 | Cinthia's revenge : Or Maenanders extasie |  |
Act. 2.
Scœn. 1.
Phevdippe.Amidst my slumber, circumvolu'd with doubt,
In this thicke midnight darknesse, now all sence
Securely lyes inchain'd; now potent dreames,
Of mans poore fabricke; now all humane flesh,
Kings, and the sterne-brow'd Tyrants doe submit
Their maiesty to Sleepes Imperiall feet.
Now, not long since I dream'd, and could with ease,
Vtter the subiect, how a mishapen hag,
His haire full horrid blacke, huge were his eyes,
Bigge, like a bowle encompassed with bone,
Thrice did the Impe appeare, did vanish thrice,
Three massy Crownes, of worth inæstimate,
(Had they enioy'd a worth substantiall:)
Thrice did hee shew, and thrice againe withdraw
The hallowed obiects, then a pace proclaime
Quod libet, licet, and away departs.
I then awak't, strooke with extreme amazement,
And nimbly leaping from a secûre couch,
Came to expell this ominous affright.
Reading, or whatsoeuer can auaile
The vigor of temptation, to withstand,
Wee should perhibite (though against our will.)
Heer's an aspiring Poet, whose proud touch,
May eleuate some braine aboue the flight
Of nimble apprehension; Il'e vnclaspe
Thy sacred volume, Lucan: Il'e content
My rouing fancy with full argument.
He writes of witherd sculs, of mutiny,
Ominous apparitions of the dead,
Of Cæsar, Pompei, and Imperiall state,
Of combats forreigne, of domesticke broyles,
Of dire inuasion, of ambitious warre,
(What-euer makes vs noble) fortitude,
Of expert vndertaking, of euent:
O hee's a fellow able to inflame
The frosty stomacke of a staru'ling youth,
Who wholly feeds on rheumish winter-plums.
An Author of commanding Altitude,
And such a man giue me; a man of worth,
Makes idle nature melt away in fume,
Giues breath and courage to out-puffe the Cannon:
Such Authors you may feele at fingers end,
They gallop in your bloud, prouoke each veine,
To giue them passage without violence,
Bella per amathios plusquam ciuilia campos
Iusq, datum scelers canimus populumq, potentem:
Nec quenquam nunc ferre potest, Cæsar-ve priorem
Pompeius-ve parem: quis iustùs induit armæ
Scire nefas: magno se indice quisque tuctur.
Ah Pompei, Pompei, if thy hallowed acts,
Once more might flourish, I would æmulate
Those bold incounters; ô most happy men,
Whom Fate enroules to bee victorious:
They conquer, spoyle, subuert, and ædifie
Turne Dukes, nay Kings to common Parasites,
And make the proudest flatter to winne life:
Yet Kings are mighty: yes and æquall too;
(Though weake, although base cowards by the law
Of naturall indowment) yet the name
Doth yeeld them æquall; nay aboue the same
Which often doth enrich a conquerour.
What may we hence collect? a principle,
A maxime of no vulgar consequence:
Subiects are base, and to acknowledge one
Superiour, doth note seruility:
O what a most perpetuall slaue is man,
If not the chiefest in prædominance?
Let obscûre polititians be content
As chiefe in Parish; or some petty Towne,
I'de make Dominions tremble with a frowne:
Make euery subiect, high and low obserue
The heauy danger of our discontent,
Or make a precious forfeit of each life.
Woe to that King where subiects be inflam'd
With greater zeale of eminence then hee:
Rapes, murther, all iniquity of age:
By gulfes, by rockes, eu'n by the iawes of hell.
Wee swim who would obtaine the gates of heauen.
O what a large deuinity's involu'd
About the awfull phrase of Emperour.
The name, the name of King, how it awakes
Our caitife blood, quickens our faculty!
Ambition be my iudge, if I were sicke,
Wounded with pistols, out of hope to liue,
Forsaken by all Art and physicke law,
Lay speechlesse in my chamber, lost my sence
Of man or voyce making no difference
Yet through the magicke of this powerfull sound;
You are a King, (if hallowed in my eare)
I should againe recouer, should recoyle
Skip forty fadome from the couch, and sing,
Dance without shame, though naked, without noise
Trample amid the pauement, touch my roofe,
Run giddy with glad passion, rub my veines,
Like one reuiu'd anew, esteeme all base
Vnder bloud-royall, be a ranke mad man,
Till ioy and rapture both were cleane digested.
How readily mans temper is traduc'd?
How forceable temptation doth oppose
The supernaturall act of doing well?
Wee are like windemils on ambitious mounts,
Open to euery tempest, which will turne
Our sailes without resistance: like the waues
Wurried from shores to rocks; from rocks to shelfe;
Man is not man till he deny himselfe.
Yet on our state's impos'd a slauish curse,
To see things good, though we conniue at worse.
Scœn. 2.
Phevdippe, Lvcilla.Lvc.
