as by Birth so too in Faith Luc. Were he the Birth of some unshelter'd Cottage He were yet fairer in the Eye o' th' World Than e'r Olyndus could have been in that He was a Princess's thoughts 't was I that lov'd him Eum. Although the Name of Princess be upon you And signs you Dread and Soveraign yet I must Tell you that Love's a Princess too in me And stamps as much Heroick Majesty Upon my Thoughts as Birth hath done on yours Luc. Though as a Princess I could make thy Love And thee forgotten Names yet I depose My self and am thy Equall Eum. 'T is no need That you descend Love carries up Eumela To be as high as is her Princess and In this sad Fate placeth her equall with Her Dread Lucasia Luc. Hear hear this brave man And if thou liv'st revenge it on Olyndus Eum. And thou the Spirit of my dear Olyndus Be thou still worthy still thy self Speak thou O Nature was there not the same clay knead To make our Hearts did not the same Fire kindle Our Souls and thou O Love was 't not the same Metall that wounded both you must not count The Princess into th' worth of your Affection Love when he ballanceth the Hearts that come Under his Power casts not in their Births Fortunes and Titles Luc. Would some powerfull God Would change our Persons and make thee Lucasia And me Eumela that I might avow The justice of my Love in spight of State Mal. Forbear Eumela Flor. 'T is the Princess speaks Eum. Nor Prince nor Subject speaks but Love in both ACT. III. SCEN. VI They leave their Trees and repair to Machessa To them Machessa Flo. HEre 's one can tell you all Luc. Say good Machessa How doth the Stranger Eum. Lives Olyndus yet Mac. Both live but wounded much yet hopes of both For they are Friends and as their Minds have clos'd Their wounds may shortly too Luc. How fell they out Mach. I heard the Stranger Madam thus confess As our Olyndus did embrace him Thou Wert honourable my Olyndus ever But I was foul and Jealous then Olyndus Fell on his Neck told him 't was only heat And strength of Love and vow'd he 'd never tell The cause and ground o' th' Quarrell but the Stranger Swore by his Gods and Altars that he would Go find and tell and ask the Deity Forgiveness first then him I heard no more But only sighs from either Luc. 'T was too much That I should throw away my grieffor one That durst have such a thought Charistus you And I are both deceiv'd in one another And poor Olyndus deerly hast thou paid For both our Errors Machessa as you love me Be carefull of Olyndus for the other My care hath been more than he 's worth already aside Flo. Eumela The Princess is much troubled pray heav'n your freedom Did not offend her Highness Eum. I hope it did not Madam if too much Love made me forge And pass the bounds of Duty humbly I beg Your Graces pardon beseeching you t' impute My folly to my Passion Luc. Call 't not Passion 'T was Reason to Contest Love's Kingdom is Founded upon a Parity Lord and Subject Master and Servant are Names banish'd thence They wear one Fetter all or all one Freedom Eum. There was some Spirit spake within me 't was Luc. Alas excuse it not all that do Love In that they love are equall and above none None but those only whom the God denies The honour of his Wound Eumela hear me Whispers her Charistus is grown foul and thy Olyndus Is now my Martyr for my sake he bleeds And I for this will make Charistus know That he who doubts his Friend is his own Foe Exeunt ACT IV. SCENE I. Adraste Lucasia Malthora Florina Eumela Cosmeta Pandena Rhodia Machessa sate as at Parliament Adr. MY Lady Martiall and the rest Mercuriall Woman 's the Gem of Heaven in which Nature Hath carv'd the Universe in less Characters A Peece of such Invention and such Art That where as in one common lazy Mold Made for dispatch she casts and thrusts out Men As some things done in haste she may be said To build and send forth us yet howsoever It comes about in all foretimes and Ages Councels and Senats have excluded us Thinking us like those finer Wits which spin Themselves into such subt'le Fancies that They are too Curious to be employ'd Being as far from Service as from Grossness But this hath been from Errour not from Tryall Grant me their Composition stronger grant me Their Bodie 's ruder and more fit for Wars Which some yet here do happily contradict I cannot yet conceive why this should bind us To be their Slaves our Souls are Male as theirs That we have hitherto forborn t'assume And manage Thrones that hitherto we have not Challeng'd a Soverainty in Arts and Arms And writ our selves Imperiall hath been Mens Tyranny and our Modesty Being then Nature did mean us Soveraigns but cross Fate Envious of her willing that nothing should Be perfect upon Earth still kept us under Let us i' th' name of Honour rise unto The pitch of our Creation Now 's the time The best and ablest men are absent those That are left here behind are either Fooles Or Wise men overgrown which is all one Assert your selves into your Liberty then Stand firm and high put these good Resolutions Forth into Action then in spight of Fate A Female Hand shall turn the Wheel of State Om. Inspir'd Adraste Om. Most divine Adraste Adr. If that you relish this let Mistris Speaker On to the rest Om. On on on on on on Eum. Most Willing most Agreeing most Potent And most free Ladies c. 'T is fit all things should be reduc'd unto Their Primeve Institution and first Head Woman was then as much as Man those Stones Which Pyrrha cast made as fair Creatures as Deucalion's did that his should be set up Carv'd and Ador'd but hers kept down and trampled Came from an ancient Injury what Oracle and What voice from Heaven commanded that Cos Most true Observe that Ladies Pan. Sibyl's Leaf by Juno Eum. He that saies Woman is not fit for Policy Doth give the Lie to Art for what man hath More sorts of Looks more Faces who puts on More severall Colours Men compar'd in this Are only Dough bak'd Women not as once Maliciously one call'd us Dough-bak'd Men Cos 'T is no single Voice the whole Sex speaks in her Eum. Some few yet Do speak against our Passions but with greater Rail at our Lightness but 't is out of Humour Rather Disease than Reason they being such As wipe off what they spit For Heav'n forbid That any should vouchsafe to speak against us But rough Philosophers and rude Divines And such like dull Professions But wee I now Shew them our Passions are our Reasons Edge And that which they call Lightness only is An Art to turn our selves to severall Points Time Place Minds People
