I want a Power to preform't The world Cannot afford me means I must enjoy Clorina or I útterly am lost And therefore though Bassanes is my Friend My Amity cannot enjoyn me silence I must pursue my suit and will Philo. â—…ake heed You then will run a course against all Virtue Offend the sacred Deities whom we Are bound by strictest Obligations To observe in all they have commanded us Pyron But they are mercifull and will forgive Philoc But t is inglorious to commit a Crime Out of presumption of a pardon and Your breach of friend-ship all mankind will censure An Act degenerating from true Nobility Pyron These Moralls Philocles are cast away On me who am so overwhelm'd in love I have not Reason left to practise them Philo. But you will have sufficient if you would Take up a Resolution to withstand This dangerous passion Pyron T is in vain to preach These things to me I must enjoy Clorina Or leave you friend for ever I shall dye Philoc. How this untoward Love destroyes your sensel Pyron There is not Oratory enough on earth To win me from the Pursuit of my love One way or other I must get Clorina And to invent a Means to compass her Shall be my only study and if I prove So fortunate as to accomplish that I shall account my self a Favorite The most esteemed of by the Gods Philo Fiends rather Pyron Then I shall find there is a Fate attends On Lovers Harsh Beginnings happy Ends. Exit Pyrontus Philo. I will not give him over thus but follow him And though I have small Hopes I shall prevaile Yet I in Friendship am obliged to do My best to stop him in this vitious Course O brave Pyrontus How hath impious Love Abus'd thy Reason with this mighty Dotage He that hath been the Glory of this Province Will make himself this way the shame and scandall Exit Philocles Cypassis discloseth her self Cypassis is he so hotly set that none beside The Bride can satisfy his luxurie This shall Bassanes know Now will I work With all the treacherous Art I 'm Mistris of To raise a Discord in their Marriage she Is made of Flesh and blood and may prove false Pyrontus is resolved to Court her strongly A Gillant Gentleman hansome as any Perfect in amorous Complements no doubt I wonder how he mist her if he ever Made it his business to obtain her favour I wish him good Success May this Clorina Fall into his Embraces Then my Girle Spinella it is likely may arise Into her former Favour with Bassanes Hee 's rich and bountifull And such are welcome Unto young Women who will loose no time And love to live in Flourish of the Fashion Enter Bassanes Bassanes I like this marriage well For now I led My Life in favour of our best of gods I have liv'd loosely long enough and paid My services to Venus and wild Priapus Juno will now befriend me sure and Hymâ—…n Rain blessings on my head and Family Cypassis Good day my Lord Bassanes what alone Can you so soon deprive your self of the Fair Sun-shine of your bright Clorina's eies Find in your heart to be out of her Company Bassanes I must not be a shadow to my wife Nor she to me we must not evermore Follow each other so our Loves might prove Troublesome to our selves But say Cypassis What business brought you hither Is 't for health's sake That you are come to walk and take the Aire Or out of hope to meet me here to tell me Fictitious stories of Spinella's Love To me Cypassis I had not any such intention Affection to the Groves and a desire To exercise my self a while in walking Did bring me hither But I 've lost my labour And â—…as you came was a returning home Bassanes This is a Riddle Who could hinder You from walking Cypassis My own Curiosity I have been listning to the saddest speech That ever yet did pass a Lover's lips Bassanes Prethee Cypassis Who had the ill Fortune To vent his Sorrows in thy hearing Cypassis A friend Of yours But 't is no matter who you are In a condition of such Happiness That it would be an incivility in me To cause the least sad thoughts in you Continue In mirth and Jollity And so Farewel Bassanes I pray thee stay a while I must confess I have a curiosity to know Who this is that you call a friend of mine Who can be sad now I am grown so happy Cypassis My Lord Bassanes I must crave your pardon Secrets of Love you know should be conceal'd Bassanes I am no Common Brother Cypassis For old Acquaintance sake I cannot choose But tell you any thing you shall request Bassanes I thank you How doth fair Spinella I Should have enquired sooner of her health But your discourse drew me aside from it Cypassis Oh! how you flatter me I easily can Believe you have forgotten her for ever Bassanes You wrong our Friendship Happiness I wish her As much as you and she can both desire Cypassis I 'l tell her so and so again Farewell Bassanes Nay tell me e're you go what Friend of mine Is grown so Amorous and so passionate Cypassis Since you will have me think Bassanes I cannot guess Cypassis It is Pyrontus Bass. It may be so yet