 | The Mad Lover |  |
Actus Secundus.
Scæna Prima.
Enter Memnon alone.Mem.
'Tis but to die, dogs doe it, ducks with dabling,
Birds sing away their soules, and babyes sleep 'em,
Why doe I talke of that is treble vantage,
For in the other world she is bound to have me,
Her Princely word is past: my great desert too
Will draw her to come after presently
'Tis justice, and the gods must see it done too
Besides no Brother, Father, kindred there
Can hinder us, all languages are a like too
There love is everlasting, ever young
Free from diseases, ages, jealousies.
Bawdes, beldames, painters, purgers, die, 'tis nothing
Men drowne themselves for joye to draw in Juleps
When they are hot with wine, In dreames we doe it,
And many a handsome wench that loves the sport well
Gives up her soule so in her lovers bosome,
But I must he incisde first, cut and open'd
My heart and handsomelie taine from me, staie there
Dead once stay, let me thinke agen, who doe I know there
For els to wander up and downe unwaited on
And unregarded in my place and project
Is for a sowters soule, not an old Souldiers.
My brave old Regiments: I there it goes
That have bin killd before me, right,
Enter Chilax.
Chil.
Is here, and I must trouble him.
Mem.
Then those I have conquer'd
To make my traine full:
Chi.
Sir
Mem.
My Captaines then:
Chi.
Sir I beseech ye
Mem.
For to meete her there
Being a Princesse and a Kings sole Sister
With great accommodation must be cared for
Chi.
Weigh but the Souldiers povertie
Mem.
Mine owne troope first
For they shall die:
Chi.
How whats this
Mem.
Next:
Chi.
Shall I speake lowder Sir
6
A square Battalia:
Chi.
You doe not thinke of us.
Mem.
Their Armours guilded:
Chi.
Good noble Sir
Mem.
And round about such Engines
Shall make hell shake:
Chi.
Ye doe not mock me
Mem.
For Sir
I will be strange as brave
Chi.
Ye may consider
You know we have serv'd you long enough
Mem.
No Souldier
That ever landed on the blest Elizium
Did, or shall march, as I will
Chi.
Would ye would march Sir
Up to the King and get us
Mem.
King nor Keiser
Shall equall me in that world
Chi.
What a devill ayles he
Mem.
Next the rare beauties of those townes I fir'd
Chi.
I speake of mony Sir:
Mem.
Ten thousand Coaches
Chi.
O pounds Sir, pounds I beseech your Lordship
Let Coaches run out of your remembrance
Mem.
In which the wanton Cupids; and the graces
Drawne with the Westerne winds kindling desires,
And then our Poets.
Chi.
Then our pay
Mem.
For Chilax when the triumph comes; the Princesse
Then for I will have a Heaven made
Chi.
Blesse your Lordship!
Stand still Sir
Mem.
So I doe and in it
Chi.
Death Sir
You talke you know not what
Mem.
Such rare devises:
Make me I say a Heaven
Chi.
I say so too Sir
Mem.
For here shall run a Constellation
Chi.
And there a pissing Conduit
Mem.
Ha!
Chi.
With wine Sir
Mem.
A Sun there in his hight, there such a planet
Chi.
But wher's our mony where runs that
Mem.
Ha?
Chi.
Money
Money ant like your Lordship
Mem.
Why all the carriage, shall come behind the stuff
Rich hangings, treasure
Or say we have none
Chi.
I may say so truly
For hang me if I have a groat: I have serv'd well
And like an honest man: I see no reason
Mem.
Thou must needs die good Chilax
Chi.
Very well Sir
Mem.
I will have honest, valiant soules about me
I cannot misse thee
Chi.
Dye?
Mem.
Yes die, and Pelius
Eumenes and Polibius: I shall thinke
Of more within these two howres
Chi.
Die Sir?
Mem.
I Sir
And ye shall die
Chi.
When I beseech your Lordship
Mem.
To morrow see ye doe die
Chi.
A short warning,
Troth Sir I am ill prepar'd
Mem.
I die my selfe then
Beside ther's reason
Chi.
Oh!
Mem.
I pray thee tell me
For thou art a great dreamer
Chi.
I can dreame Sir
If I eate well and sleep well
Mem.
Was it never
By dreame or apparition open'd to thee?
Chi.
Hees mad
Mem.
What the other world was, or Elizium?
Didst never travell in thy sleepe?
Chi.
To Tauernes
When I was drunke ore night: or to a wench
Ther's an Elizium for yee, a young Ladie
Wrapt round about ye like a snake: is that it?
