onely tickleth the heade with hopes and wishes friendshippe the image of eternitie in which there is nothing moueable nothing mischeeuous As much difference as there is betweene Beautie and Vertue bodies and shadowes colours and life so great oddes is there betweene loue and friendshippe Loue is a Camelion which draweth nothing into the mouth but ayre and nourisheth nothing in the bodie but lunges beleeue mee Eumenides Desire dyes in the same moment that Beautie sickens and Beautie fadeth in the same instant that it flourisheth When aduersities flowe then loue ebbes but friendship standeth stifflie in stormes Time draweth wrinckles in a fayre face but addeth fresh colours to a fast friende which neither heate nor cold nor miserie nor place nor destiny can alter or diminish O friendship of all things the most rare and therefore most rare because most excellent whose comforts in misery is alwaies sweet and whose counsels in prosperitie are euer fortunate Vaine loue that onely comming neere to friendship in name woulde seeme to be the same or better in nature Eum. Father I allowe your reasons and will therefore conquer mine own Vertue shall subdue affections wisdome lust friendship beautie Mistresses are in euery place and as common as Hares in Atho Bees in Hybla foules in the ayre but friends to be founde are like the Phaenix in Arabia but one or the Philadelphi in Arays neuer aboue two I will haue Endimion sacred Fountaine in whose bowels are hidden diuine secrets I haue encreased your waters with the teares of vnspotted thoughts and therefore let mee receiue the reward you promise Endimion the truest friende to mee and faithfullest louer to Cynthia is in such a dead sleepe that nothing can wake or mooue him Geron Doost thou see any thing Eumenides I see in the same Piller these wordes When shee whose figure of all is the perfectest and neuer to bee measured alwaies one yet neuer the same still inconstant yet neuer wauering shall come and kisse Endimion in his sleepe hee shall then rise els neuer This is straunge Geron What see you els Eum. There commeth ouer mine eyes either a darke mist or vppon the fountaine a deepe thicknesse for I can perceiue nothing But howe am I deluded or what difficult nay impossible thing is this Geron Me thinketh it easie Eum. Good father and howe Geron Is not a circle of all Figures the perfectest Eum. Yes Geron And is not Cynthia of all cyrcles the most absolute Eum. Yes Geron Is it not impossible to measure her who still worketh by her influence neuer standing at one stay Eum. Yes Geron Is shee not alwaies Cynthia yet seldome in the same bignesse alwaies wauering in her waxing or wayning that our bodies might the better bee gouerned our seasons the daylier giue their increase yet neuer to bee remooued from her course as long as the heauens continue theirs Eum. Yes Geron Then who can it bee but Cynthia whose vertues beeing all diuine must needes bring things to passe that bee myraculous Goe humble thy selfe to Cynthia tell her the successe of which my selfe shall bee a witnesse And this assure thy selfe that shee that sent to finde meanes for his safetie will now worke her cunning Eum. How fortunate am I if Cynthia be she that may doo it Geron Howe fonde art thou if thou doo not beleeue it Eum. I will hasten thither that I may intreat on my knees for succour and imbrace in mine armes my friend Geron I will goe with thee for vnto Cynthia must I discouer all my sorrowes who also must worke in mee a contentment Eum. May I nowe knowe the cause Geron That shall bee as wee walke and I doubt not but the straungnesse of my tale will take away the tediousnesse of our iourney Eum. Let vs goe Geron I followe Exeunt Actus quartus Scaena prima Tellus Corsites Tellus I Maruell Corsites giueth me so much libertie all the worlde knowing his charge to bee so high and his nature to bee most straunge who hath so ill intreated Ladies of great honour that he hath not suffered them to looke out of windowes much lesse to walke abroade it may bee hee is in loue with mee for Endimion hard harted Endimion excepted what is he that is not enamourd of my beautie But what respectest thou the loue of all the world Endimion hates thee Alas poore Endimion my malyce hath exceeded my loue and thy faith to Cynthia quenched my affections Quenched Tellus nay kindled them a fresh in so much that I finde scorching flames for dead embers and cruell encounters of warre in my thoughtes in steede of sweete parlees Ah that I might once againe see Endimion accursed girle what hope hast thou to see Endimion on whose head already are growne gray haires and whose life must yeelde to Nature before Cynthia ende her displeasure Wicked Dipsas and most deuilish Tellus the one for cunning too exquisit the other for hate too intollerable Thou wast commanded to weaue the stories Poetries wherin were shewed both examples punishments of tatling tongues and thou hast only imbrodered the sweet face of Endimion deuises of loue melancholy imaginations and what not out of thy