 | The Amorovs Warre |  |
ACTVS III.
SCÆNA I.
Callias, Neander, Artops.Call.
Two weekes of this, conceive me, Gentlemen,
We cannot scape a famine, but shall frolicke
Our selves into a Dearth, Then live by th'Ounce,
And dine and suppe in weight and measure, to
Permit things to increase againe. We have
At once exhausted three Elements, the Earth,
Water, and Sky, for Rarities; If the fourth
Bred ought but Salamanders, or afforded
Ought strange, or edible, I doe believe
We should have ransackt that too.
Neand:
I have read
Of feasting and heard Philosophers dispute
It for a vice, but ne're saw it practic'd but
In this large entertainment. Sure the Lords
Who had the ordering on't first read the workes
Of some old studied Epicure, who placed
Felicity ith' palate, and then brought
His rules and precepts into cheere. There wanted
Onely Pearles to be melted, Gems dissolved,
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A perfect Sacrifice to Luxury.
Art:
If this hold, Gentlemen, I doe foresee
We shall within this Month forget our selves
To be Bithinyans, that is, Souldiers, who
Can live on Campe fare, and turne Persians,
Where our whole businesse will be onely these
Two fine, soft, exercises, to eate, and wench.
Call:
How do you like the Queene?
Nean.
Me thinkes her cheekes,
Speake through their Amorous browne, as if she came
For something else then fighting. There's a story
Of a Greeke Prince, and of a Queene, her Countrywoman,
Who joyn'd Sex thirteene dayes together, to
Raise Progeny betweene them. If this should
Claime Copulation by the Law of Nations,
And challenge a short use, for a month, or so,
Of the Kings body, for procreation sake,
I cannot see how, in humanity,
Having so good a Title as the Want
Of Men, and Males, in her owne Country; shee
Can be denied.
Art:
Or if her Sister should
Claime the short use of one of us, and plead
Her naturall Right unto our Bodies, 'twere
A Nationall Wrong, not to endeavour to
Dismisse her with posterity.
Neand:
You speake
As if you had hopes, Artops.
Art:
I professe
To me shee's Lightning, Gentlemen; she melts
My sword ith' scabberd; I stand before her like
Stubble before a burning Glasse, Her eyes
At every glance do turne me into flame.
Call:
Will not one of the other Ladies please
Your high taste, Artops? Me thinkes those faces are
Most faire, which are most easie of fruition.
Neand:
I am resolved to sound the true depth of
Their errand.
Call:
And I.
Arr:
I thinke I shall submit,
And make a Third.
Neand.
Peace, here they come; Me thinks
Yon'd two by Sympathy already do
Send Tickets to invite us to their Tents.
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SCÆNA II.
To them Archidamus, Theagines, Meleager, Roxane, Barsene, Orithya, Thalæstris, Menalippe, Marthesia, like Amazons; Their faces discolour'd to a comely Browne.Arch.
You truly show, Gracious Hippolyta,
How much you are a Souldier, who can be
Content with such rude Entertainment; where
The most I could expresse, was, that you were
Receiv'd into a Seige. Where my Distresses,
And poverty, are faine to call Themselves
Magnificent from what I lacke, but would
Faine furnish out with Words, and say My Intent
Was large, though my expression was but small.
If ought hereafter make this place or Army
Deserving of your stay, it must be your
Owne selfe sufficient Goodnesse, which can put
Splendid Names on Defects, And the faire Traine
Y'have brought along with you. Whose Company,
Transformes a Wilde Campe into your owne Court;
And makes you at home in my poore Country.
Rox.
Sir,
We hope you doe not thinke we came to feast,
Or revell with You; For that you have exprest
Even to a trespasse 'gainst our Discipline;
Whilest taking us for Women, you forget
W'are Souldiers too; And turne your Campe into
A soft Receipt of Ladies. 'Tis against
Our Countrey Custome to spend our Dayes in Banquets,
Or Nights in Maskes; Our Times are more virile,
And different from the rest of our soft Sex,
Who doe divide Themselves betweene their Beddes,
Glasses, Tyres, Dressings, and Discourse of Servants.
We count our Houres oth' Night by severall Watches,
And Releifes of our Sentinells; And reckon
Our Houres oth' Day, not by our Feasts, but Marches.
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E're see our selves but ith' cleare Brightnesse of
Our Sheilds, and Helmets; And then our Dressings are,
Such as you See, a Sword, Bow, Shafts, and Quiver.
Barsen.
