 | The Amorovs Warre |  |
14
ACTVS. II.
SCÆNA I.
Enter severally two old Citizens frighted.1 Cit.
Oh Neighbour—
2 Cit.
What's the newes. Sir?
1 Cit.
Heavy newes, Oh Sir—
2 Cit.
Out with it.
1 Cit.
Neighbour, I doe looke
Within this houre not to be worth a Spit,
Brasse pot, or a Childs whistle; or to be able,
To call this aged Sattin doublet mine,
In which I've borne five prætorships. The enemy
Hath taken the Island, burnt the Castle, and
The Ladies in't.
2 Cit.
How?
1 Cit.
One of their Guard who scap'te,
Heard six of 'em cry out for water. And
They are sailing towards the City.
2 Cit.
I'le home presently,
And hide my money. It came from the Earth,
And shall awhile thither returne againe.
1 Cit.
That will not serve the turne.
2 Cit.
Not?
1 Cit.
Noe; They say,
There is one ship laden with nought but Engines,
To torture those who doe refuse to tell
Where they have hid their Wealth. I feele my fingers
Already squeez'd 'twixt pincers; Irons hissing
At the soles of my feet; My body caught
Up into th'Aire by the Strapado, Trickes
Showne on my Limbs; My bones tost out of joint,
And finely tost, and rackt in joint againe.
2 Cit.
To prevent this, and to defeat their tortures,
I'le choose my owne death, and eene hang my selfe.
SCÆNA. II.
To them enter two Women Citizens.1 Wom.
What pitty 'tis that such fine Ladies should
Have such untimely ends.
1 Cit.
D'you heare? The newes
Is certaine. They are burnt.
2 Cit.
I doe perceive it.
Pray Heark.
2 Wom.
They say Great people have their Destinies,
15
Under a Watry Planet, to be drown'd,
Shall ne're dye in their beds.
2 Cit:
Are then, the Ladies
Drown'd, Gentlewoman?
2 Wom:
Not cast away by wrack, sir.
It seemes the Enemy way layd the Shippes
That carryed 'em, and sunke 'em.
1 Cit:
But is this certaine?
1 Wom:
Most certaine Sir, my Husbands Journey man
Came just now from the Port, and saw ten of
Their bodies swim downe with the Tide.
2 Cit:
And what
D'you heare oth' Enemies comming?
1 Wom:
They have sent
A most strange Message to the City, Sir.
1 Cit:
What is't, I pray?
1 Wom:
Why, Sir, that all rich Burgesses
Must put themselves in Tribes; And in their Chaines,
And scarlet Gownes, some three houres hence, must, in
A solemne, grave, procession, two, and two,
Your Officers before you, with their Maces,
T'enrich the entertainment, meet them at
Their Landing; where together with your Chaines,
Y'are to resigne the Keyes to all your Chests,
2 Wom:
And, then, for us; They do demand that all
Who are not rich, but yet have handsome Wives,
Shall yeild them up. How do you thinke, Sir, will
The Souldiers deale with us, like Women?
1 Wom:
I do
So feare their boisterousnesse. Will they, thinke you,
Strip us and leave us naked? Or be content
To ravish us, and let us goe?
2 Wom:
Looke, here
Doe's come my servant Pistoclerus; he
Enter Pistoc:
Can tell us more. What newes deare servant?
Pist:
Fly, fly,
The Prince is overthrowne; The Ladies are
All taken Prisoners; The Enemy is enter'd
Halfe way into the City; Your two Houses
By this are ransack't; I saw divers loads
Of Jewels, Plate, and Hangings, carryed out.
1 Cit:
But good, but good Sir, is this true?
Pist:
Is my
Name Pistoclerus?
1 Cit:
Yes, Sir.
Pist:
Then 'tis true.
Make haste and save your Daughters, or they'l else
Be put to ransomes for their Maiden heads.
1 Cit:
We thanke you Sir. Come Neighbour.
2 Cit:
Oh that ever
16
Exeunt: Cit:
Pist:
Your husbands too are seiz'd on, And are threatned
To be put to the Racke, unlesse they will
Produce their Wives.
