I goe as you see clothed with Artillary it is not Silkes milksops nor Tyssues nor the fine wooll of Cares but yron steele swords flame shot terror clamor blood and ruine that rocks a sleepe my thoughts which neuer had any other cradle but crueltie Let me see doe you not bleede Dares Why so Tophas Commonly my words wound Samias What then doe your blowes Tophas Not onely confound but also confound Samias Howe darst thou come so neere thy Maister Epi Syr Tophas spare vs Tophas You shall liue You Samias because you are little You Dares because you are no bigger and both of you because you are but two for commonly I kil by the dosen and haue for euerie particular aduersarie a peculiar weapon Samias May we know the vse for our better skyll in warre Tophas You shall Heere is a burbolt for the vglie beast the Black-bird Dares A cruell sight Tophas Heere is the Muskit for the vntamed or as the vulgar sort terme it the wilde Mallard Samias O desperate attempt Epi. Nay my Maister will match them Dares I if he catch them Tophas Heere is a speare and shielde and both necessarie the one to conquer the other to subdue or ouercome the terrible Trowte which although he be vnder the water yet tying a string to the top of my speare and an engine of yron to the ende of my lyne I ouerthrowe him and then heerein I put him Samias O wonderfull warre Dares didst thou euer heare such a dolt Dares All the better we shall haue good sport hereafter if we can get leysure Samias Leysure I will rather loose my Maisters seruice then his companie looke howe hee stroutes But what is this call you it your sword Tophas No it is my Simiter which I by construction often studying to be compendious call my Smyter Dares What are you also learned sir Tophas Learned I am all Mars and Ars Samias Nay you are all Masse and Asse Tophas Mock you mee You shall both suffer yet with such weapons as you shall make choise of the weapon wherewith you shall perrish Am I all a masse or lumpe is there no proportion in me Am I all Asse is there no wit in mee Epi prepare thē to the slaughter Samias I pray sir heare vs speake we call you Masse which your learning doth well vnderstande is all Man for Mas maris is a man Then As as you knowe is a weight and we for your vertues account you a weight Tophas The Latine hath saued your lyues the which a world of siluer could not haue ransomde I vnderstand you and pardon you Dares Well Sir Tophas we bid you farewell at our next meeting we will be readie to doe you seruice Tophas Samias I thanke you Dares I thanke you but especiallie I thanke you both Samias Wiselie Come next time wee le haue some prettie Gentle-women with vs to walke for without doubt with them he will be verie daintie Dares Come let vs see what our Maisters doe it is high time Exeunt Tophas Now will I march into the fielde where if I cannot encounter with my foule enemies I will withdraw my selfe to the Riuer there fortifie for fish for there resteth no minute free from fight Exit Actus primus Saena quarta Tellus Floscula Dipsas Tellus Behold Floscula we haue met with the Woman by chaunce that wee sought for by trauell I will breake my minde to her without ceremonie or circumstance least we loose that time in aduise that should be spent in execution Flosc. Vse your discretion I will in this case neither giue counsell nor consent for there cannot bee a thing more monstrous then to force affection by sorcery neither doe I imagin anie thing more impossible Tellus Tush Floscula in obtaining of loue what impossibilities will I not try and for the winning of Endimion what impieties will I not practise Dipsas whom as many honour for age as wonder at for cunning listen in fewe words to my tale answere in one word to the purpose for that neither my burning desire can afforde long speech nor the short time I haue to stay manie delayes Is it possible by hearbes stones spels incantation enchauntment exorcismes fire mettals plannets or any practise to plant affection where it is not and to supplant it where it is Dipsas Faire Ladie you may imagin that these horie heares are not void of experience nor the great name that goeth of my cunning to bee without cause I can darken the Sunne by my skil and remooue the Moone out of her course I can restore youth to the aged and make hils without bottoms there is nothing that I can not doe but that onely which you would haue me doe and therin I differ from the Gods that I am not able to rule harts for were it in my power to place affection by appointment I would make such euill appetites such inordinate lusts such cursed desires as all the worlde should be filled both with supersticious heates and extreame loue Tellus Vnhappie Tellus whose desires are so desperate that they are neither to be conceiued of any creature nor to be cured by any arte Dipsas This I can breede slacknes in loue though neuer roote it out What is he whom you loue what she that he honoureth Tellus Endimion sweet Endimion is he that hath my hart and Cynthia too too faire Cynthia the myracle of Nature of tyme of Fortune is the Ladie that hee delights in and dotes on euery day and dies for ten thousand times a day Dipsas Would you haue his loue eyther by absence of sicknes aslaked Would you that Cynthia should mistrust him or be iealous of him without colour Tellus It is the onelie thing I craue that seeing my loue to Endimion vnspotted cannot be accepted hys trueth to Cynthia though it be vnspeakeable may bee suspected Dipsas I will vndertake it and ouertake him that all his loue shal be doubted of and therefore become desperate but this will weare out with time that treadeth all things downe but trueth Tellus Let vs goe Dipsas I follow Exeunt Actus secundus Scaena prima Endimion Tellus End O Fayre Cynthia ô vnfortunate Endimion Why was not thy byrth as high as thy thoughts or her beautie lesse then heauenlie or why are not thyne honors as rare as her beautie or thy fortunes as great as thy deserts Sweet Cynthia how wouldst thou be pleased how possessed wil labours patient of all extremities obtaine thy loue There is no Mountain so steepe that I will not climbe no monster so cruell that I will not tame no action so desperate that I will not attempt Desirest thou the passions of loue the sad and melancholie moodes of perplexed mindes the not to be expressed torments of racked thoughts Beholde my sad teares my deepe sighes my hollowe eyes my broken sleepes my heauie countenaunce Wouldst thou haue mee vowde onelie to thy beautie and consume euerie minute of time in thy seruice remember
