University of Virginia Library

SCEN. 3.

To them, Theocles.
Pan.
See he is come himself: let him now move
His own desires; for sure 'tis an Advantage
To any one, but me, to woo in Person.

The.
Friend and Lady, pardon my hasty rudenesse,
Which scarce permits this short salute:
I see a Beauty that can draw my Soul
Out through my Eyes, by whose exhaling vertue
I am dead every where, but in those parts
Which survive onely that they may view her.

Eth.
Now I must even become a Prodigie
To please his fancie; his strange Expressions
Seem not so much to court as fright a Lady.
And I applaud the strength of my conceit,
That I'm not startled yet: pray Sir tell me
What Shew d'ee please to make Me? Am I turn'd
Into some Blazing Comet? Sure my haires
Do all lie right, and they are still themselves,
They do not hisse nor spit out fire.

The.
Ladie,
You have the Beautie and the Majestie
Of any Star, you shine as bright as they,
But not so monstrous; and yet pray heaven that you
Do not portend a Death too. But since
You will not conceive the meaning of a Distance,
I will grow nearer to you, and addresse
My suit in th'approach of a plain language,
My bus'nesse then is humbly to implore
The Influence of your love.

Eth.
Then you have perform'd
Your Bus'nesse, y'ave implor'd it: Fare you well Sir.

Lys.
Nay Ladie bee'nt thus cruel to undo
A man whose onely fault is too much Love:
His wish is not to beg, but to obtain.

Pan.
And yet the whole reward of my Desire
Is but to beg, though I could wish t'obtain.

Eth.
I must confesse he still hath shewn himself
A careful wary Suitor. I've receiv'd
Presents enough to tire my hand ith' taking,
To which I onely can return my thanks.
But he must pardon me if I withhold
My Love: H'hath bin a frequent Visitant,
And oft hath sent his Page to know how well
I took my Rest; nay, even how I dream't:
H'hath been as Scrupulous as a Physitian,
And knowes my sleeps as perfect as my woman:
And yet for all this Care I can bestow
Onely the Charitie of thanks, and wish
That hee'd new place his love upon some Subject
That knew more how to yeeld.

Lys.
See, Sh'hath giv'n
An answer suckt out of my breast; I grant
Y'ave shewn Affection great as are your merits,
For which I can but thank you, and intreat
That you would place your love upon some other,
Soft as your own Desires.

The.
Your Answer, Ladie,
Hath onely kill'd with Pity, all the relief
Which I can draw from so misplac'd a kindnesse,
Is but to die.

Eth.
Then I perhaps may shed
One tear upon your Funeral, and wish
That you had been more wise.

Pan.
I was transported
With your unwelcome Answer, that I knew not
How to replie, had not the Charitie
Of your friend helpt, and taught me to confesse
That all your pitie onely bids me die.

The.
Recal your harsher sentence; Let me live
Onely ith' Comfort of one Smile.

Lys.
Do not thus
Betray a man to sadnesse, who can joy
Onely ith' Services he does—for you.

Pan.
You plead well, if your self did not betray
A maid to sadnesse and the wild Company
Of her own tears, for want of the relief
Which you might pour out in one Smile.

Lys.
Alas,
I should but counterfeit.

The.
'Twould appear
Some comfort yet if you would fain a Mirth.

Lys.
Remit some of your hardnesse, and infuse
A soul into him quicker then his own.

Eth.
I cannot blame the weight of his desires,
But wonder Sir at yours: I cannot see
With what hope you might urge his Suit, whil'st thus
A Ladie droops and pines for love of you,
One that deserves a Nobler Mate, if thus
She had not first betraid her own desires:
Expect no other usage to your Theocles
(For Ile not call him mine) then what you cast
Upon Panareta.

Lys.
If't be onely this
That keeps your love in, and drives back your smiles,
My friend may yet discern some shew of hope,
And I'm content that you should pattern out
Your entertainment unto Theocles
From mine to your Panareta; (for as yet
I cann't oth' suddain call her mine,)

Eth.
I am content too, what thinks this sadder pair?

The.
I bow to any thing you please to name.

Pan.
And I to what Lysander doth agree.

Eth.
Bee't then concluded; you are firm Lysander?
You'l not flie off?

Lys.
I vow my faith t'observe it.

The.
I see this comfort yet, that if I die,
'Tmust be a friend that kills me.

Pan.
And I am glad
My life's inclos'd within a Sisters Breath.

Eth.
Enough, 'tis all agreed, hereafter we
Shall either know your Faith or Perjurie,— (Exe. Lys. The.)

Nay Sister we expect some other Courtship, I've appointed
My two other servants this day of Visit.

Pan.
Is it a day of hearing then?

Eth.

Yes; in troth this serious Courtship of Theocles had
almost wrought a distemper upon me (for such I count all sadness)
I hold him somewhat too worthy to be listed with that ridiculous
Companie, else I had thought upon some humour for him
too: But Ile lay no other punishment upon him besides a constant
absence, till he hear my pleasure.

Pan.

O Sister, as thou regard'st my Comfort, prithee let nothing
passe from thee that may be at all distastful to him.

Eth.

Well Sister, for your sake Ile studie a Carriage.

To them Eudora.
Eud.

O Madam, yonder's your Brace of humours, as you call
e'm, in the midst of the street quarrelling, but hither I imagine
their course is bent.

Eth.

When they come bring e'm in hither. Sister pray take
your place, and learn by me how to entertain Suitors. It is not

fit that these Men should call us Mistresses, and so confidently
proffer their Services for nothing. I would not have e'm so
hypocritical.