University of Virginia Library

Actvs I.

Scena. I.

The Scene turns to the Court of Prudentius.
Enter from several wayes Sr. Amorous, and Morphe.
Am.
Well met sweet Morphe,
Empresse of my heart,
And all hearts else, if made of
flesh like mine.
You must not passe untouch'd.

Mor.
What mean you Sir?

Am.
To print you Mine;

Mor.
Hands off Sir Amorous.

Am.
Why should such coynesse wrinkle such a Brow?

Mor.
Why should such boystrous incivility
Defile your Courtship? All your courtly Arts
Of Singing, Playing, Dancing, Poetry,
Will grow suspected pleaders of meer Lust:
Forbeare for my sake: this rude force in you
May chance to blot a white repute in me.

Am.
The blot Ile thus rub out.

(Offers to kisse.
Mor.
Ile wash it thus.

(Spits.
Am.
How can the eye, that sees not love the light?
Blame your own beauty if you blame my Love.

Mor.
I blame th' Expression.

Am.
If the thing be good,
Expression makes it better.

Mor.
Yes, if chast,

Am.
Chast Love is nothing.

Mor.
Nothing to th' unchast.
Forbeare I pray, and feare a neere example.
Do you not know the King hath taught the Passions
Within this Floating Isle more modesty,
By banishing your child Concupiscence?

Am.
Others perhaps shall quickly know I know it,
And that I know it as rough tyranny.
What for a trick of youth such Discipline?
Doth breeding Subjects call for Banishment?
Or giving life deserve a civil Death?
Hold; stand; in vain you strive; I am resolv'd;
Should now the King look on, and call a Kisse
Treason, should poyson punish this sweet touch,
Thus far I durst presume.

Mor.
Shame on your rudeness.
(Ex. Mor.

Am.
Are not our Eyes and Lipps and touch our own,
Not to be us'd without a special warrant?
At length we shall not satisfie meere Nature,
Nor spit without a Counsel. If my Girle
Pertake my spirit, then like me she'l try,
What fury Love can in the Passions raise,
To shake this Stoick from his chaire of Rule.
Ile move my Fellows.

Scena II.

Enter to him Irato, Malevolo, Audax.
Ir.
How? not fight this Duel?
Duel forbidden to the Valiant?

Am.
(aside)
Some other cause, it seemes, moves these already.

Mal.
Be sure, Irato, by Prudentius law
Personal Valour now is nothing worth.
Hope with his Pen, Sr. Timerous with his knife,
Or Desperato's man with single Halter
May passe in equal ranke with you, or me,
Or Captain Audax.

Au.
Not with me, I tro.

Mal.
Yes, if this Law should stand.

Am.
Not so however.

Mal.
Not if?

Au.
If to a generous Passion?

Am.
I see these sparkes are glowing. Noble Sparkes,
Let Amorous adde fire. Love burnes with Hate.
Thy Hand Malevolo, and 'gainst the King.

Ir.
Why what's your grief?

Am.
My Daughters Banishment.

Mal.
Great cause: yet none need press a single grief:
We finde our selves all pinch'd of liberty:
We walk in chaines, call'd Justice, Temperance,
Such rusty curbs; and none can further start
Then the strict keeper will allow us length.

Ir.
Tis so; we're us'd like Dogs, or ring'd like Beares;
Whither Prudentius leades us we must follow:
But if we take a loose, or swell and roar,
We must be whip'd for't; Sirs, Prudentius whips us.

Am.
Can this be brook'd by them that draw the Sword?

Ir.
And amongst them, by one that will exact
Life for a word, pay death for crabbed lookes?

Au.
And amongst them, by one that scales the wall,
That swims in Armour, flies against the mouth
Of thundring Ordinance? must also He,
Must He be ordered by a sit still thus?

Mal.
So he hath been. For my part, if I broach
Some biting Libel, venemous word or Book
Against some prosprous Object which I hate,
My Eares, are questioned. Locks which I have scorn'd
Must hide my Eare stumps.

Ir.
And me thinkes I spy some want upon your Nose.

Mal.
Is your spleene up?
Rage for your selfe. You also may remember
Brave Lord Irato when you hardly kept
Your Neck. Some fellow Peers, for as few blowes,
Have lost it quite.

Ir.
My Veynes will burst.

Mal.
And Captaines
Not to be numbred; All as bold and stout
As Audax here, for undertaking reskues,
And following them too far in open streetes,
Have been casheered of Lberty and Life.

Au.
But shall not be again. Ile hang the Law.

