 | The Woman in the Moone |  |
Act. 4.
Scen. 1.
Enter Mercury.Mer.
Empresse of loue giue Hermes leaue to reigne,
My course comes next therefore resigne to me.
Descend Venus.
Uenus.
Ascend thou winged purseuant of Ioue.
Mer.
Now shall Pandora be no more in loue,
And all these swaines that were her fauorits,
Shall vnderstand there mistres hath playde false,
And lothing her blab all to Stesias.
Now is Pandora in my regiment,
And I will make her false and full of slights,
The euish, lying, suttle, eloquent.
For these alone belong to Mercury.
Enter Melos, Learchus, Iphicles.
Iphi.
Vnkind Pandora to delude me thus,
Lear.
Too kinde Learchus that hath loude her thus.
Melos.
Too foolish Melos that yet dotes on her.
Lear.
Blacke be the Iuory of her tysing face,
Melos.
Dimde be the sun-shine of her rauishing eyes.
Iph.
Fayre may her face be, beautifull her eyes,
Lear.
O Iphicles abiure her, she is false.
Iphi.
To thee Learchus and to Melos false,
Mel.
Nay to vs all too false and full of guile,
Lear.
How many thousand kisses gaue she me.
And euery kisse mixt with an amorous glaunce.
Melos.
How oft haue I leand on her siluer breast,
She singing on her Lute, and Melos being the note.
Iphis.
But waking, what sweete pastime haue I had,
For loue is watchfull, and can neuer sleepe.
Melos.
But ere I slept.
Lea.
VVhen I had list.
Iph.
VVhat then?
Cætera quis nescit?
Lear.
Melos preuents me that I should haue sayd.
Iph.
Blush Iphicles and in thy Rosie cheekes.
Let all the heat that feeds thy heart appeare.
Lear.
Droope not fayre Iphicles for her misdeeds:
But to reuenge it hast to Stesias.
Mel.
Yea he shall know she is lasciuious.
Iphi.
In this complaint Ile ioyne with thee, let vs go.
Lear.
Stay heere he comes.
Enter Stesias with Gunophilus.
Ste.
O Stesias what a heauenly loue hast thou?
A loue as chaste as is Apolloes tree:
As modest as a vestall Virgins eye,
And yet as bright as Glow wormes in the night:
VVith which the morning decks her louers hayre.
O fayre Pandora, blessed Stesias.
Iphi.
O foule Pandora, cursed Stesias.
Stes.
VVhat meanst thou Iphicles?
Melos.
Ah is she fayre that is lasciuious?
Or that swaine blest that she makes but a stale.
Lear.
He means thy loue vnhappy Stesias.
Stes.
My loue? no Shepheards this is but a stale,
To make me hate Pandora whom I loue,
So whispered late the false Gunophilus,
Let it suffice that I beleeue you not.
Iphi.
Loue is deafe, blinde, and incredulous,
I neuer hung about Pandoraes neck,
She neuer termd me fayre and thee black swaine.
Melos.
She playd not vnto Melos in her bowre,
Nor is his greene bowre strewd with Primrose leaues.
Lear.
I kist her not, nor did she terme me loue,
Pandora is the loue of Stesias.
Stes.
Sirra, bid your Mistres come hether.
Guno.
I shall syr.
Stes.
I neuer hung about Pandoraes neck,
I kiss her not, nor did she terme me loue.
These wordes argue Pandora to be light.
She playde the wanton with these amarous swaines,
By all these streames that interlaced these floodes.
VVhich may be venom to her thirstie soule.
Ile be reuenged as neuer shepherd was,
Now foule Pandora, wicked Stesias.
Enter Gunophilus and Pandora.
Gu.
Mistres tis true I hard them, venter not.
Pand.
Fence with her tongue, and garded with her wit.
Thus goeth Pandora vnto Stesias.
Ste.
Detested falsor that to Stesias eyes.