This is not grief but stands to be thought grief They are not of such vaunting popular sorrow Their Tapers are not dy'd in dismall hue And set in Ebon Candlesticks they wear No sad black Sarcenet Smocks nor do they smutch Their women to be serv'd by mourning Faces This were to grieve to Ostentation Not ro a reall friendship Pan. Is there friendship Think you 'twixt man and wife Eum. You 'll say perhaps You and your Husband have not been friends yet Pan. Madam you prophecy Eum. I might be thought t'have done so Had I foretold a truth to come but this Is History already Cos If they do not this Nor wear the day out in a hood winkt 100m Where there 's no living thing besides the Clock Nor yet take Physick to look pale what doe they Eum. They grieve themselves their Doctor grieves not for them They do that in the Absence of their Lords That you would in the Presence of your own Cos You see we look as fat and fair as ever Eum. Your Kitchin 's warm your Box and Pencils fail not Pan. VVe are as long in dressing as before Eum. And have the same Romancys read the same Letters brought to you whilst y' are doing it Rho. Sleep and take rest as then and altogether Speak as much wit as we did before the wars Eum. And to as little purpose Cos Fie Eumela That you should be so obstinate as to hear VVealth Honour Pleasure Rule and every good Knock at your door and yet not let 'em in Eum. Madam I know my Looking-glasse wo'n't shew The altering o' th' State when it presents The changes of my Face and that I cannot Order the Kingdome as I do my Hair Enter Florina and Malthora Pan. Yonder 's your business Madam there are three Sad things arriv'd two Ladies and a Lute Cos But shall I write you down before you go The thirteenth in the Rowl of the Asserters Of Female Liberty Eum. If Liberty be the thing You so much stand for pray you give me mine I neither grant nor yet deny I will Consider Cos VVe dismiss you Madam then Unto your serious Counsell Eum. Fare you well Exeunt Cosm. Pan. Rho. ACT I. SCEN. IV. Eumela goes to Florina and Malthora who are sate in the Grove Elo. OCome Eumela thou dost know without thee Our thoughts are Desarts Rocks and Sands and all That either Nature's absent from or hath Reserv'd unto her self alone Eum. I bring you Noise Trouble Tumult and the World but if There were that power in my worthless presence That I could cast a day upon your thoughts You should not think of Places that are sacred To Night and Silence Visits still and Feasts And the whole Ring and Throng of Mirth should stir In your delighted Souls Mal. Prethee Eumela Is there no secret ancient Grove that hath Stood from the birth of Nature to this time Whose vast high hollow Trees seem each a Temple Whose paths no curious Eye hath yet found out Free from the Foot and Axe Eum. If I could tell you It were found out already Flo. Hast thou read Of any Mountain whose cold frozen top Sees Hail i' th' Bed not yet grown round and Snow I' th' Fleece not Carded yet whose hanging weight Archeth some still deep River that for fear Steals by the foot of 't without noise Eum. Alas These are the things that some poor wretched Lover Unpittied by his scornfull Shepherdesse Would wish for after that he had look'd up Unto the Heavens and call'd her Cruell thrice And vow'd to dye Flor. I prethee pardon me I live without my self Eum. But I have read Of a tall secret Grove where loving Winds Breathing their sighs among the trembling Boughs Blow Odes and Epods where a murmuring Brook Will let us see the Brother to our Sun And shew's another World there under water Mal. Prethee let 's go and find it out and live there Eum. Our Ancient Poet Linus somewhere sings Of some such thing Mal. Thou alwaies dost deceive us Thou told'st us of an Eccho too and when Thou brought'st us to it thou had'st put Philaenis Behind the Wall to give us all the Answers Flor. Yes and thy bringing in my Father's Dwarf With Bow and Wings and Quiver at his back Instead of Cupid to conveigh us Letters Through th' Air from hence to Crete was but a trick To put away our sadness But I had Almost forgot what we came for I prethee Take up the Lute there and let 's hear the Ode That thou did'st promise us I hope 't is sad The Ode sung by Eumela TO carve our Loves in Myrtle rinds And tell our Secrets to the Woods To sen̄d our Sighs by faithful Winds And trust our Tears unto the Flouds To call where no man hears And think that Rocks have Ears To Walke and Rest to Live and Dye And yet not know Whence How or Why To have our Hopes with Fears still checkt To credit Doubts and Truth suspect This this is that we may A Lover's Absence say Follies without are Cares within Where Eyes do fail there Souls begin Mal. Thou art a harmless Syren fair Eumela Flor. 'T is very true indeed thou feed'st at once And dost correct our follyes but wert thou As we thou d'st do the like Eum. For Love's sake tell me VVhy should you seek out Groves where the bright Sun Can make no day although he throw upon 'em VVhole flouds of Light Places where Nature will Be blind in spight of Him VVhy should you fancy Caves fit to write sad Revelations in Or why a Lover stretcht on shaggy Moss Between two Beds of Poppey to procure One Minut's slumber Flor. These Eumela are not The Journyes but Digressions of our Souls That being once inform'd with Love must work And rather wander than stand still I know There is a VVisdom to be shewn in Passions And there are stayd and setled griefs I 'l be Severe unto my self and make my Soul Seek out a Regular Motion towards him VVhom it moves to and thou shalt shortly see Love bleed and yet stoop to Philosophy ACT I. SCEN. V. Olyndus and Charystus toward them Eum. MAdam I must away Olyndus yonder Is hasting towards me Mal. Farwell Eumela Be ever happy Flor. And may some good God Cherish thy Loves as thou dost cherish others Ex. Fl M• Eum. My Lord Olyndus what 's your bus'ness to me Olyn Vertuous Eumela you must doe me the favour To give this Letter into th' Princess's hands With all the speed and secrecy you may Eum. I carry with me Night and wings my Lord Ex. Cha. O my Olyndus were there not that thing That we call Friend Earth would one Desart be And Men Alone still though in Company Exeunt ACT. II. SCENE I. Machessa Philaenis and after a while Cosmeta Pandena Rhodia Mac. GIve me my Javelin hangs my Fauchion right Three Ladys sayst thou So go fetch 'em in now What goes the Tilting on I mention'd Is
