University of Virginia Library

ACT III

SCEN 1.

The Direction.
Hypsiphyle Orion with Huntspeares, And with their followers on either syde, Men and women. The Six Ladyes and Lords omitted.
Hypsiphyle Orion.
Hyp.
My Lord, well mett, How goes the game with you?

Or.
Nay how, my pretie Dame of chase, with you?

Hyp.
Sir, I think I haue got the wind of you.

Or.
How, I pray you, my dainty virgin, how?

Hyp.
Did not I, whilst the Dogs did cast behind,

your

That they lost of the Hart the sent and wind.
With speede make vauntlay to the Deere? whereby
You lost the Aduantage you forespooke of mee?

Or.
My Hounds were once ouer-haled all, I wusse,
No Lawe yet of game so get the vaunt of vs,

Hyp.
If both were as wise. The one the other
Wee should haue at home kissd th'Harts hoofe together.

Or.
You should haue made A lay but in the Nick
So might we haue beene Joint winners both each.
Whereas now one of vs must tast the Leash.

Hyp.
Rather you haue made the Relay and sayd.
As did that Bitch that came came nine miles behind,
Wee dogs haue kild the Hare I see and find.

Or.
Some of my Dogs stale out of Couert whilst
I bad Arreare vnto the rest. So that
You can obiect no Huntsmans Fault to mee.

Hyp.
Wast no fault? Let their Tarrets loose when as
You might haue kept them in with staff and voice?

Or.
If some were Light and knew not to obey
You should not the Fault on the Kennel leye.

Hyp.
You might haue taught your Dogs, all whelpes of kind
Tarry whiles their Fellowes couert behind.

Or.
A Kite's a Kite and a Kite will be euer,
A Curr's a Curr and a Hound will be neuer.

Hyp.
A Curr's to be wanted with Stone and Bat
Whiles generous Hounds be taught beware of that.

Or.
The vauntlay is by Huntsmen all condemnd,
Why should you then your vauntlay so commed?

Hyp.
A Fault I hold, be woodmen ne'ere so wise,
To let a Hart with speede our Hunt despise.

Or.
Ist no Fault? faster forcing him to hie
To leese the full crye of the Cast thereby?

Hyp.
That's as you might not forward aduaunce
Vnles you hearde all Mouths pipe to your Daunce.

Or.
Nor you, you might not heare their Musicks voice
For because they kept such a yelping noise

Hyp.
Fiue Parts do make a whole Consort they say,
Better then it is bid the Cast away.

Or.
Though but fiue make the Consort, they say,
Yet many vnisons make full the Laye.

Hyp.
The vauntlay to the Hart I did but offer
To keepe him from the Brake he might not proffer.

Or.
The vaunt so you layd him that in the wind
He with more speede left vaunt and Cast behind.

Hyp.
Why stand wee thus debating on the Cast?
Whilst as you see away the day doth hast.

Or.
I sweare no Tyme past yet, my Lady deare,
But that wee may vnlodge whole Heardes of Deere.

Hyp.
Come on your ways, before the Sun be down
I will cause you say I haue wun the Crown.

Or.
Done, Lady, done, I hope ere Sun be down
To cause you too to say that I haue wun.

Hyp.
Where be my virgins all? I stand on Thorne
Vntill this chase be set on foote with Horne.

Or.
Make speede, my deare, with all the speede you can,
I will be with you yet to bring by Pan.

Hyp.
Virgin in Heaven aboue, and in Hell's shade,
Delia, come with speede and helpe thy Mayde.

SCEN 2.

Sylius hauing stolen furth the chase his Leman.

Hunter Huntresse.
Hunt.
Now, lusty Leman as I sayd beforne
Quick begin wee the Thing for which wee come.

Huntr.
Then here sett wee vp our Turnaments, Leape-vp
And you that giue the challenge first leape up.

Hunt.
Loe thus my Carreere I do straite begin.

Huntr.
Loe thus my Buckler I hold furth to him

Arme in arme.

Hunt.
Brighter then be the Portailes of the Sun
My virgins eyes vpon my eyes haue shone.

Huntr.
Lyke vnto the charming Songs of Ligia
Thy wounding woordes haue stricken Syluia.

Hunt.
What higher kingdome may my Soule aspire
Then to be quickend by my Syliuaes Fyre?

Huntr.
Loe this sweete dewe I rayne to coole your heate

She kist, He smackt double.

Hunt.
I hurle these shafts, sit sure and keepe your seate

She kist, He smackt double.

