucippus her brother.

Nis.
She's twenty year old, I wonder
She aske not a Husband.

Dor.
That were a folly in her, having refus'd all the
Great Princes in one part of the world;
She'll die a Maid.

Age.
She may ask but one, may she?

Nis.
A hundred times this day if she will;
And indeed, every day is such a day, for though
The Duke has vow'd it only on this day,
He keeps it every day: he can deny
Her nothing.

Cornets.
Enter Hidaspes, Leucippus, Leontius, Timantas, Tellamon.
Leon.
Come fair Hidaspes, thou art
Duchess to day,
Art thou prepar'd to aske, thou knowest
My oath will force performance.
And Leucippus, if she now ask ought that shall,
Or would have performance
After my death, when by the help of heaven,
This Land is thine, accursed be thy race,
May every one forget thou art my Son.
And so their own obedience.

Leucip.
Mighty Sir,
I do not wish to know that fatal hour,
That is to make me King, but if I do,
I shall most hastily, (and like a Son)
Perform your grant to all, chiefly to her:
Remember that you aske what we
Agreed upon.

Leon.
Are you prepar'd? then speak.

Hida.
Most Royal Sir, I am prepar'd,
Nor shall my Will exceed a Virgins bounds,
What I request shall both at once bring
Me a full content.

Leon.
So it ever does:
Thou only comfort of my feeble age,
Make known thy good desire,
For I dare swear thou lov'st me.

Hidas.
This is it I beg,
And on my knees. The people of your Land,
The Lycians, are through all the Nations
That know their name, noted to have in use
A vain and fruitless superstition;
So much more hateful, that it bears the shew
Of true Religion, and is nothing else
But a false-pleasing bold lasciviousness.

Leon.
What is it?

Hidas.
Many ages before this,
When every man got to himself a Trade,
And was laborious in that chosen course,
Hating an idle life, far worse than death:
Some one that gave himself to Wine and Sloth,
Which breed lascivious thoughts;
And found himself conjoyn'd
For that by every painful man,
To take his stain away, fram'd to himself
A god, whom he pretended to obey,
In being thus dishonest, for a name
He call'd him Cupid. This created god,
Mans nature being ever credulous
Of any vice that takes part with his blood,
Had ready followers enow: and since
In every age they grew, especially
Amongst your Subjects, who do yet remain
Adorers of that drowsie Deitie:
Which drink invented: and the winged Boy,
(For so they call him) has his sacrifices.
These loose naked statues through the Land,
And in every Village, nay the palace
Is not free from 'em. This is my request,
That these erect obscene Images
May be pluckt down and burnt: and every man
That offers to 'em any sacrifice, may lose his life.

Leon.
But be advis'd my fairest daughter, if he be
A god, he will express it upon thee my child:
Which heaven avert.

Leucip.
There is no such power:
But the opinion of him fills the Land
With lustful sins: every young man and maid
That feel the least desire to one another,
Dare not suppress it, for they think it is
Blind Cupid's motion: and he is a god.

Leon.
This makes our youth unchaste. I am resolv'd:
Nephew Ismenus, break the Statues down
Here in the Palace, and command the City
Do the like, let proclamations
Be drawn, and hastily sent through the Land
To the same purpose.

Ismen.
Sir, I will break down none my self,
But I will deliver your command:
Hand I will have none in't, for I like it not.

Leon.
Goe and command it. Pleasure of my life,
Wouldst thou ought else? make many thousand suits.
They must and shall be granted.

Hid.
Nothing else.

Exit Ismenus.
Leon.
But go and meditate on other suits,
Some six days hence I'll give thee Audience again,
And by a new oath, bind my self to keep it:
Ask largely for thy self, dearer than life
In whom I may be bold to call my self,
More fortunate than any in my age,
I will deny thee nothing.

Leu.
'Twas well done, Sister.

Exeunt all but these three Lords.
Nis.
How like you this request my Lord?

Dor.
I know not yet, I am so full of wonder,
We shall be gods our selves shortly,
And we pull 'em out of Heaven o'this fashion.

Age.
We shall have wenches now when we can
Catch 'em, and we transgress thus.