Eum. On the Greek Epigtams Madam or Anacreon I know not which they bind alike Cos What hopes Have we o' th' Women of Lapythia How stand the Dames of Salamin affected Eum. Why Lycas sent to give them a fair Largess Of Loaves and Wine then whiles that well cheers 'em Eugenia brings 'em a most promising Answer From some corrupted Oracle and so leads The superstitious Souls to what she pleaseth This is a ground a thing suppos'd The Plot Is wholly now upon Florina there It knits and gathers breaks and joyns again She 's Wise and Noble we must find a way Not thought on yet to gain her Pan. But the Queen And Princess Eum. They perceive the business ripens That it doth move the limbs and can for need Shift and defend it self and therfore doe By me make promise of a generall meeting As soon as may be i' th' mean time we have Full leave to gather any Contributions Gold Silver Jewels Garments any thing Conducing to maintain the Publique Cause Omn. Goddess Eumela Eum. Goe fall off the Princess Is at hand I'lgoe mingle Counsels Exeunt Cos. Rho. Pan. ACT. II. SCEN. IV. Lucasia to Eumela Luc. Eumela you are come most opportunely Eu. This to your Highness from my L. Olyndus delivers the Letter Luc. You 're happy that your Love is with you still That you can see and hear and speak to him Venus doth favour you more than the whole Kingdome Eumela Mars for her sake 's kind to you Eum. I must confess it happy but Olyndus Cannot be brought to think it so he fears His sickness will by some be constru'd Love Which if his Valour in his Country's danger Durst give the upper hand ev'n at the Altar Though Venus did her self look on hee 'd pull Out of his Breast and cast aside as some Unhallow'd part o' th' Sacrifice Luc. His King Hath found him truly valiant E'r I open This Paper you must state one Point Eumela Suppose me busie in the holy Rites Of our adored Venus if by chance I cast mine Eye upon some Princely visage And feel a Passion is the Goddess wrong'd Or the Religion lesse Eum. Our Loves what are they But howerly Sacrifices only wanting The prease and tumult of Solemnity If then i' th' heat and Achme of Devotion We drink a new fiame in can it be ought But to increase the Worship and what Goddess Was ever angry that the holy Priest Increas'd her Fires and made 'em burn more clear Luc. True but suppose the Face then seen doth never Appear more after is not that a sign The Goddess is displeas'd Eum. That it a while Appears not is to cherish not extinguish The Passion thence conceiv'd as Persecutions Make Piety stronger still and bring th' Afflicted Unto the glory of renowned Martyrs Luc. But is there then no hope but that Alas This man perhaps might perish in some War As now But O ye Gods avert the Fate to her self And then th' unhappy sighing Virgin fall From that her feigned Heaven Eum. It cannot be Venus destroyes her Deity if she shew And then delude she will not lose what once S• ' hath made her own She that knits hearts by th' Eyes Will keep the knot fast by their Entercourse If you have once but seen and lov'd permit The rest unto the Deity Will it please Your Highness to peruse the Letter 't is Of moment I presume why blush you Madam And while I ask you why look pale Luc. Eumela The supposition 's truth lately thou knowest I did assist at Venus Sacrifice He whom I saw and lov'd saw and lov'd too And now hath writ but let Olyndus tell him I will not see him though he were the Soul Of all Mankind Eum. I will Luc. Hear me yet if He have a true undoubted Friend he may send him I 'l meet him in the Myrtle Grove And tell him more Eum. I will obey Luc. But stay And yet that 's all Eum. I go Exit Eumela Luc. The Soul doth give Brightness to th' Eye and some say That the Sun If not enlight'ned by th' Intelligence That doth inhabit it would shine no more Than a dull Clod of Earth so Love that is Brighter than Eye or Sun if not enlight'ned By Reason would so much of Lustre lose As to become but gross and foul Desire I must refine his Passion None can wooe Nobly but he that hath done Nobly too ACT. III. SCEN. V. To her Florina and Malthora Mal. YOur Highness here alone Luc. But so long only As gives you leave to ask What sad Florina I 'd thought your Soul had dwelt within it self Been single a full presence and that you Had set your self up your own Trophy now Full of true Joy Flo. T is hard to cast off that That we call Passion we may veyl and cloud it But 't will break out at last True Joy is that Which now I cannot have Luc. How so Florina Flo. True Joy consists in Looks and Words and Letters Which now an Absence equall to Divorce Hath wholly barr'd us of Luc. Looks Words and Letters Alas they are but only so much Air Diversly form'd so the food of that Changeable Creature not the Viands of True constant Lovers Flo. But if I see not Is not my Joy grown less who could not love 'Till I first saw and if I hear not can I have the perfect Harmony of pleasure Who something ow to words that I first yeelded Luc. Who ever yet was won by words we come Conquer'd and when we grant we do not yeeld But do confess that we did yeeld before But be those Senses some Contentments Madam You must not yet make them the great and true Essentiall Joy that only can consist In the bright perfect Union of two Spirits Mal. But seeing those Spirits cannot work but by The Organs of the Body 't is requir'd That to the full perfection of this Joy Bodies should be near-Neighbours too Flo. I must Confess that I subscribe unto the Princess And somwhat too to you the Presence may Conveigh and fill and polish Joy but yet To see or hear cannot be Joyes themselves And where this Presence is deny'd the Soul Makes use of higher and more subtle means And by the strength of thought creates a Presence Where there is none Mal. Alas how we doe lose Our selves in speculation of our Loves As if they were unbody'd Essences Luc. I would Eumela now were here Shee 'd tell us All Is the same Joy as Love from sight or thought Is the same Love and that Love's turning to Either of them is only but a Needle Turning to severall points no diverse flame But only divers degrees of the self-same Come Madam let 's away and seek her out Exeunt ACT II. SCENE VI Charistus Olyndus Cha. NOt see me say you though I were the Soul Of all Mankind Olyn They were the words return'd But if he have a true undoubted friend •nd him I 'l tell him