Art more insestious then the Basiliske
Pand.
Gunophilus, Pandora is vndone,
Her loue, her ioy, her life hath lost his wits,
Offer a Kyd in Esculapias fane,
That he may cure him, least I dye outright,
Gu.
Ile offer it Esculapius, but he shall not haue him,
for when he comes to him selfe I must answer it.
Pand.
Go I say.
Ste.
Stay I am well tis thou that makst me raue,
Thou playdst the wanton with my fellow swaynes.
Pand.
Then dye Pandora: art thou in thy wits.
And calste me wanton?
She fals downe.
Gu.
O Maister what haue you done.
Ste.
Diuine Pandora rise and pardon me.
Pand.
I cannot but forgiue thee Stesias,
But by this light, if.
Gu.
Looke how she winkes.
Ste.
O stay my loue I know twas their deuise
Pand.
He that will winne me must haue Stesias shape.
Such golden hayre, such Alabaster lookes,
VVilt thou know why I loued not Iupiter?
Because he was vnlike my Stesias.
VVas euer silly shepherd thus abusd?
All three afirmd Pandora held them deare.
Pand.
It was to bring me in disgrace with thee,
That they might haue some hope I would be theirs.
I cannot walke but they importune me.
How many amarous letters haue they sent.
VVhat giftes? yet all in vayne to proue which true,
Ile beare this slaunder with a patient minde,
Speeke them all fayre and ere the sunne go downe,
Ile bring thee where they vse to lie in weight,
To robbe me of my honour in the groues,
Ste.
Do so sweete wife, and they shall buy it deare
I cannot stay my sheepe must to the fould.
Exit.
Pand.
Go Stesias as simple as a sheepe,
And now Pandora summon all thy wits,
To be reuenged vpon these long toungd swaynes,
Gunophilus beare Iphicles this ring:
Tell him I raue and language for his loue.
VVill him to meete me in this meade alone,
And sweare his fellowes haue deluded him,
Beare this to Melos say that for his sake,
I stabd my selfe, and hadst not thou been neare,
I had bene dead, but yet I am aliue.
Calling for Melos whom I onely loue,
And to Learchus beare these passionate lines,
VVhich if he be not flint will make him come.
Gu.
I will, and you shall see how cunningly Ile vse them
stay here and I will send them to you one after another, and
then vse them as your wisdome shall thinke good.
Exit.
Pand.
That letter did I pen doubting the worst.
And dipt the Napking in the Lambkins blood.
For Iphicles were he compact of Iron,
My ring is Adamant to drawe him foorth,
Let women learne by me to be reuengd.
Ile make them bite their tongues and eate their wordes,
Yea sweare vnto my husband all is false.
To make these nouises that iniure me.
Young Iphicles must boast I fauourd him,
Here I protest as Helen to her loue:
Oscula luctanti tantummodo pauca proternus abstulit: vlterius, nil habet ille mei.
And whats a kisse? too much for Iphicles?
Iph.
Melos is wily, and Learchus false,
Here is Pandoraes ring, and she is mine:
It was a stratagem layde for my loue,
O foolish Iphicles what hast thou done?
Must thou betray her vnto Stesias.
Pand.
Here will I sit till I see Iphicles,
Sighing my breath, out weeping my heart bloud,
Go soule and flye vnto my leefest loue,
A fayrer subiect then Elysium.
Iphi.
Can I heare this? can I view her? O no.
Pand.
But I will view thee my sweet Iphicles,
Thy lookes are physicke, suffer me to gaze,
That for thy sake am thus distempered.
Iphi.
Pale be my lookes to witnesse my amisse.
Pand.
And mine to shew my loue: louers are pale.
Iphi.
And so is Iphicles.
Pand.
And so Pandora let me kisse my loue,
And adde a better couler to his cheekes.
Iphi.
O bury all thy anger in this kisse,
And mate me not with vttering my offence.
