 | Cinthia's revenge : Or Maenanders extasie |  |
Actus 1.
Scœna 1.
Cinthia.The chiefest point of Kings felicity,
Some subiects do esteeme Authority.
Wee are aboue, the Potentates of earth
Be vnacquainted with high bloud and birth.
We do transcend supremacy of Kings,
Account them (as they are) most mortall things.
Subiect to putrification, to disease,
To folly; which no phisicke may appease.
Yet they do magnifie themselues alone,
Their haughty stomackes doe acknowledge none
Aboue; who may such dignity surmount:
Of power supreme as fables they account.
My God-head may with priuiledge complaine
Of Sparta; whose proud factious Kings refraine
By wicked councell, from due sacrifice
At my religious Altar: they suffice
To render duty in Olimpickes once,
And rob me of an—tique oblations:
Which wee ascribe vnto the base repute
They do conceiue of our Diuinity,
My Temples honour and supremacy.
To seruice of weake women dedicate
My whole prædominance; they do exempt
Mans homage, and beleeue my power of change
Extends no further then the female sex.
This new-conceited error Il'e refute,
Il'e manifest how farre compulsiue change
Doth ouersway proud man; Il'e execute
The rigor of my vengeance: dreadfull awe
Gods do obtaine by a correctiue law.
And thus will I restore that holinesse,
Which they extinguish through bold sawcinesse:
Mortals contemne the Makers Diety,
Vntill his wrath scourge their impiety.
Scœn. 2.
Menander, Hipponax, Evphorbvs, Lelio, Phevdippe, Hyarchvs, Perillvs, a Hearse.
Nature acquainted well with indigence,
Defining (in it selfe) our impotence,
Liable to corruption generall,
Shewes, nothing doth endure that's naturall:
Sterne death no pitty takes on hallowed age,
Vpon the sucking babe, whose harmelesse twine,
Tenderly hangs about the nurses necke.
Neuer did old mens holy teares obtaine,
Neuer did death from Innocents refraine.
The slaue who smothers in obscurity
His hated life; who neuer did account
Of rising Sunne, eclipse, and prodigies,
More then of customes and impertinence;
Neuer accounted seasons, months, and yeares,
Autumnall haruest, Spring-tide happinesse,
Further then meanes to nourish misery,
But breathes out melancholy aire, and groanes.
This man (alike with Epicures and Kings,
Who often striue with a departing soule)
Expects vpon the leisure of his fate,
So Kings and Cripples be incorporate;
Their ashes often mixt, when they repose
Two petty vrnes, their bodies oft inclose.
Death, how impartiall be thy wounds? how free
From all exceptions? My beloued sire,
Lusty and full of Spirit fiue dayes since,
Here humbled lyes, once royall prop of Greece.
Ev.
Laments are idle, neither can recall
Your fathers soule backe from Elizium.
Men.
But griefe informes the world hee once did liue
Worthy, and well respected, like a Prince,
Whom people pray for, and whose happy raigne
True subiects craue to be perpetuall.
Hyp.
But sorrow in excesse (dread soueraigne)
Begets a weake distraction of the braine,
Breeds a contempt of mundane diligence,
Neglects profession, violates the law
Of solace, and abhorres congruity,
Giues carelesse raignes to sicke security,
Turnes nature to a liuing lethargy.
Men.
True Hypponax, and therefore temperance
Limits with reason our compulsiue woe:
For men of pure discretion (you may finde)
Beare all extremes with a most æquall minde.
Repeat Perillus (the last signe of loue)
A poem to expresse the Obsequie,
With teares concluding his Catastrophe.
Per.
Feare to offend his farre divulged name,
Which (who may mention without righteous fame)
Being euer busied in effecting lawes,
Commended still with popular applause,
Retaining orders of Antiquity,
Each clamorous eccho and all forrest-noise
Ingendred by the Sylvan Dryades,
Be henceforth silent; neuer may such tunes
Affoord free mirth to Poets phantasie;
Who, may surcease to sing their sacred layes,
Viewing the vnaccustom'd change of time:
Till future ages do reviue the losse
Of our deiected worthy in his sonne,
Whose true externall image doth retaine,
The liuing lustre of our wonted king,
May whose deere genius dwell thy gifts among,
And vs prouoke to leaue his funerall song.
Maenan.
Enough; and in that finall word, Enough,
Our lamentations faile: remoue the hearse,
His body sleepes: who may the soule reverse?
(My Councell) stay, assist me; and because
From the succession of new Kings, new lawes
Take their originall, I do intend
Enormities of custome to amend,
Matters (though in themselues erronious)
Amended, may proue meritorious.
Had but impartiall Fate fiue longer weekes,
Allotted to my safe progenitor.
He, by aduise of your sage grauity,
Had finished (ere this) what you begun,
Which (through default) I must remember done.
