make other Ideots laugh and wisemen to crie who 's the foole now I am mad to sée Souldiours beg and cowards braue I am mad to sée Schollers in the Brokers shop and Dunces in the Mercers I am mad to see men that haue no more fashion in them then poore Shaddow yet must leape thrice a day into thrée orders of fashions I am mad to sée many things but horne-mad that my mouth féeles nothing Andel. Why now shaddow I sée thou hast a substance I am glad to sée thée thus mad Amped. The sonnes of Fortunatus had not woont Thus to repine at others happines But fooles haue alwaies this loose garment wore Being poore themselues they wish all others poore Fie brother Andelocia hate this madnes Turne your eyes inward and behold your soule That wants more then your body burnish that With glittering Uertue and make Ideots grieue So see your beautious mind in wisedome shine As you at their rich pouertie repine Enter Fortunatus gallant And. Peace good vertue Shad here comes another Shadow Shad. It should be a Camelion for he is all in colours Amp. Oh t is my Father With these teares of ioye My loue and duetie greete your faire returne A double gladnesse hath refresht my soule One that you liue and one to sée your fate Lookes freshly howsoeuer poore in state And. My father Fortunatus thus braue Sha. T is no wonder to sée a man braue but a wonder how he comes braue Fortunat. Deere Andelocia and sonne Ampedo And my poore seruant Shaddow plume your spirits With light-wingd mirth for Fortunatus hand Can now powre golden showres into their laps That sometimes scorn'd him for his want of gold Boyes I am rich and you shall ne're be poore We are gold spend gold we all in gold will féede Now is your father Fortunate indéede Andel. Father be not angrie if I set open the windowes of my mind I doubt for all your bragging you 'le prooue like most of our gallants in Famagosta that haue a rich outside a beggerly inside and like Mules weare gay trappings and good Ueluet foote-clothes on their backes yet champe on the Iron bitte of penurie I meane want coyne You gild our eares with a talke of Gold but I pray dazell our eyes with the maiestie of it Fort. First will I wake your sences with the sound Of golds swéete musicke tell me what you heare Amp. Belieue me Sir I heare not any thing Andel. Ha ha ha S hart I thought as much if I heare any gingling but of the purse strings that goe flip flap flip flap flip flap would I were turnd into a flip-flap and solde to the Butchers Fort. Shaddow I le trie thine eares harke dost rattle Shad. Yes like thrée blew Beanes in a blew bladder rattle bladder rattle your purse is like my bellie th' ones without money th' other without meate Fort. Bid your eyes blame the error of your eares You misbeléeuing Pagans sée here 's gold Ten golden pieces take them Ampedo Hold Andelocia here are ten for thée Ampe. Shaddow there 's one for thée prouide thée foode Fort. Stay boy hold Shad here are ten for thée Shad. Ten master then defiaunce to Fortune a Fig for famine Fort. Now tell me wags hath my purse gold or no Andel. Wee the wags haue gold Father but I thinke there 's not one Angell more wagging in this sacred Temple why this is rare Saddow fiue will serue thy turne giue me th' other fiue Shad. Nay soft master liberalitie dyed long agoe I sée some rich beggers are neuer well but when they be crauing My ten Duckets are like my ten fingers they will not ieopard a ioynt for you I am yours and these are mine if I part from them I shall neuer haue part of them Amp. Father if heauen haue blest you once againe Let not an open hand disperse that store Which gone life 's gone for all treade downe the poore Fort. Peace Ampedo talke not of pouertie Disdaine my boyes to kisse the tawnie cheekes Of leane necessitie make not inquirie How I came rich I am rich let that suffice There are sowre leathern bags trust full of gold Those spent I le fill you more goe lads be gallant Shine in the stréetes of Cyprus like two starres And make them bow their knées that once did spurne you For to effect such wonders gold can turne you Braue it in Famagosta or els where I le trauell to the Turkish Emperour And then I le reuell it with Prester Iohn Or banquet with great Cham of Tartarie And trie what frolicke Court the Souldan kéepes I le leaue you presently teare off these rags Glitter my boyes like Angels that the world May whilst our life in pleasures circle comes Wonder at Fortunatus and his sonnes Andel. Come Shaddow now wée 'le feast it royalty Shad. Doe master but take héede of beggerie Exeunt Musick sounds Enter vice with a gilded face and hornes on her head her garments long painted before with siluer halfe moones increasing by litle and litle till they come to the full in the midst of thē in Capitall letters this written CRESCITEVNDO her garment painted behind with fooles faces diuels heads and vnderneath it in the midst this written Ha Ha He she and others wearing gilded visards and attirde like deuils bring out a faire tree of Gold with apples on it after her comes Vertue a coxecombe on her head all in white before and this written about the middle Sibi sapit her attire behind painted with Crownes Laurell garlands stuck full of starres held out by hands thrust out of bright cloudes and among them thus written Dominabitur astris Shee and other Nimphes all in white with coxecombs on their heads bring a tree with greene and withered leaues mingled together and litle fruit on it after her Fortune one bearing her Wheele another her Globe and last the Priest Fortune You ministers of Uertue Uice and Fortune Teare off this vpper garment of the