University of Virginia Library

ACTVS IV.

SCÆNA I.

Archidamus, Roxane, Barsene, Orithya, Thelastris.
Rox:
Come, Sir, wee are resolved, if't be ith' power
Of Ladies to effect it, to cure you of
Your sadnesse, you no longer shall afflict
Us and your selfe with melancholly. It does not
Show princely in you, thus to enthrall your selfe
To th'Memory of a Woman. We thought to finde you
A Warriour; One in whose stout brest so poore
So effœminate a thing as Love, or the
Losse of a Mistresse, would have past among
Those ordinary Cares, which are at once
Consider'd and forgotten.

Bars:
'Tis for subjects
To affect Constancy, or melt and pine,
And breath themselves away ith' Contemplation
Of those they Love; Or to affect Lone walkes,
There raise an Idoll to themselves, And then
Fall downe and worship it. Y'have turn'd your Campe
Into a Cloyster, Sir. And are retir'd
Ith' mid'st of Legions. Nor can we imagine
We have your Company, when present with us,
Your thoughts are so away.

Arch:
Had you e're seene
The wondrous object that attracts them, or
Discern'd the secret influences, which
Passe from her soule to mine, and mingled there,
In one strict union, at this distance make us
So much each others as to have no power
T'untwist our selves, or have the leisure to
Looke towards ought which weares not her faire shape
To me, or mine to her, you might as well
Condition with the passive Iron not
To turne to th'Loadstone; Or chide the Needle for
Moving towards the bright pole, as accuse me
For thinking on Roxane. I confesse,
Bright Princesses, 'Tis Love that makes me rude;
And but I hope you have brought pardons with you,
And can forgive one robb'd of his free selfe,
Nor left to his owne Carriage; I should count
Those Houres which I have stollen from you, to pay
Devotion unto Her, a Sacriledge
Committed 'gainst your Beauties; Or a Theft,
Which doth take Worship from one Goddesse to
Consume it on Another.

Rox.
Wee'l allow
Roxane, Sir, (For so I doe perceive
You call your Princesse) To be all that a Prince
In Love can fancy faire, or amiable;
(Yet I must tell you too, Love's a false glasse,
Which still showes things much fairer then they are.)
Wee'l grant all your Descriptions true, that to
Her Fairenesse she hath Virtues, which doe adde
A Beauty to her Beauty, and render her
One, pure, through, rich Gemme, which entirely is
Nothing but Worth and Luster; yet if this Gemme
Be dropt into the Sea, or lost ith' vast
Chaos of Waves, will make warre with Nature,
Or force the Ocean to restore your Jewell
Made Irrecoverable?

Arch.
Doe you then looke
Upon my losse no otherwise?

Rox:
Not, when
I weigh her Brothers power; Th'uncertaine Chances
Of Warres like this; The many Subjects lives,
Which must be sacrific'd to her recovery.
The most you can expect if you prevaile,
Is that your Nuptialls should be mixt with slaughters;
And that your Marriage Tapers should be kindl'd
From funerall piles; And so Roxanes Wedding,
Thus ravish't to and fro, like Proserpines,
Ith' under World, be kept 'mongst Ghosts and shades.

Bars:
Besides, how are you sure your constancy
Is answer'd, Sir, with constancy? Our hearts
Are changeable; nor do I see why Princes
Should be lesse fraile then others, who confine
Affection to the sight, since Love's a fire
Which doth not onely languish, and goe out,
Where fuell is subtracted, But is kept burning
Onely ith' presence of another fire.

Arch:
Ile rather thinke nature can change her Course
Rivers run backwards from the Ocean,
Things heavy can fly up, and light fall downe;
Or that the Heavenly Orbes can vary, and
By shuffling of themselves, the higher with lower,
Loose their first Order, and in this confusion
Wheele round in Discord, as before in Musicke,
Then she can cease to Love me. Roxane is
To me a Vestall, and I one to her;
There's but one holy flame betweene us, which
Cannot expire but with our selves.

