University of Virginia Library

SCENA. 6.

The bench as before; Tactvs, a Page before him bearing his Scutcheon, a Tortesse sables.
Tac.
Ready anon forsooth? the Diuell she will,
Who would be toyl'd with wenches in a shew.

Com. S.
What in such anger Tactus? whats the matter?

Tac.
My Lord I had thought as other Senses did,
By sight of obiects to haue prou'd my worth;
Wherefore considering that of all the things,
That please me most, women are counted cheefe.
I had thought to haue represented in my shew,
The Queene of pleasure, Uenus and her Sonne,
Leading a Gentleman enamored,
With his sweete touching of his Mistrisse lippes,
And gentle griping of her tender hands,
And diuers pleasant relishes of touch,
Yet all contained in the bounds of chastity.

Pha.
Tactus, of all I long to see your obiects,
How comes it we haue lost those pretty sports.

Tac.

Thus 'tis, fiue houres agoe I set a douzen maides to
attire a boy like a nize Gentlewoman: but there is such doing
with their looking-glasses, pinning, vnpinning, setting, vnseting,
formings and conformings painting blew vaines, and checkes,
such stirre with Stickes and Combes, Cascanets, Dressings,
Purles, Falles, Squares, Buskes, Bodies, Scarffes, Neck laces, Carcanets,
Rebatoes, Borders, Tires, Fannes, Palizadoes, Puffes,
Ruffes, Cuffes, Muffes, Pussles, Fussles, Partsets, Frislets, Bandlets,
Fillets, Croslets, Pendulets, Amulets, Annulets, Bracelets, and so
many lets, that yet shee is scarse drest to the girdle: and now
there's such calling for Fardingales, Kirtlets, Busk-points, shootyes
&c. that seauen Pedlers shops, nay all Sturbridge Faire will
scarse furnish her: a Ship is sooner rigd by farre, then a Gentlewoman
made ready.

Pha.
Tis strange, that women being so mutable,
Will neuer change in changing their apparell?

Com. Sen.
Well let them passe; Tactus we are content,
To know your dignity by relation.

Tac.
The instrument of instruments, the hand,
Courtesies index, Chamberlane to Nature,
The bodies Souldier, and mouthes Caterer,
Psyches great Secretarie, the dumbes eloquence,
The blindmans Candle, and his forheads Buckler,
The minister of wrath, and friendships signe,
This is my instrument: neuerthelesse my power
Extends it selfe, farre as our Queene commands,
Through all the parts and climes of Microcosme.
I am the roote of life, spreading my vertue
By sinewes that extend from head to foote,
To euery liuing part.
For as a suttle Spider closely sitting,
In center of her web that spreddeth round:
If the least Flie but touch the smallest thred,
Shee feeles it instantly; so doth my selfe,
Casting my slender nerue and sundry netts,
Ouer euery particle of all the body,
By proper skill perceaue the difference,
Of seuerall quallities, hot, cold, moist and drie;
Hard, soft, rough, smooth, clammy and slippery.
Sweete pleasure, and sharp paine profitable,
That makes vs wounded seeke for remedy:
By these meanes do I teach the Body flie,
From such bad things as may indanger it:
A wall of brasse can be no more defence,
Vnto a towne then I to Microcosme?
Tell me what sence is not beholding to mee,
The nose is hot or cold, the eies do weepe:
The eares do feele, the tast's a kinde of touching,
That when I please, I can command them all,
And make them tremble when I threaten them:
I am the eldest, and biggest of all the rest,
The chiefest note, and first destinction,
Betwixt a liuing tree and liuing beast;
For though one heare, and see: and smell: and tast
If he wants touch, he is counted but a block?
Therefore my Lord grant me the royalty:
Of whome there is such great necessity.

Com. Sen.

Tactus stand aside; you sirra Anamnestes tell the
Senses we expect their appearance.

Ana.

At your Lordships pleasure?

Exit Anamnestes.