Huntr.
Nay, Syluius, of Courage spare one ounce
Least all your Blondring Bolts be spent at once.

Hunt.
Lyke Porpentine I neuer voyd my quiuer.

Huntr.
If you take not good heede your Launce may shiuer.

Hunt.
That sayd dewe of thyne may the splits recouer.

He kist her.

Huntr.
Nay then, Sir Syluius, wee shall ne'er giue ouer.

Hunt.
Bellum is sayd being nor good nor faire,
But our warr, Syluia, is both faire and rare.

Huntr.
If Cupids warr be such a iolly thing
Why made it wretched Troye such Næniaes sing?

Hunt.
Because they their warr in the feild did moue,
But our is in a priuate Tent of Loue.

Huntr.
What so enuious chaunce may then Maligne
Our Aduerse Toyles in one wee not combine?

Hunt.
Then come, my Syluia, wind thyne armes in myne.

Huntr.
So Mars with Venus do in Lynks entwyne.

Hunt.
Once againe this Amourous shaft I giue thee.

Kist with a Smack.

Huntr.
Most strongly shot and rightly hit beleeue me.

Hunt.
Since you commend my Archery so high
Loe you another shott as Masterlye.

Smakt againe.

Huntr.
A Truce, good Sir, For as our Poet seyd it,
Si nunquam cessas tendere mollis erit.

Hunt.
Here in thy lap, Syluia, I'll lay along.

Huntr.
While vnto my Loue I shall sing the Song.

Hunt.
My choicest faire Doe and my Deare come on.


The Third Song.

SCEN 3.

Christophel Atys Hylas Sapho Salomon with an old getterne playing and walking before them.
Christ.
Come on, Mad wench, thy way.

Saph.
Where left you Mr Schoole master? Prey.

At.
On Top of a Nut Tree, Sapho.

Saph.
There let him be.

Hyl.
Gloria in Excelsis.

At.
And haue singeld thee furth to make thee Doe, Sapho.

Saph.
Wey, Atys.

At.

Thou speakest lyke a Chambermayd, that minceth comfits.
Fall into the whole handfull, wench, and say, Corpus
solidum Succi plenum, Flos ipse.

Christ.

Bos ipsa.

Hyl.

Sweet Brown Sapho, Shall wee Three Tabour and
Pipe vpon thy Bum now?

Saph.

I am assured you may not at once so doe.

Christ.

If I but get one Snatch at thy Haunch I shall not
care for more.

Hyl.

Thou knowest the Schoole-master Snorteth at high
Noone voydeth the Salt Rheume by a stalk of Rose-mary, ouer
and aboue that he coruetteth in his sleepe.

Saph.

Do you think? I come so near his wind? Hoa.

At.

Tell vs in good Sooth.

Saph.

Why not in good North.

At.

How lykest thou thy Pursuyuants?

Saph.

Once I serued a Purseuaunt such a Trick, as the Lord
forgiue mee for it, I shall remember it while I breathe.

At.

How? I prithy, how?

Saph.

Being come with a citation from the Bishop.

Hyl.

A Summer, Foole.

Saph.

Puu.

At.

Art curtalld? Sapho.

Saph.

My Tale is ended, therefore not Curtald.

Hyl.

Wordes do signifye nothing of themselues, Therefore
you may take these two wordes now vnder one and self sence
and mark, Sumner or Purseuaunt, Purseuaunt or Sumner.

Saph.

Come with his citation, M
r Schoolemaster inuited him to contract of two his seruaunts, I and one Hodge.

Christ.

Hither I do smell thee, Sapho, vnder the cullour he
maintaineth thee his whoore.

Saph.

Eftsoones wee came furth the vestry all, The Parson of
the Town in his white and cleane scoured Surplis, M
r Shoolemaster my Father in his spruce Batchlours Habit, Tudon the
Tabourer with his Tabour and Pipe, Hodge and I in our

Holiday clothes. Contract being ended, vnder cullour of giving,
according to the Fashion of our Faery weddings, superficiall
Flirts the one to the other, wee so soused the Sumner with Iron
Gauntlets, wee kept hid in our sleeues, he bespattered the whole
Floore with his goare all, lyke vnto a crowned oxe of the
Mast. I do loe here protest it vnto you all, deare Gentlemen
myne.

Hyl.

I troe, thoult not vse vs so, Sapho.

Saph.

No, I assure you.

At.

Wilt to Lodge with vs?

Saph.

I dare not.

Hyl.

I'll giue thee a Belt.

Saph.