1 Wom:
Wee'l make haste to releeve them
2 Wom:
I take my leave; And shall be glad to see you
Sometimes ith' Suburbs Sir,
Pist:
I'le follow you.
Exeunt Women.
Pist:
This is call'd Comœdy, raised from Tragœdy.
Never was City in such tumult, as
I have put this into. The women want
Nothing but speares, circled with Ivy, to hold
A perfect feast to Bacchus. And to beate
Their Pans, and Kettles, up and downe the streets,
Instead of Drums, and Cymbals. The men have all
Armed themselves with what came next to hand.
I saw a Troope of Butchers marching downe
Their Shambles with their Cleavers. After them
Follow'd a Regiment of Taylors with
Their Yeards, and Bodkins. In the reare, a Company
Of Shoomakers with Awles. Each Trade takes Armes
Within its owne profession. Now will I follow
My Suburbe Mistrisse; whose husband is content
To make one oth' fifteene of us; And doth
Connive by turnes. The tamest fellow, and
So little owner of his owne Wife, that
He verily beleeves hee Cuckolds us
When he lyes with her. Amongst us there is One
Maim'd Souldier, with one legge, who still payes doubt;
And goes to bed to her with a stirrope? 'Tis
The common'st, and the prating'st Varlet, she
Cals me her Chærilus, I her my Lycoris.
She makes me tell her newes whole dayes together:
Which I, her spunge, do sucke up in my travels
From Company to Company, and doe
Enlarge with my Additions, and Notes politicke;
And then as severally disperse; And so
Draw Custome to her House; which she cal's pay.
17
SCÆNA III.
Lyncestes, Polydamas:Lync:
This must needes be conspiracy; There is
A Riddle in't my Lord, which you and I
Cannot unfold. It must be Time, the Mother
Of Truth, which must expound this Mystery,
How should they draw their Fleet up else? By what
Instinct, or marke, should they know so exactly
The Shippe the Ladies were in, As if they
Had hung their Petticoats for sailes up, or
Had turn'd their Gownes to streamers? Single it out
From all the rest, and take 'em? As if one
Oth' Princesses had beene a signe oth' Vessell,
And stood forth the Roxane, or Barsene,
Instead oth' Centaure, Andromeda, or Castor?
Polyd:
They did not bring a Thracian Prophet with them,
Or call Tyresias from the Elysian Groves,
To be their Oracle, to tell them justly
The Criticall Point, and Minute of our passage.
'Tis now just stealth for stealth; our King transported
One paire of blacke eyes, And they've seized a Carricke,
And Ship full of them.
Lync:
I will straight put to Sea,
In their pursuite. If they be not transform'd
Into Sea-Nimphs; Or hide their watry Deities
'Mongst Eeles, and Dolphins. I will rescue them.
Polyd:
'Twill concerne me to stay here, and compose
Those Frights oth' City; which this newes hath put
Into a posture of Confusion.
At your returne we will to th'King; And let
Him know the Accident. Meane time, In hope
You'l bring them home true Ladies, as they went.
That's humane Ladies, purely made of Flesh;
Or else true Mermaides, that is, Ladies made
Halfe Fish, halfe Flesh, I'le stop all Messengers.
The newes will but disturbe his Victories.
Exeunt
18
SCÆNA IV.
Enter Clytus and Hyppocles with Orithya, Thalæstris, Menalippe and Marthesia like Amazon Captives, shackled with Golden Fetters, and pinnion'd with silken cords, two & two as in a Wood.Clyt:
Could you imagine you could carry your
Designe in Clouds, and change your shapes, like Spirits,
And take what formes you please, and we not know it?
Hypp:
Alas we had our plot going too; Our spies
Gave us intelligence, where, when to seize you.
'Tis not unknowne to us, you called a Councell
Of Warre; In which, without your husbands knowledge,
You did resolve to put your selves in Armes,
And fight against us. We can tell you that
Roxane was to be your Generall;
Barsene Captaine of the Engines; You,
Lady Ulisses, were to command the Horse,
This Lady Hector the foot; And these two, here,
Were to be Scouts by Night, by Day your Squires,
To beare your Targets after you.
