University of Virginia Library

Act. II.

Enter Ethne and Fedella, dancing.
Eth.
I am weary, and yet I would have more, my heart
Was never more dispos'd to mirth, Fedella.

Fed.
Mine is as light as yours, Sister, I am
All aire, me thinks.

Eth.
And I all mounting fire.

Fed.
'Tis well we are alone.

Eth.
'Tis ill we are;
This heat our servants should have given us:

Fed.
I wonder we cannot see 'em, they were not
Since we first tooke them to our favor, guiltie
Of such neglect.

Eth.
You wrong our birth and bloud,
To thinke they dare neglect us, for if they
Forget what we deserve in loving them,
They owe more dutie, as we are the Kings
Daughters, than to displease us so.

Fed.
That binds:
But forme and heartlesse ceremony, Sister,
By your favor, I had rather hold my servant
By his owne love, that chaines his heart to mine,
Than all the bands of state.

Eth.
I am of thy mind too, wo'd they were here,
I shall be sad againe; fie, what a thing 'tis
For two Ladies to be in love, and alone without
A man so long.

Enter Rodamant.
Fed.
Here's one.

Eth.
A foolish one, our Governors servant,
How now Rodamant?

Rod.
Keep off.

Fed.
What, is the fellow conjuring?

Rod.
I wo'd, but I cannot read these devillish names.

Eth.
How long hast thou serv'd Archimagus?

Rod.

Long enough to have had a Devill of mine owne, if hee
had pleas'd, I have drudg'd under him almost these seven yeeres,
in hope to learne the trade of Magick, and none of his spirits will
obey me; would I were a witch, then I should have a Familiar, a
sucking Devill, upon occasion to doe me service.

Fed.

A Devill?

Rod.

Oh, I lov'd him of a child.

Eth.

What wouldst thou do with the Devill?

Rod.

Only exercise my body, take the aire now and then over
steeples, and saile once a month to Scotland in a sieve, to see my
Freinds. I have a granam there, if I had been rul'd, would not have
seen me wanted a divell at these yeers, pray Madam speak to my
Master for me, that my freinds may not laugh at me, when I come
out of my time, he has spirits enough, I desire none of his grandes, a
little Don Diego Diabolo would serve my turne, if he have but
skill in Love or Physicke.

Fed.

Physick for what? art sick?

Rod.

I am not sick, but I am troubled with a desperate
consumption.

Eth.
How?

Fed.
Why that's nothing.

Rod.
To you that are great Ladies, and fed high
But to a man that is kept lean and hungry
A little falling of the flesh is seen.

Eth.
I heard thee name love, prethee art thou in love?

Rod.
In love? look on my sore eyes.

Eth.
They are well enough, and thou canst see.

Rod.
Yes, I can see a little with em, would they were out.

Eth.
How? out?

Rod.

Out of their paine. I have but seaven teeth and a halfe, and
foure on em are rotten, here's a stump, a pickax cannot dig out of
my gummes.

Fed.
Are these signes of love?

Rod.
Oh infallible. Beside, I cannot sleep
For dreaming a my Mistresse.

Eth.
So, and whats her name?

Rod.
You shall pardon me, she is—

Eth.
A man or a woman.

Rod.

Nay she is a woman, as sure, as sure as you are the Queens
daughters. I name no body; do not you say 'tis the Queen, I am
what I am, and she is what she is.

Eth.

Well said.

Rod.

And if I live, I will dy for her, but I forget my self, I had a
message to tell you; first my Master commends him to your Graces
and will be here presently: secondly I have news, Do you know
what I meane?

Fed.
Not we.

Rod.
Why then, my Lord Ferochus, and his brother
Endarius, you know em?

Eth.
What of them?

Rod.
And they know you.

Fed.
To the purpose.

Rod.
I know not that, but they are

Eth.
What?

Rod.
Not made for wormes meat.

Fed.
What meanes the fellow?

Rod.

The King has commanded, they shall be throwne from a
rock into the sea, thats all, but here's my Master can tell you the
whole story.

Exit.
Eth.
What said the scritchowle

Enter Archimagus
Fed.
We hope Archimagus brings better newes.
And yet his face is cast into a forme of sorrow.
What are these?

Arc.
Read, and collect your noble forces up,
You will be lost else, alas poore Ladies,
How soon their blood is frighted?

Eth.
Every character
Gives my poor heart a wound.

Fed.
Alas, how much of mischief is contain'd
In this poore narrow paper.

Eth.
Can this be?

Arc.
Madam too true, the anger of the King
Is heavy and inevitable, you may
Beleeve what their sad pens have bled to you;
They have no hope, not once before they die
To see your blessed eyes, and take their leave,
And weep into your bosome, their last farewell.

Fed.
They must not, sha'not die so.

Arc.
They must Madam.

Eth.
I will die with 'em too then: Sister shall
They leave the world without our company?

Fed.
Could not you bend the King our cruell father?
You should have said, we lov'd them; you have most
Power to prevaile with him; you should have told him,
The gods would be offended, and revenge their death
With some strange curse upon this Iland.

