University of Virginia Library

Actus 2u s:

Scen: ja

Olympa Sola
Olympa:
Alass wt h all the arte of my disguise
I cannot Put of woman too, my love
Wc h once I bare Lysander, hath not left me
That dye cannot be changde: my yeeld[e]inge hearte
(To apt for such impressions) hath receivde
A deeper Tincture from his oylye wordes.
False men, who (like A visor) shift yr faith;
Yet when you please to express any thinge
Inconstante, call it woman. see Lysander
I am vnchangde in all but face & Name
See her, who for thy love, hath made herselfe
Vnlovely; her, who tendered not ye grife
Of her dear Fathers loss, so she might gaine
The[e] sight of thee; since she despayres thy loue
Thou followest sure some mere attractive fire,
Whilest this my beauty as thou oft hast termde it
Lyes thus rackde vp in Embers: Perjured man!
But pardon heaven Lysander is perjurde
I would not haue him so, he was ye same
Twas I yt altered, yet I know not how;
What pretty cruell sporte Love makes it selfe
Denyeinge me what I was mistris of
Att leaste I thought so; and still bringeinge in
Ladye Facetia store of such vaine suitors
As one of them woulde make her surfeite, yett
I finde her minde inclineinge to Comastes
And he deserves it (wer he not my brother)
Whose sweet perfections noe vnluckye chance
Hath blemishd, onely her cross Fathers humor
Denyes him free access to her faire wishes:
Vnder this vaile vnknowne to him or her
I may wt h ease further what both desire
And though my selfe vnhappy, prove for them
Enter Lysander
Successfull. But see Lysander,! that such A shape
shoulde cover falshoode beinge so neere my bliss
Makes me more miserable: here vndiscovered
she wt h drawes her selfe to ye hangeings
I may take in ye accent of that tongue
In wc h once dwelt all harmonye.

Lysand:
What A fine place have I to be imployd in?
Like a master of an hospitall, amongst A tediouse
varietye of suitors wher if I shoulde picke and choose
I were not able to patch vp A compleat man, yet
Powerfull Love what servants hast thou sent on thine
Errande? and to such A one too, ye Title of whose
Perfections none of them haue the abilitye either
To conceive or com̄ende: A beautye yt Nature contrivde
vpon seriouse consideration, when others seemed to be
hudled vp in haste, who that hath eyes to choose
Woulde pitch any wher else?

Olympa:
this Aside out of Lysander heareinge
Olympas names forgott vnkinde man—
Who didst before I sullyed thus my face
Blott out my hapless memory—

Lysand:
Olde Lepidus too makes them his sporte
And me his engine by wc h he workes on them
And yet it breeds amazemente when I see
Wt h what ambitious dangerousenes these slaves
Respectedly pursue their desperate hopes
But let them on Ile vse them as my foyles
The ouglier they appeare on her pure eyes
The more I may nigratiate my selfe
Into her likeinge; besides these intercourses
Of myrth may prove Loves opportunityes
Though now I do prtend this jocular sporte
The prize I aime att is Facetias Love
And I must win̄ that or I loose my self

Olympa
And then am I lost too

he[[illeg.]] hears her
Lysander:
But whats that whispers? somewhat did suggeste
These are but custimary vowes as once
I made vnto Olympa

Olympa.
He named me, Those lipps make good [their musicke still]
Theyr musique still

Lysand:
I did her wronge wt h my beguileinge tongue
And wrought her to A hope, from wc h to fall
Would breake ye stoutest harte (though twer of stone)
But sure hers was of A softer temper
Her bodye's now incircled in cold earth
And ther she findes stones kinder—
Soft conscience Jades me, lett me recollecte
Why should her name thus overcaste my hopes
Like A dull cloude wc h prsently defeates
The goodly promises of A faire morne?
Nere lett my fancye to my memory
Againe prsente her, but in some ouglye shape
To affright her thence againe: when I'de express
Contemptt, & scorne, bee't in Olympas name.
I do deprive my selfe by this longe stay
Facetias luster must cleare vp ye day.
Exit Lys

Olympa
False man! as blacke in soule as I in face.
Exit Ol.