Or if that strange Elizium that you talke of
Be where the Devill is, I have dream't of him
And that I have had him by the hornes, and rid him
He trotts the Dagger out oth sheath
Mem.
Elizium,
The blessed fields, man
Chi.
I know no fields blessed, but those I have gain'd by
I have dreamp't I have bin in Heaven too
Mem.
There, handle that place; that's Elizium
Chi.
Brave singing, and brave dancing
And rare things
Mem.
All full of flowers
Chi.
And Pot hearbes
Mem.
Bowers for lovers
And everlasting ages of delight
Chi.
I slept not so far
Mem.
Meet me on those bancks
Some two dayes hence
Chi.
In dreame Sir
Mem.
No in death Sir
And there I muster all, and pay the Souldier
Away, no more, no more
Chi.
God keepe your Lordship
This is fine dancing for us
Enter Siphax.
Siphax.
Wher's the Generall
Chi.
Ther's the old signe of Memnon, where the soule is
You may goe looke as I have
Si.
What's the matter
Chi.
Why question him and see; he talkes of Devills
Hells, Heavens, Princes, powers, and Potentates,
You must to'th pot too
Si.
How?
Chi.
Do you know Elizium a tale he talkes the wild goose chase of
Si.
Elizium? I have red of such a place.
Chi.
Then get he to him
Ye are as fine company as can be fitted.
Exit Chilax.
Your worships fairelie mett
Si.
Mercy upon us,
What ailes this Gentleman?
Mem.
Provision
Si.
How his head workes.
Mem.
Betweene two ribbes
If he cut short or mangle me; Ile take him
And twirle his neck about
Si.
Now Gods defend us
Mem.
In a pure cup transparant with a writing
To signifie
7
I never knew him thus
Sure is bewitcht, or poysond;
Mem,
Whose there
Si.
I Sir
Mem.
Come hither Siphax
Si.
Yes; how does your Lordship
Mem.
Well God a mercy Souldier, very well
But prithee tell me
Si.
Any thing I can Sir
Mem.
What durst thou doe to gaine the rarest beautie
The VVorld has
Si.
That the world has? 'tis worth doing
Mem.
Is it so? but what doing beares it?
Si.
Why any thing, all dangers it appeares to
Mem.
Name some of those things; doe
Si.
I would undertake Sir
A voyage round about the VVorld
Mem.
Short Siphax,
A merchant does it to spice potts of ale
Si.
I woo'd swim in armour
Mem.
Short still: a poore Jade
Loden will take a streame and stem it strongly
To leap a Mare
Si.
The plague I durst
Mem.
Still shorter
Ile cure it with an Onyon
Si.
Surfetts
Mem.
Short still
They are often Physicks for our healths and help us.
Si.
I woo'd stand a breach
Mem.
Thine honour bids thee Souldier
'Tis shame to find a second cause
Si.
I durst Sir
Fight with the fellest Monster
Mem.
That's the poorest,
Man was ordained their Master; durst ye die Sir?
Si.
How? die my Lord!
Mem.
Die Siphax: take thy sword
And come by that doore to her; ther's a prize
To buy a lustie love at
Si.
I am well content Sir
To proove no purchaser
Mem.
Away thou world worme,
Thou win a matchles beautie?
Si.
'Tis to loos't Sir
For being dead wher's the reward I reach at,
The love I labour for?
Mem.
There it begins foole
Thou art meerly cozend; for the loves wee now know
Are but the heats of half an houre; and hated
Desires stir'd up by nature to increase her
Licking of one another to a lust;
Course and base appetites earths meere inheritours
And heires of Idlenes and blood; Pure Love
That that the soule affects and cannot purchase
VVhile she is loden with our flesh, that love Sir
VVhich is the price of honour dwells not here,
Your Ladies eyes are lamplesse to that vertue,
That beautie smiles not on a cheeke washt over,
Nor sents the sweets of Ambers; below, Siphax
Below us, in the other VVord, Elizium,
VVher's no more dying, no despairing, mourning,
VVhere all desires are full, deserts downe loden,
There Siphax, there, where loves are ever living,
Si.
VVhy doe we love in this VVorld then?
Mem.
To preserve it,
The maker lost his worke els: but marke Siphax,
VVhat issues that love beares.
Si.
VVhy Children Sir;
I never heard him talke thus; thus divinesse
And sensible before
Mem.