Rox:
But you'l
Allow there may, Sir, be degrees in Love;
And that a lesser fire ought to give way
In justice to a greater; And though not quench't,
Yeild it selfe swallowed by it.

Arch:
Madam, pray
Explaine your selfe.

Rox:
Say, then, Archidamus,
(For now I will be free) there should be those,
Who though they bring no bright Starres in their eyes,
Or such charmes in their faces, as Roxane,
(Which to affect, were to take fire from lookes,
And love by th'sense, and outside, not by th'minde.)
Yet being of equall birth, of as great vertues,
Of greater Dowries, (For those I speake of
Do with a Kingdome bring their Conquests too)
But above all (for they dare strive here, and
Account themselves superiour) say they should bring
Greater Affection; And to shew they do,
No longer able to conceale their Flames,
Should lay aside their Sex, and Act your part,
And tell you that they love you; Would such deserve
A repulse from you? Or could you, Sir, to gaine
The name and stile of Constant unto one,
Be unjust to two? And not repay their flame
With such another?

Arch:
There can be no such, Madam.

Bars:
Without more Cloudes, say, Sir, we be those two?

Arch:
You, Ladies? You are fit to conquer Princes;
And t'have the Gods steale downe in waried shapes,
To beget Hero's on you and halfe Gods;
Not to betray such weake affections as
To sue to those who do adore you. Besides,
You two admit no choice, where both are equall,
Both Twinnes in their perfections, as in birth,
Unlesse I could divide my selfe, and be
Two to you Two. (for here is no election
Of one without wrong to the other) And
Could multiply my selfe into a number,
How can I answer both?

Rox:
By choosing one.
We are agreed betweene our selves; she that's
Refus'd, shall home, and weare the Crowne, the other
Stay here and be your Queene.

Arch:
O Love! why as
Thou dost weave knots, doest thou not teach a way
How to unty them too? I do confesse
My selfe lost in a sweet perplexity.
I'me now the Prince 'fore whom three Goddesses
Strove for the Golden Ball, or which should be
Preferr'd for Beauty. When I do consider
Your severall shapes, I am snatch't severall wayes;
And am at once three Lovers. If I therefore,
Amidst such equall merits, can't make choice
Of one before the other, 'Tis because
I am not blinde. Where Objects are alike
Faire, and distracting, He must want his eyes
Who doth preferre.

Rox:
Wee'l give you this nights respite
To thinke upon election. Meane time, Sir,
There's a short Banquet waites you at our Tent.

Arch:
You'l be the Musicke to it.

Orith:
Madam,
Now your Play's done, ours will begin; we doe
Onely want stage room.

Bars.
Look you play your parts well.

Thal:
As well as our Hypocrisie & false faces
Will give us leave.
—Orithya, what d'you thinke
Oth' Prince's Constancy? should he be tempted
To leave Roxane for Roxane, and make
Choyce of the Disguised for the true, 'twould prove
A fine Ginne laid to prove men fraile, and subject
To our Infirmities.

Orith.
I know not how
This tedious Scœne of Love hath wrought on him;
But it to me was Opium, and raised slumber.
A Gentle murmure did glide by my ears
Like the soft fall of Streames. A little more
Of such slight, aëry stuffe, had bound my senses
Up in a perfect sleepe.

Thal.
I did observe
The Onsets, & Replyes too; Methought they ran
In Artops & Neanders candid stile,
When they doe court our Women in Milke-verse,
Or tell them Newes or Stories in Sonnet prose.
I should ne're be thus cruell to him I love,
To show him shades in stead of substance; 'Tis,
Methinkes embracing Clouds.

SCÆNA. II.

To them Menalippe, Marthesia. Lights, and a Banquet follow.
Men.
—Madam, your great Designe
Goes rarely on. Your Lords are come, and are
Disposing of their Ambush.

Orith:
And have you, Menalippe,
Bespoke the false Alarme at the just houre?

Men:
Clockes strike not dulier after Quarters, Madam,
Then our she Drummer will observe her Cue,
And make things dreadfull.

