 | The Woman in the Moone |  |
Act. 3.
Scena. 1.
Enter Sol and take his seate.Sol.
In looking downe vpon this baser worlde,
I long haue seene and rude Pandoraes harmes,
But as my selfe by nature am inclinde,
So shall she now become, gentle and kinde,
Abandoning all rancour, pride, and rage,
And changing from a Lion to a Lambe,
She shalbe louing liberall and chaste,
Discreete and patient, mercifull and milde,
Inspired with poetry and prophesie,
And vertues apperteyning womanhoode.
Enter Pandora with Gunophilus
Pand.
Tell me Gunophilus how doth Stesias now?
How fares he with his wound? vnhappy me,
That so vnkindely hurt so kind a friende,
But Stesias if thou pardon what is past,
I shall rewarde thy sufferaunce with loue,
These eyes that were like two malignant starres,
Shall yeeld their comfort with their sweet aspect.
And these my lippes that did blaspheme thy loue,
Shall speake thee fayre and blesse thee with a kisse,
And this my hand that hurt thy tender side,
Shall first with herbes recure the wound it made,
Then plight my fayth to thee in recompence.
And thou Gunophilus I pray thee pardon me,
That I misdid thee in my witles rage,
As time shall yeelde occasion be thou sure,
I will not fayle to make thee some amends.
Gunop.
I so content me in this pleasaunt calme.
Enter foure shepherdes.
Learc.
We follow still in hope of grace to come,
Iphi.
O sweete Pandora deigne our humble suites.
Melos.
O graunt me loue or wound me to the death.
Pand.
Stand vp: Pandora is no longer proud,
But shames at folly of her former deedes,
But why standes Stesias like a man dismayde?
Draw neare I say and thou with all the rest.
Forgiue the rigour of Pandoraes hand,
And quite forget the faultes of my disdayne.
Now is the time if you consent all foure,
VVherein Ile make amends for olde offence.
One of you foure shalbe my wedlocke mate,
And all the rest my welbeloued friendes:
But vowe you here in presence of the Gods,
That when I choose, my choyse shall please you all.
Ste.
Then make I vowe, by Pallas shepherds Queene,
That Stesias will alowe Pandoraes choyse.
But if he speede that lesse deserues then I,
Ile rather dye, then grudge or make complaynt.
Melos.
I sweare the like by all our country gods,
Iphi.
And I by our Dianes holy head.
Learc.
And I by Ceres and her sacred Nymphes.
Pand.
Then loue and Hymen blesse me in my choyse.
You all are young and all are louely fayre,
All kinde, and curteous and of sweete demeane,
All right and valiaunt, all in flowring prime,
But since you graunt my will his libertie,
Come Stesias take Pandora by the hand,
And with my hand I plight my spotles fayth.
Ste.
The word hath almost slayne me with delight.
Learc.
The worde with sorowe killeth me outright.
Melos.
O happy Stesias, but vnhappy me,
Iphi.
Come let vs goe and weepe our want elswhere
Exeunt.
Pand.
Their sad depart would make my hart to earne,
VVere not the ioyes that I conceaue in thee:
Go, go, Gunophilus without delay,
Gather me balme and cooling Violets,
And of our holly hearbe Nicotian,
And bring with all pure hunny from the hyue,
That I may heere compound a wholsome salue,
To heale the wound of my vnhappy hand.
Gunoph.
I goe.
Stesias.
Blest be the hand that made so happy wound,
For in my sufferance haue I wonne thy loue,
And blessed thou, that hauing tryed my faith,
Hast giuen admittance to my harts desert,
Now all is well, and all my hurt is whole,
And I in paradise of my delight.
Come louely spouse, let vs go walke the woods,
VVhere warbling birds recorde our happines:
And whisling leaues make musick to our myrthe,
And Flora strews her bowre to welcome thee.
Pand.
But first sweet husband, be thou ruld by me,
Go make prouision for some holy rytes:
That zeale may prosper our new ioyned loue,
And by and by my selfe will follw thee.
Ste.
Stay not my deere, for in thy lookes I liue.
Exit.
Pand.
I feele my selfe inspyrd, but wot not how,
Nor what it is, vnlesse some holy powre:
My heart foretels me many things to come,
And I am full of vnacquainted skil:
Yet such as wil not issue from my tongue,
But like Siballaes goulden prophesies,
Affecting rather to be clad in verse,
(The certaine badge of great Apolloes gift)
Then to be spred and soyld in vulgar words,
And now to ease the burden of my bulke,
Like Sibill, thus Pandora must begin,
Come my Pandora, Stesias stayes for thee.
