 | Landgartha |  |
The third Act.
Enter Fredericke and a Servant at the dore.Fred.
Let 'em not presse so fast in, to behold
A semi-maske: for now't can be no more,
For want of fitting Actors here at Court;
The Warre and want of Money, is the cause on't.
Serv.
Stand further off, my masters, or I shall—
Fred.
Let fly amongst 'em.
Vald.
Pray you my Lord, have a care
Enter Vald. and Lady.
(For my sake) of this Lady; a kins-woman
Of my wives.
Fred.
(I know you are Vxorious.)
Land.
He shall not need: for I will have a care
Of my selfe.
Fred.
I sho'd gladly serve your Highnesse:
But can hardly yet from hence.
Vald.
Come Cousin,
I will be your Gentleman usher my selfe.
Exeunt ambo.
Cowsell within, make roome I say there, for me and my brother.
Fred.
What kinde Cossens are those?
Serv.
A payre of Coxcombes,
So individuall by the littlenesse
Of their understandings, they cannot be parted.
Enter Cow. & Rad.
Cow.
Come away brother Radgar, we'd need make haste,
To take our places.
Rad.
I shall be proud brother,
To be seated after you.
Cow.
And I fortunate
To sit next before you.
Rad.
It shall be my ambition brother, to
Be still (as now) your most humble servant.
It must be all my study then, brother; To
Command things onely pleasing: for marke you
Deere brother. I must strive chiefly to precede,
But—in my affection.
Fred.
A pretty Antimasque:
I will sit downe, and heare what it concludes.
Rad.
But hearke you now, brother. Shall we have any
Drinke, Banquets, or so—
Cow.
Not a drop betwixt meales, brother,
That's but a simple Countrey fashion.
Fred.
Are they already fall'n from complement?
Rad.
Yet, me thinkes brother, 't were n't amisse to lay
The pots hard by; and let him drinke that wo'd.
Cow.
I sho'd a part keepe with you, in that Catch
brother, but now (with griefe enough) I say't
(Wo'd I co'd not say't:) I cannot now (being puff'd
Vp here for want of ayre) drinke nere as much,
As when I liv'd abroad i' th' Countrie; nor eate
The quarter quantitie.
Rad.
That must be beleev'd
Generally, as a Maxime infallible:
For to day brother, the stinke of your perfum'd
And stuffing meates, tooke my stomacke quite away
From me. Yet, we drunke pretty well you know.
Cow.
It's certaine (brother,) those that cannot eate,
Must drinke, and I can drinke indifferent well still
But, time there was I could 'a' payde it soundly.
Rad.
As, how much? Pray sweet brother.
Cow.
It is scarce
Credible, I how shall tell you: at one short
Sitting, I'd a drunke you of Wine fixe Flaggons,
And two dozen of Beere at least, all at eight draughts;
And never 'a' seene the colour of my face,
In a Chamber pot; or sought ease, by visiting
My kind friend Aiax.
Rad.
That's more by a little,
Then I ever could vent the right way. But yet,
I dare speake it brother, we are very neere
For you see, when we come to Towne, we doe
Nothing but runne from Taverne, to Taverne;
Oft to blind Ale-houses, to visit the fine
Wenches, of purpose there plac'd, to draw custome;
Now and then to see a Play, when we want
Other exercise; and once a weeke (upon
A holy day, when all doores are shut up)
To a godly exhortation, and sleepe out
(At least) three parts on't.
Cow.
Especially if you
Take your liquor before hand.
Rad.
Right brother, but
To morrow we will both from hence, to th' Countrey.
Cow.
Wo'd this night were over once.
Rad.
We've excellent Mayds with us,
And while my Ladies dance and feast it here,
Both night and day: We both will keepe Court there;
Throw out the house at th' windowes, and fetch in
All our Towne-fidlers, with all the young fellowes
In fifteene villages about us; is 't not good?
Cow.
O rare!
Fred.
I' th' meane time Sir, let me perswade you
To conduct your brother to a place: For I
Am weary of your company. Cow, 'thanke your Lordship.
Exeunt ambo.
Hubba within, give way there.
Fred.
What lusty Gentleman's that?
Serv.
Mad Captaine Hubba, and as lusty a
Virago with him.