The people of our continent, each sexe
Both masculine and female, do adore
A Goddesse, whose essentiall part is change,
(Proper to widowes, virgins wilde, and wiues)
Antiquity doth call her Cinthia;
The honour, sacrifice and Hecatombes,
Spent in the solemne, superficiall awe
Of her accounted-sanctimonious law,
Are (without æquall number) infinite.
We, knowing her supremacy extends
That annuall expence, and will confine
Such customare deuotion to the sect
Of Priest-hoods fœminine; their simple sexe
Shall by iniunction worship Cinthia,
To whom indeed they be subordinate.
So, this decree of priuiledge exempts
Men from oblations: Let an Officer
Informe the people thus.
Omn.
We all subscribe.
Maen.
Your dutifull acceptance (noble friends)
Of this propounded pollicy, doth vrge
My secret nature to disclose the loue
Which was inflam'd when iuniority
Of yeares and iudgement (my associates)
Gaue me aduice, which a more grounded age
Doth entertaine, with equall permanence:
With selfe-same feruor and integrity
Of true entire affection, as before.
Hyp.
What Spartan Lady will oppose the King?
Evph.
What Spartan Lady doth Mænander loue?
Maen.
Nay friends allow the marriage of your King,
A matter lawfull first in generall
And thence refute the scruple so precise,
Which boulsters vp a life Monasticall.
Omn.
That scruple wee as errour do account.
Men.
Then Il'e aduertise in especiall,
You sapient hearers of that beauteous dame,
Who, vnredeem'd Mænander, captiuate
Doth hold in fetters, though a free-borne King,
The daughter of Hyarchus doe I loue.
Hy.
My daughter? vnexpected happinesse!
Giue me then leaue, sweet rauishment, to see
Her glad espousall celebrated once,
By which, but some coniecture may arise,
To see the royall issue of her wombe;
And Il'e go lodge in my forefathers tombe.
Maen.
Do all agree with this old or'e-ioyd man?
True subiects will commend Mænanders choyce.
Men.
Nothing doth more prevent a Princes fate,
Then wise directing Councellors of State.
Scœn. 3.
Malindo, Hirvdo.
Grosse indignation! manifest repulse!
Am I neglected? O disdainfull Prince!
May wee obserue thy peeuish altitude,
Like a contemptiue groome or Sycophant,
Without your glaunce and poore espyall? Iudge,
O iudge my quarrell some ingenious man,
Witnesse my righteous challenge of his pride;
Resolue me some indifferent arbiter,
How to digest this ignomious pill.
My loue and duty both reiected thus?
My dignity esteem'd so little worth?
My salutations frustrate? Some poore doult,
Who payes a curtesie and supple cringe
For euery dram of aire hee suckes in,
Cannot be vs'd with lesse humanity.
Wee, bending, stoop'd before his Maiesty,
Hee, with a crabbed countenance, cleane auers'd,
Goes on like some dull statue; neuer stoopes,
Nor smiles, but with a frowning arrogance,
Iust like a moulded picture, like the frame
Of a supported Image, doth moue on,
As by some artificiall new deuice,
Puppets are seene to make a solemne daunce.
He now attended with a barball size
Of sober Statesmen, doth reiect my loue,
As if I were not in full æquipage
Of his owne yeares: nay almost of degree,
Excepting his high place of Soueraigne.
O pride of Princes! ô how forceable
This argues guilt, and makes me culpable,
Without a conscious crime; without pretence
Of any thing committed: In defence
I therefore well may pleade pure ignorance.
What new suggestion should exasperate
The Kings displeasure? doubtlesse, he of late,
And his bigge title, was more affable,
More gent and curteous: but the crowne perhap
Is heauy, and requires the cunnning helpe
Of those gray dotards (who indeed possesse
Our most deluded Monarch) to support
A thing so massy, and immence; proceed,
Soone may my wrathfull curses ouertake
The proudest veine of their aduanced soules:
May the vaste concaue of Olympus cracke
And giue a signall to our Gods decree
Of dissolution ready to approach,
Of earth and heauen their latest period,
When I repent my curse, or do abstaine
From an effectuall meanes, which may procure
Destruction, though delai'd; yet deadly sure.
Am I not noble? bred of æquall stemme
With Sparta's chiefe and best Magnificoes?
My Auncestors (remou'd but nine degrees)
Knew neuer man below the bloud of Kings
Worth æmulation, as a riuall fit
For them, admitting mighty Emperours,
None as aboue, but as competitors:
From those heroicke monuments of Greece,
From those Hyrudo you can testifie,
Our selfe deriues a lineall descent:
And by the law of Heralds dignity,
(A sect supported by antiquity)
I am enrould amid the chiefest ranke
Of Dukes, which gouerne this Peninsula:
Yet shall I trauerse so obsequiously,
Like some deiected melancholy Asse,
Which feeds on thistles.