Mal.
Then as for you, Sr. Amorous, you may talk
Not onely of your Daughters Banishment,
But of your Sisters whip'd, your carted Aunts,
And Mulcts upon your selfe.

Am.
The truth to tell,
My hard restraint is worst of all. I live
(If it be life) confin'd to mine own Bed:
Prudentius bridles up my mouth from kissing,
Yea and from speech, and calls that stinting manners.
I cannot cast a faire inviting look,
But he pulls back the Nerve. I scarce dare think,
Or sigh beyond my stint. One Sigh a day
Is all that I must spend for her that keepes
And may command my breath. Prudentius
Locks up my winde like Æolus; 'tis calm'd,
And may not issue forth to bear a whisper.

Ir.
Mend your Comparison. Prudentius
Like Æolus? No, Æolus sometimes
Permitts a Tempest: does Prudentius so?

Au.
The Passions cannot stretch beyond his line,
But they are censured, Perturbations call'd,
Breakers of Peace; if calm'd, they nothing are:
We lose both Name and Nature by restraint.

Ir.
For what's a Lord I ask you but his Anger?

Mal.
Or what's a great man but oppression?

Au.
A Captain but his Cutting?

Am.
And a Knight
What but his Pleasure? O this frost of Reason
Hath numd my Joynts, I that with sprightly vigour
Dancing to please my Mistress, could have rose
To fetch her from the Moon (had she been there)
Or as she stood salute her, now have lost
Those active legs, and not by doing service
To any Creature but Prudentius.
I live a Hermite in the Court; to me
It seemes a Colledg or a Nunnery.

Ir.
To me a Prison.

Au.
A meer Schoole to me.

Mal.
To me an Inquisition: worse: a Hell.
Where Objects still we meet, and may not reach.
You Amorous like Tantalus behold
Two red white Apples in a well made face,
Which you as soon may touch as reach the Sun;
Which doth but scorch the gazer.

Am.
Ile to Hell:
Tis lesse to sterve for Apples then for Cheekes.

Mal.
You being stir'd Irato thirst for blood,
And thirst you may, but not be satisfied:
You must take blowes and beare'em; your Reward
(O poor!) is to orecome by suffering;
As now I kick you; stand: you must not rage,
For this is Patience; now I pull your Nose;
You must not fume, least you impatient prove.

Ir.
Let me kill thee, or serve Prudentius still.

Mal.
you must keep Peace. I speak but as a Friend;
And onely tell what you have told your selfe.
You Audax, like Ixion, though you dare
To set on Heaven, must wheele about your selfe
When Reason bids you.

Au.
Audax will run on
Though thunder meet him.

Mal.
Yes; but I my selfe
Like Titius vainly feed the Vultur Hate
With mine own heart, and wreck it not on others,
Those Favourits which I hate. Shall this be ever?

Ir.
How long shall I like to a painted George
Advance my idle Sword? What must I strike
Like Iack o'th clock-house, never but in season?

Mal.
How long shall I like a grim Statue stand,
Look hatred and use none? Prudentius
Hath he Medusa's head?

Am.
Hey ho, how long!

Au.
How long shall I like a fell Mastiff held,
Yelp for the glorious danger that I love!
Water it selfe if bounded in too streight,
Will foame and swell and breake thick bonds of Rock.
I wish we Passions were as strong as water.

Scena. III.

Enter to them Hilario Singing, Dancing and Passing by.
(Exitarus.

Am.
The Boy may be our Tutor. Hilario my Boy!

Hil.
Sir.

Am.

We were taking care how thou
may'st be merry thus alwaies; never be
check'd for drinking, for singing, or for playing thy prankes.

Hil.

I imagin your design: and thereto
promise, give, grant, let, set and submit my
full assent and consent: In witnesse whereof
here's my hand with a clap, and my seale
with a kisse; Your son and servant Hilario.

Am.
But stay, whence now?

Hil.
From my blubbering Sister Concupiscence; who desired me forsooth
To arme and conduct her to Lady Phancy.

Am.
And whether bound?

Hil.
I go to be merry with or upon Melancholico and Desperato,

Either to quicken their dumps, or by laughing
at their dulnesse to heighten my selfe.

Am.
Where are they?

Hil.
Not far; close by; here at the Hart.

Mal.
Courteous Sir, send them hither,

Hil.
I shall or will Sir.

Mal.
We must no longer ripe up greivances,
(Ex. Hil.
But think of Remedy.

Au.
Passions must not stay.

Ir.
Why with a murraine do we stay to say so?

Mal.
In briefe do all consent to free themselves
From this oppession?