Enter Hubba and Marfisa in an Irish Gowne tuck'd up to mid-legge, with a broad basket-hilt Sword on, hanging in a great Belt, Broags on her feet, her hayre dishevell'd, and a payre of long neck'd big-rowll'd Spurs on her heels.
Hub.
Come my brave Marfisa,
You are but just now come to Towne you say?
That you may well perceive sir, by my spurs.
Fr.
Here's handsome Cheese and Butter, and a Sword.
Hub.
They're a payre of excellent ginglers, but pray
Tell me: Did you ride sideling, or like a man?
Mar.
Howsoever, there shall ne'r a Dane ride i' my Saddle.
Hub.
What? not i' the way of honesty? as you love me,
Say not so; I hope you'll be pleas'd to thinke of my service.
Mar.
I sho'd rejoyce to be well pleas'd i' th' way
Of honesty: Yet, your faire words shall not
Deceive me. As first try, then take on liking.
Hub.
But, with your favour I thinke 't were better try:
Least you sho'd chance repent too late hereafter.
Mar.
You will not put me sir, to use my Sword:
Puts hand to her sword.
If you doe, you must first begin at that.
Fr.
I thinke she meanes to make him marry her
Perforce; I shall have my part o' th' Maske here.
Hub.
Pray Lady, take patience along with you;
I am fairely yours.
Fr.
You had (on my knowledge)
But need to say so, if she be in earnest.
Mar.
Then leade me to some honest place, where I may
Unspurre, untucke my Gowne, wash, and so forth—
Hub.
Most willingly, my faire Marfisa, thou sha't
Have a looking-glasse too; I ever tooke
A strange liking to thee, since first I saw
Thee fight i' th' battle like a Lyonesse.
Y' are Coffen-german to th' Lady Fatyma?
Mar.
Her selfe dare not deny it, sir.
Hub.
I doe not
Goes about her.
Onely marke your sweet face, but all things else
About you. Y' have a fine legge. The fashion
Of this Gowne, likes me well too; I thinke you had
The patterne on't from us, as we from Ireland.
Mar.
That I know not, but am sure a handsome woman
Lookes as well in't, as in any dresse, or habit
Whatsoever.
Hub.
So it seemes by thee, my
Beautifull Mistris: For by that name, I must
Conduct you. Mar, on before, I 'll follow.
Exeunt ambo.
Lowd Musicke.
Enter Reyner, Landgartha, Valdemar, Scania, Elsinora, Inguar, and Fatyma. The Ladies attir'd like women onely.
Rey.
My Queene and I, Valdemar, are much bound
To thy free Genius, for this thy second Maske
After our nuptials; She more: but most
Of all, thy owne Lady. For, it's for her sake
Thou so affect'st both us.
Scan.
I could not wish
To 'a' met a kinder man.
Land.
His kindnesse makes
You oft asham'd, you say; nor wo'd I have
The King so over fond of me.
Vald.
You stand
Confirm'd, Madame, in the pow'r your merits
Hold, to charme his faculties to your obeysance.
Land.
You deliver that, sir, to picke a thanke from
My Sister; at whom you point in that language.
Scan.
I doe beleeve he does: which yet, must be
Conceiv'd onely to proceed, from his ill-plac'd
Affection; not my desert to answer
His; much lesse your perfections: being
But a poore Pigmie, compar'd to the greatnesse
Of the worth in you.
Rey.
This friendly Complement
Heere they take their places, but the King and the Queene under a Canopie.
We will passe over: and now Valdemar,
To apt our apprehensions the more
To the true understanding of your Maske:
You may tell us somewhat of your scope in't.
Vald.
That is sufficiently inform'd i' the thing
It selfe; though lame it be. The matter (being
All propheticall) I found in an old
Worme-eaten Booke, in the Lady Elsinora's
Library. And I sho'd wrong your judgements;
By staling of it before hand.
Fr.
It's a fine tale;
And cannot but please, unlesse it meet such minds,
As are not to be pleas'd.
Elsin.
There is no Fustian,
Non sense, Winde, or fopperie in't.
Rey.
It matters not
What some odd envious foole sayes; that grieves most
At th' goodnesse of what he disprayses: and wo'd
Be glad 't were worse. We despise affected stuffe;
Or astrayn'd kind of Eloquence; being the smoake
And fruits of a vaineglorious, and an empty braine,
No flattery dwels we know in this. Let it begin.
