[Musick.
SONG Cinthia to thy power, and them we obey.
Joy to this great company, and no day
Come to steal this night away,
Till the rites of love are ended,
And the lusty Bridegroom say,
Welcome light of all befriended.
Pace out you watry powers below, let your feet
Like the Gallies when they row, even beat.
Let your unknown measures set
To the still winds, tell to all
That Gods are come immortal great,
To honour this great Nuptial.
The Measure. Second Song.
Hold back thy hours dark night, till we have done,
The day will come too soon;
Young Maids will curse thee if thou steal'st away,
And leav'st their blushes open to the day.
Stay, stay, and hide the blushes of the Bride.
Stay gentle night, and with thy darkness cover
The kisses of her Lover.
Stay, and confound her tears, and her shrill cryings,
Her weak denials, vows, and often dyings;
Stay and hide all, but help not though she
call.
Nep. Great Queen of us and Heaven,
Hear what I bring to make this hour a full one,
If not her measure.
Cinth. Speak Seas King.
Nep. Thy tunes my Amphitrite joyes to have,
When they will dance upon the rising wave,
And court me as the sails, my Trytons play
Musick to lead a storm, I'le lead the way.
Song. Measure.
_To bed, to bed; come Hymen, lead the Bride,
And lay her by her Husbands side:
Bring in the Virgins every one
That grieve to lie alone:
That they may kiss while they may say, a maid,
To morrow 'twill be other, kist and said:
Hesperus be long a shining,
Whilst these Lovers are a twining_.
Eol. Ho! Neptune!
Nept. Eolus!
Eol. The Seas go hie,
Boreas hath rais'd a storm; go and applie
Thy trident, else I prophesie, ere day
Many a tall ship will be cast away:
Descend with all the Gods, and all their power to
strike a cal[m].
Cin. A thanks to every one, and to gratulate
So great a service done at my desire,
Ye shall have many floods fuller and higher
Than you have wisht for; no Ebb shall dare
To let the day see where your dwellings are:
Now back unto your Government in haste,
Lest your proud charge should swell above the waste,
And win upon the Island.
Nep. We obey.
[Neptune descends, and the Sea-gods.
Cinth. Hold up thy head dead night; seest thou not day?
The East begins to lighten, I must down
And give my brother place.
Nigh. Oh! I could frown
To see the day, the day that flings his light
Upon my Kingdoms, and contemns old Night;
Let him go on and flame, I hope to see
Another wild-fire in his Axletree;
And all false drencht; but I forgot, speak Queen.
The day grows on I must no more be seen.
Cin. Heave up thy drowsie head agen, and see
A greater light, a greater Majestie,
Between our sect and us; whip up thy team;
The day breaks here, and you some flashing stream
Shot from the South; say, which way wilt thou go?
Nigh. I'le vanish into mists. [Exeunt.
Cin. I into day. [Finis Mask.
King. Take lights there Ladies, get the Bride to bed;
We will not see you laid, good night Amintor,
We'l ease you of that tedious ceremony;
Were it [my] case, I should think time run slow.
If thou beest noble, youth, get me a boy,
That may defend my Kingdom from my foes.
Amin. All happiness to you.
King. Good night Melantius. [Exeunt.
Actus Secundus
Enter Evadne, Aspatia, Dula, and other Ladies.
Dul. Madam, shall we undress you for this fight?
The Wars are nak'd that you must make to night.
Evad. You are very merry Dula.
Dul. I should be far merrier Madam, if it were with me as it is with you.
Eva. Why how now wench?
Dul. Come Ladies will you help?
Eva. I am soon undone.
Dul. And as soon done: Good store of Cloaths will trouble you at both.
Evad. Art thou drunk Dula?
Dul. Why here's none but we.
Evad. Thou think'st belike, there is no modesty When we are alone.
Dul. I by my troth you hit my thoughts aright.
Evad. You prick me Lady.
Dul. 'Tis against my will,
Anon you must endure more, and lie still.
You're best to practise.
Evad. Sure this wench is mad.
Dul. No faith, this is a trick that I have had Since I was fourteen.
Evad. 'Tis high time to leave it.
Dul. Nay, now I'le keep it till the trick leave me;
A dozen wanton words put in your head,
Will make you lively in your Husbands bed.
Evad. Nay faith, then take it.
Dul. Take it Madam, where? We all I hope will take it that are here.
Evad. Nay then I'le give you o're.
Dul. So will I make
The ablest man in Rhodes, or his heart to ake.
Evad. Wilt take my place to night?
Dul. I'le hold your Cards against any two I know.
Evad. What wilt thou do?
Dul. Madam, we'l do't, and make'm leave play too.
Evad. Aspatia, take her part.
Dul. I will refuse it.
She will pluck down a side, she does not use it.
Evad. Why, do.
Dul. You will find the play
Quickly, because your head lies well that way.
Evad. I thank thee Dula, would thou could'st instill
Some of thy mirth into Aspatia:
Nothing but sad thoughts in her breast do dwell,
Methinks a mean betwixt you would do well.
Dul. She is in love, hang me if I were so,
But I could run my Country, I love too
To do those things that people in love do.
Asp. It were a timeless smile should prove my cheek,
It were a fitter hour for me to laugh,
When at the Altar the Religious Priest
Were pacifying the offended powers
With sacrifice, than now, this should have been
My night, and all your hands have been imployed
In giving me a spotless offering
To young Amintors bed, as we are now
For you: pardon Evadne, would my worth
Were great as yours, or that the King, or he,
Or both thought so, perhaps he found me worthless,
But till he did so, in these ears of mine,
(These credulous ears) he pour'd the sweetest words
That Art or Love could frame; if he were false,
Pardon it heaven, and if I did want
Vertue, you safely may forgive that too,
For I have left none that I had from you.
