University of Virginia Library

Sce. 5.

Enter Cyprian and Iustina.
Cyprian.
Doe not disdayne faire peece of Natures pride
to heare him plead for loue that sau'd thy life.
It was my pow'rfull arte produc'd those monsters
to drown those [more more then] monstrous [m]executioners
that should haue wrought your wracke.

Iustina.
Sir, I am sorry
hell had a hand in my deliuery.
That action cannot merrit my affection.

Cyprian.
I not alleadge it for desert of grace,
but argument of mercie; pitty him
that in distresse so lately pitty'd you.

Iustina.
I am the troth-plight wife of Clitophon
the prince of Babilon, hee has my hart,
and there's no share for others.

Cyprian.
That high state is now at a low ebbe, destruction
hangs like a threatning com̄et ore the walls
of Babilon: Then fix [your] thy loue on him
that can more then the greatest prince on earth.
Loue mee, and princes shall thy pages bee.
[Great Kings] monarchs shall lay their crownes and royalties
as presents at thy feet. The Indian mines
shall be thy ioynture; all the worlds rich marchants
shall bring their pearles and pretious stones to thee,
sweet gum̄s and spices of Arabia;
fair Median Linnen, and Barbarian silkes;
the earth shall beare no fruite of raritie,
but thou shalt taste it. weele transforme our selues
in quaintest shapes to vary our delights;
and in a chariot wrought out of a cloud
studded with starres, drawne through the subtle aire
by birds of paradise, wee'l ride together
to fruitfull Thessalie, where in faire Tempe
(the only pleasant place of all the earth)
wee'l sport vs vnder a pavilion [of]
of Tyrian scarlet.

Iustina.
Should these vanities
(faithlesse as are your wondrous promises)
lead me into the hazard of my soule
and losse of such ay-lasting happinesse.
as all earthes glories are but shaddows to?

Cyprian.
Thincke you this rare pile of perfection
wherein Loue reads a lecture of delight
ows not it's vse to Nature? there is loue
in euery thing that liues, the very sunne
does burne in loue; while wee partake his heate.
the clyming [yu] ivy with her louing twines
clips the strong oake. No skill of surgerie
can heale the wounds, nor oceans quench the flames
made by all pow'rfull loue. witnesse [your] my selfe,
Since first the booke of your perfections
was brought so neare that I might read it ore,
I haue red in it charmes to countermand [al]
all my enchantments, and enforce mee stoop
to begge your loue.

Iustina.
How ere you please to stile
a lustfull appetite, it takes not mee.
Heau'n has my vow, my life shall neuer bee
elder then my vnstain'd virginitie.

Cyprian.
Virginitie! prize you so dearely that
wc h com̄on things cast of? marcke but the flow'rs
that now as morning fresh, fragrant and faire
lay ope their beautys to the courting sunne;
and among'st all, the modest mayden rose:
These wanton with the aire vntill vnleau'd
they die, and so loose their virginitie.

Iustina.
In India there is a flow'r (they say)
which, [when] if a man come neare it, turnes away:
By that I learne this lesson to descrie
corrupt temptations, and the tempter flie.
Exit Iustina.

Cyprian.
So cold, and coy? [you] I must not [scape me] loose you so:
My boyling bloud forbids it. my blacke arte
shall make your white thoughts like it. Now's the tyme
fit by Lysanders absence: hell shall force her
to offer vp that Iewell of delight
which. miserlike she yet locks vp in coynesse.
with greater heat she shall desire her rape
then I haue done. [these] Hells hookes she cannot scape.

Exit.