It does so, Siphax,
Things like our selves, as sensuall vaine unvented
Bubles and breath of ayres, got with an itching
As blisters are; and bred, as much corruption
Flowes from their lives, sorrow conceives and shapes 'em
And oftentimes the deaths of those we love most
The breeders bring them to the VVorld to curse 'em,
Crying they weepe amongst us like young Catts,
Cares and continuall crosses keeping with 'em,
They make time old to tend them and experience
An asse they alter so; they grow and goodlie
'Ere we can turne our thoughts, like dropps of water
They fall into the maine, and knowne no more;
This is the love of this world: I must tell thee
For thou art understanding
Si.
What you please Sir
Mem.
And as a faithfull man
Nay I dare trust thee
I love the Princesse
Si.
There 'tis that has fired him
I knew he had some inspiration
But does she know it Sir?
Mem.
Yes marry does she
I have given my heart unto her
Si.
If ye love her
Mem.
Nay understand me, my heart taken from me
Out of my body man and so brought to her
How lik'st thou that braue offer? ther's the love
I told thee of; and after death the living;
She must in justice, come boye, ha?
Si.
Your heart Sir?
Mem.
I, so by all meanes Siphax
Si.
He loves rost well
That eates the spitt
Mem.
And since thou art come thus fitlie
Ile doe it presentlie and thou shall carrie it
For thou canst tell a storie and discribe it
And I coniure thee Siphax by thy gentrie
Next by the glorious battells we have fought in
By all the dangers, wounds, heats, colds, distresses,
Thy love next and obedience, nay thy life
Si.
But one thing first Sir, if she pleas'd to grant it
Could ye not love her here and live, consider
Mem.
Ha? yes I thinke I could
Si.
'Twoul'd be far neerer
Besides the sweets here, would induce the last love
And linckt it in
Mem.
Thou sayest right, but our ranckes heere
And bloods are barrs between us, she must stand off too
As I perceive she does
Si.
Desert and dutie
Makes even all Sir
Mem.
Then the King, though I
Have merited as much as man can; must not let her,
So many Princes covetous of beautie;
I woo'd with all my heart but 'tis impossible
Si.
Why say she marry after
Mem.
No she dare not
The Gods dare not doe ill: come
Si.
Doe you meane it
Mem.
Lend me thy knife, and helpe me of
8
For heav'n sake
Be not so stupid mad deare Generall.
Mem.
Dispatch, I say.
Si.
As ye love that ye looke for
Heaven and the blessed life.
Mem.
Hell take thee Coxcombe,
Why dost thou keepe me from it; thy knife, I say.
Si.
Doe but this one thing, on my knees I beg it,
Stay but two houres till I returne againe,
For I will to her, tell her all your merits,
Your most unvalu'd love, and last your danger;
If shee relent, then live still, and live loving,
Happy, and high in favour: if she frowne;
Mem.
Shall I be sure to know it.
Si.
As I live Sir,
My quick returne shall either bring ye fortune,
Or leave you to your owne fate.
Mem.
Two houres?
Si.
Yes, Sir.
Mem.
Let it be kept, away, I will expect it.
Exeunt Memnon Siphax.
Enter Chilax, Foole and Page.
Chi.
You dainty wits two, an ye to a Cater,
To cheat him of a dinner.
Boy.
Ten at Court sir
Are few enough, they are as wise as we are.
Chi.
Hang ye, I'le eat at any time: and any where
I never make that part of want, preach to me
What ye can doe, and when ye list.
Foole.
Your patience,
'Tis a hard day at Court, a fish day.
Chi.
So it seemes sir,
The finns grow out of thy face.
Foole.
And to purchase
This day the company of one deare Custard,
Or a messe of Rice ap Thomas, needs a maine wit;
Beefe we can beare before us linde with Brewes
And tubs of Porke; vociferating Veales,
And tongues that ne're told lye yet.
Chi.
Line thy mouth with 'em
Foole.
Thou hast need, and great need,
For these finny fish-dayes,
The Officers understandings are so flegmatick,
They cannot apprehend us.
Chi.
That's great pitty,
For you deserve it, and being apprehended
The whip to boot; Boy what doe you so neare me,
I dare not trust your touch boy.
Enter Stremon and his Boy Ed. Hor.
Boy.
As I am vertuous
What, theeves among our selves?
Chy.
Stremon.
Stre.
Lievtenant.
Chi.
Welcome ashore, ashore.
Foole.
What Monsieur, Musicke?
Stre.
My fine Foole.
Boy.
Fellow Cracke, why what a consort
Are we now blest withall?