Hy.
Death! you are abusde,
Were I the man appointed to sustaine,
So vndeseru'd a signall of disgrace,
The proudest King in Europe should perceiue,
I'de not digest an iniury so base.
You being the subiect of such high abuse,
You should with faction terrifie the King,
Amaze the Court, and make your opposites
Tremble againe like babes, who shaking stand,
Doubtfull of mercy from the Tutors hand.
Were I the man whom dignity of place
Entitled to such vaste prerogatiue
As you enioy, no scandall, no disgrace,
Should touch my honour without full reuenge:
The King himselfe should not escape my spleene,
(Vpon so iust a quarrell) I'de affront
His ample greatnesse: nay expostulate
On equall tearmes, why without open cause
He should reiect my seruice with a frowne,
I'de taxe him of vngouern'd appetite,
Selfe-humour, peeuish ignorance of state,
And charge him to amend infirmities:
If like a tyrant hee but durst reply,
Rating the licence of audacity,
Then would I menace torture; I would teare,
The big voluminous Title he doth weare
Pin'd on his backe by parasites and knaues,
Who though they want, yet can bestow much grace,
Kings when they leaue to be vpright, are base.
Mal.
Make me acknowledge this thy loue sincere,
Bring thy magnanimous courage into act;
O be my agent, reconcile the doubts
Which do possesse my intellectuall sence.
The Statesmen are my sole Antigonists,
They do seduce and steale away the King.
They doe detaine his nature punctually,
Make him (deluded) parsimonious,
Erect who pleases their magnificence,
Who them displease, the king must frowne vpon:
They do entombe the silly wretch aliue,
Make him as dead, to eminent designes,
Which they approue not; then reuiue his will,
To aduenture such, as none approue but they.
In briefe, they leade him like a Lyons whelpe,
Tame, and yet fierce; if so the keeper please,
To wurry with aduantage: then beware,
Those who offended haue the keepers will;
By which, the tame-taught Lyon's gouern'd still.
Hy.
Beleeu't my Lord, a home-bred naturalist,
Whose resolution neuer was confirm'd
By art, example, or experience;
Who neuer knew a faith historicall,
(That low step to a warrant rationall)
His anger would be ready for attempt;
Nay finish all with very good successe,
Whilst you revolue a tedious aduice,
Of which, too long delay doth spoile the prize.
Mal.
But sir, the high opponents, who traduce
My honour, and good name, be numerous,
Men of no dung-hill breeding (not aduanc'd
By some especiall Madame of the Court,
For a concealement of her secresie,
In case, where witnesse, bawdy hand, or seale,
To broken Titles be restoratiue)
But matchlesse in their eminence of birth,
Not sprung from petty page, or foot-boyes race,
(Onely remou'd, to fill vp vacant place,
And rob iudiciall statesmen of deserts,
To whom by Nations law, all fame reverts)
No, my assailants be both rich and wise,
(Two qualities scarce analogicall,
Rich, wise, and nobly borne; nay fauourites,
Men of an æquall iudgement with my selfe,
Ingenious they be (though Flatterers)
Who with calumnious faction doe depraue
My potent fortunes, making birth a slaue.
My foes be great, therefore I am dismaid,
And to incounter great ones am afraid.
Hy.
What huge Antæus may of conquest brag,
Who ouercomes a Pigmey? or insults
Ouer a simple wrecth condemn'd to chaines?
May Ioues owne Eagle stoope at stinking flyes?
And suffer Owles to penetrate the skies?
Well did that mighty Indian dog deserue,
Whom neither Bucke, mad Bull, nor threatning Boare,
Could from the kennell make to rise, before
A stout couragious Lyon, king of strength,
Irefull enough, with vengeance in his iawes,
Prepar'd for single combat; boldly then
Like a resolued Champion forth he flew,
And the Maiesticke Lyon fiercely slew.
Giue me a man, whom neither multitude,
Nor meanes to worke reuenge, can terrifie;
Who, though incompass'd with corriuall foes,
Immur'd with aduerse competitors,
Left eu'n amidst the circumuenting Iawes,
Of greedy hounds, and hunters policy;
Can, like a whirle-winde, in despight of those,
Who with vnæquall faction dare oppose,
Fly through the thickest, make their big-swolne mawes,
Leuell with stinking lakes, and ditches deepe,
Like a Colossus though they stood before.
Who may esteeme it an inglorious act,
Rather who thinkes the valour not deuine,
Which through a banded troope of enemies,
Doth, like some bolt of thunder flye apace,
And force withstanding obiects to giue place?