Ah husband, husband, what excessiue care
Inuaded me with violence? shot farre
Into my shaking bosome, when I saw
Your sudden absence? heauy sleepe alas
No sooner left mine eye-lids, gaue me leaue
To aske, how does the comfort of my soule?
How does my silent loue? my deere Pheudippe?
But with familiar lip, and flexile arme,
I seiz'd vpon the pillow stead of thee.
Thinke how intruding iealously began
To blurre whateuer I could wisedome call,
Within me, or without me; which alas,
All know's extreamely dwarffish in our sexe.
Ph.
Iealous the first night wife?
Lv.
O then or neuer
An honest, louing wife is iealous euer.
Iealous at home, least husbands ouer-vex
A painfull heart with meditation,
Of matters which concerne his family.
Iealous when husbands bee enforc'd to trauell;
Danger exceeds the obiects they do meet,
Whether by sea, or in the publicke street.
I (peeuish foole) perceiuing you were gone,
Thus in my choler did expostulate:
Doth hee for some dislike abhorre my sheets?
Neglect what others loue? the maiden sweets
Of mutuall embracement? may mens taste
Loose their accustom'd relish, and refuse
The mellow ioyes of ripe virginity?
Will he contemne the sportiue dalliance
That married couples may engrosse with leaue?
Will he this mid-night shew himselfe no man?
The first night of our meeting bee disgrac'd?
Or will hee by disaster end all strife?
That may impeach his manhood? Thus, euen thus
Poore foolish I did thus prævaricate;
Thus (for indeed wee women struggle much
Vntill deliuer'd of opinion) thus
Did louing zeale præiudicate amisse.
You are offended (loue) I doe suspect
See how his colour's chang'd, astonishment!
Prethee what pensiue thoughts oppresse thy soule?
I reade the humor of a malecontent
Written betweene your eye-browes; recollect
The common sparkes of scatter'd Maiesty.
Speake gentle sir.
Phe.
Women, women, women.
Lv.
What of women?
Phe.
Most women loue to talke,
To scatter tales, and yet sweare silence too,
To breed sedition, to deceiue all those
Who in simplicity are confident,
Of honest meaning: ô they doe insult
With a tyrannicke boldnesse ouer one
Who through bewitch'd opinion, doth impart
The substance of included secresie.
O they wil dare the soule of such a man,
Make him so subiect to their base command,
As if they had his heart-strings in their hand.
Lv.
Raile at our sexe? why husband, though perhap
Such women do suruiue, what will you hence
Conclude within their guilt, my innocence?
Phe.
'Cry mercy wife, 'good faith I did imagine
Their wicked conuersation, generall,
(All in good time be otherwise:) But wife,
The painters of our age be culpable
Of high abuse committed; they portraict
Each mentall vice in habit of a whore,
A Hagge, a Witch, or Woman, at the least.
Lv.
Vertue (although the others opposite)
Is painted with the like habiliment,
Therefore conclude, if tender woman-hood
Vertue, or vice, of either strong beleefe.
Or colourable incredulity;
To change her minde will aske another age.
You may conuert beliefe, you may reuoke
Errors of wise-men, by a deepe dispute,
But women setled, nothing will confute.
For painters do imply this consequent
By embleme; that our sexe is permanent.
Phev.
Are you so philosophicall I'faith?
Well dost thou argue, for thy sexe and selfe.
Shee bath a ripe conceit, and I approue
Her subtill apprehension, out of loue.
I relish her deepe iudgement; for indeed,
My railing labour'd onely to obtaine
Of wits reply the due experience,
That in our wisedome of credulity,
We may impart a proud conspirasie.
women shoot faire sometimes, though seldome true
Like whetstones they giue edge to trickes anew.
Braue Catiline for this cause did account
Yong Orestilla worthy to partake
Of his attempt (though farre aboue the braine
Of woman to accomplish) hee approu'd
The talkatiue Sempronia: Thus will I
Induce my wife through cunning circumstance,
To giue directions for a raw conceit:
Though man is rather bless'd, who may with-hold
His closet-counsell from a womans eare;
Yet am I of such spungy clay compact,
As till I am dis-burthen'd of my care,
Nothing yeelds comfort: ô I must vnclaspe
A volume, which may preiudice my life;
Happy's the man who dares beleeue his wife.
Lv.
What magicke may this motion ocular
Of lips, without all vtterance portend?
Phe.
For men to pause at a poore stile of Dukes,
Proclaimes them base and triuiall; if meanes
Of more aduantage may be thought vpon:
Thy father was a King Lucilla.
Lv.
Iust.
Phe.
And shall the Chronicles of age report
Lucilla was no Queene? Were I a woman—
Lv.
The Madam Fauorina doth vsurpe
My due respect.
Phe.
Shall Fauourina liue?
Shall she out-shine the beauty whom I loue?
Nature, nay Gods deny a double Moone,
They both are ominous; they do import
A prodigie of vprores and of death.
Lv.
O man assist our weakenesse, wee'le enforce
The potent succour of religious fate;
Con-iure by solemne othe, deepe secresy
So crowne the vigor of conspiracy.
