University of Virginia Library

Act. 5.

Scæn. 1.

Enter King Damocles, like a Shepherd.
Thus Jove chang'd shapes to satisfie his love,
He laid his god-head by; my Kingdome I
Have lot a time forsaken, and exchang'd
My royal robes for shepherds weeds. How light
(Me thinks) I feel my self! having laid by
My crown, with its companions heavy cares!
Enter Plusidippus.
But who comes here? His paces to me tend.

Plu.
Shepherd, well met, but why without a flock?
What, hath the rot consum'd thy sheep? or are
They gone astray?

Kin.
No, not my sheep, but I,
Aside.
So far, I almost know not where, or what
I am;—to seek, as yet I know not whom.

Plu.
This old man dotes, and knows not what he sayes;
Where is thy bag-pipe, and thy merry layes,
That shepherds use to have in readiness?
Surely thou art no shepherd, but some goat
Crept lately into a sheeps habit.—Dost
Thou know the field of the fair Samela?

Kin.
This boy will be my Rival, for that name
Aside.
Sounds like the creatures that I seek for.—No,
Go seek your Stamela, I know no such.

Plu.
This is intolerable,—I will scourge
Draws.
Enter Samela passing by.
Thee into better manners.—But that divine
Appearance makes my spirits calm, and strikes
An awful reverence into my breast.
This is the beautie of th'Arcadian Plains,
Sh'has shot her rayes so home into my heart,
But partial fame was niggardly and base,
In giving but a glimpse of this rare beautie.

Sam.
D'you know me, Sir, or have you lost your way?

Plu.
I cannot likely lose my way, where I
Do find such glistring goddesses as you.
Indeed the force of such a light, may rob
Me of the office of mine eyes, and make
Them dark with too much brightness; can I chuse
But gaze upon the Sun, when first I see't.

Sam.
I think you lost your wits, or else your eys,
That you mistake a glo-worm for the sun,
And make a goddess of a shepherdess.

Plu.
Lady, if I have lost my wits or eyes,
It was with seeking you, whose beautie drew
Me hither; for your sake alone have I
Shook hands with Thessaly, and all my friends,
Onely to joyn my hands and heart with you.

Sam.
I should be loth to give my hand unto
So sudden a conclusion, and my heart
Is neither in my power or possession.

Plu.
Fair Shepherdess, my errand is in love,
To yield my heart into your hands; 'tis yours,
By gift and conquest; I'm at your command.

Sam.
If that you are at my command, be gone,
I cannot, will not listen to your words.

Exit.
Plu.
And have I left my dear Euriphila
For this! I see beautie makes women proud,
I would I were at Thessaly again,
There should I welcome be unto Euriphila,
Whose heart I know's my fellow-traveller,
Her salt tears, by this time, would make a sea,
Wherein I might swim back again with ease.

Exit.

Scæn. 2.

Kin.
I see this youth's repul'st, and he is young
And stout, and well deserving, how shall I
Hope to prevail with her? if lively youth
She do despise, then much more cripling age:
Nor do I know what arguments to use,
Unless to tell her that I am a King,
And lay my Crown and Scepter at her feet,
Which she will scarce believe: my shepherds hook
Will not be taken for a scepter, nor
This poor cap for th'usurper of a crown.—
I have a way whereby to work my will,
And this young man shall be my instrument:
There stands a castle hard by, whither he
Perforce shall carry her. I'll work my will
Upon her, when I have her there confin'd.

Enter Plusidippus.
Plu.
I will revenge this scorn, if force or wit
Will do, I'll make her pride come down.

Kin.
Be wise,
Young man, and valiant, and I will tell
Thee how thou shalt obtein thy full desire.

Plu.
But tell me how, and then let me alone
To act, what e're it be.

Kin.
A Castle stands
Near by, guarded with crows and negligence,
Thither thou mayst by force convey her, and
Then force her unto what entreaties can't.

Plu.
Old man, if I do gain her by thy means,
Thou shalt not want reward: I know the place
Where she doth tend her flock, and I'l watch her,
As she doth them; and when I see my time,
I will convey her where you shall direct.

Exit.
Kin.
I will attend you here.—Now must I plot
To get her in my power, and then I shall
Advance her to a crown against her will.
But yet, I cannot think Honour should need
An Advocate; womens ambitious thoughts
Do swim aloft, they love to be above
Their neighbours, envying ev'ry one whose height
Doth over-look, and seemeth to upbraid
Their lowness by comparison; their minds
Are always climbing up to honours hill,
And pride, and self-conceit, are the two wings
Which elevate their thoughs to flie aloft.