he Never reveal'd to me he was in love Cypassis At that I make no wonder Bass. Whom should he Be so enamour'd of Cypassis Clorina's eyes Have Beams enough a Province to enflame Bass. My wife Cypassis The very same Bass. He surely then will stisle His passion generously and not attempt The wife of his approved Friend Cypassis You guess amiss He is resolv'd to try Her to the utmost He 's a proper Gentleman And I believe hath a prevailing language You may be civil to him and be wary Bassanes It is too likely On our Marriage-night He so abruptly did depart he gave us Not leasure enough to take our leaves A signe He wanted patience to look on my Joys Cypassis I thought he somewhat suddenly was gone But Love's a passion not to be commanded Bassanes What was 't he in your hearing said Cypâ—…sses Alas Enough Too much He doth deserve our pitty Philocles did surprise him and did use His best perswasions to divert him from So vain and dangerous an Affection Bassanes Come to particulars my good Cypassis Conceal not from me any thing The gods Did guide you hither t' over-here him Why Stand you in such suspence Cypassis Take heed my Lord Bassanes Oh beware Of Jealousy T is an accursed Fiend That otherwise your Quiet will molest Involve you in a Perpetuity Of hideous Chimera's Fair Clorina Is innocent and of a spotless virtue She is not accessary to his fault If to be beautifull be not a Crime Bassanes I am not jealous neither will be ever Cypassis A Resolution worthy your great mind And worthy the Respects you ought to owe And pay unto the
Come Reader draw thy purse and be a guest To our Paâ—…assus T is the Muses feast The entertainment needs must be divine Appollo's th' Host ' where Cockains Heads 〈◊〉 THE TRAGEDY OF OVID. Written by Sir ASTON COKAIN Baronet LONDON Printed for Francis Kirkman and are to be sold at his Shop under S. Ethelborough's Church in Bishops-gate-street 1669. TO MY Most highly honour'd Cousin CHARLES COTTON Esquire Noble Cousin AS soon as I had finished this Play of mine call'd The Tragedie of Ovid I sent it to wait upon you at your house in Berisford where it found so courteous and generous an Entertainment that I should accuse my self of much ingratitude did I not Dedicate it to you and intreat your Favour that it might visit the world under the secure Patronage of your authentick Name I beseech you therefore to afford it so much grace and to give it leave to lie in your Parlour-window since you have been pleased to signalize it with two excellent Epigrams This is but a small Testimony of my Thankfulness to you for an abundancie of high and obliging Favours that I have upon several occasions received from you To which you will infinitely adde by continuing in your good opinion Sir Your very affectionate Kinsman and most humble Servant ASTON COKAIN To the Author ON Captain HANNIBAL An Epigram YOur Captain Hannibal does snore and puff Arm'd in his hrazen face and greasie Buff 'Mongst Punks and Pandars and can rant and rore With Cacala the Turd his poor Whore But I would wish his Valour not mistake us All Captains are not like his brother Dacus Advise him then be quiet or I shall Bring Captain Hough to bait your Hannibal Charles Coâ—… Drammatis Personae PYrontus A young Lord. Philocles His Friend Bassanes A young Lord. Marullus His Friend Phoebianus Pyrontus his younger Brother called also Caralinda Hannibal A banisht Italian Captain Cacala A young fellow his man Publius Ovidius Naso Dacus A Getick Captain Clorina Bassanes his Bride Armelina Her Sister Cypassis A Bawd Spinella Her Daughter a Courtezan of Tomos Floretta A Roman Courtezan Maskers A Spectre Servants The Scene Tomos a Citie in Pontus PUBLIVS OVIDIVS NASO EQVES ROMANUS-POETARUM INGENIOSISSIMUS The sweet-tongd Ovid's Counterfeit behold Which Noblest Romans wore in rings of gold Or would you that which his owne pensil drew The Poet in his dâ—…thless Poems view The Tragedy OF OVID Actns primi Sena prima Enter Pyrontus furiously intending to fall upon his sword and Phylocles after him who with his foot strikes it away Pyrontus UNcivil man begon before my rage Increases above my troubled patience And 〈◊〉 for this unâ—…mely Courtesy Make thee to harbinger my Soul in death Phylocles Alas My Lord why will you take away The noblest Life that ever honour'd Pontus I pray you think upon 't Pyron I am resolv'd Nor 〈◊〉 I live to see Clorina made A wife to any man besides my self Phylo. Ah! who would not run mad and tear his haire And weep until his eye-ballâ—… did dissolve To see the bravest man of all this Land So passionate And for a scornful Lady Pyron Kill me Phylocles Thou wilt do a deed The gods will love thee for for I am One Full of those things that virtuous Souls abhorre Else sure Clorina would not use me thus Philo. To my own death to do you real Service You may command me readily my Lord But to entice me to advance my hand Against your Life Great â—…ove and all the