University of Virginia Library

ACTVS V.

SCÆNA I.

Enter Theagines and Meleager buttoning themselves. After a while followed by Orithya and Thalæstris.
Theag:
In my opinion, my Lord, these are
The strangest Amazons that ever left
Their female Countrey for the use of Men.
How did you finde yours? Mine had Breasts.

Mel.
Troth mine,
I thinke hath scap't the rasour too; I had
No leisure to examine parts. I found
No defects in her; But methought she was
To me a whole and perfect Woman; I'me sure
She found me an entire and perfect Man.

Theag:
There's a strange sweetnesse in them; how they melt
Betweene ones Armes, and call one Husband?

Mel:
I
Thought mine would have fullfill'd the Fable, where
The Nymph dissolv'd into a Fountaine.

Theag:
But
How will our Ladies brooke this if they know it?

Mel:
How? Thanke us for being Civil unto Ladies.
Would they be willing these should report us Clownes?
O: men void of Humanity, at their
Returne home to their Countrey.

Theag:
'Tis true; had we
Dismist them as they came, both to our shame,
And shame of our posterity, they might
Record us Impotent in Chronicles;
Or say they were receiv'd Women by Women.

Enter Orith. Thal.
Mel.
Here they come. Ladies, you appeare to us
Like Two Sunne risings breaking from your Curtaines.

Theag:
The Day 'till now was not begun; you make
The Morning, which enables us to see
Those Beauties by their owne light, which did turne
The Darkenesse of the Night into such pleasure,
As happy Lovers doe enjoy below,
In their Elysian Feilds.

Orith:
Fye, fye, my Lords,
Is this your recompence to mocke us for
Having bad faces?

Thal:
'Cause Nature play'd the Stepdame,
And made us not of the same Orient matter
Of which she fram'd your Ladies, Must you adde
Your flouts to her hard Workmanship?

Theag:
'Fore Heaven
I could for ever gaze on your faire eyes.
'Tis Heaven, where e're I may behold your faces;
Y'are wholly made of charme.

Mel:
You are two Circes,
Two amiable Conjurers; Once gotten
Into your Circle, there's no getting out:
A Thousand Graces play upon your lips,
And every Kisse is a new Syren, which
Invites us to take more, and there to fix,
Till they grow Infinite.

Theag:
Then for your beds,
They are two Phœnix Nests which breath perfumes;
You rose from us, to Day, as Spice from Altars,
Two perfect Sacrifices.

Orith.
Well, since you will
Needs put great value on slight favours, we
Shall know how you esteeme us by your visits
In this kinde often.

Thal.
Next, That you may perceive
What Confidence we dare put in you; And
How ill it would become us to admit
You to our Beds, and shut you from our Counsels:
Know that this Day, if you doe not prevent it,
Your Campe will be betray'd to th'Enemy.

Theag:
How Ladies? 'Tis not possible; pray who
Should be the Traitors?

Orith:
Our Princesse, and her Sister.
You stand amazed now.

Theag.
Troth it stirres my wonder,
Treason should lodge in such fair Lookes.

Thal.
These Lookes
Are, Sir, the Cause, and Ground of what we tell you.
Your King ignobly did refuse them, when
They fell below Themselves, and wooed Him.

Orith.
Which
Being knowne to th'Prince of Thrace, he joining Love
To their Revenge, hath frequently stolne hither
In a Disguise, and courted, & prevailed.
This Morning is appointed as the last
Time of their Interveiwes, before the Nuptialls.

Thal.
'Tis too concluded, Sir, He shall restore
Your Princesse, (For He sayes, To force Affection,
Were to wedde halfe a Queene, and match her Body
Without her Soule, Nor can the Marriage be
Perfect where Mindes joine not as well as hands,
And have their Knot too) And in her stead shall
Make choice of one of ours.

Orith.
Then for
Roxane, Hee'l transport her backe, as scorning
To match there where Himselfe hath beene refused.
And for the Carriage of all this, 'Tis Order'd
That when the Battles joine, we, on the Word,
And Signe given, shall revolt, and turne to that side.

Mel.
You have made great Discoveries.

Theag.
Who is this?

Eurymedon passeth by.
Orith.
Now trust your owne eyes; That's Eurymedon,
Going to our Queenes Tent. Make what wise use
Of this you please. And say you have not lost
By th'Company of Ladies.

Theag.
We looke upon you
As the preservers of our Countrey.

Mel.
We
Ent. Menalippe & Marthesia.
Will erect Sacred Statues to you, as
To th'Tutelar Deities that saved us.

Men.
Madam,
Here is the second part oth' Comœdy.
The Souldiers are come with their prisoners:
The strangest spectacle—

Orith.
Why, what's the Matter?

Mar.
Unlesse it were the Farse, where the Decayes
Of Time are acted, I never saw three men
So made of Ragges. The Souldiers have changed Clothes,
And plunder'd 'em.

Thal.
Go bid 'em enter.

Mel.
Come Ladies
Wee'l make two in your Councell, And then to th'King.

SCÆNA II.