earth And in her naked bosome sticke these trées Vertue How many kingdomes haue I measured Onely to find a Climat apt to cherish These withering braunches but no ground can prooue So happie ay mee none doe vertue loue I le trie this soyle if here I likewise fade To heauen I le flie from whence I tooke my birth And tel the Gods I am banisht from the earth Vice Uertue I am sworne they foe if there thou plant Here opposite to thine my trée shall florish And as the running wood-bind spread her armes To choke thy withering boughes in their embrace I le driue thee from this world were Uertue fled Uice as an Angel should be honoured Fort. Seruants of this bright diuell that poore Saint Applie your talke whilst you are labouring To make your paines séeme short our priest shall sing The song whilst he sings the rest set the trees into the earth Priest Uertues braunches wither vertue pines O pittie pittie and alacke
Are you appointed by the king to this Montr. No no rise spurne him vp know you who 's this Andel. My brother Ampedo Alas what fate Hath made thy vertues so infortunate Amp. Thy ryot and the wrong of these two Lords Who causelesse thus do starue me in this prison Longa. Striue not y' are best villaines lift in his legs Andel. Traitors to honor what doe you intend Longa. That ryot shall in wretchednesse haue end Question thy brother with what cost hée s fed And so assure thou shalt be banquetted Exeunt they two Amp. In want in miserie in woe and care Poore Ampedo his fill hath surfeted My want is famine bolts my miserie My care and woe should be thy portion Andel. Giue me that portion for I haue a heart Shall spend it fréely and make bankrowt The proudest woe that euer wet mans eye Care with a mischiefe wherefore should I care Haue I rid side by side by mightie kings Yet be thus bridled now I le teare these fetters Murder crie murder Ampedo alowd To beare this scorne our Fortunes are too proud Amp. O folly thou hast powre to make flesh glad When the rich soule in wretchednesse is clad Ande. Peace foole am not I Fortunes minion These bands are but one wrincle of her frowne This is her Euening maske her next mornes eye Shall ouer-shine the Sunne in maiestie Amp. But this sad night will make an end of me Brother farwell griefe famine sorrow want Haue made an end of wretched Ampedo Andel. Where is the wishing Hat Amp. Consum'd in fire Ande. Accursed be those hands that did destroy it That would redéeme vs did we now enioy it Amp. Wanton farwel I faint deaths frozen hand Congeales lifes little Riuer in my brest No man before his end is truely blest Dyes Andel. O miserable miserable soule Thus a foule life makes death to looke more foule Enter Longauyle and Montrosse with a halter Longa. Thus shall this golden purse diuided be One day for you another day for me Montr. Of daies anon say what determine you Shall they haue libertie or shall they die Long. Die sure and sée I thinke the elder 's dead And. I murderers he is dead O sacred wisdome Had Fortunatus béene enamored Of thy celestiall beautie his two sonnes Had shind like two bright Sunnes Longa. Pul hard Montrosse Andel. Come you to strangle me are you the hangman Hell-hounds y' are dam'd for this impietie Fortune forgiue me I deserue thy hate My selfe haue made myselfe a reprobate Uertue forgiue me for I haue transgrest Against thy lawes my vowes are quite forgot And therefore shame is falne to my sinnes lot Riches and knowledge are two gifts diuine They that abuse them both as I haue done To shame to beggerie to hell must runne O conscience hold thy sting cease to afflict me Be quicke tormentors I desire to die No death is equall to my miserie Cyprus vaine world and Uanitie farwell Who builds his heauen on earth is sure of hell Lon. He 's dead in some déepe vault le ts throw their bodies Montr. First let vs sée the purse Lord Longauyle Longa. Here t is by this wée le fill this towre with gold Montr. Frenchman this purse is counterfeit Longa. Thou lyest Scot thou hast cozend me giue me the right Els shall thy bosome be my weapons graue Montr. Villaine thou shalt not rob me of my due They fight Enter Athelstane Agripyna Orleans Galloway Cornewall Chester Lincolne and Shaddow with weapons at one dore Fortune Vice and their attendants at another dore All Lay hands vpon the murderers strike them downe Fortune Surrender vp this purse for this is mine All I le these two diuels of some powers diuine Shad. O see sée O my two masters poore Shaddowes substances what shall I doe whose body shall Shaddow now follow Fort. Peace Ideot thou shalt find rich heapes of fooles That will be proud to entertaine a Shaddow I charme thy babling lips from troubling me You need not hold them sée I smite them downe Lower then hell base soules sincke to your heauen Vice I doe arrest you both my prisoners Fort. Stand not amazde you gods of earth at this Shée that arresteth these two fooles is Uice They haue broke Vertues laws Vice is her serfeant Her Iayler and her executioner Looke on those Cypriots Fortunatus sonnes They and their Father were my minions My name is Fortune All O dread deitie Fort. Knéele not to me if Fortune list to frowne You néed not fal downe for shae le spurne you downe Arise but fooles on you I le triumph thus What haue gaind by being couetous This prodigall purse did Fortunes bounteous hand Bestow on them their ryots made them poore And set those markes of miserable death On all their pride the famine of base gold Hath made your soules to murders hands be sold Onely to be cald rich But Ideots sée The vertues to be fled Fortune hath causd it so Those that will all deuowre must all forgoe Athelst. Most sacred Goddesse Fortune Peace you flatterer Thy tongue but heapes more vengeance on thy head Fortune is angrie with thée in thée burnes A greedie couetous fire in Agripyne Pride like a Monarch reuels and those sinnes Haue lead you blind-fold to your former shames But Vertue pardond you and so doth Fortune Athelst. Agrip. All thankes to both your sacred deities Fort. As for these Mettall-eaters these base thieues Who rather then they would be counted poore Will dig through hell for gold you were forgiuen By Vertues generall pardon her broad seale Gaue you your liues when shée tooke off your hornes Yet hauing scarse one foote out of the Iayle You tempt damnation by more desperate meanes You both are mortall and your paines shall ring Through both your eares to terrifie your soules As please the Iudgement of this mortall king Athelst. Faire Empresse of the world since you resigne Your power to me this sentence shall be mine Thou shalt be torturd on a whéele to death Thou with wild horses shalt be quartered Vice Ha ha weake Iudge weake iudgement I reuerse That sentence for they are my prisoners Embalme the bodies of those Cypriots And honour them with princely buriall For those doe as you please but for these two I kisse you both I loue you y' are my minions Untie their hands Uice doth repriue you both I set you frée Both Thankes gracious deitie Vice Be gon but you in libertie shall find More bondage then in chaines fooles get you hence Both wander with tormented conscience Longa. O horrid Iudgement that 's the hell in déede Mon. Come come our death ne're ends if conscience bléede Both O miserable miserable men Exeunt Fortune Fortune triumphes at this yet to appeare All like my selfe that which from those I tooke King Athelstane I will bestow on thée And in it the old vertue I infuse But king take héede how thou my gifts doest vse England shall ne're be poore it
THE Pleasant Comedie of Old Fortunatus As it was plaied before the Queenes Maiestie this Christmas by the Right Honourable the Earle of Nottingham Lord high Admirall of England his Seruants LONDON Printed by S. S. for William Aspley dwelling in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Tygers head 1600 The Prologue at Court Enter two old men 1 ARe you then trauelling to the temple of Eliza 2 Euen to her temple are my feeble limmes trauelling Some cal her Pandora some Gloriana some Cynthia some Delphaebe some Astraea all by seuerall names to expresse seuerall loues Yet all those names make but one celestiall body as all those loues meete to create but one soule 1 I am one of her owne countrie and we adore her by the name of Eliza 2 Blessed name happie countrie Your Eliza makes your land Elizium but what doe you offer 1 That which all true Subiects should when I was young an Armed hand now I am crooked an vpright heart But what offer you 2 That which all straungers doe two eyes strucke blinde with admiration Two lips proud to sound her glorie Two hands held vp full of prayers and praises What not that may expresse loue what not that may make her beloued 1 How long i st since you last beheld her 2 A iust yeere yet that yeere hath seemd to me but one day because her glorie hath beene my howrely contemplation and yet that yeere hath seemd to me more then twice seuen yeres because so long I haue beene absent from her Come therefore good father le ts goe faster least we come too late for see the Tapers of the night are already lighted and stand brightly burning in their starrie Candlestickes See howe gloriouslly the Moone shines vpon vs Both kneele 1 Peace foole tremble and kneele The Moone saist thou Our eyes are dazled by Elizaes beames See if at least thou dare see where shee sits This is the great Panthaeon of our Goddesse And all those faces which thine eyes thought starres Are Nymphes attending on her deitie Prithee begin for I want power to speake 2 No no speake thou I want words to begin Weepes 1 Alacke what shall I doe com'st thou with me And weepst now thou beholdst this Maiestie 2 Great land-lady of hearts pardon me 1 Blame not mine eyes good father in these teares 2 My pure loue shines as thine doth in thy feares I weepe for ioy to see so many heads Of prudent Ladies clothed in the liuerie Of siluer-handed age for seruing you Whilst in your eyes youthes glory doth renue I weepe for ioy to see the Sunne looke old To see the Moone mad at her often change To see the Starres onely by night to shine Whilst you are still bright still one still diuine I weepe for ioy to see the world decay Yet see Eliza flourishing like May O pardon me your Pilgrim I haue measurd Many a mile to find you and haue brought Old Fortunatus and his family With other Cipnots my poore countrie men To pay a whole yeeres tribute O vouchsafe Dread Queene of Fayries with your gracious eyes T' accept theirs and our humble sacrifice 1 Now I le beg for thee too and yet I need not Her sacred hand hath euermore beene knowne As soone held out to straungers as her owne 2 Thou doest incourage me I le fetch them in They haue no princely gifts we are all poore Our offrings are true hearts who can wish more Exeunt OF Loues sweete war our timerous Muse doth sing And to the bosome of each gentle deare Offence her Artles tunes borne on the wing Of sacred Poesy A benumming feare That your nice soules cloyd with dilicious sounds Will loath her lowly notes makes her pull in Her fainting pineons and her spirit confounds Before the weake voice of her song begin Yet since within the circle of each eye Being like so many Suns in his round Sphere No wrinckle yet is seene shee le dare to flie Borne vp with hopes that as you oft do reare With your faire hands those who would els sinke down So some will deigne to smile where all might frown And for this smal Circumference must stand For the imagind Sur-face of much land Of many kingdomes and since many a mile Should here be measurd out our muse intreats Your thoughts to helpe poore Art and to allow That I may serue as Chorus to her scences She begs your pardon for shee le send me foorth Not when the lawes of Poesy doe call But as the storie needes your gracious eye Giues life to Fortunatus historie Exit THE COMEDIE OF Olde Fortunatus Enter Fortunatus meanely attired hee walkes ere he speake once or twice about cracking Nuts Fortunatus SD ho ho ho ho Eccho within Ho ho ho ho Fortun. There boy Eccho There boy Fort. And thou bee'st a goodfellow tel me how thou cal'st this wood Eccho This wood Fort. I this wood which is my best way out Eccho Best way out Fort. Ha ha ha that 's true my best way out is my best way out but how that out will come in by this Maggot I know not I see by this we are all wormes meate well I am very poore and verie patient Patience is a vertue would I were not vertuous that 's to say not poore but full of vice that 's to say ful of chinckes Ha ha so I am for I am so full of chinckes that a Horse with one eye may looke through and through me I haue sighed long and that makes me windie I haue fasted long and that makes me chast marie I haue praied little and that makes mee I still daunce in this coniuring circle I haue wandred long and that makes me wearie but for my wearinesse anon I le lie downe in steade of fasting I le féede vpon Nuts and in stead of sighing will laugh and bee leane Sirra Eccho Eccho Sirra Eccho Fortu. Here 's a Nut Eccho Here 's a Nut Fort. Cracke it Eccho Cracke it Fort. Hang thy selfe Eccho Hang thy selfe Fort. Th' art a knaue a knaue Eccho A knaue a knaue Fort. Ha ha ha ha Eccho Ha ha ha ha Fortunat. Why so two fooles laugh at one another I at my little tattle gammer eccho and shee at me Shortly there will créepe out in print some filthie booke of the olde hoarie wandring Knight meaning me would I were that booke for then I should be sure to créepe out from hence I should bee a good souldiour for I trauerse my ground rarely marrie I sée neither enemie nor friends but Popiniayes and Squirrels and Apes and Owles and Dawes and Wagtailes and the spite is that none of these grasse-eaters can speake my language but this foole that mockes me and sweares to haue the last word in spite of my téeth I and shee shall haue it because shee is a woman which kind of cattell are indéede all Eccho nothing but tongue and are like the great bell of S. Michaels in Cyprus that kéepes most rumbling when men
her selfe is said to veiw thy fall And grieues to sée thée glad to licke vp crommes At the proud féete of that great Scithian swaine Fortunes best minion warlike Tamberlaine Yet must thou in a cage of Iron be drawne In triumph at his héeles and there in griefe Dash out thy braines The third King Oh miserable me Fortune No teares can melt the heart of destinie These haue I rain'd and exalted those These hands haue conquerd Spaine these browes fill vp The golden circle of rich Portugall Uiriat a Monarch now but borne a shepherd This Primislaus a Bohemian king Last day a Carter this Monke Gregorie Now lifted to the Papall dignitie Wretches why gnaw you not your fingers off And teare your tongues out séeing your selues trod downe And this Duch-Botcher wearing Munsters crowne Iohn Leyden borne in Holland poore and base Now rich in Emperie and Fortunes grace As these I haue aduaunc'd so will I thee Six gifts I spend vpon mortalitie Wisedome strength health beautie long life and riches Out of my bountie one of these is thine Choose then which likes thée best Fortunat. Oh most diuine Giue me but leaue to borrow wonders eye To looke amaz'd at thy bright maiestie Wisedome strength health beautie long life and riches Fortune Before thy soule at this déepe Lotterie Draw foorth her prize ordain'd by destinie Know that here 's no recanting a first choice Choose then discréetly for the lawes of Fate Being grauen in stéele must stand inuiolate Fortunat. Daughters of Ioue and the vnblemisht night Most righteous Parce guide my Genius right Wisedome strength health beautie long life and riches Fortune Staie Fortunatus once more heare me speake If thou kisse wisedomes chéeke and make her thine Shée le breath into thy lips diuinitie And thou like Phebus shalt speake Oracle Thy heauen-inspired soule on wisedomes vvings Shall flie vp to the Parliament of Ioue And read the Statutes of eternitie And sée what 's past and learne what is to come If thou lay claime to strength Armies shall quake To see thée frowne as Kings at mine doe lie So shall thy féete trample on Emperie Make Health thine obiect thou shalt be strong proofe Gainst the deepe searching darts of surfetting Be euer merrie euer reuelling Wish but for beautie and within thine eyes Two naked Cupids amorously shall swim And on thy chéekes I le mixe such white and red That Ioue shall turne away young Ganimede And with immortall armes shall circle thée Are thy desires long life thy vitall thread Shal be stretcht out thou shalt behold the chaunge Of Monarchies and sée those children die Whose great great Graundsires now in cradles lie If through Golds sacred hunger thou dost pine Those gilded wantons which in swarmes doe runne To warme their slender bodies in the sunne Shall stand for number of those golden piles Which in rich pride shall swell before thy féete As those are so shall these be infinite Awaken then thy soules best faculties And gladly kisse this bounteous hand of Fate Which striues to blesse thy name of Fortunate The Kings Old man take héede her smiles wil murder thée Th' other Old man shée le crowne thée with felicitie Fort. Oh whither am I wrap't beyond my selfe More violent conflicts fight in e'rie thought Than his whose fatall choice Troyes downfall wrought Shall I contract my selfe to wisedomes loue Then I lose riches And a wiseman poore Is like a sacred booke that 's neuer read To himselfe he liues and to all els séemes dead This age thinks better of a gilded foole Then of a thréed bare Saint in wisedomes schoole I will be strong then I refuse long life And though mine arme should conquer twentie worlds There 's a leane fellow beates all conquerours The greatest strength expires with losse of breath The mightiest in one minute stoope to death Then take long life or Health should I doe so I might grow vgly and that tedious Scrole Of Months and yeeres much miserie may enrole Therefore I le beg for beautie yet I will not The fairest chéeke hath oftentimes a soule Leaprous as sinne it selfe then hell more foule The wisedome of this world is Idiotisme Strength a weake réede Health sicknesse enemie And it at length will haue the victorie Beautie is but a painting and long life Is a long iorney in December gon Tedious and full of tribulation Therefore dread sacred Empresse make me rich Kneele downe My choice is store of gold the rich are wise He that vpon his barke rich garments weares Is wise though on his head grow Midas eares Gold is the strength the sinnewes of the world The Health the soule the beautie most diuine A maske of Gold hides all deformities Gold is heauens phisicke lifes restoratiue Oh therefore make me rich Not as the wretch That onely serues leane banquets to his eye Has Gold yet starues is famisht in his store No let me euer spend be neuer poore Fortune Thy latest words confine thy destinie Thou shalt spend euer and be neuer poore For proofe receiue this purse with it this vertue Still when thou thrusts thy hand into the same Thou shalt draw foorth ten pieces of bright gold Currant in any Realme where then thou breathest If thou can'st dribble out the Sea by drops Then shalt thou want but that can nere be don Nor this grow emptie Fortunat. Thankes great deitie Fortune The vertue ends when thou and thy sonnes end This path leades thée to Cyprus get thée hence Farewel vaine couetous foole thou wilt repent That for the loue of drosse thou hast despised Wisedomes diuine embrace she would hane borne thée On the rich wings of immortalitie But now goe dwell with cares and quickly die The Kings We dwell with cares yet cannot quickly die Exeunt all singing manet Fortunatus Fortunat. But now goe dwell with cares and quickly die How quickly if I die to morrow I le be merrie to day if next day I le be merrie to morrow goe dwell with cares Where dwels care Hum ha in what house dwels care that I may choose an honester neighbor In princes courts No among faire Ladies neither there 's no care dwels with them but care how to be most gallant Among gallants thē Fie fie no care is afraid sure of a guilt Rapier the sent of Muske is her prison Tobacco choakes her rich attire presseth her to death Princes faire Ladies and gallants haue amongst you then for this weteide wench Care dwelles with wretches they are wretches that féele want I shall féele none if I be neuer poore therefore care I casheire you my companie I wonder what blinde Gossip this minx is that is so prodigall she should be a good one by her open dealing her name's Fortune It s no matter what she is so she does as she saies Thou shalt spend euer and bee neuer poore Masse yet I féele nothing here to make mee rich here 's no swéete Musicke with her siluer sound Trie déeper ho God be here Ha
the time Uice doth florish Uice in glorie shines Her gilded boughes aboue the Cedar clime Uice hath golden cheekes O pittie pittie She in euery land doth monarchize Uertue is exilde from euery Cittie Uertue is a foole Uice onely wise O pittie pittie Uertue wéeping dies Uice laughs to see her faint alacke the time This sinckes with painted wings the other flies Alacke that best should fall and bad should clime O pittie pittie pittie mourne not sing Uice is a Saint Uertue an vnderling Uice doth florish Uice in glorie shines Uertues braunches wither Uertue pines Fort. Florish or wither Fortune cares not which In eithers fall or height our Eminence Shines equall to the Sunne the Queene of chance Both vertuous soules and vicious doth aduance These shadowes of your selues shall like your selues Striue to make men enamoured of their beauties This groue shall be our temple and henceforth Be consecrated to our deities Vert. How few will come and knéele at vertues shrine Vice This contents vertue that she is cal'd diuine Fort. Poore Uertue Fortune grieues to see thy lookes Want cunning to intice Why hang these leaues As loose as Autumnes haire which euery wind In mockerie blowes from his rotten browes Why like a drunkard art thou pointed at Why is this Motley-scorne set on thy head Why stands thy Court wide open but none in it Why are the Christall pauements of thy temple Not worne not trod vpon All is for this Because thy pride is to weare base attire Because thine eyes flame not with amorous fire Vert. Uertue is fairest in a poore aray Fort. Poore foole t is not this badge of puritie Nor Sibi sapit painted on thy breast Allures mortalitie to seeke thy loue No now the great whéele of thy Globe hath runne And met his first point of creation On Crutches went this world but yester-day Now it lies bed-rid and is growne so old That it s growne young for t is a child againe A childish soule it hath t is a méere foole And fooles and children are well pleasde with toyes So must this world with shewes it must be pleased Then Uertue buy a golden face like Uice And hang thy bosome full of siluer Moones To tell the credulous world As those increase As the bright Moone swelles in her pearled Spheare So wealth and pleasures them to heauen shall reare Vert. Uertue abhorres to weare a borrowed face Vice Why hast thou borrowed then that Idiots hood Vert. Fooles plac'd it on my head that knew me not And I am proud to weare the scorne of fooles Fort. Mourne in that pride die all the world hates thée Vert. Not all I le wander once more through the world Wisedome I know hath with her blessed wings Fled to some bosome if I méete that brest There I le erect my temple and there rest Fortune nor Uice shall then ere haue the power By their loose eyes to intice my Paramour Then will I cast off this deformitie And shine in glorie and triumph to sée You conquerd at my féete that tread on me Fort. Uertue begins to quarrell Uice farewell Vice Stay Fortune whilst within this Groue we dwel If my Angelicall and Saint-like forme Can win some amorous foole to wanton here And taste the fruite of this alluring trée Thus shall his sawcie browes adorned bée Makes hornes To make vs laugh Fort. It will be rare adiew Ver. Foule hel-bred fiend Uertue shall striue with you If any be enamoured of thine eyes Their loue must néedes beget deformities Men are transformed to beastes feasting with sinne But if in spite of thée their soules I winne To taste this fruite though thou disguise their head Their shapes shall be re-metamorphosed Vice I dare thée doe thy worst Vert. My best I le trie Fort. Fortune shall iudge who winnes the soueraigntie Enter Chorus Exeunt Chorus The world to the circumference of heauen Is as a small point in Geometrie Whose greatnes is so little that a lesse Cannot be made into that narrow roome Your quicke imaginations we must charme To turne that world and turn'd againe to part it Into large kingdomes and within one moment To carrie Fortunatus on the wings Of actiue thought many a thousand miles Suppose then since you last beheld him here That you haue saild with him vpon the seas And leapt with him vpon the Asian shores Béene feasted with him in the Tartars palace And all the Courts of each Barbarian kings From whence being cald by some vnluckie starre For happines never continues long Helpe me to bring him backe to Arragon Where for his pride Riches make all men proude On a slight quarrell by a covetous Earle Fortune's dear minion is imprisoned There thinke you see him sit with folded armes Teares dropping downe his cheekes his white hairs torne His legges in rusty fetters and his tongue Bitterly cursing that his squint-eide soule Did not make choice of wisedome's sacred love Fortune to triumph in unconstancie From prison bailes him libertie is wild For being set free he like a lustie eagle Cuts with his ventrous feathers through the skie And lights not till he finds the Turkish court Thither transport your eyes and there behold him Revelling with the Emperour of the East From whence through feare for safegard of his life Flying into the armes of ugly night Suppose you see him brought to Babylon And that the Sunne clothed all in fire hath rid One quarter of his hot celestial way With the bright morning and that in this instant He and the Soldan meete but what they say Listen you the talke of Kings none dare bewray Exit Enter the Soldan his Noblmen and Fortunatus Sould. Art thou that Fortunatus whose great name Being carried in the Charriot of the winds Has fild the Courts of all our Asian Kings With love and envie whose dear presence tyes The eyes of admiration to thine eyes Art thou that Iove that in a shower of gold Appearedst before the Turkish Emperour Fort. I am that Fortunatus mightie Souldan Sould. Where is that purse which threw abroad such treasure Fort. I gave it to the Turkish Soliman A second I bestowed on Prester Iohn A third the great Tartarian Cham received For with these Monarches have I banquetted And rid with them in triumph through their courts In crystall Charriots drawne by Unicornes England Fraunce Spaine and welthy Belgia And all the rest of Europs blessed daughters Have made my covetous eye rich in th' embrace Of their celestiall beauties now I come To see the glory of faire Babylon Is Fortunatus wel-come to the Soldan For I am like the Sunne if Iove once chide My gilded browes from amorous heaven I hide Sould. Most welcome and most happie are mine armes In circling such an earthly deitie But will not Fortunatus make me blessed By sight of such a purse Fort. Ere I depart The Soldan shall receive one at my hands For I must spend some time in framing it And then some time to breathe