Orith:
Y'have had
A noble Conquest of it, to surprize
A Company of poore weake Women. Is this
The valour of your Nation, to proceed
By plot and stratagem 'gainst such as us?
Clyt:
These are Warre Arts.
Thal:
Or is this noble usage,
To Fetter us, and cast us into Chaines?
You could but Manicle your slaves thus.
Clyt.
We
Do but observe the Law of Armes towards those
Whom we do take in Armes.
Orith:
Does then the Law
Bid you keepe no distinction betweene Sexes?
Hypp:
Yes, where the Persons whom we conquer do.
But you have lost your priviledge; And put off
Your Sex for ours.
Clit:
We looke not on you now,
As vanquish't Ladies, but as vanquish't Captaines;
And so must use you.
Orith:
Alas, what's your Intent?
19
Thal:
If Plunder be your aime, pray take our jewels;
Bestow them on your Mistresses, at your
Returne; And tell them how generously, how stoutly,
You purchast them; Say you betraid the Wearers
First, and then rifled 'em.
Orith:
Pray strip us; And
Let us redeeme our Liberty with the
Poore ransome of our Cloathes.
Clyt:
You are deceiv'd;
Our purposes are much more high, and noble,
Then to raise booty from you, Theeves conquer so.
Our Custome is, when we take Prisoners, to
Lead them in Triumph through our Thracian streets;
Your Beauties, thus adorned, will save the charge
Of guilded Pageants, to entertaine the People.
Thal:
Must we be made a show, then, to delight
Your Wives and children?
Clyt:
How should they make us welcome
At our returne else?
Hipp:
Could we take your fields,
And Townes, and Cities, and Rivers Prisoners too,
And could transport them with us, these we should
Make part oth' Triumph; But because we cannot,
What Nature makes impossible, we do
Supply with Art, And lead them painted; And
The Pencill doth present in Colours, what
The Truth of Things denies.
Clyt:
Then for your persons,
Being our lawfull Captives; 'Tis our Custome
To give you to our Ladies, to be their slaves
In ordinary; To starch, and to belong
Unto their Laundries, And so we doe divide
Our Conquests with them. But because we will
Deale honourably with you, we intend
To use you as our other Wives; you shall
Be seconds in the pleasures of our Beds.
Hipp:
I do presume such Warlike Ladies, as
Your selves, must have read Homer; you shall be
My Briseis, I your Agamemnon.
Clyt:
You
My Chrysis, I your stout Achilles; These
Two white she Myrmidons will serve to raise
A Breed betweene them and our Pages.
Orith:
Sir,
20
Clyt.
Yes Lady,
And you shall finde it.
Orith:
Finish your Conquest, then,
And take a life I'me weary of, I am
Your Prisoner, Let me be your slaughter too.
Thal:
Shew your selves equally as valiant in
Our Death, as our Surprize. Take a fraile breath,
Which, to enjoy, with these conditions, will
Adde new weights to our Thraldome; And you will
Afflict us with our preservation.
Orith:
By your owne Lady, Sir, if you have one,
Let me beseech you, kill mee; 'Twill be farre
More noble then to Love me.
Thal:
Every houre
We live your Captives, thus, will seeme an Age
Of Infamy.
Menal:
Madam, Let's stand upon
Our Naturall Defence; They are but two
Against us foure.
Marth:
Let's Mutiny, and by
Our owne swords free our selves. They've onely
A Heart to take us treacherously like Theeves;
But dare not fight with us.
Clyt:
What would you do
Pretty Serjant Major Damsell were you loose,
Who are thus Valiant in your Shackles?
Hypp:
Now
You'l know your Doomes. Here comes our Prince with his
Faire brace of Prisoners.
SCÆNA V.
To them Eurymedon, Roxane, Barsene, like Amazons, as in a Wood.Eurym:
—Y'are the first Lady, Madam,
That e're yet bore such Armes against her Lover.