Eth.
You knew our loves, and all our meetings Sir,
They were not without you, nor will we live
Without them, tell our father. Did our hearts
Flatter themselves with mirth, to be struck dead
With this, this murdering newes. I'll to the King.

Arc.
Stay, and containe your selves, your loves are brave,
Nor shall your flame die thus; as I was first
Of counsell with your thoughts, I will preserve 'em:
They sha'not die, if my braine leave me not.

Fed.
Oh, I could dwell upon his lips to thank him.

Arc.
But they must then be banish'd.

Eth.
That's death.
Unlesse we go along to exile with 'em.

Ar.
I have the way, they shall deceive the sentence
Of the enraged King, and live; nor shall
This be reward of your affections;
You shall converse more often, and more freely
Than ever, if you dare be wise and secret.

Fe.
You make us happy.

Arc.
Here's your elder brother,
Away and trust to me.

Enter Coribreus.
Cor.
Health to our Priest.

Arc.
And to your Highnesse.
Enter Emeria and Conallus.
Do you see that couple?

Cor.
My brother and the faire Emeria, Milcho's daughter,
Out of their way; but so, to reach their voice,
This place o'th'Garden's apt.

Arc.
Observe 'em.

Em.
But will you not, my Lord, repent to have plac'd
Your love so much unworthily.

Con.
Oh never.
My best Emeria, thou hast a wealth
In thy owne vertue, above all the world;
Be constant, and I'm blest.

Em.
This hand and heaven
Be witnesse where my heart goes.

Cor.
If my fate
Cannot enjoy thy love, I shall grieve both
Your destinies.

Arc.
Be confident you shall
Enjoy her, if you'll follow my directions.

Cor.
Thou art my genius, but she's very holy,
And, I feare, too religious to her vowes,
She is devoted much to Ceanerachius, head of the gods.

Arc.
Sir her piety
Prepares your conquest, as I'le manage things,
I wonot trust the ayre too much.

Con.
This kisse and all's confirm'd.

Em.
Pray my Lord use
My poore heart kindly, for you take it with you.

Con.
I leave mine in exchange.

Exit.
Arc.
He is gone, advance
To your Mistris, and if you want art to move her,
I shannot sir, to make you prosper, tis
Firmely design'd, when we meet next, you shall
Know more.

Exit.
Cori.
How now my fair Emeria.

Em.
I do beseech your highnesse pardon,
I did think I was alone.

Cori.
Alone you are
In beauty sweet Emeria, and all
The graces of your sex.

Em.
You are too great to flatter me,
And yet this language comes
So neer the wickednesse of court praise, I dare not
With modesty imagine your heart means so.

Cori.
Yet in this garden, when you seem'd most solitary,
Madam, you had many fair, and sweet companions.

Em.
Not I sir.

Cori.
Yes, and my rivalls too Emeria,
And now they court thy beauty in my presence
Proud erring things of nature, dost not see
As thou dost move, how every amorous plant
Doth bow his leavy head, and becken thee;
The winde doth practise dalliance with thy hairs
And weave a thousand pretty netts within
To catch it self.
That violet droop'd but now,
How tis exalted at thy smile, and spreads
A virgin bosome to thee. There's a rose
Would have slept still within his bud, but at
Thy presence, it doth open his thin curtains
And with warm apprehension looking forth
Betrayes her love in blushes. And that Woodbine
As it would be divorc'd from the Sweet-bryer,
Courts thee to an embrace. It is not dew
That like so many pearls embroider all
The flowers, but teares of their complaint, with feare
To loose thee, from whose eye they take in all
That makes them beautifull, and with humble necks
Pay duty unto thee their onely spring.

Em.
Your Grace is courtly.

Cor.
When these dull vegetalls
Shew their ambition to be thine Emeria,
How much should we, that have an actiue soule
To know and value thee, be taken with
This beauty? yet if you dare trust me Madam,
There's none, within the throng of thy admirers,
More willing, more devote to be thy servant
Then Coribreus.

Em.
I must agen beseech
Your pardon, and declare my self most ignorant:
Pray speak your meaning in a dialect
I vnderstand.

Cor.
Why, I do love you Madam.

Em.
If this be it, I dare not sir beleeve
You condescend so low to love Emeria,
A worthlesse thing.

Cor.
Why not? I love you Madam.
If there be difference of our birth or state,
When we are compar'd, it should make me the first
In your fair thoughts: come, you must love agen,
And meet me with an equall active flame.

Em.
I am more skil'd in dutie sir, then love.

Cor.
You would be coy, your heart is not bestow'd.

Em.
Indeed it is.

Cor.
On whom?

Em.
I must not name.

Cor.
Were he my brother did twist heart with thine,
That act should make him strange to my blood,
And I would cut him from his bold embraces.

Em.
Alas, I feare.