finde in your hart to talke such smooth wordes for that it agreeth not with your calling to vse words so soft as that of loue Cors. Ladie it were vnfit of warres to discourse with womē into whose minds nothing can sinck but smoothnes besides you must not thinke that Souldiours bee so rough hewne or of such knottie mettle that beautie cannot allure and you beeing beyonde perfection enchaunt Tellus Good Corsites talke not of loue but let me to my labor the little beautie I haue shall be bestowed on my Loome which I now meane to make my Louer Cors. Let vs in and what fauour Corsites can shewe Tellus shall commaund Tellus The onely fauour I desire is now and then to walke Exeunt Actus tertius Scaena tertia Syr Tophas and Epi. Tophas Epi Epi. Heere sir Tophas Vnrigge mee Hey ho Epi. What 's that Tophas An interiection whereof some are of mourning as eho vah Epi. I vnderstand you not Tophas Thou seest me Epi. I Tophas Thou hearst me Epi. I Tophas Thou feelest me Epi. I Tophas And not vnderstand'st me Epi. No Tophas Then am I but three quarters of a Nowne substantiue But alas Epi to tell thee the troth I am a Nowne Adiectiue Epi. Why Tophas Because I cannot stand without another Epi. Who is that Tophas Dipsas Epi. Are you in loue Top. No but loue hath as it were milkt my thoughts and drained from my hart the very substance of my accustomed courage it worketh in my heade like newe Wine so as I must hoope my skonce with yron least my head breake and so I bewray my braines but I pray thee first discouer me in all parts that I may be like a Louer and then will I sigh and die Take my gunne and giue me a gowne Caedant arma togae Epi. Heere Tophas Take my sworde and shielde and giue mee beard brush and Cyssers bella gerant alii tu pari semper ama Epi. Will you be trimd sir Tophas Not yet for I feele a contention within me whether I shall frame the bodkin beard or the bush But take my pike and giue mee pen dicere que puduit scribere iussit amor Epi. I wyll furnish you sir Tophas Nowe for my bowe and bolts giue me ynke and paper for my Smiter a pen-knife for Scalpellum calami atramentum charta libelli sint semper studiis arma parata meis Epi. Sir will you giue ouer warres play with that bable called loue Tophas Giue ouer warres no Epi Militat omnis amans et habet sua castea Cupido Epi. Loue hath made you very eloquent but your face is nothing fayre Tophas Non formosus erat sed erat facundus Vlisses Epi. Nay I must seeke a newe Maister if you can speake nothing but verses Tophas Quicquid conabar dicere versus erat Epi I feele all Ouid de arte amandi lie as heauie at my heart as a loade of logges O what a fine thin hayre hath Dipsas what a prettie low forehead VVhat a tale statelie nose What little hollowe eyes What great and goodly lyppes Howe harmelesse shee is beeing toothlesse her fingers fatte and short adorned with long nayles like a Bytter In howe sweete a proportion her cheekes hang downe to her brests like dugges and her pappes to her waste like bagges VVhat a lowe stature shee is and yet what a great foote shee carryeth Howe thrifty must she be in whom there is no waste Hovve vertuous is shee like to be ouer whom no man can be ielous Epi. Stay Maister you forget your selfe Tophas O Epi euen as a dish melteth by the fire so doth my wit increase by loue Epi. Pithily and to the purpose but what beginne you to nodde Tophas Good Epi let me take a nappe for as some man may better steale a horse then another looke ouer the hedge so diuers shall be sleepie when they woulde fainest take rest He sleepes Epi. Who euer saw such a woodcock loue Dipsas without doubt all the world will novve account him valiant that ventureth on her whom none durst vndertake But heere commeth two wagges Enter Dares and Samias Sam. Thy Maister hath slept his share Dares I thinke he doth it because he would not paie me my boord wages Samias It is a thing most strange and I thinke mine will neuer returne so that wee must both seeke nevve Maisters for we shall neuer liue by our manners Epi. If you want Maisters ioyne with me and serue Sir Tophas who must needes keepe more men because he is toward marriage Samias What Epi wher 's thy Maister Epi. Yonder sleeping in loue Dares Is it possible Epi. Hee hath taken his thoughts a hole lower and sayth seeing it is the fashion of the world hee will vaile bonet to beautie Samias how is he attyred Epi. Louelie Dares Whom loueth this amorous knight Epi. Dipsas Samias That vglie creature Why shee is a foole a scold fat without fashion and quite without fauour Epi. Tush you be simple my Ma. hath a good marriage Dares Good as how Epi. Why in marrying Dipsas hee shall haue euerie day twelue dishes of meate to his dinner though there be none but Dipsas with him Foure of flesh four of fish foure of fruite Sam. As how Epi Epi. For flesh these woodcock goose bitter rayle Da. Indeed he shal not misse if Dipsas be there Epi. For fish these crab carpe lumpe and powting Sam. Excellent for of my word she is both crabbish lumpish and