 | The Lady-Errant |  |
ACT. II.
SCENE I.
Machessa, Philænis, and after a while Cosmeta, Pandena, Rhodia.Mac.
Give me my Javelin; hangs my Fauchion right?
Three Ladys sayst thou? So! go fetch 'em in now.
What? goes the Tilting on I mention'd? Is there
En. Pan. Cos. Rho
No Just, nor Turnament yet granted out?
Cos.
You're well appointed Madam.
Mach.
How I hate
That Name of Madam, it befits a Chamber:
Give me the words o'th' Field, such as you'd give
To fairer Ladyes pricking o'r the Plains
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Shews not this Scarf and Fauchion far more comely,
Than paultry pyebald Ribbands, and young Bodkins?
Pan.
You wear a rigid Beauty, fierce Delights.
Rho.
Your Pleasures threaten, and your stubborn Graces
Tempt, and defend at once.
Mach.
Why now y'are right.
And what say'st thou, my little Noon-tide shadow?
My trusty Pigmy?
Phil.
Now indeed, and truly—
Mach.
Hell o' these simpring Protestations!
Thou sinfull Inch of short Mortality,
Give Ear to my Instructions: here I swear
By th' Sacred Order of my Lady-Errantry,
If thou effeminat'st thy discourse once more
With these precise, minc'd, Little Sisters-Vows,
Thy breath is forfeit.
Phi.
By that bloudy Fauchion—
Mach.
I there's a Wench, spit from the mouth of Mavors!
Bellona was thy Nurse.
Phi.
—And that fierce Javelin,
I'd rather see a Plume o'rshade your back
With a large, generous Carelesness; than a bunch
Of fidling Feathers hang before you, just
As modest fig-leaves do in naked Pictures.
Mach.
Thou little 'Vantage of Mankind, thou Grain
That Nature put into the scales to make
Weight to the VVorld, thou tak'st me very much.
Phi.
The Sable Fan, which you wore last upon
Your white Lawn-Apron, made you shew just like
The Ace of Clubs, with a black spot i'th' middle.
Mac.
VVhy how now little Mischief? is't not knavish
And waggish, like a very Page o'th' Court?
Cos.
VVhat use do you mean her for?
Mach.
Have you not read?
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Pan.
I fancy those brave Scythian Heroines;
Those Noble, valiant Amazons like you.
Mach.
Nature did shew them only as my Types.
Cos.
There's nothing wanting but adventures: We
Shall quickly now requite the Errant Knights
That help distressed Ladies to their wishes.
Mach.
I'l disobliege our Sex. If that you find
Any imprison'd, or inchanted
Tell him Machessa's his deliverance.
Said I Machessa? Hold! that word Machessa
Sailes through my Lips with too small breath. I'l have
A Name that Mouths shall travell with: let's see?
Wee'l put a Prologue to it: So! I have it;
It is concluded—Monster-quelling-Woman-
Obliging-Man-delivering-Machessa,
She, She is his deliverance: tell him so.
Ph.
Do she that can; I would you'd change your Name;
'Tis longer than your Self, and if it were
Some three foot shorter, 'twere as high as I am.
[One knocks.
Mach.
See who 'tis knocks; you do not know your Office;
Bellona, hear my Name, and send Adventures.
Scen. II.
To them Ganyctor, Lerinus, Iringus.Cos.
The Courtiers Madam; work for us! remember.
Pray stand aside as soon as we begin.
Gan.
Save you Machessa.
Mach.
I've a Name besides,
By which I mean Posterity shall know me;
The word is grown: 'tis Monster-quelling-Woman-
Obliging-Man-delivering-Machessa.
Irin.
Sweet Monster-quelling-Woman-ob—and so forth—
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Cos.
Valiant Captain,
What is th' Affront that's most in fashion now?
Irin.
why doe you ask me Lady?
Pan.
'Cause y'are wont
To receive most, and so can tell the newest;
VVhich now perhaps you come to have redrest.
Rho.
VVhat is the strength o'th' Subject think you Sir?
Ler.
Why what know I?
Cos.
Who should Sir, if not you
That have so oft been beaten by all sorts,
And all degrees of men?
Pan.
Which Lady now
Sends you most Favours?
Rho.
VVhich most Mellons?
Cos.
Which
Most Gums, and Spikenard Boxes?
Rho.
Who presents you
With the best Figs?
Pan.
The plumpest Bulbi?
Gan.
You,
And you, and you; you will not worry me?
Cos.
By your Periwig, Captain, but we will.