Phe.
Now spoke dame resolution: I adore
Such credible ingagement; and embrace
Faction aboue all true fælicity.
I can discouer yet a childish vice
Within my nature, named cowardise:
I feele a fearefull and familiar stamp
That shewes I am a coward: I recoyle
In thought of high atchieuements; I dissolue
With repetition of a sound so braue
As conquest, and impartiall victory;
Yet would subdue Dominions; would enthrall
The vast Horizon of our vniuerse:
But I abhorre the sound, of enemies;
Of proud resistance: Ambiguities
(With cowards) are begotten of each tale
Of each phantasticke rumour; idle care:
A new suggestion will beget new feare.
If notwithstanding women will bee stout
Women (the badge of clamorous affrights)
This would encourage slaues to victory,
And shall encourage mee: my wife is valiant,
When twise two Moones haue made a change in Greece;
Dare to accost thy super-eminence
Nor with like priuiledge (as now) affront
My then sublim'd authority: be iudge
Thou happy time, when that more haughty phrase
Long liue, shall be pronounc'd, with χαιρε twise
Wee'le then disclaime acquaintance; liue re-cluse;
Then if wee are dispos'd to imitate
Some liuely gesture of disdainefull grace,
And peepe into the publicke aire awhile,
The thronging Citty will be crowded vp
In a poore handfull, to ex-patiate
With rowling eies our vnaccustom'd face.
Lv.
I am inflam'd already: O ambition
Be but auspicious; mount my nymble breath
And win the Gods good liking to command
Of earth and heauen a hopefull furtherance:
Swell heart, and with it swell my brauest bloud,
Sug-gest new motiues deere necessity,
Resolue now for a lucky plot betimes.
Phe.
Nay first resolue of some associates:
Three to a banquet, foure beget a braule
Sayes our instructiue adage: but i'faith
Fiue to a bloudy banquet makes all square:
A banquet (wise) a banquet, shall enthrone
Our happy wishes and our hopefull ioy:
The King shall dye.
Lv.
Yes, and the new Queene perish.
Phe.
The Captaine of his Guard will I corrupt
With forceable engagement, and faire shewes:
(Chiefe architects in a designe so rare,
Sole agents for the great men of our age)
Him if I do seduce; the Souldiers apt
For innouation will obey betimes:
My sonne Amilcar (by iniunction bound)
Must then remoue thy opposite, the Queene:
My faithfull steward, sage Mantesio
Which haruest hath afforded; and procure
The famishment of those who may resist
By insurrection our new seated blisse.
New barnes Ile build, erect new granaries,
Which (open to their wants,) may well remoue
Cripled allegeance, and procure much loue.
Lv.
The banquet shall obey my prouidence.
Phe.
Wee who worke iointly, may ingeminate
An others losse makes many fortunate.
Scœn. 3.
The Ghost of Malindo.Pheudippe false? and shall the king exclaime?
VVrest vengeance from the rage of Cinthia?
Distraction talk'd of in the lower Dis?
O I am rauish'd with extremity
Of hellish laughter, of loud harmony:
Balme to my torture, musicke to my soule!
How sweete this clamorous eccho: all reuenge;
Crackes in the iawes of repercussiue aire:
Awake thou damned troupe of high-borne youth
Angels of darkenesse my deere friends awake,
Howle forth some ditty, that vast hell may ring
VVith charmes all potent; earth a-sleepe to bring.
VVee who be barr'd from happinesse by fate;
VVho be confin'de within the fiery gulfe,
The kingdome of perdition; who exempt
From full enioying of supernall good,
VVee do but laugh when our colleagues are damn'd
VVee triumph in their multitude, we daunce
Our dismall rounds; our changes double ouer
VVhilst pur-blind owles with night-rauens do consort,
And still together sing though Cæsars daunce:
I a meere caitife in the prime of youth.
The sudden rigor of which new disease
Crept in my deerest bloud; vntill at length
As maggots doe engender by the warmth
Of violent reflection; so attempt
VVas all encourag'd by desire, both which
Creating base ambition; bred my fall:
Thus do prædominant affects consume
All hope; and turne the substance into fume:
Yet seeing our fate is vn-auoide-able
VVhat may we answer sauing welcome fate?