purser you I you I st not a shame that a kings daughter a faire Lady a Lady not for Lords but for Monarches should for gold sell her loue and when shée has her owne asking and that there stands nothing betwéene then to cheate your swéete heart O fie fie a shée cony-catcher You must be dealt soundly with Agrip. Inioyne what paines thou wilt I le endure them so thou wilt send me to my fathers court Ande. Nay gods lid y' are not gon so set your heart at rest for I haue set vp my rest that except you can runne swifter then a Hart home you goe not what paines shall I lay vpon you Let me sée I could serue you now but a slipperie touch I could get a young King or two or three of you and then send you home and bid their grand-sire king nurse them I could pepper you but I will not Agrip. O doe not violate my chastitie Andel. No why I tell you I am not giuen to the flesh though I sauor in your nose a little of the diuell I could run away else and starue you here Agrip. If I must die doome me some easier death Andel. Or transforme you because you loue picking into a Squirell and make you picke out a poore liuing here among the Nut trees but I will not neither Agrip. What will my gentle Andelocia doe Andel. Oh now you come to your old byas of cogging Agrip. I pray thée Andelocia let me goe Send me to England and by heauen I sweare Thou from all kings on earth my loue shalt beare And. Shal I in faith Agrip. In faith in faith thou shalt Andel. Here god a mercie now thou shalt not goe Agrip. Oh God Andel. Nay doe you heare Lady crie not y' are best no nor curse me not if you thinke but a crabbed thought of me the spirit that caried you in mine armes through the ayre will tell me all therefore set your Sunday face vpon t Since you 'le loue me I le loue you I le marrie you and lie with you and beget little Iuglers marie home you get not England you 'le say is yours but Agripyne loue me and I will make the whole world thine Agrip. I care not for the world thou murdrest me Betwéene my sorrow and the scalding Sunne I faint and quickly will my life be done My mouth is like a Furnace and drie heate Drinks vp my bloud Oh God my heart will burst I die vnlesse some moysture quench my thirst Andel. S'hart now I am worse then ere I was before For halfe the world I would not haue her die Here 's neither spring nor ditch nor raine nor dew Nor bread nor drinke my louely Agripyne Be comforted sée here are Apple trées Agrip. Clime vp for Gods sake reach me some of them Andel. Looke vp which of these Apples likes thée best Agrip. This hath a withered face t is some swéete fruit Not that my sorrowes are too sowre already Andel. Come hither here are Apples like gold Agrip. O I for Gods sake gather some of these Ay me would God I were at home againe Climes vp Andel. Stand farder least I chance to fall on thée Oh here be rare Apples rare red-cheekt Apples that cry come kisse me Apples hold your peace I le teach you to cry Eates one Agrip. O England shal I ne're behold thée more Andel. Agripyna t is a most Sugred delicious tast in ones mouth but when t is downe t is as bitter as gall Agrip. Yet gather some of them Oh that a Princesse Should pine for foode were I at home againe I should disdaine to stand thus and complaine And. Here 's one Apple that growes highest Agripyna I could reach that I le come downe Hee stands fishing with his girdle for it Agrip. Make hast for the hot Sun doth scald my chéekes Andel. The sunne kisse thée hold catch put on my Hat I will haue yonder highest Apple though I die for 't Agrip. I had not wont be Sun-burnt wretched mée O England would I were againe in thée Exit He leapes downe And. Swounds Agripyna stay O I am vndone Swéete Agripyna if thou hearst my voice Take pittie of me and returne againe Shée flies like lightning O she heares me not I wish my selfe into a wildernesse And now I shall turne wilde here I shall famish Here die here cursing dye here rauing die And thus will wound my brest and rent mine hayre What hils of Flint are growne vpon my browes O me two forked hornes I am turn'd beast I haue abuzde two blessings welth and knowledge Wealth in my purse and knowledge in my Hat By which being borne into the Courts of kings I might haue séene the wondrous workes of Ioue Acquirde Experience Learning Wisedome Truth But I in wildernesse tottred out my youth And therefore must turne wild must be a beast An vgly beast my body hornes must beare Because my foule deformitie doth weare Liues none within this wood If none but I Liue here thankes heauen for here none els shal die He lies downe and sleepes vnder the tree Enter Fortune Vice Vertue the Priest Satyres with Musicke playing as they come in before Fortune They play awhile Fortune Sée where my new-turnd diuel has built his hel Vice Uertue who conquers now the foole is tane Vert. O sléepie sinne Musicke awhile and then cease Vice Swéete tunes wake him againe Fort. Uice sets too heauie on his drowzy soule Musicke swéete concord cannot pierce his eare Sing and amongst your Songs mix bitter scorne Vert. Those that teare Uertue must by Uice be torne The Song Uertue stand aside the foole is caught 1. Verse Laugh to sée him laugh alowd to wake him Follies nets are wide and neately wrought Mocke his hornes and laugh to sée Uice take him Quire Ha ha ha ha ha laugh laugh in scorne Andel. wakens stands vp Who 's that foole the foole he wears a horne Uertue stād aside mock him mock him mock him 2. Verse Laugh alowd to sée him call him foole Error gaue him sucke now sorrowes rocke him Send the riotous beast to madnes schoole Quire Ha ha ha ha ha laugh laugh in scorne Who 's the foole the foole he weares a horne Uertue stand aside your schoole hee hates 3. Verse Laugh alowd to sée him mocke mocke mock him Uanitie and hell kéepe open gates Hée s in and a newe nurse Despaire must rocke him Quire Ha ha ha ha ha laugh laugh in scorne Foole foole foole foole foole weare still the horne When they haue done singing Vice and Vertue hold Apples out to him Vice laughing Vertue grieuing Andel. O me what hell is this fiends tempt me not Thou glorious diuell hence Oh now I sée This fruit is thine thou hast deformed mée Ideot auoide thy gifts I loath to tast Away since I am entred madnes Schoole As good to be a beast as be a foole Away why tempt you me some powrefull grace Come and redéeme me