gods Whom we do reverence and fear forbid Pyron Phylocles dost thou love me Phylo. You know my Lord I do above my Life In our late wars when we did aid our Friends The fortunate Romaâ—… I attended you And when your Horse's Fall left you a Prey Unto the barbarous Cruelty of the 〈◊〉 I careless of my life ran to your Aide And brought you â—…ff through many of their deathâ—… Command me any thing so you except Your noble Life and I will do it freely Pyron As well except you will not stirre a foot To do your friend the greatest favour for him Which with an ease so easy as is walking You may perform Phylo. What would you have me do Pyron Begon my Phylocles Is this a day For me to honour with my Life wherein Clorina slâ—…ghting all my years of service Which I have paid to her with as great fâ—…vour As any of our Priests adore the gods Will give away her self unto Bassanes Away my Friend and let me dye Phylo. My Lord I will obey you on condition That I may find you as I leave you safe And till I see you next untouch't and living I have some hope I may bring comfort with me Calm all these passions and create a Joy That may occasion triumphs in your heart Pyron Go then my friend and prosper but be sure Thou dost not trisse with me Thou well knowâ—… The nature of Pyrontus is a verse To suffering of abuses Phylo. I am gon With hope to bring you comfort speedily Exit Pyron False Tyrant Love I would I had thee here With thy own bow I de shoot such passions in thee As should be over strong for thee to bear Fond Boy I de make thee doat on chaste Diana And pluck thy Golden Feathers from thy Wingâ—… To write with them Repentance to the world Which of the Fatall Sisters did provoke Thee caâ—…eless of mans happines to do Those bloody deeds which thou art famous for O that I knew her I And when I am dead I de pass the dreadful Waves of Phlegeton But I would find her and destroy her too Upâ—…n Ixâ—…on ' wheele I de torture her Till with her balefull Cries she did awake The Porter Corberus from his drowsy den Then would I gâ—…ve her body unto him And he should eat it and she be forgot But cruel Love hadst thou bin â—…ind to me And equal sire 〈◊〉 in Clorina's breast Noâ—… only in 〈◊〉 but throughout a 〈◊〉 Pontus I would have raised Altars to thy praise Where night and day whilst 〈◊〉 makes Night and day I would have had such Anthems carrol'd to thee â—…y happy Lovers that eternal Iove Should have wished himself to have been the god of love Enter Ovid Phylocles and Armelina Phylo. My Lord the beautious Lady 〈◊〉 Attended by the Poets â—…ilory Ovid By the â—…treaty of the excellent Bride 〈◊〉 come to woâ—…e you to your 〈◊〉 Pyron T is a miraculous kindness that thâ—… fair Clorina on this solemn â—…ay affords me Had she but pleasâ—…d t' have been so merciful In former times I had not drooped thus Now all the City Tomos layes aside Neglected â—…are and puts on Jollity Madam what is the pleasure of my Deity And â—…hou sull Soul of poetry sweet Ovid What unimmagin'd harmony of Comfort Bring you unto me Armel My Lord if that my sister Still doth retain the east of power over you By me she doth entreat you to continue Among the living â—…y
all the Love you have Profes'd unto her she conjures you t'bear The Chances of this Day worthy your birth And all the noble Actâ—…ons of your Life Ovid. It is an unbeseeming weakness in you 〈◊〉 from the former fulness Oâ—… all your Honours all your immense knowledge Of sage Philosophy and of your self 〈◊〉 to captive your Reason and becomâ—… Sâ—…ve to the passions of an heart let loose To the pursuit of baâ—… barous 〈◊〉 Pyron Sweet 〈◊〉 you whose every word Strikes Musick through my ears unto my Soul You in your â—…olt language have 〈◊〉 The Commands of my Goddess must have poâ—…e To make me die continually by living Ovid. Assume a better Courage and contemn These trifles which you rashly deem Misfortunes My Lord you are the Glory of this Country The Basis upon which not only Tomos But the Nobility of Pontus build Their Glories on instructed hitherto By imitating You their great Example A little time may alter your Opinion Of Beauty you may chance to see ere long Another Lady that may please you better And then this day you do account so miserable You in your Kalender will mark a Festival Pyron Peace gentle Ovid thiâ—… is blâ—…sphemy Against the Divinity of her fair soul And that rich Heaven of happiness her body Jove hath no Beauty like her on Olympus She 's nature's Master-peice and glorisies This Angle of the world so that I prize it Above triumphant Rome and all the Splendours The Court of great Tiberius is renowned for Ovid. You shall orâ—…come Me so you will Your self Say any thing my Lord and I will hear you Do any thing and I will honour it So you forbear to trespass 'gainst your life Armel My Sister doth expect if you have evâ—… Born reall affection to her that you should Return her word by me that you will loose This resolution