Nis.
And we abuse the gods once, 'tis a Justice
We should be held at hard meat: for my part,
I'll e'en make ready for mine own affection.
I know the god incenst must send a hardness
Through all good Womens hearts, and then we have
Brought our Eggs and Muskadine to a fair Market:
Would I had giv'n an icol, for a tolleration,
That I might but use my conscience in mine
Own house,

Dor.
The Duke he's old and past it, he would
Never have brought such a plague upon the Land else,
'Tis worse than Sword and Famine:
Yet to say truth, we have deserv'd it, we have liv'd
So wickedly, every man at his Livery, and wou'd that
Wou'd have suffic'd us: we murmur'd at this
Blessing, that was nothing; and cry'd out to the
God for endless pleasures, he heard us,
And suppied us, and our Women were new still
As we need 'em: yet we like beasts still cry'd,
Poor men can number their woers, give us
Abundance: we had it, and this curse withal.

Age.
Berlady we are like to have a long Lent on't,
Flesh shall be flesh: now Gentlemen I had rather
Have anger'd all the gods, than that blind Gunner.
I rememher once the people did but slight him
In a sacrifice: and what followed?
Women kept their houses, grew good huswives
Honest forsooth? was not that fine?
Wore their own faces,
Though they wear gay cloaths without surveying,
And which was most lamentable,
They lov'd their Husbands.

Nis.
I do remember it to my grief,
Young Maids were as cold as Cowcumbers
And much of that complexion:
Bawds were abolisht: and, to which misery
It must come again,
There were no Cuckolds,
Well, we had need pray to keep these
Divels from us,
The times grow mischievous.
There he goes, Lord!
Enter one with an Image.
This is a sacriledge I have not heard of:
Would I were gelt, that I might not
Feel what follows.

Age.
And I too. You shall see within these
Few years, a fine confusion i'the Countrey: mark it:
Nay, and we grow for to depose the Powers,
And set up Chastity again, well, I have done.
A fine new goddess certainly, whose blessings
Are hunger and hard beds.

Nis.
This comes of fulness, a sin too frequent with us
I believe now we shall find shorter commons.

Dor.
Would I were married, somewhat has some favour,
The race of Gentry will quite run out now,
'Tis only left to Husbands, if younger Sisters
Take not the greater charity, 'tis lawful.

Age.
Well, let come what will come,
I am but one, and as the plague falls,
I'll shape my self: If Women will be honest, I'll be sound.
If the god be not too unmerciful,
I'll take a little still, where I can get it,
And thank him, and say nothing.

Nis.
This ill wind yet may blow the City good,
And let them, (if they can) get their own children,

They have hung long enough in doubt, but howsoever, the
old way was the surer, then they had 'em.

Dor.

Farewel my Lords, I'll e'en take up what Rent I can
before the day, I fear the year will fall out ill.

Age.
We'll with you Sir: And love so favour us,
As we are still thy servants. Come my Lords;
Let's to the Duke, and tell him to what folly
His doting now has brought him.

Exeunt.
Priest of Cupid, with four young men. and Maids.
Priest.
SONG.
The Measure.

After the Measure, Enter Nilo and others.
Nilo.
No more of this: here break your Rights for ever,
The Duke commands it so; Priest do not stare,
I must deface your Temple, though unwilling,
And your god Cupid here must make a Scare-crow
For any thing I know, or at the best,
Adorn a Chimney-piece.

Priest.
Oh Sacriledge unheard of?

Nilo,
This will not help it, take down the Image
And away with 'em.
Priest, change your coat you had best, all service now
Is given to men: Prayers above their hearing
Will prove but bablings: learn to lye and thrive,
'Twill prove your best profession: for the gods,
He that lives by 'em now, must be a beggar.
There's better holiness on earth they say,
Pray God it ask not greater sacrifice. Go home,
And if our god be not deaf as well as blind,
He will some smoak for it.

Gent.
Sir—

Nilo.
Gentlemen, there is no talking,
This must be done and speedily;
I have commission that I must not break.

Gent.
We are gone, to wonder what shall follow.

Nilo.
On to the next Temple.