We came to helpe you fight, Sir, And to carry
Deeds worthy of our Name home with us. 'Twill
Be our reproach in History, if't be knowne
We did nought in Bithynia, after all
Our other great Atcheivements, but see playes;
Passe the loose Houres in feasting; Know no fights
But such as are Dramaticke, and proceed
From the Invention of your Poets; who
Kill onely on the Stage, and then revive
Their slaughter'd persons in the Tiring-House.
Orith:
If with my Queenes leave, I may speake, Sir, If
We vanquish not the Thracians, who are now
Your Enemies, or give them battle: We
Shall seeme a fleet of Gossips, who tooke shore,
Onely to see, and to be seene; And so
Returne Inglorious.
Thal.
Besides, Our Citizens
Will count us Cowards; And weary to be governed
By such faint, sluggish Princesses; will mutiny,
Shake off the yoke of Subjects, and endanger
To turne our Monarchy into a Many.
Headed Democracy; And then you know
What must needs follow where the State consists
All of Plebeians; where that Beast the Rude
Multitude rules, and none obey.
Arch:
You show
Valours so much beyond your Sex, and stirre
So just a shame, and blushing in us of
Our owne unequall Courages, that I
Must needs looke on you, not as you are Ladies,
But warlike Goddesses stept downe from heaven;
Each of you an Armed Pallas, to assist
The just Cause of th'afflicted. Or if this
Expresse you not; In each of you, Methinkes,
I once more see Achilles like a Girle.
And 'twill be Honour to me, when hereafter
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A sharer in your Actions; And my Conquests
Shall run in story bound with yours. Not to
Offend you therefore with ought effœminate,
Or what befits not you to see, or this
Place to present, as one addition more
To your entertainment I've provided
A warlike Dance performed by Warlike Moores;
Just in such postures as they adore their Gods,
Before they goe to battle. Bid 'em enter.
Here six Moores dance after the ancient Æthiopian manner. Erect Arrowes stucke round their heads, in their curled haire, instead of Quivers. Their Bowes in their hands, Their upper parts naked; Their neather from the west, to their knees cover'd with bases of blew Sattin, edged with a deepe silver fringe. Their legs also naked, incircled with rings of gold; the like their Armes. Great pendants of Pearle at their eares. At every close, expressing a cheerefull Adoration of their Gods.
My next care, Madam, shalbe to make these follies
Passe into better spectacles. I will
Send for the Ladies from their Castle. Your presence
Will mak't a new delight t'enjoy the sounds,
And roughnesse of the Campe.
SCÆNA III.
To them Lyncestes, Polydamas.Archid:
—My Lord Lyncestes,
Polydamas. How doe the Ladies brooke
Their Solitude? Have they not yet created
One of themselves Preist to the Company,
To say prayers twice a day for their releasement?
Lync:
Sure Sir, They were not Ladies, but a Crew
Of Spirits; who appear'd like women, and
A while wore humane faces made of lips,
And eyes, and cheekes, & dimples, to delude
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Then vanisht backe into themselves againe.
Arch:
They are not growne invisible. I hope;
They've no enchanted Rings among 'em?
Lync:
Sir,
I have sailed round your Coast, as farre as Water
Would give me leaze; Have ransackt every Creeke,
Examined every hole which would but lodge
A Conger, or a Poore-John; And can finde
No more print of them then Ships leave ith' Sea.
Unlesse I should have hir'd your Negro's, Sir,
Which I met here at doore to dive for 'em,
As Indians do for pearle, in hope to finde 'em,
Some forty Fathome deepe in Oyster shels,
I know not where to seeke 'em.
Arch:
Are they lost then?
Lync:
Eurymedon in person with his Fleete
Concealed, Sir, seized them in their passage over
Into the Island; And whether he have sent 'em
Home to Bizantium, or keepe them here
His prisoners, is uncertaine.
Polyd:
The Report
Had like t'have put Chalcedon, Sir, into
A Civill Warre. The People of both Sexes,
'Till I allay'd them, were up in a Commotion.
Arch:
O my propheticke soule! which whisper'd me
I should not trust 'em to an Element
So false and treacherous.
Theag:
Are our two Ladies
Vapour'd away ith' mist too, Sir, and seiz'd on?
Lync:
Yes, and their women; They have not left a beauty
Ith' City; or ought which you can call handsome
To breed upon, or to continue a
Succession of good faces.
Theag:
I expect
In time to see my wife returne then, with
A race of little Thracians all noble by
The bearers side.