I care not.

At.

I'll buy thee a Kirtle.

Saph.

And spare not.

Hyl.

What sayst to a better face?

Saph.

I nill it.

At.

How to a spoonefull of witt.

Saph.

You spill it.

Christ.

How answerst, wench, to a full and well-weighed
Pownd of Faery Butter? Say.

Saph.

Ridde but the Philosopher haue with you straite.

Christ.

Let mee alone with him. Salomon.

Sal.

Sir?

Christ.

I neede not say what a Bugge thy Master is.

Sal.

What sayes your good worship to mee?

Christ.

If wilt be ruld by vs, wee will teach thee a Trick shall
humble both hornes of him in one deuice now.

Sal.

Saye your mind.

Christ.

Peepe but furth that hole in shape of some ill-fauourd
Beast, The Rest wee will doe it our selues.

Sal.

Will not our Master perceiue it? think you.

Christ.

No, I warrant thee.

Sal.

Goe to, I will procure mee a peice of Caruisse shall fit
him so.

Christ.

'Tis good about it thou.

At.

Brown Sapho shall wee haue thee now?

Saph.

You would Riddle me my Riddle you shall, otherwise
you would not molest mee more.

At.

Be it so, Conditionally, in lyke case, thou tellest not ours,
thou wilt be Packsaddle vnto Three.

Saph.

Begin.

At.

Riddle mee Riddle mee what is this. Stiff standing,
Rough Hanging, Betweene a Maydens legges, in a frosty
Morning.

Hyl.
I know from whence thou haddest that Riddle, Atys.

At.
Vide locum.

Saph.
It is a distaff with his Flax about him.

Hyl.
She has flung the Saddle, See.

At.
Burguinon neuer hitted Button better.

Christ.
Nor thou Tumbler the eye of a Needle verily.

Saph.
Now reade you mee.

Hyl.
Thou shalt be rid.

Saph.
A creature tis,
And Part I wisse,
Has hed nor Tayle,
Yet sucks the Male,
Dissolue the Knot,
And haue him not.

Christ.
Zounds it is a Sucking Rabbit, Sapho.

Hyl.
Oedypus would not haue vndone the knot.

At.
Rather would the Knaue haue done furth his eyes.

Hyl.
Now, Sapho, ride thou mee.

Saph.
Come on.

Hyl.

What's that that is neither Rime nor Reason and is
Rime and Reason.

Saph.

I know not.

At.

Nor I.

Hyl.

I will giue thee till tomorrow Sapho.

At.

Michelmas.

Christ.

I found mee not to haue beene Ignoraunt vntill this
present howre, Gentlemen myne.

At.

Thoult not yet fling the Butter in our faces? Sapho.

Saph.

I am not so rude a Huswife, Gentlemen.

At.

For the rest let vs alone with it.

Saph.

A Song yet before wee trusse vp, Hoa.

Christ.

Begin you.

The Fourth Song.

SCEN 4.

Sir Dauid alone, cracking Nuts.
Dau.

So ho, So ho, where be my Leash of noble Hookers
bestowed, Troe wee, Troe wee? I think they be fal'n by this
welkin, by whom I shall be sau'd now, into some Bogge, For by
S
t Anne I haue known, in my dayes the lyke case to haue happend, by concopulating, Sub audiendum est, by concopulating, so
that I can not now chuse but thus hallow after them, they be so
farr enterd into my Ematriculate Booke Perdy; But Ho, Vnica
Nux prodest nocet altera (Nux) Tertia Mors est, Vmph, Moreouer

in Summe and in the Synopsis of the Account Vina Venus
nuces faciunt corrumpere voces. Wel. If I were but to institute a
Cathedrall, I would make it Expulsion but for one to kisse a
wench or but for one to eate one sole Nut, For loe you now how
the Arraunt Calf does so grate the Crotchet vpon the Tooth of
man. Now as I do remember Cock and Hen went once a nutting
when Cock climing a Nut Three Hen stayd belowe to
gather, Fuck, quoth the Cock, Duck, quoth the Hen, when one
small Nut lighting on her little No Land, This Hen assured her
Chuck that the whole world was then falln on her, Tut, sayd
the Cock, But, sayd the Hen, Butted she so long, that the
Cock descrying, on the sudden, a full and bouncing showre of
Hayle comming toward him, was in huge and bodily Feare least
the whole Neast of the stars would instantly haue founderd all
and whole vpon him, wherevpon he bad his sweet Duck Incontinently
Trusse the whole wallet and home to be Jogging, So, I
least the same chaunce should now befall mee (For what can I
tell what omnipotent Fortune prætendeth by this Diuision or
Schisme of vs) I will instantly loe stretch my gosier, wide as euer
I haue him, to my Ayde, and crye (who if they come not at the
call the Pox goe with them all) lowde as euer I may, So ho, So
ho, ho ho ho, Hallow, whoope.

