University of Virginia Library

SCENE. 7.

Mendatio. Appetitvs, Tactvs with a great black Iack in his hand.
Men:

Is this he that thinkes himselfe Hercules?

Ap.

I, willt see mee out-swagger him?

Men.

I do, do, I loue not to sport with such mad play-fellowes;
tickle him Appetitus, tickle him, tickle him.

Exit Mendatio

Tac.
Haue I not here the great and puissant Club.
Wherewith I conquered three Chopt Cerberus.

App.
Haue I not here the sharpe, and warlike teeth.
That at one break-fast quaild thrice three hogg's faces?

Tac.
And are not these Alcides brawny armes,
That rent the Lyons iawes and kill'd the boare?

Ap.
And is not this the Stomacke that defeated
Nyne yards of pudding, and a ranke of pyes?

Tac.
Did not I crop the seauen-fold Hydras crest,
And with a riuer clensed Augeas stable?

Ap.
Did not I crush a seuen-fold Custards crust,
And with my tongue, swept a well furnisht table?

Tac.
Did not these feete and hands oretake and slay,
The nimble Stagge, and fierce impetuous bull?

Ap.
Did not this throat at one good meale deuoure,
That Stagges sweet venison, and that strong Bulls beefe?

Tac.
Shall Hercules be thus disparaged?
Iuno! you pouting Queane, you lowring trull?
Take heede I take you not; for by Ioues thunder
Ile be reueng'd

(Appetitus drawes Uisus backward from Tactus.
Ap.
Why Visus, Visus, will you be kill'd? away, away.

Exit Visus.
Tac.
Who haue we here, see, see the Giant Cacus,
Drawes an Oxe backward to his theeuish den,
Hath this deuise so long deluded mee?
Monster of men Cacus restore my cattle,
Or instantly Ile crush thy idle Cox-combe.
And dash thy doltish braines against thy Caue.

Ap.
Cacus, I Cacus? ha, ha, ha. Tactus you mistake mee.
I am yours to command, Appetitus.

Tac.
Art Appetitus? Th'art so; run quickly villaine,
Fetch a whole Oxe to satisfie my stomacke.

Ap.
Fetch an Asse to keepe you company.

Tac.
Then downe to Hell, tell Pluto Prince of Diuells,
That great Alcides want's a kitchen wench.
To turne his spit, command him from my selfe!
To send vp Proserpine shee'l serue the turne.

Ap.
I must finde you meate and the Diuell finde you cookes
Which is the next way?

Tac.
Follow the beaten path thou canst not misse it
Tis a wide Causie that conducteth thether,
An easie tract and downe hill all the way,
But if the blacke Prince will not send her quickly,
But still detaine her for his bed-fellow,
Tell him Ile drag him from his iron chayre,
By the steele tresses, and then sow him fast,
With the three furies in a letherne bag.
And thus will drowne them in the Ocean.

(he powres the Iack of beere vpon Appetitus)
Ap.

You had better keepe him aliue to light Tobacco-pipes
or to sweepe chimneys.

Tac.
Art thou not gone, nay then ile send thy soule,
Before thee, 'twill do thy message sooner (tiffe, tiffe.)

Ap.
Hercules, Hercules, Hercules? do not you heare Omphale?
Hearke how she calles you, hearke?

Tac.
Tis shee indeed I know her sugred voice?
Omphale deare Commandresse of my life
My thoughts repose, sweet Center of my cares
Where all my hopes, and best desires take rest.
Lo! where the mighty Sonne of Iupiter
Throwes himselfe Captiue at your conquering feete
Do not disdaine my voluntary humblenesse.
Accept my seruice, blesse me with commanding,
I will performe the hardest imposition
And run through twelue newe labours for thy sake.
Omphale deare commandresse of my life.

App.
Do you not see how she beckons to you to follow her?
Looke how she holds her distaffe, looke you?

Tac.
Where is she gone, that I may follow her?
Omphale stay, stay, take thy Hercules!

App.
There there man, you are right.

Exit Tactus.