Meleag:
And I that my Wife save me
The future labout of begetting, and
Without my helpe returne me a fine Troope
And Squadron, which will call her Mother, and
Me Captaine.
Arch:
Had he seiz'd my Crowne; or taken
Me prisoner, and with me my Kingdome, It
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One of the Chances which prove Princes subject
To Mens Misfortunes. But to deprive me of
Her, who to mee was Empire, Kingdome, Crowne,
And all Things else, which make men happy; She
Whose two eyes were the Sunnes that rul'd my Day,
And to whom onely her Absence did make Night;
She who smil'd virtue, and whose beauteous Lookes
Were a soft, visible, Musicke, which entranc'd
The lookers on, and strucke harmonious raptures
Into every chast soule, and instill'd pure fires
Int' every unchaste; She who had the power
To charme feirce Tygers, and make Panthers tame,
And civilize the wildest Salvage, but
He who surpriz'd Her, and made his Sister, and
My destined Queene part of his pyracy;—
Thus to deprive me of my Joyes ith' porch,
And entrance to them, is a wrong like that,
Where the faire Bride is ravisht from the Bridegroome,
Upon the Nuptiall Day; or where their Hands
Are rudely sunder'd whilest the Preist is tying
The holy Knot. But why doe I turne Woman,
And adde to th'losse by my Complaints. You two
Streight backe to th'City; Raise new Forces; Adde
Wings to your expedition. I shall thinke
Time moves not with its owne hast, 'till we give
The Robbers Battle, and redeeme the prey.
Ex: Lync: Polyd.
Rox:
Come, Sir, you shall divert the Thought of your
Recoverable loosse at our Tent; where
We will divide greifes with you, or finde wayes
To make them wholly ours.
Arch:
Your Company
Releives me, Madam; And I shall not thinke
My selfe unfortunate in such a presence.
Exeunt.
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SCÆNA. IV.
Callias, Neander, Artops, Orithya, Thalæstris, Menalippe, Marthesia.Call.
Ladies?
Orith.
Sir?
Call.
You don't train this afternoon,
Or muster, doe you?
Orith.
Your reason Sir?
Call:
Because,
If no Affaire of Discipline call on you
To leave us, wee'd faine change some Campe Aire with you.
Thal:
W'are at full leisure, Sir.
Call.
Pray, Ladies, let us
Be bold to aske you then, what places hold you
In your Queenes Army? Doe you command the Foot,
And Infantery? Or are you Cavaliers
And Regents of the Horse?
Orith:
Why doe you aske?
Call.
Not out of curiosity, t'informe
Our selves in your Arts Military; But onely
Out of a free desire we have Commanders
To be admitted servants to Commanders.
Orith.
How doe you meane?
Nean.
Troth, Ladies, to divert
The Melancholly and Sadnesse which this Accident
Will raise among us; we would gladly joine
Souldiers with Souldiers, and make both Armies one.
Thal:
That's done already Sir.
Art.
Our meaning is,
We would faine doe you civill Right, and pay you
The debts of nature which you come for. Officers
Mingling with Officers will raise a Race
Of stout young Alexanders betweene them, who'l
Once more subdue the world.
Thal:
Now you speake
Without Clouds, we conceive you. Doe you thinke then,
We come to seeke men to get children on us?
Call.
We hope y'are like your Mothers. We know, Ladies
Without our Helpe you are but barren Things;
And cannot propagate betweene your selves.
Orith.
Well, say this be our Errand, since you speake
Soe understandingly; what would you doe
To helpe us in Necessity?
Neand:
Doe? Why,
What should we doe? Doe service to your Country;
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A new succession of Amazons.
Orith:
But say
They should prove males, Sir.
Nean.
Then breed them up to save you
The trouble of such journies; and employ 'em,
As you do us their Fathers, to th'publicke good.
Thal:
But 'tis against our Lawes to Foster, Sir,
Male births.
Neand:
What do you with 'em? drown 'em then?
Thal:
Restore 'em to their getters. Would you receive 'em,
If we should send 'em home?
Neand:
So they be borne
Perfect; not halfe male, and halfe female; I'le
Nurse no Hermaphrodites.
Orith:
Besides, you have
Beene us'd to th'Ladies of your owne Court; you'l
Ne're like our Company. We are not faire
And beautifull enough to stirre your Loves
To serve us in our needes.
Art.
By this hand, Ladies,
I'me more inflam'd to see a certaine true,
And Genuine smile creepe o're your Nutbrowne faces,
And make a kinde of Day-breake there, then all
The Artificiall whites and reds, laid on
By our Court painters, who call't Beauty to
Create their owne lookes.