Pand.
Peace man, with reuerence here & note my words,
For from Pandora speakes the Lawreat God.
Utopiæ Stesias Phœnici soluis amorem,
Numina cælorum dum pia præcipiunt.
And backward thus the same, but double sence.
Præcipiunt pia dum celorum Numina, amorem
Soluit Phœnici Stesias Utopiæ.
He soberly repeating these verses, first forward and then. backward, sayeth.
Stesi.
If soluere amorem signifie to loue,
Then meanes this prophesie good to Stesias:
But if it signifie to withdrawe loue,
Then is it ill aboadement to vs both:
But speake Pandora while the God inspyres.
Pand.
Idaliis prior hic pueris est: æquoris Alti
Pulchrior hec nymphis, & prior Aoniis.
And backward thus, but still all one in sense.
Aoniis prior, & nymphis hec pulchrior alti
Æquoris est: pueris hic prior Idaliis.
He soberly repeating these also, backward and forward, sayeth:
Stesi.
Forward and back, these also are alike
And sence all one, the pointing only changd:
They but import Pandoraes praise and mine.
Pand.
Euen now beginneth my furie to retyre,
And now with Stesias hence wil I retyre.
Exeunt.
Scen. 2.
Enter Uenus.Phœbus away, thou makst her too precise,
Ile haue her wittie, quick, and amorous,
Delight in reuels and in banqueting,
Sol.
Bright Cyprian Queene intreate Pandora fayre.
For though at first Phœbus enuied her lookes,
Yet now doth he admire her glorious hew.
And sweares that neyther Daphne in the spring,
Nor glistering Thetis in her orient robe,
Nor shamefast morning gert in siluer cloudes.
Are halfe so louely as this earthly sainte.
Venus.
And being so fayre my beames shall make her light,
For Lenety is Beauties wayting mayde.
Sol.
Make Chastity Pandoraes wayting mayde,
For modest thoughtes beseemes a woman best.
Uenus.
Away with chastity and modest thoughts,
Quo mihi fortuna si non conceditur vti?
Is she not young? then let her to the worlde,
All those are strumpets that are ouer chaste,
Defying such as keepe their company,
Tis not the touching of a womans hand,
Kissing her lips, hanging about her necke.
A speaking looke, no nor a yeelding worde,
That men expect, beleeue me Sol tis more,
And were Mars here he would protest as much.
Sol.
But what is more then this is worse then nought,
I dare not stay least she infect me too.
Exit.
Venus.
what is he gone, then light foote Ioculus,
Set me Pandora in a dauncing vayne,
Iocu.
Fayre mother I will make Pandora blyth,
And like a Satyre hop vpon these playnes.
Exit.
Venus.
Go Cupid giue her all the golden shafts.
And she will take thee for a forrester.
Cupid.
I will and you shall see her streight in loue.
Exit.
Venus ascendeth.
Venus.
Here Venus sit, and with thy influence,
Gouerne Pandora, Natures miracle.
Pan.
Prethee be quiet wherefore should I daunce?
Ioc.
Thus daunce the Satyrs on the euen lawnes.
Pand.
Thus prety Satyr will Pandora daunce.
Cupid.
And thus will Cupid make her melody.
He shootes.
Iocu.
VVere I a man I could loue thee.
Pand.
I am a mayden wilt thou haue me?
Iocu.
But Stesias saith you are not.
Pand.
VVhat then? I care not.
Cupid.
Nor I.
Iocu.
Nor I,
Pand.
Then merely farewell my mayden head.
These be all the teares Ile shed,
Turne about and tryppe it.
Uenus.
Cupid and Ioculus, come leaue her now.
Exeunt.
Pand.
The boyes are gone and I will follow them.
I will not follow them they are to young.
VVhat hony thoughts are in Pandoraes brayne?
Hospitis est tepedo nocte recepta sui.
Ah I enuie her, why was not I so?
And so will I be, where is Iphicles,
Melos, Learchus? any of the three?
I cure the sicke? I study Poetry?
I thinke of honour and of chastitie?
No: loue is fitter then Pandoraes thoughts,
Yet not the loue of Stesias alone,
Learchus is as fayre as Stesias,
And Melos loulier then Learchus farre.
But might I chose, I would haue Iphicles,
And of them all Stesias deserues the least.