Enter Plusidippus, with Samela.
Plu.
Now, Mistris Coy, y'are not in your own power,
But mine. Old shepherd, take thee charge of her.

Exit.
Kin.
Lady, you see what folly 'tis for you
To denie men what they can take without
Your leave. Now must you yield unto the Knight
Of Thessaly.—But if you will be wise,
And see a good when proffer'd, you may be
A Queen, by granting of my suit, who am
King of Arcadia, although thus disguis'd.

Sam.
My father Damocles 'tis he now sues
aside.
To me his dauughter: He's incestuous grown.

Kin.
This is too woman-like, to turn away
From your own happiness.—And it is strange,
That honour doth not tempt her; thou shalt have
A Crown and Kingdom at thy sole command,
And change these rural weeds for princely robes,
If thou wilt be my wife, pleasure for pain,
And plenty for thy povertie. What sayst?

Sam.
Your potent batteries, and golden baits
Might win (perhaps) on some ambitious soul:
They nothing move me, to remove my love
Already plac'd on Melecertus, He,
He onely doth, and shall possess my heart.

Kin.
A shepherd. Shall a shepherds basnesse stand
In competition, and out-weigh a King?
A subject be before his Sovereign
Prefer'd? Oh how prepostrous are the minds
Of these fond women! Come, be well advis'd,
And change that pettie pebble for a pearl.
'Tis in my power to make thee happy, or
With one breath to blast the flower of thy hopes.
And to repay thy folly with thy shame.
Do not go on to kindle such a fire
Within my breast, as shall consume both thee,
And all that cross the current of my will.

Sam.
I have already sad experience of
The wilde effects of his enraged will,
aside.
Yet such the crosness of my fortune is,
I must again be made the subject of
His furious tyrannie; but I'm resolv'd.
Know Sir, I value more my minds content,
Than all the gawdie shows Courts can present:
I am too well confirmed in the bliss,
And sweet content attends a Country life,
To leave it for the giddy-headed Court.
Besides, my true affections are so riveted
Unto my Melecertus, that nor frowns,
Nor flatteries shall part my heart from him.
Cease therefore farther to commence a suit
Nature forbids me grant, and you to ask.

Kin.
And have I with my Kingly robes laid by
My Kingly mind? No, it shall ne're be said
A womans will hath contradicted mine.
But 'tis by policie that I must work,
Since I have laid my Kingly power aside,
I'll set my brains o'th'tenter hooks, and stretch
Them to their uttermost abilities,
To win this scornful beautie to my wife,
Or else revenge it with her dearest life.

Exit.

Scæn. 3.

Sam.
My life hath hitherto been chequer'd with
Varietie of fortunes; sometimes with
A white of happiness, and then a black
Of miserie; thus loves bright day of mirth,
Is follow'd with a darker night of woe.
How fair of late my fortune seem'd to be,
And now, alas! o're-cast with blackest clouds
Of discontents, wherein I labour with
Important suits, I cannot, may not grant.
No, no, my Melecertus, I am firm
To thee, nor shall the rain of tears,
Or winds of threats remove me from thy love.
Be thou but constant, nay, I know thou art,
I will not wrong thee with so foul a thought,
As once to doubt thou canst be otherwise.

Enter Plusidippus.
Plu.
You're from your shepherds now, or their defence,
Presume not they can rescue you, 'tis past
Their skill or power, to force you from mine arms.

Sam.
Alas, fond boy! I scorn thy threats, as much
As I hate thee, or slight thy boasted strength.
Were but my Melecertus here, he would
Whip thy rudeness into better manners.

Plu.
'Tis well you are a woman (not a man,)
And have no other weapon but your tongue,
Which you are priviledg'd to use, and we
To laugh at. But in short, if you'l accept
My love and service, then shall you be safe,
And happy: Souldiers cannot talk, but with
Their swords, and then they strike gain-sayers dumb.

Sam.
All this is nothing; for your words, nor swords
Shall not remove me from my dearest friend,
He hath my heart, and I have nothing left
But hate, if you'l accept of that, 'tis all
That I can give, or you receive from me.

Plu.
You must be dealt with as we use to do
With sullen birds, I'll shut you up, and then
Perhaps you'l sing another note, you are
Not yet in tune, you are too high for me,
But I will take you lower. I will plough
Your heart with grief, and then (perhaps) it will
Better receive the seed of my true love.

Sam.
Sooner the turtle shall forget her mate,
Than I my Melecertus; and when I
Can't see him with mine eys, my mind shall rove,
Wing'd with desire, throughout the spacious world,
And find no rest, until it meet with him.
And though our bodies never meet, our souls
Shall joyn, and love each other after death.
Thus is true love immortal, and shall never
Die, but with our souls shall live for ever.