SCEN 5.

Oberon Chloris stickt with Flowres all her body.
Ob.

Why tell mee, Sweet Chloris, Is it possible? that a man
should be of a Hearte so stiff and so obturate that he shall not
once be able to counteruayle a silly woman in the affection of
her Loue? As last night thou may taynedst it against mee, Ha.

Chlo.

What be men, my Lord Oberon, But Bubbles puft
with the Aire, Soone begotten and soone crackt into wind, wee
women, lyke to Constant Rocks of Adamant can withstand the
Puisant and boisterous Assaults of Inconstancy in Loue, whatsoeuer,
nay Howsoeuer, and whensoeuer I assure you verily
better then you can.

Ob.

Then is it in vs nothing to haue bloods and Faculties
more firme and stronger then you haue, yet that wee should be
such abiect veselles wee should not once be able to resist that
weake and feeble Imperfection of Inconstancy in Loue better
then you? Saye.

Chlo.

Constancy, my Lord Oberon, consisteth together and
alone in Closet of the Soule, Now Although some of our Aduersaryes
do affirme against vs that women haue no soules in
them at all, yet if the cause be euer to be tryed by its effect,
Then I say wee women shall shewe better and greater Proofs of
the Soule in vs then you can, So by consequence the greater
Constancye in our Loue.

Ob.

I will put it to the Arbitriment of Jupiter himself whither
of the Two hath the greater Affection in Loue, thou or I,
So whither of the Two hath the Perfecter Soule.

Chlo.

By Jupiter! The Lord haue mercy on vs all, I think
the Man hath eaten Mandrakes, he speaketh so confidently of
his confirmation of Affection of Loue in man but new now
created in him certes.

Ob.

I do assure you, Sweet, and speake it too by Prophesye,
There is a Man now comming toward vs who shall euidently
make it appeare, By a Miracle of myne own too, that my saying
is trewe, and that you women haue not all the Type of Affection
of Loue in you, as you say you haue, But wee men haue an
equall share of Loue with you remayning in our selues also.

Chlo.

What might this blessed Miracle be? Troe.

Ob.

And that my augury may verifie the Truth of my saying
to you, now euen now beleeue mee Three be comming toward
vs, Three for Tryall of the same.

Chlo.

Then sitt wee asyde and laugh at the Jigge.

Ob.

So doe, and laugh at the Euent when so you see it
happens. Goe to. But loe, they be all vpon vs now. Come
on, old man, Hast any Tydings Impart to vs? Saye.

SCEN 6.

The Direction.
Mercury passing ouer the stage and wafting his Caducæus, enterd Tyresias blind, led by Manto his daughter and followd by Mopsus his Sonne.
Tiresias Oberon Chloris.
Tir.

I haue, my Lord, I old Tiresias once trewe Prophet of
Thebes, now blind Seer of Hell, come from Jupiter, a Trewe
suppliaunt to your Maiesty, now but from Pluto his Court,
wafted hither by the sacred wand of Mercury the Guide.

Ob.

Who be these your followers? saye.

Tir.

The one of them is Mopsus my Sonne, the other Manto
my daughter.

Ob.

Say your mind.

Tir.

Once, on a Tyme, Jupiter and Juno being ouergone in
wyne they were disposed to be merry the one with the other,
For their Recreation. Jupiter would needes maintayne against
his wife that men bore the greater Affection in Loue thē did
the women, Juno mayntayned the contrary against him that
women bore the greater Affection then did the Men. So long
they contended they were ready fall to blowes, when Jupiter
wiser of the Two (For he had a hed more strong and firme then
had his wife to beare his wyne, as he who but little before had
carryed an Armed Mayde in his brayne) sayd, nay, wife, rather
then that thou scratch furth myne eyes by the bargaine, I
prithy let vs put the deciding of the controuersy to that old