Exeunt.
Cornets.
Descendit Cupid.
Cupid.
Am I then scorn'd? is my all-doing Will
And Power, that knows no limit, nor admits none,
Now look'd into by less than gods? and weak'ned
Am I, whose Bow struck terror through the earth,
No less than Thunder, and in this, exceeding
Even gods themselves, whose knees before my Altars
Now shook off; and contemn'd by such, whose lives
Are but my recreation! anger rise
My sufferance and my self are made the subject
Of sins against us. Go thou out displeasure,
Displeasure of a great god, flying thy self
Through all this Kingdom: sow what ever evils
Proud flesh is taking off, amongst these Rebels:
And on the first heart that despise my Greatness,
Lay a strange misery, that all may know
Cupid's revenge is mighty; with this Arrow
Hotter than plagues or mine own anger, will I
Now nobly right my self: nor shall the prayers
Nor smoaks on my Altars hold my hand,
Till I have left this a most wretched Land,

Exit.
Enter Hidaspes, and Cleophila.
Hidas.
Cleophila, what was he that went hence?

Cleo.
What means your Grace now?

Hidas.
I mean that handsome man,
That something more than man I met at door.

Cleo.
Here was no handsome man.

Hidas.
Come, he's some one
You would preserve in private, but you want
Cunning to do it, and my eyes are sharper
Than yours, and can with one neglecting glance,
See all the graces of a man. Who was't?

Cleo.
That went hence now?

Hidas.
That went hence now, I, he

Cleo.
Faith here was no such one as your Grace thinks.
Zoylous your Brothers Dwarf went out but now.

Hidas.
I think 'twas he: how bravely he past by:
Is he not grown a goodly Gentleman?

Cleo.
A goodly Gentleman, Madam?
He is the most deformed fellow i'the Land.

Hidas.
Oh blasphemy: he may perhaps to thee
Appear deform'd, for he is indeed
Unlike a man: his shape and colours are
Beyond the Art of Painting; he is like
Nothing that we have seen, yet doth resemble
Apollo, as I oft have fancied him,
When rising from his bed, he stirs himself
And shakes day from his hair.

Cleo.
He resembles Apollo's Recorder.

Hidas.
Cleophila, go send a Page for him,
And thou shalt see thy error, and repent.
Exit Cleo.
Alas, what do I feel, my bloud rebells,
And I am one of those I us'd to scorn,
My Maiden-thoughts are fled against my self?
I harbor Traitors in my Virginity,
That from my Childhood kept me company,
Is heavier than I can endure to bear:
Forgive me Cupid, for thou art a god,
And I a wretched creature; I have sinn'd,
But be thou merciful, and grant that yet
I may enjoy what thou wilt have me, Love.
Enter Cleo. and Zoy.
Zoylous is here Madam.

Hida.
He's there indeed.
Now be thine own Judge; see thou worse than mad,
Is he deformed? look upon those eyes,
That let all pleasure out into the world,
Unhappy that they cannot see themselves;
Look on his hair, that like so many beams,
Streaking the East, shoot light o'er half the world,
Look on him altogether, who is made
As if two Natures had contention
About their skill, and one had brought sorth him.

Zoy.
Ha, ha, ha: Madam, though Nature
Hath not given me so much
As others in my outward shew;
I bear a heart as loyal unto you
In this unsightly body (which you please
To make your mirth) as many others do
That are far more befriended in their births;
Yet I could wish my self much more deformed
Than yet I am, so I might make your Grace
More merry than you are, ha, ha, ha.

Hidas.
Beshrew me then if I be merry;
But I'm content whilst thou art with me:
Thou that art my Saint:
By hope of whose mild favour I do live
To tell thee so: I pray thee scorn me not;
Alas what can it add unto thy worth
To triumph over me, that am a Maid,
Without deceit? whose heart doth guide her tongue,
Drown'd in my passions; yet I will take leave
To call it reason that I dote on thee.

Cleo.
The Princess is besides her Grace I think.
To talk thus with a fellow that will hardly
Serve i'th' dark when one is drunk.

Hida.
What answer wilt thou give me?