As loose as Helen, for I am as fayre.
Enter Gunophilus.
Mistresse, here be the hearbs for my maisters wound?
Pand.
Prety Gunophilus, giue me the hearbs:
VVhere didst thou gather them my louely boye?
Gunoph.
Vpon Learchus plaine.
Pand.
I feare me Cupid daunst vpon the plaine,
I see his arrow head vpon the leaues.
Gunoph.
And I his golden quiuer and his bowe.
Pand.
Thou doost dissemble, but I meane good sooth,
These hearbes haue wrought some wondrous effect,
Had they this vertue from thy Lilly hands:
Lets see thy hands my fayre Gunophilus.
Gunoph.
It may be they had, for I haue not washt them
this many a day.
Pand.
Such slender fingers hath Ioues Ganymede,
Gunophilus, I am loue sick for thee.
Gunoph.
O that I were worthy you should be sick for me.
Pand.
I languish for thee, therefore be my loue.
Gunoph.
Better you languish then I be beaten,
Pardon me, I dare not loue, because of my Maister.
Pand.
Ile hide thee in a wood, and keepe thee close.
Gunoph.
But what if he come a hunting that way.
Pand.
Ile say thou art a Satyre of the woods.
Guno.
Then I must haue hornes.
Pand.
I so thou shalt, Ile giue thee Stesias hornes.
Gunoph.
VVhy he hath none,
Pand.
But he may haue shortly,
Gunoph.
Yee say true, and of that condition I am yours.
Enter Learchus.
I may not speake of loue, for I haue vowd,
Nere to sollicit her, but rest content,
Therefore onely gaze eyes to please your selues,
Least that my fancie doate vpon her still.
Pandora is diuine, but say not so,
Least that thy heart heare thee and breake in tawine,
I may not court her, what a hell is this?
Pand.
Gunopilus: Ile haue a banquet streight,
Goe thou prouide it, and then meete me here.
Gunop.
I will? but by your leaue Ile stay a while.
Learc.
Happy are those that be Pandoraes guestes,
Pand.
Then happy is Learchus, he is my guest.
Learc.
And greater ioy doe I conceaue therein,
Then Tantalus that feasted with the Gods.
Gunop.
Mistres, the banquet.
Pand.
VVhat of the banquet?
Gunop.
You haue bid no body to it,
Pand.
VVhats that to you? Goe and prepare it.
Gu.
And in the meane time you will be in loue with him.
I pray let me stay and bid him prepare the banquet.
Pand.
Away ye peasant.
Gunop.
Now she begins to loue me.
Pand.
Learchus had I markt this golden hayre,
I had not chosen Stesias for my loue,
But now.
Learc.
Louely Pandora, if a shepherds teares,
May moue thee vnto rueth, pity my state,
Make me thy loue, though Stesias be thy choyse,
And I in steade of loue will honour thee.
Pan.
Had he not spoke I should haue courted him:
VVilt thou not say Pandora is to light.
If she take thee insteede of Stesias?
Learc.
Rather ile dye then haue but such a thought.
Pan.
Then shepheard this kisse shalbe our nuptials.
Learc.
This kisse hath made me welthier then Pan.
Pand.
Then come agayne: Now be as great as Ioue.
Lea.
Let Stesias neuer touch these lippes agayne.
Pan.
None but Learchus: Now sweete loue begone,
But go no farther then thy bower my loue,
Ile steale from Stesias and meete thee streight.
Lear.
I will Pandora, and agaynst thou comst.
strew all my bower with flagges and water mints.
Exit.
Pand.
A husband? what a folish word is that?
Giue me a louer, let the husband goe.
Enter Melos.
Melos.
O Iphicles, behold: the heauenly Nymphe.
Iph.
VVe may beholde her but she scornes our loue.
Pand.
Are these the shepherds that made loue to me?
Melos.
Yea and the shepherds that yet loue thee still.
Iph.
O that Pandora would regard my suite.
Pand.
They looke like water Nymphes, but speake like men,
Thou should be Nature in a mans attire,
And thou young Ganimayde Minion to Ioue.
Melos.
Then would I make a worlde and giue it thee.
Iph.
Then would I leaue great Ioue, to follow thee.
Pand.
Melos is loueliest, Melos is my loue,
Come hether Melos I must tell thee newes,
Newes tragicall to thee and to thy flock.
She whispers in his eare.
Melos I loue thee, meete me in the vale.
She speakes aloude.