To them Callias, Neander, Artops: (Led by Macrinus, Lacero, Serpix.
Macr.
Come Gentlemen, now stand in Ranke, and keepe
Due Distance from the Lords; Lest there passe from you
A creeping Entercourse, which may disturbe
The sitting of the Court.

Theag.
Are these the Captaines
You tooke last Night?

Mac.
These are the Three Commanders
An't please your Lordships; who have since chang'd shapes
With us their Conquerors.

Mel.
Indeed They looke
As if They lately had beene in a Fight;
Their Garments doe want Surgeons. What's your name?

Cal.
Callias

Me.
What's yours?

Ne:
Neander.

Me.
What's yours?

Art:
Artops.

Theag.
I do remember you; you were imploy'd
In our late Civill Warres, by the factious Members
Of our Synedrium, when they arm'd their slaves,
And made their Bondmen Curiasseirs against
Th'Equestrall Order; And did enact it lawfull
Ith' Kings Name to take Armes against Him; And
Out of Obedience to Him to rebell.
And 'mongst their other Wilde and furious Votes,
Decreed it lawfull, for the Good oth' Subject,
To rifle their Estates; slaughter their persons;
Ravish their Wives, and to defloure their Daughters.

Mel.
Are these the Three, who helpt to make war 'gainst
Our Gods? And to reforme their Temples, did
Deface their Altars? And called it sacrifice
To robbe Them of their Incense, And pull downe
Their Images? And did erect strange Preists,
Taken from Awles and Anvills, to deliver
False Oracles unto the people?

Theag:
These
Sir, are the Three.

Mel:
Apply the Racke to them,
To force true Answers from them to our Questions.

Call.
Pray hold, pray hold, Freinds. Alas, My Lords, we are not
The men you meane. We ne're saw Warres before,
Civill, or Forraigne; Nor ever were beyond
Our owne Coasts yet.

Neand.
Nor do we understand
What your Synedrium is, unlesse it be
Your Mayor and Senate of Bizantium.
Who, as we heare, once in an age runne madde;
And then talke Idly, of nought but Liberty;
Changing of Government; The fatall periods
Of States and Kingdomes; How They vote twice two Thirty:
Or their owne Scarlet's gray; Or Thracians, Scythians;
Or that They not rebell against your King,
When in a popular fury They cast off
The yoke of Subjects, for any aide They e're
Received from us.

Theag.
Well, since y'have cleared your selves
Of that great Doubt; Resolve us then, what makes
The Queene of Amazons among you?

Call:
What made
Her Grandmother in Alexanders Army?
She comes to show Her selfe her Neece, To fight,
And to have Amazons begot upon her.

Neand.
Had these not interrupted us, we should
By this have knowne whither her Ladies came
For the same businesse.

Mel.
That Sir is presum'd;
Subjects are bound to imitate their Princes.

Theag:
Next, what are your Designes? we heare you mean
This Day to give us Battle.

Call.
For our Designes,
Some say you have tame pidgeons, taught to fly
With Newes and Letters, betwixt Campe and Campe;
Whereby our Counsels are no sooner hatcht,
But They take Wing to you.

Neand.
Others affirme,
You have your Multiplying Instruments,
Which take our Truthes at one end, and, like Glasses,
Show Them in various shapes to th'people; And
Returne your Monsters to us at the Other,
In shapes more various and prodigious,
To fright us, as the Barbarous did of old,
With Elephants, and Castles in the Aire;
And such like Expeditions; which once knowne,
Looke bigge, and are despised.

Art.
Then for the battle,
This is the Day for our New Legions
To be brought in; which when They come; Our King
Intends to stake his Kingdome 'gainst your Princesse:
The Conquerour take both.

Mel.
This is a playnesse,
Which does show generous in you. Lastly, therefore
As you'l avoide the Tortures of the Wheele,
Or Racke, in Questions of this moment; Tell us,
What Officers have you that may be bought,
To let us have good penny-worths, if we
Should have occasion to joine Art to Armes,
And chaffer for a Castle, Fort, or Towne,
Or a Defeate, or so? How's your Prince guarded?

Call.
As a Prince should be, by Gentlemen; whose Lives
Are cheaper to them then their Honours; And
More cheaply to be purchast from Them. Men
Who'd looke on Tempters, as New Enemies;
And think't New Justice added to their Cause,
To fight 'gainst those who would corrupt 'em, Breifly,
Th'are Men who doe propose onely these two
Brave Ends unto Themselves, to dye, and to
Be Loyall to their Prince; About whose person
Their Valours make one Guard, their Loves another.

Art.
Some under Officers perhaps there may be,
Whose Trade & Occupation 'tis to Kill,
And to grow rich by Slaughters; Vile Market Spirits,
Who doe not fight for Fame, or Cause, but thinke
That side is most ith' Right which gives most pay.
And these Warres justest where there is most plunder:
Whom you may buy o're to your side, and we
Upon a New Sale, may buy backe againe.
You I beleive have some in your Campe too,
Who are like Victory; Hover a while
With doubtfull Wings betweene both Armies, and
At last forsake the weakest.