For, happinesse wee exiles neuer knew,
Nor any ioy doth holinesse affoord
To vs the out-casts of Elizium,
But onely this: to yawne aloud below
VVith lofty shouts; when foes may ranged be
Amongst our hellish troupes for company:
Thus though my obscure shadow much compeld
Payes due alleageance to King Pluto's Court
Yet by the fatall wisedome being inform'd
Of dire euents, of Cinthia's reuenge,
Reuenge though future; yet in equity
Hereafter to be cast vpon the Prince
Mænander (he my downefall did approue
Doom'd execution, him do I abhorre)
VVill triumph in his mad Catastrophe:
And do awake to haunt his company:
My shadowed spirit walkes invisible
Can worke it selfe into a Tennis-ball,
Shoote through the Center, search into the Sea;
Slide through the Cauernes, penetrate stone-wals:
VVatch by the pillow of a sleeping man
VVithout all notice taken, without noyse;
Hath liberty to play the Incubus;
Haunt whom I please with apparitions,
By priuiledge assum'd from Pluto's fordge:
Thus do I haunt Pheudippe; I suggest
Forceable to buzxe falshoood in his braine:
Falshood in whom the King so deere accounts
VVill breed a rigor in the Kings exclaimes;
Till hee impeach ador'd deuinity,
His anger will expostulate the cause
Of change so suddaine, of a breach, in loue
So manifest; improper, then Distrust
VVill answere chang's deriu'd from Cinthia:
His passion will approue the pedigree
And after ful-stuff'd oathes crowne blasphemy:
Then bloudy iaw'd reuenge will trot apace
Vpon his winged curtall; to attache
Mænander of high-treason: O my Ghost
Shall quaffe downe Lethe; tumble in the Wash
The raine-bow couloured waues of Acheron:
I, like some Sea-fish, frolicke with faire shine,
Will tosse about the billowes of our floud;
Then through the flames (in leiu of triumph) scudd;
Till then, implore some wrinkled witch, some hag,
VVhich may prouoke Mænanders patience:
To torment braue companions yeeld much ease
In sicknesse our associates helpe disease.
Scœn. 4.
The Ghost Of Malindo, And The Ghost Of Cassivs.Mal.
VVhat shadow voide of substance hither comes?
VVhat incorporeall essence doth approach?
VVhat vapors painted like my selfe with fume?
(VVho steale existence from vnited fogge)
What substance insubstantiall? what Ghost
Walks in the clouded element of aire?
Aread thou dumbe associate of darke
And theeuish midnights; now aread thy name.
Cas.
Recitall serues to tortuose, yet know
Slaine for the zeale I nourish'd to a friend;
Vnfaithfull vsage wrought my timelesse end.
Mal.
My true borne Cassius? well incountred; see
The soule and image of thy zealous friend.
Cas.
What eccho bred of impudence, what aire,
Eiaculates the name without a blush?
Avaunt, ô vanish (thou vild caitife) run,
Least with a repetition of old tort,
I make thee vanish by the full report.
Stay thou abortiue image, who assum'st
The title of a traytor, whom I lou'd,
Stay thou ignoble wretch, I will informe
How falshood hath deluded innocence.
Tremble, ô tremble (earth) when I repeate
The blacke disaster of my fatall end.
Tremble; for know, this ignominious man,
Whose wicked mischiefe did enthrall my dayes,
Hee was produc'd from out the loynes of eatth;
Yes (damned polititian) thy proud aime
Thought by inuasion to surprise thy prince,
Vnder prætext of high abuses done,
Of wrongfull censure, of imprisonment.
Thus did your oyled speech insinuate,
Thus moue a simple meaning friend, my selfe
To traine forth Souldiers; ô impiety!
Pretending rescue still to vndertake
Rescue of thee, whose finger did not ache.
Seated in triumph, sole competitor,
With Princes of high courage, thou didst rule:
Enuy, the common traytor to estate
Stood farre inough from thee: imprisonment,
No way impeach'd thy lustre: yet as windes
Crouded within the re-cluse cauernes, swell,
That dreadfull earth-quake is ingendred thence,
So did thy turbulent faction ouer-boyle
The brim of due obedience: poore I
Which colourable smoothnesse had put on)
Perish'd in battell, through thy peevish traine,
Imprisonment prou'd false, and rescue vaine.
Mal.
I vanish where thy Ghost shall neuer see
My shadowed substance of impiety.
Cas.
Runne thou remorslesse Image to the wombe
Of hell, thy heauy mansion: let all sexe
Beleeue that man to lethargy condemn'd,
Who takes a polititian for his friend.
Scœn. 5.
GracchvsEvnvchvs.
Gape greedy Lerna, thou most impious gulfe,
Stretch thy vnhallowed gums, belch poyson forth;
Send some infectious plague into my blood,
Into my blood and bosome, send a curse
More biting then the breath of Scorpions:
Be boundlesse my swolne outrage; ô blaspheme
That irreligious deity of chance;
My good estate's consum'd with idle game:
What-euer this inconstant age tearmes Wealth,
What-euer I did call Peculiar,
My owne poore substance, stil'd with proper name:
What with much trauaile, and extorting meanes,
I scrap'd (laborious to enrich my 'state)
All, in fiue houres, hath foolish game destroy'd:
Large expectation doth impoverish
The wisest polititian: wee are cousen'd
With our opinionate lucke; delusiue hope:
Amongst all creatures (vpon æquall tearmes)
Man is most foolish, most improvident;
Confirm'd in a beliefe, that happinesse
Will make an euerlasting harmony
When mischiefe lurkes within our elbow-roome,
I feele the sharpe disease of beggery
To seize vpon our nothing-valued life.