I saw him in the VVolues mouth, Melos flye.
Melos.
O that so fayre a Lambe should be deuoured:
Ile goe and rescue him.
Iph.
Could Iphicles goe from thee for a Lambe,
The wolfe take all my flocke, so I haue thee,
VVill me to diue for pearle into the sea,
To fetch the fethers of the Arabian bird,
The Golden Apples from the Hesperian wood,
Maremaydes glasse, Floras abbiliment,
So I may haue Pandora for my loue.
Pand.
He that would do all this, must loue me well,
VVilt thou for my sake goe into yon groue?
And we will sing vnto the wilde birdes notes.
And be as pleasant as the Western winde,
That kisses flowers and wantons with their leaues.
Iph.
VVill I? O that Pandora would.
Pand.
I will and therefore followe Iphicles.
Exeunt.
Enter Stesias with Gunophilus.
Ste.
Did base Learchus court my heauenly loue?
Pardon me Pan if to reuenge this deed,
I shed the blood of that desembling swaine,
VVith Iealous fire my heart begins to burne.
Ah bring me where he is Gunophilus,
Least he intice Pandora from my bower.
Gunop.
I know not where he is, but here heele be:
I must prouide the banquet, and be gone.
Ste.
VVhat will the shepherds banquet with my wife.
O light Pandora canst thou be thus false?
Tell me where is this wanton banquet kept?
That I may hurle the dishes at their heades,
Mingle the wine with blood and end the feast,
VVith Tragicke outcries like the Theban Lord,
VVhere fayre Hippodamia was espousd.
Gu.
Here in this place, for so she poynted me.
Ste.
VVhere might I hide me to hehold the same.
Gu.
O in this caue for ouer this theyle sitte.
Ste.
But then I shall not see them when they kisse,
Gu.
Yet you may here what they say, if they kisse ile hollow,
Ste.
But do so then my sweete Gunophilus.
And as a stronge winde brusing from the earth,
So will I rise out of this hollow vault:
making the woods shake with my furious wordes.
Guno.
But if they come not at all, or when they come do
vse themselues honestly, then come not out, least you seeming
Iealious make her ouer hate you.
Not for the worlde vnles I heare thee call,
Or els their wanton speech prouoke me forth.
Gunop.
VVell in then, wert not a prety iest to bury him
quicke, I warrant it would be a good while eare she would
scratch him out of his graue with her nayles, and yet shee
might too, for she hath digd such vaults in my face that ye
may go from my chinne to my eyebrowes betwixt the skin
and the flesh, wonder not at it good people I can proue
there hath bene two or three marchantes with me to hire
romes to lay in wine, but that they doe not stand so conueniently
as they wold wish, for indeed they are euery one too
neare my mouth, and I am a great drinker, I had had a quarters
rent before hand. VVel be it knowne vnto all men that
I haue done this to cornute my mayster, for yet I could neuer
haue opportunitie. You would litle thinke my necke is
growne away with loking back as I haue been a kissing, for
feare he should come, and yet it is a fayre example, beware
of kissing bretheren. VVhat doth the caue open? ere she
and he haue done heele picke the lock with his horne.
Enter Pandora.
Pan.
Now haue I playde with wanton Iphicles.
Yea and kept touch with Melos, both are pleased,
Now were Learchus here? but stay me thinkes
here is Gunophilus Ile goe with him.
Gunop.
Mistres my mayster is in this caue thinking to
meete you and Learchus here.
Pand.
VVhat is he Iealious? come Gunophilus
In spite of him Ile kisse thee twenty times.
Gunop.
O looke how my lippes quiuer for feare.
Pan.
VVhere is my husband speake Gunophilus.
Gunop.
He is in the woods and will be here anon.
Pan.
I but he shall not.
His fellow swaines will meet me in this bower,
VVho for his sake I meane to entertayne,
If he knew of it he would meete them here.
Thus hold I vp my hands to heauen for him,
Thus weepe I for my deere loue Stesias.
Gano.
VVhen will the shepheards come?
Pand.
Imediately, prepare the banquet streight,
Meane time Ile pray that Stesias may be here,
Bring Iphicles and Melos with thee and tell them
Of my husband. Descendit ad inferos.
Gun.
Youle loue them then:
Pan.
No, onely thee, yet let them sitte with me,
Guno.
Content, so you but sit with them.
Exit.
Enter Learchus.
Lea.
VVhy hath Pandora thus deluded me?
Baud.