I thought to finde your Quiver in your Lookes,
Not hanging at your backe; And to encounter
No Shafts or Arrowes, but those bright ones shot
From your faire eyes. Thus doubly arm'd you have
Taken a Course to make me twice your Captive.
Bars:
You show, Sir, how you love me thus to stile
Your selfe the prisoner, of your prisoner.
21
Call you a Prince, who by this act have showne
Your selfe s'unlike one) who first did surprize
His Mistrisse, and then Wooed her; Or bound her first,
Then told her that he loved her. Wilde Salvages,
And lustfull Satyres court thus; who do know
No difference betwixt their Loves, and Rapes;
But call a rude force Kindnesse; Thinke th'are amorous
Ith' midst of violence; And call't Loves fire,
And flame, which is a foule intemperate heate,
Kindled from every thing that's faire; on which
They looke not as 'tis faire, or amiable,
But as it may be sullyed and contribute
Unto their beastly satisfaction.
Eurym:
I hope you thinke not, Madam, I'le make use
Of this advantage so barbarously, as
T'attempt your person?
Bars.
—That were a crime, which would
Provoke the Gods, which doe inhabit these
Quiet, hallowed shades, to take revenge upon you.
And you would trespasse 'gainst the place, as well
As 'gainst your honour.
Eurym:
I do confesse you are,
To an irregular eye, wholly compos'd
Of sweet enticements. A thousand Beauties fly
From you, at every looke in soft Temptations.
And from a minde which knowes no holyer use
Of such a heavenly forme, but first to covet,
And then t'enjoy, there might be danger; And
The Assailer might excuse his fault from that
Which left him not himselfe, but snatcht him to
Forbidden pleasures. But I doe looke upon you
With other eyes. As y'are to me a Venus,
And strike a warme flame in me, so you are
Diana too, and do infuse a chaste,
Religious coldnesse. You do not onely stand
Before me safe as in a Circle, made
By your owne charmes; But do incircle me
With the same Vertuous spels.
Bars:
I yet scarce thinke
22
Eurym:
You'l finde the enterprize deserves a name
More gentle, when you know my Sister went
Halfe Pyrate with me. I had no other way
To gaine a free, and Innocent Accesse.
To enter your Castle had beene impossible;
Unlesse, like Jove, I had transform'd my selfe
Into a Showre, and rained my selfe downe from
The Skies into your presence.
Bars:
Had you a hand
In my betraying, then?
Rox:
If for one Lady
To contrive Service for another; Or if
T'assist a Brother in his Vertuous Love
Be to betray, I do confesse Barsene,
I'me a Conspiratour. Or if he breake
Conditions, and make this ignoble use
Of such a favour, having had his Audience,
Not to restore us to our Liberty,
I am betrayed too. They were first my Letters
Which drew him from his Country with a Fleete,
In show for my pursuite, but in reality,
T'enjoy this Interveiw, and make his eyes
The Judges of the picture I made of you;
Or whether I err'd not in my discriptions, or
Presented you by a false partiall light,
When I decipher'd you just such another
As he doth now behold you.
Bars:
Is this true, Sir?
Eurym:
Witnesse ye Gods, if among all your Worshippers,
There be one who contemplates your Divine,
Invisible, Shapelesse, substances with a
More awfull reverence, or paies Devotion
To Powers he sees not with a stronger fervour,
Then I did to you, Madam; whom I did
Adore before I saw; And you had then
A perfect Shrine, and Temple in me; where
I did frame such Ideas of you, so pure.
So free from these grosse figures, which do stirre
The vulgar admiration, that, if I said,
A Minde was worshipt by a Minde, And that
23
Which flew betweene us; And, like winged prayers,
Maintain'd a sacred Entercourse, & traffique,
With the Originall of what I fancy'd,
I doe but rudely, but halfe expresse my selfe.
Bars.
You make me blush.
Eur.
But when in the disguise
Of my Embassadour, I saw before me
The Queene of Love, veil'd in your beauteous shape;
With all her Graces, & winged Cupids about her.