All that is Courtier in me, who contemn'd
To'acknowledge one aboue me (but my maker)
To sue for friendship; cogge for patronage,
Who was enfranchis'd by the Kings decree,
Had no reuenues but a morning bribe,
(Which now of late are pretious things, all men
Haue so inclin'd themselues to subtilty,
As they conceiue a Courtiers gullery)
But I was well prouided for, before
A fowle disaster of such consequence,
As peeuish gamesters lucke oppress'd my soule.
All that is Courtier in me, now compeld
Must vanish into smooth-tongu'd flattery.
With oyled gums, and with a supple arme,
I must salute my patron (though a foole)
Insinuate how many blessed yeares
Hee will enioy, to blesse my indigence:
Tell him how plumpe, how lusty, latter time
And my yong mistresse make him, though his face
More full of wrinckles then a practis'd witch
With pittifull hoofe-shoulders do consort:
So, like a fawning Spaniell must I wagge
At every costiue wind-fall of a crumme;
Bid fare-well to my Courtiership, and liue,
Like an arch-foole, a Sycophant: flye hence
These childish terrors to my pained soule,
The chiefest Courtiers will my kinsmen bee,
My fellowes in profession, my colleagues,
Nay æmulate my worth, if I excell,
In the most ample trade of glosing well.
O Gracchus! Gracchus! but a free-borne-life
Rather alludes vnto fœlicity,
If our estate hath no dependant cause,
If wee possesse without anothers claime,
Reuenues (cleere from tenancy at will)
Payment of homage to a foot-cloth-sir,
And may reuile the best of Tradesmans coate,
If he insult (sans præiudiciall feare
Of a compulsiue debt, or Officers,
Who follow satisfaction:) for indeed
Revenues I account, although possess'd,
Yet if infected with a name of Debt,
Nothing as mine which answeres to the name;
Possessions be what others cannot claime.
If without scruple therefore we can boast,
In so compleat a fashion as before
I did inculcate; then Rusticity,
To Gods and Monarchs may well answere free
Thus doth improuidence of hare-braine mates,
Buy little wisedome at excessiue rates:
'Tis indeed better to bee wise at last,
Then gallop head-long till our hopes bee past.
Though latter wisedome doe import withall
An insufficience in points naturall.
Scœn. 6.
Amilcar, Mantesio, Gracchvs.
What melancholique caitife yonder walkes?
Man.
Gracchus (my Lord) the gallant Eunuch.
Ami.
So,
What male contented humor doth oppresse
The image of vnspotted honesty,
With him so frequenr? I adore and loue
The ciuill carriage that I do obserue
In his Imployment: if a Courtier hath
(Courtiers of common out-side-silkes) if they
Haue deere acquaintance with dame Honesty
(Famish'd in exile to the frozen pole)
Gracchus I dare avow may paralell
The best of their acquaintance: (Gracchus) hoe?
My gracious Lord?
Ami.
What perill imminent,
Doth so oppose thy noble splendor? which
(without meere base descention to col-logue)
I must informe thee is refulgent.
Gra.
ô,
My good and gracious Lord; but pouerty,
Is able to oppresse maturity
Of diligence, of iudgement, of designes.
Each liberall Art and Science doth submit
Their ends and occupations to obtaine
The true terrestriall Saint, the sacred glosse,
Of all-effecting riches; euery man
Will hazard his damnation to adore
A thing so blessed, so licentious:
The weake-brain'd gallant in extremity,
Will change Religion, will æquivocate
With mentall reseruation, racke the ioynts
Of his benummed conscience, will provoke
A lethargy of sharpe distinction: will out-puffe
The Cardinall foure winds, when they oppose
Each other all at once (and procreate
A whirle-winde) these will hee out-puffe alone,
With some insuffe'rable oath, which farre exceeds
The three dimensions, dares ploclaime himselfe
A periur'd villaine, to approptiate
Six-pence, vpon triuiall mistake.
Arts-maisters will transgresse the rule of Art;
Nay our precisest schoole-men will forsake
The principles which they haue authoris'd,
In cases that concerne selfe-avarice,
And greedy lucre: knowledge is inforc'd
To follow by constraint, abuse of time,
Wit mis-imploy'd gapes at improper ends:
Strong men are impotent without rich friends.
Ami.
What cloudy passion, wrapt in ample phrase
May such a railing vehemence portend?
What meanes thy sharpe invectine? what's involu'd?
Man.
Hee doth (my Lord) inveigh at poverty,
How potent the command of money is,
The dreadfull awe of dame Pecunia.
Gra.
And whilst I do re-volue the misery
Which happens by constraint of beggery,
Then I remember what my plague must bee.
Amil.
Vn-shell thy riddle: most miraculous!
Gra.
Your gaming foole is most ridiculous:
O Fortune, Fortune hath infring'd the web
Which I with painfull diligence did weaue,
Whereto the pillar of my state was pinn'd:
Some little store I had (not looking higher)
A houshold smoake out-warmes my neighbours fire.
Ami.