worke that thou shouldst studie to picke out of thy mind But here cometh Corsites I must seeme yeelding and stoute ful of mildnesse yet tempered with a Maiestie for if I be too flexible I shall giue him more hope then I meane if too froward enioy lesse liberty then I would loue him I cannot therfore will practise that which is most contrarie to our sex to dissemble Enter Corsites Cor. Faire Tellus I perceiue you rise with the Larke and to your selfe sing with the Nightingale Tellus My Lord I haue no play-fellow but fancy being barred of all companie I must question with my selfe and make my thoughts my frindes Cor. I would you would account my thoughtes also your friends for they be such as are only busied in wondering at your beautie wisdome some such as haue esteemed your fortune too hard and diuers of that kind that offer to set you free if you will set them free Tellus There are no colours so contrarie as white and blacke nor Elements so disagreeing as fire and water nor any thing so opposite as mens thoughts their words Cor. He that gaue Cassandra the gift of prophecying with the curse that spake shee neuer so true shee should neuer be beleeued hath I think poysoned the fortune of men that vttering the extremities of their inward passions are alwayes suspected of outward periuries Tellus Well Corsites I will flatter my selfe and beleeue you What would you doe to enioy my loue Cor. Sette all the Ladies of the Castle free and make you the pleasure of my life more I cannot doe lesse I will not Tellus These be great wordes and fit your calling for Captaines must promise things impossible But wil you doe one thing for all Cor. Any thing sweet Tellus that am ready for all Tellus You
then will I name it honor From this sweet contēplation if I be not driuen I shall liue of al men the most content taking more pleasure in mine aged thoughts then euer I did in my youthful actions Cyn. Endimion this honorable respect of thine shal be christned loue in thee my reward for it fauor Perseuer Endimion in louing me I account more strength in a true hart then in a walled Cittie I haue laboured to win all and studie to keepe such as I haue wonne but those that neither my fauour can mooue to continue constant nor my offered benefits gette to bee faithfull the Gods shal eyther reduce to trueth or reuenge their trecheries with iustice Endimion continue as thou hast begun and thou shalt finde that Cynthia shyneth not on thee in vaine End Your Highnesse hath blessed mee and your wordes haue againe restored my youth mee thinkes I feele my ioyntes stronge and these mouldy haires to molt all by your vertue Cynthia into whose hands the Ballance that weigheth time fortune are committed Cynth. What younge againe then it is pittie to punish Tellus Tellus Ah Endimion now I know thee and aske pardon of thee suffer mee still to wish thee well End Tellus Cynthia must commaund what she will Flosc. Endimion I reioyce to see thee in thy former estate End Good Floscula to thee also am I in my former affections Eum. Endimion the comfort of my life howe am I rauished with a ioy matchlesse sauing onelie the enioying of my mistrisse Cynth. Endimion you must nowe tell who Eumenides shrineth for his Saint End Semele Madame Cynth. Semele Eumenides is it Semele the very waspe of all women whose tongue stingeth as much as an Adders tooth Eum. It is Semele Cynthia the possessing of whose loue must onelie prolong my life Cynth. Nay sith Endimion is restored wee will haue all parties pleased Semele are you content after so long triall of his faith such rare secresie such vnspotted loue to take Eumenides Why speake you not Not a word End Silence Madame consents that is most true Cynth. It is true Endimion Eumenides take Semele Take her I say Eum. Humble thanks Madame now onely doe I begin to liue Semele A harde choyce Madame either to be married if I say nothing or to lose my tongue if I speake a word Yet doe I rather choose to haue my tongue cut out then my heart distempered I will not haue him Cynth. Speakes the Parrat shee shall nod heereafter with signes cut off her tongue nay her heade that hauing a seruant of honourable birth honest manners 〈◊〉 true loue will not be perswaded Semele He is no faithfull I 〈…〉 or then would he haue asked his Mistris Geron Had he not beene faithfull he had neuer seene into the fountaine and so lost his friend and Mistrisse Eum. Thine own thoughts sweet Semele witnesse against thy wordes for what hast thou founde in my life but loue and as yet what haue I founde in my loue but bitternesse Madame pardon Semele and let my tongue ransome hers Cyn. Thy tongue Eumenides what shouldst thou liue wanting a tongue to blaze the beautie of Semele Well Semele I will not commaund loue for it cannot bee enforced let me entreat it Semele I am content your Highnesse shall command for now only do I thinke Eumenides faithfull that is willing to lose his tongue for my sake yet loth because it should doe me better seruice Madame I accept of Eumenides Cynth. I thanke you Semele