more Cha. Have I deserted •y Country now in danger where I had •ook Honour Captive and for ever fixt her •s an Intelligence unto my Sword •o move and guide it have I scorn'd my Fortunes •nd laid aside the Prince have I contemn'd •hat much priz'd thing call'd Life and wrestled with •oth Winds and Flouds through which I have arriv'd •ither at last and all this not to see her Olyn Doth she betray or undisguise you to the State Doth she forbid you Sir to love •ffection is not wanting where 't is wise the only doth forbid you that you see her Cha Only forbid me to be happy only •orbids me to enjoy my self What could •he more were I her Enemy Olyndus •ast thou at no time told her that there was •Cretan call'd thee Friend Olyn Why do you ask Cha. Perhaps Sh' hath found this way to send for thee Oly. Though I have thought it worth the boasting that •haristus is my friend yet by that Word •acred to Noble Souls I never had •o much access to tell her any thing Much less my Friendship Cha. Thou shalt go Olyndus Olyn When my eyes see her yours do when I talk T is you that talk we are true friends and one •ay that one interchang'd for I am you Cha. 'T is true thou art my friend so much my friend That my self am not more my self than thou art •f thou dost go I go But stay Didst not •hou say mine eyes were thine thou didst if that •e so then thou must love her too and then Olyndus thou must stay Olyn She loves you so As my Eumela doth inform me that No humane Image can deface the Print That you have drawn i' th' Tablet of her Soul Cha. If that she loves me so why then she must Love thee so too for thou and I are one Olyn Why then Sir if you go your self the issue Will be the same however so when she Loves you Shee 'l love me too Cha. We are both one In hearts and minds Olyndus but those Minds Are cloath'd with Bodies Bodies that do oft I know not what yet thou hast an Eumela A fair Eumela trust me Thou must go But use not any Language Gesture Looks That may be constru'd ought above Respect For thou art young and Beautifull and Valiant And all that Ladies long for Olyn When I prove So treacherous to my Friend my self my fair Eumela mark me with that hatefull brand That Ignominy hath not discover'd yet But doth reserve to fear the foulest Monster That shall appear in Nature Cha. I beleeve thee Yet something bids me still not let thee go But I 'l not hearken to it though my Soul Should tell me 't were not fit I 'd not beleeve My Soul could think so Olyn How resolve you then Cha. Do what thou wilt I do beleeve and yet I do I know not what O my Lucasia O my Olyndus divers waies I bend Divided 'twixt the Lover and the Friend Exeunt ACT. III. SCENE I. Olyndus to Lucasia in the Grove Olyn MMay't please your Highness Madam I have a friend so much my self that I Cann't say he 's absent now yet he hath sent me To be here present for him we enterchange Bosoms and Counsels Thoughts and Souls so much That he entreats you to conceive you spake To him in me All that you shall deposite Will be in safe and faithfull Ears the same Trust you expect from him shall keep your words And the same Night conceal 'em 't is Charistus The noble Cretan Luc. When you said your Friend The rest was needless I conceive him all That makes up Vertue all that we call Good Whom you Olyndus give your Soul to yet I 'd rather court his Valour than his Love Did he shine bright in Armour call for Dangers Eager to cut his way through stubborn Troops Ev'n this my softness arm'd as he could follow And prompt his Arm supply him with fresh Fury And dictate higher dangers Then when Dust And Bloud hath smear'd him a disguise more worthy Of Princes far than that he wears I could Embrace him fresh from Conquest and conceive him As fair as ever any yet appear'd To longing Virgins in their Amorous Dreams Olyn Fury could never from the Den of danger Awake that horror yet that bold Charistus Durst not attempt stand equall with and then Conquer and trample and contemn Luc. Revenge And Hate I do confess may sometimes carry The Soul beyond it self to do and suffer But the things then are Furious not Great And sign the Actor Headlong but not Vertuous Olyn He that can do this Madam and Love too Must needs be vertuous that holy Flame Clean and untainted as the fresh desires Of Infant Saints enters not Souls that are Of any foul Complexion He that Loves Even in that he Loves is good and as He is no less an Atheist that denies The Gods to be most happy than the Man That dares Affirm there are no Gods at all So he 's no less an Heretick that shall Deny Love to be Vertuous than he That dares Affirm there is no Love at all Luc. But he hath left his Country now when that Her Wealth her Name her Temples and her Altars Her Gods and Liberty stand yet upon Th' uncertain Dye when Danger cals his Arm And Glory should arrest his Spirit there And this to Court one whom he knows not whether She may think Vertue a meer Airy word And Honour but a blast invented to Make catching Spirits dare and do high things Olyn That you are Vertuous is a knowledge that All must confess they have but only those That have not Eyes For if that Souls frame Bodies And that the Excellence of the Architect Appear in the perfection of the Structure Whether you have a Soul enrich'd with vertues Must be a blind Man's doubt Nature dares not Thrust out so much deceit into the World 'T would make us not beleeve her works were meant For true firm Peeces but Delusions only Luc. Though I must not agree t' you to pass by What you have said If I were Vertuous You must confess him so far ignorant yet As not to know whether I 'd Love or no Oly. This Knowledge is of more Extent than th' other For being that to be lov'd is the Effect Of your own worths you must love all mens Loves As a Confession of your Graces that Your selves have drawn from them That which your Beauty Produceth is a Birth as dear unto you As are your Children Luc. Should there more than one Love us if this hold we must love them too And so that Sacred Tye that joyns the Soul To one and but to one were but a Fable A thing in Poetry not in the Creature Olyn One is your Trophy and he Lov'd as That The Rest but Witnesses thus Princes when They Conquer Princes though they only count Those Names of Glory and Renown their Victory Take yet their meaner Subjects in as fair
Accesses to their Triumphs who although They are not the main Prize are some what yet That doth confirm that there was worth and force To which the Main did justly yeeld Luc. Be 't then That I do love his Love I am not yet Bound to accept it in what shape soever It doth appear the Manner Time and Place May not be relish'd though the thing be lik'd Olyn For these he doth expect your Dictates with As much Religion as he would the Answers Of Sacred Oracles and with the same Vow of Performance Luc. You must tell him then He must go back and there do Honorably Succour his Country cheer the Souldier fight Spend and disburse the Prince where e'r he goes Get him a Name and Title upon Cyprus I will not see him 'till he hath Conquer'd till He hath rid high in Triumph and when this Is done let him consider then it is My Father my Subjects and my Kingdom That he hath Conquer'd Olyn I am an Agent only And therefore must be faithful Luc. But withall To shew that I reject him not you may Tell him that being he hath such a friend Whiles he is absent I will love Olyndus Instead of him Exit Lucasia Olyn But that my Friend is in me I should have deem'd it Sacrilege to have had A thought like that suggested My Charistus Were he not something carefull in his Love I will not call him Jealous were beyond The Lot of Man I must not tell him all Some may be hid yet how shall I unriddle The Mystery of this Answer But the knots That Love doth tye himself will only find The way to loose ACT. III. SCEN. II. To him Charistus And here Charistus comes Souls once possess'd as his are most impatient They meet what they should stay for Cha. Dear Olyndus Pardon that I expect not but make hast To intercept my Doom Others perhaps May wait the punctuall Minute and observe The just and even Period but Charistus Doth love too slow when time and Sun can bind him Unto a regular Motion Olyn Would you had Been there your self would you had drunk in all The Looks Words Graces and Divinities That I have done I 'm like the Priest that 's full Of his inspiring God and am possess'd With so much rapture that methinks I could Bear up my self without a Wing or Chariot And hoverc'r the Earth still dropping something That should take root in Kingdoms and come up The Good of people Cha. Let me ask thee then As we do those that do come fresh from Visions What saw'st thou there Olyn That which I see still that Which will not out I saw a Face that did Seem to participate of Flames and Flowers Eyes in which Light combin'd with Jet to make Whiteness be thought the Blot and Black hereafter Purchase the Name of Innocence and Lustre The whole was but one solid Light and had I Not seen our Goddess rising from the Flouds Pourtray'd less fair less Goddess I had thought The thing I saw and talk'd with must have been The Tutelar Deity of this our Island Cha. That I should let thee go that I should be So impious to my self as not to break Her great Commands and so become a Martyr By daring to be happy 'gainst her will But on Olyndus Olyn You may think this The Height the Acme and the All of her But when I tell you that She hath a Mind That hides all this and makes it not appear Disparaging as 't were what ever may Be seen without her then you 'l thus exclame Nature thou wert o'rseen to put so mean A Frontispeece to such a Building Cha. Give me O quickly give me the whole Miracle Or presently I am not Olyn Think Charistus Think out the rest as 't is I cannot speak it Cha. Alas what should I think Olyn Conceive a Fire Simple and thin to which that Light we see And see by is so far impure that 't is Only the stain and blemish of the World And if it could be plac'd with it in one And the same Tablet would but only serve As bound and shadow to it Then conceive A Substance that the Gods have set apart And when they would put generous Motions Into a Mortall Breast do take the Soul And couch it there so that what e'r we call Vertue in us is only but a Turning And Inclination toward her from whom This Pow'r was first deriv'd Cha. What present God Lent thee his Eyes and stood blind by whiles thou Did'st gaze and surfet on these Glories Olyn Others Do Love the shape the Gesture and the Man But She the Vertue Mark Charistus She Saies She could Court you ring'd about with Dangers Doat on you smear'd and stiff with hoftile Bloud Count and exact your wounds as a due sum You are to pay to Valour All which when I told her was in Love she said I did Present a spark when she desir'd a full And glorious Constellation to be short She saies you must go back do honourably Get you a Name upon the Cyprian Forces And bids when you have done all this consider It is her Father and his Subjects and His Kingdome that you conquer Cha. And her self That I shall lose by doing so If I Return and Crete be Conquer'd then She will Count me Spoyl and Luggage and my Love Only a Slave's Affection If I Conquer And Cyprus follow my Triumphant Chariot My Love wil then be Tyranny and She How can she light an Hymeneal Torch From her lov'd Countries Flame I am rejected Charistus is a Name of scorn Olyn VVhat Fates Dare throw that Name upon my Friend To shew That she rejects you not because there is That Trust rhat Faith and that Confusion of Charistus and Olyndus 'twixt us in the mean VVhiles he is absent tell him saith she that I 'll love Olyndus in his stead Cha. How Man Th' hast dealt dishonourably This the Light And this the Fire that makes that Light a stain Olyn This I foretold my selfe my good Charistus Let not your Anger carry you beyond The bent of Reason can I give account Of others Passions did I first conceive The words my self then speak'em Cha. O ye Gods Where is the Faith where the Olyndus now Th' hast been a Factor for thy self I 'd thought I 'd sent a Friend but he 's return'd a Merchant And will divide the Wealth Olyn Far be that Brand From your Olyndus far from your Lucasia She hath a Face hath so much Heaven in it And this Olyndus so much Worship of it That he must first put on another Shape And become Monster e'r he dare but look Upon her with a thought that 's Masculine Cha. Peace Treachery I am too cold my Anger Is dull and lazy yet I 'l search that Breast And dig out falshood from the secret'st Corner In all thy Heart here in the very place That thou hast wrong'd me Olyn There is nothing here That my Charistus
knows not 'Pray you open And search and judge and when you find all true Say you destroy'd a Friend Cha. It is your Art I see to wooe but I will make you speak Something that is not Flattery Olyn Olyndus Ne'r lov'd the Man as friend yet whom he did Feat as an Enemy ' I is one part of Valour That I durst now receive conceal and help you Here in the Bosome of that State which hath Cast out a spear into the Cretan Field And bid you War Cha. Thou hast already here Betray'd my Love thy falshood will proceed Unto my Person next I 'd thought I 'd been Clasp'd in Embraces but I find I am Entangled in a Net Olyn Y' are safe as in The Bosome of your Father take this Veyl Of Passion from your Eyes and you 'l behold The same Olyndus still Cha. The same Deceiver The same false perjur'd Man Draw or by Heaven That now should Thunder and revenge my wrongs Thou shalt dye sluggishly Olyn Recall your self And do but hear Cha. What words a Coward will Fawn on me with to keep an abject life Not worth the saving Olyn Witness all ye Gods That govern Friendship how unwillingly I do unty the Knot Cha. Draw quickly lest It may be known I am the Cretan Prince And so my juster Fury be not suffer'd To scourge a timorous and perfidious Man Oly. Though thou stand'st here an Enemy and we have The Pledge of all the Cretan State yet know Though all our Island 's People did look on And thou proclaim'st thy self to be the Man They should not dare to know the Prince untill I 'd done this Sacrifice to Honour Cha. So They fight and wound each other dangerously and then retire Charistus to Lucasia's Myrtle and Olyndus to the next adjoyning and leaning there speak Olyn I have not long to stay mongst Mortals now And then you may search all those Corners that You talk'd of in my Heart But if you find Ought that is falshood towards you or more Than reverence to Lucasia may I want The Honour of a Grave Hear O ye Gods Ye Gods whom but a while and I am with Lucasia is as spotless as the Seat That you prepare for Virgin Lovers Cha. I Have wrong'd thee my Olyndus wrong'd thee much But do not chide me there 's not life enough Left in me to make use of Admonition Olyn If you survive love your Lucasia 't will Make your Olyndus happy for the good Of the surviving Friend some holy men Say doth pertain unto the Friend Departed Cha. Vertuous Lucasia and hadst thou Olyndus Not been so too my Gods had fought for me But I must dye Olyndus Charistus faints Olyn Heaven forbid That my Charistus perish I have only Strength left to wish If I can creep yet to thee I 'l help thee all I can Olynd sinks Cha. And I will meet thee They creep one to the other and so embrace Let us embrace each other yet The Fates Preserve our Friendship and would have us equall Equall ev'n in our Angers we shall go Down equall to the Shades both two waies equall As Dead as Friends And when Lucasia shall Come down unto us which the Heavens forbid Should be as yet I 'l not be Jealous there ACT. III. SCEN. III. To them as they lye groveling and embracing thus Machessa and Philaenis Phi. O Me Good Heavens had you the Balsam Lady Now that you told me of 't would do somegood Mach. This is Olyndus that the honour'd Stranger Brave Spirits are a Balsam to themselves There is a Nobleness of Mind that heals Wounds beyond Salves look not but help Philaenis Gather the Weapons and the rest up quickly Where two are wrong'd I ought to succour both Machessa carries 'em out ACT. III. SCEN. IV. Lucasia Florina Malthora Eumela Lu. MAdam ne'r fear your Dream for that is only The reliques of your day-time thoughts that are Preserv'd by'our Soul to make a Scene i' th' Night Eum. Have you not dream'd the like before Mal. Yes thrice Eum. Why then Paestanus now hath perish'd thrice Or else y' have sometimes dream'd in vain Flor. Eumela I told her this and that her troubled Sleep Were one Love still waking Luc. Wee 'l divert This anxious fear Reach me the Lute Eumela Have you not heard how Venus did complain For her belov'd Adonis The young Poet That was desit'd to give a Language to Th' afflicted Goddess thought her words were these Cal. The Ode VVAke my Adonis do not dye One Life's enough for thee and I. Where are thy words thy wiles Thy Loves thy Frowns thy smiles Alas in vain I call One death hath snatch'd 'em all Yet Death's not deadly in that Face Death in those Looks it self hath Grace 'T was this 't was this I feard When thy pale Ghost appear'd This I presag'd when thund'ring Jove Tore the best Myrtle in my Grove When my sick Rose-buds lost theïr smell And from my Temples untouch'd fell And 't was for some such thing My Dove did hang her Wing Whither art thou my Deity gone Venus in Venus there is none In vain a Goddess now am I Only to Grieve and not to dye But I will love my Grief Make Tears my Tears relief And Sorrow shall to me A new Adonis be And this no Fates can rob me of whiles I A Goddess am to Grieve and not to Dye Flor. Madam they say 't was in this very Grove The Goddess thus complain'd ACT. III. SCEN. V. To them Philaenis with a couple of Napkins Eum. HOw now Philaenis Are you turn'd Sewer to the Lady-Errant Phi. Lady I 'm sent to wipe away the Bloud From these two Myrtles Eum. Bless me what Bloud Philaenis Luc. I hope the Song will not prove ominous Phi. 'T is fit we have some Wars at home too else My Lady would have no employment left Luc. What Wars whose Bloud Phi. A pair of froward Lovers Olyndus and the Stranger fought it seems Here till they almost kill'd themselves and when Neither did fear but both did faint it seems Olyndus lean'd there and the Stranger there And with their Blouds besmear'd the Trees a little We did not think your Highness should have seen it They rise amaz'd the Princess repairs to the Tree where Charistus bled and Eumela to the Tree where ber Olyndus bled Luc. Is this Olyndus way of mingling Souls Eum. Is this the Others Enterchange of Breasts Luc. O Heavens durst your Olyndus thus Eum. O Heav'ns And O ye Gods too durst that other this Luc. Did he then stay behind for this Eumela Eum. And did he leave his Country to destroy One worth it all here in our very Bosoms Luc. H' has ruin'd one whose like if Nature will Shew to the World again she must lay up And gather till she hath store enough of Graces To throw into the World Eum. Olyndus stood As high and brave as he his Enemy had But this advantage of him that he was A Cretan
Ivy bout the Oak We think it shelters when alas we find It weakens and destroys Eum. It is not Jealousie That ruins Love but we our selves who will not Suffer that fear to strengthen it Give way And let it work 't will fix the Love it springs from In a staid Center Luc. What it works I know not But it must needs suppose Defect in one Either Defect of Merit in the Lover Or in the Lov'd of Faith you cannot think That I give Others Favours when your self Boast such a store of Merits Cha. O Lucasia Rather than be so impious as to think That you want Faith I must confess a want Of Merit in my self which would there were not And being it is so I was compell'd To fear lest one more worthy than my self Might throw me from my happiness Consider That you are born t' enrich the Earth and then If you will have one Love and not be Jealous You must convert your Eye upon your Eye Make your own Heart Court your own Heart and be Your self a servant to your self Luc. But doth not This Passion cease at last Olyn It ceaseth to Disturb but still remains to quicken Love As Thunder ceaseth when 't hath purg'd the Air And yet the Fire which caus'd it still remains To make it move the livelier Luc. Were it quiet What Hand Charistus would More sweetly move The Orbs of this our Island who fetch in More frequent Conquests and who more become The Triumphs than your self Cha. Beleeve Charistus Dreams Errours false Opinions slippery Hopes And Jealous Fears are now his Spoyl his Captives And follow Love's Triumphant Chariot which His Soul sits high in and o'rlooks the vain Things of this lower World Luc. Lucasia did Only retire not flie Let 's to the Grove And by the Consummation of our Loves Under those Myrtles which as yet perhaps Preserve the blushing Marks of those your Angers Appease th' offended Goddess Olyn This your Union Will make your Kingdoms joyn Cyprus and Crete Will meet in your Embraces Eum. Our Hearts are Love's ord'nary Employment 't is a Dart Of a more scattering Metall that strikes you When he wounds Princes he wounds Nations