Of peeuish statists æmulating pride,
(A humor most vnnecessary ill)
Should, like the murdering Chain-shot, driue downe-hill
Castles and rockes, although impregnable,
Make mountaines stoope before you, rend vp Okes,
Buffet large Atlas with incessant strokes,
(Though the supporter of Olympus frame)
Till heau'n and earth begge rescue for the same.
Yet shallow great-men, they must wise-men seeme,
For noble births doe liue by peoples breath;
Nor may the priuiledge of birth redeeme
Our æstimation, subiect still to death;
Bee theerfore wise (wisedome who dares condeme?)
If not by nature, then by stratagem.
Ma.
Thou'art yong (Hirudo) resolute and wise,
A plyant apprehension soone will rise;
Remember now thy naturall good parts,
Thinke if they serue to reconcile the doubt
Of my ensuing mischiefe; prethee thinke,
If thou dar'st venture boldly to remoue
My foes from bounty of Mænanders loue:
Which, till the blinded King doe abrogate,
Each foole may from my fortunes derogate.
Combine thy powers, and ingenious parts
To salue the wound of my disgrace, which smarts,
And be my creature; meditate withall
Our now-declining ioyes to re-install:
And be my creature; satisfie the King
By some corrupted meanes, or anything:
And bee my creature; may some new deuise,
Purchas'd by Magicke Art, and hellish prise,
Wholly avert the puny Kings beliefe
From our opponents tales, which doe in chiefe
Poyson my merits; ô abolish those,
And bee my creature, or indeed deere slaue
I will bee thine; doe but imploy some care
Remember then, thou art my creature still.
Hy.
Know then I loue thee Duke, and must preferre
Thy fortunes, though I doe confiscate all,
Whom Gods will not releiue, inuention shall.
Scœn. 4.
Lvcilla, Hyrvdo, Lesbia.The King my brother? No, my brother clowne,
Malitious coxcombe, peeuish Spartan-foole;
Death brided? ô my torments!
Les.
Madam know,
He is contract already.
Lv.
To a whore?
The strumpet Fauorina?
Hy.
Hearke iust heauen!
She railes vpon a virgin, whose pure soule
Might giue example of true chastity
To her owne spotted, leprous infamy.
Les.
Now old Hyarchus laughes.
Lv.
Her father: yes:
A rotten Magistrate, who may thanke warme clothes,
Caudels and physicke for each rising Sunne,
Which he poore man is made partaker of,
His daughter must be married to the King:
So, I, degraded must acknowledge one
Aboue vs in our female properties.
Be boundlesse my exclaimes, and terrible;
(Curses) assemble your offensiue rage,
And helpe a womans fury to disgorge
The poyson of her stomacke, in the face
Of a most spightfull brother, whose designe
Is vnto me a purge so laxatiue,
As my vnable body will be spent
With bitter execrations; ô I feele
The storme of vengeance wrestle in my bloud,
Tempting my soule to bee more great then good.
O may the horror of some fatall knife,
Finish the blessings of my brothers wife.
Till heauens vnto my happinesse shall giue
A freedom, to insult and tyrannize,
Vpon that impious whore, that Cockatrize.
O may new mischiefe tread vpon the heeles
Of terrour, to affront the ioy she feeles.
Let some infernall Negromanticke charme,
Change their expected happinesse to harme.
Let many clouds salute their nuptiall morne;
With omenons affrights in way of scorne.
The height of mischife makes my sorrow sound,
As Opo-balsum doth a bleeding wound.
Hy.
O the rude licence of a womans rage,
Who her malignant discords can presage?
So, let her vanish, and her gall vnmaske,
Till wee accomplish our appointed taske.
Scœn. 5.
Hyrvdo, Menander, Favorina, Hyarchvs, Phevdippe, Malindo, Evphorbvs, Hipponax, Lictor.
My sorry conscience doth recoyle (old men)
Worthy Malindo did inforce my vow
To proue delinquent, rather then oppose
My dreaded soueraignes life (an impious act,
Vrg'd by the cunning of more impious age.)
O then submit, with pœnitentiall teares
Confesse, your age offends the King through feares,
Omn. Magistr.
Our age offend the King? we vrge this act?
Hy.
Of murther: yes, you loue Monopolies.
Om. Mag.
Subtill distraction!.
Lic.
Silence.
Me.
Hipponax.
Hyarchus we disclaime your subtilties.
Favo.
My father so reiected?
Men.
Queene forbeare,
Malindo is our faithfull favourite.
Ma.
In thy protection let our kingdome liue.
Welcome braue Duke; be euer mine, belou'd;
Accounted in the chiefest scarlet ranke
Of vnderstanding Iudices; we thanke
Your noble and magnaminous resolue,
Your charitable vndertaking; be aduanc'd
And euer in my bosome: you are loyall.
Mal.
