University of Virginia Library

SCEN. 8.

Visvs, in a Garland of Bayes mixt with white and red Roses, a light coloured Taffata mantle striped with siluer, and fringd vpon greene silke Bases, Buskins. &c.
Gvstvs in the same fashion, differing onely in colour.
Tactvs, in a corner of the Stage.
Visvs. Gvstvs. Tactvs.
Vis.
Gustus good day.

Gvst.
I cannot haue a bad,
Meeting so faire an omen as your selfe.

Tact.
Shall I? wilt proue? ha? well 'tis best to venture.

Tactus puts on the robes.
Gvst.
Saw you not Tactus, I should speake with him.

Tact.
Perchance so, a sodaine lye hath best luck.

Vis.
That face is his, or else mine eye's deceiu'd,
Why how now Tactus, what so gorgious?

Gvst.
Where didst thou get these faire habiliments?

Tact.
Stand back I charge you as you loue your liues,
By Stix, the first that toucheth me shall dye.

Vis.
I can discerne no weapons, will he kill vs?

Tact.
Kill you? not I, but come not neere me you had best.

Vis.
Why, art thou mad?

Tact.
Friends as you loue your liues,
Venture not once to come within my reach.

Gvst.
Why dost threaten so?

Tact.
I do not threaten, but in pure loue aduise you for the best,
Dare not to touch me but hence flie a pace,
Adde wings vnto your feete and saue your liues.

Vis.
Why what's the matter Tactus prethe tell me?

Tact.
If you will needs ieopard your liues so long,
As heare the round of my amazednesse.
Then for your better safetie stand aside.

Gvst.
How full of ceremonies, sure he'le coniure,
For such like Robes Magitians vse to weare.

Vis.
Ile see the end, though he should vnlock Hell:
And set th'infernall hagges at libertie.

Tact.
How rash is man on bidden armes to rush.
It was my chance, O chance most miserable,
To walke that way that to Crumena leads.

Gvst.
You meane Cremona a little Towne hard by.

Tact.
I say Crumena, called Uacua,
A Towne which doth, and alwaies hath belongd,
Chiefely to Schollers: from Crumena walles,
I saw a man came stealing craftily,
Apparelled in this vesture which I weare,
But seeing me eft-soones, he tooke his heeles,
And threw his garment from him all in hast,
Which I perceiuing to be richly wrought,
Tooke it me vp: But good now get you gone,
Warn'd by my harmes, and scape my miserie.

Vis.
I know no danger, leaue these circumstances.

Tac.
No sooner had I put it on my back,
But suddainly mine eyes began to dim,
My ioints waxe sore, and all my body burne
With most intestiue torture, and at length,
It was too euident, I had caught the plague.

Vis.
The plague, away good Gustus lets be gone,
I doubt 'tis true, now I remember me,
Crumena Vacua neuer wants the plague.

Gvst.
Tactus Ile put my selfe in ieopardy to pleasure thee.

Tact.
No gentle Gustus, your absence is the onely thing I wish,
Least I infect you with my companie.

Gvst.
Farewell.
Exit Gustus.

Vis.
I willingly would stay to do thee good.

Tact.
A thousand thankes, but since I needs must die,
Let it suffice, death onely murthers me,
Oh 'twould augment the dolour of my death,
To know my selfe the most vnhappy Bowe,
Through which pale death should aime his shafts at you.

Vis.
Tactus farewell, yet die with this good hope,
Thy corps shall be interred as they ought.
Exit Uisus.

Tac.
Go make my Tombe, prouide my funerals, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
Excellent Asses thus to be deluded,
Bewaile his death and cruell destinies,
That liues, and laughes your fooleries to scorne,
But wher's my Crowne, oh here: I well deserue,
Thus to be crowned for two great victories ha, ha, ha,
Uisus take care my corps be well interr'd:
Go make my tombe, and write vpon the stone.
Here lyes the Sense, that lying guld them all,
With a false plague, and fained Vrinall.