too Exeunt ACT V. SCENE I. Pandena Cosmeta Rhodia meeting Machessa and Philaenis Cos LAdy Machessa opportunely met Pan. What store of Arms prepat'd Mach. The Country 's layd Spits Andirons Racks and such like Utensils Are in the very Act of Metamophosis Art is now sitting on them and they will Be hatch'd to Engins shortly Pan. Pray y' how doth The Muster-Roule encrease Mach. As fast as Chloe Can take their Names we shall be all great Women Phil. Pray y' what Reward shall you and I have Lady Mach. Why I will be the Queen o' th' Amazons And thou o' th' Pigmies Phil. I but who shall place us In the Amazonian and Pigmean Throne Mach. Who but our Swords Philaenis when we have Setled the Government here at home we will Lead out an Army 'gainst those Warlike Dames And make 'em all our Vassals Phil. These left handed Ladies are notable Politicians The King of Monomotapa you may Be sure will be your Enemy or else The Book deceives me But the Agags they Will sure be for you Cas Who may the Agags be Phi. Why a black ugly People that do turn The inside of their Eye-lids outward that They may look lovely if they catch the Amazons They sowce 'em straight as we do Pig by quarters Or else do pickle 'em up for Winter Sallads Mac. How did you come by all this Knowledge Phil You are a learned Page Phil. Lady do y' think I never read to th' Women in the Nurs'ry But will you lose one of your Breasts t is pitty That your left Pap should be burnt off Mach. Why Gyrl What use will there be of it Phi. To give suck You must go seek out some brave Alexander And beg some half a dozen of Children of him Or else you 'l be no true bred Amazon Pan. Must they have Macedonian Fathers then Phil. I think the Amazonian Queen doth swear To no such Article when She is Crown'd But ord'narily they do so yet howe'r Your Grace may send for the three Courtiers That you deliver'd from these Ladies here They would be glad to be employ'd in any Such State-affairs But I 'd almost forgot The Pigmies Conquest Pho. Have you read of them too Phil. Though some say that their Souls are only stopt Into their Bodies just as so much Quick-silver Is put into hot Loves to make 'em dance As long as th' heat continues yet beleeve it They are a subt'le Nation a most shrew'd Advising People Cos How'i you then subdue them Phil. By Policy set Hays and Traps and Springs And Pitfals for 'em And if any do Dwell in the Rocks make holes upon the top As deep as Cups and fill 'em up with Wine You shall have one come presently and sip And when he finds the sweetness cry Chin Chin Then all the rest good Fellows straight come out And tipple with him till they fall asleep Then we may come and pack 'em up in Hampers Or else in Hand-baskets and carry 'em whither We please our selves Mach. A notable Stratagem You 'l never leave your Policies Phil. Phi. But yet We must draw out some Souldiers howe'r Cos There 's no great need of souldiers Their Camp 's No larger than a Ginger-bread Office Pan. And the Men little bigger Phil. What half Heretick Book tels you that Rho. The greatest sort they say Are like stone-pots with Beards that do reach down Unto their knees Cos They 're carri'd to the Wars then As Chickens are to Market all in Dorsers Some thirty Couple on a Horse Phil. You read Only Apocryphall History Beleeve me They march most formally I know 't there will Be work enough for Souldiers Mach Wee 'l train up All the young Wenches of the City here On purpose for this Expedition A•d't shall be call'd the Female War Phil. I fear They won't be strong enough to go against 'em They have an Enemy doth vex 'em more Than Horse or Man can Mach. Who the Cranes you mean I 'l beg a Patent of Her Majesty To take up all that fly about the Country For the Pigmean Service Phil. I but who Shall 's have to Discipline 'em so that we May fly 'em at them off our fists Mach. They fly In a most war-like Figure naturally However we may have a Net cast o'r Th' Artyllery Yard and send for th' Gentleman That bridles Stags and makes 'em draw Caroches Hee 'l exercise 'em in a Month or two And bring 'em to it easily Phil. We must carry Six or sev'n hundred of Bird-Cages And Cony-Coopes along with us Mach. For what Phil. T' imprison Rebels and there feed 'em up With Milk and Dazy-roots I will so yerk The little Gentlemen Cos You must not play The Tyrant o'r the Wretches Phil. You shall see Draws her Sword How I 'l
would Take to her self the Commonwealth as both Cos We do suspect your sadness sweet Florina Rho. And your retir'dness too Malthora as Demure as you stand here is deep engag'd Pan. Nor is Eumela free Mal. VVhence do you gather it Cos Pray y' why those Myrtle wreaths why your Gates drest And your Doors Crown'd Flo. In hope our Lords will shortly Enter and Crown 'em more Cos Most evident Can there be bolder Falshood Did we not Agree to keep out Husbands from our City And our Minds too And yet behold there are Garlands and Flowers prepar'd and they to be Receiv'd as Lovers Husbands are at best But a sad kind of pleasure one good Look And a Salute 's enough at any time For the Good-man o' th' Family Flo. Pray y' allow Affection more Expressions Love doth cease To be when that it breaks not out into Those signs of Joy as Souls cease to be Souls VVhen they leave off to shew their Operations Pan. This is no time for vain Philosophy VVe are to have a fine State of it shortly VVhen Ladies once begin to utter Axioms And raise a Faction 'gainst the seven Sages ACT. V. SCEN. V. Machessa Mac. ANd 't please your Highness three Embassadors Sent from the Cretan State do crave admittance Adr. Usher'em in Ex. Ma. Eum. whispers the Qu. Cos There 's life you see i' th' bus'ness Let 's yet be true The fame of our Exploit Already makes us sought to There 's an Honour Not usuall too l'th' Number of 'em when Arriv'd there three before from the same State And 't please you let Pandena Rhodia and I Manage their Entertainment Adr. Do so Pan. It shall All be to th' honour of the Female State Cos Prepare your self Pandena here they come ACT V. SCENE VI To them Machessa ushering Lerinus Iringus and Ganyctor as Embassadors Ler. MOst Gratious most Renowned and most Beautious Cos Pray y' be not troublesome We 're taken up VVholy with the Affairs o' th' Kingdom now Irin VVhen will your Ladiship have a Vacancy Pan. You are Impertinen True Politicians Do never use to answer on the sudden Rho. It is not now as heretofore the times Are grown more wise and more reserv'd there are Matters on foot far greater you must wait You are Embassadors Gan. We should not think so But that you 're pleas'd to tell us so your usage Hath a far different Dialect from your Tongue Cos Were there not VVomen in your Kingdom fit For this Imployment I perceive