University of Virginia Library

SCENA. 8.

Lingva. Mendatio.
Ling.
Why this is good by common Senses meanes,
Lingua thou hast framed a perfect comœdy
They are all good friends, whom thou mad'st enemies,
And I am halfe a Sense: a sweete peece of seruice,
I promise you a fayre step to preferment.
Was this the care and labour thou hast taken,
To bring thy foes together to a banket,
To loose thy Crowne, and be deluded thus,
Well now I see my cause is desperate,
The iudgements past, sentence irreuocable,
Therefore Ile be content and clap my hands,
And giue a Plaudite to their proceedings:
What shall I leaue my hate begun imperfect?
So fowly vanquisht by the spitefull Senses?
Shall I the Embassadresse of Gods and Men
That puld proud Phœbe from her brightsome spheare
And dark Apollo's countenance with a word
Raysing at pleasure stormes, and winds, and earth-quakes
Be ouercrowed? and breath without reuenge?
Yet they forsooth base slaues must be preferred,
And deck themselues with my right ornaments:
Doth the all-knowing Phœbus see this shame
Without redresse? will not Heauens helpe me?
Then shall Hell do it, my enchanting tongue
Can mount the skies, and in a moment fall,
From the Pole Artick to darke Acheron,
Ile make them know mine anger is not spent,
Lingua hath power to hurt, and will to do it.
Mendatio, come hether quickly sirra.

Men.
Madame.

Ling.
Harke hether in thine eare.

Men.
Why do you whish thus? here's none to heare you.

Ling.

I dare not trust these secrets to the Earth, ere since
she brought forth Reedes, whose babling noise tolde all the
world of Midas Asses eares, (She whispers him in the eare)

Doost vnderstand me?

Men.

I, I, I—neuer feare that—there's a iest indeed—pish,
pish,—Madam—doe you thinke mee so foolish?—tut, tut,
doubt not.

Lin.

Tell her if she doe not.

Men.

Why do you make any question of it—what a stirre
is here—I warrant you—presently?

Exit Mendatio?

Ling.
Well, Ile to supper, and so closely couer,
The rustie cancker of mine Yron spight,
With golden foile of goodly semblances,
But if I do not trounce them—
Exit Lingua.