Theag:
Since y'have made
A free Confession, wee'l now proceed unto
As free a Centure of you. My Lords, pronounce
Each in your order.

Orith.
My sentence is, that since
They were caught in a Ladies Tent, at Houres
When all good Souldiers should be on their Watches;
And since They were surprized, and no swords drawne:
(Which renders them uncapable of a
More Manly punishment) They be attir'd
In Womens Clothes, and so led through the Campe
In triumph, then left to their Ransomes.

Thal.
I
Concurre with you; But doe adde farther, that
Instead of Ransome, in that Dresse. They be
Returned to be Another show of scorne
To their owne Army.

Theag.
What say you two?

Men.
We
Doe both agree in one breife Vote; which is,
That since we heare they boast of Ladies favours,
To which a gratefull speechlessnesse is due,
That first They have their Tongues cut out, and so
Made Mutes; Next, that they be gelt, and made Eunuches;
And thus disabled from all what concernes
The Company of Women, but to keepe 'em;
That thy be sold to th'Persian; who'l imploy 'em
With these Capacities in their Seraglio's.

Serp.
You see we told you true.

Call.
Pray, pray my Lords,
Reverse this cruell sentence. Rather let us
Be drest like Women, then be made no Men.

Neand.
Rather cut off our Heads, then Tongues; and make us
Mutes that way.

Mel.
To which of us doe you speake?

Neand:
To the Lords with the treble voyces.

Mel.
Well,
Though we might shew our rights of Conquest on you,
And yet proceed to harder Doomes; since victours
Cannot be cruell, where the worst is lawfull;
Yet if you'l sweare never hereafter to
Beare Armes against us, with your eyes we will
Restore you to your Liberty.

Art:
Let's sweare;
'Twilbe a fine excuse to keepe's from fighting.

Call:
We sweare.

Mel:
By our Gods or your own?

Call:
By all
Our Country Gods we'l neare beare armes against you.

Mel:
You take the same oath?

Nean:
Yes.

Art:
If you'l have me
I'le sweare by all your Gods too, you shall never
Take me in armes against you.

The.
Perhaps you will
They unbind 'em.
Out run your followers. Now unbinde 'em; next
They unblinde 'em.
Give 'em their sight.

Orith.
Ha, ha, ha, Looke how meekely,
And peaceably they looke?

Thal:
what a Tranquillity,
And harmelesse Calme is in their Countenances?

Men.
How undisturb'd they beate this? How serenely?
As if they were at Truce with all the world.

Mar.
who would not be a Coward, to be endu'd
with such a guift of Patience?

Theag:
Gentlemen,
Having so amply testified your valors
To us, and these faire Ladies, We'l report
Your Chievalry to th'King. Meane time we leave you
To you stout Resolutions, and Chronicle,
To be set forth in Epicke Meeter on you.

Mel:
Farewell brave Champions; Take heed your examples
Do not infect your Companions.

Orith:
Pray, when
You have spare houres, and are returnd unto
Your Courages, let us once more partake
Of your defences at our Tent.

Thal:
And as
You finde us free, and yeilding, pray for our
Sakes, and your own, conceale your Entertainment.

Exeunt.
Men.
Pray keep your selves whole men.

Mar:
And safe from dangers

Mac:
Captaines we have our pay a month before hand.
We'l take leave too, and returne to our postures.

Call:
Pray stay, pray stay; Is not your name Macrinus?

Mac:
Yes Sir.

Nean:
Yours Lacero I take it?

Lac:
True Sir.

Call.
And you are Lantspesado Serpix?

Serp.
Sir,
I should deny my selfe else.

Neand.
And 'tis thought
There are your Breeches?

Lac.
We confesse it; And
These yours, and Doublets.

Mac:
Troth we know you scorne
To weare 'em after us; or to put on
Clothes which you once cast off.

Serp.
Adiew sweet Captaine;
We will report your Bounty to the Campe.

Lacer.
And show how you have guilded us, and made us
Three Compleate Gentlemen of your Companies.

Exeunt.

SCÆNA III.

Callias, Neander, Artops.
Call.
Neander?

Neand.
Hum.

Call.
Was this a Dream, & did
All these appeare to us in our sleepe? or wast
A reall vision?

Neand.
Why doe you aske?

Call.
Because, if it were reall, I expect
That passages so fit for History,
Shall not scape Mercuries or Scout Gazetes;
But shortly be recorded with the Deedes
Of Democraticke John, or the Red nos'd Burgesse,
Who enacts Ordinances in Sacke; Or with
The Life and Death of preaching Nol, and Rowland.

Neand.
If we scape rascall poetry I care not.
All my feare is, lest He who carved the Embleme
Of the Oxe with foure Hornes, spitting fire, like one
Oth' Bulls which Jason conquer'd, should cut us
With Wings, in most vile libell figure, flying,
Like Owles by Twilight, and moultring these our feathers,
Before two she Kites, following us with Quivers.

Call:
True; And then Pistoclerus, who lives by
His yearely Gifts in scraping verse, and pictures,
T'expound this to the Multitude in Ballad,
Sung to the direfull Tune of Orpheus torne
By Oyster Wives.