Haue you lost all?
Gr.
Some fifty hundred crownes.
Ami.
O the vncertaine lot of idle game!
I long haue knowne thee.
Gr.
And haue known me honest.
Ami.
Honest is now a metamorphis'd name:
He that can sweare, blaspheme, be riotous,
Roare till the mid-night eccho, or beginne
Some vn-appeased fray, who dares commence
A drunken skirmish in a bawdy-house,
Fight for his hackney whore, and hazard all,
In honour of his damn'd associates:
Dares combate with a publicke officer,
Be (out of gun-shot) most irregular,
Drunke in good earnest, beate fiue Constables,
Couzen a flocke of geese compendiously:
Yet after all put a smooth visage on,
Seeme sober, be indulgent of his fame,
Though a most practis'd knaue, remembring still,
To make the mid-nights all participate
Of such enormous acts: ô hees the man
Reputed sociable in our age: ò hee
Is reckon'd for the honest gentleman:
Who playes the spend-thrift, the voluptuous foole,
Exceeds the Turke in sensualty,
Is a true mid-night Epicure, can hide
Hee shall be most vn-touch'd with obloquy;
Hee (amongst youthful bloods) shall win the wreath
Purchase the name of Loyall honest friend;
But (as our adage sayes) obserue his end.
But (Gracchus) I am rather confident
Then scrupulous of thy square honesty,
Gracchus, I loue thee, therefore will bestow
An annuall pension of sixe hundred pounds,
And must withall imploy thee.
Gra.
In a taske
That may require my soule then I beseech thee;
May stretch sincerity with tenters: ô
Impose an ample burthen: ô some taske
That will suruey the depth of loue indeed:
Favour beyond mans merit, doth exact
A most vn-quenched seruor; not his vow,
But sinewes actiue, and a sweating brow.
My life lyes prostrate to prædominance,
Of your commanding voyce: I will bestow
My reeking blood in recompence of loue
Ready, without all first or second cause:
I wish some Doctor in extremity
Of vn-knowne sicknesse, which may seize vpon
Your most respectiue honour; would prescribe
The marrow of a man, medicinall;
You should not be indebted to the bones
Of a forsaken caitife, new condemn'd,
Whose pocky pith might be infectiue: No,
My supple fingers should vnloose a ioynt
From off this flexile carkasse, I would bruise
A luculent and lushious mari-bone,
(The best I can stile proper) to appease
The sharpe divulsions of such new disease.
Ami.
Gracchus, who giues not credence to a zeale
Of thy profession, wee account him base:
Be chiefe among my chiefest followers,
They shall receiue directions from thy selfe.
Which my fame licke roofe is tainted with;
And which abusiue ages do afford:
A zeale sincere the Gods cannot reproue
And we ere-long will manifest our loue:
Let vs inculcate now my fathers charge,
Remember what with vehemence was vrgd,
Nay was enioyned you Mantesio.
By our most watchfull father.
Man.
I exspect
Vpon deliuery of his closet keyes.
Amil.
Take them, and prosper, pray be vigilant;
Reuolue I pray on how large consequence,
The bare euent and sequell of our hopes
Ioyntly consist; who iointly haue embark'd
The doubtfull hazard of our deerest liues
Vpon a small miscarriage: onely fiue
Participate of our designes; my selfe,
But first my father, then my step-dame next
You (Steward) and the Captaine of the Guard
Whose happy full consent is scarce obtain'd:
Wee seuerally haue instructions learn't
Of each particular function; haue agreed
How each conspirator shall be employed.
Time cals for speedy action; the square plot
Doth now transcend a shapelesse Embrio
And will expect vpon deliuery:
You haue engag'd a wise dexterity,
And trauaile; to procure the famishment,
To puruey, to collect æstiuall corne
Which Haruest will enrich the Rusticks with:
My taske intends surprisall of the Queene:
Be carefull, take the keyes, expend the wealth
Which long hath bene vp-hoorded: traitors all
Like cunning Statuaries, must auoide
Blemish and eye-sores; you conceiue me sir:
Successiue businesse needs no roweld spur:
Treason like some in sculpture spacious
A diligent perusall, most precise;
With an elaborate artificer
Who may direct; for 'tis infallible
That errors in a beauteous frame (though small
And at another time though veniall)
Yet if committed in a curious peece
Where blemish might (by sufferance) ensue
The totall is condemn'd and caru'd a new:
Be white, or blacke; not (party-coulour'd) gray;
So follow your commission, poast away.
Now my contentious braine re-uolue the taxe
Impos'd (vpon thy blessing) to surprise,
And spoyle the ruddy blossome of our age;
Faire Fauourina that Angel-like dame
AEquall for beauty, for vnmatched fame;
With Saint-like Venus (by Appelles drawne)
This Queenes espousals haue I vndertooke
To dis-vniite, by a most impious act
Of murther; but alas I am enthral'd
With true libidinous feruor; am enforc'd
By lustfull hot inuasions to decline;
Which punctually tempt me to a-uoide
The colourable death of whom I loue,
Our sweete Cycnæan Goddesse; the faire Queene;
Whose body I'le enioy with priuiledge,
(I will enioy with hazard of my death)
Whilst euery man imagine shee is dead.