Scen: 2a

Lepidus & Ægidius
Lepidus comes in to ye fore ∥te of ye stage Apace.
Ægidius:
Nay do not rune away wt h it so, as if I meant
To sett vp my staffe here on any conditions:
Blood is noe dowrye, I take it beauty is A pretty
Playfellow, but A good huswife's good to breed on
yet I like yr daughter she may breed me
children may follow their fathers stepps
And thrive in ye worlde.

Lepid:
Lord how covetous he is yt hath one foot in ye grave
already? well Ægidius, you love my daughter you say

Ægid:
Yea, but ye other thousande (my Lord) would
Make her nere the less lovely, & worke much wt h me
Golde is ye only Catholicon, ye Restorative
Of all decayes in Natures workes, cures beyonde
What ye legend or Physitian boasts of.
Nor can your owne judgmente directe you wher you
should better place it then wt h one so likely to
Improve it for ye good of yours.

Lepid:
Ile loose noe hint of sporte for want of promises.—
Aside.
Ægidius I have alwayes observed yr care
and thriftiness, how strickt a stewarde you have bin
for Nature, nere sufferinge to lanch out into vaine
& frivolouse expences, A vice I alwayes hated

Ægid:
Then it must be so you'le be my father in law
If I can please Facetia

Lepid:
You may not doubt that; I haveinge so prpared her
Ther is indeed in maydes, A kinde of puleinge
Hypocrisy, A formality of denyeinge att leaste
Not yeeldeinge att first encounter.

Ægid
Lett custome have its course.

Lepid:
Otherwise she is all mine owne, lookes wt h my eyes
Likes wt h my fancye or refuseth; had you but seene
How (vpon an incklinge I gave her) she shooke vp
younge Comastes ye other day—
I beleeve she coolde his suite, heele have noe joy
to come hither ag[i]eaine in haste.

Ægid:
youth is to raw in ye worlds practi[s]ce they
know not what they doe when they com̄itt
Themselves to marriage bondes. I shall meet her
In ye yeares of discretion, & shall gett children
Shall attaine too't before one and twentye.

Lepid:
Most probable: I alwayes fancyed to my selfe
The man whome Fortune now in you prsents
And though you chance to meet wt h opposition
Of other suiters lett that but whett yr edge
Twas danger and multitude of Rivalls
That rendred Atlanta's glorye

Ægidius
—These I digest but all this is noethinge to ye
Motion I intimated.

Lepidus:
Oh, the other thousande, I shall not sticke
For that, I can̄ot be vnnaturall; on whome
but on myne owne should I bestow my
Whole remainder,? knowinge how well you
Know to husbande it but heres another suitor

Enter Piscinus & Columella behinde him.
Ægidius
What active spirits posses me? O the Antipathy
of operation, yt Gold ye heaviest mettale shoulde
Make me light! why it infuses A new soule into
me, and takes away ye defects of A Quondam
disabled [body.] but I will on whilst ye heat lasts
that I may prvent ye rest.
Exit Ægid:

Scen: 3a

Lepidus Piscinus & Columella behinde him
Piscinus
—Makes signes by puttinge his finger to his mouth points to Columella behinde him


Lepid:
—Of all my daughters suitors, I can [[illeg.]] best spare
this, he is not significant enough
To make mirth, but who is here wt h him?
Lepidus goes to Columella.
Sr woulde you ought wt h me.

Columella
Know Lord I am not for my selfe to speake
But am ye Organ to express this speechless Gents:
Thoughts: and I desyre to follow him
Wher I may discover ye invtterable love
He beares to yr vnexpressable daughter

Lepid:
Come follow me this is A quaint device.

Exeunt omnes

Scen: 4

Surdato Macilento.
Surda:
Why 'tis noe more then to know ye stops of ye flute
Or Recorder give me a taste of yr proficiencye.