Neand.
Artops, Suppose this should
Arrive to th'Knowledge of your browne Lycoris.
Ith' Suburbs?

Art:
Pray don't trouble me, I'me in
A serious Contemplation.

Neand.
What is't?

Art.
Why.
If you'l needs know, 'Tis whither it be not fit
(To prove our selves no Cowards, and to show
How much we can slight Death in any shape)
That we should call our Regiments together;
Erect a handsome Traverse; Then desire
The Company They'd joine with us in one
Of Homers Odes, and after a short Confession,
Turne our selves off in Packthread.

Call:
Come, we must
Doe something to redeeme our Credits: The Boyes
Will else tye Squibbes behinde us, as we passe,
And make us walke the Streetes in Fireworkes.

Exeunt.

SCÆNA. IV.

Eurymedon, Roxane, Barsene.
Eurym.
Madam, you put too great names on my Visits,
To stile them meritorious Dangers. 'Tis
So little I have done, thus to adventure
To your faire presence, secur'd onely by
The weake vaile and cloud which I weare about me,
That this but rankes me yet 'mongst vulgar Lovers;
Who would doe much more for one fading Kisse,
Which dies in the fruition, and perishes
Whilest 'tis received, from her they love.

Bars.
But Sir,
So often to descend from your great Selfe,
Where once had beene enough to gaine a Princesse;
And to submit your selfe to this darke shade,
Which might betray you, and at best conceales you
But as Eclipses doe conceale the Sun;
Which when They hide, doe robbe him too, and take
His bright rayes from him; And all this to enjoy
The fraile Sight of a Woman, who returnes
You nought but Taske for Visit, and whose presence
Might it securely be possest, and you
Not venture a Captivity as often
As you passe to and fro, at most can make
But this poore, short requitall, To be seene
Such as She is, one onely rich in promises,
Where She wants Treasures more Substantiall;
And those performed so much below the Receiver,
So apt to breed Repentance, as to deserve
Onely to passe 'mongst the Injuries of Love,
Is such a Noblenesse, which first esteemes
And values Meane Things, whose Worth is Opinion,
And then findes Arguments to prize them, and
T'account them amiable: y'have added This
To my Releasement when I was your prisoner,
Still to proceed in the same generous errour;
Still to beleive me worthy to be loved,
As then to be surprized, and to be told so.

Eurym.
You are the first, Most Gracious Barsene,
Who robbed her selfe to make Another rich;
Or stript her selfe of her owne praises to
Adorne Anothers Wants, and then looke on him
As a Thing Worthy to be valued. The Gods
When They returne a large and plenteous vintage
For a few Drops of Wine pour'd on their Altars:
Or doe repay a Graine or Two consumed
In Sacrifice, with a whole feild of Incense;
Or when They doe require a pilgrimage
Made to their Shrines, with Answers which doe promise
More then the Supplicant or askes, or hopes for,
Are not more Bounteous, more free and liberall,
Then you; who thus doe glorifie what You
In Justice might despise; And call your owne
Perfections, which attract me to your presence,
Desert in me; Or thinke I merit, when
You make me happy. Nor can I count my visits
Among my Dangers, which are so much sweetned
By your Allowance of Them. If they be Dangers,
'Tis a felicity I covet to
Be allways neare my Thraldome. To be taken
Coming or Going, and held Captive, Will
Be such a suffering as will endeare it selfe;
And be one of my pleasures, when I thinke
For whose sake I'me a Bondman.

Bar:
But, Great Sir,
What can you see in me, besides a Minde
Willing to understand it selfe beloved
And to returne Affection for Affection.
Which should expose you to these perils; And
Make't an Adventure every time you see me;
And your returne backe an Escape?

Eur:
I see
A forme more beautifull, more attracting, then
All those for which the King of Gods left Heaven.
And which t'enjoy, he rather chose to be
Transformed into a Flame, or spangled showre,
Then to remaine the Thunderer; And thought it
A happier shape to be a Swanne, then to
Be clothed with his owne Lightning. Should you set me
The taskes of Hercules, or bid me turne
Fable into story, and make his Labours mine;
Or should enjoyne me fights where th'enemy
Growes numerous from my Conquests. And multiplies
From every wound I give him; And having finisht
One Labour, should you straight prescribe another;
And make me so divide my life betweene
My Love and Conflicts; Such a reward as you,
Would be a greater recompence, then to
Be placed among the Starres, and there to shine
A Constellation, wreath'd about with my
Owne Victories; and glittering with the spoiles
I tooke from Lyons.

Rox:
Well, Sir, Barsene hath
Receiv'd so true, so full a Testimony
Both of your Love, and fortitude, that now
Nothing is wanting to put both you and us
In full possession of our wishes, but
The opportunity to reveale our selves
After the noblest manner.

Bar:
Your Taske is onely
To set your Army in Array, to joine
Battle with ours, that, from this shew of Warre,
We may at our Returne unto our selves,
The better raise a peace: And make an Olive
Spring from our Mirtles. Meane time I am your Conquest.