carping Epi. For fruite these fretters medlers hartichockes and Lady longings Thus you see hee shall fare like a King though he be but a begger Dares Well Epi dine thou with him for I had rather fast then see her face But see thy Ma. is a sleepe let vs haue a song to wake this Amorous knight Epi. Agreed Sam. Content Song Top. Sleepe is a bynding of the sences loue a loosing Epi. Let vs heare him awhile Tophas There appeared in my sleepe a goodly Owle who sitting vpon my shoulder cryed twyt twyt before myne eyes presented her selfe the expresse image of Dipsas I meruailed what the Owle said til at the last I perceiued twyt twyt to it to it onely by contraction admonished by thys vision to make account of my sweet Venus Sam. Sir Tophas you haue ouer-slept your selfe Top. No youth I haue but slept ouer my loue Dares Loue Why it is impossible that into so noble and vnconquered a courage loue should creepe hauing first a head as hard to pearce as steele then to passe to a hart arm'd with a shirt of male Epi. I but my Maister yawning one day in the Sun loue crept into his mouth before he could close it and there kept such a tumbling in his bodie that he was glad to vntrusse the poynts of his hart and entertaine Loue as a stranger Tophas If there remaine any pittie in you pleade for me to Dipsas Dares Pleade Nay wee will presse her to it Let vs goe with him to Dipsas and
ENDIMION The Man in the Moone Playd before the Queenes Maiestie at Greenewich on Candlemas day at night by the Chyldren of Paules NOSCE TE IPSUM NE QUID NIMIS LOVE AND LIVE AT LONDON Printed by I. Charlewood for the widdowe Broome 1591 ⧠The Printer to the Reader SInce the Plaies in Paules were dissolued there are certaine Commedies come to my handes by chaunce vvhich were presented before her Maiestie at seuerall times by the children of Paules This is the first and if in any place it shall dysplease I will take more paines to perfect the next I referre it to thy indifferent iudgement to peruse whom I woulde willinglie please And if this may passe with thy good lyking I will then goe forwarde to publish the rest In the meane time let this haue thy good worde for my beuere couragement Farewell The Prologue MOst high and happy Princesse we must tell you a tale of the Man in the Moone which if it seeme ridiculous for the method or superfluous for the matter or for the meanes incredible for three faultes wee can make but one excuse It is a tale of the Man in the Moone It was forbidden in olde time to dispute of Chymera because it was a fiction we hope in our times none will apply pastimes because they are fancies for there liueth none vnder the Sunne that knowes what to make of the Man in the Moone VVee present neither Comedie nor Tragedie nor storie nor anie thing 〈◊〉 whosoeuer heareth may say this VVhy heere is a tale of the Man in the Moone Actus primus Scaena prima Endimion Eumenides End I Finde Eumenides in all thinges both varietie to content satietie to glut sauing onelie in my affections which are so stayed and withall so statelie that I can neither satis-fie my hart with loue nor mine eyes with wonder My thoughts Eumenides are stitched to the starres which beeing as high as I can see thou maist imagin how much higher they are then I can reach Eume. If you be enamored of any thing aboue the Moone your thoughts are ridiculous for that thinges immortall are not subiect to affections if allured or enchaunted with these transitory things vnder the Moone you shew your selfe sencelesse to attribute such lofty tytles to such loue trifles End My loue is placed neither vnder the Moone nor aboue Eum. I hope you be not sotted vpon the man in the Moone End No but setled eyther to die or possesse the Moone herselfe Eum. Is Endimion mad or doe I mistake doe you loue the Moone Endimion End Eumenides the Moone Eum. There was neuer any so peeuish to imagin the Moone eyther capable of affection or shape of a Mistris for as impossible it is to make loue fit to her humor which no man knoweth as a coate to her forme which continueth not in one bignesse whilst she is measuring Cease of Endimion to feede so much vpon fancies That melancholy blood must be purged which draweth you to a dotage no lesse miserable then monstrous End My thoughts haue no vaines and yet vnlesse they be let blood I shall perrish Eum. But they haue vanities which beeing reformed you may be restored End O fayre Cynthia why doe others terme thee vnconstant whom I haue euer founde vnmoueable Iniurious tyme corrupt manners vnkind men who finding a constancy not to be matched in my sweete Mistris haue christned her with the name of wauering waxing and waning Is shee inconstant that keepeth a setled course which since her first creation altereth not one minute in her mouing There is nothing thought more admirable or commendable in the sea then the ebbing and flowing and shall the Moone from whom the Sea taketh this vertue be accounted fickle for encreasing decreasing Flowers in theyr buds are nothing worth till they be blowne nor blossomes accounted till they be ripe fruite and shal we then say they be changeable for that they growe from seedes to leaues from leaues to buds from buds to theyr perfection then why be not twigs that become trees children that become men and Mornings that grow to Euenings termed wauering for that they continue not at one stay I but Cynthia being in her fulnes decayeth as not delighting in her greatest beautie or withering when she should be most honoured When mallice cannot obiect any thing folly will making that a vice which is the greatest vertue What thing my Mistris excepted being in the pride of her beauty latter minute of her age that waxeth young againe Tell mee Eumenides what is hee that hauing a Mistris of ripe yeeres infinite