Learchus whist my husbands in this caue,
Thinking to take vs together here.
Lea.
Shall I slay him, and enioy thee still?
Pand.
No, let him liue but had he Argos eyes,
He should not keepe me from Learchus loue,
Thus will I hang about Learchus necke:
And sucke out happinesse from forth his lippes.
Lear.
And this shalbe the heauen that Ile ayme at.
Enter Gunophilus.
Gun.
Sic vos non vobis, sic vos non vobis.
Lear.
what meanst thou by that?
Guno.
Here is a coment vpon my wordes,
He throwes the Glasse downe and breakes it.
Pand.
VVherefore doest thou breake the glasse.
Gu.
Ile answere it, shall I prouide a banquet and be cosend
of the best dish? I hope syr you haue sayde grace, and
now may I fall too.
He takes his mistres by the hand and imbraceth her.
Lear.
Away base swayne.
Gu.
Sir as base as I am Ile goe for currant here.
Lear.
VVhat? will Pandora be thus light?
O you stand vpon the weight, wel if she were twenty
graines lighter I would not refuse her prouided alwayes, she
be not clipt within the ringe.
Pand.
Gunophilus thou art too malepert.
Thinke nothing, for I can not shift him off,
Sirra prouide the banquet you are best.
G.
I will and that incontinently for indeed I cannot abstein.
Exit
P.
Here take thou Melos fauours, keep it close,
For he and Iphicles will streight be here,
I loue them not, they both importune me,
Yet must I make as if I loue them both.
Here they come.
VVelcome Learchus to Pandoraes feast.
Enter Melos and Iphicles.
Melos.
VVhat makes Learchus here?
Iph.
wherefore should Melos banquet with my loue?
Le.
My heart ryseth agaynst this Iphicles.
Pand.
Melos my loue. Sit downe sweete Iphicles.
Mel.
She daunts Learchus with a strange aspect.
Le.
I like not that she whispers vnto him.
Iph.
I warrant you.
Pand.
Hers to the health of Stesias my loue,
VVould he were here to welcome you all three.
Mel.
I will go seeke him in the busky groues.
Gu.
You lose your labour then, he is at his flocke.
Pand.
I he wayes more his flocke then me.
she weepes.
Iph.
weepe not Pandora for he loues thee well.
Pand.
And I loue him.
Iph.
But why is Melos sad?
Mel.
For thee I am sad, thou hast iniured me,
Pand.
Knowes not Melos I loue him.
Iph.
Thou iniurest me and I wilbe reuenged.
Pand.
Hath Iphicles forgot my wordes.
Gu.
If I should hollow they were all vndone.
Lea.
They both are Iealious yet mistrust me not.
Here Melos.
Mel.
I pledge thee Iphicles.
Pand.
Learchus goe thou knowst my minde.
Ler.
Shall I sit here thus to be made a stale.
Louely Pandora meanes to follow me:
Farewell this feast, my bauquet comes not yet.
Exit.
Iph.
Let him goe.
Mel.
Pandora go with me to Stesias.
Iph.
No, rather goe with me.
Mel.
Away base Iphicles.
Iph.
Coward hand of, or els Ile strike thee downe,
Pand.
My husband heres you, will you striue for wine,
Giue vs a fresh cup, I will haue ye friends.
Mel.
I defie thee Iphicles.
Iph.
I thee Melos.
Gu.
Both of them are drunke.
Mel.
Is this thy loue to me?
Pand.
Nay if you fall out farewell,
Now will I goe meet Learchus.
Exit Pand.
Iph.
I see thy Iugling, thou shalt want thy will.
Mel.
Follow me if thou darst, and fight it out.
Iph.
If I dare, Yes I dare and will? Come thou.
Gun.
Hollow, hollovv.
He riseth out of the caue.
Ste.
vvhere is the villayne that hath kist my loue
Gu.
No body mayster.
Ste.
vvhy striue they then?
Gu.
Tvvas for a cup of vvine, they vvere all drunke.
Ste.
vvhither is my vvife gone?
Gu.
To seeke you.
Ste.
Ah Pandora pardon me thou art chaste,
Thou madst me to suspect her, take thou that.
Gu.
O mayster I did for good vvill to you.
Ste
And I beat thee for good vvill to her.
VVhat hast thou to doe betvvixt man and vvife.?
Gun.
Too much vvith the man, too litle vvith the vvife.
Exeunt.
Finis Actus tertij.
| The Woman in the Moone | |