Eur.
And I, who came a Prince, returne your Captive.

Exeunt.

SCÆNA V.

Archidamus, Lyncestes, Polydamas, Theagines, Meleager.
Archid.
My Lords, Lyncestes and Polydamas,
You Two stoppe all the passages by which
The Prince of Thrace is to returne; That done,
Put the new forces you have brought in posture.
And fit Array, if need be, to suppresse
All Campe Commotions. We are not safe 'mongst Women.

Lync.
It shall be done.

Arch.
And let th'old Forces be
In Readinesse, if th'Adverse Army doe
Invite us to joyne Battle; to entertaine it,
And meet them in the Feild.

Polyd.
It shall be Order'd.

Arch.
But is it credible Eurymedon
Should have the Confidence to trust Himselfe
To a thinne weake Disguise, and in a Cloud
So open and transparent, should passe through
My Campe, on such a treacherous Enterprize?

Theag.
He's now Sit at the Queenes Tent, where they hold
A secret Consultation.

Mel.
We saw him enter
Just at the Instant when two of her Ladies,
The One Lieutenant Generall of the Army,
The Other Lady Marshall of the Feild,
Were telling us the plot.

Arch.
That 'tis concluded,
Roxane shall be carried backe to Thrace,
Barsene be restored (perhaps deflour'd)
And He to choose Hyppolyta, or her Sister,
Instead of Mine to be his Queene?

Theag.
Yes, Sir,
They are indifferent, and are resolved.
Since you refused 'em, to wedde by Lottery.
Of which refusall they are so sensible,
That when both armies joine, 'tis too contriv'd,
(Which I do wonder they should, yet discover)
The Amazons, upon the signe given, shall
Turne to the other side; And sacrifice
Your overthrow to their Revenge; Or what's
More to be feared, your Kingdome to their Nuptialls.

Mel:
Antiope, the sister, wants a portion;
And if she bring your Crowne, and Scepter with her;
Or, if t'enlarge her Husbands Territories,
She adde yours to 'em, the Match will be more Princely,
And she appeare so much the more her selfe, Sir,
If she can raise a Dowry from your Conquest.

Arch:
Oh the deceitfullnesse of Women! whose
Affection's like the Rainbow, can shew painted,
And Court us with a thousand Beauteous Colours,
Yet all this onely serve to guild a Storme:
And make a Tempest looke more flattering.
We must use Plot 'gainst Plot. To seize upon
The Ladies were dishonourable; And
To take these Captive who are now our Guests,
(Though they deserve it, having forfeited
The Stile of Friends they brought, for Enemies)
Would be our blot in History. You two, therefore,
Seize on the Prince at his returne, His Ransome
Shall be the Restitution of our Ladies.
A Battle beaten within,
Enter Macrinus.
Hark, what means this?

Macr.
Arme, arme your selves; Both Campes
Are joined; And th'Amazons have put themselves
In Armes against us, 'Tis rumor'd through the Field,
To charge us in the Reare, The Thracians
In Front: and so t'encircle us in a
Parenthesis of Enemies, compos'd
Of Men before us, and Women, Sir, Behinde.

Arch:
We'l to the field straight. O false Sex! The Winde
May be made constant, but not Womankinde.

Exeunt.

SCÆNA VI.

After a Battle beaten within, enter at one doore, in fighting postures, Archidamus, Theagines, Meleager. At the other Eurymedon, Clytus, Hippocles.
Arch.
I'me glad I have met you out of Cloudes, in your
Owne shape, and like your selfe. Y'have hitherto
Obscur'd your selfe, in Mistes, of your owne raising
To play the Theese in, since you landed false Prince!
Was't not enough you did pursue my Queene
With your unnecessary expedition;
And when our Nuptiall Torch was placed, and kindled
Upon the Altar, must then quench it, And
Like those who do robbe Temples (For to take her
Thus from me was plaine Sacriledge) must snatch her
Then backe againe, just when the sacred Cake
Was breaking 'twixt the Flamens hands, And all
The Gods of Weddings in their Saffron Robes,
But as part of your pyracy, and stealth,
(If yet the treacherous surprize of a
Weake Company of Ladies do deserve
A name not yet more Infamous) must joine
My sister, and the beauteous part of my
Whole Court, and Kingdome in the Rape? As if
You meant t'erect a new Seraglio, or
T'enlarge your old: And take them prisoners first,
Then use them 'mongst your other prostitutes?

Eurym:
Is this all?

Arch:
There is one thing more. To shew
Your power upon that Sex, (which you, I see,
Have striv'd by all wayes to make yours, And, where
By force you could not, have conquer'd by Petition)
Was't not enough you did begin the Warre
In the surprize of Ladies, but that since
You must continue it by Stratagem,
More treacherous then the first? And in your false
And borrowed shapes, (In which you nightly have
Appeared to the Queene of Amazons) must tempt
Her, and her Ladies from their pure Affections,
Which made them first resolve, wonne by the Justice,
And Goodnesse of my Cause, to fight for me,
Untill seduc'd they grew Conspiratours,
And did resolve to fight for you? Had you
First taken, and then match't Barsene, yet,
To be your Queene, thus, had not beene a Wedding,
But a Captivity; And to be forc'd
Unto your bed with shackles on, is not
To be your Princesse, but your slave, But first
To take her prisoner, And, (For ought I know)
To use your power of Conquest on her, And
To make her first unworthy of your Nuptials,)
And then despise her, for one more entire,
More free, and more untoucht, (For your new Loves
Made to Hippolyta, and her sister Prince,
Have not beene so disguis', like you the Lover,
As to escape my knowledge) is such a wrong.
(Besides my other Interest of having
My Queene kept from me) as I stand here to punish;
Or else to adde my fall unto my sufferings.

