University of Virginia Library

Scena VIII.

Enter towards the end of the song Intellectus Agens with a book. Livebyhope and Morphe.
Au.
Ha! thou com'st to challeng: but thou art spirit,
I cannot wound thee. Stay some few short minutes,
Till I have quite undress'd me of my flesh;
And stand on equal termes, then I will fight.
Else it thou canst, kill me; and take my flesh;
Then I'le kill thee again. Thus o're and o're
We'l kill each other and be ghosts by turnes.

Ir.
My anger is not high: I onely guess
He comes to shew the way to following ghosts.

Fan.
I gave him once a house, my most remote,
Perchance 'tis in Elysium, he invites me.

Am.
But Morphe stands as if she bid me come
Like a clear spirit fitly to salute her.

Mal.
Why should that sight fling Ice into this heart?

Tim. and Fug.
O horrid!

Desp.
Come what will, I can but die.

Mal.
Hath this shrewd Scholer conjur'd up these ghosts?

Int.
I see you are amazd; the snares of death
Are tangled on your hands: you think these sights
A pair of ghosts; feel, and when you feel them
True flesh, alive and warme, next you must know
They are a token sent from Prudentius.

Am.
How? from Prudentius? hath he rais'd the dead
And wretched both at once? and sent me Morphe?

Fan.
And giv'n me hope again? a dainty show,
Who'ere contriv'd it.

Am.
Be thou shade or substance,
Since thou appear'st in such a lovely shap,
My soul I'e mingle with thine airy hand,
And strive to suck from thence the hated poyson.
But soft, I may do rashly.

Int.
Know once more,
These are not ghosts, nor ever were; but live
Preserv'd with care, and sent with love from him,
Whom ye refus'd, your King Prudentius.

Am.
By heav'n, true flesh and warme.

Fan.
Why speaks not Hope
If he have breath?

Ir.
Speak: free us from thy blood,
For which we have been angry with our selves.

Au.
Speak, if thou canst, thou must.

Liv.
I fear'd to startle
Unsettled heads with unexpected speech.
High Mistresse, your distracted griefe for me
Had almost kill'd me when I was recover'd.

Fan.
I am recover'd by this voice. Then tell me
Thy preservation.

Liv.
Audax and Irato
Know how they left me.

Au.
Kill us for amends:

Liv.
Alas your death's would profit me no more
Then mine could you: but gracious Intellectus
Found and releiv'd me, while Sir Amorous
Carri'd in Morphe.

Int.
Him I took up gasping
Temper'd like Ice before it thaw and crack,
In such a glimmering state of doubtful life
As Candles have before they blaze and vanish.

Mal.
These ropes will all be mine.

Int.
And her I sav'd
By looking on her mixt and poysnous physick.
The simples I extracted, and gave out
The same effect which likely would have follow'd.

Am.
Pardon my fault, I nothing mixt but love,
Those villaines added poison.

Mor.
Heav'n forgive
As I forgive you all.

Am.
Give me some poyson,
(Int. Liv. and Mor. stay him.
You stay me too.

Mor.
Although I love thee not
Beyond an honest man, I cannot see
Thee die neglected.

Hil.
What a coile is here
With ghosts? I cannot take my rest for ghosts.
People, y'ar wellcome to this world. How fare
My fellow sleepers, ghosts, your Countrymen.

Int.
Thank not my care for this, but thank Prudentius;
Ask not what Genius sent me to releive
Expiring Hope, it was Prudentius:
Ask not what star compell'd my timely visit
Of Morphe poyson-trap'd, it was Prudentius.
From him proceeds their preservation;
And yours in them. Snatch'd from the jawes of death
As lights blown in again you live through him.
This is your cast-away, your drosse, Prudentius.

Ir.
I think we wrong'd him in our heedlesse anger.

Au.
And yet his love seems payment for desert.

Fan.
How shall I rule this craz'd and tottring State?

Mal.
I smell in what half point the wind is turning.
One breath will carry all the Passions
Back to Prudentius sailes. Now for a fetch:
Well, I'le prevent them all. Call back Prudentius,
(alowde.)
Let's sue to him for grace.

Au.
Call back Prudentius.

(alowde.)
Mal.
Tis quickly done. If this way lead to peace
I opend it; but still I would stand safer.
Audax, you have a Drum. Now do not you
And Lord Irato end your businesse sneaking.

Fan.
Liveby you kept the Crownes: go with him Amorous,
Carry his own: I ne're esteem'd the Golden.
I can be Queen alone, and govern subjects
Of mine own making; more, then Kings can muster
Or Earth bring forth.

Am.
I'le take Recorder Memor
To lay our sute in form. Then on our knees
We'l beg to serve him so, ev'n so forever.

Hil.
Come, to our old new Sun.

Int.
He's in his Court;
And now me thinks his presence guilds the walls.

(Ex. Int. Liv. Am.
Mel.
Though weak we'l go along.

Conc.
Weake legs can kneel.

Desp.
This peice of mine own banquet le assume
And walk in penance of a solemn halter.

(Ex. Om. preter. Mal.
Mal.
Ile go some neerer way, and recompence
My forward breach with much more forward duty.
For this Event spun out by Intellectus
Makes me think honesty may weigh with cunning.
Some sheep, some Fox will make a perfect man.
Howe're, me thinkes, these Sword-men might compound
Our Peace in Armes, and plead with violence.