Evad. Nay, leave this sad talk Madam.
Asp. Would I could, then should I leave the cause.
Evad. See if you have not spoil'd all Dulas mirth.
Asp. Thou think'st thy heart hard, but if thou beest caught, remember me; thou shalt perceive a fire shot suddenly into thee.
Actus Secundus
Enter Evadne, Aspatia, Dula, and other Ladies.
Dul. Madam, shall we undress you for this fight?
The Wars are nak'd that you must make to night.
Evad. You are very merry Dula.
Dul. I should be far merrier Madam, if it were with me as it is with you.
Eva. Why how now wench?
Dul. Come Ladies will you help?
Eva. I am soon undone.
Dul. And as soon done: Good store of Cloaths will trouble you at both.
Evad. Art thou drunk Dula?
Dul. Why here's none but we.
Evad. Thou think'st belike, there is no modesty When we are alone.
Dul. I by my troth you hit my thoughts aright.
Evad. You prick me Lady.
Dul. 'Tis against my will,
Anon you must endure more, and lie still.
You're best to practise.
Evad. Sure this wench is mad.
Dul. No faith, this is a trick that I have had Since I was fourteen.
Evad. 'Tis high time to leave it.
Dul. Nay, now I'le keep it till the trick leave me;
A dozen wanton words put in your head,
Will make you lively in your Husbands bed.
Evad. Nay faith, then take it.
Dul. Take it Madam, where? We all I hope will take it that are here.
Evad. Nay then I'le give you o're.
Dul. So will I make
The ablest man in Rhodes, or his heart to ake.
Evad. Wilt take my place to night?
Dul. I'le hold your Cards against any two I know.
Evad. What wilt thou do?
Dul. Madam, we'l do't, and make'm leave play too.
Evad. Aspatia, take her part.
Dul. I will refuse it.
She will pluck down a side, she does not use it.
Evad. Why, do.
Dul. You will find the play
Quickly, because your head lies well that way.
Evad. I thank thee Dula, would thou could'st instill
Some of thy mirth into Aspatia:
Nothing but sad thoughts in her breast do dwell,
Methinks a mean betwixt you would do well.
Dul. She is in love, hang me if I were so,
But I could run my Country, I love too
To do those things that people in love do.
Asp. It were a timeless smile should prove my cheek,
It were a fitter hour for me to laugh,
When at the Altar the Religious Priest
Were pacifying the offended powers
With sacrifice, than now, this should have been
My night, and all your hands have been imployed
In giving me a spotless offering
To young Amintors bed, as we are now
For you: pardon Evadne, would my worth
Were great as yours, or that the King, or he,
Or both thought so, perhaps he found me worthless,
But till he did so, in these ears of mine,
(These credulous ears) he pour'd the sweetest words
That Art or Love could frame; if he were false,
Pardon it heaven, and if I did want
Vertue, you safely may forgive that too,
For I have left none that I had from you.
Evad. Nay, leave this sad talk Madam.
Asp. Would I could, then should I leave the cause.
Evad. See if you have not spoil'd all Dulas mirth.
Asp. Thou think'st thy heart hard, but if thou beest caught, remember me; thou shalt perceive a fire shot suddenly into thee.
Dul. That's not so good, let'm shoot any thing but fire, I fear'm not.
Asp. Well wench, thou mayst be taken.
Evad. Ladies good night, I'le do the rest my self.
Dul. Nay, let your Lord do some.
Asp. Lay a Garland on my Hearse of the dismal Yew.
Evad. That's one of your sad songs Madam.
Asp. Believe me, 'tis a very pretty one.
Evad. How is it Madam?
Asp_. Lay a Garland on my Hearse of the dismal yew;
Maidens, Willow branches bear; say I died true:
My Love was false, but I was firm from my hour of birth;
Upon my buried body lay lightly gentle earth_.
Evad. Fie on't Madam, the words are so strange, they are able to make one Dream of Hobgoblins; I could never have the power, Sing that Dula.
Dula_. I could never have the power
To love one above an hour,
But my heart would prompt mine eye
On some other man to flie;_
Venus, fix mine eyes fast,
Or if not, give me all that I shall see at last.
Evad. So, leave me now.
Dula. Nay, we must see you laid.
Asp. Madam good night, may all the marriage joys
That longing Maids imagine in their beds,
Prove so unto you; may no discontent
Grow 'twixt your Love and you; but if there do,
Enquire of me, and I will guide your moan,
Teach you an artificial way to grieve,
To keep your sorrow waking; love your Lord
No worse than I; but if you love so well,
Alas, you may displease him, so did I.
This is the last time you shall look on me:
Ladies farewel; as soon as I am dead,
Come all and watch one night about my Hearse;
Bring each a mournful story and a tear
To offer at it when I go to earth:
With flattering Ivie clasp my Coffin round,
Write on my brow my fortune, let my Bier
Be born by Virgins that shall sing by course
The truth of maids and perjuries of men.
Evad. Alas, I pity thee. [Exit Evadne.
Omnes. Madam, goodnight.
1 Lady. Come, we'l let in the Bridegroom.
Dul. Where's my Lord?
1 Lady. Here take this light.
[Enter Amintor.