Eurym:
Have you, Sir, finisht your Oration?

Arch:
This
Onely remaines. To save th'expence of blood,
Which may be shed on both sides, since the Quarrell
Is purely ours, Let's not engage our Armies
But here conclude the warre, The injur'd with
The Injurer, in one faire, single Combate.

Theag:
Sir, we've a Cause going too; And have two Ladies.
Who well might thinke us two Indifferent Cowards,
And very cold in their Revenge, should we
Stand peaceable Spectatours, whilest you fight.

Mel:
We do beseech you, Sir, Let us joine our
Poore Interest with yours; And since the number,
And quality of the Combatants is equall,
T'expresse the like sense of our wrongs, let it
Be Three to Three.

Clyt:
We do accept the challenge;
And will maintaine, your Ladies are our Prisoners,
More Nobly then they were at first your Wives;
And that we tooke them farre more honourably
Then you first married 'em.

Eurym:
Pray stay a little.
To shew Archidamus, (For I will not,
Although I justly might, call your false Prince,
Being guilty of those Accusations, which
You sticke on me) that we bring equall causes,
As well as equall Valours, to defend them,
Since you observ'd a Method in your Wrongs,
And those suspicions onely, and imaginary,
I'le use one in my Answers? 'Tis confest
I did use Art to gaine by plot what was
By plot taken from me, Roxane, my best sister.
And if in her surprize I did recover
But what you first stole, and redeem'd my Losse
With some inforcement, this deserves the name
Of a Retrive not of a Pyracy.
Next that I tooke your Sister with my owne,
'Twas part of my Affection to her; Love
Prompted me to the Action; which doth not
Cease to be Love, because it once put on
The shape of Force; And that force but made use of,
To let her know that he who tooke her was
The greater prisoner, and was first surpriz'd.
How I have us'd her since, the Gods, and she,
Her owne Historian, when you see her next
Will witnesse for me. Lastly, If refus'd
By you, (I will not say by her, for her
Consent takes flame from yours) I've beene a Suitor,
Where I've beene freely heard, and entertained,
Ask't and prevail'd, For you to claime a Soveraignty,
Over th'Affections of Hippolyta.
Or her faire Sister, or call me Theefe, or treacherous,
Because I've added nights to my disguises,
That my Accesses to them might be more
Secure, More undisturb'd, is such a Wrong
To me and them; That in their Absence, I
Stand here to make good with my sword, my stealths,
Have beene more noble then your open Visits.
And that I am more Constant to Barsene
In the new purchase of their Loves, Then you
Are to Roxane in refusing them.
Now, Sir, I am prepar'd to meet your stroakes.

Clyt:
Your Challenge holds too?

Theag:
Yes; you shall perceive,
You fight not now with Women.

Hipp:
We see y'are Men,
And you shall finde us such.

Mel:
'Tis nobly promis'd.

SCÆNA. VII.

As they prepare to fight enter to them, Their faces undiscolour'd, and to be knowne, Roxane, who takes hold of Archidamus, Barsene of Eurymedon.
Rox:
Hold as y'are Princes; And respect the Cries,
Of your owne Ladies, who in your wounds bleed.
And, if you fall must here expire with you;
Since neither of you can fall singly, and
We not be slaine too.

Bar:
Great Archidamus,—
My royall Lord Eurymedon,—(For now
I dare professe you) what meane you to contract,
And thus remove the Warre into a Duell?
O sheath your swords; See your Barsene begs.

Rox:
Once more heare your Roxane, Sir; And here
Cast downe your weapon. Or if we be the cause
Of this your strife, be reconcil'd by turning
Your swords on us. See here two Sacrifices
Ready to buy your peace with their owne slaughters.

Arch:
How's this? Roxane and Barsene? Sure
My eyes are not themselves; Or else my Joyes
Make me take Visions for Realities.

Theag:
Beleeve us, Sir, These are no 'empty shades
Which will appeare and vanish.

Mel:
These have bodies,
Compos'd of Flesh and Bloud.

Eur:
Now, Sir, you see,
If you'l proceed ith' Combate, I want not
A noble cause to fight for. If you'l now
Call my surprize of these a pyracy,
Or my stolne visits since made to their Tents
A Treason, in which these went Conspiratours,
I hope you'l think't a Treason, in which I
Had onely this one honourable aime,
To render my selfe worthy to be owned
by this faire Princesse; and to betray you to
A league and freindship with me by th'Exchange
Of Queenes and Sisters.