Cor.
I know you will be wise
And just to my desires Emeria,
When you shall see my love bid fairest for you,
And that presented from a Prince, who knowes
No equall here. Come, I already promise
My self possest of those faire eyes, in which
I gazing thus, at every search discover
New crystall heavens, those tempting cheekes are mine,
A garden with fresh flowers all the winter;
Those lips invite to print my soul upon'em
Or loose it in thy breath, which I'le convey
Downe to my heart, and wish no other spirit,
As loth to change it for my owne agen.
How in thy bosome will I dwell Emeria,
And tell the azure winding of thy veins
That flow, yet climbe those soft, and ivory hills
Whose smooth descent leads to a blisse, that may
Be known, but puzzle art and tongue to speak it.
I prethee do not use this froward motion,
I must and will be thine.

Em.
Be your own sir,
And do not thus afflict my innocence,
Had you the power of all the world, and man,
You could not force my will, which you have frighted
More from you then my duty, although powerfull,
Can call agen; you are not modest sir,
Indeed I feare you are not, I must leave you,
Better desires attend your Grace and me.

Exit
Cor.
This wo'not gain her, her heart's fixt upon
My brother, all my hope is in Archimagus,
She is a frozen thing, yet she may melt.
If their disdain should make a man despaire,
Nature mistook in making woman faire.

Exit
An altar discovered, two Idolls upon it, Archimagus and priests, lights and incense prepar'd by Rodomant.
Ro.
These be new Dieties, made since yesterday,
We shift our gods, as fast as some shift trenchers;
Pray sir what do you call their names, they are
But halfe gods, demi-gods as they say, there's
Nothing beneath the navell.

Ar.
This with the thunderbolt is Jupiter.

Rod.
Jupiter? 'Tis time he were cut off by the middle,
He has been a notable thunderer in his dayes.

Prie.
This is Mars.

Ro.
Mars from the middle upward. Was it by my Lady
Venus direction that he is dismembred too.
He that overcame all in a full careere, looks now like
A Demilaunce.

Arc.
Are they not lively form'd, but sirra away, tell the young
Ladies the King is upon entrance.

Enter King, Queen, Conallus. At the other door, Ethne, Fedella, they all kneel.
Ar.
A flame behinde the Altar.

After the song the Queen offers, and her daughters, garlands, which are placed upon the heads of the Idols.

Song at the Altar.
Come away, Oh come away
And trembling trembling pay
Your pious vowes to Mars and Jove.
While we do sing,
Gummes of precious odours bring,
And light them with your love.
As your holy fires do rise,
Make Jove to wonder
What new flame
Thither came
To wait upon his thunder.

The song being ended, the Idol that presented Jupiter moveth.
Kin.
Archimagus, Conallus; see my children,
The statue moves.

Arc.
Approach it not too neere.

Eth.
It is prodigious.

Arc.
With devotion,
Expect what followes, and keep reverent distance;
I am all wonder.

Jupe.
King Leogarius,
Jove doth accept thy vowes, and pious offerings,
And will show're blessings on thee; and this kingdome,
If thou preserve this holy flame burnes in thee.
But take heed, thou decline not thy obedience,
Which thou shalt best declare by thy just anger
Against that christian stragler Patricke, whose
Bloud must be sacrific'd to us, or you
Must fall in your remisse and cold religion.
When you are mercifull to our despisers,
You pull our wrath upon you, and this Iland.
My duty is perform'd, and I return
To my first stone, a cold and silent statue.

Arc.
What cannot all commanding Jove? 'tis now
That artificiall tonguelesse thing it was,
How are you bound to honour Jupiter?
That with this strange and publike testimony
Accepts your zeale. Pursue what you intended,
And meet this enemy to the gods, that now
Expects your entertainment.

King.
I obey.
Come my Queene, and daughters.

Queen.
I attend you Sir.

Rod.
Is not the Queene a lovely creature Sir?

Prin.
Why how now Rodamant, what passion's this?

Rod.
Oh that I durst unbutton my minde to her.

Arc.
Your Princely daughters pray they may have leave
To offer in their gratitude to the gods
One other prayer, and they will follow Sir.

Ki.
They are my pious daughters, come Conallus.

Exeunt King, Queen, Conallus, &c.
Arc.
They are gone, uncloud.

Fero.
Oh my deere Mistresse, is not the King mock'd rarely?

Eth.
My most lov'd Endarius!

Arc.
Have I not don't my Charge?

Fed,
Most quaintly. Welcome
To thy Fedella.

Rod.

Hum, how's this? more scapes of Jupiter? they have
found their neither parts; the gods are become fine mortal gentlemen,
here's precious jugling, if I durst talke on't.

Arc.
Not a sillable, as you desire not to be torne in pieces sir.

Rod.
Gods quoth'a, I held a candle before the devill.

Arc.
To the doore and watch.

Rod.
So I must keep the doore too, here's like to be holy doings.

Fer.
We owe Archimagus for more then life
For your loves, without which, life is a curse.

Arc.
The musicke prompts you to a dance.

En.
I'th temple.

Arc.
'T is most secure, none dare betray you here.

Eth.
We must away.

Fer.
My life is going from me.

Fed.
Farewell.

Arc.
The King expects, now kisse and part.

Eth.
When next we meet, pray give me back my heart.

Rod.
I am an Esquire by my office.

Exeunt.