 | The Floating Island |  |
Actvs III
Scena I.
Enter Memor and Sr. Timerous.Mem.
I think your cause exceeds the Cognisance
Of common sense. He like a Juryman
Can onely finde and judge the outward fact:
As whether now your kicks look white or blew;
Whether his threatning words were high or low;
What savour follow'd, whether sweet or sowre;
Whether the kicks were Rough or gentle; (Rough
Your Crinkling sayes) These with some other notions
Thereto belonging, as the quantity,
The Figure, Number, the swift motion,
Or ceasing of your kicks; these he can judge of.
But as for higher speculations
Of Passions rising out of meer conceit,
How it was rais'd, what punishment is due,
This proper I bye longs to Fancie's audience.
Was there no cause?
Tim.
None giv'n, but apprehended.
Mem.
The worse for you; this shewes there was no malice,
But single heat. Were the kicks thick and many?
Tim.
Six strong ones in one instant.
Mem.
Still the worse.
It shewes meer heat. What said he, 'twas his humour?
Tim.
Ev'n so.
Mem.
Yet worse. Tis Law, that ev'ry Passion
May follow his own humour. Anger's his.
Besides he's writ a Lord: all things considered,
I give you counsel to be patient,
To ask if he be pleas'd to give you more;
To break a Tooth, pull Haire, strik out an Eye.
Tim.
Accept my thankes: I see the Law it selfe
Is very Timerous against great Persons.—
(Ex. Tim.
Mem.
I now can see no use of Law at all,
Law is casheer'd: where all things are permitted
What need of plea? what can be call'd unjust?
And are not these the Popular dayes we look'd for,
When we expected Cunning should be Soveraigne?
Scena II.
Enter to him Malevolo.Mal.
In mischeif we must use the men we hate.
You are the man I seek. Have you consider'd
Those State-projections?
Mem.
Sr. we want some Lawes,
Such as were made for certain Lord Protectors
Mal.
Indeed this lawful murder is an Art
Of Excellence, and yet as easie too
For Statesmen Lawyers as Physitians.
Mem.
An Art familiar in the Roman State,
As ancient too as the first Monarchy.
O I could tell you Lawes worth millions to us,
By faire intrapping of the wealthy Clergy.
Mal.
“Have you no model to insnare a Prince?
Mem.
“Henry the third, though wise and valiant,
“Here ith mad Parliament,
Mal.
“As how?
Mem.
“Twelve Peers
“Under pretence of evil Officers
“And grand abuses, were selected out,
“Strengthen'd with Lawes to prune Prerogatives,
“To tutour and reform the State; to size
“The Kings expence, and to appoint him Servants,
“Both menial and forinsecal.
Mal.
“I'st possible
“The King should seale to this?
Mem.
“O Poverty,
“She to Obedience is the Lay-mother.
“As some say Ignorance is the Clarklike,
“Betwixt Superiours and Inferiours,
“Look either way, this rule is mutual,
“The poorer must be servant to the richer.
“Henry brought low with various Action
“Could not subsist without their subsidies.
“Keep thy Prince poor, then thou shalt rule thy Ruler,
“And subject thy Commander.
Mal.
“This we try'd
“To fasten on Prudentius: but he
“Too wise, too frugal was. Now Fancie
“Through giddinesse of minde, and vast expence,
“Will prove lesse wary and more prodigal.
Mem.
Let some insnareing Law be once propos'd,
Fancie will yeild, not ponder.
Mal.
Well, think you;
Ile speak and speed. O 'tis the praise of hate
To practise ruine and pretend the State.
Mem.
But Sir, I trust upon your furtherance
(Mal. about to go.
About impropriations.
Mal.
You Ile remember
First, or my selfe I ever shall forget.
(Ex. Mal.
Scena III.
Enter Fancie in a Cydaris, Concupiscence, Fuga, Hilario before them.Fan.
The Cydaris well fits me; now must I
Answer this Persian Crown with mutual fitnesse.
What thing was proper to the Persian Kings,
Say Memor.
Mem.
Persian Kings did wed their Sisters.
Fan.
Though in my Person thus I cannot wed,
Ile licence others. You Hilario
May, if you please, enjoy your lively Sister
Concupiscence.
Hil.
I thank your Majesty
Both that I may, and may not; for to me
Nothing so pleasing is as Liberty.
I would not be bound to that neither, though I love it best;
If I were, I should long for the prison.