When I beheld all those celestiall Images,
Which I fram'd of your Absence, and ador'd
Abstracted from you, cloth'd in your faire face,
If I projected for this houre, or us'd
The Invention of one strucke, to purchase this
Short Audience from you, you are t'impute th'offence,
Or boldnesse, not to me, but unto Nature,
Who did not make me blind, But sent me in
To th'world with eyes.
Bars:
If you proceed, I must
Accuse her, that she gave me eares to heare
Such praises so misplac'd.
Eur:
Madam, then breifly,
I claime an interest in you, Love for Love;
Which that you may grant as a Princesse, and I
Receive it as a Prince, here I doe banish
All showes and signes of Hostile force, and doe
Release you, and your faire Traine. You Hippocles,
And Clytus, First aske pardon for your cruelty,
Although but acted, and then unbinde the Ladies.
Clyt:
Madam, I hope you can forgive; If not,
Please you to take me prisoner, so you will
They unbind 'em.
Promise my thraldome shall be onely such
As yours should have beene, had we in earnest kept you
Outright our Captives, I will be content
To exchange shackles with you.
Hipp:
Pray hold your legs
A little fairelier, Madam. Methinkes we two
Make the Embleme of the Jealous husband, and
The Handsome wife.
Orith:
How's that Sir?
Hipp:
Why there was
One, who by day still lockt his wife in chaines,
And gave her ease by night.
Clyt:
You two would faine
24
Hipp.
Now your Armes
Are set at liberty, looke you imploy not
Your naturall weapons against us.
Men.
What are those Sir?
Hipp.
Your Nailes.
Men.
We scorne to scratch.
Eur.
Next, after this
Rude Interruption of it, (For when you
Have pardon'd it, I still must looke upon
It as an amorous Crime) I will my selfe
Continue your safe passage to your Island;
And see you receiv'd in your Castle.
Bar.
That
Will onely alter our Captivity,
Not tak't away. We must still thinke our selves
Your prisoners there, if you beare Armes against us.
Eurym.
Here, then, To let you see, my purpose is not
To be an Enemy to your Brother, and
A Supplicant to you; But that I came
To carry a Queene, not conquest home with me,
I doe resigne my Forces, and lay downe
My selfe, and Armies at your Feet, Bright princesse;
Say, what peace would you have? I will refuse
No Articles, so you be one of them.
Barsen.
You have exprest your selfe so Nobly, showne
Such generous Signes of your Intentions, and
Gayn'd such a Conquest or'e me by your free,
And Princely Carriage, That as an earnest of
Greater returnes, Wee'l make you partner in
A harmelesse plot we have, which shall conclude
With all that all we wish.
Rox.
Wee've a Designe
To try how our surprize takes with our Campe,
Our Habits and the Art we will put to 'em,
Will keepe us from being knowne.
Bars.
I will deferre
Your farther satisfaction, or confesse
How much I am engag'd, Sir, to requite
Your pure Affections with my owne, 'till our
Next Conference. And left you should beleive,
(How ere y'have chang'd a Tempest to a calme,
And make me now in Love with my owne fright)
You not deserve to undergoe some penance
For making us afraid, your punishment,
25
Eurym.
And I shall think't an Age 'till I receive it.
Exeunt.
SCÆNA. VI.
Callias, Neander, Artops.Call.
Did we three ere looke to be Captaines?
Nean.
Troth,
I thought my Marches onely would have beene
To lead a Company of Ladies in
Court Ranke, and File, unto a Maske, and Play,
And backe againe.
Art.
And as for skirmishes,
I thought all mine would have proov'd Chamber ones,
Tongue-Fights. Or if they had proceeded farther
To th'Drawing of Bloud, at most, Naile-Combates.
Call.
I've
The strangest Company of Voluntiers;
All Gentlemen of Hedges, & Highwayes.