Thal.
Are there such Arts, then?
Call.
You saw the two Lords here?
Thol.
Yes Sir,
Call.
They
Have two young Ladies, whom I do question, whether
They may call Wives, or Pictures.
Neand.
Their wedding day
Saw them, perhaps, in their owne blushes; And
They lay the first night in their unbought Roses;
But ever since have varied shapes; scarce worne
The same face twice. Who'd lye with such she Proteusses?
Who change forme in the embrac; And do lye downe
One Mistresse, and ith' morning rise another?
Orith.
Our lookes are course, but native, Sir.
Nean.
Y'are like
The Times which Love delights in; we behold
A faire night in your faces stucke with Stars.
Call.
Me thinks ye exceed the Queene of Love; she had
But one blacke Mole, you are all but one faire Spot.
Art.
Beleeve it Ladies, were he not a boy,
I'de say y'had brought each of you in those lovely,
Darke, shady cheekes, a Cupid, who from thence,
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His golden arrowes.
Orith.
You do expresse your selves
So affectionate, so like lovers—
Thal.
So comply
With our owne wishes, which are to requite
Your love with love—
Orith.
And do so nobly know
The wants of Ladies, and can as nobly pardon
All their defects, that henceforth we'l expect
Some entercourse of visit from you.
Thal.
We
Shall long to see you at our poore Tents, choose
Your owne times; We lock not our curtaines.
Exeunt Ladies.
SCÆNA V.
To them Theagines and Meleager.Theag.
What, laying siege to th'Ladies, Gentlemen?
Call.
Trying, my Lord, what Forts They weare; or where
They are most easie to be Scal'd; We have yet
But made an Attempt upon their Outworkes, and
Held parley with them.
Mel.
And how, and how, in Troth,
D'you find em? Tractable? Will They surrender
On easie Compositian, without a long
And tedious Battery?
Neand.
We find em made,
As other Ladies are, of flesh and blood:
I do perceive no difference, My Lords,
Twixt Ayres, and Clymates; But where men meet women,
Nature will have'ts Effects, for the preservation
Oth' Universe: unlesse there should be some
To aske, others to grant; some to beget,
Others to bring forth, the World would have an end
In the short Circle of one Age.
Theag.
I hope
It is not come to that already; you have
Had a quick victory, to see and conquer.
Mel.
Th'are very Waxen, sure, who take impression
At the first chafing.
Art.
Waxen? Why I'le tell you,
I never yet saw Things so yeelding, So
Obedient to the Touch. I do beleeve,
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They would put Questions to us; And upon
Refusall, take Armes, and invade our Lodgings.
And what would be the fruits of such a Warre,
Back't with so good a Cause, your Lordships judge.
Neand:
Alas you must consider, Good my Lords,
Necessity's a Tyrant. Had they Men
In their owne Countrey to supply their Wants,
Or were their State compos'd so, that without
Danger to th'Commonwealth, there might be some
Kept at the publique charge to lye with them,
At th'Age of procreation, and so be
The Fathers of their Country, whil'st they mingled
Natives with Natives, It perhaps would seeme
Immodest to seeke forraigne Helpe. But where
Males are against the Law; And where to Marry
Is worse then to commit; And where a Husband
Is a Crime worse then Fornication; what
In this Case would you have them doe?
Call:
Unlesse
Nature had made them double, and enabled 'em
To be both Sexes to themselves; Or else,
Unlesse they could beare children, as we see,
Our feilds beare flowers; Where one and the same Soyle,
Water'd by a soft shower, or breath'd upon
By a Warme Aire, is Father, Mother, All,
To its owne Issue, How d'you thinke they should
Produce posterity? Troth, My Lords, I feele
A certaine generous pitty in me to
Their reasonable Longings.
Theag.
Well, Gentlemen,
You have convinc'd us. But doe you thinke the Two
Princesses came for the same purpose?
Art:
As sure
As we have leave, Sir, to make visits, or
Choose our owne Nights with these departed Ladies.
Mel:
And have you?
Art:
Aske them.
Neand.
Troth my Lords, you'l have
Work enough with your own two Ladies, when
You next recover 'em; and therefore will not,
We hope, disturbe us, who are single, in
Our amorous courses. We are promis'd all
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There shall be no lockes 'twixt us and our Joyes.
SCÆNA. VI.
To them Macrinus, Lacero, Serpix; Three totter'd common Souldiers, with a Drummer before them; And Cock-feathers in their Hats.Call.