Thal:
Marthesia, stand you Sentinell
Against they come.

Mar.
Troth, Madam, 'tis to me
A Comœdy before hand to imagine
How they will beare th'affright.

Men.
Methinkes I see 'em
Rolling themselves up in their owne gold Lace,
Like Urchines in their prickles. Or wishing to
Exchange place with their swords, and case themselves
In their owne scabberds.

Mar.
Stand, who comes there?

Thal:
There they are; Goe Menalippe bid the Lords
With their stout Squadron, observe their Entrances.

Exit Menal.

SCÆNA III.

To them at doore first, afterwards enter'd Call: Neand: Art:
Call.
You'l not exact the Word of us, I hope,
My pretty Perdue Virgin; if you doe,
Pray call your Corporall.

Neand:
We doe not come
As Spyes; If you suspect, commit us to
Your Ladies.

Art.
Or else keepe us prisoners in
Your Corpes of Guard, till they release us.

Marth.
Now,
I know y'are freinds, you may passe. I was set
Here to attend your coming; To prevent
Your danger of mistaking the right Tent.

Call.
We should have found that by Instinct.

Neand.
Bright Ladies,
We have made bold to use the Liberty
You gave us; And try what campe houres you keepe.

Art:
I hope w'are not unseasonable; we
Came, Ladies, to keepe watch with you.

Orith.
The time
Oth' night addes to our visit; Had you come
By day, y'had brought but halfe your selves, and onely
Made visit to our eyes; where all that could
Have past, had beene to see, and to be seene.

Art:
True, Ladies, whereas now you have us all;
And other Senses may be pleased too; And
Goe sharers with the sight.

Thal.
Besides, The Day
Turnes all Things into Chrystall, Sir; Our Tents
Had beene transparent, like their Silkes; And we
Had not beene private in our Closets.

Neand.
Right;
Whereas the Night turnes all Things into Shade;
And drawes Jet curtaines 'bout our pleasures; And
Makes a faire Lady invisible in ones Armes.

Orith:
Will you vouchsafe to sit and taste of this
Slight Banquet, Gentlemen.

Call:
You make it Three.

Thal.
You do not reckon us 'mongst Marmalade,
Quinces, and Apricots? or take us for
Ladies preserved?

Call:
No Ladies; yet I hope
'Tis no offence to say y'are each of you
A various Banquet, where a breathing sweetnesse
Feasts the Spectatours; And diverts all thought
Of eating to beholding; And from beholding
T'enjoying.

Neand:
All these do take value,
Not from the Art, which joyn'd to nature, made 'em,
But from you who bestow 'em. These Cherries do
Take Colour from your Lippes; This Amber casts
A perfume from your Breath; what ere's delightfull
In them reflects from you.

Art:
And least there should
Be Musicke wanting to this Banquet, when
You speake, the Syrens sing

Orith.
Y'have brought, we see,
The art to flatter and dissemble with you.

Thal:
I now begin to feare you. It can't be
You should thus faine and love us.

Neand:
Not love you, Ladies?
Why what signes would you have? What is required
To Love which we would not performe?

Thal:
Would you
Fight for us, if need were?

Orith:
Or enter duell
In Defence of our Honours?

Neand:
Would we? By
This hand, should you command, we would, our selves
Alone, now venture on the Thracian Campe.

Call:
Or presently send challenges to Nine
Of their best Captaines, to fight Three to One.

Art:
We will do more then fight; with your faire leaves,
We will get Fighters on you.

Orith.
Is that your errand?

Art:
That, and to helpe away the Solitude
And tediousnesse oth' night.

Thal:
Well, since we do
Beleeve you valiant, and worthy of our favours,
How will you order things? Three to two Women
Is one to much:

Orith.
One must stand out; unlesse
You'l take the Centinell in for a Third.
To men of your indifferent purposes
It should be all one; she's of the right Sex.

Neand:
We'l draw cuts who shall have her. What say you
My pretty Diomed oth' Cawdles, will you
For one night lay aside your contemplations
They draw Lots.
How to take Towne in Marchpane; or expresse
The Siege of Thebes, or Travels of Ulisses
In sweet meats, And make one of us?

