 | Rhodon and Iris |  |
Scen. 1.
Poneria: Agnostus.Po,
Bold foolish wickednesse is that
Which walks by day, expos'd to the world's eie.
Sinne is the daughter of the darkest night,
And therefore doth abhorre to come to light.
Give me that cole blacke sinne that can lye hid.
Vnder the candid robes of seeing sanctity;
Which dares put out the perspicacious eyes
Of those that shall attempt to find her out.
Come dull Agnostus, let us disguise our selves
And be prepar'd to act some stratagem
To eclipse the glory of these festivals.
She puts on the garment.
This robe of vertue doth belong to me;
This goodly vaile shall hide my blacke intents.
Thus personated, I durst undertake
To rend a well woven state in factious peeces;
To win the eares of mighty Potentates;
And hood-winke Kings, that they should neither see
To doe what's iust, nor heare the pitteous cryes
Of those that are opprest.
But that thou, Agnostus, maist second my designes,
'Tis very fit thou shouldst be thus accouter'd.
Ag.
My deare Poneria, I am yours.
Shee puts on his beard.
Po.
Then first uuto thy chin we must apply
This Philosophicall beesome.
Now is the old proverbe really perform'd,
How like a Senator he lookes?
What a world of gravity's harbour'd in that beard?
Surely the world can take him for no other
Than the third Cato that should fall from heaven.
But here's the Ensigne of learning,
The badge of the seven Liberal Sciences,
Operculum ingenij, the silken Case of wit,
The Cap of knowledge; Clap this upon thy
Empty hogshead, put this on, and then thy head
Will become a Helicon, and thy braine a Pyrene.
He puts on the Cap.
Ag.
It fits me exceeding well.
Po.
Dost not perceive thy head begin to ake
With meere abundance of knowledge?
Ag.
Now, me thinks, I could confute a Colledge of Divines,
A Synod of Doctors, a Lycæum of Philosophers;
Yet me thinkes my braines are not right,
And somewhat too weake to maintaine a paradox.
Po.
Away fond idiot, doe not conceit
That this Cap can infuse any thing reall into thy pate,
That is uncapable of all art and science.
Under the protection of this Cap, thou maist be bold
To traduce thy betters, to censure the best,
To decide controversies without discretion,
To torment all companies with thy discourse,
And weary eares of yron with thy impertinences;
Doe but weare this head-peece over the Coyfe of
Selfe-conceit (alwayes provided) that thou forget'st
Not to leave off a brazen face; and I dare
Vndertake it, thou in a short time, shalt gaine
More respect (especially among Plebean Coxcombs)
Ag.
I am thy slave, divine Poneria:
Oh admirable rare Artist that I am!
Po.
But yet, me thinkes, there's somewhat else to doe
To make thee more accomplish'd and compleat.
'Slight, the politicall gowne; I had as cleane forgot it.
As the time since I lost my mayden head.
Here 'tis: dispatch. and put it on,
And then be reputed both grave,—
Learn'd, and wise.
Doubtlesse it will become thee exceeding well:
He puts on the Gowne.
Now lookes he not like a maine stud of a Corporation?
Ag.
How heavy is the burthen of authority?
Po.
'Tis true, authority is heavy, I confesse,
But not so heavy but an Asse may beare't.
Since now, Agnostus, that we are well fitted
With habits meet, to act what we intend;
Thou seeming like a grave and learned Sire;
Though thou indeed then that bee'st nothing lesse,
And I like to a vertuous maiden dight,
Though I all vertue deeply doe abhorre;
We thus disguis'd, will all the world delude,
And set the flowers at ods among themselves,
That they in civill enmities embroyl'd,
Shall of their pride and gloryes be dispoyl'd.
Exeunt.
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