Prophet of Thebes Tiresias by name who hath tryed both
Sexes, they say; Be it so, sayd Juno, let the Man be Incontinently
sent for. I being come before their Maiesties according
my slender skill gaue sentence on Jupiter his syde, For the
which Juno was so wroth and cholerick at mee then, she beate
furth my eyen both yea both the Twayne of them (verily and
right well now I do it weene) euen furth in a rage, I in good
Sooth my good Lord. Jupiter to make mee amends for losse
of my eyes Imparte to mee the gift of Prophesye; so liuing in
darknes, many succeeding Age after, It came at last (after my
decease I weet) into their mindes to restore to mee my Sight,
But with condition I should appeale to a man, who for his wisdome
and for his Experience had more skill in the case then I
had, And who but by touching myne eyes with a wand should
in confirmation of this Right restore to mee my Sight. Now if
many memoryes be (as the Philosophers affirme) the Mother of
Experience, And that experience is the Mistris of all Arts and
Sciences that be conteyned vnder this vniversall Globe, To
whom should I addresse myself, thought I, then to your longliud
Maiesty, who now King of the Faeryes (Lyke to the Husband
of Aurora) as you haue now liued from Julius your Father
to this now present Moment, So our hopes be you shall protract
the same yeares to an hundreth and hundreth Generations yet
to come more. And to whom, Behold I haue now Adressed
my humble and most Importunate Petition concerning my whole
estate, And the which so doing I do not doubt but that I shall
recouer my vnlucky and forfaited sight once more, which the
Gods graunt mee, I beseech them all, for their mercyes cause.
Dixi.

Ob.

Most Pretie, Cum remini obtrudi potest itur ad me, when
the Gods cannot decide the Controuersy, I must. But to the
Buisinesse wee haue in hand. First, for the better vnwinding
the Knot that wee are now to vntwyne, First. you are to vnderstand,
that if at any tyme it so hap that a woman doth surmount
a man in the vehemency of her Loue, The Man then not answering
the woman with the lyke Affection, then I say that Loue
cannot be called Loue, but rather a sudden Impotency in Nature,
For Amicitia est inter Pares say the Philosophers, Trew
freindship is not to be seene but betweene equalls. Againe
whereas the sayd Philosophers affirme that Maius lumen obfuscat
minus lumen, The greater Light doth dim the lesser light,
If lykewise the Man be to whot and chalcrously bent toward the
woman and the woman be but cold and feeble in complexion toward
the man, that Loue can not be Loue neither but the
Embryon or the vnperfect Mushrome of Loue (If the daunce
agree not with the Musick, nor the Musick agree with the
daunce, there then will be there neither daunce nor Musick I
am persuaded). Thirdly, if trew it be that Diuines do affirme
the woman to be borne of mans boane and flesh of mans Flesh,
Also that Man and Woman be both of them but one boane
and one Flesh, So both one and the same in one and same substance,
And that contraria non possunt cohærere in vno et eodem
subiecto simul, Contraryes may not abide in one and same
subiect together at one and self tyme, Then I do most peremptorily
enforce my Argument and do affirme, that the one
louing and the other not louing, or the one being but in Loue,
the other vnæquall in her Loue, there cannot then be there
abiding any the least Essence of Loue, But rather a totaller

voyd vacuum or vacuity of Loue in both the Two. So finally
giue in my verdict, that a woman can not beare greater affection
to the man, than can a Man beare to the woman, nor a man a
greater affection the woman then can the woman beare to the
Man, But that both of them equally and Indifferently to haue
both of them. I say, their equall and indifferent shares of Loue
in any one kind of their Loues, if it be Loue. So Jupiter if I
haue spoken right, restore to this blind man by mee his sight.

Tir.

Blest be that hand hath giu'n mee second light.

Ob.

O how Excellent is the powre of mighty Joue.

Tir.

But I must away, Mercury wafte mee back, So Prayse
and thank to good King Oberon.

Ob.

My lyke Adieu, to thee, my good old man.

The Direction.
Mercury entring by the Midde doore wafted them back by the doore they came in.
Chlo.

This hath gone hard against mee, my Lord, nor may I
now well reuoake it, since it is so fully and trewly confirmed
against mee by Miracle, But what doth your Maiestie heare of
my Lord orion? Is he in health or hath he obteyned the victory
he went about?

Ob.

Trust mee, Madame, I haue not hearde any thing of him
since his departure from Court. But my hope is he shall
præuayle, so deepe is his wisdome in Sciences, And so Excellent
his high skill in woodmanship. But I hope thou and I be not
yet in strife about the victory?

Chlo.

No in perfect sadnes am I, my Lord Oberon.

Ob.

Then let vs kisse, and confirme it therewith.

Chlo.

Yes, in good Faith, my Lord, be it so.

Here they knockt vp the Consort.