Arch:
Is this true?

Rox:
Our plot
Was in thse borrowed shapes onely to try
How you would beare our Losse; Or whither we
Might tempt you from your Constancy. Which, Sir,
Hath beene so firme, so settled, four shaken,
So much beyond her Merits who made tryall,
That I'me now twice yours; And the second time
Takes her in his Armes.
Here cast my self into your armes.

Arc.
Y'are here,
Once more my bright starre fixt in your owne sphære.

Bar:
Then, for you, Great Eurymedon, To leave
Your Kingdome for the sight, and spectacle
Of one, whose Beauty can at most aspire
But to be seene, and pardon'd; After that,
To turne that which at first shew'd boisterous force,
Into a generous Courtship; And to change
That which I first tooke for a rude surprize,
Into the noblest way of Love; And there
To be a Suplicant, and to spend sighes,
Prayers, and Petitions, where you might command
Affection as your Conquest, Addes so pure,
So cleare, so bright a Luster to your flame,
And calls forth such a just, and vertuous heate
From me, to meet with yours, that from the time
You did release, I became your Captive;
And you gain'd this by setting of me free,
Onely to change one Thraldome for another;
And from that time to make me weare your Fetters,
And to be wholly yours.

Eur:
If these be Fetters,
I shall for ever wish to be your prison;
Takes her in his Armes.
And thus to hold you chain'd. I hope, Sir, you
Will not unlinke us now.

Arch.
Such a Seperation
Were such a sinne, as would be punisht with
The Anger of the Gods; And would deserve
To have another added to it; And I
Be once more in the number of the Divorc'd.
To make the knot more firme, here, Sir, Insigne
Y'have had two conquests of me, I lay downe
My selfe, and Weapon at your feet.

Eur.
And I
First Conquer'd by your Sister, next, your selfe,
Make this confession of it.

Theag:
My Lords
They lay downe their Swords
You see the Warres are ended; If't please you
Let us put up our swords.

Clyt:
We'l shew the way, Sir.

Arch:
Next since there's nothing wanting to Combine us,
In one strickt Union, but the Priest, and Temple,
Please you, we will to th'Altar, and there first.
Conclude a lasting peace, And then our Nuptials.

Exeunt.
Eurym:
Lead on; I follow you.

Theag:
I mar'le, my Lord,
Our Amazons appeare not, with their Brace
Of Posset-makers.

Mel:
They are but shifting faces;
Enter Orith. Thal.
That they may laugh at us in their owne shapes.
See where they come.

Thea:
How's this? How's this? I'le pawn
My life another Comœdy; Let's stand,
And over-heare 'em.

Mel:
Looke how they shew in Helmets.

SCÆNA. VIII.

Enter Callias, Neander, Artops. Leading Orithya, Thalastris, Menalippe and Marthesia; with Helmets on, plumed as taken prisoners by them.
Call:
Come, come along, Nay you shall know, most stout,
Most sterne Bellona's, what 'tis to be Traitours
Against a State, Was this your errand? This
Your faire pretence of having Children by us.
To betray those that should beget em? Now
We know how you or'ecome the Scythians;
You did invite them to your Tents, And there
Conquer'd the Men by night, by day their Country.

Neand.
What could you see in us to thinke us of
A feebler Fabricke, or not so well built,
Nor of such tough Chines as the Thracians, that
You should so itch to sell us to 'em, for
Nights Lodgings, And the transitory pleasure
Of keeping of you waking?

Orith:
To the wrong
You offer to our Innocence, and Honours,
Y'are scurrilous and that is one wrong more
Offer'd to our chaste eares. Your mouthes need washing;
Or rather gelding. We project to betray you?

Art:
Why, I beseech you, Lady Telamon,
If I should aske you, And this Lady Ajax,
Together with your two Sarpedons here,
Was't not contriv'd you in our absence should
Seize on our Magazine? Then crested thus
In your bright Helmets, (To which nothing lackes
But a sheild with a Gorgons Head, to turne
Vs into a stone, and Conquer us with ill lookes,)
That you should sally forth upon us; And
Then joine, almost had said couple, with
The Enemy? You will deny this?

Thal:
Yes,
And having had experience of your Valours,
Dare here maintaine the contrary with our swords,
Two Women 'gainst three Men, without our seconds,
We seize upon your Magazine? Call: so you'l
Deny you did receive us at your Tabernacle,
Your amorous pavilion; And that these two
Sweet Cymball-beaters, otherwise call'd Drummers,
Did strike a false Alarme?

Neand:
Or that you hir'd
Three Meager-halfe-pin'd-Rascals, having first
Depriv'd us of our eyes, To lead us thrice
Round 'bout the Workes, to lengthen out our progresse
Towards the Enemies Campe; And there to be
Arraign'd before a Councell, which consisted
Of two she Collonels, two she Clerks of
Your Comfits, and Suckets; two young Lords; who no doubt
Enjoyed all that we came for.

Orith:
'Tis confest, Sir.
Had you enjoyed us, our Children onely had
Beene valiant by the Mothers side.