Daigne mighty Monarch but experience,
Me.
Your loue already hath in ample sort,
Giu'n testimoniall enough: be grac'd
And euer happy in our high account:
Another subiect Officer I haue,
Pheudippe cal'd; on whom the graces smile:
A man so absolute in my approofe,
That Nature hath reseru'd small dignity
Which he enioyes not. Welcome friend approch,
Forsake the Citie, euer dwell in Court;
Nay neerer, in my bosome: we obserue
Your manifest indeuour, diligence,
And all industrious faculties that lodge
Themselues in thee with a true correspondence,
Wee note your proiects, and esteeme them highly.
Phe.
I seruile groome put forth small industry,
Excepting what I owe in subiects duty.
Men.
My father, in the latest fillable
Of his weake vt'trance, did inculcate often,
Thy vnrewarded loyalty: be bigge
In honour, and out-shine the radiant glosse
Of bearded polititians: kneele before vs,
And in vprising swell with a new name:
No more Pheudippe, but all-potent Duke
Of wide Illirium; (noble friend) arise,
We diue into the bottome of thy soule,
Which doth ingender a sweet sympathy.
Liue long and happy in a Monarchs loue:
Malindo, you prouide some Theater,
Some regall shew, wherewith we mutually
May solace and disport our heauinesse.
The biting tortures of a troubled minde.
You magistrates imagine it a curse,
And punishment beyond all punishment.
(If you attainted are with any guilt
Of so enorme designes) thinke it a curse
To sucke vp the salubrious aire, and liue,
Fame will infect you, though I pardon giue:
Omn.
So prosper we as we are innocent.
Scœn. 6.
Malindo, Hyrvdo.
Good slaue I thanke thee, thou hast reconcil'd
The Kings distastfull and ambiguous frowne,
I must enroule thee in the Catalogue
Of my professed fauorites: contemne
The seruile clog of stooping curtesie:
Enioy what euer in the bounds of freedome.
Be idle, and securely friuolous,
Wanton or any thing that appertaines
Vnto a noble personage of worth.
Or if thou wishest a contented life,
Free from the cauils incident to worth,
Bee onely idle, euer gazing out
Of publique windowes, and obserue the pride
Of such a man, faire mounted on his cloth
And gelding dapple gray, accounting all
His footmen, till the coltish bayard stumble.
Bee whom thou pleasest, whom thou dost suppose
A blessed man is, absolutely rich.
Hy.
All this demands a furtherance, my Lord.
Ma.
Yes, and that furtherance will I bestow:
But the most noble haue their enemies,
Their opposites, antigonists; nay some
Of ragged base repute do still suruiue,
Of vs, though splendor to the Common-weale.
These vomit forth each scandall, each contempt,
Malice and gall together: poyson choke them;
I feele their aspicke venome here involu'd,
They wound worse then a raging Basyliske.
How bitter is the taste of contumele!
Some patience I intreate thee (heau'n) bestow
Vpon our scandalized name: Reproch,
That common aduersary of vs all,
Who are in a good way to purchase fame,
Doth dog vs to our latest winding-sheet,
Euen to the wombe of our great grand-mother,
That neuer satisfied wombe of earth.
Blame not my zealous anger, I am hot,
And carried with true valour, to the pitch
Of an exclaime so requisite: ô slaues,
And prodigies of nature, that will taint
Pure sanctity; nay, eu'n the Gods aboue,
And their incomprehended holinesse;
Their sacred essence, with like blasphemy;
If but enrag'd awhile, as they do mine.
Hy.
Who? or what man is he that dares do thus?
S'death I will not endure the sight of him.
Ma.
How? speake that againe, doe you remember well?
Hy.
S'death I will not endure the sight of him.
Ma.
No? why thou vngratefull man; must I aduance,
Must I search out a lodging for thy soule,
And make roome for thy friendship in our bosome?
Canst euer hope to bee incorporate
With my owne essence? the same man almost,
And not endure the presence, nay the sight
Of our malitious foe? recall your thought:
Each timorous fellow, that abhorres the name
Of absolute reuenge, could say no more:
What? runne away from our contemned foe?
Hy.
Il'e not endure the presence; nay the sight
No, I'de embowell the base rogue at first,
Contriue a quicke dispatch: the villaines heart
Would I expose vpon a mountaines top,
Or offer it vpon my faulchions point,
Fresh bleeding to some wrathfull Deity,
Of vnappeas'd reuenge, in sacrifice:
I'de mixe my vrine with his reeking blood,
And pisse vpon the carkasse in despight,
Disseuer ioynts and flesh, till all were done,
Then toast his marrow in the melting Sunne:
I'de not endure the sight of him aliue.
Ma.
Couragious resolution! I commend
Such vehemence in valor: this doth vrge
And animate my purpose to be quicke,
Royall, and open-breasted to a man
Of such full vndertaking euery way.