Ir.
What a Question's that?

Am.
Give a Command that it be ask'd no more.

Au.
We all consent.

Mal.
All are not here.

Am.
Indeed
We want two serviceable men now sent for.

Ir.
Delayes intolerable!

Am.
We want besides
Sir Timerous Fear all.

Au.
Wee'l force that dowty Knight
To know his good when all is done; and so
Prevent his Treason.

Ir.
Consultation too.

Am.
And where is Livebyhope?

Mal.
No matter where.
His hopes will make him turn to any side
That shall succeed.

Am.
For femal Passions,
Their fortune lies in ours.

Mal.
Then to proceed,
The way to free our selves lies, thus, or thus;
Kill, or dethrone Prudentius.

Ir.
I begin
To think on St. Raviliack, and St. Garnett.

Au.
The boldest way is safest.

Ir.
Yes, if bloodiest.

Am.
Or if he will escape.

Ir.
Let him go far enough.

Mal.
Then who shall do the feare?

Au.
I.

Ir.
I, or else
Ile kill some other; what? should I forget
My ancient Trade of killing?

Mal.
Let him doo't
Who first hath opportunity.

Am.
To this
We all must sweare.

(They lay two Swords across)
Ir.
By all the wounds which on my flesh are scor'd,
And all the ghosts I've made.

Au.
By all attempts
And all the mines of Bullets in my Entrals;

Mal.
By all my pangs of hate and black designes;

Am.
By all the goodly Nymphes, and Morphe chief.

Scena IIII.

Enter to them Prudentius, Intellectus Agens, and Liveby hope with Attendents.
Pru.
D'ee long for action? have ye too much Peace?
Orecloy'd with blessings? you Malevolo
Bend hate against th' unjust.

Mal.
My hand is crampt;
Strike Audax.

Au.
O his brow! I turn to feare.

Pru.
You Amorous love true beauty, Honesty.

Mal.
Thy spleene Irato.

Pru.
Thou Irato fight
Meerely for publike peace.

Ir.
Sweetnesse!

Mal.
Witchcraft!

Pru.
Audax, be bold, but stay till I have bid

Ex. Pru. & Int. & Liveby. following.
Au.
S't. Liveby hope,

Liv.
I must attend his Majesty.

Int.
Goe back, and secretly oreheare this meeting.

(Liv. returns.
Am.
Ha! What Schooling call you this?

Mal.
What Vision?
That Eye of subtil Intellectus Agens
Troubles me somewhat; and I doubt of Liveby

Ir.
Now I could kill my selfe.

Au.
Now I,—Prudentius
He came upon us like the Basilisk,
Or like a Wolfe; but had we seen him first—

Mal.
You could not do it then: never by day.

Am.
Why so?

Mal.
You saw the cause. His flaming Temples
Strike with such charming Power, such secret Spells,
That if you see the Light upon his Face,
Your spirits quaile; it must be done by night.
And Desperato, he must be the man.

Au.
Why He above All Us?

Mal.
Tush, we are foyld;
Already foyld; and may be so again.
Besides Irato spends himselfe: hee's now
So full of heat, I doubt hee'l then grow cold.
But Desperato to his mischeif goes
With art and argued resolution,
Strong in cold blood.

Ir.
I perfectly abhorr
All Judgement, Plotts, and Consultations.
To canvase thoughts, to toile and vexe the head
In weighing meanes, and picking out the best,
This is as bad as to have serv'd Prudentius.

Mal.
And how thinks Audax?

Au.
So. Or else I'm mad.
To plot is base; and to demurr contrivance
Of things that should be done, as soon as thought,
Is foolish too. What turn our powder up,
Then smother 't under ground, then by degrees
Give fire! Such creeping mischeife hath no luck.

Ir.
Come Martial Law, come Captain Martial Law

Au.
And wise Malevolo, when have you e're heard
Of great attempts without the hand of Audax?
Come wee'l too't presently.

Mal.
Even as you please.

Liv.
(in secret)
I sweat with hearing. Ile now run with this
Least I may come too short of telling more.

Am.
Onely this word.

Liv.
Then yet I'le stay.

Am.
Be sure,
If you miscarry we are all undone.
Goe with Ulysses in this night-attempt,
Be each of you to him a Diomed.

Mal.
Stay till they come.

Am.
Lo here they are. Who else?

Scena V.

Enter to them Melancholico, Desperato and Sr. Timerous.
Ir.
What and Sr. Timerous too? Come, mend your pace.
What? doth Prudentius moderate your feet?
And make you snayles as well as slaves?