vertues great honors and vnspeakeable beauty but woulde wish that shee might grow tender againe getting youth by yeeres and neuer decaying beauty by time whose fayre face neyther the Summers blase can scorch nor VVinters blast chappe nor the numbring of yeeres breede altering of colours Such is my sweete Cynthia whom tyme cannot touch because she is diuine nor will offend because she is delicate O Cynthia if thou shouldest alwaies continue at thy fulnes both Gods and men woulde conspire to rauish thee But thou to abate the pride of our affections dost detract from thy perfections thinking it sufficient if once in a month we enioy a glymse of thy maiestie and then to encrease our greefes thou doost decrease thy glemes comming out of thy royall robes wherewith thou dazelist our eyes downe into thy swath clowtes beguiling our eyes And then Eum. Stay there Endimion thou that committest Idolatry wilt straight blaspheme if thou be suffered Sleepe woulde doe thee more good then speech the Moone heareth thee not or if shee doe regardeth thee not End Vaine Eumenides whose thoughts neuer grow higher thē the crowne of thy head Why troublest thou me hauing neither heade to conceiue the cause of my loue or a hart to receiue the impressions followe thou thine owne fortunes which creepe on the earth suffer me to flye to mine whose fall though it be desperate yet shall it come by daring Farewell Eum. Without doubt Endimion is bewitched otherwise in a man of such rare vertues there could not harbor a minde of such extreame madnes I wil follow him least in this fancie of the Moone he depriue himselfe of the sight of the Sunne Exit Actus primus Scaena secunda Tellus Floscula Tellus Trecherous and most periurde Endimion is Cynthia the sweetnes of thy life and the bitternes of my death What reuenge may be deuised so full of shame as my thoughts are replenished with mallice Tell me Floscula if falsenes in loue can possibly be punished with extremitie of hate As long as sworde fire or poison may be hyred no traytor to my loue shall liue vnreuenged Were thy oathes without number thy kisses without measure thy sighes without end forged to deceiue a poore credulous virgin whose simplicity had beene worth thy fauour and better fortune If the Gods sitte vnequall beholders of iniuries or laughers at Louers deceipts then
am not angry but it spited mee to see howe short she was Fauil. I ment nothing till she would needs crosse me Dares Then so let it rest Scint. I am agreede Fauil. And I yet I neuer tooke any thing so vnkindly in my life Scint. T ys I haue the cause that neuer offered the occasion Dares Excellent and right like a woman Sam. A strange sight to see water come out of fire Dares It is their propertie to carrie in their eyes fire and water teares and torches and in their mouthes honie and gall Scint. You will be a good one if you liue but what is yonder formall fellowe Enter Sir Tophas Dares Sir Tophas syr Tophas of whom we tolde you if you bee good wenches make as though you loue him and wonder at him Fauil. Wee will doo our parts Dares But first let vs stand aside and let him vse his garbe for all consisteth in his gracing Tophas Epi Epi. At hand syr Tophas How likest thou this Martiall life where nothing but bloud besprinkleth our bosomes Let me see be our enemies fatte Epi. Passing fat and I would not chaunge this life to be a Lord and your selfe passeth all comparison for other Captaines kill and beate and there is nothing you kill but you also eate Tophas I will drawe out their guttes out of their bellies and teare the flesh with my teeth so mortall is my hate and so eger my vnstaunched stomacke Epi. My master thinkes himselfe the valiantest man in the world if hee kill a wren so warlike a thing he accompteth to take away life though it be from a Larke Tophas Epi I finde my thoughtes to swell and my spirite to take winges in so much that I cannot continue within the compas of so slender combates Fauil. This passeth Scint. Why is he not madde Sam. No but a little vaine glorious Tophas Epi Epi. Syr Tophas I will encounter that blacke and cruell enemie that beareth rough and vnhewed lockes vpon his bodie whose Syre throweth downe the strongest walles whose legs are as many as both ours on whose head are placed most horrible hornes by nature as a defence from all harmes Epi. What meane you Master to be so desperate Tophas Honour inciteth mee and very hunger compelleth mee Epi. What is that monster Tophas The Monster Ouis. I haue saide let thy wits worke Epi. I cannot imagin it yet let me see a black enemie with rough lockes it may be a sheep and Ouis is a sheep his Syre so strong a Ram is a sheepes Sire that beeing also an engine of war hornes he hath and foure legs so hath a sheepe without doubt this monster is a blacke sheepe Is it not a sheepe that you meane Tophas Thou hast hit it that Monster will I kill and sup with Sam. Come let vs take him off Syr Tophas all haile Tophas Welcome children I seldome cast mine eyes so low as to the crownes of your heads and therfore pardon me that I spake not all this while Dares No harme done here be faire Ladies come to wonder at your person your valour your witte the report whereof hath made them careles of their owne honours to glut their eyes and harts vpon yours Tophas Report cannot but iniure mee for that not knowing fully what I am I feare shee hath beene a niggard in her praises Scint. No gentle knight Report hath beene prodigal for shee hath left you no equall nor her selfe credite so much hath she tolde yet no more than we now see Dares A good wench Fauil. If there remaine as much pittie toward women as there is in you courage against your enemies thē shall we be happie who hearing of your person came to see it and seeing it are now in loue with