Plu.
Shepherd, who e're thou art, I cannot chuse
But envie thee thy happiness, who hast
So true a love: I cannot but admire
This noble soul and love her, though she hate
Me for't; I'll treat her civilly, and if
I can't obtain her for a wife, she shall
My goddess be, and I'll adore her name,
Though at a distance. Lady, will you walk?

Exeunt.

Scæn. 4.

Enter King Damocles.
It is an ill wind that blows no man good;
Though the Thessalian lad have got the prize
In his possession, it shall not be long,
But I will have them both in mine, I have
Dispatch'd a letter to my Lords, to send
Me suddenly some servants to assist
Enter Menaphon.
My plot. Now Menaphon, what is the newes?

Men.
Great Sir, the messenger's return'd, and brought
The men you sent for, they are here at hand.

Kin.
'Tis well; direct them to the castle that
I told you of, and give them charge to seize
Upon the buzzard and his prey, and bring
Them both to me: mean-time go you, and find
Out Melecertus, that I may be sure
Of him, for he's my rival in my love.

Men.
My Liege, all shall be done to your desire.

Exit.
Kin.
Blest policie, thou far exceed'st dull strength,
That wanders in the dark of ignorance,
Wanting the eye of wisedome, both to guide,
And to defend it from approaching harms.
Thus art with ease doth move the pondrous load,
Which strength could never master, or remove.
The Foxes tail must piece the Lions skin.
Little Ulysses with his wit did more
Against the foe, than Ajax with his strength.

Exit

Scæn. 5.

Enter Samela.
It is some comfort yet that I can change
My prison, though I am a pris'ner still,
Would I could change my companie as soon.
But ah! most wretched Samela, who wert
Born to misfortunes, and to nothing else:
As if that I alone were fortunes mark,
At which she onely ayms her angry darts.
The morning of mine age was clouded with
Mishaps, and now my noon is like to be
The fatal night unto my miserie.—
My Gaoler is so kind, as if he meant
To bribe my love; but these are gilded pills
I cannot swallow. Should my Father get
Me into his possession once again,
I were as bad, or worse: I know too well
His passion, to hope any help from him.
I'll tell him plainly who I am, and trie
If time have dull'd the edge of's crueltie:
Perhaps the kinder gods may move his heart
To pitie, and convert his rage to love.
He is my father still, and though unkind
To me, yet can I not forget I am
His child, and owe a dutie to his name.
He is my King, and so I must obey
His will; if I must suffer, let it be
From his, rather than from a strangers hands.

Exit.

Scæn. 6.

Enter Doron, reading.
I think I am provided now, if Poetrie
Will do't, my Carmila is mine; these
Wittie knaves, what fine devices they
Have got to fetter maidens hearts?
The Poet Orpheus made the Thracian
Dames dance after his pipe, and Ovid
Charm'd the Emperours daughter with
His Poetrie; there are some secret
Enter Carmila.
Charms in these same verses sure.
Let me see here what I have got.
Ha Carmila, look here, I think
You'l love me now.
Reads.
Carmila—A Miracle.

Car.
A miracle, for what, Doron?

Dor.
Why, a miracle of beautie, and I think
You'l be a miracle of folly, if you
Don't love me now.

Car.
What small Poet have you hired
To make a miracle of my name.

Dor.
Nay, I have more yet, and better,
That I found in the Nichodemus
Of Complements, that's a sweet book,
'Tis a very magazine of Poetrie, a
Store-house of wit; do but hear
Them Carmila.

Car.
Let's hear them, Doron, are they
Worth a laughing at? Let's hear.

Dor.
Well, well, it is no laughing matter; but I'm
Sure your laughing ha's made me crie.
Now Carmila, you must imagine that 'tis
I, and only I, say this to you, and none but you:
For the unhappy wag ha's so fitted my
Fancie, as if 'twere made for no bodie but me.
What think you now, Carmila, is not this
Admirable? if these strong lines will
Not draw your love, I know not what will.

Car.
Had it been your own mother-wit,
Doron, I could have like't it well:
But for you to father the brat of
Another's brain, is too ridiculous.
I like your love much better than your
Hackney lines: but bought wit's best.

Dor.
If you like not my lines, because they are
None of mine, you will not love my
Heart neither, for that's not mine, but yours.

Car.
Yes, Doron, if you have given me your
Heart, I will not die in your debt, but
Give you mine in exchange for yours.

Dor.
Than welcome to me my new found heart,
We'l live, and love, and never part.