How now? What have we here? The Signe oth' Battle
'Twixt Time and Ragged Breeches? And whither now
Tends your most totter'd March? What make your foure
Halfe Doublets from your Colours?
Macr.
Sir, we are
Imployed as publique persons, by our Companies,
To tell the King our Greivances. Beat on
To th'Kings Pavilion.
Neand:
Publique: 'Tis true, you are;
Your Elbowes witnesse for you; There's not one
Bare part about you that's not publique. But
Pray stay, pray stay a little, Gentlemen;
What Greivances have your most lousy valours
To present now?
Lac:
Such, Sir, as we have often
Complain'd to you of, and you'l not redresse us.
Serp:
The King is Just, Sir, and allowes us pay,
Which you melt up by th'way. You may make sport,
And laugh at our poore Ruines; But 'tis our Ragges,
And barenesse, which doth make you glitter.
Mac:
If
We had our Right, your large Scarfes, every one
Of which display'd, would make the Colours to
A Company, should be our Shirts.
Art.
How, Sir?
Lac:
Sir, it is true; And your large Feathers, each
Of which, wav'd by the Winde, does make you walke
In perfect flourish; And present you like
Three winged Dedalus's, prepar'd to fly,
Should be our Coates, and plume us.
Ser.
And that shine
And blaze of plate about you, which puts out
Our eyes, when we march 'gainst the Sunne, and armes you
Compleatly with your owne gold Lace, which is
Laid on so thicke, that your owne Trimmings doe
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Should goe to buy us bread.
Art.
This is most rare
With reference to the Feathers in your Hats,
Most pilfring Gentlemen, which show you have
Skirmished with Neighbouring poultry, lately, and having
Eaten part of your Conquest; weare the rest
As Emblems of your wandring from the Campe,
And Inrodes on Backsides. If I may aske you,
Where have you learnt this Eloquence? I do not
Read that Demosthenes declaym'd with Toes
Looking through leather Casements. Or that He was
Sent in an Embassie with halfe a Stockin,
Or such decay'd Caparisons, as I
Observe in your retinue.
Macr.
Sir, wee need
No Teacher but our wants to find us words.
Lacer.
Had you Three reckon'd th'Age oth' Warre by fasting
As we have done; who by our hunger know
'Tis now a month since it began; or did you
Know onely these two poore Releefes, Warme daies
For Clothes, Warme Ayre for food.
Serp.
Or had you
Beene Three Camerades like us, Three daies to one.
Dryed Bisket, and borne Stock fish, both which might
Be shot for Battery, And for hardnesse be
Reckon'd into th'Artillery, we doe
Beleeve you would not starve in silence; Or
Depart this life without some Testimony
That you were famisht hence.
Call.
Why harke you, you
Rascalls, who thinke the life of man consists
In eating; And that you were sent into the world
To devoure Flocks and Heards; what are you made for?
Resolve mee, if you can; What is the End
Of your Creation, but to fight, Goe naked,
And starve in Sun shine?
Neand.
True; what other use
Can there be of you in a State, but either
To be hang'd if you steale, if you do not
To suffer hunger, and be lowsie in
Your Countries Cause? And if you scape the Sword,
And do survive, to be a Burthen to
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for the publique ease?
Art.
Besides, why do you trouble
Us with your meager visages? what are
Your torne necessities to us?
Mac.
Does not
Our pay passe through your hands? Are not you our Captains?
Art:
And are there no wayes, Sir, to live, besides
Your foure and eight pence weekely?
Lac:
Wee'd be glad
To learne them, Sir.
Art:
Pray let me aske you, then,
And answer with discretion. What is
The naturall use of Capons, Hens, and Geese?
For what serve Turkies?
Mac:
To be eaten.
Art:
Right;
You and I jumpe. And what's the use of Sheep?
I do not meane with fleeces; (That falls under
Another question:) But as they are Mutton?
Lac:
Why to be eaten too.
Art:
Still right. And lastly,
What is the use of Wooll made into Cloth?
Is't not to cover?
Serp:
'Tis so, Sir,
Art:
And what's
The use of Plate and Money? Is't not to
Supply Mens Wants, and buy the things they need?
Serp:
Most true Sir,
Art:
And are these times which do make
The stealth of all these lawfull,And reach out
All these unto you for the venturing: And
Are you so cowardly, or rather so
In love with your owne Lice, that you must aske
Us for releife? Or thinke of such a base,
Poore, contemptible thing as Pay?
Mac:
Is this
The answer you will give us?