Bind me to be rich, I shall play at Duckes and Drakes with peices;
Bind me to my good behaviour, I shall feele an itching desire to beate the Justice.
O what a Prentise should I make! I should run away no oftner then I came in sight
Of the threshold. And most of the Passions,
I think, have a spice of this humor;
Fan.
But can no bond please you like Liberty?
Hil.
Neither bond of Matrimony, nor bond of friendship,
Nor bond of Usury, nor bond of iniquity;
I rejoyce in the present, I desire nothing, and therefore would be tied to nothing.
Fan.
Concupiscence your Sister's of another minde.
Conc.
I could well indure to be bound, so I might be loose too.
Fan.
The Theme which I propos'd was Royalty,
No lesse then Persian. Then Concupiscence,
How ist we are so thinly waited on,
By Femal Passions? are there no more women
Of Passion kind?
Conc.
Of Passionate enough.
But to say Truth, the Femal Passions
As soon as they are born; turn all to sins
And they are all my Children.
Mem.
Then have you
Countesse of Henneberg: whereof one did equal
The weekes, and th' other the dayes of the year
With numerous issue.
Conc.
I have more by thousands.
I'm as Fruitful and quick of Delivery
As any Uermin, spreading as Potatoes;
My race runs o're the World.
Fan.
Of what age are they?
Conc.
As old as my selfe very neere.
Mem.
Then you
Continued a maide no longer then Quartilla.
Conc.
O never at all that I can remember.
Mem.
You beare your age exceeding well.
Conc.
I hope
I shall be young forever; I have the vertue
Of making old folkes young by touching them.
Fan.
Are none of those your Children ripe and handsome
And fit for our attendance?
Conc.
Pride my Eldest
She is the likeliest.
Fan.
Let her be admitted.
Conc.
She's now i'th Spanish Court; but when she comes—
Hil.
Then the Court and her Mother will teach her to fall both wayes,
Forward and Backward.
Fan.
Till she return, is't not in Fancie's power
To change a Sex, and make some Passion Female?
Mem.
The like hath been; I have heard of a Femal
By meer force of Fancy turn'd Male: So Iphis
A Maide, in love with a Maide, was transform'd
Just on the marriage Eve. Tiresias
Was Male and Femal annually by turns;
Some Hermaphrodites have been both at once.
Conc.
Wud I could live and turn Hermaphrodite.
Fug.
Wud I could live and be of neither Sex.
Fan.
What think ye of transforming Amorous?
Hil.
He's undone then: he cannot shew his legs, nor use his Postures
Nor enjoy his Idol Morphe. No, change Sir Timerous,
He's as fearful as a Hare, and may be as changable:
He hath many Symbolical conditions of womanhood already:
He is Femal in every part but one, and half Femal in his cloathes
Give me but an Inch of Ribband from Fuga, and I'le undertake to present him
The Lady Timida.
Fan.
Fuga
(Ex. Hil.
Give him one of your changable Fancie's.
Thus first our selves must whet our own Invention;
Else others will not stir. Men do not strive
Methinkes to please me as they ought to do.
No other rarities these many Ages
But Powder, Printing, Seaman Card, and Watches?
So much vain dotage for the fond Elixir?
Why are not yet my Christals malleable,
To make our Gold no Gold, and foile the Di'mond?
Why want I Instruments to measure out
The Year, the Day, the Houre, without the help
Of Sun, or turning of these tedious wheeles?
Nothing to carry me but Barges, Coaches?
Sedans, and Litters? through the Aire I'd passe
By some new waftage. I must have my house
Convey'd by wheeles and sailes and plummets hung
In some deep pit, deep as the way is distant,
To hurry me, my Family, and it,
Whether I please. Ile travel like the Snaile,
With all my house; but swifter then the Faulcon.
Rare Lady!
Conc.
Ravishing Inventions!
Fan.
Why have not I not my Beds stuffd all with wind,
Baths fill'd with Maydew, Flowers preserv'd till winter,
As well as Snow till Summer: choisest Fruits
Growing and ripe in midst of January?
Why have not I Ponds running through my Cellars,
For Bottles and for Fish call'd by their names?
Why not in drough an Artificial rain,
Scattered by spowtes, to cheer my Paradise?
Mem.
I wish you had these things; I nere saw such.
Fan.
Cheape I can have Æolian bellowes made
Within the Bowles of Andirons, where the water
Shall blow the fire by which 'tis rarified.