Eu. Ah happie Eumenides that hast a friend so faithfull and a mistris so faire with what sodaine mischiefe will the Gods daunt this excesse of ioye Sweet Semele I liue or dye as thou wilt Cynth. What shall become of Tellus Tellus you know Endimion is vowed to a seruice from which death cannot remooue him Corsites casteth still a louely lookes towards you how say you will haue your Corsites and so receiue pardon for all that is past Tellus Madame most willingly Cynthia But I cannot tel whether Corsites be agreed Corsites I Madame more happie to enioy Tellus then the Monarchie of the world Eum. Why she caused you to be pincht with Fairies Cor. I but her fairenesse hath pinched my hart more deepelie Cynthia Well enioy thy loue But what haue you wrought in the Castle Tellus Tellus Onely the picture of Endimion Cynthia Then so much of Endimion as his picture commeth to possesse and play withall Corsites Ah my sweete Tellus my loue shal be as thy beautie is matchlesse Cynthia Now it resteth Dipsas that if thou wilt forsweare that vile Arte of Enchaunting Geron hath promised againe to receiue thee otherwise if thou be wedded to that wickednes I must and will see it punished to the vttermost Dipsas Madam I renounce both substance and shadow of that most horrible and hatefull trade vowing to the Gods continuall penaunce and to your highnes obedience Cynthia Howe say you Geron will you admit her to your Wife Geron I with more ioy then I did the first day for nothing could happen to make me happy but onely her forsaking that leude and detestable course Dipsas I imbrace thee Dipsas And I thee Geron to whom I will heereafter recite the cause of these my first follies Cynthia Well Endimion nothing resteth nowe but that we depart Thou hast my fauour Tellus her friend Eumenides in Paradice with his Semele Geron contented with Dipsas Sir Tophas Nay soft I cannot handsomly goe to bed without Bagoa Cynthia Well Syr Tophas it may bee there are more vertues in mee then my selfe knoweth of for Endimion I awaked and at my words he waxed young I will trie whether I can turne this tree againe to thy true loue Tophas Turne her to a true loue or false so shee be a wench I care not Cynthia Bagoa Cynthia putteth an end to thy harde fortunes for being turnd to a tree for reuealing a truth I will recouer thee againe if in my power be the effect of truth Tophas Bagoa a bots vpon thee Cynthia Come my Lordes let vs in you Gyptes and Pythagoras if you cannot content your selues in our Court to fall from vaine follies of Phylosophers to such vertues as are here practised you shall be entertained according to your deserts for Cynthia is no stepmother to strangers Pytha. I had rather in Cynthias Court spende tenne yeeres then in Greece one houre Gyptes And I chuse rather to liue by the sight of Cynthia then by the possessing of all Egipt Cynthia Then follow Eumenides We all attend Exeunt FINIS ⧠The Epilogue A Man walking abroade the wind and Sunne stroue for soueraignty the one with his blast the other with his beames The wind blew hard the man wrapped his garmēt about him harder it blustred more strongly he then girt it fast to him I cannot preuaile sayd the wind The Sunne casting her Christall beames began to warme the man he vnlosed his gowne yet it shined brighter he then put it off I yeelde sayd the winde for if thou continue shining he will also put off his cote Dread Soueraigne the malicious that seeke to ouerthrowe vs with threats do but stiffen our thoughts and make them sturdier in stormes but if your Highnes vouch safe with your fauorable beames to glaunce vpon vs we shall not onlie stoope but with all humilitie lay both our handes and hearts at your Maiesties feete
knowe that on the Lunary bancke sleepeth Endimion Corsites I knowe it Tel. If you will remoue him from that place by force and conuey him into some obscure caue by pollicie I giue you here the faith of an vnspotted virgine that you onelie shall possesse me as a louer and in spight of malice haue mee for a wife Cor. Remooue him Tellus Yes Tellus hee shall bee remooued and that so soone as thou shalt as much commend my dilligence as my force I goe Tellus Stay will your selfe attempt it Corsites I Tellus as I would haue none partaker of my sweete loue so shall none be partners of my labours but I pray thee goe at your best leysure for Cynthia beginneth to rise and if she discouer our loue we both perish for nothing pleaseth her but the fairenesse of virginitie All thinges must bee not onely without lust but without suspicion of lightnes Tellus I will depart and goe you to Endimion Corsites I flye Tellus beeing of all men the most fortunate Exit Tel. Simple Corsites I haue set thee about a taske being but a man that the gods thēselues cannot performe for little doost thou knowe howe heauie his head lies howe hard his fortune but such shiftes must women haue to deceiue men and vnder colour of things easie intreat that which is imposible otherwise we should be cūbred with importunities oathes sighes letters and