of self-Murther she will Love you as far as Honor will give leave Entertain welcomly your Company And conversation whilst you prove your self Delighted with her virtue And she knows The Lord Bassanes will must joyfully Continue you within the Catalogue Of his Friends most belov'd while you exceed not The Limits of a canded Amity Noâ—… attempt treason to her Nuptials Phylo. I see a Calmness in your looks my Friend Thanks gratious Madam for your pains And may Thy Roman Gods reward this kindness Ovid Yet he were savage that had ears so deafe And dull an Intellect as not yeild To your great Reason and most eloquent Tongue Ovid. Your partial Love doth too much over-value My poor Endeavours Hark! Musick 〈◊〉 Armel The Musick doth Invite as in Pray Glorify this Ceremony With your fair presence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wils my Lord Owe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for it Ovid. Light a more Auspicious Torch and for a Coâ—…rtesy So timely given crown your more happy head Wâ—…th 〈◊〉 bâ—…ss above your Hopes Pyron â—…ead in Exeunt Ovid I 〈◊〉 but collect my self and follow you Armel You will oblidge us all Armelina Pyron My â—…iend Philocles 〈◊〉 I am here my Lord. heâ—…e Pyron Oh! how a thousand passions combate But which of them shall prove predominant Commands received from my fair cruel Mistriss 〈◊〉 have determind What strange Miracles 〈◊〉 Deity of Love are in thy power 〈◊〉 prompts me to advance my hand And turn the Genial Bed into an Urne By setting this Bassanes Soul at Liberty But I must needs recal this infant-thought Or an inglorious stain may six upon My Reputation He was ever noble In all his actions to me and we Have long ago contracted such a frienship That it hath been look't on as an Example Worthy an Imitation Besides he Was never made acquainted with my Love He then is innocent as any Injury Committed against me and doth no more Then I. The bright 〈◊〉 he â—…ffects Anâ—… so do I and so must all the world That are not blind or sensess when they see His Starres befriend him all those Eyes of Heaven Did look a-squint at my Nativity And he hath â—…ar more merit to deserve her Come Phylocles she is my only Goddess And I must quit me of profaness too What she commands strike no forbidden Blow Exeunt Sena secunda Enter Dacus Cypassis and Spinella Spi. Mother Captain Dacus promis'd me a new Gown against the Masque and hath not kept his word with me I desire therefore I may be quit of his Company Dac Pritty grumbling Heart My Tenants are slow in paying their Rents I else had not faild thee But you are very fine as you are Venus be thanked Spi. That 〈◊〉 cost of yours I am the more beholding to another friend Dac To whom The Brides groom I warrant you Spinella Spi. 'T is he indeed Cypass The Lord Bassanes was ever her noble Patron Dac But I hope she will loose his bounty hereafter Cypassis Spi. Your Jealousy prompts you to talk thus Cypas. After honey-moon 〈◊〉 past he may return to her again Spi. You shall become more liberaly or I will shortly 〈◊〉 you from my Acquaintance What do you think we venture reputation for nothing but oathes flattering words and a little foolish pleasure Cypass Indeed Son a young Gentle-woman must be maintain'd with other Materials If she goes not sine and cleanly she is not fit for good Company And if she keeps never so 〈◊〉 a while 〈◊〉 and it comes to be known she may bid farewell for ever to all her holidaies The Honorable and Worshipâ—…ul will not care for her Embraces Dac Are you against me too mother 〈◊〉 thought Madam Cypassis had had a greater kindness for me then so Cypas. Captain Dacus You know I have much respected you from our first Acquaintance But you must think of performing better with Spinella for the future My poor Girle else will not be able to live decently in the fashion unless she should live more common then I could wish Spinel Mother you shall not need to fear that for I can be married when I will And this Wedding of my dear old friend invites me much to taâ—…e that Course Juno direct me to the best for Venus whom I have hither to served â—…is but an ill Tutress Dac Prithee sweet Spinella leave thiâ—… melancholly Discourse It sounds too unkindly especially on a marriage day We should now talk of Love Maiden heads Musick Banquets Maskques and so â—…orth Spinel Captain Dacus I must confess my Genius is towards mirth indeed But you must not then give me cause of sorrow Cypas. The 〈◊〉 Captain you must not be so close handed for the future The Lord Bassanes being married peradventure may turn foolishly uxorious and then you must either get you better Tenants Spinel Or a new Mistress Dacus Still in this Key Cypas. What hath been done yet hath been kept private And so it concern'd all our Reputations But now I think better on it it is your best way Spinella to take an Husband if he be worth having Spinel He can scarce be worse then this servants Dacus