Pan.
By your
False Teeth we will.
Rho.
And your glasse-Eye we will.
Ler.
For Jove's sake, Madam.
Irin.
S'heart I'm not breath-proof.
Cos.
Alas, we han't begun yet.
Gan.
Let's beseech you.
Pan.
We will not be beseech'd.
Cos.
Think upon Rest,
As a past pleasure of your youth—
Pan.
You shall not
Be idle quietly in the Presence Chamber.
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You shan't tell lies in quiet to the Waiters.
Cos.
Nor, when you've done, share in their meat in quiet.
Pan.
Wee'l meet you at the Bath—
Cos.
You shall not wash
Without disturbance.
Pan.
At the Theater too—
Rho.
You shall not misconceive good Comedies
Without vexation—
Cos.
And at Flora's Park.—
Pan.
You shall not cheat at little Horse-races
Without discovery.
Rho.
In th' Temple then—
Cos.
You shall not kneel in quiet at the Altars—
Rho.
Wee'l hearken, and observe—
Pan.
You shall not have
So much free time, as to appoint a meeting
With her kneels next y'—
Rho.
If that y'are bid to Supper—
Cos.
Wee'l stay you, though y'have got a warrant to
Ride post to eat.
Ler.
Good Madam, be content.
Pan.
And if y'are set—
Irin.
Hell, and Furies—
Cos.
You
Shall rise, and prove perfidious to the hot
Cramm'd Fowl upon your trencher.
Gan.
Wee'l subscribe—
Are you content?
Rho.
And when y'are weary of
All this—
Cos.
Wee'l doe all this again.
Pan.
Wee'l keep you,
As they doe Hawkes—
Cos.
Watching untill you leave
Your wildness, and prove inward.
20
Hear y'Madam—
Ler.
We will subscribe.
Cos.
Come quickly then, lest that
Mach. steps in and draws till they all pass out.
We take a toy, and will not let you.
Mach.
Stay.
The Gods have destin'd this should be the first
Of my Adventures—go—y'are free.
Irin.
Our thanks
Will be too small a Recompence.
[Exeunt Gan. Irin. Ler.
Mach.
The Deed
Will pay it self; Vertue's not Mercenary:
Or, if it be, mine is not. So; I do
Begin to come in Action now. To do
And suffer, doth engross whole Nature, and
I will engross both them; I'l set all free,
But only Glory; her I'l Captive lead,
Making her Trumpet only sound my Name,
That is, the Sexe's. I am all their Fame.
How goes your Bus'ness on?
Pan.
Vertue and Fortune
Joyn in it both.
Cos.
Eumela is come over,
Hath undertook the Machin, and hath promis'd
To bring it to that pass, that neither Queen,
Nor Princess shall gainsay't. Florina, and
Malthora both have given in their Reasons,
Which I have answer'd, and convinc'd.
Mach.
If that
It come to any danger, let me know it.
Exeunt Mach. Phi.
21
Scen. III.
To them Eumela.Rho.
Eumela welcome; does your bus'ness thrive?
Eum.
Too fast.
Cos.
What? have you sent to th' Ports?
Eum.
All's safe.
Machessa's ours you say—
Pan.
Yes, and Philandra.
Eum.
Cleora and Earina busie Sticklers,
Oenone and Hermione sent as Emissaries
To try the farther Cities—Paria hath
A pretty stroke among the Privy Chamber.
Cos.
You've lost no time.
Eum.
Nor will, Cosmeta—
Psecas, and Dorcas, Cloe, and Plecusa,
Phillis, and Glauca, swore this morning all
As I was dressing.
Rho.
On what Book I pray?
Eum.
On the Greek Epigrams, Madam, or Anacreon,
I know not which: they bind alike.
Cos.
What hopes
Have we o'th' Women of Lapythia?
How stand the Dames of Salamin affected?
Eum.
Why Lycas sent to give them a fair Largess
Of Loaves and Wine, & then, whiles that well cheers 'em,
Eugenia brings 'em a most promising Answer
From some corrupted Oracle, and so leads
The superstitious Souls to what she pleaseth.
This is a ground, a thing suppos'd. The Plot
Is wholly now upon Florina, there
It knits, and gathers, breaks, and joyns again;
She's Wise, and Noble—we must find a way
22
Pan.
But the Queen
And Princess—
Eum.
They perceive the business ripens,
That it doth move the limbs, and can for need
Shift, and defend it self, and therfore doe
By me make promise of a generall meeting
As soon as may be: i'th' mean time, we have
Full leave to gather any Contributions,
Gold, Silver, Jewels, Garments, any thing
Conducing to maintain the Publique Cause.