Gracchus the Eunuch did I entertaine
Commodiously fore-casting an exploit
Where-with to muffle vp the serpent-eyes
Of probable suspicion: Like the Fuller
Who cannot liue by cloth must liue by colour.
But see, obserue the beautifull approach
Of my commanding obiect: blesse mee fate.
Scœn. 7.
Amicar, Favoina, Ancillae.Fav.
What makes Amilcar so obesequious?
Damsels depart.
Amil.
Yes, rather, so, then maids.
Fav.
Amilcar.
Ami.
Madam.
Fa.
Thy graue countenance
Truss'd vp in such a formall cognisance,
With front compos'd; so perpendicular
Directing steady aime at open gaze,
Your longing silence doth detect; as if
The businesse should concerne my audience:
In-faith, in-faith, you are dis-consolate.
Ami.
Yes, but my meaning is emaculate
Like the forgotten primitiue attempts,
When all things were accounted innocence.
O might the wrath-full arrogance of some
(Who by a peeuish-tutor'd vehemence,
Conspire in habite of corriuallship
Against one pious beauty) be so farre
From preiudiciall meaning as my selfe
The age and Kingdome both might liue secure:
Madam, I can discose a prodigee
That appertaines to you.
Fv.
Deliuer it.
Ami.
Haue you then female fortitude enough,
A most resolued courage, to conceiue,
To apprehend a passion that will wound
Nay penetrate, the fabricke of the soule?
Shoote through the center of thy trembling bloud?
Infuse siue shaking palfies mutuall
Before I finish the first period?
Fa.
Giue then a quicke release; I am resolu'd:
Tormênt mee not with idle circumstance,
Begin this tale of prodigy.
Ami.
Heark hea'un;
How carelesse shee accounts of accident,
Griefe, and this woman be familiar
Fav.
VVhen begins
The prodigie you spake of?
Amil.
'Twill amaze
The organs of attention Madam: yet
Seeing you enforce and couet misery,
You shall no longer be with-held: then thus:
But I beseech thee Queene remember well
These admonitions that exemplefy
The horror of my following discourse.
Imagine whilst you doe ingurgitate
My poyson'd soppes the beauty of your sence
Of your ingenious parts (all donatiues
Of Natures bounty, and the Gods aboue)
Imagine they'le be chang'd with violence
With vnresisted lunacy; so long,
Vntill each spirit leaue her function:
Till with a surfet you sur-fease to liue
Neglecting mundane solace; be trans-form'd
Into a liuelesse image, all thy veines
And vitall arteries being stop'd with feare:
Thus much remember Queene I do præ-mise.
Fa.
Amplifications yet? begin, begin:
Ami.
VVith all remember, you (right noble Queene)
VVho may attend my tale, are but a woman.
Fa.
And whether will your prolixê Lord-ship amble?
To the worlds end I thinke in preamble:
That (after all) you may anew begin.
Ami.
No (my compendious Lady) heere's an end:
Obstinate silence is the safest whip
To punish a peruerse disciple with.
Fa.
Are you enraged iolly sir i'faith?
O be appeasd, leaue ambiguities;
Finish thy tale (man.)
Ami.
Worthy Madam no,
Your supple phrase shall not againe recouer
One vowell of narration.
Fav.
O abrupt!
Yes (my blunt youth) if torment may vnbind
Your costiue silence, know, I will recouer
The whole narration; if deuulsiue rackes
Will hearken to my spatious complaint;
Or yeeld with exoration of his Queene.
Amil.
Your spatious? ô then Arithmeticke
Hath taught you to augment and multiply:
(Deere Madam) speake within the bounds of truth.
Fa.
(Cheape Lord) thy impudence shall smart for this.
Ami.
O bitter!
Fa.
Thy dumbe silence be inforc'd
To witnesse, nay reiterate the depth
Of your concealement.
Ami.
O pernicious.
Fa.
You shall rehearse, nay shall expound, this tale
Of prodigies.
Ami.
Without your wide complaint
Without all torment to enforce the same
I will expound them straight; and therefore thus:
Ladies by birth of late are satisfied
With natures gifts, nor leeke they to resist
Impediments of age, or stinking breaths,
But well are guided by the heauens decree
Respecting beauty lesse then the command,
Of Gods aboue; be not these prodigies?
They honour husbands, hallow chastity
Reiect all midnight offers, liue within:
Abhorre the name of lustfull visitants,
Take little relish in a home-bred foole;
And lesse delight in Physicke, or the knaues
Who practise that purloyning office well.