Macilen
—makeinge signes on his fingers speakes—
If your nose were noe better then yr eares, I woulde
as soone carry you to ye courteinge of A jakes [as]
As Facetia.

Surdat:
Never did day arise more gloriouse vpon thee then this
if by ye happy interprtation of my Loves mellifluouse
voyce thou shalt give Seignioro, Aurelio, Surdato,
To vnderstande, he is planted so high in her affection
That ye hande of fortune shoulde be never able
To remove him.

Macilen
—I would Kiss Fortunes hand if she woulde
Remove me from you:—makes signes as before.

Surdat:
Thou promisest she will be deafe to all suitors else
Well and for thy worthye paines thou[s] shalt take
vpon thy fingers, and ye infinite Love Facetia shall
bestow on me, ye digitts of Arethmatick wt h all
the advantage of their places shall not cast vp ye
Value of what I shall bringe this day to her
And conferr on thee.

Macilen:
The Figure of one ni ye seconde place
woulde vndoe his Rodomantadoship in Marabedoes

Exeunt Sur: Mac:

Scen: 5a.

Lepidus, Piscinus, Columella, Facetia,
Lepid:
Weele to ye busines nistantly I hope
Mr Piscinus yr freinde is perfecte

Piscinus:
—Claps his hande on his breste.


Lepidus:
O I conceive you he meanes he has it
By harte.

Facetia:
Pray heaven I holde my countenance
This is such A device an age cannot paralell
An interprter to A dumbe man, A com̄ent vpon silence.

Columella
[Columella] I am as much troubled to speake
This wt hout action or accent as if I were
To reade Hebrew wt hout poyntes,
But this muste be my posture.

Columella retyres to ye hangins stands vpright against one of ye pillars of ye stage.

Scen: 6a

to ye m. Lysander, Surdato, Macilento:
Lysand:
Macilento you haue persuaded him yt
Piscinus is his Rivall and most abusive of him.

Macilent:
Yes, Yes, sr, looke, looke, how he swells att him
as if he had eate A toade

Piscinus
—Goes to Facetia & complements.


Surdato
Disgracde before my face, O Diabolo, Ile
Make thee eate thy wordes prophaner
Of my Loves pure eares

Lepid:
What hast thou done Lysander?
Piscinus his tongue was about to speake
And thou hast stopd two mouths at once.

Piscinus
—Lookes pittifully.


Columell:
I may come vnto my self againe awhile
Columella comes downe from ye pillar.
And come away from ye Arras

Surdat:
Ile heare no excuses, no, I am deafe to yr absurde
Apologyes; quit ye place ye a and yr suite too
Or by my offended soule. Ile caste thy slanderouse
To[u]ngue (spight of yt guarde of Tawny teeth)
Into foule Cerberus chopps wher it shall barke
As in its proper place

Piscinus
—Stares vpon him


Surdato
Dogg I will: dee stare?

Macilento:
Just such an eye ye mastife gave you Sr yt snatcht
ye Capons legg out of your hande wc h afterwardes
indeed you caught and eate in spight of ye doggs teeth.

Facetia:
Nay pray be patient Sr.

Surdat:
yr fingers Macilento.

Macilen:
—Makes signes


Faceti:
Doe you but retyre yr selfe & Ile give him his
mittimus and be wholy yours.

Macilen:
—Makes signes againe


Surdat:
I do obey, Facetia [[illeg.]] live Thy to[u]ngue
Hath power of life and death,: you'r reprivd
Not pardond (sirrah) live vpon good likeinge.

Lysand:
Why was not this A fine tempest & prsently over
Now to ye statue againe

Columel:
Now must I to ye place from whence
Columella goes to ye pillar agaī
I [came] came, to ye hangeinges againe.

