University of Virginia Library

The Second Act.

Enter Theamne, and Nurse with a Picture, In a Garden.
Thea.
Nurse, how's the Wind?

Nurs.
As the Trees blow, 'tis VVest.

Thea.
Then, Mentor comes.

Nurs.
Poor heart, I give the Pity,
Instead of Joy; VVhat a sad Bride-groom's here!
If this Face be his best, he has the worst
That ever eyes beheld: An Admiral!
A Sea-coale-man; from such an Æthiop
VVell might the Persians fly; I shake and tremble
To see his very Picture.

Thea.
Then, O Nurse!
How must I be confounded, when I fear,
He may be landing?

Nurs.
Now the Devil sink him;
Before my Father should dispose of me,
To one I never saw but in a Shadow;
Which frights me, like a Goblin, I would fly
As far as Asia has a foot of ground.

Thea.
Rather then I'l stay here, till He arrive,
I'l fly to Persia; least he Conquer that,
To India: but alas, I know no friend,
VVho will conceal me here.

Nurs.
You know my Sister,
Step to her House, there You may lye as safe,
As Hero in her Tow'r; and when the Town
Is searched, my life on't, she'l discover nothing;
I'th ev'ning, when the Saylors, that came over
To our Feast from Abydos, shall return;
Go, in my Sisters cloaths, and hire your passage;
The Sea from Sestos, is not a Mile-broad,
You'l Sail it, in a quarter of an hour.

Thea.
Kiss me, dear Nurse, and lets take leave for ever;
I'l follow thy advice, lend me thy Veile,
Theamne puts on Nurse's Veile.
Enter Orosis, Castor and Stredon.
Unbolt the garden-door VVhose here? a Stranger;
But one worth all th'Inhabitants of Greece:
with such a Husband I could live and dye.

Oros.
Theamne here? Fortune's a gracious Queen;
Love, be not then a Tyrant: Athens now
Inspire me, with thy Vein of Poetry.
Fairest and sweetest of the matchless Greeks,
These Damask-Roses blowing in your Cheeks.
Make all those Garden-Roses look as pale,
As Beauties struck when they see You unveil.

Thea.
Nay if you speak Verse, I am for you there;
Verse is the Dialect of Prophets Children.
[Aside.
Foreiner (for you are no Greek, I see)
Your Country and your Quality to me,
Are Strangers too

Oros.
Wonder of Europe, know,
That, till your Countrymen did overthrow
My Family, Troy was our Royal Seat;
But what are Princes after a Defeat!
From all the Lesser Asia, and a Crown,
Our Empire is reduc'd to one Sea-Town:
I, cross the Channel, at Abydos born;
Sestos my Neighbour-City, You adorn:
Here, from the VVorld, in my own Right I claim
Theamne—

Thea.
How come you to know my name?

Oros.
It concerns him, who moves for a Decree;
To know his Judge.

Thea.
Your Judge I cannot be,
For to Theamne you pretend a Right.

Oros.
My Title's Love, at first and second Sight.

Thea.
But how can I a wandring Stranger trust?

Oros.
My Claim's put in; and I hope, You'l be just:
But if the Judge will take the Party's Oath,
I give you my inviolable Troath.

[Orosis offers his hand, Theamne accepts it.
Thea.
More Forme, in my Ingagement, should be us'd,
But where Need presses, Modesty's excus'd;

Oros.
The Knot is ty'd, untye it He that can.

Thea.
VVhether he be a Monster, or a Man;
See (whom I never saw, but in this Piece)
My Father's choice.

Oros.
'Tis He that fought for Greece:
I know his Persian Trophie, and his Face;
VVe match'd our Chariots, in th'Olympick Race:
Ith'Isthmian VVrastling-ground, his strength I try'd.

Thea.
You now must wrastle with him, for a Bride.

Oros.
How? Shall I bear you hence? or prosecute
My first Designe, and boldly move my Suit
To your rich Friends?

Thea.
Do this, but ere you go,
'Tis fit, you should their Dispositions know.
My Father's Mentor's Friend, but govern'd by
My Mother; She loves nothing, but what's High,
That Kings were your Fore-Fathers, may please Her:
My Brother's of a strange mixt Character,
He's Valiant, but his Valour's drown'd in Rage;
And though a Tutor might befit his Age,
Yet He's by this strong Garrison obey'd,
But grown so deadly proud, since He was made
Governour of the Town, that He expects,
All Men should do, what ever He directs;
VVhere He does love, He flatter'd like a Child:
And where He hates, He's never reconcil'd.
My Cosen Arcas lyes so near my Brother,
Like Apples touching, they corrupt each other.

Oros.
These tempers are not to be wrought-on.

Thea.
Try;
If they, like mortal Enemies, deny
The offer of a Treaty; then, Use Force,
To which you Princes have your last recourse:
I'l take the air, this Ev'ning, on the Strand.

Oros.
A few, but daring Sea-men, I command.

Thea.
If they can beat the Souldiers of my Guard.

Oros.
A Gally, at the Port, shall lye prepar'd,
To row us off.

Thea.
I'l back the Garden-way,
Go you to the great Gates; this Holiday,
You'll find them open; and you could not chuse
A softer time, Festival VVines infuse
Courtship into my Friends, but look to find
My eyes strange to you, though my heart be kind.

Oros.
Before that borrow'd strangeness you put-on,
I kiss your hand.

Thea.
Bold Foreiner, be gon.

[Exeunt all but Castor and Stredon.
Stre.
Castor, VVhat sadness lies upon thy heart?

Cast.
VVould I had never seen these Sisters eyes.

Stre.
Sure thou'rt in love with neither?

Cast.
I hate both.
They make us Fast, when all the Town is Feasting.

Stre.
VVe should not grudge the loss of a meal's Meat:
Leander Fasts

Cast.
And prayes, but all in vain;
For Hero, like her Goddess, is a Statue,
No Prayer can move her.

Stre.
Yes, if one could Say
Pigmalion's Pray'r to Venus, for that made
A Statue flesh and blood.

Cast.
To soften Hero,
I know a Naturall Expedient,
VVorth forty such Greek Lies; let's fire the Temple,
And march off with the Priestess.

Stre.
O damn'd Master!
Rather then I would Commit Sacrilege;
I would eat thee.

Cast.
Religious Master's Mate:
but we wait well, (the Prince who makes no Halts)
Is march'd into the Court of Sestos, follow;
Nay keep your VVay.

Stre.
If it be my VVay, 'tis yours.

Cast.
Do you think me so barbarously rude,
That I'll take't from you.

Stre.
Oh, oblige me, Sir.

Cast.
You'r next the door.

Stre.
I'll open it for you.

Cast.
I beg, you'll go.

Stre.
Only to be your Usher

Cast.
Thus we Barbarians, of the civil Greeks,
Learn how to make our selves ridiculous.

[Exeunt.
Tiresias, Aphila, Theamne, Samertes, and Arcas discover'd, sitting at a Banquet, Nurse waiting, A Page whispers Samertes, who strikes him.
Aphi.
VVhat? Strike your Boy for bringing of a Message?

Same.
But Madam, the knave smil'd, which made me think,
Mentor was landed, and 'tis one of Asia,
Come from Abydos, send the man away.

Page.
He should be, by his bravery, some great man.

Same.
All sober Spies upon my Cups, I hate.

Page.
Sir, the Youth looks, as though he would do reason:

Same.
If he'll drink, bring him: Arcas, Hero's Health.

[Exit Page.
Arcas.
That has gone round.

Same.
VVhy does Theamne sigh?
But such a grief as thine, who can resist?
I'll now carouse thy Joy from Sea to Land,
Mentor's Health, Mother.

Aphi.
Husband, to your Friend,
And Son-in-Law.

Enter Page and Orosis.
Tire.
That Stranger shall pledge me.

Same.
The House to all gives publick Entertainment,
But Sir, if you'll be welcom to this Board,
Sit down and drink as we do.

