University of Virginia Library

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,
Should we dissemble coynesse, or stand out,
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
The pleasures which their Tents can yeild: And told
There shall be no lockes 'twixt us and our Joyes.