Mar:
I'le take
My fortune Sir,

Neand:
Artops, She's yours; I did
Præsage thy melting Hymnes, and Straines, would end
In a Corne-Cutter.

Art.
She is not fifty Sir,
Nor I the fifteenth in succession, to
A Flavia, who brings manchet to the Campe;
This is no Sutlers wife.

Thal:
Go wench prepare
The Beds.

Orith:
But should you, now, reveale, or rumour
Your Entertainment.

Call:
Do you thinke us ill-bred Rascals?
Fellowes that can't conceale?

Thal:
Or should you tell
How kind, how free you found us how we used you—

An Alarme within.
Ne.
We'l rather cut our tongues out & live speechles.

Ori:
Hark, what meanes this?

Tha:
The Camp is up in Armes.

SCÆNA. IV.

To them Menalippe, and Marthesia, in show frighted, Afterwards Theagines, and Meleager, at one Doore; Macrinus, Lacero, Serpix at another; all disguis'd.
Men:
Fly, Madams fly, we are betrayed.

Mar:
The enemy
Hath seiz'd upon the Works; taken the King;
Burnt our Queenes Tent; slaine all the Captaines; and is
Now marching hither.

Orith:
Now show your valours, And
Helpe to defend those whom you Love.

Call.
Alas, Ladies;
You can fight for your selves. This is the first
Time we e're saw the Field.

Neand:
Alas what can
Three doe against an Army?

Thal:
Will you not
Then draw your weapons. But stand like worsted Captaines
In Arras?

Orith:
Will you let us and your selves
Be taken and make no resistance? or will you
Be killed like people in their sleepe?

Neand:
'Lasse, Ladies,
What would you have us doe? we have beene borne
And bred in peace, and were ne're us'd to fighting.

Orith.
O more then Women Cowards! And will you dye
Clashing of Sword within.
Like men oth' peace to?

Ar.
Hark, swords, swords; they come.

Thal.
Why doe you quake? why doe you looke about you?
Would you faine hide your selves?

Art.
Hark swords again.

Orith.
If you will, There's an old Drum yonder, with
One head, wee'l whelm it over you.

Art.
Thank you, Ladies.

Thal.
Or packe you up in one oth' Waggons, with
A bare Hide over you, where you may passe
For Cheese, or Ammunition.

Call.
'Twill doe well.

Men.
Or, Madam, what if we pull'd downe our Tents,
And wrapt them up ith' Curtaines?

Neand.
'Twill do better.

Theag.
within.
You Three take that way, we'l take this; slay all
Enter The: Mel: Mac: Lac: Serp:
That will not yeild.

Art.
Oh! here they come The. what? flying?
Taking wing? Seize these Captaines; And disarme 'em.

Mel.
Ladies, we doe intend no warre against you.
Our Quarrels are with men.

Theag:
Doe they refuse?
They disarme 'em.
Show them Campe Law.

Call.
We doe not, Sir, there Freind,
There is my Sword.

Neand.
And there is mine; pray use
Me like a Gentleman.

Serp.
Come, Sir, you part
As slowly with your sword, as that with th'Scabberd.

Macr.
Y'have no Artillery in your pocket, have you,
That will o'retake men at a Distance, and
Arrest 'em at Fivescore?

Nea.
Sure Freind there's all.

The.
Next blind their eies with their own scarfs.

Mac.
Hold Gētlemen.
Hold your heads faire, & shut your eyes, that we
They blind 'em.
May close 'em double.

Lac.
Stir not as you desire
To keepe 'em in your Head, and not put out.

Call.
We doe not, Sir.

Serp.
So; There's one Darknesse more
Then that we caught you in.

Theag.
Now lead 'em bound
To th'other Captives; And attend the Councell
Of Warre with 'em ith' morning.

Mac.
Come Gentlemen.

Exeunt.

SCÆNA. V.