Art:
This is all.
Plundering's a large Revenue; 'Tis your owne
Fault if Townes cloth you not; Or if the Fields
Afford you not provision.
Mac:
We must then
Here let you know, wee'l Mutiny. Beat backe.
Call:
You Mutiny, you ill fac'd Rascals; Have you
A minde to cheat the Hangman with your Wardrobes?
Or an itch to disgrace the Gibbet with
Your Goblin Carkasses before your times?
Lac:
Wee'l raise the Campe against you.
Serp:
Come, let's raise
Let's raise the Campe.
Neand:
Away you heaps of vermin.
Earth your selves in your Trenches; And there live
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Ex: Mac: Lac: Ser:
Of wholsome hearbs which grow about you Goe.
Call.
My Lords, we must take leave.
Art:
You see the peace
Oth' Army lyes on't.
Neand:
We kisse your Lordships hands.
Exeunt.
SCÆNA VII.
Theagines, Meleager, To them Menalippe, Marthesia.Theag:
Why here be three new Captaines now, who make
The Right use of the Warre. Spend their Assaults
On such soft, harmelesse, yeilding Things, as Ladies,
And keepe Themselves in Spangles, with the pay
Of their poore Souldiers.
Mel:
It appeares to me
Strange what Designe should cast these Amazons
Upon our shore. I hope they have no Aime
To take Advantage of our fight; or keepe
Themselves Spectatours 'till both Armies have
Weaken'd Themselves, and then ore'come the Victours.
I would be loath to have if said in story,
We were subdu'd by Women with one Breast.
And it would trouble me to see my selfe
Led Captive; And transported to a Land
Where I must propagate at the mercy of
Those who did take me prisoner; And get Children
By th'night, and taske, upon my Conquerours.
Theag.
Beleiv't their project is lesse politicke.
You heare the Errand they come for is to
Lye with us in our Land.
Mel:
Still 'tis strange
They should so quickly open, And reveale
Themselves so easy, so prepared, as these
Three make 'em.
Theag:
Pray Heaven, my Lord, our Ladies
Show not themselves as easy, and as pliant,
Ith' other Campe. 'Tis true indeed, their case
Is not the same. They've had no Dearth of Husbands,
Which shou'd invite 'em to require Releife
From th'Enemy. But if they should conclude
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Be, to give something they can spare, and we
Not misse, we cannot helpe it if they show
Themselves good patriots; And preferre their Countrey
Before our private Interests; or their
More private Honesties.
Mel:
True; 'Tis but loosing
A little Honour for the publique Good;
And Honours but a Word; We shall not be
Impoverisht by the losse. All parts in Women
Are like their lippes; And lippes you know are Springs.
If a whole Army quench their Thirst there, still
As much is left as taken; The first stocke
Ent. Menal. Marth.
Remaines entire.
Theag.
My Lord, Behold; what say
You to a Message now?
Mel:
I'me now confirm'd.
Men:
Are you my Lord Theagines?
Theag:
Yes Lady.
Marth:
And you my Lord Meleager?
Mel:
'Tis my name—.
Men:
Y'are oth' Bedchamber to th'King?
Mel:
We are so.
They have had good Intelligence.
Marth:
Our Ladies
Hearing y'are noble, and delighting much
In persons valiant, and of great Action, (as
They are informed you are) will take it for
An honour, if you will vouchsafe to be
Oth' Bedchamber to them too, for the space
Of a short visit.
Men.
They say they doe long,
Long, very much t'impart a businesse to you.
Thea:
You doe not know what 'tis?
Men.
Sir, it requires
The secrecy of their Tents to know it.
Mel:
When
Pray, is the time they'd be at leisure, Ladies,
For us to waite upon 'em?
Marth:
At all times, Sir,
They say you cannot erre. Onely they will
Tak't as the greater favour, If to beguile
The tedious houres with discourse of the Ancients,
And the Comparison of Womens deeds,
With those of Men, you will divide your Nights,
Sometimes with them.
Men:
But cheifly, they desire
You would now come along with us.
Thea.
My Lord,
What would come on't if we Two should suppose
Our selves unmarried? Our Wives when we next meet,
46
Finde us whole Husbands.
Mel:
I am resolv'd to make
Use of the Opportunity. The worst
That can befall us, if our Ladies know it,
Is to seale mutuall pardons.
Theag:
Come, Ladies, you
Shall be our Clue to guide us.
Men:
We will lead you
Into a pleasing Labarynth.
Mel:
'Twill be
Our wish to be lost in such Company.
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