Mal.
Free Passions,
(So ye must be) we know your greivances.
Brother Melancholy, discreet you are,
But not expressive; unprefer'd you are,
Because precise; but say, would you with State
Infold your armes; look sad, and feele content;
Live careful over bags, retire your selfe
To solemn greife in Temples of delight,
Sigh in a Sisters bosom, and complain
Of Persecution at a plenteous Feast?

Ir.
Yes, yes. I'le answer for him.

Mel.
Sooth, you may.
Sadnesse is pleasant, but the cause is not.

Au.
And Desperato, once my old Comrad,
Once Noble, and again to be the same,
But now as void of cash as of imployment,
Would you, in Peace forgot, bard of a Pension,
Having no lands but bare high-wayes, now run
All hazards for new Fortune?

Desp.
Yes apace.

Ir.
Why parly then? can he not first draw blood?
Do Cutters ask what money have you first?

Tim.
Blood and Cutters? his speech is rough.

Mal.
hee's mad.
Say on.

Ir.
Nought's done through such long talke.

Mal.
Such Choler.

Au.
Wouldst thou have power to raise more flames then Nero,
To fire the World, prevent his final doome,
Stare awfully, stab others with applause,
Hang, drown thy selfe, to immortality.

Desp.
Such change I long for; rows'd from Lethargy
I am reviv'd.

Au.
Thou lyest, thou art not yet.
(Desp. offers to draw)
Hold, hold thy hand: I did but tempt thy mettle,
To search the truth.

Desp.
And Sir, 'tis well you say so.

Ir.
This Bully's right. why now I'm pleas'd

Am.
Sr. Tim.
My fellow Knight, you know (but do not tremble)
How oft the King hath misimpos'd on you
Those dreadful, those horrible, terrible

Tim.
Good Sir.

Am.
Those heart-labouring imployments,
Which Audax beg'd.

Tim.
I pray.

Am.
He sought thereby
Meerely to vexe and to disgrace your spurr
But wouldst thou hug thy Pillow or thy Love
Without disturbance, or the noise of danger?
How say'st?

Tim.
I love to live, and love in safety.

Mal.
Then in a word.

Au.
Ile first kick hence this Knight,
Hee'l prove a sive through feare; his trembling humour
Will shake our secrets out.

Am.
Which to prevent,
He stirs not from this company.

Mal.
Then know,
Our common medicine is Prudentius ruine.
Last comers, do ye twist in full consent?

Mel. & Desp.
We do.

Ir.
then kisse the Sacramental Sword.

Am.
Sr. Tim. you came unsought, but being come,
You must consent, or will be beaten too't.

Tim.
I, I do consent—but caution must be had;
This is no common sport: what Engines use ye?

Au.
Not you, be sure. Will Desperato joyne
With me and this brave Count?

Desp.
Yes, and strike home.

Mal.
Then for the time: we think close midnight best.

Mel.
And fittest; 'cause the crowned Fox is watchful.

Tim.
Be sure you take disguise to passe unknown,
Though it be night.

Au.
O wit and valour both!
Vizards to Passengers will be but signes
Hang'd out to move suspicion; and to leave
Him ignorant whom we assault is losse
Unto the glory of our bold revenge.

Mal.
What shall be done with Memor the Recorder,
One whom I hate, yet have no reason for't,
Like an old debt-book, or mine own Conscience,
Shall he be blotted out, or shall he stand?

Am.
Alas he's all Record, Example, Custome,
What's done Quadragesimo primo Henrici tertii,
Tricesimo primo Henrici octavi;
And these sute more with Passion then with Reason.

Mal.
What shall be done with Common sense the Judge?

Am.
He also more inclines to sense then Prudence,
Leanes to the Commons rather then the King.

Au.
As for the rest, they ne're shall trouble us;
Cut off the head, we need not feare the Members.

Mal.
Who shall succeed? I mean, in place, and shew,
Not in the tyranny of strict Command;
Who shall assemble, lead, incourage us,
And give some fashion to our Commonwealth?

Am.
What say to Fancie? will not Fancie do't?

Au.
No better choice: for Fancie neerest is
To unyoak'd Passion.

Am.
And 'tis most proper,
That since by Passion his revolt is made
From Reason unto Sense, the Rule should passe
From man to Woman.

Au.
She, she, Fancie she.

Liv.
(in secret)
O now for wings like thought, this to relate
First to the Agent of Prudentius;
And then to beare first newes, to new Queen Fancie.
(Ex. Liv.

Au.
She, Fancie's Queen.