Theagines, Meleager, Orithya, Thalæstris, Menalippe, Marthesia.
Theag:
Ladies, you see we've kept our Words; The Houres
Did fly with leaden Wings 'till we did earne
The sweet Rewards y'have promised.

Mel:
Next unto
The thought of this nights Raptures, which you will
Inspire into our soules, we doe take pleasure
To be thought worthy to be Actours in
Your just revenge.

Orith:
My Lords, we looke on you
As those we dare trust; such as understand
What Ladies favours are, How merited;
And withall, how to be concealed. Love hath
His Mysteries, as well as shrines, & Temples;
To which a Secrecy is due; And th'are
Profaned when publisht.

Thal:
Besides, you are our Equals;
And though we cannot call you Husbands, yet
To reape the fruit of Husbands from you, will be
No staine, or blemish to us. But could you thinke us,
So vulgar, so indifferent, so hard driven,
In making our Elections, to defile
The Honours of our Beds with those who next
Would finde us Bodies?

Orith:
Especially, with those
Who'd make our Nights the Discourse of Their Dayes.
And so they might gaine credit by our favours,
Would prostitute our Fames; And when They did not
Enjoy our persons, would call't new pleasures to
Lye with our Reputations.

Thal:
What would These Three
Parcell-guilt silken Gentlemen have said
Had They possest us, who so freely boasted
The leave we gave them to make visits to us?
As if to show good breeding were a Crime;
Or to be Civill in a strange place.

Theag:
True Ladies;
They said you were the most strange easy Things;
So inclining to Mankinde, as if you had
A purpose to disperse Bills through the Campe,
T'invite Men to your Lodgings; And would propose
Rewards to them who best performed.

Thal.
They said
You had two Ladies too, which did use painting;
And ne're wore their owne faces; But did vary
Shapes every Morning; And goe forth of their Closets
Things of their owne Creation.

Orith.
They left it
Doubtfull too, and to be suspected, as if
Your Ladies loved Plurality; And that they
At Court did goe halfe Husbands with you.

Mel.
Well,
Halfe our Revenge is past; The other Halfe
We will contrive betweene your Melting Armes.

Orith:
You two sing us asleepe; And when y'have done,
Goe walke the Round, and see the Watch releived.

Exeunt.
The first Song, sung by Two Amazons.

Ex: Men: & Marth:

SCÆNA. VI.

Having changed Clothes to their Doublets, Enter Callias, Neander, Artops.
Their eyes blinded with blacke patches; led by Macrinus, Lacero, Serpix.
Macr:
Come Gentlemen, Without Resistance now
Disrobe your upper parts. What's wanting in
Good Clothes, your patience must supply.

Lac:
Good Troth
Your Doublets suite not with your Breeches; Rents
To Rents, And Ragges to Ragges in fashionable.
But as y'are now you looke like Men of Gold
Creeping forth of your Oare; And are the Emblems
Of that State which does know no middle Subjects,
But is compos'd wholly of Lords and Beggers.

Call:
Well, Sir, Neccessity which made you feed
They change Doublets.
The Numerous Thracians, which now feed on me
In these your Breeches, And draw bloud, which is
Against Campe Law, does here perswade me to
Resigne my Doublet; pray shake yours, Sir.

Neand:
There,
My Freind, who e're you are, There is whole plunder.
Pray, if you can, spare me a Doublet which
Hath Linings in't, and no Glasse-Windowes. For if
My feeling doe not faile me with my sight,
Your Nether Garment is halfe Net, halfe Breeches;
And Statutably will catch Greater Fish,
And let small passe, as well as cloth.

Lac:
Troth, Sir,
You shall e'en have 'em as I wore 'em, fellowes;
They were New once; It was not in my power
To keepe them at a stand, by Miracle.
Time which devour'd his Children, will eate Holes, Sir.

Art:
Stay, stay, stay, stay Freind: Sure you must release
My eyes, to see to put your Vesture on right.

Serp:
I warrant you, Sir.