I will have Vaults which shall convey my whispers
In steed of Embasies to forreign Nations;
Places for Ecchoes to pronounce a speech,
Or give a Suffrage like a multitude:
Consorts well play'd by water; Pictures taught
By secret Organs both to move and speak:
We spend our selves too much upon the Taylour;
I rather would new mold new fashion Nature.
Scena IIII.
Enter Amorous and Liveby one way, Malevolo another way. After a while a Shew.Am.
Pleases your Highnesse to behold a Shew,
Wherein some Passions are display'd by Dreams
How they affected are by Day.
Fan.
Ile see it.
Mal. & Mem. whisper.
What means that whisper?
Mal.
Tis an honest project
Thought on by Memor, out of love to Churches,
To buy back saleable impropriations
With charitable money. Doth it please you?
Fan.
This task was fitter for Prudentius
Then Sense or Passion. This although I grant,
Yet take it with condition. Memor knows
Conveyance old and new, the Right and Wrong.
In things not sacred he may use his cunning,
In this he must be just. To you I say,
It was not seasonable to move this business
When Shewes were comming.
Mal.
This your selfe did move
By asking.
Mem.
Now.
Mal.
Then make you here a Law,
That none these three dayes shall prefer a Sute
Or motion under forfeiture of life.
Me you shall finde content; I'm no Troubler.
Mem.
This trap is laid full right.
Liv.
Stay, stay great Queen.
This Law will seale my mouth, and tie your hands,
And stop the necessary speed of businesse,
Whereby your Crown may be dissolv'd.
Fan.
Away,
Away Malevolo.
Mal.
My snare for Liveby
Is brok, but violence shall it supply.
You Memor have your wish.
(Ex. Mal. & Mems
Enter Amorous with the shew.
Morpheus in a Cloud-coloured Cassock with a wreath of Poppies and a Caduceus from a black Cell. Then at his call, six sleeping Persons in their night caps half down their Faces, and in their wastcoates, representing in their clothes downwards Memor,
Morp.
I Morpheus King of Dreames, whose might
Can equal Fanci's in the night,
Have caus'd the night six dreames to send:
As I appointed they attend.
They enter from a black Cave.
Now Memor turn thy Books and prate,
Plead with thy hands and fees then take.
Shrug, scratch, Malevolo, and grin,
Grasp thy foule heart and feel thy sin.
Irato, bend thy fist and draw,
Offer to thrust, keep fear in aw.
Shak Timerous, offer to fly,
Begin to sink, offer to die.
Hilario clap thy hands and laugh,
Skip, leap, and turn, offer to quaff.
Despaire start, stand, and crush thy throat,
Then stab thy breast and groan death's note.
The Dance.
(After the dance, Ex. Masquers.
Fan.
Whose labour was this sport?
Am.
Livebys invention and my contriving.
Fan.
For this I'le send you to your dearest Morphe.
Goe at what hour you please, and say I want
Her company at Court. You, Hope, for this,
And for preventing that pernicious Law,
Ask what you will.
Liv.
Grant the Monopoly
Of Watches, or of Beavers.
Fan.
take them both;
And ask again.
Liv.
When woodlands shall be turn'd
To other use, grant me a twelfth as forfeit.
Fan.
Be it confirm'd.
Liv.
I was about to ask
The Patronage of Churches in Sea-towns;
Where popular choice maintains a Faction
Brought in with Merchandize from forreign
parts.
Fan.
Take what thou wilt. Thou begst to give us share.
None can please all, the best the better fare.
(Ex. Omnes.
Scena. V.
The Scene turns to feilds, walkes & scattered houses.Enter Hilario, and then Sir Timerous with Fuga's ribband.
Hil.
By this way Sir Timerous should
come; whom I as sent from his wrong'd
Lady Fuga have engag'd in a quarrel
against Audax. And yonder comes the
pittiful Earthquake most lovingly trembling.
Tim.
What should I do here? some
desperate knave or other, Desperato himself
(it may be) hath rob'd me of my best
weapon. I thought not to have fought
with steele, but with Gold; and to have
brought this needy Captain to an honourable
submission by dint of Cash. What
disasters have I? That unreasonablly
wicked, that divlish two fac'd Cutter
knew me too well: for when I drew this
harmless blade, he look'd upon it as flightly
as upon a riding wand; and bad me
familiarly put up that, and draw my purse.