your State Is utterly unfurnish'd that it cannot Send forth three Female Agents Irin 'T is not Madam The custome of our Master to commit His Kingdom's secrets to a peece of Chrystall That were not to Negotiate but Betray Pa. You shall meet VVomen here that are not Crystal Those that will find out you and hide themselves Rho. You shall not need the help of an Interpreter VVhen we give Audience Speak what Tongue you will You shall be understood each one of us Hath more than one Ler. VVe easily beleeve it Though you should speak none else besides your Native Cos Pray stand you by and wait a while Ler. VVe obey Cos Now will they think the better of us 't is The way to bring our selves in Credit by Neglecting of 'em thus I 'd have 'em know VVe were to be saluted at their coming Pan. Their State is very unhappy that it is So unprovided I beleeve these are The very wisest in the Kingdom for They have no Manners Rho. You guess rightly Madam The greatest Counsellors and Lawyers scarce Know how to make a Leg. ACT. V. SCEN. VII To them Philaenis Phil. ARm arm arm arm The King and Lords are within sight Here Madam Pray take my Sword and Helmet Cos Worthy Gentlemen Doy' come to proffer aid from th' Cretan King To help us 'gainst the Men Irin No Ladies we Come but to tell you that the King is Landed They discover themselves We are your fellow-Subjects Cos Fellow-Villaines Among your selves Eumela we may thank You for all this Pan. But Sister of the Sword Great Lady Stickler Mach. Be patient pray y' a while Take you this Helmet And you this Fauchion Sir and you this Lance Embassadours still must be dismiss'd with Presents Rho. Where is our Plate Pan. Our Wealth Cos Our Jewels Mach. Folly Did not my Order bind me to assist Distressed men Cos Who would e'r trust a VVoman Mach. The Queen will give y' a fair account Adr. 'T is no Time to debate things now The truth is all VVas ship'd and sent the King as one great Present From all the Cyprian VVomen If you do Desire that he should know how it was rais'd For what intended by what means diverted I 'l bid him spare his thanks and tell him 't was Not Bounty but Misfortune that directed This vast Supply to him Cos We hope your Highness Will be so Gratious to us as to let us Make the best use yet of our Evils 'T will Be something if that which was meant Sedition May now be took for Contribution And we esteem'd Relievers of the Army Adr. I do engage my Royall word you shall Be put in th' Annals as good Members of The Cyprian Commonwealth But heark the noise The Horses Trumpets Priests They come stand off ACT. V. SCEN. VIII To them 3 Priests of Apollo with wreaths of Lawrell Demarchus and Dinomachus hand in hand Paestanus Philondas Souldiers The Priests standing on one side and the Ladies on the other leaving a free space between 'em in which Demarchus and Adraste first meet Then Dinomachus and Adraste receive Charistus and Lucasia Then Philondas meets Malthora Then the King and Queen joyn Olyndus and Eumela The rest then salutè and receive one another with Welcome While they all thus meet the Priests on the one side and the Ladies on the other sing thus enterchangeably 1 Priest APollo who foretell'st what shall ensue None speaks more Dark than thou but none More true If Heard Obscure but yet if Seen most Bright Day's in thy Visage in thy Sayings Night Pr. Cho. Day 's in thy Visage in thy Sayings Night 1 Lady Venus makes good what he Decrees And Love sulfils what he foresees Thus Gods help Gods thus Mortals ow Much to the Bayes much to the Bow La. Cho. Much to the Bayes much to the Bow 2 Priest Phoebus as Praesent shewes us future things Our Trivets Counsell give our Trees teach Kings And whil'st our Oracle instructs the State What e'r the Priest shall say the God makes Fate Pr. Cho. What e'r the Priest shall say the God makes Fate 2 Lady What are your Trivets to Loves wings They Teach but these do Conquer Kings Venus to Fate adds all the bliss She that makes Doves makes Kingdoms kiss La. Cho. She that makes Doves makes Kingdoms kiss La. Pr. Thus then the Myrtle and the Bayes we joyn Chorus And in one Wreath Wisdom and Love Combine Dem. I never raign'd till now You needed not Have sent that Ample Treasure I had all Wealth in your Loves Come Great Din•machus As they joyn'd Voices so let us joyn Hearts Dino Sir your Embraces vanquish far beyond Your Sword though happy you march Conquerour More by a Glorious Peace than if your Arm Had scatter'd Deaths still as you pass'd your Throne Grows hence y' have gain'd what e'r you have not ruin'd Your Pow'r rules Cyprus but your Fame the World Dem. Hate only is between th' Ignoble when The Good dissent t is only difference ••malice Vertue flames in both and so •••…hmust the other Love their Discords are More blameless than th' Embraces of the Bad 'T is to stand off rather than bear a Grudge And if they fight when e'r they do lay down Their VVeapons they lay down their Anger too As we affect then to seem good and are so Let one Oblivion wrap up what hath past On either side Dino But I must first ask Pardon I 've wrong'd a Deity Great Apollo be Thou still propitious Here I do restore Thy Blameless Priests VVhat was but only Darkness I thought Contrivance and the Priest not Loyall Because the God was pleas'd to be obscure But now th' Event lends light to that and Me And my Charistus doth his Country save By being thus become his Enemi's Slave Peace rest upon 'em both Apollo spoke it And Venus hath perform'd it Dem. As they joyn'd To make us happy so let us pay back United Thanks and joyn their Deities in A double Feast It is not Mens Lot only To need each other ev'n the Pow'rs themselves Give and take help Affection brings about VVhat Counsell cannot Thus the Gods have lent Love unto VVisdome for an Instrument Exeunt Omnes The EPILOGUE THough we well know the Neighbouring Plain Can strike from Reeds as high a Strain And that the Scrip and Crook May worst our Poet's Book Like Fayries yet we here could stay Till Village Cocks proclame the Day And whiles your Pleasure is the Theam Feed and keep up the Dream But Sleep beginning now to shed Poppies on every Bed Love stay'd his hands and said our Eyes This Night were made his Prize And now instead of Poppies flings These wishes on you from his wings The Calm of Kingdoms new made Friends When both enjoy their Hopes and Ends The like in you Create And make each Mind a State The thoughts of Princes when they do Meet Princes to coyn Princes too Possess your Breasts with Fire and Youth And make each dream a Truth The Joyes of Friendship after Fight Of Love's first happy Night Of Lords return'd make you still greet As when you first did meet And quitted thus from Grief and Fear Think you enjoy a Cyprus here