Tire.
Here's a Health
To the preserver of the State of Greece,
And Terrour of the Persian Kingdom, Mentor:

Oros.
To him I'l drink a Hellespont of VVine;
May I presume to offer this to you,
Illustrious Virgin?

Aphi.
Yes.

Thea.
No; he's too bold.

Aphi.
A Noble stranger has the Priviledge,
Of drinking to the Bride.

Oros.
Is she a Bride?
To whom?

Aphi.
To Mentor, Admiral of Athens.

Oros.
Have they seen one another?

Aphi.
In their Pictures.

Oros.
Twice have I seen Her; here, and at the Show;
Love has not yet peirc'd Mentor's breast,
mine bleeds,
And for the first Cure, the first VVounded moves.

Same.
She is my Sister; Stranger, do you know,
VVhat the word (Sister) means?

Oros.
Not very well.

Same.
That Greek may easily be understood,
No Forein Mixture must corrupt our Blood.

Oros.
Your Blood, and mine, from Sacred Fountains springs:
From Delphick Priests Yours, mine from Trojan Kings.

Aphi.
Though I love Kings, She cannot be your Queen;
For she's oblig'd to Mentor.

Oros.
VVhat? to one
She never saw, but as it pleas'd the Painter,
VVho, if he were a Master, drew a Face,
Will break no Lady's Heart.

Same.
Draw; in thy blood
[Samertes and Arcas draw.
I'l wash away the Scorn thou throw'st on Mentor,

Oros.
Come all; Number's no odds, when Lovers fight.

Tire.
Samertes! Arcas! Will you Violate
The Law of Hospitality?

Thea.
Why, Brother,
Will you ingage, before I have declar'd?

Tire.
Son, hear thy Sister.

Same.
You tye up my arm;
And let loose her tongue, which may do more mischief.

Thea.
No, I'l discharge him, with a formal Speech.
Stranger, we question not your Trojan Race,
For, one may see bold Paris in your Face.
I am no Helen, which (it seems) you find,
Therefore you ask not me, how I'm inclin'd:
My Friends are courted; they deny your Suit,
Straight You, like Hector, with your Sword dispute;
But Asian Hector, Smooth your angry brow,
For every Greek is an Achilles now.
My Brother, in Obedience, holds his hand;
Take heed, Victorious Mentor do not land:
Fly to your Ship betimes, and scape his Fleet,
[Arm all your Sea-Men, at the Port we'l meet.]
I speak not this, my Enemy to save;
But least our House should be a Stranger's Grave.

Oros.
Am I your Enemy?

Thea.
My Hate to You,
Equals my Love to Mentor.

Oros.
Then I go;
To every Lover I wish better Fortune.
[Exit Orosis.

Same.
Sister, the whole World has but two great Souls,
That's Mine and Thine. What wilt thou do, this Ev'ning?

Thea.
Get a fresh Breeze, to fan me, on the Strand.

Same.
where (I hope) thou'lt discover Mentor's Fleet.

Thea.
You'l go with me?

Same.
Thou knowe'st, I am ingag'd
To feast our Friends; but Arcas, with a Guard
Shall wait upon thy Chair.

Arcas.
Immediatly.

[Exeunt Samertes and Arcas.
Aphi.
My Lord, we'l walk a little i'the Garden.

[Exeunt Tiresias and Aphila.
Thea.
I hope, Nurse, I shall have your company.

Nurse.
No, Child; I'l see an end of the great Set,
Between your Sister Hero, and Leander.
Dear Hearts, they have the harder Game to play:
You'r grown a cunning Cheat, shift as you may.

Thea.
I'l play my Cards as subtly as I can,
To get a Prince, and scape an ugly Man.

[Exeunt.
Enter Castor and Stredon. In the Temple.
Stre.
Master, Joy; Joy; our Men are weighing Anchors.
Orosis will to sweet Abydos Sail,
With fair Theamne.