it Tophas Loue me Ladies I easily beleeue it but my tough heart receiueth no impression with sweet words Mars may pearce it Venus shall not paint on it Fauil. A cruell saying Sam. Ther 's a girle Dares Will you cast these Ladyes away and all for a little loue doo but speake kindly Tophas There cōmeth no soft syllable within my lips custome hath made my wordes bloudy and my hart barbarous that pelting word loue how watrish it is in my mouth it carrieth no sound hate horror death are speaches that nourish my spirits I like hony but I care not for the bees I delight in musicke but I loue not to play on the bagpipes I can vouchsafe to heare the voice of women but to touch their bodies I disdaine it as a thing childish and fit for such men as can digest nothing but milke Scint. A hard heart shall wee dye for your loue and finde no remedy Tophas I haue already taken a surfet Epi. Good master pittie them Tophas Pittie them Epi no I do not thinke that this breast shal be pestred with such a foolish passion What is that the gentlewoman carrieth in a chaine Epi. Why it is a Squirrill Tophas A Squirril O Gods what things are made for money Dares Is not this gentleman ouerwise Fauil. I could stay all day with him if I feared not to be shent Scint. Is it not possible to meete againe Dares Yes at any time Fauil. Then let vs hasten home Scint. Sir Tophas the God of warre deale better with you than you doo with the God of loue Fauil. Our loue we may dissemble disgest we cannot but I doubt not but time will hamper you and helpe vs Tophas I defie time who hath no interest in my heart come Epi let me to the battaile with that hideous beast loue is pappe and hath no relish in my taste because it is not terrible Dares Indeede a blacke sheepe is a perrilous beast but let vs in till another time Fauil. I shall long for that time Exeunt Actus secundus Scaena tertia Endimion Dipsas Bagoa End No rest Endimion still vncertaine how to settle thy steps by day or thy thoughts by night thy trueth is measured by thy fortune and thou art iudged vnfaithfull because thou art vnhappy I will see if I can beguile my selfe with sleep if no slumber will take hold in my eyes yet will I imbrace the golden thoughts in my head and wish to melt by musing that as Ebone which no fire can scorch is yet cōsumed with sweet sauours so my heart which cannot bee bent by the hardnes of fortune may be brused by amorous desires On yonder banke neuer grewe any thing but Lunary and hereafter I will neuer haue any bed but that banke O Endimion Tellus was faire but what auaileth Beautie without wisedome Nay Endimion she was wise but what auaileth wisdome without honour Shee was honourable Endimion belie her not I but howe obscure is honor without fortune Was she not fortunate whome so many followed Yes yes but base is fortune without Maiestie thy Maiestie Cynthia al the world knoweth and wondereth at but not one in the world that can immitate it or comprehend it No more Endimion sleepe or
looking-glasse wherein seeing how ill anger became Ladies shee refrained from intended violence She was accompanied with other Damsels one of which with a sterne countenance as it were with a setled malice engrauen in her eyes prouoked her to execute mischeefe an other with visage sad and constant onelie in sorrow with her armes crossed and watery eyes seemed to lament my fortune but durst not offer to preuent the force I started in my sleepe feeling my verie veines to swell and my sinewes to stretch with feare and such a colde sweate bedewed all my bodie that death it selfe could not be so terrible as the vision Cynth. A straunge sight Giptes at our better leysure shall expound it Eum. After long debating with her selfe mercie ouercame anger and there appeared in her heauenly face such a diuine Maiestie mingled with a sweete mildenes that I was rauished with the sight aboue measure and wished that I might haue enioied the sight without end and so she departed with the other Ladyes of which the one retained still an vnmoueable crueltie the other a constant pittie Cynth. Poore Endimion how wast thou affrighted What els End After her immediatly appeared an aged man with a beard as white as snow crying in his hand a book with three leaues speaking as I remēber these words Endimion receiue this booke with three leaues in which are contained counsels policies and pictures and with that he offered mee the booke which I reiected wherwith moued with a disdainefull pittie hee rent the first leafe in a thousand shiuers the second time hee offered it which I refused also at which bending his browes and pitching his eyes fast to the ground as though they were fixed to the earth and not againe to be remoued then sodainlie casting them vp to the heauens he tore in a rage the second leafe and offered the booke only with one leafe I know not whether feare to offende or desire to knowe some strange thing moued mee I tooke the booke and so the olde man vanished Cynthia What diddest thou imagine was in the last leafe End There I portraid to life with a colde quaking in euery ioynt I behelde many wolues barking at thee Cynthia who hauing ground their teeth to bite did with striuing bleede themselues to death There might I see ingratitude with an hundred eyes gazing for benefites and with a thousand teeth gnawing on the bowelles wherein shee was bred Trecherie stoode all cloathed in white with a smyling countenance but both her handes bathed in blood Enuye with a pale and megar face whose bodie was so leane that one might tell all her bones and whose garment was so totterd that it was easie to number euery thred stood shooting at starres whose dartes fell downe againe on her owne face There might I beholde Drones or Beetles I knowe not howe to terme them creeping vnder