England striue Rather by vertue then by wealth to thriue Enter Vertue crownd Nymphes and kings attending on her crownd with Oliue branches and lawrels musicke sounding Vice Uertue alas good soule shée hides her head Vert. What enuious tongue said Uertue hides her head Vice Shée that will driue thée into banishment Fort. Shée that hath conquers thée how dar'st thou come Thus trickt in gawdy Feathers and thus garded Which crowned kings and Muses when thy foe Hath trod thus on thee and now triumphes so Where 's vertuous Ampedo See hée s her slaue For following thée this recompence they haue Vert. Is Ampedo her stane Why that 's my glorie The Idiots cap I once wore on my head Did figure him those that like him doe muffle Uertue in clouds and care not how shée shine I le make their glorie like to his decline He made no vse of me but like a miser Lockt vp his wealth in rustie barres of sloth His face was beautifull but wore a maske And in the worlds eyes seemd a Blackamore So perish they that so keepe vertue poore Vice Thou art a foole to striue I am more strong And greater then thy selfe then Uertue flie And hide thy face yeeld me the victorie Vert. Is Uice higher then Uertue that 's my glorie The higher that thou art thou art more horrid The world will loue me for my comlynesse Fortu. Thine owne selfe loues thy selfe why on the heads Of Agripyne Montresse and Longauyle English Scot French did Uice clap vgly hornes But to approue that English French and Scot And all the world els kneele and honour Uice But in no Countrie Uertue is of price Vert. Yes in all Countries Uertue is of price In euery kingdome some diuiner brest Is more enamord of me then the rest Haue English Scot and French bowd knees to thee Why that 's my glorie too for by their shame Men will abhor thee and adore my name Fortune thou art too weake Uice th' art a foole To fight with me I suffred you awhile T' ecclips my brightnes but I now will shine And make you sweare your beautie 's base to mine Fort. Thou art too insolent see here 's a court Of mortall Iudges le ts by them be tride Which of vs three shall most be deifide Vice I am content Fort. And I Vert. So am not I My Iudge shall be your sacred deitie Vice O miserable me I am vndon Exit Vice and her traine All O stop the horrid monster Vert. Let her runne Fortune who conquers now Fort. Uertue I see Thou wilt triumph both ouer her and me All Empresse of heauen and earth Fort. Why doe you mocke me Kneele not to me to her transfer your eyes There sits the Queene of Chance I bend my knees Lower then yours dread goddesse t is most meete That Fortune fall downe at thy conqu'ring feete Thou sacred Empresse that commandst the Fates Forgiue what I haue to thy handmaid don And at thy Chariot wheeles Fortune shall run And be thy captiue and to thee resigne All powers which heau'ns large Patent haue made mine Vert. Fortune th' art vanquisht sacred deitie O now pronounce who winnes the victorie And yet that sentence needes not since alone Your vertuous presence Uice hath ouer-throwne Yet to confirme the conquest on your side Looke but on Fortunatus and his sonnes Of all the welth those gallants did possesse Onely poore Shaddow is left comfortlesse Their glorye 's faded and their golden pride Sha. Only poore Shadow tels how poore they died Vert. All that they had or mortall men can haue Sends onely but a Shaddow from the graue Uertue alone liues still and liues in you I am a counterfeit you are the true I am a Shaddow at your feete I fall Begging for these and these my selfe and all All these that thus doe kneele before your eyes Are shaddowes like my selfe dred Nymph it lyes In you to make vs substances O doe it Uertue I am sure you loue shee woes you to it I read a verdict in your Sun-like eyes And this it is Uertue the victorie All All loudly cry Uertue the victorie Vert. Uertue the victorie for ioy of this Those selfe same himnes which you to Fortune sung Let them be now in Uertues honour rung The Song Uertue smiles crie hollyday Dimples on her cheekes doe dwell Uertue frownes crie wellada Her loue is Heauen her hate is Hell Since heau'n and hell obey her power Tremble when her eyes doe lowre Since heau'n and hell her power obay Where shee smiles crie hollyday Hollyday with ioy we crie And bend and bend and merily Sing hymnes to vertues deitie Sing hymnes to Uertues deitie As they all offer to goe in Enter the two old men The Epilogue at Court 1. NAy stay poore pilgrims when I entred first The circle of this bright celestiall Sphaere I wept for ioy now I could weepe for feare 2 I feare we all like mortall men shall proue Weake not in loue but in expressing loue 1 Let euery one beg once more on his knee One pardon for himselfe and one for mee For I intic'd you hither O deere Goddesse Breathe life in our nombd spirits with one smile And from this cold earth we with liuely soules Shal rise like men new-borne make heau'n sound With Hymnes sung to thy name and praiers that we May once a yeere so oft enioy this sight Til these yōg boyes change their curld locks to white And when gray-winged Age sits on their heads That so their children may supply their Steads And that heau'ns great Arithmetician Who in the Scales of Nomber weyes the world May still to fortie two and one yeere more And stil adde one to one that went before And multiply fowre tennes by many a ten To this I crie Amen All Amen Amen 1 Good night deere mistris those that wish thee harme Thus let them stoope vnder destructions arme All Amen Amen Amen Exeunt FINIS Tho. Dekker