all implements of loue which to one resolued to the contrary are most lothsome I will in and laugh with the other Ladies at Corsites sweating Exit Actus quartus Scaena secunda Samtas Dares and Epiton Sam. Will thy master neuer awake Dares No I thinke hee sleepes for a wager but how shall wee spende the time Sir Tophas is so farre in loue that he pineth in his bedde and commeth not abroade Sam. But here commeth Epi in a pelting chafe Epi. A poxe of all false Prouerbes and were a Prouerbe a Page I would haue him by the eares Sam. Why art thou angry Epi. Why you knowe it is sayd the tyde tarieth no man Sam. True Epi. A monstrous lye for I was tide two houres and tarried for one to vnlose mee Dares Alas poore Epi Epi. Poore No no you base conceited slaues I am a most complyt Gentleman although I bee in disgrace with sir Tophas Dares Art thou out with him Epi. I because I cannot gette him a lodging with Endimion hee would faine take a nappe for fortie or fifty yeeres Dares A short sleepe considering our long life Sam. Is he still in loue Epi. In loue why he doth nothing but make Sonets Sam. Canst thou remember any one of his Poems Epi. I this is one The beggar Loue that knows not where to lodge At last within my hart when I slept he crept I wakt and so my fancies began to fodge Sam. That 's a verie long verse Epi. Why the other was shorte the first is called from the thombe to the little finger the second from the little finger to the elbowe and some hee hath made to reach to the crowne of his head and downe again to the soule of his foote it is sette to the tune of the blacke Saunce ratio est because Dipsas is a black Saint Dares Very wisely but pray thee Epi how art thou complet and beeing from thy Maister what occupation wilt thou take Epi. No my harts I am an absolute Microcosmus a pettie worlde of my selfe my library is my heade for I haue no other bookes but my braines my wardrope on my backe for I haue no more apparrell then is on my body my armorie at my fingers ends for I vse no other Artillarie then my nailes my treasure in my purse Sic omnia mea mecum porto Dares Good Epi. Now syrs my Pallace is pau'd with grasse and tyled with starres for celo tegitur qui non habet vrnam he that hath no house must he in the yard Samias A braue resolution But how wilt thou spend thy time Epi. Not in any Melancholie sort for mine exercise I will walke horses Dares Too bad Epi. Why is it not saide It is good walking when one hath his horse in his hand Sam. Worse and worse but how wilt thou liue Epi. By angling O t is a stately occupation to stande foure houres in a colde Morning and to haue his nose bytten with frost before hys baite be mumbled with a Fish Dares A rare attempt but wilt thou neuer trauell Epi. Yes in a Westerne barge when with a good winde and lustie pugges one may goe ten miles in two daies Samias Thou art excellent at thy choyse but what pastime wilt thou vse none Epi. Yes the quickest of all Samias What dyce Epi. No when I am in hast xxj. games at Chesse to passe a fewe minutes Dares A life for a little Lord and full of quicknesse Epi. Tush let mee alone but I must needes see if I can finde where Endimion lieth and then goe to a certaine fountaine hard by where they say faithfull Louers shall haue althings they will aske If I can finde out any of these ego et Magister meus erimus in tuto I and my Maister shall be freendes He is resolued to weep some three or foure payle-fuls to auoyde the rume of loue that wambleth in his stomacke Enter the Watch Samias Shall we neuer see thy Maister Dares Dares Yes let vs goe nowe for to morrowe Cynthia will be there Epi. I will goe with you But hovve shall wee see for the Watch Samias Tush let me alone I le begin to them Maisters God speede you 1. Watch Sir boy we are all sped alreadie Epi. So me thinks for they smell all of drinke like a beggers beard Dares But I pray sirs may we see Endimion 2. Watch No we are commanded in Cynthias name that no man shall see him Sam. No man Why we are but boyes 1. Watch Masse neighbours hee sayes true for if I sweare I will neuer drinke my liquor by the quart and yet call for two pints I thinke with a safe conscience I may carouse both Dares Pithily and to the purpose 2. Watch Tush tush neighbors take me with you Samias This will grow hote Dares Let them alone 2. Watch If I saie to my wife wife I will haue no Reysons in my pudding she puts in Corance smal Reysons are Reysons and boyes are men Euen as my wife shoulde haue put no Reysons in my pudding so shall there no boyes see Endimion Dares Learnedly Epi. Let Maister Constable speake I thinke hee is the wisest among you Ma. Const. You know neighbors t is an an old said saw children and fooles speake true All say True Ma. Const. Well there you see the men bee the fooles because it is prouided from the children Dares Good Ma. Const. Then say I neighbors that children must not see Endimion because children fooles speak true Epi. O wicked application Samias Scuruily brought about 1. Watch Nay he sais true therefore till