Art:
We'l have
Our Councell too; where we expect you shall
Confesse your Treason too, Against the King.
March on before there.

Theag:
Pray stay Gentlemen;
Where do you lead these Ladies, thus three deepe
In File, without a Drumme? You are not going
To teach 'em postures, are you? Or make a Muster
Of foure commanded by three?

Mel:
If you meane
To lead 'em 'gainst the Enemy, to show
Your Fortitudes before 'em, once more; surely
The Warres are ended.

Call:
Sir, we are leading 'em
To th'King; we have discover'd a foule Treason.

Theag:
How?

Neand:
Yes, Sir, such a Treason, and these the plotters
As does shew Women make but th'other Twinne
With Mischeife; And that Falsehood, when it would
Betray men, still assumes their shape.

Art:
These Sir,
Who can lodge Serpents 'mongst their Roses, and
Smile o're their Treacheries, But that we did
Timely prevent 'em, would have put the Campe
Into a Muteny. We did take these
Two Lady-Rhetoricks mounting heapes of Turfe,
Provided to make speeches to the Souldiers;
T'inflame them to Rebellion.

Mel:
'Tis not possible.

Neand:
Yes, Sir, And these two Yeomen of the Gally pots.
Were imploy'd, as we heare, to offer the
Free use both of Themselves, and Ladies, to
All those who with them would forsake our side,
And turne to th'Thracians.

Orith:
Wee will endure't no longer.
These iron Veyles cast off, thus we confute you.

They take off their helmets
Call:
How's this? Orithya and Thalastris? with
Their Women Menalippe and Marthesia?

Art:
Amazon-fighters turn'd to our owne Court peace-wormes.
And my two Troilus's transfor'd to Knitsters?

Theag:
They are our Wives. Was ever such a plot
Laid by two Women to keepe their Husbands honest?

Mel:
They've turn'd what I thought Fornication
Into the acts of Wedlocke. How I love
Such projects, where men are betray'd unto
Their lawfull pleasure, and tempted to commit
Adultery with Innocence, and no sinne follow?

Thal:
Pray view us well; And now our paintings off,
(As you once pleasantly did stile us) pray,
Officious Gentlemen; what other plot
Can you discerne in us, but to laugh at you?

Neand:
This comes of policy; Our wisdomes have
Made us three sage, discreet, deepe, most rare Coxcombes.

Men:
Ha, ha, ha; Sure they did expect the King
Should Knight 'em for their rare Discovery.

Mar:
Or
Preferre 'em to the Councell Board, and make 'em
Spies Generall of the State.

Orith:
Troth, Gentlemen,
If you intend to scape Playes, and at your
Returne home to Chalcedon, not to see
Your Deeds brought on the Stage, take our advice;
Travell 'till this be over.

Thal:
And be sure,
You keepe your selves from Duels; Least your Country.
Do suffer in your Valours.

Theag:
You see there is
No medling with these Women; I'le undertake,
They can change shapes, as often as shift Linen.
The Booke of Transformations, which reports
Of Women turn'd to Baytrees, and of Men
Turn'd into Women, hath not more various formes,
Then these can practice.

Mel:
Alas 'tis not your case
To be deceived. They did deceive us too.

Orith:
We have two constant Lords of you. So't had been
Had we been Amazons in earnest.

Theag.
you are
The Two first Ladies that ere made their Husbands
Cuckold themselves with their owne Wives.

Thal.
By this
Goodlight 'twould be but justice now to put
A Courtotricke on you.

Mel.
Alas Thalæstris; I
Discern'd you by your brests.

Th.
Be sure you lay
Enter Arch. Eurym. &c.
With your own Wife.

Mel.
Look, Gentlemen,
D'you know these Shapes? Here comes the second part
Oth' Metamorphosis.

SCÆNA IX.

Enter two Priests carrying two hallowed Torches Followed by Archidamus leading Roxane, and Eurymedon leading Barsene waited on by Clytus and Hippocles.
Arch:
—Thus having made
Our Realmes one people, by the League and Knot
We've tyed before the Gods, you two proceed
In the last Rites of this our Union,
And sing the Nuptiall Song.

The second Song, sung by two Priests, holding two marriage Tapers.

The Song is seconded with a shout within.

—Harke, harke, what is
The meaning of this shout and Acclamation?

Enter Lync: Polyd:
Lync:
Sir, the two Armies hearing that their Princes
Have strucke a Peace, have first exchanged their Armes,
And next, in Imitation of your Nuptialls,
Which with this shout they celebrate, have cast
Themselves into new postures of Imbraces.

Polyd:
Did you behold 'em, you'd beleeve there past
A mutuall wedding betweene Troope and Troope,
And Regiment and Regiment. They want
Onely one of your Priests here to performe
The holy Ceremony betweene 'em, To
Make it a perfect Day of Hymenæals.

Arch:
And so't shall be. Nought now remaines, but that
We do adde Triumphs to our Joyes, and mingle,
Our Feasts, and Daunces with our Sacrifices,
In thankfulnesse to th'Gods. Then Princes doe
Match truely, when their Kingdomes marry too.