of stranger qualities Me. Words are no heauy burthen Epy No had I no other waight But we are all downe prest with other poise As for your suit it is refer'd to Prat And he must giue you faire dispatch with fauour VVhich if he sleight for enuy or for bribe Repaire to me and I will not forget To giue you ease and chide his negligence Meane space I pray you leaue me for we all Are troubled now with greatest miracles Me. Your grace doth do me comfort and I will Study with seruice to deserue your fauours And so I take my leaue Exit Mershant Enter 2 Doctors Epy. Your owne content◅ts follow you Now gentlemen what newes within can this dumbe wonder speake Haue you cut off those lets that tied his speech And made your fame to sound thorow Sicille 1 Doct. All hopefull meanes that man or art can finde Haue we made triall of but t is in vaine For still my Lord the cur'e 's invincible 2 Doct. Those Organs nature gaue to moue the tongue He fully doth possesse as well as we Which makes vs thinke his suddaine apoplexe Is either will vow or a miracle Epy. I should thinke strangly had wee strange things on earth But wonders now are most familiar But here comes his maiestie now we shall see If this dumbe beast can speake before the king Cornets and enter Cypres Queene Philoclas Mariana and attendants Cyp. My best of friends my deerest Philocles Thy griefes run in my spirit make me sad And duls my sense with thine affliction My soule with thine doth sympathize in woe And passion gouerns him that should rule all What say our Doctors is there no hope of help 1 Doct. No hope my Lord the cure is desperate Cyp. Then I am king of greife for in his words Found I more musicke then in quires of Angels It was as siluer as the chime of spheares The breath of Lutes or ioues deliciousnesse Next to my Queene he is my ioy on earth Nor shall the world containe that happy good Which with my teares I will not wooe for him My Lord of Epyre let it be straight proclaim'd Thorow all the cities in our kingdomes verdge That who so will avow to cure this prince And bring his worke to wisht effectualnesse Shall haue ten thousand crownes and our best loue But if he faile in his great enterprise His daring is the losse of present life Since no man hitherto could doe him good The next shall help him or else loose his bloud Epy. Your Maiesty shall haue your will performd Ma. Not all so soone deare brother what if a womā now Should turne Aesculapius and restore This dumbe Hypolitus nay do not looke strange I dare auow and vndertake the cure Epy. You sister are you in your wits Ma. Faith of the out side of them brother yet a womās tongue Whose burthen still is superfluity May lend a man an ages complement Cy. Madam I would not haue you with the barke Play your selfe into day net this great cure I feare is farre beyond your Physicks helpe Ma. My Lord you know not how Apollo loues me I haue beene thought as faire as Oenon was And dare be bold to claime this miracle Cy. Mariana attend glory ruine compasse thee about This hand shall raise thee to a golden throne And grace thee with all stiles of dignity This cast thee downe Lower then liues misfortune and orewhelme Thy beauties with thy graue performe be great Faile and be worse then worst calamitie Que. Stay gentle friend my loue doth bid thee stay Attempt not and be safe from misery Epy. Sister you shall not graspe with mischiefe thus My bloud doth challenge interest in your ill And I coniure you from this desperatnes Ma. Brother content your selfe words but augment our strife I will performe or else my pawn 's my life Cy. Proceed faire virgin Ma. Vouchsafe me priuacy now Venus be my speed Speake gentle Philocles thine oaths bond I vntie And giue thy vowes a free infranchisment Thy well kept league hath show'd thy strength of truth And doth confirme me in my vertuousnesse Thy martyrdome and sufferance is too long And I restore it to new liberty Then speake my Philocles speak gentle Prince To her whose loue respects and honors thee Cy. How now what vertue from thy charmes Ma. No hope is left deare Philocles regard my miseries Vntie that wilfull let which holds in speech And make me happy through thy noble pity I see the face of mine ill shapt contempt Where like with like hath quit most iniury Then speake my Lord vtter one Angell breath To giue me ioy and saue me from strange death What not a word hath this small silence brought An vtter detestation to thy speech Wilt thou nor heare nor speak nor pity me The gentle Gods moue thee to more remorse Cy. What wilt not be Fond maid thou hast drawne affliction on thy head And thrald thy selfe to worst calamity Till morrow sunne thy incantations vse But then effectlesse all hopes desperate Wert thou my bosome loue thou diest the death Best ease for madnesse is the losse of breath Exeunt all but Phi. and Ma. Ma. O Philocles I am no courts disgrace No cities Prostitution countries shame Nor one shall bring Troys fire vnto thy house Turne not away hard harted Mirmidon See on my knees I le follow thee in court And make the world condemne thy cruelty Yet if my teares may mollifie thy heart Receiue them as the floods of strangest rides Turne not thy face from her that doates on thee Loue now hath made me subiect to thy will And pale disdaine hath tane reuenge on me Behold my nerues I le weare vpon this earth And fill this roofe with lamentations What dost thou smile hath fury so much sway As euen to banish poore ciuilitie Then be thy selfe and breake thine itching spleene For I disdaine thy ransomes victorie Life thou art weary brought welcome my death Sweet because wisht for good because my choice Yet when I am dead this of me shall be said A cruell Prince murdered a louing maid And after ages to th' unborne shall tell Thy hate my loue thy enuie and my hell Nay do not speak I charge thee go let nothing moue thee Death is my glory since thou wilt not loue me Exeunt Act. 3. Scena 1. Musique Enter the Duke of Epyre and Alphonso Epy. GRiefe which controles the motions of our thoughts Raines in my bloud and makes me passions slaue My sisters miserie torments my soule And breaks my gall when I but thinke of her She was bewicht with spelles to her misfortune Or else borne haplesse vnder a lowring starre And t is her fate to be thus miserable O Philocles hadst thou no other scale To mount thy heauen but by our miseries Must all the noble fame of our great house Waste downe her royall pillars to make steps For thee to climbe to glory well I see Thou plots our
strongest hope in any victory Lords attend in my Champion Here the noble men go forth and bring in the Duke of Epire like a combatant Qu. Will you my Lord approue the Kings assertion Epy. Madame although against the nature of my spirit And my first duty bound to your allegeance Yet now compeld by duty and by truth I must of force become your opposite Qu. Thou art no true Italian nor true gentleman Thus to confound the glory of thy iudgement Hath not that arme which now is arm'd against me That valour spirit iudgement and that worth Which onely makes you worthy stood t' approue More then my selfe will challenge to my vertues And are you now basely turnd retrograde Well I perceiue ther 's nought in you but spleene And times obseruance still to hold the best Still I demand the Law Cyp. And you shall haue it in the amplest manner Sound cornets Heere the cornets sound thrice and at the third sound enters Philocles disguised like a combatant Flo. There is a coÌ„batant on the defeÌ„daÌ„ts part your maiesties pleasure Cyp. Giue him his oath according to the lawes Flo. Are the faire ends of this your warlike posture To proue the innocence of these two condemnd So help you Ioue Phi. They are Cyp. Then giue the warlicke signall to the fight Heere the combate being fought Philocles ouercomes the Duke Phi. Thou art my slaue either confesse or die Epi. Didst thou speake true I would not sound a word To saue the world from cinders yet that thou maiest With more resolued fury murder me This I confesse t was I that onely stird Out of strong falshoods hate and iealousie The kings eternall wrath and made him thinke Vntruths that euen vntruth would not suggest And all my malice sprung from that Prince Philocles Phi. No t was from me that still am Philocles Cyp. My Philocles my Queene O double pardon me My iealousie his enuy and your vertues Are sprung from such impatient contraries I cannot reconcile them yet O pardon me My faith in life shall make you recompence For thee rare Mariana thou hast wrought A worke of noble constant magnitude As for this monster this my tempting diuell Whose forfait life is witnesse to his shame I giue his life and fortunes to the Queene She whom his malice would haue brought to death Shall now be iudge and Iurer of his breath Ma. In which commission madame let it be inrold He is my brother and my best of blood Qu. And onely that is charter for his life Liue enuious Lord more enuious then th' art great Liue to lament thy worst of wretchednesse Liue to repent since this I certaine know Thine owne gald conscieuce will be thy worst woe Enter a guard of watchmen with Alphonso 1 Watch. Come bring him away thrust him forward though fauour and a great purse were against him Cyp. How now what tamult haue we there 2 Watch. And it please your maiestie we haue brought you heere a slip a peece of false coine one that is neither stampt with true coine for his excuse nor with good clothes for his redemption Cyp. Alphonso in the name of madnes how comes this Metamorphosis Nay stand forth discourse if thou dost lie thou art mine enemy Me. Nay more if thou sticke in any bogge and by a tricke seeke to wind out I will discouer you Alph. This coniuration beleeue it my Lord shall make me leap out of all fetters and briefly thus I haue long time loued the faire wife of the Orator hauing no opportunity but his absence at the senate I tooke that season hee out of negligence omitting his papers returnd vnseasonably found mee insufficiently and forst mee to take sanctuary strangely which howeuer I purchast yet hee found mine apparrell and mistaken in the tenure reacht it presently put it on immediatly and now in the senat house is pleading in it seriously Cyp. I cannot blame him you hauing got so much within his inward garment Me. Of all which my Lord I being in a strict conceit a baudy witnesse and hauing both from the Orators scornes and delaies receiued many indignities though by this discouery to cry quittance with my proud enemy Cyp. And you haue amply done yet this iest So perfit doth deserue more memory Florio go bid the Orator attend vs presently Exit Flo. And now to you Drap and Velous I did Referre you long since to the Orator Yet I note your attention come there is Some too close fisted hardnes in your hearts You gripe too hard your bribes will not disburse Come tell me truely as you looke for heauen What must you pay for your dispatches Dra. Ve. A thousand crownes we offred willingly Cyp. And will your suit auaile with such disbursment Dra. Ve. It will and we most richly satisfied Cyp. Will you bestow the money on our selfe We will see the businesse perfited Dra. Ve. With all our hearts and be full ioy'd thereat heere are the crownes Cyp. You shall haue your dispatches Enter Prat and Florio See heere comes the Orator Prat come hither These Gentlemen whom long since I referd To Your dispatches are yet vnsatisfied Prat. Alas my Lord the state Cyp. I know implores you yet there 's many minuteâ—… May giue your best cares leasure come there is Some odde disburse some bribe some