Omn.
Goddess Eumela!
Eum.
Goe, fall off, the Princess
Is at hand—I'l goe mingle Counsels.
Exeunt Cos. Rho. Pan.
Scen. IV.
Lucasia to Eumela.Luc.
Eumela you are come most opportunely.
Eu.
This to your Highness from my L. Olyndus.
[delivers the Letter.]
Luc.
You're happy that your Love is with you still,
That you can see, and hear, and speak to him.
Venus doth favour you more than the whole
Kingdome Eumela; Mars for her sake 's kind to you.
Eum.
I must confess it happy: but Olyndus
Cannot be brought to think it so; he fears
His sickness will by some be constru'd Love;
Which, if his Valour in his Country's danger
Durst give the upper hand, ev'n at the Altar,
Though Venus did her self look on, hee'd pull
Out of his Breast, and cast aside, as some
Unhallow'd part o'th' Sacrifice.
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His King
Hath found him truly valiant. E'r I open
This Paper, you must state one Point, Eumela,
Suppose me busie in the holy Rites
Of our adored Venus: if by chance
I cast mine Eye upon some Princely visage,
And feel a Passion, is the Goddess wrong'd?
Or the Religion lesse?
Eum.
Our Loves what are they
But howerly Sacrifices, only wanting
The prease and tumult of Solemnity?
If then i'th' heat and Achme of Devotion
We drink a new flame in, can it be ought
But to increase the Worship? and what Goddess
Was ever angry that the holy Priest
Increas'd her Fires, and made 'em burn more clear?
Luc.
True, but suppose the Face then seen doth never
Appear more after, is not that a sign
The Goddess is displeas'd?
Eum.
That it a while
Appears not, is to cherish, not extinguish
The Passion thence conceiv'd: as Persecutions
Make Piety stronger still, and bring th' Afflicted
Unto the glory of renowned Martyrs.
Luc.
But is there then no hope but that? Alas!
This man perhaps might perish in some War
As now (But O ye Gods avert the Fate!)
[to her self.
And then th' unhappy sighing Virgin fall
From that her feigned Heaven.
Eum.
It cannot be;
Venus destroyes her Deity, if She shew
And then delude: She will not lose what once
Sh' hath made her own; She that knits hearts by th' Eyes,
Will keep the knot fast by their Entercourse,
If you have once but seen, and lov'd, permit
24
Your Highness to peruse the Letter? 'tis
Of moment I presume: why blush you Madam?
And, while I ask you, why look pale?
Luc.
Eumela,
The supposition's truth; lately, thou knowest,
I did assist at Venus Sacrifice;
He, whom I saw, and lov'd, saw, and lov'd too,
And now hath writ—but let Olyndus tell him
I will not see him, though he were the Soul
Of all Mankind.
Eum.
I will.
Luc.
Hear me—yet if
He have a true undoubted Friend, he may
Send him, I'l meet him in the Myrtle Grove,
And tell him more.
Eum.
I will obey.
Luc.
But stay—
And yet that's all.
Eum.
I go.
[Exit Eumela.
Luc.
The Soul doth give
Brightness to th' Eye, and some say, That the Sun,
If not enlight'ned by th' Intelligence
That doth inhabit it, would shine no more
Than a dull Clod of Earth: so Love, that is
Brighter than Eye, or Sun, if not enlight'ned
By Reason, would so much of Lustre lose
As to become but gross, and foul Desire;
I must refine his Passion; None can wooe
Nobly, but he that hath done Nobly too.
25
Scen. V.
To her Florina and Malthora.Mal.
Your Highness here alone?
Luc.
But so long only
As gives you leave to ask. What? sad Florina?
I'd thought your Soul had dwelt within it self,
Been single a full presence, and that you
Had set your self up your own Trophy now
Full of true Joy.
Flo.
'Tis hard to cast off that
That we call Passion, we may veyl, and cloud it,
But 'twill break out at last. True Joy is that
Which now I cannot have.
Luc.
How so Florina?
Flo.
True Joy consists in Looks, and Words, and Letters,
Which now an Absence, equall to Divorce,
Hath wholly barr'd us of.
Luc.
Looks, Words, and Letters!
Alas they are but only so much Air
Diversly form'd, & so the food of that
Changeable Creature; not the Viands of
True constant Lovers.
Flo.