the winges of a princely Eagle who being carried into her neast sought there to sucke that veine that woulde haue killed the Eagle I mused that thinges so base shoulde attempt a facte so barbarous or durst imagine a thing so bloody And manie other thinges Madame the repeticion whereof may at your better leysure seeme more pleasing for Bees surfette sometimes with honnie and the Gods are glutted with harmony and your highnesse may be dulled with delight Cynth. I am content to bee dieted therefore lette vs in Eumenides see that Endimion bee well tended least eyther eating immoderatlie or sleeping againe too long hee fall into a deadly surfette or into his former sleepe See this also bee proclaimed that whosoeuer will discouer this practise shall haue of Cynthia infinite thankes and no small rewardes Exit Flosc. Ah Endimion none so ioyfull as Floscula of thy restoring Eum. Yes Floscula let Eumenides be somewhat gladder and doe not that wrong to the setled friendship of a man as to compare it with the light affection of a woman Ah my deere friend Endimion suffer mee to dye with gazing at thee End Eumenides thy friendshippe is immortall and not to be conceiued and thy good will Floscula better then I haue deserued But let vs all wayte on Cynthia I maruell Semele speaketh not a word Eum. Because if shee doe shee loseth her tongue End But how prospereth your loue Eum. I neuer yet spake worde since your sleepe End I doubt not but your affection is olde and your appetite colde Eum. No Endimion thine hath made it stronger and nowe are my sparkes growne to flames and my fancies almost to frenzies but let vs followe and within wee will debate all this matter at large Exeunt Actus quintus Scaena secunda Sir Tophas Epiton Tophas Epi loue hath iustled my libertie from the wall and taken the vpper hand of my reason Epi. Let me then trippe vp the heeles of your affection and thrust your goodwill into the gutter Tophas No Epi Loue is a Lorde of misrule and keepeth Christmas in my corps Epi. No doubt there is good cheere what dishes of delight doth his Lordshippe feast you withal Tophas First with a great platter of plum-porrige of pleasure wherein is stued the mutton of mistrust Epi. Excellent loue lappe Tophas Then commeth a Pye of patience a Henne of honnie a Goose of gall a Capon of care and many other Viandes some sweete and some sowre which proueth loue to bee as it was saide of in olde yeeres Dulce venenum Epi. A braue banquet Tophas But Epi I praye theee feele on my chinne some thinge prycketh mee VVhat doost thou feele or see Epi. There are three or foure little haires Tophas I pray thee call it my bearde howe shall I bee troubled when this younge springe shall growe to a great wood Epi. O sir your chinne is but a quyller yet you will be most maiesticall when it is full fledge But I maruell that you loue Dipsas that olde Crone Tophas Agnosco veteris vestigia flammae I loue the smoke of an olde fyre Epi. Why shee is so colde that no fyre can thawe her thoughts Tophas It is an olde goose Epi that will eate no oates olde Kine will kicke olde Rats gnawe cheese and olde sackes will haue much patching I preferre an old Cony before a Rabbet sucker and an ancient henne before a younge chicken peeper Epi. Argumentum ab antiquitate My master loueth anticke worke Tophas Giue mee a pippin that is withered like an olde wife Epi. Good sir Tophas Then a contrario sequitur argumentum Giue me a wife that lookes like an olde pippin Epi. Nothing hath made my master a foole but flat Schollership Tophas Knowest thou not that olde wine is best Epi. Yes Tophas And thou knowest that like will to like Epi. I Tophas And thou knowest that Venus loued the best Wine Epi. So Tophas Then I conclude that Venus was an olde woman in an olde cuppe of wine For est Venus in vinis ignis in igne fuit Epi. O lepidum caput O mad cap master You were worthy
because it is a thing that beautie maketh blamelesse which the more it exceedeth fairenes in measure the more it stretcheth it selfe in disdaine Thy deuises against Corsites I smyle at for that wits the sharper they are the shrewder they are But this vnacquainted and most vnnaturall practise with a vile Enchauntresse against so noble a Gentleman as Endimion I abhorre as a thing most malicious and will reuenge as a deede most monstrous And as for you Dipsas I will send you into the Deserte amongst wilde beastes and try whether you can cast Lyons Tygars Bores and Beares into as deade a sleepe as you did Endimion or turne them to trees as you haue doone Bagoa But tell me Tellus what was the cause of this cruel part farre vnfitting thy sexe in which nothing should be but simplenes and much disagreeing from thy face in which nothing seemed to bee but softnes Tellus Diuine Cynthia by whom I receiue my life and am content to ende it I can neyther excuse my faulte without lying nor confesse it without shame Yet were it possible that in so heauenlie thoughts as yours there coulde fall such earthly motions as mine I would then hope if not to bee pardoned without extreame punishment yet to be heard without great maruell Cynthia Say on Tellus I cannot imagine anie thing that can colour such a crueltie Tellus Endimion that Endimion in the prime of his youth so rauisht my hart with loue that to obtaine my desires I coulde not finde meanes nor to resite them reason What was shee that fauoured not Endimion being young wise honorable and vertuous besides vvhat mettall was shee made of be shee mortall that is not affected with the spice nay infected with the poyson of that not to be expressed yet alwaies to be felt Loue which breaketh the braines and neuer brooseth the browe consumeth the hart and neuer toucheth the skinne and maketh a deepe skarre to be seene before any wounde at all be