gratulance Which makes you lock vp leasure come tell true What bribe must they giue what is your vâ—â—â—ost price Pra. But fiue hundred crownes of my best conscience Cyp. Tut it is nothing hold heere is the coine And let them haue their pattens presently Or looke to loose both place and soueraignty Prat. Legions of diuels haunt their dilligence Cyp. Fie I would not haue a man of your high place Or for respect of wealth or base obseruance In smallest things thus to neglect your credit Why looke you my Lords this Orator is not like others of his ranke Who from their ganish and fantasticke humours Go thorow the streets spotted in peacocks plumes Wearing all colours laces broderies Sattans and silkes so antike garnished That when their gownes are off you cannot finde In Italy a master shapt more nice But this fellow Prate heer 's of another sort Cloth'd like himselfe demure and soberly Nay you shall see him for a president Vngownes the Orator Passion of mine eie-sight who haue we heere This is Alphonso ther 's the Orator Pra. Heart of impatience I am then a Cuckold A scorne a by word and a laughing stocke What is my wife turnd whoreand must her depth Be sounded by the plumes of forrainers Well the reuenge that I will take for this my shame Shall make all whores hereafter dread my name Cyp. Not for thy life not for my loue I charge thee Thy wife is honest chast and vertuous Onely this wanton Lord with lust and come Hath much attempted but preuaild in nought For proofe see heere the crownes hee would haue giuen T' haue purchas'd her beds honour but she would not Which I bestow on you for recompence Therefore as thou dost hope my grace to finde So to thy wife be louing gentle kinde Prat. Your maiestie may mould me to your pleasure Cyp. I thanke you and will quittance it Now Meshant we restore to you your lands Your honours and neere places next our selfe To all that feele distaste in any sore We giue to cure them all our grace and fauour Thus stormes bring gentle sun-shine and our hands May after shipwracke bring vs to safe lands FINIS
The dumbe Knight A historicall Comedy acted sundry times by the children of his Maiesties Reuels LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Iohn Bache and are to be sold at his shop in Popes-head Palace neere to the Royall Exchange 1608. To the vnderstanding Reader RVMOR that Hydra headed Monster with more tongues then eyes by help of his intelligencer enuy hath made strange misconstructions on this dumbe Knight which then could not answere for himselfe but now this publication doth vnty his tongue to answer the obiections of all sharp critticall censures which heretofore haue vndeseruedly past vpon him And for my part I protest the wrongs I haue receiued by some whose worths I will not traduce with a milde neglect I haue laught at their follies for I thinke my selfe happy because I haue beene enuyde since the best now in grace haue beene subiect to some slanderous tongues that want worth themselues and thinke it great praise to them to detract praise from other that deserue it yet hauing a partner in the wrong whose worth hath beene often approued I count the wrong but halfe a wrong because hee knowes best how to answer for himselfe But I now in his absence make this Apologie both for him and me Thus leauing you and the booke together I euer rest yours Lewes Machin Act. 1. Sce. 1. Musicke Enter the King of Cypres Phylocles Florio and attendants in armes Cypr. INnough these loud sounds deafes my passions How long shall loue make me a slaue to hope And mixe my calme desires with tyranny O Phylocles t' is heresie I hold Thought and affection cannot be controld Phy. Yet mai 't be bent and suppled with extreames Sith few dare see the end of violence What makes the skilfull Leech to vse the fire Or warre her engines or states policie But to recouer things most desperate Reuolt is recreant when pursuit is braue Neuer to faint doth purchase what we craue Cyp. True my Phylocles yet my recreant soule Slaued to her beauty would renounce all warre And yeeld her right to loue did not thy spirit Mixt with my longing fortifie these armes But I am now resolud and this sad houre Shall giue an end to my disemprature Summon a parley Enter a loft the Queene of Sicille the Duke of Epire Alphouso and attendants Queene What saies our tyrant sutor our disease in loue That makes our thoughts a slaue vnto his sword What saies my Lord Cyp. Madame attend me this is my latest summons The many sunnes my sorrowes haue beheld And my sad nights of longings all through hope T' enioy the ioy of earth your owne deare selfe Are growne so infinite in length and waight That like to wearied Atlas I inforce These warres as Hercules to beare my loade Briefly I must enioy you or else loose The breath of life which to preuent behold My sword must be my Cupid and with feathered steele Force pity from your breast your Cities walles Chidden with my Canons haue set ope a path And boldly bids me enter all your men of warre Feebled with famine and a weary siege Take danger from mine actions onely your selfe Strong in your will oppose euen destiny And like the giants warre offend the heauens Which to preuent do but discend and giue Peace to my loue-suit and as orecome thereby I 'le yeeld my selfe your prisoner and be drawne A thrall in your triumphant victory If otherwise behold these fatall swords Shall neuer be sheath'd till we be conquerours And not respecting innocence nor sexe The cries of infants nor the prayers of age All things shall perish till within my armes I fould your selfe my thrall and conquerour Qu. Thou maiest be maister of my bodies Tombe But for my soule and minde they are as free As their creation and with Angels wings Can soare beyond thy reach trust me king of Cypres Those coales the Roman Portia did deuour Are not burnt out nor haue th' Egiptian wormes Yet lost their stings steele holds his temper still And these are ransomes from captiuity But art thou noble hast thou one royall thought Cyp. Approue me by your question Qu. Then briefly thus To shun the great effusion of their bloods Who feele no touch in mine affections Dare you to single combate two to two Referre your right in loue Cyp. Who are your combatants we loue equality Qu. This is the first the Epyre duke a man Sprung from the line of famous Scanderbag The next Alphonso sprung from noble bloud Who laden with rich lusitanian prize Hath rod through Syracusa twice in pompe Cyp. Their likings to the motion Ep. They are like wrath Neuer vnarmd to beat weake iniury Alp. Nay more we are the sonnes of destiny Vertu 's our guide our ayme is dignity Phy. S'foot king shalt not forsake them this I see Loue fight and death are rul'd by destiny Cyp. My spirit speakes thy motion Madame although aduantage might euade And giue my loue more hope yet my bent will Bowd to your pleasure doth imbrace your lawe We do accept the combate and our selfe Will with that Duke try fortunes this my friend The more part of my selfe me deerest Philocles One of an Angels temper shall with that that Lord Trie best and worst the place the time the sword Epy. They are your rights we claime as challengers Cyp. And we would lose that vantage but since fame Makes vertue dulat we embrace our rights The place before these walles the houre next sunne The pollax and the hand axe for the fight Qu. It is enough My hostage is my person and my loue Cyp. And mine my hope my faith and royalty Epy. They are of poysse sufficient and one light Shall at one instant giue vs day and night Exeunt Queene Mariano Alphonso Cyp. Shee 's gone my Philocles and as she goes euen so The sunne forsakes the heauens to kisse the sea Day in her beauty leaues vs and methinkes Her absence doth exile all happines Tell me my Philocles nay pray thee tell me true Euen from that loue Which to vs both should bend one sympathy Discharge an open breast dost thou not thinke She is the mirror of her beauteous sexe Vnparalleld and vncompanioned Phi. Enuy will say shee 's rare then truth must vow She is beyond compare sith in her lookes Each motion hath a speaking maiesty She is herselfe compared with her selfe For but her selfe she hath no companion But when I thinke of beauty wit and grace The elements of actiue delicacy Those all eie-pleasing harmonies of sight Which do inchant mens fancies and stir vp The life bloud of dull earth O then methinkes Faire Mariana hath an equall place And if not outshine it shewes more beautifull Cyp. More then my Queene Phi. More in the glosse of beauty lesse in worth Of wisedome and great thoughts the one I finde was made for wonder th' other for admire Cyp. Thine equall praises makes my facnies rich And I am pleas'd with thy comparisons Things of like
high ladder must goe vp not leape vp but be patient wench and thou shalt shortly see me gallant it with the best and for thy selfe my Lollia Not Lollia Paulina nor those blasing starres Which makes the world the Apes of Italy Shall match thy selfe in sun-bright splendency Lo. Nay verily for my selfe I care not t is you that are my pride if you would goe like your selfe I were appeasd Prate Beleeue it wench so I will but to the purpose for which I came the end of this great warre is now brought to a combate two to two the Duke of Epyre and Alphonso for our Queene against the King and Prince Philocles now wench if thou wilt goe see the fight I will send and prouide thee of a good standing Lo. Indeede for you haue nere a good one of your owne Prate What President I say Pre. Anon anon sir. Prate Why when I say the villains bellie is like a bottomlesse pit euer filling and yet emptie at your leasure sir. Enter President Prates man eating Pre. I can make no more haste then my teeth will giue mee leaue Prate Well sir get you without the towne to the place for the combate and prouide me for my wife some good standing to see the conflict Pre. How master how must I prouide a good standing for you for my mistresse truly Master I thinke a mary bone pye candi'd erringoes preseru'd dattes or marmaladd of cantharides were much better harbingers cock sparrowes stew'd doues braines or swannes pizels are very prouocatiue roasted potatoes or boild skerrets are your onely lofty dishes me thinks these should fit you better then I can doe Prate What 's this what 's this I say prouide mee a standing for my wife vpon a scaffold Pre. And truely Master I thinke a priuat chamber were better Prate I graunt you if there were a chamber conuenient Pre. Willing minds will make shift in a simple hole close windowes strong locks hard bed and sure posts are your onely ornaments Prate I thinke the knaue be madde sirra you chop logicke blockhead you that haue your braine panne made of dry leather your wit euer wetshod pack about your businesse or I le pack your pen and inckhorne about your cares Pre. Well sir I may go or so but would my mistresse take a standing of my preferment I would so mount her shee should loue strange things the better all her life after Prate Why when sir. Exit President And come sweete wife nay neighbour let vs haue your company too Exeunt Enter at one dore a Herald and Floria marshall for the King with officers bearing the lists at the other dore a herald and Caelio marshall for the Queene Cae. Holla what are you Flo. High marshall for the King your Character Cae. I likewise for the Queene where lies your equall ground Flo. Here vnderneath these walles and there and there ground for the battailes Cae. Place there the Queenes seate And there and there chaiers for the combatants Flo. Place here the lists fixe euery ioint as strong As 't were a wall for on this foote of earth This day shall stand two famous monuments The one a throne of glory bright as gold Burnisht with angels luster and with starres Pluckt from the crowne of conquest in which shall sit Men made halfe Gods through famous victory The other a rich tombe of memorable fame Built by the curious thoughts of noble mindes In which shall sleepe these valiant soules in peace Whom Fortunes hand shall only ouerthrow Heauen in thy Palme this day the ballance hings Which makes Kings Gods or men more great then Kings Cae. So now let the heralds giue the champions signe Of ready preparations Exeunt Herralds The cornets sound and enter at one end of the stage a Herald two pages one with pollaxes the other with hand axes the Duke of Epyre and Alphonso like combatants the Queene and Mariana and Prate Lollia Coloquintida and President aloft Flo. What are you that appeare and what deuoyre Drawes you within these lists Epy. I am the Duke of Epyre and the mine Which doth attract my spirit to run this marshall course Is the faire guard of a distressed Queene Would wedde to hate and in equality and brutish force Which to withstand I boldly enter thus And will defaile or else proue recreant Flo. And what are you or your intendiments Alp. I am Alphonso marshall of this realme Who of like tempered thoughts and like desires Haue grounded this my sanctimonious zeale And will approue the Dukes assertions Or in this field lie slaine and recreant Flo. Enter and prosper as your cause deserues The cornets sound and enter at the other end of the stage a Herald two Pages with axes and pollaxes then the king of Cypres and Philocles like combatants and their Army Cae. What are you that appeare and what deuoyre Drawes you within these lists Cy. I am the King of Cypres who led on By the diuine instinct of heauenly loue Come with my sword to beg that royall maid And to approue by gift of heauen and fate She is a one to me appropriate Which to maintaine I challenge entrance here Where I will liue a King or recreant Cae. And what are you or your intendiments Phi. I am lesse then my thoughts more then my selfe Yet nothing but the creature of my fate By name my nature onely is obscur'd And yet the world baptis'd me Philocles My entrance here is proofe of holy zeale And to maintaine that no seuere disdaine False shape of chastitie nor womans will Neglectiue petulāce or vncertaine hope Foule vizard coynes nor seducing fame Should rob the royall temper of true loue From the desired aime of his desires Which my best bloud shall witnesse or this field Intombe my body made a recreant Cae. Enter and pro sper as your cause deserues Drawes 2 swords Flo. Princes lay your hands on these swords points Here you shall sweare by hope by heauen by loue And by the right you challenge in true fame That here you stand not arm'd with any guile Malignant hate or vsurpation Of philters charmes of nightspels characters Or other blacke infernall vantages But euen with thoughts as pure As your pure vallures or the sunnes pure beames T' approue the right of pure affection And howsoe're your fortunes rise or fall To breake no faith in your conditions So help you Ioue Al. We sweare Qu. How often doth my maiden thoughts correct And chide my froward will for this extreame Pursuit of bloud beleeue me faine I would Recall mine oathes vow did not my shame Hold fast my cruelty by which is taught Those gems are prized best are deerest bought Sleep my loues softnes then waken my flame Which guards a vestall sanctity Princes behold Vpon those weapons sits my God of loue And in their powers my loues seuerity If them you conquere we are all your slaues If they triumph wee le mourne vpon your graues Ma. Now by my
better remember me Pra. Hey day I shall mixe your businesse with the kings Dra. No but you may let his maiestie know my necessity Pra. Sir sir you must not confine me to your seasons I tell you I will collect mine owne leasures Enter Veloups a Citizen Ve. Master Orator is it your pleasure I attend you about my dispatches Pra. Sir it is my pleasure you dispatch your selfe from mine incumbrance I tell you I am for instant businesse of the Kings Ve. Sir I haue borne mine attendance long Pra. Beare it till your bones ake I tell you I cannot beare it now I am for new busines Dra. Ve. Yet the old would be dispatcht it was first paid for Prat. If you be gentlemen do not make me mad Dra. Ve. Sir our suits are of great waight Prat. If you be Christians do not make me an Atheist I shall prophane if you vex me thus Enter the Lord Mechant What more vexation my Lord my Lord saue your breath for your broth I am not now at leasure to attend you Me. A word good Mr. Orator Prat. Not a word I beseech your Lordship I am for the Kings businesse you must attend me at my chamber Exit Prat. Me. Dra. Ve. And euery where else wee will not leaue you Exeunt Pre. Now methinkes my master is like a horse-leech and these sutors so many sicke of the gout that come to haue him suck their bloud O t' is a mad world Lol. Goe to sirra you will neuer leaue your crabtree similies but pity of me who haue we heare Enter Alphonso O t' is the Lord Alphonso Alph. Mistresse God saue nay your lip I am a stranger how doth Mistresse Colloquintida O you are an excellent seasoner of city stomackes Col. Faith my Lord I haue done my best to make somebody relish your sweet meates but harke you my Lord I haue strucke the stroak I haue done the deed there wants nothing but time place and her consent Alp. Call you that nothing Col. A trifle a trifle vpon her vpon her my Lord she may seeme a little rough at the first but if you stand stifly to her shee 'le fall a word with you Mr. President They whisper Alp. Mistresse Prat I am a souldier and can better act my loue then speake it my suit you know by your neighbour my loue you shall proue by my merit to both which my tokens haue bin petty witnesses and my body shal seale deliuer vpon thee such a braue confirmatiō that not all the Orators in Sicill shall bee able to cancell the deede Lol. Truely my Lord methinkes you being witty should bee honest Alph. Nay wench if I were a foole ther 's no question but I would be honest But to the purpose say wench shall I enioy shall I possesse Lol. To enioy my loue is not to possesse my body Alp. Tut wench they be words of one signification and cannot be separated Lol. Nay then I should wrong my husband Alp. S'foot thou shouldest but do for him as he does for the whole world why an Orator were a needle name if it were not to defend wrong then wench do as he doth write by a president Lol. O my Lord I haue a husband A man whose waking ielousie suruiues And like a Lion sleepes with open eies That not a minute of mine houres are free From the intelligence of his secret spies I am a very toward Danae Thorow whose roofe suspition will not let Gold showers haue passage nor can I deceiue His Argus eies with any policy And yet I sweare I loue you Al. Death of affection if thou lou'st me as thou saiest thou dost Thou canst inuent some meanes for our delight The rather sith it euer hath beene said That walles of brasse withstand not willing mindes And women when th' are prone make loue admir'd For quaint indeuours come instruct thy wit And finde some scale to our hie hight of blisse Lol. Then breefly thus my Lord. To morrow doth the Senate sit to iudge Causes both criminall and of the stave Where of necessity my husbands place Must be fild by himselfe because his tongue Must guild his clients causes Now if you please All that selfe houre when he is turmoil'd About those serious trifles to vouchsafe To visit me his absence and my care Shall giue vs libertie of more delight You know my meaning and I am asham'd My loue should thus betray my modesty But make the vse according to your fancy Alp. What houre assures his absence Lol. Eight is the latest time Alp. This kisse leaue my faith with thee farewell Th' ast giuen me double glory from thy breath Nothing shall lose me time but certaine death Exit Alp. Pre. Truely Mistresse Collaquintida you are an excellent peece of sweet gall Lol. Well sir will you lead the way homeward Pre. To your bed chamber mistresse or your priuie lodging Exeunt Enter Philocles alone Phi. Night clad in blacke mournes for the losse of day And hides the siluer spangles of the aire That not a sparke is left to light the world Whil'st quiet sleep the nourisher of life Takes full possession on mortality All creatures take their rest in soft repose Saue malecontents and we accursed louers Whose thoughts perturbed makes vs passions slaue And robs vs of the iuice of happinesse Deere Mariana shapt in an Angels mould Thou thral'st my senses and inflam'st my blood Loue power by wisedome cannot bee withstood But see the morning starre breakes from the East To tell the world her great eie is awak't To take his iourney to the westerne vales And now the court begins to rise with him Here passes ouer the stage a Physitian a Gentleman Vsher and a waiting maide There goes the Physitian the waiting maid And a fine straight leg'd Gentleman Vsher The preface to a kirtill all puffe past One that writes sonnets in his Ladies praise And hides her crimes with flattering poesie Enter Marian. But peace amazement see the day of life Natures best worke the worlds chiefe paragon Madame one word Ma. I so now farewell Phi. You do mistake me Ma. That your selfe can tell You ask't me one word which I gaue said I A word of least vse in a virgins breath Vrge not my patience then with fond reply Phi. Deere Lady lend an eare vnto my voice Sith each were made for others happines My tong 's not oild with courtly flatterings Nor can I paint my passions to the life But by that power which shapt this heauenly forme I am your bond-slaue forc'd by loues command Then let soft pitty with such beauty dwell Madame I loue you Ma. As I am a virgin so do I. Phi. But Madame whom Ma. My selfe no Lady better Phi. But will you loue me Ma. No by my chastity Phi. I hope you do but iest Ma. Nay I le keep mine oath Men shall abandon pride and iealousie Ere I le be bound to their captiuity They shall liue continent and leaue
honour her Till when I will not think a louing thought Or giue the easie temper of my minde To loue-sicke passion or delitiousnesse Onely with those which do adore the sunne I 'le giue her all respect and reuerence Ma. I am well pleas'd and with a doubtfull foe You haue good reason thus to capitulate Then hang your colours forth extēd your thought Muster your strongest powers of stricktest wit And when your reasons best artilleries bent Loue not my loue if it be not excellent Cyp. I haue not seene a warre breed better wit Or passion draw on more delightfulnesse Proceed in your contention for we boast That loue is best which is approued most But now to reuels since our tragicke sceane Is turnd to comicke mirthfull constancie In stead of mourning we will daunce and banquet And fill our emptie veines with all delights For oft we find that stormes and sorrowes proue The best forerunners of a happy loue Exeunt all but Epyre. Epy. He will but he will not loues but cannot like Will and affection in this Prince are like Two buckets which do neuer both ascend Or those star twins which shine not in one spheare O Philoceles I see thy soule growes fat And feeds vpon the glories of my same But I 'le forestall thine Epileptique fits And by my plots breed thy destruction Reuenge now rules as soueragine of my bloud And others ruines shall aduance my good VVhich once attaind to I will proue ambitious Great men like Gods are nere thought-vitious Now Philocles stand fast King guard thy crowne For by this braine you both shall tumble downe Exit Enter Veloups and Drap President sitting at his deske Ve. This is his chamber le ts enter heere 's his clarke Pre. Fondling said he since I haue hem'd thee heere VVithin the circuit of this Iuory pale Dra. I pray you sir help vs to the speech of your master Pre. I le be a parke and thou shalt be my Deere He is very busie in his study Feed where thou wilt in mountaine or on dale Stay a while he will come out anon Graze on my lips and when those mounts are drie Stray lower where the pleasant fountaines lie Go thy way thou best booke in the world Ve. I pray you sir what booke doe you read Pre. A book that neuer an Orators clarke in this kingdome but is beholden vnto it is called maides philosophie or Venus and Adonis Looke you gentlemen I haue diuers other pretty bookes Drap You are very well storde sir but I hope your master wil not stay long Pre. No he will come presently Enter Meshant Ve. VVho haue we heere another Client sure crowes flock to carkasses O t is the Lord Meshant Me. Saue you Gentlemen sir is your master at any leasure Pre. Heere sit thee downe where neuer serpent hisses And being set I le smother thee with kisses His businesses yet are many you must needes attend a while Me. VVe must attend vm euen snailes keep state VVhen with slow thrust their hornes peep forth the gate VVe must attend t is customs fault not mine To make men proud on whom great fauours shine It s somewhat gainst my nature to attend But when we must we must be patient A man may haue admittance to the king As soone as to these long roabes and as cheap Come gentlemen shall we walke Thus are the pauement stones before the doores Of these great tongue guilt Orators worne smoth With clients dauncing for them Ve. It 's strange to see how the world waits vpon them therein they are the onely men now Me. O onely they of all men in request Your physitian is the lawier for your health And moderate vnruly humours best Others are no body compard with him For all men neglect their health in regard of their profit Dra. True and that 's it makes these men grow so fat Swell with rich purchases Me. Yea with golden fees And golden titles too they can worke miracles And like creators euen of emptie nothing Erect a world of goodly liuings faire demeanes And gallant mannors heapt one on another Ve. They gaine indeed excessiuely are not like vs citizens Expos'd to hazard of the seas and trafficke Me. Why here 's a fellow now this Orator Euen Prat you would little thinke it his father was An honest proiner of our cuntry vines Yet hee 's shot to his foot-cloath Drap O hee is hee proind him well and brought him vp to learning Me. Faith reasonable learning a smattring in the Latine tongue A little Rhetoricke with wrangling sophistrie Were his preparatiues vnto his art Ve. After these preparatiues if you call them so The physicke wrought well for a few yeares practise Brought him in wondrous credit and preferments Came tumbling in O such a suddaine rise Hath fortune for her minions blame him not then Though he looke high on 't Me. Nay for his pride of weaker soules tearmd state It hurts none but himselfe Dra. Yet to my seeming it is very strange That from so base beginning men can breath Such soaring fames Me. Srange it 's not strange a whit Dunghils and marrish bogs dart store of vapours And viscous exhalations against heauen Which borrowing luster there though basly bred Seeme yet like glorious planets fairest starres To the weake eies of wondring ignorance When wise men know they are but Meteors But here comes the Orator Enter Prate Prat. What President I say come and attend me to the senate house Pre. I am ready sir if you haue Copia verborum I haue Copia rerum in a buckram bagge here Prat. Your Lordships pleasure Me. Master Orator t is not vnknowne my suit Prat. Nay your Lordship must be briefe I not attend The shallow sleight of words your suit your suit Me. The restoration of my lands and honours Prat. They are confiscat Me. My lands confiscat and my body free Prat. My Lord my Lord the Queen 's more mercifull Me. Sir you forget my place Pra. Sir you forget your faith T' was knowne vnto the Queene the state and vs Your malecontented spirit your disease in duty Your diligent purturbance of the peace Your passages occurrences and Me. Sir Prat. Sir me no sirs Do not I know you were the chiefe of those Which raisd the warres in Sicill and long since Wrought in the kings loues bloody businesse Did not you hold faire quarter and commerce VVith all the spies of Cypres fie I am asham'd Blinde impudence should make you be so bold To beare your face before authority Me. But heare me Pra. I will heare no reply go home repent pray die Come Gentlemen what 's your businesses Ve. Your confirmation to his highnesse grant touching our trade with Spaine in which if it please you to assist vs wee haue a thousand crownes which shall attend you Pra. O I haue you in my memory the suit is great And I must squeisse forth more then a thousand crownes Wel attend me to the senate
faire is wise and ought to know it For to that end did nature first bestow it Now of this knowledge if we be not proud We wrong the author and we are allowd To ranke with sensles beasts sith carelesse wee For want of pride detract our dignitie Now knowing it we know truth in the same Not to be proud of truth askes follies name This lesson still is read in beauties schoole She that is faire and humble is a foole For neither knowe she how to hold her good Or to keep safe the treasure of her bloud Qu. a notable declamation Ma Nay madame by your leaue Pride giues a luster to a womans faire Things that are highest prizd are euer deere VVhy is the Diamond the Saphyrs king But for esteeme and rarenesse both which spring From the stones pride which is so chast and hard Nothing can pierce it it selfe is it selfes guard Now what is pride selfe loue our owne esteeme A strength to make vs of our selues well deeme From whence this maxim I collect mongst other VVho hates her selfe can neuer loue another And to conclude mans appetite growes dull To what it may haue emptie hope is full To all our sexe on earth maid widow wife and bride They happy liue when they liue with chast pride Cyp. My Queene will speake as much for lust as shee for pride if the toy take her Me. Your Ladiship sowes dangerous seede abroad Ma. But I hope my lord all grounds are not fruitfull Qu. Well wench shalt be the proud womans champion Ma. And I le defend them against all men as at single tongue Me. I had rather fight with a gyant then you at that weapon Cyp. My Lord go forth returne in your owne shape say I am comming Epy. I goe my Lord. Exit Epyre. Cyp. I le note their countenance when they heare of me Kings often see that which they would not see Qu. Dauncing hath made me weary what sport is next Phi. What your highnesse will command Cyp. she will command you sir to play with her Enter Epyre. Epy. Madame his maiestie is returnd to court Qu. Nay then away with reuels and with sports Lie husht and still this vainer idlenesse It now hath lost his spleene come Lords away My sunne is risen brings a brighter day Exeunt all but Cypres and Epyre. Cyp. Darknesse is thy delight lasciuious Queene And thou wouldst haue thy sun pent vp in cloude If I be he O falsnesse did I for this In single opposition hand to hand Hazard my royall bloud for thee to be My greatest shame the scandall of my blood Whil'st rumour crownes me king of infamy But I will be reueng'd watch gentle Lord When next I see them they shall tast of death Such power hath basenesse ouer great defame That monarches cannot couer their own shame Exit Cypres Epy. My plot yet holds a true proportion And I do see an euen way to rule A crowne like a bould champion bids me on And fame shall chronicle mine enterprise The Queene being dead I must oppose my selfe Against her tyrant husband that 's my claime And with strong courage stand the shocke of warre If of my selfe I can withstand the King Then all the Land will flocke vnto mine aide if not The king is Gods annointed my head fits the blocke And that 's the worst yet future times will tell I sunke not sleightly for a crowne I fell Exit Epyre. Enter Meshant and a guard of watchmen Me. Come on my masters you know the tenure of the kings coÌ„mand And what in this great businesse you must do Which is to keep him safe and not vouchsafe That any creature speake or visit him Till he be brought to the presence of the king You must not start for bountie nor for threats No though he say he is a noble man As it may be he may proue mightie borne Yet what for that you must performe your office Or else expect to tast sharp punishment 1 Watch. Tut feare not my Lord wee that haue had Cerberus office so many yeares vnder a gate are not to learne now to play either diules or tyrants let vs but see him and then take no care for his safety 2 Watch. Nay hee shall bee put into safe keeping for my wife shall take charge of him Enter Alphonso in the Orators clothes Me. T is well deui'sd see where he comes He may not see my presence thinke vpon 't Your charge is trusty and of mightie waight Farewell Exit Meshant 1 Watch. Feare not come my â—…arts compasse him about and ceaze on him all at once like so many Rauens on a dead horse Alp. Now an eternall sleep an apoplex a swound Ceaze on their senses who in this disguise Shall view or note my vile deformitie I was bewitcht with spels to my misfortune Or else starre crost with some hagges hellishnesse Sure I said my prayers ris'd on my right side Wash't hands and eies put on my girdle last Sure I met no splea-footed baker No hare did crosse me nor no bearded witch Nor other ominous signe O then why Should I be thus damn'nd in the diuels nets Pst possible this habit which I weare Should become any man now of my soule I loath to see my selfe and willingly I would euen vomit at my counteneance 1 Watch. Stand sir we arrest you Alp. Arrest me why I iniure no man but my selfe 2 Watch. You are the more vnkind he that wrongs himselfe will not sticke to wrong the whole world also 1 Wa. Nay striue not for we arrest you by vertue of the Kings commission Alp. Well my masters be carefull you may mistake me 2 Wa. Indeed it is no maruaile you are so like other men Alp. Indeed at this time I am hardly like one of Gods making 1 Wa. Faith and I am sure you are no man of a good taylors making you are but peest worke Alp. Well yet I may hap to proue a noble man 2 Wa. A whoremaster or an vnthrift away with him and let no man man catachise him vpon paine of my displaesure Exeunt Enter the Duke of Epyre alone Epy. Roule on the chariot wheeles of my deere plots And beare mine ends to their desired â—â—kes As yet ther 's not a rub of wit a gulfe of thought No rockie misconstruction thorny amaze Or other let of any doubtfulnesse As yet thy way is euen smoth and plaine Like the greene Ocean in a silent calme Blessed credulity thou great God of errour That art the strong foundation of huge wrongs To thee giue I my vowes and sacrifice By thy great deity he doth beleeue Falshoods that falshoods selfe could not inuent And from that misbeleefe doth draw a course To ouerwhelme euen vertue truth and sanctitie Let him go on blest starres t is meet he fall Whose blindfold iudgement hath no guid at all But O these shadowes haue bewitchted long To threat and not to do doth malice wrong And see heere comes the Queene Enter