Cast.
If we rout her Guards,

Stre.
Like Lightning, in a moment, we'l dispatch
Her Pikes and Bows; and she herself consents.

Cast.
I know that, Stredon; canst thou tell me News?
Will Hero to Leander be as kind?

Stre.
No, Castor, no; she neither will nor can.

Cast.
Nay, if she were but willing; we have those,
Dancers oth'ropes, that would run up her Tower,
Nimbler then Ladas ran to them with Orders.

Stre.
I'm sent to watch their landing.

Cast.
'Tis high time;
The Lamp of Heaven burns out so fast, I fear
'Twill leave us in the Dark: To the Port, run,
Make all imaginable hast; bring word
Theamne's there, and we'l clap Her aboard.

[Exit Stredon.
Enter Orosis and Nurse; after them Hero and Leander
Oros.
Hold Nurse, 'tis Gold.

Nurse.
This needs not; I should be
Your Brother's Advocate, without a Fee.

Hero.
Why do you press so much for my reply?
How can I grant, that which my Friends deny?
No Forein Mixture must corrupt our Blood:
Nurse, 'twas my Brother's Answer, was't not good?

Nurse.
Better your Sister's, to Orosis, is;
She sayes that if He can get her, She's his.

Hero.
Were I so minded (which will never be)
Out of this Tow'r, what Army could get me?
They who to scale these Battlements aspire,
May attacque Heav'n, that's but a little higher.

Nurse.
Higher, or lower, be but You content,
He'l neither ask your Towr's, nor Friends consent,

Hero.
Nurse, hold your peace,

Nurse.
Child, if I should obey,
You would repent; mark therefore what I say.
The Temple will be shut, within this hour;
And Custom then confines You to the Tow'r:
For a whole Twelve-moneth; and within that Year,
Leander will be dead with grief, I fear;
Perhaps You hope, that Time, who flies from all,
Will come, like your tame Pidgeon, at Your call:
No; You have, like this day, but one hour's Light,
And then, bid Opportunity good night.

Hero.
Since Time is precious, and our time so short,
Leander, you shall make no further Court:
I but obey my Goddesse's Command,
Where Venus gives my heart, I give my hand.

Lean.
For this, your more then Princely Donative,
Receive a Faith, pure as the Hand You give.
Venus, our Marriage-Rites are doubly thine,
Thy Star shines yonder, here thy Tapers shine:
O make the sadder Planets smile upon
Two Souls, bless'd, at thy Altar, into one.

Nurse.
Where will you meet, to consummate your bliss?

Lean.
Hold your Peace now; Nurse, let me speak to this.
To come to a Maid's bed, from which I'm barr'd
By Sea and Land, must needs be very hard:
But Cupid, into a cross'd Lover's heart,
Shoots twice, his Arrow first, and then his Art;
The harder Pass I'l open, with much ease:
For to thy Bed I'l swim these narrow Seas.

Hero.
How! Swim the Hellespont? You are not able.

Lean.
Yes, if it were a Sea Innavigable;
When all my Ships scarce safe at Anchor ride,
These Arms shall row me, against Wind and Tide:
Tempests and watry billows fright not me,
Billows of wild-fire I dare swim, to thee.

Hero.
Since You will needs swim-ore to Europe-side,
A gentle Fire shall be Leander's guide;
That envious Clouds, may not my Love benight,
Upon the Turret I will set a Light,
A Torch, which may a Star hereafter prove,
Seen from all Seas, and call'd the Star of Love.

Enter Stredon, he whispers Orosis.
Oros.
Leander, Hero will give audience
To you at Midnight; I must now desire
Th'assistance of your Courage and your Conduct:
Theamne's in her Chair; Arcas Commands
Her Guards; our Men are ready for the Charge.

Hero.
You'l Fight?

Oros.
But all the danger's in delay,
Souldiers, like Chymists, must watch time precisely;
A minute's stay may ruine my Designe;
Yet to your Sister send one kiss by him.

Lean.
For the next kiss, the Hellespont I'l swim.

[Exeunt.