Let vs imploy this youthfull vehemence
Betimes: a quicke bloud cals for action.
Imagine this the pauement where my foe
Hath fixt (vpon the quarrell) his firme foot;
For know that such a villaine doth suruiue,
Whom I will scourge in thee my fauorite,
Briefly you must disgrace and murder him
Whose name is hitherto conceal'd; but you
(After instruction for the stratagem)
Shall know the varlet, whom you must imagine
(Meerely for apprehension) is your selfe.
I like a ruffaine (which remember well,
You must hereafter practise) though for instance
I will now vndertake it, vnawares
I fetch away your not misdoubting heeles
From of the trampled earth, eu'n thus: then sweare
Some oath of high importance, that the aire
Shall neuer be infected with a slaue,
Who breathes out poysoned blasphemy on earth.
Sweare then that neither shining light of day
One minute more of blessing, that himselfe
Shall not enioy one article of breath
Beside, to aske forgiuenesse of the world:
Sweare that no planet, no supernall starre,
No Hercules, no Gigantæan arme
Shall rescue villaines from appointed harme:
Then spit him through the center of his heart,
Eu'n thus, Hirudo.
Hy.
But you iest Im'e sure.
S'death I am slaine; forbeare, ingratitude!
I perish without expectation: O.
Ma.
May my suspected agents perish euer.
Scœn. 7.
Malindo, Messenger, Perillvs.
There sleepe (vnthought of) in a vaulted tombe:
Thus great men must be iealous of their fame,
Preuent all blemish in a noble name.
Now King and kingdome both are almost mine,
Lights be obscured when the greater shine.
The King reputes me loyall and submisse,
(Transparent coulour to deceiue a Prince)
(But hell beare record) I am bent to ruine,
To purchase kingdomes, or impeach my state,
Who neuer ventur'd, neuer knew his fate.
In Epires rule now liues my noble friend,
Thither will we addresse our false complaint,
Pretending I am hated here at Court,
Threatned to death, not likely to escape,
Withall insinuate our appointed ioy,
Which fiue dayes hence the King doth celebrate.
Informe I may, that then both Prince and Peeres,
Will bee assembled in the Theater:
And being so, how safely hee may send
A manadg'd Army to destroy them all.
When I am safe aduaunc'd) but meaning most
To further my aduancement: for which cause
I fram'd this little motiue: Hoe within,
Fly to the confines of Epirots rule,
Deliuer vnto Cassius my friend,
The Gouernour, this caution heere inclos'd,
Vrge him vpon allegeance euer due,
From one friend to another, to make haste.
Speake this, and speake no more, neither to any
Open the passage dores of vtterance,
But to my friend, my deere, my best beloued,
Mes.
Imagine me a blocke, a Niobe,
Conceiue my mouth to be deuoid of tongue,
Till with content I do accomplish all.
Ma.
Bee secret as calme silence, or the night.
My care must follow to frame Theaters,
Warning the Megalenses, our Comædians
To act some pithy and applauded Scœne,
Wherewith to shadow my pretensiue zeale.
But well-incountred (Poet) pray approach,
And let vs parley of an Enterlude.
Per.
Patron of Poets, much esteemed Duke,
Leauing the Muses, and my pleasant cares
Regarding yours more then my owne affaires,
Poore Poet Il'e attend your conference,
Command mee euer, most ingenious Lord.
Ma.
Command Perillus? no, intreate thee rather,
Each high-borne Title must aduance the worth
Of holy rapture: pray informe the Actors
Of some true Morall, of some Tragedy
Or else some subiect more ridiculous.
Which may with new deuis'd conceits stir vp
The dull and solemne audience.
Per.
Beleeue
Il'e stretch the scantnesse of my Mother-wit,
Rather then faile for to accomplish it.
The God of Kings protect thee: so adiew.
Attempts of great men speake in siluer tones,
Thus gilded tombes ore-shadow dead mens bones.
Scœn. 8.
Cassivs, Sovldier, Messenger.Sov.
A speedy foot-poast heere attends your honor.
Cas.
His message?
Sov.
Out of Greece, and more precisely
From Sparta.
Cas.
Then admit the messenger.
Now friend, your businesse?
Mes.
Open sit the Casket.
Somewhat's within contain'd, that will instruct you.
Cas.
Arme if thou lou'st me noble Cassivs,
And helpe thy brother with a royall rescue,
I am in prison, prethee make great haste,
Or I am dead; 'gainst Ianus-festiuall,
Addresse thy courage to assault our King,
Both King and Statesmen kill, for fit occasion
Will bee afforded, while they sleepe secure
Busied with ioy, and iesting Cordials.
Arme if thou lou'st me noble Cassius?