Foole.
Fooling and fidling
Nay and we live not now boyes; what new songs sirra.
Stre.
A thousand man, a thousand.
Foole.
Itching ayres
Alluding to the old sport.
Stre.
Of all sizes.
Fool.
And how does small Tym Treble here; the heart on't.
Boy. 2.
To doe you service.
Fool.
O Tym the times, the times Tym.
Stre.
How does the Generall,
And next what moneys stirring?
Chy.
For the Generall
Is here, but such a Generall
The times chang'd Stremon,
He was the liberall Generall, and the loving,
The feeder of a Souldier, and the father,
But now become the stupid'st.
Stre.
Why, what ailes he.
Chi.
Nay, if a horse knew, and his head's big enough
I'le hang for't; did'st thou ever see a dog
Run mad o'th' tooth-ache, such another toy
Is he now so, a glotes and grins, and bites.
Foool.
Why hang him quickly,
And then he cannot hurt folkes.
Chi.
One houre raving,
Another smiling, not a word the third houre,
I tell thee Stremon has a stirring soule,
What ever it attempts or labours at
Would weare out twenty bodies in another.
Fool.
I'le keep it out of me, for mine's but buckeram,
Hee would bownce that out in two houres.
Chi.
Then he talkes
The strangest and the maddest stuffe from reason,
Or any thing ye offer; stand thou there,
I'le show thee how he is, for I'le play Memnon
The strangest Generall that ere thou heardst of Stremon.
Stre.
My Lord.
Chi.
Goe presently and find me
A black horse with a blew taile; bid the blank Cornet
Charge through the Sea, and sinke the Navy: softly,
Our soules are things not to be waken'd in us
With larums, and lowd bawlings, for in Elizium
Stilnesse and quietnesse, and sweetnesse, sirra,
I will have, for it much concernes mine honour,
Such a strong reputation for my welcome
As all the world shall say: for in the forefront
So many on white Unicornes, next them
My gentlemen, my Cavaliers and Captaines,
Ten deep and trapt with tenter-hookes to take hold
Of all occasions: for Friday cannot fish out
The end I aime at; tell me of Diocles,
And what he dare doe, dare he meet me naked
Thunder in this hand, in his left? Foole?
Foole.
Yes Sir.
Chi.
Foole, I would have thee fly i'th' ayre, fly swiftly
To that place where the Sun sets, there deliver.
Foole.
Deliver? what sir?
Chi.
This sir, this ye slave sir,
All laugh.
Death ye rude rogues, ye Scarrubbs.
Foole.
Hold for Heav'ns sake Lievtenant, sweet Lievtenant.
Chi.
I have done sir.
Boy.
You have wrung his neck off.
Chi.
No Boy, 'tis the nature
Of this strange passion when't hits to hale people
Along by th'haire, to kick 'em, breake their heads:
Foole.
Do ye call this Acting, was your part to beat me.
Chi.
Yes, I must act all that he does.
Foole.
Plague act yee,
I'le act no more.
Stre.
'Tis but to shew man.
Foole.
Then man
Hee should have shew'd it only, and not done it,
I am sure he beat me beyond Action,
Gowts a your heavy fist.
9
Ile have thee to him,
Thou hast a fine wit, fine foole, and canst play rarely.
Hele hug thee, boy, and stroke thee,
Foole.
Ile to the stockes first,
'Ere I be strokt thus.
Strem.
But how came he Chilax?
Chi.
I know not that,
Strem.
Ile to him
Chi.
He loves thee well,
And much delights to here thee sing; much taken
He has bin with thy battell songs.
Strem.
If Musique,
Can find his madnes; ile so fiddle him,
That out it shall by'th shoulders,
Chi.
My fine fidler,
Hele firke you and ye take not heed too: t'will be rare sport
To see his owne trade triumph over him;
His Lute lac'd to his head, for creeping hedges;
For mony ther's none stirring; try good Stremon
Now what your silver sound can doe; our voices
Are but vaine Ecchoes,
Strem.
Something shall be done
Shall make him understand all; lets to'th Taverne,
I have some few Crownes left yet: my whistle wet once
Ile pipe him such a Paven—
Chi.
Hold thy head up,
Ile cure it with a quart of wine; Come Coxcombe;
Come boye take heed of napkins.
Foole.
Youl'd no more acting?
Chi.
No more Chicken;
Foole.
Goe then.
Exeunt omnes.
Enter Siphax at one Dore, and a Gentleman at another.
Si.