Am.
She'l be a pleasant Mistresse
Rather then Governesse, leading each Passion
Whether himselfe inclines. Nay she'l invent
New Objects for their several content.

Scena VI.

Enter to them Groome of the Chamber.
Groo.
Silence through all the Court, the King would rest.

Desp.
Let him Eternally.

Mal.
The time growes nigh.
You three to th' task of Blood: the rest to Fancy.

(Ex. Passions.
Groo.
I doubt this earnest talk portends no good,
The businesse hath been hot.—

Enter form the Bedchamber Prudentius Crown'd, and Intellectus Agens.
Pru.
We would be private.
(Ex. Groome.
Liveby the Relator is most creditable.

Int.
A right ingenuous man.

Pru.
And you have sent him
To take advantage of the changing State,
With Caveat to reserve his heart for Us.

Int.
The Pinch and my best thoughts did so instruct me.

Pru.
Tis well, I dearely thank your sharp observance,
Suspecting Treason by their startled brows;
And then your art of finding out, and now
Your Providence for our Restablishment. But O,
O this ungrateful Rout, whom I have taught
Both how to Feare and Love, and what to Loath,
Wherefore to Greive and Joy, and in what place
To rouse their anger and audacity
By Rule and Circumstance, and with such Sweetnesse
As might befit a Wooer more then King.
Have I these Vipers bred within my Brest
With greater Care and Pangs then can a Mother
The Childe within her womb? have I broke sleep
Toss'd after slumbers, early rose, and spent
The day from Sun to Sun in painful Counsel;
Sent Birds about their Coasts, sent Eyes and Tongues
Abroad the world, to watch and guard, and work,
And keep all safe, and make them great, for This
For This Reward? Ask Heaven and Earth, if I
Have not with utmost care procur'd them Bread,
Cloth, Health, Peace, Manners, and Religion!
For Prudence is the womb and Forg of all
This mortal blisse. What ere I took from Them
Was for their use; like Vapour now exhal'd,
And soon return'd in Showers to fat their Land.
Oft have I bore them under both these wings,
One under each, when they inclin'd to Fury,
Would push each other down a Precipice,
Not steep like th' Alpes, but steep on either side,
There on a narrow ridg, an edg, a Thrid,
(Such is the meane, so plac'd betwixt two Gulfes)
I bore them in their Strife. For this and more
They have not pay'd (what's cheaper?) Single Duty.
Nothing but Grudgings, Whispers, Evil words:
These are their Thankes.

Int.
The greater glory yours:
What Crown like This to govern out of almes!

Pru.
But now they seek the Crown; my life they seek.

Int.
They'l beg hereafter that you'l take the Rule,
Which now they wrest out of your hands.

Pru.
Perhaps.

Int.
Meane while your life is safe.

Pru.
And while 'tis safe,
Though they forget their Duty, I'le not leave
A Fathers care, but will be still a King
In love, though not in power.

Int.
This is a signe
Of future greatnesse. Then cast off this Crown
As but the sheddings of renewing State,
Now to be burnished. Leave it on your Pillow:
For that they seek. But it return'd shall be
With double service both of Heart and Knee.

Pru.
Be Thou my Prophet.

Int.
Ware; the Caitiffes come.

Scena VII.

Enter Audax, Desperato, Irato with Swords: the first bearing a Torch.
Au.
This Torch must out, or some must blind their eyes;
And look not all at once, least all be struck.
The Chamber's here.

Desp.
Come set your Points
And Postures right; stand sure.

Pru.
Why should not I
Step in, and daunt them?

Int.
Tis not safe to tempt
United Impudence too far: withdraw.

Pru.
When Folly's ripe, Ile to my Diligence.

Int.
And I to serve you with Intelligence.
I'le guide you to some Cloyster.

Ir.
Now: there's the Nest.

(Ex. Pru. & Int.
Desp.
But what? the Eagle's flowne.

Ir.
Damn'd Trechery!
Treason amongst us Traytors!

Desp.
Lesse Resolution
Then mine had serv'd this Task.

Au.
How'ere my Lads,
(Brings forth the Crown.
Our Labour is not lost. Here's what we seek for.

Ir.
Thus when the Beaver smells the Hunters aime,
He throwes away the price of his escape.

Au.
Now shall I offer what affront I please.

Ir.
Ile stab with honour at what word mislikes me.

Desp.
No Peace shall stand unlesse our pleasure make it.

Au.
Fancie, we come. Stay, hark, stand, hark. This sound
Musick, begins softly.
The Sirens make, 'cause
Fancie shall be crown'd.

(Ex. Omnes.