felt My hart too tender to vvithstande such a diuine furie yeelded to Loue Madame I not without blushing confesse yeelded to Loue Cynthia A strange effect of loue to worke such an extreame hate How say you Endimion all this was for loue End I say Madam then the Gods sende mee a womans hate Cynthia That were as bad for then by contrarie you shoulde neuer sleepe But on Tellus let vs heare the ende Tellus Feeling a continuall burning in all my bowels and a bursting almost in euerie vaine I could not smoother the inwarde fyre but it must needes bee perceiued by the outwarde smoke and by the flying abroade of diuers sparkes diuers iudged of my scalding flames Endimion as full of arte as witte marking mine eyes in which hee might see almost his owne my sighes by which he might euer heare his name sounded aymed at my hart in which he was assured his person was imprinted and by questions wrunge out that which was readie to burst out VVhen he sawe the depth of my affections he sware that mine in respect of his were as fumes to Aetna vallies to Alpes Ants to Eagles and nothing could be compared to my beautie but his loue and eternitie Thus drawing a smooth shoe vppon a crooked foote hee made me beleeue that which all of our sexe willinglie acknowledge I was beautifull And to wonder which indeede is a thing miraculous that any of his sexe should be faithfull Cynthia Endimion how will you cleere your selfe End Madam by mine owne accuser Cynthia Well Tellus proceede but breefelie least taking delight in vttering thy loue thou offende vs with the length of it Tellus I will Madame quickly make an ende of my loue my tale Finding continuall increase of my tormenting thoughts and that the enioying of my loue made deeper woundes then the entering into it I could finde no meanes to ease my griefe but to followe Endimion and continually to haue him in the obiect of mine eyes who had me slaue and subiect to his loue But in the moment that I feared his falsehoode and fryed my selfe most in myne affections I founde ah griefe euen then I lost my selfe I founde him in most melancholie and desperate termes cursing hys starres his state the earth the heauens the world and all for the loue of Cynthia Of whom Tellus speake boldly Tellus Madame I dare not vtter for feare to offende Cynthia Speake I say who dare take offence if thou be commaunded by Cynthia Tellus For the loue of Cynthia Cynthia For my loue Tellus that were strange Endimion is it true End In all things Madame Tellus doth not speak false Cynthia What will this breede to in the ende Well Endimion wee shall heare all Tellus I seeing my hopes turnde to mishaps and a setled dissembling towards me and an vnmooueable desire to Cynthia forgetting both my selfe and my sexe fell vnto this vnnaturall hate for knowing your vertues Cynthia to be immortall I coulde not haue an imagination to withdraw him And finding mine owne affections vnquenchable I coulde not carrie the minde that any els should possesse what I had pursued For though in maiestie beautie vertue and dignitie I alwaies humbled and yeelded my selfe to Cynthia yet in affections I esteemed my selfe equall with the Goddesses all other creatures according to theyr states with my selfe For stars to theyr bignes haue theyr lights and the sunne hath no more And little pytchers when they can holde no more are as full as great vessels that runne ouer Thus Madam in all trueth haue I vttered the vnhappinesse of my loue and the cause of my hate yeelding wholy to that diuine iudgement which neuer erred for want of wisedom or enuied for too much partiality Cynthia How say you my Lords to this matter But what say you Endimion hath Tellus tolde troth End Madame in all things but in that shee saide I loued her and swore to honour her Cynthia Was there such a time when as for my loue thou didst vowe thy selfe to death and in respect of it loth'd thy life speake Endimion I will not reuenge it with hate End The time was Madam and is and euer shall be that I honoured your highnesse aboue all the world but to stretch it so far as to call it loue I neuer durst There hath none pleased mine eye but Cynthia none delighted mine eares but Cynthia none possessed my hart but Cynthia I haue forsaken all other fortunes to followe Cynthia and heere I stande ready to die if it please Cynthia Such a difference hath the Gods sette between our states that all must be dutie loyaltie and reuerence nothing without it vouchsafe your highnes be termed loue My vnspotted thoughts my languishing bodie my discontented life let them obtaine by princelie fauour that which to challenge they must not presume onelie wishing of impossibilities with imagination of which I will spende my spirits and to my selfe that no creature may heare softlie call it loue And if any vrge to vtter what I whisper
there shall wee haue good sport But sir Tophas when shall we goe for I finde my tongue voluble and my hart venturous and all my selfe like my selfe Samias Come Dares let vs not loose him till we find our Maisters for as long as he liueth we shall lack neither mirth nor meate Epi. We will trauice Will you goe sir Tophas I praesequar Exeunt Actus tertius Scaena quarta Eumenides Geron. Eumenides Father your sad musique beeing tuned on the same key that my harde fortune is hath so melted my minde that I wish to hang at your mouthes ende tell my life end Geron These tunes Gentleman haue I beene accustomed with these fiftie Winters hauing no other house to shrowde my selfe but the broade heauens and so familiar with mee hath vse made miserie that I esteeme sorrowe my cheefest solace And welcommest is that guest to mee that can rehearse the saddest tale or the bloodiest tragedie Eumenides A strange humour might I enquire the cause Geron You must pardon