I doe command an Hospitall. Of Fifty
But two have Shirts among 'em; And those worne
Not as shift, or Things at first ordain'd to be
Made cleane, and washt; but as perpetuall Garments;
Not to be put of 'till They doe forsake
Their Wearers, Voluntarily, and creepe from them.
That which was linnen once, Time turnes to Troopes.
I'le undertake could all Quicke Things which are
Bithynian in our Regiment beare Armes,
We need not feare the Persian. Every Souldier
Would be a moving Legion.
Neand.
My Company,
Is much like yours. Last Muster, when I reckon'd
By th'poll, They were Threescore, But when by doublets,
Scarce Thirty; And these fit for summer Warres.
A fine, warme, entercourse doth passe betweene
Their Skin, and Sun. Farre off They show directly
Like souldiers of the first Ages, before such Things
As Clothes, or Garments were invented; Neare hand
You'd thinke They had held civill conflict, and
Torne one another thus ragged. If we fight
26
Will be for Breeches; The next for Conquest.
Art.
Troth,
Mine are not altogether so compleatly
Ragged and torne, as yours are. But for Courages
And Lookes, I doe perceive a kinde of quiet,
Yet understood Conspiracy among them,
How not to fight; And can observe a speaking,
Sly Combination passe 'twixt face and face,
How to escape. Their Marches are divided
Betweene a certaine provident care to fly,
And feare of hanging.
Call:
And yet these thin-sculd Rascals
Dare mutiny for pay. This Morning I
Consum'd in hearing greivances. One told me
He was this Weeke preserv'd by Miracle;
Liv'd on one bunch of Radishes, which sure
He thinkes did multiply from one to many,
He had beene famisht else. Another told me,
A Cheese had like t'have rais'd Commotion
'Twixt him and foure Camerades; which had suffic'd them
Foure Dayes. A Third doth verily beleive
He shall in time reduce his Body to
A perfect Habit of eating nothing; For
He doth protest He hath not tasted food
These eight and forty houres.
Neand:
Here comes the King.
SCÆNA VII.
To them Archidamus, Theagines, Meleager.Arch.
How doe your Workes goe on. Theagines?
Are they of Height and Strength enough to keepe
Us from th'Assaults oth' Enemy, untill
Our other Forces come?
Theag:
Unlesse we should
Like th'Ancient Gyants, who invaded Heaven,
Pile Hils on Hils, or compasse in our selves
With Mountaines heap't on Mountaines, Sir, we cannot
Immure our selves with more Defences, or
Raise Guards more strong, or more Impregnable.
27
A perfect Fort. If they have winged Horses,
Or feather'd Breed of Pegasus, and can
Be a flying Army in the Aire, or give
Us battle from the Clouds, there is some feare
They may surprize us; But by th'common way
Of Battery by Rammes, or Engines, They
As well may beseige Rockes, or strive to make
Their Souldiers scale Towers.
Arch.
And have you Meleager
Made true Discovery of their Campe?
Mel.
It seemes
They meane to make the plaine beyond next Hill,
The Scene oth' Fight. I have observ'd from thence
Their severall Quarters; Tents cast into Streets,
Painted Pavillions in the midst, and Heart
Oth' Leaguer, which show like moveable pallaces;
And vye a kinde of bravery with the Sunne,
Which shall cast, or reflect the brightest Glory.
About these in a decent order stand
A Numerous Towne of Tabernacles, of
Lesse Glitterings, which doe end in a large Suburbs
Of common souldiers Cabbins. Had they brought
Their Wives, and Temples with them, it would be
A perfect warlike City.
Arch.
You describe
The preparations of a Wedding; This
Trim show can't be intended for a fight.
Have they secur'd all this with Trenches too?
Have they Wals to their painted City?
Mel:
It seemes
They meane their number shall supply those, Sir,
Unlesse it were the Persian Army, which
Was overcome by Alexander, where
The Greekes at once fought, and beheld a Masque,
Perform'd by Ladies in gilt Chariots; And where
The Souldiers tooke Directions how to fight
From Harpes and Lutes, which play'd betweene the battles,
As betweene Acts and Entrances, I ne're read
Of any expedition which consisted
Of so much Spectacle and Number too.