Art:
So; There is one Arme
Past through a Labyrinth. I doe expect
The Other should be lost by th'way. This Jerkin
Is wholly made of Doores; And had need have
A Thread belong to it.

Serp:
Now 'tis on, Sir.

Art.
Thank you.
Y'are sure y'have not mistaken?

Serp.
How d'you meane?

Art:
I meane your Breeches for your Doublet; As being
Indifferent in their use; which should be worne
Above, and which below?

Serp.
All's right, Beleive it, Sir.

Mac:
Next, Gentlemen, you must once more submit
Your Armes to these Hempe prisons. No striving; You
Know where you are.

Call.
Sir, we are tame; y'have made us
So by the Imprisonment of our Legges already.
They pinion them.
But if our Elbowes doe breake prison, pray
Impute it to the loosenesse of your buildings.

Lac:
So; Now y'are All Compleate; you look't before
Like Him who first invented Coaches, to hide
His double Making; Who was downwards Serpent,
Upwards a well shap't Man.

Serp.
Good troth, Me thought,
Your Nether parts lookt as They would petition
Your Upper for an Almes; Or else, as if
You had 'bove Girdle beene the Founders, and
Below, the Hospitall.

Call:
Well, Freinds, you may
Laugh at our Miseries, and raise sport from
Your torne Exchanges. But is this noble usage
Of Souldiers unto Souldiers, thus to strippe us?

Mac:
When we take sheepe with golden Flecees, 'Tis
Our Custome to returne Wool for their Plate.

Lac:
We doe not strippe you, but change Cases; Clothes
For Clothes was still held honourable.

Neand:
And now,
In troth, most Worthy Captaines, (For we have
Created you) what's your Intent? what will you
Doe with us thus reduced to Totters?

Mac:
That
Is as the Councell shall determine. Perhaps,
Imploy you in our Workes to digge: And there
Worke out your Ransomes, 'till the Warre be ended,
As pioners.

Neand:
Must we rowle Wheele-barrowes?
Or manage Spades, and Mattockes then? And earne
Our bread and water with the Picke-Axe?

Serp:
Perhaps,
We shall obtaine you outright for our Slaves.
Then having mark't you, to be knowne our Bond-men,
We will transport you home to Thrace, and there
Make sale of you in some publique Market; you'l
Be vendible Commodities. Perhaps,
Some who have store of Wives will buy you to
Make Eunushes of, and geld you.

Mac:
Or perhaps
Some Ancient Widdowes, long past bearing, will
Buy you for their owne private use.

Las:
Or else,
Perhaps, to make short worke, The Councell will
Condemne you to the Gallies, There to row
Your Dayes our 'gainst the Persian; or fetch Corne
Monthly from Ægypt: Sugar from Creet: or Spunges
From Samos.

Art:
And our Wages to be feele
The scourge about our shoulders if the Winde
Sit opposite, & we can't row.

Lac:
There must
Be such corrections, to quicken Diligence.

Call.
Pray as y'are noble, and know how to pity
Humane Misfortunes, let us aske one Question.

Mac:
As many as you please.

Call.
If by Starre-light
You can discerne so farre, How farre are we
From a Tall Oake, which may be clymb'd by such
Ivyes as we? Or a straight Elme, which may
Support th'Imbraces of such Vines?

Mac:
Why aske you?

Call:
Because if any such kinde naturall plant
Be neare, we would intreat you not t'omit
The Opportunity; But to prevent
Our Greater by lesse sufferings, would imploy
Those Cords which binde our Armes, about our Necks,
And hang us up by Mooneshine.

Mac:
Alas, such favours
Are not in our powers. If it be your fate
So to be sentenc'd, we will doe you all
The freindly Offices we can.

Call:
We thanke you.

Lac:
Meane time, perhaps to you 'til Midnight, Gentlemen;
No Sunne appeares to you: But to us Day breakes.
We will conduct you to the place where you
Shall know your Doomes. Pray follow leisurely.
And doe not stumble.

Neand:
If't be our Destiny
To dye by th'string, the comfort is w'are Three.