Piscin
—Goes to him and stands before him Gives him signes to speake, wc h speech Piscinus acteth Columella stirreth not att all:


Columella:
O, list Facetia to an hearte can speake
Wt hout A tongue, a vseless Organ, thats made
To vent lovers vowes false promises
Wc h nere came from ye hearte,: The tongue was made
Spokes-man for Lust not Love, to daube pure eares
Which oft are burnte and scorcht wt h fiery wordes
Of venemouse furye: or els made red or glow
Wt h glozeinge fflatterye: Behold my soule
Subjected to thy feete, & wt h her service
Tenders these helpes of life, hers & thy slaves
Piscinus boweth very low and thro. ws downe writeinges
The guifts of Fortune, walke ore yt Parchmente
And take possession of 5 thousande Akers
And on those Akers see my flocke of sheepe
fattinge themselves to feed thy [l[OMITTED]ly]e lovely bodye
And just vpon ye brow of yon rich hill
Standes mine and thy house enter it dear Ladye

Lepid:
This was A very large sheep-skin I thincke
He hath exhibited his inventorye

Colum:
All mine is thine O then lett thine be mine

Lepidus:
Oh, oh, my heartstringes, oh my heartestringes
Daughter speake to him, weele haue repetitions
In ye Afternoone.

Facet:
Sr I cannot deserve so much as this
You haue indearde me.

Lepid:
Sr you and yr mouth shall dine wt h us to day.

Piscin
—laughs, expresses signes of joy.


Exeunt omnes

Scen: 7a

Lysander & Piscinus enter
Lysander:
I have a villanous minde, to mix profitt
Wt h my pleasure, to make vp this Comedy;
Twill be but ye sublimateinge of ye sporte:
And I finde none so fitt to worke on as this Piscinus
And ifaith tis but A little strayneinge of conscience
To venture on my vncle Ægidius: and as we
Shall have occasion sende him in for ye 2 course
this aside

S
r ever since you haue inbarqued yr selfe now to Pisc:
into this suite, you have bin y
e man whom I did ever most desyre to further, as alwayes likeinge well
of y
r discreet carriage, & so far patient yt you have bin w
t hout [y] retourne of all ye fowle iniuryes Surdatoes haug[h]ty and disgracefull spirit endeavors to throw

On you: but as by my diligent observation, you know
I cannot but be throughly informed, so for ye honest
And good will I from ye firste did beare; you may

Promise y
r selfe (I will not but trulye instruct you). y
e onely rub I find in yr way (duty must here give place) is Ægidius; he is y
e likelyest to whom Lepidus and Facetia must condescende,: but I have dealte
w
t h him already (as I was alwayes willinge to prpare all for y
r good) and I finde, vppon some consideration, he woulde be willinge to give over y
e wearye suite you know hee's vnwilye and covetous too: you may be
sure of my prosecutinge it for my owne sake: For

shoulde I suffer him to be matchd to her, his estate
(of w
c h I hope for noe meane portion) falls into ye hands of others: therfore thincke you ar well advised

Trust me w
t h ye rest: I would not haue you seene. my vncle promised to come about this
time and lo hee's here w
t h a wish.

Piscin:
Gives him a bagg of monye
and wt h signes of likeing:
Exit Piscinus

Scen: 8a

Ægidius Lysander.
Ægid:
Who was that went from you now (Nephew)?

Lysand:
It was Piscinus

Ægid:
And what made he here?

Lysand:
The old busines Sr, & now he doth inforce it strongelye

Ægid:
How,? how man?

Lysand:
But I beleeve he will faile in his projecte
For he has intrusted all to me.

Ægid
What is't what ist man?

Lysand:
Dee see his dumbe embassador?
Shewes him ye bagg:
This is that must speake for him: wherfore
Vncle if you woulde thinck my judgemente
any thinge,—But I will not perswade you

Ægid:
What you would haue me prsent her
wt h A richer then this[?]

Lysand:
You conceive rightly.

Ægidi:
And so be gulde

Lysand:
As if I would cozen my Vncle, leave it to me
And expect shortly to entertaine Facetia wt h
more close embraces then now do yr golde

Ægid:
Well thou shalt orecome but see
I be not gulde, come follow me:

Exeunt Ægid: Lys: