 | The Sophister |  |
Act. 4.
Scæ. Prim.
Enter Conversion, Æquipollency.Conv.
Can Æquipolency endure all this? Can all this be endured
by Æquipolency?
Æquip.
Who I Conversion? I can suffer any thing, 'faith
ther's nothing that I cannot suffer. Prethee be rul'd by me, stand
to the present.
Conv.
I am no Stoick.
Æquip.
So it seems, thou art rather a Pythagorian Peripatetick,
thy very essence is mutability. Thy soul could walk through
more Sects then some honest bodies have chang'd suits: methinks
thou mightst do well at home by temporizing.
Conv.
Oh these Climats are too cunning, I must seeke further.
Æquip.
Read Lipsius Constancy, let that confirme thee.
Conv.
Faith he will lead the next way from Leyden to Doway,
That it may be I may make use of him,
Your finest wits are thought insipu'd till
They have past the salt water.
Our home-spun learning's of a courser threed,
It's staind and smoakt in dressing.
The Germans vates drencht in a deeper grain,
Venice and Padua will returne them richer;
And I begin to pity thy wilfulnesse. What course intendest thou?
'Twere thy best, being skill'd in tempering
Confections, to proclaim some Paracelsian
Oyl, or Angelicall pills.
Æqui.
Nay, I'le rather professe the making of Aurum potabile,
and credit it with some two leavs of reasons, and ten of authority,
for all diseases, griefs, and maladies. But which way art thou
bent?
Conv.
I will to Flushing, Midleborough, Amsterdam, peradventure
thence to Antwerp, and so to see Rheams and Roome.
Æquip.
Take heed you come not back by Quinborow there
is a groome with a curry-comb will rub your sides. But if you
may be perswaded, it is as easie to lay downe your stomacke at
home, as feed your selfe abroad by making buttons; you may sooner
be prefer'd to the Inquisition then to the Conclave.
Conv.
Well, except the morrow Sunne display more comfort, I
am gone beleeve it.
Equip.
You hope at your returne to get a Doctership the cheaper,
or a benefice with lesse adoe, but you may be deceived, I will
expect your reconversion, adiew.
Exit.
Conv.
This fellow thinkes himselfe as cunning as a tumbler
that walks upon ropes, and with his levell keeps himselfe upright,
but his steps are dangerous, I had rather walk on the Alps, though
steeper, where I may have sure footing.
Exit.
Scæ 2.
Enter Invention.I, who my restles wits have dayly tied,
In searching choicest objects of delight:
Though none more gratefull, none more tedious
Then that most blest content which they enjoy,
Who underneath the courteous Lawrell shade,
In muses laps doe rest their weary heads;
But now, alas, what proud ambition,
What jealous envy, greedy avarice,
Hath cast infection on those purer springs?
They whose kind steele was sometimes only proud
In giving waxen tablets, some cur'd wounds,
In their owne irefull, and all hardned brests,
Imprint the tragicke characters of death
Hot in pursuite of lost lord Intellect;
I am inform'd by Definition,
My best esteemed loving Topicus
Lies desperate hurt by Demonstration.
So twixt my deare affection to him
And bounden duty to my absent Lord,
My hearts divided with convulsions,
But pardon me great Amina, thy sonne
Commands my service, this one duty done.
Enter Description.
Desc.
Well met Invention, what have you found young Lord
Intellect?
Inv.
No, and which adds to my misery, I heare I am like to
loose my selfe, my deare friend Topicus.
Desc.
Indeed he is hurt, but our feare was greater then their danger,
and it is happened better then they deserv'd. There is good
hope of recovery.
Thanks good Discription for this happy news, but are
you certaine that the danger's past.
Disc.
It is most certaine, and I would wish the other miseries
which have so unexpected befallen us, were likely to have so hopefull
an issue.
Inven.
I heare by Lady Methode and the banisht lords,
How miserable you are all become,
By great Discourses strange Distraction.
Met you with Method? Oh she was too impatient and unkinde
to forsake our Soveraigne in his extremity: her presence might
have yeelded him especiall assistance.
Inven.
Pardon and pitty that distressed Queene,
Whose tender heart, oppressed with her griefe,
Would breake with any rough or unkinde touch.
As towards Rhems I did direct my pace,
I overtooke a weary fainting voyce,
Which I approaching neerer found was hers,
Alas, quoth she, I long since banished
From the disordred Regions of the world,
Have beene contented in this only place,
With old Discourse, my till now loving lord,
Till now to live under his lovely roofe:
I alwayes lay twixt his well folded Sheets,
I ever have enclapst him in mine armes,
Lest he should want delighting ornaments,
Or for his plainnesse passe with lesse regard,
I all the day have woed the Sciences,
To make him rob the longest coldest nights,
I have sate reaving up the finest arts,
And put into his hand a curious threed
Wherewith he guided hath his certaine steps
Through many crooked winding Labyrinths;
And now my Theseus, ah my kinder Theseus!
Vnwillingly was forst to leave his love,
Cruell discourse doth rudely cast me off,
Here I stept in, and with the fairest means
My troubled thoughts could finde, perswaded her
To change her resolution, and return;
Which having half effected, there came on
Old Definition with Division,
Who caring lesse their own then her estate,
Are minded closely to return with her.
My love to Topicus hath caused me
To use more hast, although assur'd by you
Of his recovery; I have been content
To favour thus my self, and let you know
Of Prethods kind intention to return.
Descrip.
I thanke you Sir, and will accompany you.
Scæ. 3.
Enter Ambiguity and Ignoratio.Amb.
Thou shouldest have starcht thy beard, or got some
Beare-skin on thy head; at least have powdred thy haire like an
Ashwednesday penitent; one devise now would doe most admirable.
Ign.
Impart it dear genius, if my wit can reach or wealth compasse
it, I will have it immediately.
Amb.
Nay tis soon done, tis not so much as a Majors feast or
Citizens christning. Thou hast heard how Simon circumvented
the Trojans.
Ign.
Yes, with a great woodden-horse; Must I get such an one?
Amb.
(Yes, a great leaden-Asse) No, but you must counterfeit
your self a captive, stand with your hands fast bound and leggs
intangled, That will signifie your inthraldome. The Lady pitying
your restraint, will untie your hands, and wrap you in her
armes; then may you enclaspe her girdle and untie the true-love-knot
of her virginity.
That will be most significant; But what do you think if
(because Love is blind) I went on blindfold, sure I should speak
the bolder.
Amb.
It would do excellent, Nox & Amor, Darknesse and
Drunknesse, Blindnesse and Love, are ever well macht.
Ign.
So then i'le weare this Scarfe.
Amb.
I'le help thee. Now, how canst thou speak?
It must be lowder, she will not indure a chamber voyce, thou must
yawne Like one that gapes for a Benefice: open like an Oyster,
that she may gather the pearles of thy speech.
Oh that we had some Peble-stones, such as Demosthenes used;
but hold, it may be this will serve; Spare my fingers he gags him,
but while I tell a hundred. I warrant thee this will make thee like
a chirping Sparrow. Now will I leave the Coxcombe to adventure,
and tis full time. What black Herald comes here.
Exit.
Enter Contradiction disguised.
Cont.
What, this is not the place where base Iudicium and I
should meet, thinks he to prevent me, I will requite his diligence,
but stay, he hath no weapons: now the Coward Rogue would
yeeld my prisoner, but he shall not scape me so; i'le Bastinado
him at least.
Is this Sientia's Chaplain? he's very still, now what ails him! i'le
see for the blow I gave him.
He pulls out the gag.
Ign.
Now Sir, with all my heart, if you will have my purse.
Contradiction strikes him and departs. Exit.
Ig.
Is this to be an Ambassadour, to have no law of Armes nor
liberty of legs to protect me; now my onely revenge is to hold
my peace and be silent, which if I can do, I may prove counsell
to the veriest Wittoll. I am at a stand whether I shall go on in
sute, or give it over; I must be better counsell'd.
Exit.
Iud.
And can he no where here about be found.
Pro.
No not by any inquisition.
Iud.
And I by Fallacies advise him sought
Towards Verona, but alas in vaine;
The troubles of that City as I was
Vpon the way, by faithfull griefe inform'd,
Equall the stirrs here in Parthesia:
Truth and her daughters being thence expelled,
And all the rule usurp't by Fallacy,
Those blessed civill lawes are disanul'd,
Which to so many glorious Emperours,
So many ages, in so many lands,
Have ever beene so justly well approv'd;
There hath he planted rude and practique friends
Which grate the Commons, spoile Nobility.
Betwixt deare brothers and the nearest friends,
Endeavoured to sow vile dissentions.
There the most sacred ordinance of Heaven,
The divine Oracles they falsify,
And force upon the plaine simplicity
Of easily deceived honest men,
Fraile humane breath and bold traditions,
With singular fantastique vaine conceits.
As brainsicke Dreams, forg'd revelations:
That I rest well assur'd he is not there:
Although to seek him else I know not where.
Pro.
Now we may pity our confederats,
But cannot as we ought, bewaile their state.
Our neerer griefs do hugely overflow
The just proportion of all humane woe.
Iud.
What else is befallen you since Discourse
Became distract?
Opposition and Contradiction contending for the rule,
Have wounded each the other wilfully.
Iud.
Is Contradiction hurt? fond vanity
Vnder these ever suddaine moving Sphears
To looke for rest or seeke felicitie
In earth, the well head of salt teares.
We thinke him mad, that thinketh in the aire,
To erect a castle or faire monument;
And through the Seas as passengers we fare,
Yet dare not dwell upon that element.
But on th'uncertaine, and short prosperous windes
of favour blooming Fortune we oft raise
High and huge hopes, to our now calme minds
Promise eternall Halcyonian dayes.
But the just heavens all well guiding care,
Least we forget them in our jollity
When we in greatest pompe triumphing are,
Humble our mindes with some new misery;
For what else could our hearts content desire
But firme assurance of continuing?
When whilst with joy we others blisse admire,
Our selfe straight vex't with fortunes torturing
With sence doe feeele how her fierce wrath extends
From our owne selves unto our dearest friends.
But say, is his wound dangerous?
Enter Intellect and Distinction.
—But see
Iudicium, here Lord Intellect is come.
Iud.
All happinesse attend your welcome presence.
Intel.
Thanks good Iudicium, but you are man Distinction
whom I must acknowledge the author of my freedome.
Iud.
Where hath your Lordship been? and whence is it Distinctions
honest care hath set you free.
I am indebted to Ambiguity, I was promised by him to
be led to a faire library, but was conducted to a Vatican of all villaines.
Iud.
Say good Distinction, how fell this out?
Dist.
How he fell in you have heard already, and for his deliverance
this it was. I by reason of this coate (which how I got
I list not now to tell) being taken of Fallacy for Ambiguity received
of him these keyes, with direction to go to his closet, together
with a certaine violl he delivered me which my curiosity quickely
apprehending, I went and found the young Lord Intellect in one
roome, the Lady Truth and her daughters in others, all which I
have thence delivered.
Prop.
O act Heroicall!
Iud.
And were you in his closet?
Dist.
A closet doe you call it I will be sworne it is a spacious
storehouse of all subtilties, a Burse of impostures, an Italy of poysons,
a Frankefurt of false Authors, there are infinite Iliads of Hermeticall
precepts, many barrels of white powder, bales of false
dice, boxes of false weights, bags of counterfet coine, golden fishookes,
iron rakes, vizards, and darke Lanthornes for theeves,
maskes and painting for Gentlewomen; for all hee furnished them
dayly enough to load an Argosy, or a Spanish Carrick.
Prop.
And what was in the violl you nam'd?
Dist.
O, I thought to tell you: the rarest receipt that ever was
composed, Predea nor Circe never made the Like.
Iud.
What was it poyson?
Dist.
When he gave it me, I mark't he said it wrought powerfully,
and so mistrusting the effect, tride the conclusion upon a
dog I met, which no sooner had tasted a dram of it, but dragging
his tail on the ground he grin'd and snarl'd and presently ran mad,
which effect I observing, thought I had now opportunity to requite
a kindnesse Ambiguity did me, and so tempering it in a cup
of sweet wine, adventur'd amongst Fallacies followers, who bravely
carousing to their good fortunes, let my cup go round amongst
them, and presently they all daunc't Frantique, so that nothing
Pro.
O strange! will any drug cause madnesse?
Iud.
Easily. Quid bibit inde furit, I have both read and seene it,
and I feare Discourse's madnesse might have such a cause.
Iud.
But doe you heare Lord Proposition,
If he through artificiall meanes lies mad,
As by these signes tis more then probable,
I know he may be help't again by Art;
Let him but purge and bleed in his head veine
I dare to warrant his recovery.
Pro.
Happy Hermenia, if againe she see
Discourse recover'd, and for ever bound
To your discreet good will and worthy love
Vouchsafed to us, in your friendly presence.
Iud.
What cunning Chirurgeon hath Parthesia?
Pro.
Here's one well practis'd skilfull, fortunate
Analysis, who hath well nigh recur'd
The life-despairing brothers, Topicus
and Demonstration.
Jud.
Let him straight
Take care of him.
Prop.
Sir, would you goe your faire direction might assist
us much.
Jud.
With all my heart, young Lord pray lead the way.
Exeunt.
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