Exeunt.

Scæn. 7.

Enter Melecertus.
Revenge shall soon o're-take this proud boy, who
Committed hath so bold a rape upon
My Samela: He had been better to
Have lodged snakes in his breast, than to steal
This spark, that shall consume him and his nest.
Samela! Samela! that name alone
Infuseth spirits into me, inflames
My soul with vengeance, till I recover
My dearest love.

Enter Menaphon.
Men.
Now shall I be reveng'd on Samela,
And on her Melecertus both at once:
I'll make her know neglected love may turn
To hate, and vengeance take the place of scorn.
Well met friend Melecertus, what, alone?

Mel.
I'm solitarie since my mate is gone.

Men.
Your mate has taken flight, she's on the wing,
But I can tell thee where she nests, and bring
Thee guickly where thou shalt retrive the game.

Mel.
If thou wilt do this, Menaphon, I shall
Be studious to requite thy love with mine:
I pay thee sterling thanks and services.

Men.
I will not sell my favours to my friends,
My work is all the wages I expect.
Come, follow me, I'll lead thee to the place,
Where the fresh gamesters have thy love in chase.

Exeunt.

Scæn. 8.

Enter King Damocles in his Royal robes, Plusidippus and Samela, prisoners.
Kin.
Now Sir, you see the shepherd is become
A King; and though you have deserved death,
Yet since you have but acted our commands,
We here release you, and not onely so,
But entertain you with all due respect,
At once belonging to our neighbour-Prince,
And near Allie, the King of Thessaly.—
Some secret power doth force me love him so,
That if I had a daughter to bestow,
I'de wish no other Son-in-law, but him.
Now my Sephestia, what would I give,
Thou wert alive, I had thee, and thou him.

Sam.
He little thinks I am so near, or that
It is his daughter he would make his wife.

Kin.
Thus, Gentlewoman, you are once more faln
Into my hands, I am th'Arcadian King:
Be sudden therefore to give me your love,
Or else forfeit your life for your contempt;
Think on't, and chuse which you'l rather do.

Sam.
Sir, I am still the same I was before:
My love, like to a mighty rock, stands fast,
Disdaining the proud billows of your threats.
Crowns cannot tempt, nor Kings command my love,
My love is free, and cannot be compell'd.
True love admits no partners, is content
With one, and Cupids statute law forbids
Pluralities of loves.

Kin.
Since y'are so stiff,
You will not bow, I'll make you bend, or break.

Enter Menaphon with Melecertus.
Mel.
I am betray'd by this base Menaphon.

Kin.
Here comes my Rival; when I have dispatch'd
Him to the other world, your plea is spoil'd:
My sword shall cut your gordian knot in two;
Your ghosts may wed, your bodies never shall.
I'll be his Executioner my self,
I'll trust no other eyes to see it done.

Sam.
Now is it time t'unmask, and let him know
He wounds his daughter through her Lovers sides.
She kneels.
Father, your furie once expos'd me to
The greedie jaws of death, which yet more kind,
In pitie sav'd my life, you sought to lose.
I'm your Sephestia, Father, know your child.

Mel.
And is it possible, Sephestia lives,
Once more t'enjoy her truest Maximus?

Sam.
My Maximus, I'm thy Sephestia:
Oh that our Plusidippus too were here!

Plu.
And I am he, my name is Plusidippus.

Seph.
My dearest son! 'tis he; now were my joys
Compleat indeed, were but my Uncle here.

Mel.
I am so wrapt with joy, I scarce can get
Breath, to express my thanks unto the gods.

Men.
What will become of me? I shall be hang'd,
Or lose my place at least; I'll get me home,
Amidst their mirth they will not think on me.

Exit.
Kin.
My onely daughter! Dear Sephestia,
And you, kind Maximus, I ask
Both of you pardon for your injuries,
And for requital, thus I do create
Thee King of Arcadie; and may the gods
Requite your sufferings, and forgive my crimes.
Long may ye live, and happy; may your dayes
Be sun-shine all, and know no clouds nor night.
Enter Lamedon.
And that we may not leave one string untun'd,
My brother comes to make our consort full;
The best of brothers, and the best of friends,
Thanks for your care of her, whom you have made
Your daughter by a better claim than mine.
Now let the whole land swim in mirth, and load
The altars with their thankful sacrifice
Unto the kinder deities, who through
A sea of woes, have sent us happiness.
Let's in, and hear the strange and adventures have
Befaln your heaven-protected persons; griefs
Grow less by telling, joyes are multiplied.
Although against them all things seem to strive,
At last just men and lovers alwayes thrive.