Certainly I have too much of the Mother;
I am that which they call a Coward, and
all the world knows it. Wherefore (O
Ribband) I take it extream scurvily of
Fuga, that she being of the same temper her
selfe, doth not consider her temper in
me.
Hil.
Now this Craven stands as ticklish
on the point of running as a Bowle on
the top of a ridg.
Tim.
Two steps further I'le move. I
have been coming a quarter of a mile these
two houres at least; and yet I swear till
feaver is turn'd to a cold sweat, and that's
a true Prognostication of death.
Puts on his cap.
Good night to all the world;
for this is that fatal peice of
ground which I shall anon-measure with
my Carcasse. Never a Bush nor Hole here?
though it be call'd Champion ground I
shall not fight: perhaps I shall make use
of its plainnesse, and give ground a mile or
two; that shall be my way of fighting.
For if I the Challenger stand still on my
guard, it will not stand with mine honour:
And then while I keep my backsword
point still in his face (I have seen
the play at cudgells) he will wheele about
me, and falsifying a blow at the head will
strike me just on the legs where my heart
lies. Then shall I be quite spoiled for running
away; which I think I had best do
presently, for I hear him coming. O—
Hil.
Now I see Sir Tim, thou art a Lad of mettle.
Tim.
Mettle? I protest Sir I had rather
drink this cold iron fil'd small to dust and
be a Lad of mettle so, then to thrust it
whole into any mans flesh whatsoever;
much lesse into my Enemies. You see then
what power Love hath, and how Fuga is
beholding to me.
Hil.
Most dreadfully.
Tim.
Is not the time yet past? I think
I may retire with honour, and say he durst
not meet me.
Hil.
It wants yet halfe an hour. If
you hold not out your time, then he'l
assault you openly in Court, and make your
shame publick, which otherwise will be
but private. Ile stand secretly by you,
and if need require will step in and part
you.
Tim.
Stand not far off I beseech you
for when I am kill'd I shall not be able to
call.—O my heart!—the Gyant's
coming—O—Hilario—
Malevolo passes by.
Mal.
Saw you not here Irato?
Tim.
No believe me Sir; no I thank
heaven. Hilario!—Now comes Audax.
O—I have but a minute to live.
Irato passes by.
Ir.
How now stinkerd, how does thy breech? sawst thou not here Malevolo?
Tim.
He past by in hast; just now in
hast.—Well. Two Furies are past.
Ile not wait for the third, go Love and
Honour whither they will. Hilario!—I
fear he hath left me. Ile raze my Flesh
with a slight cut, and sweare I receiv'd
that wound in fight. But now I think on't
better, I have an issue under my left arme;
Ile force that bigger till it bleed, and swear
that into a wound. For sure a fresh one
would be far greater pain. Soft, I am
loath to suffer so much, if I may chuse Hilario?—
Hil.
What a Champion are you? not dare to look a man in the face?
Tim.
Sweet Hilario, I consider thou
hast no Sword to help me: stretch thy
wit, and invent some speedy way, how I
may escape with honour, and not fight?
Hil.
You cannot possibly escape fighting.
Tim.
Sweet Hilario do not kill me before hand with saying so.
Hil.
Why then will you be rul'd by me?
Tim.
In any thing, any thing. Quickly for love of Life.
Hil.
I have promis'd to furnish the Queen with a new Lady attendant.
Tim.
What then?
Hil.
Put on Womans apparel, you shall be she; by name of Madam Timida.
Tim.
Ha! Say on.
Hil.
Then shall you be free, not onely
from this quarrel, but from all future beatings
and challenges.
Tim.
Safe and sound!
Hil.
Then shall you have perpetual accesse to Fuga, bully.
Tim.
Safe and delicious!
Hil.
Then to steale her affection you may habit your selfe like her.
Tim.
Safe and wise!
Hil.
Then as for you honour, who can
upbraid you when you are no where to be
found: twill be suppos'd by your sweet
friend, that you died in her quarrel, Audax
if he himself talk will be dangerously question'd.
But will you be secret?
Hil.
For mine own sake, mine own sake, Sir Tim.
Tim.
Dearest Hilario, thou art my preserving Angel.
Hil.
Make hast, before you can new cast your selfe Ile come to present you.
(Ex. Tim
Poor snake, I delivered no Challeng; I
onely frighted him to a more willing Metamorphosis.
Scena VI.
Enter by him Concupiscence in a Citizens habit.Conc.
Hey ho for a husband; Two three, or more,
As many as I meet; 'tis fit, that we
Ladies Attendant should be qualified
For three at least.