The Maske.
First enter six Satyrs and dance a short nimble anticke to no Musicke, or at most to a single Violine; at the end of which enter Phœbus with Bow and Arrowes.
Phœb.
Away unmanner'd deities, though hope
Rayse you unto this mirth, for Troy: Your scope
In't (form'd at the counsell of the higher gods)
Makes not the issue of their Periods,
So fortunate as you doe now suppose
(In your inferior knowledges to dispose
For Hectors safetie: whom Aracides
(Madded for his lov'd Menetiades)
Flyes to destroy. Nor can the Fates divert,
But that fierce horrid man, will soone convert
All unto sad destruction; unlesse
We the pryme gods and demi-gods suppresse
His force, not otherwise to be resisted.
Get you away from hence then, and instead
Of friskings, in these pleasant vales of Ide,
Expose your aydes (to th' utmost can be try'd)
For Pryam and his issue, ne'r till now
In danger of an utter overthrow.
Fine youth, ne'r shorne. Thou brandisher of darts,
Exeunt Satyri, and enter Pallas with Helmet, Shield and Lance.
That with thy Bow slew'st Python, thy best parts
Thou now must urge against me 'n single fight:
Till I have vanquish'd, or a shamefull flight
Compell'd to thy swift feet; nor shall thy deere
Beloved Hector scape my nobler Peere,
Divine Achylles; for his lov'd friend slaine,
Chiefly by thee.
Phœb.
O let me not in vaine
(Most chast and warlike Mayde) implore thee now
For Hectors rescue that so manie a vow
Payde me i' th' thighes of sacrifized Beeves,
And not to me alone: For, my soule grieves
To thinke of his losse. Nor do's it fit thee
(As wholy bent upon impietie)
To mixe unguilty with the guiltie bloud.
Let it suffice, a vertuous Queene withstood
(Penthesilea most renown'd) to her
Lives losse, the Champion thou dost most preferre,
With many other worthies: many more
Of Pryams faire sonnes, slaine by him before.
Which now let satisfie thy wrath; decline
Thy further vengeance on the just, and thine
Owne feast Companion, me: For, the blest gods
Ought not to be (among themselves) at oddes.
Exit.
Pal.
He's gone: but by his pow'r shall no way thwart,
The Fates pronounc'd harsh-doome, shot at the heart
Of his devoutest, and brave friend. Here comes
Enter Achylles.
Peleïdes to strike the blow, that summes
His happinesse, to obey my sterne Commands;
And can doe more then all the Grecian bands.
Enter Hector, whom Achylles encounters in a dumbe show by way of a Dance and (Pallas assisting) killes: then exeunt Pallas and Achylles. After which the Nymphs of Mount Ida sing this following Song in foure or five parts, to a pleasing Tune.
Song.
Though Hector now be dead, his name
And memory shall last, while fame
Sounds her low'd Trumpet, lov'd, admir'd;
By his example shall be fir'd
To acts heroicke, future ages:
And Prophets (sacred in their rages)
Shall by his vertues be install'd;
And he by all a worthy call'd.
Hectors body is taken away about the middle of the Song: after the end of it, Enter Phœbus and Pryam.
Phœb.
Much honour'd and deere old man, did'st not heare,
How the Jdalian deities forbeare
Not (sacred loving Nymphs; and griev'd like thee)
To chant a mirthfull pleasing melody?
Glad for the future glory of thy sonne,
Reason sho'd governe; and a faire fame wonne,
Is of mans humane life the chiefest part,
Chiefest in Hector, and shall not depart
From thy for-ever-most-fam'd house: For, know
Th' gods on thy line (of Dardunus) will bestow
The largest Empyres; which to thee I'll now
Show for thy comfort: that thou sho'dst not bow
(Too much dejected in thy minde) to what
They in their Counsels doe predestinat.
Pry.
Heavens brightest eye, I'll doe what lyes in me,
To obey thy will, and my sowre destinie.
Phœb.
My tale in two parts, I doe thus impart:
A Prince from Troy hereafter shall depart,
When Troy takes end (as all dominion
Of mortals must:) whose chance will fetch him on
The Lybian shores, and upon Latium next.
