University of Virginia Library

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.