Zoy.
If it please your Grace to jest on, I can abide it.

Hida.
If it be jest, not to esteem my life,
Compar'd with thee: If it be jest in me,
To hang a thousand kisses in an hour
Upon those Lips, and take 'em off again:
If it be jest for me to marry thee,
And take obedience on me whilst I live:
Then all I say is jest:
For every part of this, I swear by those
That see my thoughts, I am resolv'd to do,
And I beseech thee, by thine own white hand,
(Which pardon me, that I am bold to kiss
With so unworthy Lips) that thou wilt swear
To marry me, as I do here to thee,
Before the face of heaven.

Zoy.
Marry you? ha, ha, ha,

Hida.
Kill me or grant, wilt thou not speak at all?

Zoy.
Why I will do your Will for ever.

Hida.
I ask no more: but let me kiss that mouth
That is so merciful, that is my will:
Next go with me before the King in haste,
That is my Will; where I will make our Peers
Know, that thou art their better.

Zoy.
Ha, ha, ha, that is fine, ha, ha, ha.

Cleo.
Madam, what means your Grace?
Consider for the love of Heaven to what
You run madly; will you take this Viper
Into your bed?

Hida.
Away, hold off thy hands:
Strike her sweet Zoylus, for it is my Will,
Which thou hast sworn to doe.

Zoy.
Away for shame.
Know you no manners: ha, ha, ha.

Exit.
Cleo.
Thou know'st none I fear,

This is just Cupid's Anger, Venus look down mildly on us:
And command thy Son to spare this Lady once, and let me
be in love withal: and none in love with me.

Exit.
Enter Ismenus, and Timantus.
Timan.
Is your Lordship for the Wars this Summer?

Ismen.
Timantus, wilt thou go with me?

Timan.
If I had a Company, my Lord.

Ismen.
Of Fidlers: Thou a company?
No, no, keep thy Company at home, and cause cuckolds:
The Wars will hurt thy face, there's no Semsters,
Shoomakers, nor Taylors, nor Almond-milk i'th' morning,
Nor poach'd Egs to keep your worship soluble,
No man to warm your Shirt, and blow your Roses:
Nor none to reverence your round lace Breeches:
If thou wilt needs goe, and goe thus,
Get a Case for thy Captainship, a shower will spoil thee else.
Thus much for thee.

Tim.
Your Lordship's wondrous witty, very pleasant believe't.

Exit.
Enter Telamon, Dorialus, Agenor, Nisus, Leonti.
Leon.
No news yet of my Son?

Tela.
Sir, there be divers out in search:
No doubt they'll bring the truth where he is,
Or the occasion that led him hence.

Tim.
They have good eyes then.

Leon.
The gods goe with them:
Who be those that wait there?

Tele.
The Lord Ismenus, your General, for his dispatch.

Leon.
Oh Nephew: we have no use to imploy your
virtue in our War: now the Province is well setled.
Hear you ought of the Marquis?

Ismen.
No Sir?

Leon.
'Tis strange he should be gone thus:
These five days he was not seen,

Tim.
I'll hold my hold, I could bolt him in an hour:

Leon.
Where's my Daughter?

Dori.
About the purging of the Temples, Sir.

Leon.
She's chaste and virtuous; fetch her to me,
And tell her I am pleas'd to grant her now
Her last request, without repenting me.
Exit Nis.
Be it what it will: she is wise, Dorialus
And will not press me farther than a Father.

Dor.
I pray the best may follow: yet if your Grace
Had taken the opinions of your people,
At least of such, whose wisdoms ever wake
About your safety, I may say it, Sir,
Under your noble pardon: that this change
Either had been more honor to the gods,
Or I think not at all. Sir, the Princess.

Enter Hidaspes, Nisus, and Zoylus.
Leon.
Oh my Daughter, my health!
And did I say my soul, I ly'd not;
Thou art so near me, speak, and have whatever
Thy wise Will leads thee too: had I a Heaven,
It were too poor a place for such a goodness.

Dor.
What's here?

Agen.
An Apes skin stuft I think, 'tis so plump.