God save you sir; pray how might I see the Princess
Gent.
Why very fitly sir shees even now ready,
To walke out this way into'th parke; stand there,
Ye cannot misse her sight, sir,
Siphax.
I much thanke ye.
Exit Gentleman.
Enter Calis Lucippe, Cleanthe.
Cal.
Lets have a care, for ile assure ye wenches
I woold not meet him willingly agen;
For though I doe not feare him, yet his fashion
I wood not be acquainted much wit'h.
Clean.
Gentle Ladie,
Ye need not feare the walkes are viewed and emptie,
But my thinkes Madam this kind heart of his—
Lucip.
Is slow a coming.
Si.
Keepe me ye blest Angells,
What killing power is this?
Cal.
VVhy dost thou looke for't?
Dost thinke he spoke in earnest?
Lucip.
My thinkes Madam,
A Gentleman should keepe his word; and to a Ladie
A Ladie of your excellencies;
Cal.
Out foole!
Send me his heart? what should we doe wo't? dance it?
Lucip.
Drie it and drinke it for the wormes.
Calis.
Whose that?
What man stands there?
Clean.
VVhere?
Cal.
There.
Clean.
A Gentleman,
Which I beseech your grace to honour so much,
As know him for your servants brother.
Cal.
Siphax?
Clean.
The same an't please your grace; what does he here?
Upon what busines and I ignorant?
Cal.
Hee's growne a handsome Gentleman; good Siphax
Yar wel-come from the warres; woo'd ye with us sir?
Pray speake your will: a blushes, be not fearefull,
I can assure ye for your Sisters sake sir,
Ther's my hand on it.
Clean.
Doe you heare Sir?
Cal.
Sure these Souldiers,
Are all growne senseles,
Clean.
Doe ye know where ye are sir?
Calis.
Tongue-tyde,
He lookes not well too, by my life, I thinke;
Clean.
Speake, for shame speake.
Lucip.
A man woo'd speake—
Cal.
These Souldiers,
Are all dumb Saints: Consider and take time sir,
Lets forward wenches come, his pallats downe.
Lucip.
Dare these men charge it'h face of fire and bullets?
And hang there heads downe at a handsome Woman?
Good master Mars that's a foule fault.
Exit Princesse, Lucippe.
Clean.
Fye beast,
No more my brother.
Siph.
Sister, honoured Sister,
Clean.
Dishonoured foole,
Si.
I doe confesse,
Cle.
Fye on thee.
Si.
But stay till I deliver,
Cle.
Let me goe,
I am a shame to owne thee,
Si.
Fare ye well then,
Ye must nere see me more,
Clean.
Why stay deare Siphax,
My angers past; I will heare ye speake
Si.
O Sister,
Clean.
Out with it Man,
Si.
O I have drunke my mischiefe,
Cle.
Ha? what?
Si.
My destruction.
In at mine eyes I have drunke it; O the Princess,
The rare sweet Princess!
Clean.
How foole? the rare Princess?
Was it the Princess that thou sed'st?
Si.
The Princess,
Clean.
Thou doest not love her sure, thou darst not.
Si.
Yes by heaven,
Clean.
Yes by Heaven? I know thou darst not,
The Princess? 'tis thy life the knowledge of it,
Presumption that will draw into it all thy kinred,
And leave 'em slaves and succourles; the Princess?
Why shee's a sacred thing to see and worship,
Fixt from us as the Sun is high and glorious,
To be ador'd not doated on; desire things possible,
Thou foolish young man, nourish not a hope,
Will haile thy heart out.
Si.
'Tis my destinie,
And I know both disgrace and death will quit it,
10
Clean.
Pursue it not then Syphax
Get thee good wholesome thoughts may nourish thee.
Goe home and pray.
Sy.
I cannot
Clean.
Sleep then Syphax.
And dreame away thy doting.
Sy.
I must have her
Or you no more your brother; worke Cleanthe,
Worke, and worke speedilie, or I shall die wench.
Clean.
Dye then, I dare forget; farewell
Syp.
Farewell Sister.
Farewell for ever, see me buried.
Clean.
Stay.
Pray stay? hee's all my brothers: no way Siphax.
No other Woman,
Sy.
None, none, shee or sincking.
Clean.
Goe and hope well, my life ile venture for thee
And all my art, a Woman may worke miracles;
No more, pray heartily against my fortunes,
For much I feare a maine one.
Syphax.
I shall doe it.
Exeunt.
Finis Actus Secundi.
| The Mad Lover | |