University of Virginia Library

Scen. 2.

Poneria, Eglantine.
Po.
Forget you not the powder for your breath,

Eg.
I tooke a dram of it this morning,
According to your appointment.

Po.
Your pallid cheeke requires, in mine opinion,
A deeper tincture of vermilion.

Eg.
And I am of the same minde:
But 'twas my Maids fault.
I thinke she goes about utterly to undoe me:
She is as good a servant as ere was
Married to the whipping post.

Po.
I tell you true I would not for twenty crownes
That Rhodon had seene you with this face.
That Ceruse on your brow is extreamely dull,
There is no lustre, no resplendency in it.
S'light I have seene often times a stain'd cloath
Over a smoakie chimney in an Alehouse
Present me with a better face.

Eg.
Nay, I could not for my heart perswade
The wicked pertinacious harlot,
To lay more colour on then pleased her fancy;
Bat if I live I will cashiere the queane.

Po.
If you doe not, you are no friend to your selfe.

Eg.
How lik'st thou the colour of my haire.

Po.
Oh that is exceedingly well dyde.

Eg.
Me thinks the hue is not high enough.

Po.
Nay, pardon me Madam: tis passing well.
The browne hue is the most incomparable colour
For a haire of all other.
Those golden wires that on faire Hero's sholders dangle,
And those faire flaxen threds that made Ioue
Dote upon faire Nonacrine,
May not be compar'd with the lovely browne.

Eg.
Discreet Poneria, thy wise approbation
Doth give my fancy ample satisfaction.
But heare me Poneria, will you undertake
That I shall meet with the Shepheard Rhodon,
As you oft have promis'd me.

Po.
Faire shepheardesse I will.

Eg.
But 'tis a thing impossible I feare.

Po.
Why so good Eglantine?

Eg.
Because I heare he deeply is ingag'd
To Iris, that proud Damsell of Hymettus.

Po.
I grant he is: and since things are thus,
I will so act my part, that his new love
Shall be the meanes to renue that good will
That hath bin heretofore twixt him and you.

Eg.
Nor Circes drugs, nor all Vlysses wits,
I tell thee Beldame, can accomplish this.

Po.
Good daughter undervalue not my skill,
For 'tis contriv'd how it shall be effected,
And to satisfie thy curiosity,
I will declare how I have laid the plot.

Eg.
I prethe blesse my eares with this relation.

Po.
I will a message beare in Iris name,
Vnto the Shepheard Rhodon, which shall shew,
That she desires an am'rous interview
With him, in such a privacy
That day must not be guilty of it:
A solitary glade shall be the place,
Where you protected by the veile of conscious night,
Instead of Iris, shall present your selfe
Vnto the Shepheard Rhodon,
Whom you shall entertaine with sweet discourse,
And so comport your selfe, that he shall thinke,
You are his dearest Iris.
But to assure him yours, I have provided
A precious Philter of rare efficacy,
Compos'd according to the rudiments of art.
This shall you cause him to carouse
As water of inestimable worth.
Which done, he is your owne;
And Iris then shall be forgotten cleane,
As one whom he had nere scarce knowne or seene.

Eg.
Tis bravely plotted sweet Poneria:
But what houre wilt thou allot for this designe.

Po.
Provide your selfe to meet him in the mirtle grove
Vpon eleven at night.

Eg.
Very good.

Po.
Now Ile to Rhodon goe, and him invite,
To meet you at the appointed place this night.

Eg.
Now most auspicious be thy stars and mine,
Let all good lucke attend our great designe.

exeunt.