Hida.
Sir, you have past your word,
Still be a Prince, and hold you to it.
Wonder not I press you, my life lies in your word:
If you break that, you have broke my heart, I must ask
That's my shame, and your Will must not deny me:
Now for Heaven be not forsworn.

Leon.
By the gods I will not,
I cannot, were there no other power,
Than my love call'd to a witness of it.

Dor.
They have much reason to trust,
You have forsworn one of 'em out o'th' countrey already.

Hida.
Then this is my request: This Gent.
Be not ashamed, Sir:
You are worth a Kingdom.

Leon.
In what?

Hida.
In the way of marriage.

Leon.
How?

Hida.
In the way of marriage, it must be so,
Your oath is ti'd to Heaven: as my love to him.

Leon.
I know thou dost but try my age,
Come ask again.

Hida.
If I should ask all my life-time, this is all still.

Sir, I am serious, I must have this worthy man without enquiring
why; and suddenly, and freely:

Doe not look for reason or obedience in my words: my
Love admits no wisdom:
Only haste, and hope hangs on my fury,
Speak Sir, speak, but not as a Father,
I am deaf and dull to counsel: inflamed blood
Hears nothing but my Will;
For Gods sake speak.

Dor.
Here's a brave alteration.

Nis.
This comes of Chastity.

Hida.
Will not you speak Sir?

Agen.

The god begins his vengeance; what a sweet youth
he has sent us here, with a pudding in's belly?

Leon.
Oh let me never speak,
Or with my words let me speak out my life;

Thou power abus'd: great Love, whose vengeance now we
feel and fear, have mercy on this Land.

Nis.
How does your Grace?

Leon.
Sick, very sick I hope.

Dor.
Gods comfort you.

Hida.
Will not you speak? is this your Royal word?
Do not pull perjurie upon your soul.
Sir, you are old, and near your punishment; remember.

Leon.
Away base woman.

Hidas.
Then be no more my Father, but a plague,
I am bound to pray against: be any sin
May force me to despair, and hang my self,
Be thy name never more remembred King
But in example of a broken faith,
And curst even to forgetfulness:
May thy Land bring forth such Monsters as thy Daughter is?
I am weary of my rage. I pray forgive me,
And let me have him, will you Noble Sir?

Leon.
Mercy, mercy heaven:
Thou heir of all dishonor, shamest thou not to draw
This little moisture lest for life, thus rudely from me?
Carry that slave to death.

Zoy.
For heavens sake Sir, it is no fault of mine,
That she will love me.

Leon.
To death with him, I say.

Hida.
Then make haste Tyrant, or I'll be before him:
This is the way to Hell.

Leon.
Hold fast, I charge you away with him.

Hida.
Alas old man, Death hath more doors than one,
And I will meet him.
Exit Hida.

Leon.
Dorialus, Pray see her in her chamber,
And lay a guard about her:
The greatest curse the gods lay on our frailties,
Is Will and Disobedience in our Issues,
Which we beget as well as them to plague us,
With our fond loves; Beasts you are only blest
That have that happy dulness to forget
What you have made, your young ones grieve not you
They wander where they list, and have their ways
Without dishonor to you; and their ends,
Fall on 'em without sorrow of their Parents,
Or after ill remembrance: Oh this Woman
Would I had made my self a Sepulcher,
When I made her: Nephew, where is the Prince?
Pray God he have not more part of her baseness
Than of her bloud about him.
Gentlemen: where is he?

Ism.
I know not Sir.
H'as his ways by himself, is too wise for my company.

Leon.
I do not like this hiding of himself,
From such society as his person needs
Some of it ye needs must know.

Isme.

I am sure not I: nor have known twice this ten
days, which if I were as proud as some of 'em, I should take
scurvily, but he is a young man.

Let him have this swinge, 'twill make him.
Timantus whispers to the Duke.
There's, some good matter now in hand:
How the slave jeers and grins; the Duke is pleas'd,
There's a new pair of Scarlet Hose now, and as much

Money to spare, as will fetch the old from pawn, a Hat
and a Cloak to goe out to morrow:

Garters and Stockings come by nature.

Leon.
Be sure of this.

Tima.
I durst not speak else, Sir.