me if I denie to tell it for knowing that the reuealing of griefes is as it were a renewing of sorrow I haue vowed therefore to conceale them that I might not onely feele the depth of euerlasting discontentment but dispaire of remedie But whence are you What fortune hath thrust you to thys distresse Eumenides I am going to Thessalie to seeke remedie for Endimion my deerest freende who hath beene cast into a dead sleepe almost these twentie yeeres waxing olde and readie for the graue beeing almost but newlie come forth of the cradle Geron You neede not for recure trauell farre for who so can cleerely see the bottome of thys Fountaine shall haue remedie for any thing Eum. That mee thinketh is vnpossible why vvhat vertue can there be in water Geron Yes who soeuer can shedde the teares of a faythfull Louer shall obtaine any thing he would reade these words engrauen about the brimme Eum. Haue you knowne this by experience or is it placed heere of purpose to delude men Geron I onely would haue experience of it and then shoulde there bee an ende of my miserie And then woulde I tell the strangest discourse that euer yet was heard Eum Ah Eumenides Geron What lacke you Gentleman are you not wel Eumenides Yes Father but a qualme that often commeth ouer my hart doth nowe take hold of me but did neuer any Louers come hether Geron Lusters but not Louers for often haue I seene them weepe but neuer could I heare they saw the bottome Eum. Came there women also Geron Some Eum What did they see Geron They all wept that the Fountaine ouerflowed with teares but so thicke became the water with theyr teares that I could scarce discerne the brimme much lesse beholde the bottome Eum Be faithfull Louers so skant Geron It seemeth so for yet heard I neuer of any Eumenides Ah Eumenides howe art thou perplexed call to minde the beautie of thy sweet Mistris and the depth of thy neuer dying affections howe oft hast thou honoured her not onelie without spotte but suspition of falsehoode And howe hardly hath shee rewarded thee without cause or colour of despight Howe secrete hast thou beene these seauen yeeres that hast not nor once darest not to name her for discontenting her Hovve faythfull that hast offered to dye for her to please her Vnhappie Eumenides Geron Why Gentleman did you once loue Eumenides Once I Father and euer shall Geron Was she vnkind and you faithfull Eum. Shee of all women the most froward and I of all creatures the most fond Geron You doted then not loued for affection is grounded on vertue and vertue is neuer peeuish or on Beautie and Beautie loueth to be praised Eum. I but if all vertuous Ladies should yeelde to all that be louing or all amiable gentlewomen entertaine all that be amorous theyr vertues would bee accounted vices and their beauties deformities for that loue can bee but betweene two and that not proceeding of him that is most faithfull but most fortunate Geron I would you were so faithfull that your teares might make you fortunate Eu. Yea father if that my teares cleare not this fountaine then may you sweare it is but a meere mockerie Geron So saith euery one yet that wept Eum. Ah I fainte I dye Ah sweete Semele let me alone and dissolue by weeping into water Geron This affection seemeth straunge if hee see nothing without doubt this dissembling passeth for nothing shall drawe mee from the beleefe Eum. Father I plainelie see the bottome and there in white marble engrauen these wordes Aske one for all and but one thing at all Geron O fortunate Eumenides for so haue I hearde thee call thy selfe let me see I cannot discerne any such thing I thinke thou dreamest Eum. Ah Father thou art not a faithfull louer and therefore canst not beholde it Geron Then aske that I may be satisfied by the euent and thy selfe blessed Eum. Aske so I will and what shall I doo but aske and whome should I aske but Semele the possessing of whose person is a pleasure that cannot come within the compasse of comparison whose golden lockes seeme most curious when they seeme most carelesse whose sweete lookes seeme most alluring when they are most chaste and whose wordes the more vertuous they are the more amorous they bee accounted I pray thee fortune when I shall first meete with fayre Semele dash my delight with some light disgrace least imbracing sweetnesse beyond measure I take a surfit without recure let her practise her accustomed coynesse that I may dyet my selfe vpon my desires otherwise the fulnesse of my ioyes will diminish the sweetnesse and I shall perrish by them before I possesse them Why doe I trifle the time in words The least minute beeing spent in the getting of Semele is more worth then the whole worlde therefore let mee aske What nowe Eumenides Whether art thou drawn Hast thou forgotten both friendship and duetie Care of Endimion and the commaundement of Cynthia Shall hee dye in a leaden sleepe because thou sleepest in a golden dreame I let him sleepe euer so I slumber but one minute with Semele Loue knoweth neither friendshippe nor kindred Shall I not hazard the losse of a friend for the obtayning of her for whome I woulde often loose my selfe Fonde Eumenides shall the intycing beautie of a most disdainfull Ladie bee of more force then the rare fidelitie of a tryed friend The loue of men to women is a thing common and of course the friendshippe of man to man infinite and immortall Tush Semele dooth possesse my loue I but Endimion hath deserued it I will helpe Endimion I founde Endimion vnspotted in his trueth I but I shall finde Semele constant in her loue I will haue Semele What shall I doe Father thy gray haires are Embassadours of experience Which shall I aske Geron Eumenides release Endimion for all thinges friendship excepted are subiect to fortune Loue is but an eye worme which