Before which time and after though oft vex'd
By the high-minded Juno, for her hates
Conceiv'd against the Troians: Yet theFates
Have destin'd him that throne of Latium,
(The Royall seate first chang'd to Alba) shall
Descend two Princes, twins; for which, a fall
Their mother takes from Mars, a votresse she,
Compell'd unto that state. Impietie
In an ambitious kinsman, to be drown'd
Sends both the Infants: who (sav'd by chance) are found
Of a she-woolfe, and nourish'd with her Teats;
Till by a sheepheard found, and by brave feats
Made know'n to be themselves, they build a Towne
Which shall be call'd Rome; and shall weare the Crowne
Of the worlds Monarchy, hundreds of yeares.
This is the first part of my tale.
Pry.
My feares
And sorrow (which till now I did suppose
Could not be done) th' hast heal'd. Disclose
The other part (deare god) that's left untould.
Phœb.
Which (in no obscure termes) I doe unfould:
A Prince call'd Brutus (of the Troian race)
Third to the first spoke of, being in the chace
Of wild beasts, by unlucky fate he kils
Sylvius his Father, with the shaft he drils
At other game: Which fact, so much doth bend
The Latines against Brutus, him they send
To sad exile. Who (after a time) arrives
At a brave spatious Iland (that derives
Her name from white rocks, being a little world)
With other Troians before met, and hurl'd
Too on misfortunes. A towne call'd new Troy
He builds here th' Land cals Brutaine: doth enjoy
The whole as King; and his posteritie
For many ages, shall raigne there, as he.
Sometimes (in pow'r and plentie) conquering
The neighbor Nations: sometimes these (for nothing
But 's subject unto change on earth) afflict
Againe Troy's Brutaines, in their owne district.
Of which a certaine people, and call'd Danes
(Cymbrians by some) will prove their worst of banes,
At length (in processe of much time) shall raigne
In this faire Ile, a Prince (one way descended
Of Troian race: I' th' other side extended
Vp by the Royall bloud of Danes, unto
A warlike King call'd Reyner, that shall wooe
And wed a Lady Amazonian,
Landgartha nam'd) which Prince shall be the man
(Having his subjects in their loves combyn'd;
Who shall to evils onely be confin'd
By their owne sad dissentions, being of all
Earths men, the properest and most martiall)
To exalt thy bloud. He shall (by's right) enjoy
The Land of Danes; and in this place where Troy
Now stands, shall Conquer, and build it againe.
Will also Conquer Greece, and there restrayne
Th' impieties of wicked men. Thus, Fate
I have layd ope' to thee, to consolate
Thy selfe and sad Queene; Now I must away:
For, from the gods I've made too long a stay.
Exeunt ambo.
Vald.
Your Majesties have now seene all; even as
I found recorded in the foresayd Booke:
How true heaven onely knowes. Yet, all may prove true
(Being not impossible) if men be wise.
Rey.
And not destroy themselves, as it's there spoke.
Our part on't has hit right; and so may that.
And now (Valdemar) to requite thy love,
All rise.
My Queene and I will make your Maske compleate,
By being your dancers.
Enter Hub. & Marf. without her sword, & her Gowne untuck'd.
Hub.
I must first beg your
Pardon, to leade the measure, sir, for I have
Brought a fine friendly dancer with me; and
We will to foot it—
Rey.
Hubba, thou alwayes comm'st in pudding time.
Land.
Let's stand, I long to see Marfisa dance.
Here Hubba and Marfisa Dance the whip of Donboyne merrily.
Rey.
This was excellent. We shall but shame our selves,
In following of you; Come let us begin.
Rey.
So Cousin, we have made you some amends,
For your part of the Maske: and now you shall
(Being so kinde a husband) conduct your Lady
Unto her Chamber; and there use her kindly
Too as she deserves. Our Aunt and Cousin may
(After all this noyse) also retyre; and say
(In solitude and silence) th' many prayers
They have omitted all the day. As for
The Queenes grace: she must give me leave,
To usher her to bed.
Land.
Must That, in such
A servant, were too peremptory. But
If you plead your title King; I'll answer
That I know how to fight: and have ere now
Stoop'd a too hasty Prince. Therefore, good sir,
You are best speake me faire; or I may put you
Beside your sweet hopes;
And give you somewhat of the sowre to taste.
Rey.
That, and to kill me, were all one: For which,
I now (and ever will) humbly intreat,
As a poore suppliant with you to treat.
Exeunt omnes.
| Landgartha | |