Pand.
VVho can be angrie with one whom she loues?
Rather had I to haue no thoughts at all.
Then but one ill thought of my Iphicles:
Go vnto Stesias and deny thy words,
For he hath thrust me from his cabanet.
And as I haue done, I will loue thee still,
Delay no time, hast gentle Iphicles,
And meete me on Enepeus sedgy bankes.
Iphi.
VVhen shall I meet thee, tell me my bright loue.
At midnight Iphicles, till then farewell.
Iphi.
Farewell Pandora, Ile to Stesias.
Exit.
Pand.
Thus will I serue them all, now Melos come,
I loue thee too, as much as Iphicles.
Enter Melos.
Melos.
This is Pandoraes blood, hast Melos hast,
And in her presence launce thy flesh as deepe:
VVicked Learchus, subtill Iphicles:
You haue vndone me by your reaching wit.
Pan.
Gunophilus, where is Gunophilus?
Giue me the knife thou pulledst from my brest:
Melos is gone, and left Pandora here,
VVitnesse yee wounds, witnesse yee siluer streames,
That I am true, to Melos onely true,
And he betrayde me vnto Stesias.
Mel.
Forgiue me loue, it was not I alone,
It was Learchus, and false Iphicles.
Pand.
Tis not Learchus, nor that Iphicles,
That greeues me, but that Melos is vnkinde,
Melos for whom Pandora straynd her voyce,
Playing with euery letter of his name:
Melos, for whom Pandora made this wounde,
Melos, for whom Pandora now will dye.
Mel.
Diuine Pandora, stay thy desperat hand,
May summers lightning burne our Autumne crop,
The thunders teeth plowe vp our fayrest groues,
The scorching sun-beames, dry vp all our springs,
And ruffe windes blast the beauty of our plaines,
If Melos loue not thee, more then his heart.
Pand.
So Melos sweares, but tis a louers othe.
Melos.
Once guiltie, and suspected euermore,
Ile nere be guiltie more, suspect me not.
Pand.
Nor I suspect thee more, mistrust me not,
Learchus neuer toucht Pandoraes lips,
Nor Iphicles receaud a friendly word:
Doe onely this and Ile be onely thine,
Go vnto Stesias and deny thy wordes,
And as the sunne goes downe Ile meete thee heare.
Mel.
I will Pandora, and to cure thy wound,
Receiue these vertuous hearbes which I haue found.
Pand.
A prety swayne worthy Pandoraes loue,
But I haue written to Learchus I,
And I will keepe my promise though I dye,
Enter Learchus with a letter and Gunophilus.
which is to cozen him as he did me,
Lear.
Learchus my loue Learchus,
O the iteration of my name argues her affection,
VVas it my desert? thine alas Pandora,
It was my destiny to be credulous to these miscreants.
Gu.
Looke, looke she is writing to you agayne.
Pa.
VVhat is he come then shall my tongue declayme,
Yet am I bashfull and afeard to speake.
Le.
Blush not Pandora who hath made most fault?
Pan.
I that sollicit thee which loues me not.
Lea.
I that betrayd thee, which offended not.
Pand.
Learchus pardon me.
Lear.
Pandora pardon mee.
Gu.
All friendes and so they kist.
Pa.
I can but smile to thinke thou wast deceiud,
Learchus thou must to my husband streight,
And say that thou art sory for thy wordes,
And in the euening ile meete thee agayne,
Vnder the same groue where we both sat last.
Le.
I will Pandora, but looke where he comes.
Pan.
Then giue me leaue to desemble.
Tis not thy sorrow that can make amends,
Were I a man thou shouldst repent thy wordes.
Ste.
Learchus will you stand vnto your wordes.
Le.
O Stesias pardon me twas their deceite.
Ste.
They lay the fault on thee, and thou on them,
But take thee that.
Pan.
Ah Stesias leaue: you shall not fight for me,
Go, goe Learchus I am Stesiasses.