Yes, arme I will, and in despight of spight
Rescue thy valor from the blackest night,
Which enuy, or malignant wrath can yeeld,
To darken thy resplendant fortitude.
Carry the letter (friend) from whence you brought it,
Let nothing hinder quicke deliuery:
Nothing excels a wise dexterity.
Scœn. 9.
Perillvs, 2 Megalenses, Messenger.
You (Titio) shall act Mandragona,
But you (Eulalio) stout Bellephoron,
Each hath his part appointed, as in playes,
And this our actiue Scœne, so in the world
At seasons knowne after natiuity,
But our evasion out of misery,
What cunning Sophist may denominate?
As for the Prologue in my sportiue Scœne,
There needs no Actor it to amplifie;
The festiuall approches, let vs giue
Direction to your fellowes: Looke Eulalio,
Messenger Looseth The Letter.
Vnloose that Paper, or peruse the Title:
No superscription? rend the seale, and reade.
Ti.
Arme if thou lou'st mee noble Cassius,
And helpe Malindo with a royall rescue,
I am in prison, prethee make great haste,
Or I am dead: at Ianus Festiuall. &c.
Words of amazement, and exceeding strange.
Per.
I smell a treason hypocriticall.
Ti.
A iust construction; correspondent sure,
To this intent.
Pe.
And therefore Titio,
You (much disguis'd) may safe anihilate
Both his, and our proceedings: Let's be wise,
Il'e pen a part shall dash the enterprise.
Scœn. 10.
Menander, Phevdippe, Malindo, Amilcar, Lelio, Hipponax, Hyarchvs, Evphorbvs, Favorina, Lesbia, Titio, Milites.Ioue, or what-else supernall Deity,
The Gods and Goddesses who gouerne Kings,
Who arbitrate the schisme of month and yeares,
Whose sacred essence heauen and earth adore,
To whom the greatest potentates below,
Do sacrifice their Greekish Hecatombes,
These are accustom'd to dispence with ioy,
And in remembrance of their holy acts,
Recorded long from all antiquity,
And ciuill ioy perhibite without feare;
Mirth may refresh not disanull my care.
Pheudippe (friend) sit heere; all do agree,
That each mans place should answere dignity.
So, call for this appointed melody.
Ti.
A quiet calme foretels tempestious winde,
And faire-plum'd swans sing sweetest when they dye.
Gesture doth oft conceale a traytors minde,
And many golden dreames do proue a lye,
Sent and inspir'd by heauens high thundring Ioue,
I bid you arme, desist from iollity,
Those who pretend, shew colourable, loue,
What ere avoids the test, is flattery
Gliding a farre from out the Thracian soile,
I could espy Malindo's friend in armes,
Swiftly addressing his battalions,
Heere to entrap and fully ruinate
You ancient Magistrates, thee matchlesse King.
Mal.
Soueraigne the fellow is lunaticke,
Remoue the mad man sirs; away with him.
Ti.
Not mad Malindo, thou a traytor art,
Take witnesse from that paper, his owne part,
Me.
Lalio, Lord Generall, giue speedy battell.
Le.
Arme souldiers, arme, cry conquest and approach.
Me.
Make ready forces to repell the foe.
Mal.
Arise from foggy Lerua some foule smoake.
Each liuing creature without mercy choake.
Be euer clouded Phœbus, may thy light,
Turne in a moment to æternall night:
Returne obliuion, or the antique age;
Forgotten Chaos, and the pilgrimage
Of vndefiled mans first innocence,
That I all torment may escape on earth,
And be accounted guiltlesse (as at birth)
A magicke spell that may con-iure the clouds,
To couer mee with darknesse at noone-day!
For such a charme would I expose the wealth
Of Tagus, or the Ocean (were it mine)
Helpe, ô assist mee some infernall aid,
Now be propitious (Hell) I am betraid.
Fortune, ô strumpet! Il'e aduance the darke
And fearefull habitation of the dead,
Il'e worship witches, and extoll the praise
Of Pluto, Il'e preferre impiety,
Canonize all before thy Deity.
The bloud of Nessus neuer did inforce
A Hercules to halfe such vehemence.
Me.
Was't you Malindo, that through mischiefes baite
Compos'd this ensigne of a hollow heart?
Alas I lou'd thee well, why didst deuise
Such fatall Scœnes, fashion'd of bloud and death?
The paper mourn'd when thou thy mind hadst writ,
Yes, mourn'd in blacke meerely to thinke on it:
But you persist in deepe obdurasie.
I mourne my selfe, yet am deuoid of pitty,
Because thy error is ambitious pride.
Mal.
The man whom fate hath from æternity,
From since the words beginning, hath enrol'd
Amidst mis-fortunes mournefull Catalogue,
Whose downfall frowning planets haue conspir'd,
Who neuer was the bounded fauorite
Of way-ward rumor; whom aduersity
Hath wholly seiz'd, whom heauens appointed awe
Prepares as fatall obiect of disdaine
To leuell her inuenom'd aime against.
O let him euer dwell in mothers wombe,
Or let that Infants cradle be his tombe.
Me.
Conduct him Souldiers to the Carnifex,
Euphorbus, you attend the finall gaspe,
Then giue to Cassius the decouped scull.
Ambition leades vs to the fountaines brinke,
But then affoord's destruction 'stead of drinke.
Scœn. 11.
Lelio, Sovldiers, Amilcar, Lvcilla, Sacerdos, &c.Me.
We reade large conquest in our Captaines face,
Stand forth some sober nuntius, relate
The maner of this notable de-signe,
Amil.
Brontes, nor did Pyragmon euer shake
The Anuile of that Iron-munger God
Uulcan, with blowes so vnsupportable,
In hammering the thunderbolts of Ioue,
As did the courage of our Generall
(By animating souldiers to attempt)
Shatter the weake array of Cassius.
He faint (for faintnesse euer doth attend
On such designes) being faint before the time
Of on-set, he withdrew so speedily,
As, that retinue of his rebell-slaues,
Beg'd noble mercy of the Conquerour.
But wee, like some fierce Gyant giu'n to spoyle,
Enrag'd with a remembrance of their act,
Their too contemptuous vp-rore; did reply,
With anger vnappeas'd in bloody phrase,
That no compassion should redeeme their liues
From famine of our faulchions: for indeed,
Rebellion must be scourg'd vntill it bleed.
Then flew the common Souldier with such speed,
To enterprise in rigor the new spoyle,
As neuer did a hungry Woolfe insult
With more vnsatisfied reuenge, then they.
Grim Slaughter in a Chariot of dead sculs,
Rode vp and downe triumphing, till darke night
Shooke off the fetlocke from her sleepy iades,
Troad in contempt vpon the scattred foe,
Vntill my fortune, rather then exploit,
Slue the once owner of this vn-ioyn'd scull,
Then euery man gaue backe, with blood being full.
Me.
Magnanimous Amilcar, I account
Thy courage beyond apprehension; swell,
Swell my Pheudippe with aboundant ioy,
Reioyce in thy coragious sonne; like mee,
Who vaunt the rather, euen because thy sonne
Doth so behaue himselfe, thou being my friend,
Whom I esteeme aboue all earthly good.
Stand forth Pheudippe, honour doth attend
To cast a gracious smile vpon thee, friend;
And thee Amilcar, let vs magnifie.
Malindo sleepes (Amilcar) I aduance
Thee through the ruine of his dignity,
Possesse both place and goods.
Ami.
Without desert
As hitherto; but I will endeuour.
Me.
We haue a sister, where is she? Lucilla?
Let some attendant vrge her company:
Bring hither likewise an appointed Priest,
(Be not amaz'd my sober Magistrates)
Pheudippe, you shall be espous'd to her:
Her Il'e bestow, and without preiudice
On thee alone, my noble Bed-fellow.
Phev.
Pardon (deere Liege) least worthy I of all
To be a Monarchs kinsman, lesse, to be calld
The brother of a Greekish King, your selfe.
Me.
Do not refuse, for (noble friend) my loue
Onely admits thee as a friend and brother,
And for a witnesse that I make this league
Of loue and friendship; let's embrace each other.
Phe.
Euer obeisance to your Maiesty.
Me.
My sister doth approch, let groomes make way
For beauty able to obscure the day.
Sister, behold thy husband; friend, thy wife,
You (Priest) the Hymeneall rites may offer:
Acceptance is experienc'd by proffer.
Sace.
Let Hymen triumph, and vnite your soules.
Me.
Now liue in peace, and brother aske a boone:
Aske what you list, for grant I will what-euer,
Which henceforth may commemorate the time
Of an espousall so remarkeable.
Phe.
Your deuine Maiesty accumulates
Honour, aboue the trite capacity
Of all contemptuous age; that auncestors
(Before thy hallowed birth-day) did approue:
(Great King) I haue a kinsman, though obscure,
Yet wealthy, whom (because obscure) I begge
A small part of your high magnificence,
But to enroule amid the Catalogue
Of those you least remember: Kings be wise,
Their bounty will prouoke a slaue to rise.
Me.
To deifie the worth of whom wee loue,
Aduancement Il'e impouerish, compell
Honour to hugge thy kinsman, till a warmth
Quicken his humble bloud without controule.
Enuy, (the scourge of Kings) be henceforth dumbe,
Thus will I treason euermore entombe.
And thus exault our loue beyond all merit,
Birth may do much, loue makes the low inherit.
Finis Actus primi.
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