Arch.
Surely Eurimedon hath rais'd these forces
28
A shout within.
And make his Conquest of the Ladies show
More sweet, and Courtly. Harke, what meanes this shout?
Go one of you, and see.
Call:
Troth, Sir, if I
Exit Neand.
May take the humble leave to speake, methinkes
You might compose this Warre by Treaty. A Preist,
In my poore judgement, Sir, might save much bloud,
And joine hands, which divided will joine battells.
Arch:
You faine would give up your Commission, Callias,
And be at Court againe.
Call:
Troth, Sir, I had
Much rather tire my selfe with dancing at
Your, and your Sisters Nuptials, then here venture
Marts on my transitory Life. Which if
It have a lease of three weekes longer, or
If providence doe spin it out a Moneth,
'Tis more then I expect. Your Father, Sir,
Must thanke you in the Elisyan Shades hereafter.
For being so pious, to preferre his will
Before your Subjects safety. If Eurymedon
Enter Neand.
Endow your Sister with your Kingdome, say
Your Court once bred a Prophet.
Arch.
Call'd a Coward.
Neand:
The Queene oth' Amazons, Sir, hearing of
Your Warres, is newly landed, and hath brought
An Army of She Archers in your Succour.
She hath before her sent two Captaines of
Her Guard, who call Themselves Embassadours; But looke
Like Nymphs sent of an Errand from the Goddesse
Of Woods and Huntings, who would have your leave,
To make Warre on your Stags, Wild Boares, and Panthers.
Looke here they come, Sir.
29
SCÆNA VIII.
To them Menalippe, Marthesia, like Amazons.Men.
—Pray which is the King?
Neand.
He, Lady, in the purple scarfe.
Men.
Our Queene,
The famed Hippolyta, having atchiev'd
Her conquest on the Scythians, and returning
Home, with Antiope, her sister, to offer
Their Lawrels up to those Assisting Gods
Which cast them on their Victories, as she sayl'd
Along your Coasts, hearing you are ingag'd
In a Warre something like the Trojan, where
She lost an Ancestour, offers her selfe,
And whole Fleete to your service. Her reward,
She sayes will be th'Acceptance, nor expects
More thankes, then to be Knowne to your brave Selfe,
And the faire Cause you fight for.
Mar.
She addes farther,
That she desires (Because she will not, Sir,
Unshippe her Forces, without your consent,
Which might raise terrour in your people, And
Appeare no Visit, but Invasion)
You'l send a Conduct to meet her on the way
Now towards your Camp; So, to secure the passage
Of these few Ladies she brings with her.
Arch.
Ladies,
Pray tell your Queene, she hath by your brave Message,
Purchast one Lawrell more; And added Mee,
And my whole Kingdome to her other Conquests.
The honour she vouchsafes mee is so great,
That I'le my selfe be of her conduct.
Men.
Sir,
She's proud to be your soldier.
Call.
Ladies?
Men.
Sir?
Call.
You have no Message from the other Ladies,
To us Three, have you?
Men.
How d'you meane?
Call,
If
Your Queene come here to propogate; or if
You, and your sister Warriours bring a purpose
To carry home Bithynian Issue, pray tell em
We are their Servants.
Men.
We shall Sir,
Call.
And so
30
Arch:
You two prepare
Ex: Men: Marth:
Campe Entertainment for her. You three put
Your Troupes in order to attend us.
Neand:
We shall Sir:
'Twill be the strangest sight to see naked men
March before Armed Women.
Art:
Gentlemen,
Ex. Arch. Theag, Mel.
What think you of this Embassy?
Nea.
Why that
The Revolutions come, In which we shall,
Be conquer'd of our Maidenheads.
Art:
Methinks
I see my selfe already a Father to
A fine, smart Amazon; I looke she should
Come into th'World with Bow and Arrowes, And
Be borne with a short sword.
Call:
If our fights prove
Night Skirmishes, I'le sacrifice to Love.
Exeunt.
| The Amorovs Warre | |