Be not these prodigies deere Madame? speake,
When Ladies do bestow their idle time
In scrutination of deuinity
Not seeking to beguile the abused Art
Of painting; or to wish fiue Iubiles
Might be allotted to their tumbling tricks
And coltish vntam'd pleasure; which they vse
To practise without intermission: speake:
Be not these prodigies deere Madame? speake
When Ladies, and light-women be estrang'd
From Para-kitos, Munkies, island-curres
From waspish æmulation, to exceed
Some eleuated Madame in her gowne;
Some Iuy-bush attire; to engrosse
The knowledge of a fucus, dentifrice,
Vuguentum, plaister (for in-faith sometimes
Diuerse scab'd sheepe do perish for defect
Of these restoratiues) ô then resolue
When Madames do estrange their facultie
From inquisition, from delight in these;
Will not the mouldred ashes that haue slept
So many thousand yeares, againe reuiue?
Will not the crazy ioints of earth dissolue?
And rotten fathers be resuscitate?
The finall extirpation of each dame
Both light and sober may this tale portend
Be not these prodigies deere Madame? speake.
Fa.
Wisedome doth vrge me to entreate him faire
Least hee indeed dissemble, or conceale
Businesse of high importance, that may touch
My most perticular aduantage: (sir
So-well-accomplish'd, meritorious Count)
I must importune your dexterity,
To re-collect the now-forgotten tale
Of prodigies indeed; withall confesse
My peeuish error.
Ami.
This doth mollify,
Nor may redemption of abuse, though late;
Although abruptly offer'd, derogate
From the large sequele; either thy beleefe
Or my vnfeigned meaning (noble Queene)
But Madam you shall seriously admit
A most impugned caution, ere I speake;
And shall obserue the same inuiolate,
Without base mentall reseruation.
Fa.
Wee will engage our female Maiesty
Thy strictest of iniunctions to prefer
Aboue all temporary baits, which may
Sweare by this image of Paladium,
(Reckon'd amongst our Sacramentall oathes)
Neither by subtle tokens nor by voyce
By second causes, by secure complaint,
Vpon malitious, or well meaning termes,
To manifest, diuulge, communicate,
Nor any way disclose the future plot
Whereof you shall anon participate
By processe of relation.
Fa.
I do sweare
And will submit my life to thy aduise.
Amil.
With priuiledge, then Madam, Ile expresse
The wicked meaning of your enemies:
Lucilla my proud step-dame, doth abhorre,
Sole repetition of thy harmlesse name:
Shee doth repose her chiefest confidence
In my audacious act, who am oblig'd
Vpon surprise to kill thee.
Fa.
Subtle whore!
So yong, and yet so full of impudence?
So full of indignation, causelesse wrath?
Enuy how feeble are thy foming iawes?
With vndefined rancor they attempt,
But seldome are obnoxious to any,
Who haue acquaintance with integrity;
For enuy (vpon spight) assailes the henge
Of our successe: but wrong enflames reuenge:
And therefore did high Ioues omnipotence,
Envy; vnto the female sex impart:
Woman's a witch by Malice, man by Art.
How, how (Amilcar) may wee recompence
The new disease of her indignity
Which would entice, and so corrupt thy youth
By fraudulent commotions.
Ami.
Ile instruct
How opportunely, Madam, you may meete
With her abusiue malice; and exempt
Your selfe from the suspicion of reuenge.
And yet reuenge will be conspicuous:
The primitiue iniunction doth deny;
You therefore shall admit my new deuise,
When Summer makes each field, each medow faire;
When pleasant spring-tide musicke is in tune,
You may retire into this thicket-groue
Loosely attended, with one maid, no more:
Whilst, like a common souldier in disguise
I suddenly rush forth, and do surprise
You not misdoubting, whom I will conuey
Into my lodging neere the Citty wals
After all inquisition cease: till then,
Wee may re-past in some poore Country Towne.
Fa.
The manner I allow; speake for euent.
Ami.
(All men amaz'd with such a sudden chance)
I will subborne a simple ideot
(Being first oblig'd by bounty) to confesse
That hee through wicked instigation
Of my most infamous step-dame, did attempt,
Nay finish the supposed murther; then
That meere compunction did enforce the tale;
To mittigate, his wound of conscience.
Fa.
So hee may hazard life being innocent.
Ami.
No, hee may craftily insert a boone
VVhich will auoide the danger of his life.
Hee shall beseech his death may be defer'd
Till my vnlawfull mother by the Law
Tast execution, or hee will professe
Obstinate silence; so conceale the place
Of your pretended buriall; the King
Nor any man aliue may this deny;
But I'le instruct him when hee doth espy
Occasion; this to manifest aloud
The Queene doth liue, though I were tempted oft
By that malitious woman, now depriu'd
Of naturall bad parts, by righteous death,
(Meaning my mother who shall then be dead)
Fa.
The plot prouokes me to esteeme reuenge
Aboue all earthly blessing; and embrace
The subtle vertue of a painted face.
Ami.
Subtle indeed, for my pretence implyes
Nothing but foggy mist to blind her eyes;
VVhen faire temptaion's weake; surprisall must
Giue satisfaction to my flaming lust.
Finis Actus secundi.
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