But, if I see not,
Is not my Joy grown less, who could not love
'Till I first saw? and if I hear not, can
I have the perfect Harmony of pleasure,
Who something ow to words that I first yeelded?
Luc.
Who ever yet was won by words? we come
Conquer'd, and when we grant, we do not yeeld,
But do confess that we did yeeld before.
But be those Senses some Contentments, Madam,
You must not yet make them the great, and true
26
In the bright perfect Union of two Spirits.
Mal.
But seeing those Spirits cannot work, but by
The Organs of the Body, 'tis requir'd
That (to the full perfection of this Joy)
Bodies should be near-Neighbours too.
Flo.
I must
Confess that I subscribe unto the Princess,
And somwhat too to you: the Presence may
Conveigh, and fill, and polish Joy; but yet
To see, or hear, cannot be Joyes themselves.
And where this Presence is deny'd, the Soul
Makes use of higher, and more subtle means,
And by the strength of thought creates a Presence
Where there is none.
Mal.
Alas! how we doe lose
Our selves in speculation of our Loves,
As if they were unbody'd Essences!
Luc.
I would
Eumela now were here; Shee'd tell us, All
Is the same Joy, as Love from sight, or thought,
Is the same Love; and that Love's turning to
Either of them, is only but a Needle
Turning to severall points, no diverse flame,
But only divers degrees of the self-same.
Come Madam let's away and seek her out.
[Exeunt.
Scene VI.
Charistus, Olyndus.Cha.
Not see me, say you, though I were the Soul
Of all Mankind?
Olyn.
They were the words return'd—
But if he have a true undoubted friend,
27
Cha.
Have I deserted
My Country, now in danger, where I had
Took Honour Captive, and for ever fixt her
As an Intelligence unto my Sword,
To move and guide it? have I scorn'd my Fortunes,
And laid aside the Prince, have I contemn'd
That much priz'd thing call'd Life, and wrestled with
Both Winds and Flouds, through which I have arriv'd
Hither at last, and all this not to see her?
Olyn.
Doth she betray, or undisguise you to
The State? Doth she forbid you, Sir, to love?
Affection is not wanting, where 'tis wise;
She onely doth forbid you that you see her.
Cha.
Only forbid me to be happy, only
Forbids me to enjoy my self; What could
She more, were I her Enemy? Olyndus
Hast thou at no time told her, that there was
A Cretan call'd thee Friend?
Olyn.
Why do you ask?
Cha.
Perhaps Sh' hath found this way to send for thee.
Olyn.
Though I have thought it worth the boasting, that
Charistus is my friend, yet by that Word,
Sacred to Noble Souls, I never had
So much accesse to tell her any thing,
Much lesse my Friendship.
Cha.
Thou shalt go Olyndus.
Olyn.
When my eyes see her, yours do; when I talk,
'Tis you that talk; we are true friends, and one,
Nay that one interchang'd; for I am you.
Cha.
'Tis true thou art my friend, so much my friend,
That my selfe am not more my selfe, than thou art:
If thou dost go, I go—But stay—Didst not
Thou say mine eyes were thine? thou didst: if that
Be so, then thou must love her too, and then—
28
Olyn.
She loves you so,
(As my Eumela doth inform me) that
No humane Image can deface the Print
That you have drawn i'th' Tablet of her Soul.
Cha.
If that she loves me so, why then she must
Love thee so too; for thou and I are one.
Olyn.
Why then, Sir, if you go your self, the issue
Will be the same however, so, when she
Loves you Shee'l love me too.
Cha.
We are both one.
In hearts and minds Olyndus: but those Minds
Are cloath'd with Bodies. Bodies that do oft—
I know not what—yet thou hast an Eumela,
A fair Eumela trust me—Thou must go—
But use not any Language, Gesture, Looks,
That may bee constru'd ought above Respect;
For thou art young and Beautiful, and Valiant,
And all that Ladies long for.
Olyn.
When I prove
So treacherous to my Friend, my selfe, my faire
Eumela, mark me with that hatefull brand
That Ignominy hath not discover'd yet,
But doth reserve to sear the foulest Monster
That shall appear in Nature.
Cha.
I beleeve thee:
Yet something bids me still not let thee go.
But Ile not hearken to it; though my Soul
Should tell me 'twere not fit, I'd not beleeve
My Soul could think so.
Olyn.
How resolve you then?
Cha.
Do what thou wilt. I do beleeve—and yet
I doe—I know not what—O my Lucasia!
O my Olyndus! divers waies I bend,
Divided 'twixt the Lover and the Friend.
Exeunt.
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