 | The Combat of Love and Friendship |  |
SCEN. 4.
To them, Pisistratus with a boy before him bearing a Lawrel, Lamprias in some Knight-like attire usher'd by his Squire bearing a Sheild and Lance, Miserotos. Pisistratus takes his Lawrel and makes towards Ethusa.Eth.
VVhat have we here a prize? How now my Poet,
What's the Newes with you?
Pis.
Madam see here the power of your love,
Out of my proper sphear it makes me move.
Am melted to a Poet, and now speak mildly.
Eth.
Most mildly deliver'd, sure you have spoke a speech in a
Pageant: but where's your Sonnet? have you brought me no
papers of verses?
Pis.
In sign I versifie by your command,
Laying his bayes at her feet, offering his verses.
This to your feet I offer; these to your hand.
Eth.
Let your boy sing e'm.—
Song.
But that your swelling breasts supply,
If every Poet there might ly,
O who could choose but versify!
A quill that's snatch'd from Cupid's wing in spite
Of inbred Nature will compel to write.
Then for a Helicon I know
A purer far your lips do show,
What in your Cheeks before was snow,
Melted to Nectar there doth flow.
I can out-vy Phœbus, whiles I enjoy
A Daphne far more fair then his was coy.
(She reads.)
But that your swelling breasts supply.
That I may know these are your own making, tell me what is
Parnassus.
Mis.
She'l put him out of his way and spoyl his riming.
(Lamp. prompts.
The Poets Mountain.)
Pis.
Fair Lady to give you an answer plain,
As I have heard some say, it was the Poets mountain.
Mis.
Now he is forc'd to rime of himself, mark how he hacks
the Kings language.
Eth.
Well, and what can you say of Helicon?
Lam.
prompts,
The Muses spring.)
Pis.
By Bellona Madam, the truth to tell yee,
The Muses spring heretofore was called Heli-
—Con by the Poets.
Well Sir. (reads)
I can out-vy Phœbus, whiles I enjoy
A Daphne far more fair then his was coy.
I pray Sir what Relation had Daphne to Phœbus?
Pis.
She was—she was—what, what?
(jogging him.)
Lamp.
prompts.
(His Mistresse turn'd to Lawrel.)
Pis.
She was his Mitresse not turn'd—not turn'd—
Eth.
Yes Sir, she was turn'd, but to what?
Pis.
Now I have't) She was Phœbus Mistresse not turn'd to rue or Sorrell,
But metamorphosed into a Lawrel.
Eth.
I see this suddain riming doth somewhat perplex you;
but I find by your written verses which you have studied, That
upon mature deliberation you write very well, and are like to
make a hopeful Poet. Well, so much for you: Now my brave
Knight let's hear you rant it.
Pis.
I think I came off with credit: but she put me shrewdly
to it at last, I had no rimes provided for such answers.
Lamp.
(having stalked about, talks in his amorous tone.)
Through many craggy cliffes of Mountains high and mighty,
have I by the robustuous nerves of these brawny armes sought
out Bellonian Encounters, to testifie th'affection I have conceiv'd
to the fairest of Fayres, Ethusa; In whose defence I here stand
up a Champion, and defie all Bradamants, all Knights of the
burning pestle; by the dreadful thunder of my tearing throat I
will astonish and confound them; by the Ætnean flashes which
my bayting inrag'd blood shall evaporate, I will wrap them in
flakes of lightning, or by the Boreasian Tempest of my most strenuous
breath shake in pieces their limbs, and sweep their scatter'd
reliques into the Sea-like Dust.
Eth.
Most prodigiously valiant. Sir, your voyce methinks is
much chang'd since last I saw you; you then spake in a mild
amorous key, but now you do so thunder-thump it, heavens!
how it pierc'd my Eares? but yet all this does not confirm me
that you are valiant, I should desire some better testimony of
your valour then this speech onely.
Lam.
Shall I then cut this Trayterous Gyants head off, and
laying it at my feet (with a Non Curo for my Motto) look like
the man that does contemn the world, and playes at Foot-ball
(Kicks and beats Pisis.)
Pis.
Hold, or I swear ere thou shalt have the higher hand,
I'le rime thee to death as they do rats in Ireland.—Not so
hard you Rascal.
(privately)
Eth.
Most killing verses I promise you. Hold, this is pretty
well, but I do not believe, but if I gave him Commission, he would
return your blowes with some advantage. (I doubt there's some
conspiracy betwixt e'm. I'le sift e'm strait) I think I must choose
Pisistratus, for I like him as well for a Poet, and better then you
for a Souldier.
Lam.
Shee'l choose him now, and then have I play'd the fool
all this while to very great purpose. I must prevent it. Lady,
and if you please to breath a vigour into my nerves by your command,
I'le beat this Coward, till he shall utterly disclaim all title
to your favours.
Pis.
(privately)
That's more then I promis'd Sirrah: take
heed you vaunt not too much.
Eth.
Nay that's unequal, you being arm'd, and he having no
offensive weapon but his tongue: He shall have another Sword,
and then the Conqueror shall not fear a Rival. What say you,
will you agree to that?
Lam.
Madam, I must confesse although I kick him here or so,
there have such bonds of Friendship knit us together heretofore,
that now they tye my hands from drawing his blood. I would
not fight with my Friend.
Eth.
How say you Sir? are your hands tyed too by the bonds
of Friendship? would not you accept the motion?
Pis.
Madam my love to you so firmly ty'd is,
That for your sake I would not fear to fight with Alcides.
Eth.
See you that Sir, hee'l venture if you dare.
Lam.
Why Pisistratus, Friend Pisistratus, prithee refuse it;
I tell thee I will by no means fight with my Friend.
Eth.
Nay Sir, you see y'ave cast your self: he hath made me
here very good verses, and then he is very valiant: I must choose
him for—
Lam.
Hold Lady, pray you forbear; suspend your choice a
Know then, he is no Poet, I made those verses, this brain is the
mint that coyn'd em.
Pis.
Which I will trample under my feet you Rascal, can you
not keep conditions? Nay seeing you have discover'd. Lady,
see here his fortitude, 'tis onely passive, he dares not advance a
Sword against a mouse. I in charity, that he might hereafter
appear in some credit, lent him my back for a while to use it as
he pleas'd, but if you did observe, he struck me very heedfully,
he durst not let his armes flee with a free swinge thus, nor went
his feet without discretion, as if they kickt in earnest.
Mis.
Hold Sir, you'l kill the Gentleman; pray Lady end the
strife.
Eth.
Then thus my Friends; neither of you can challenge any
reward from me, neither having perform'd my Injunctions: however
I will not be so severe as to detain the guerdon I alwaies
intended, and you have taken such pains for: you shall be
laugh'd at.
Mis.
Come, come, I told you at first what you might expect,
ne're stand to reply for fear of being worse abus'd.
(Ex. Pis. Lam. Mis.)
Lys.
Lady, these Trifles being gone, let us proceed to the
Consummation of your joyes. I am glad yet you us'd Theocles
better.
Eth.
Nay Sir, I can easily distinguish betwixt realities and outsides.
The.
Madam I thank your good opinion, and will study to
continue it. Come forward to the Temple.
Phi., Art.
That is our general voyce, pray Sir, lead on.
Mel.
Why this is well, I thought 'twould come about at
last.
Dia.
Now Joy unto you all: Lysander, Friends, and that
I may comply with your now smiling Fate,
At these your weddings, I divorce my hate.
| The Combat of Love and Friendship | |