Lear.
Art thou?
Gu.
No no Learchus, she doth but say so.
Ste.
Out of my ground Learchus, from my land,
And from hence forward come not neare my lawnes,
Pandora come: Gunophilus away.
Pan.
Learchus meete me straight, the time drawes nigh.
Lear.
The time drawes nigh, O that the time were now,
I go to meete Pandora at the groue.
Exit.
Enter Melos.
Mel.
VVhen will the sun go downe? flye Phœbus flye,
O that thy steeds were wingd with my swift thoughts:
Now shouldst thou fall in Thetis azure armes.
And now would I fall in Pandoraes lap.
Enter Iphicles.
Iphi.
VVherefore did Iupiter create the day?
Sweete is the night when euery creature sleepes,
Come night, come gentle night, for thee I stay.
Mel.
VVherefore dooth Iphicles desire the night?
Iph.
VVhose that Melos? thy words did make me afeard,
I wish for midnight but to take the VVolfe,
VVhich kils my sheepe, for which I made a snare:
Melos farewell, I must go watch my flocks.
Mel.
And I my loue? here she will meet me streight.
Exit Iphicles.
See where she comes hiding her blushing eyes.
Enter Stesias in womans apparell.
Mel.
My loue Pandora for whose sake I liue?
Hide not thy beauty which is Melos sunne.
Stes.
Here is Stesias, Melos you are deceaud.
He striketh Melos.
Melos.
Pandora hath deceaud me I am vndone.
Stes.
So will not I syr, I meane simply.
Exit.
Enter Pandora with Gunophilus.
Pan.
Come hast thou all his Iewels and his pearles?
Gun.
I all, but tell me which way shall we go?
Pand.
Vnto the sea side, and take shipping streight.
Gun.
VVell I am reuengd at last of my Maister, I pray
God I may be thus euen with all mine enemyes: onely to
runne away with their wiues.
Pand.
Gunophilus, for thee I haue done this.
Guno.
I and for your selfe too, I am sure you wil not beg
by the way.
Pand.
For thee Ile beg and dye Gunophilus.
Guno.
I so I thinke, the world is so hard, that if yee beg
yee may be sure to be starud.
Pand.
I prythee be not so churlish.
Guno.
O this is but myrthe, do you not know
Comes facetus est tanquam vehiculus in via:
A merry companion is as good as a VVagon,
For you shalbe sure to ryde though yee go a foote.
Pand.
Gunophilus, setting this mirth aside,
Dost thou not loue me more then all the world?
Guno.
Be you as stedfast to me as Ile be to you, and we
two wil goe to the worlds end, and yet we cannot, for the
world is round, and seeing tys round, lets daunce in the circle,
come turne about.
Pan.
VVhen I forsake thee, then heauen it selfe shal fall.
Gunoph.
No, God forbid, then perhaps we should haue
Larkes.
Exeunt.
Enter Stesias, and Iphicles.
Stes.
This is Enipeus banke, here she should be,
Iph.
VVhat is it midnight? time hath bene my friend,
Come sweete Pandora all is safe and whist,
VVhither flyes my loue.
Ste.
Follow me, follow me, here comes, Stesias.
Iph.
She hath betrayd me whither shall I flye?
He strikes Iphicles.
Ste.
Eyther to the riuer, or els to thy graue.
Enter Learchus.
Lear.
The euenings past, yea midnight is at hand.
And yet Pandora comes not at the groue.
Ste.
But Stesias is her deputy he comes.
And with his shephooke greetes Learchus thus.
He layes about.
Lear.
Pardon me Stesias, twas Pandoraes wiles,
That hath betrayd me, trust her not, she is false.
Ste.
VVhy doest thou tell me the contrary take that,
She is honest but thou wouldst seduce her.
Away from my groue, out of my land,
Did I not giue thee warning?
Exit.
| The Woman in the Moone | |