Hil.
What ere the habit be, this is the Face
The Voice and language of Concupiscence,
Why, how now Sister, taking the Aire alone?
Conc.
A safe Conscience never feares any man.
Hil.
I think thou fear'st not any, but lov'st all.
Such was thy wont; and hast thou now a Conscience?
Conc.
Be grave or silent, know I'm rectified.
Hil.
Pox on your train: by feigned honesty
You seek to wooe me. I'le unvaile you streight.
What think you of two husbands, three, or more,
As many as you meet?
Conc.
Why didst thou hear me?
Hil.
Ladies Attendant should be qualified
For three at least.
Conc.
That I spoke merrily.
Hil.
If thou hadst ten, thou still wouldst cry more Hymens.
Conc.
If so you think, think on, I think so too.
Hil.
“But when will all thy maidenheads be spent?
“Tell me sincerely, truly, and bodily.
Conc.
“They come again like Teeth, I'm breeding now.
Hil.
“Then are thy maidenheads like Hydra's heads,
“Not to be tam'd but by a Hercules.
“Who has the next?
Conc.
“I am resolv'd to part it
“Betwixt a Courtier and a Citizen:
“The Courtier has the maide, the Citizen
“Shall have the head.
Hil.
Sister, I cannot wed you,
You have too much complexion for my use:
But Ile provide you one shall bear the name
Of Husband.
Conc.
Let him be honest, quiet.
Hil.
Of you own garb, say he be Melancolico.
And so Ile rid my selfe of Fanci's match.
Conc.
I care but for his shadow having Servants.
Hil.
Farewell Carnality.
Conc.
Hilario thinks
(Ex. Hil.
He took me, when alas twas my intent
The Boy should overheare, and so become
If not a Husband, such an Officer.
Scena VII.
Enter to her Audax.Au.
What's here? Concupiscence?
Conc.
Nor stare, nor startle;
As I hope to look faire, I'm nothing chang'd
In minde or body. No where, but in habit.
Au.
And why in This?
Conc.
O for Variety.
Fancy permits all change. This dresse sometimes
Pleases the Courtier better then his Ladies.
Is it but so? come then my Paphian drum,
I'le brace the close.
Conc.
Soft Sir, you march too feircely.
I have a task which first you must perform;
I fear you will not do't; you do not love me;
Promise me first; the task I can assure you,
Befitts your Valour, and will pay it selfe.
Au.
Is it to kill the Queen, that thou mayst reign?
Conc.
No, nor her maide; thou shalt but use her kindly.
Au.
Speak plain, be bold.
Conc.
Then thou shalt ravish Fuga.
She twits me with my Servants, Favours, Lookes,
My Words, and scapes: in This you bear a share.
If this to me bring shame, you are not free.
Au.
Is this your heavy task? no more but This?
Onely to ravish? is not the work Reward?
Ile do't effectually; Her selfe shall thank me.
Conc.
But I'le outthank her far; Ile ravish thee
With fast embraces. Take this kisse in earnest
Of future payment. Though I seeme a Vestal,
To thee I'm Venus.
Au.
Venus, be secur'd.
(Ex. Au.
Conc.
Then, when her fruit shall swell, and I stand simpring,
Turn'd to a seeming Saint, O how Ile triumph
In grave reproofe and holy Admonition!
This 'tis to be too chast.—here come the Stagemen.
Scena VIII.
Enter to her Malevolo, Irato, Memor.Mal.
Sir you and we were acted at the Court.
We loosers are made laughing-stocks, and sport
For open Stages.
Ir.
Tell my Sword the Author;
That it my write his doome upon his flesh.
Mal.
This Creature can informe us. Who I pray
Were your late witwrights in the Masque?
Conc.
Hope pend it,
My Father Amorous (without offence)
Contriv'd the Shew.
(Ex. Cont.
Mem.
This trick Malevolo
Was chiefly meant to you, because your pen
Hath scourg'd the Stage.
Ir.
However Lord Irato
Shall act a red Catastrophe on Liveby:
(Ex. Ir. and Mem.
Mal.
Ile watch his haunt and hunt him to his fall;
You Amorous too. This mirth of theirs at last
Shall close their sweetnesse with an Aloed tast.
These once remov'd, who can be great but I;
Whose word shall sway but mine? Then power is sweet
When Rubs are made the staires to mount our feet.
(Ex. Mal.
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