SONG.
O fair sweet Goddess Queen of Loves,
Soft and gentle, as thy Doves,
Humble ey'd, and ever ruing
Those poor hearts, their Loves pursuing:
O thou Mother of delights,
Crowner of all happy nights,
Star of dear content, and pleasure,
Of mutual loves the endless treasure,
Accept this sacrifice we bring,
Thou continual youth and Spring,
Grant this Lady her desires,
And every hour we'll crown thy fires.
Enter a Nun.
Nun. You about her all retire,
Whilest the Princess feeds the fire,
When your Devotions ended be
To the Oracle I will attend ye.
[Exit Nun and draws the Curtain close to Calis.
Enter Stremon and Eumenes.
Strem. He will abroad.
Eumen. How does his humour hold him?
Stre. He is now grown wondrous sad, weeps often too,
Talks of his Brother to himself, starts strangely.
Eumen. Does he not curse?
Strem. No.
Eumen. Nor break out in fury,
Offering some new attempt?
Strem. Neither; to th' Temple
Is all we hear of now: what there he will do—
Eumen. I hope repent his folly, let's be near him.
Strem. Where are the rest?
Eumen. About a business
Concerns him mainly, if Heav'n cure his madness,
He's made for ever, Stremon.
Strem. Does the King know it?
Eumen. Yes, and much troubled with it, he's now gone
To seek his Sister out.
Strem. Come let's away then. [Exeunt Eumen. Strem. Cal.
Enter Nun, she opens the Curtain to Calis. Calis at the Oracle.
Nun. Peace to your Prayers Lady, will it please ye
To pass on to the Oracle?
Cal. Most humbly. [Chilax and Priest, in the Oracle.
Chi. Do ye hear that?
Priest. Yes, lie close.
Chi. A wildfire take ye,
What shall become of me? I shall be hang'd now:
Is this a time to shake? a halter shake ye,
Come up and juggle, come.
Priest. I am monstrous fearful.
Chi. Up ye old gaping Oyster, up and answer;
A mouldy Mange upon your chops, ye told me
I was safe here till the Bell rung.
Priest. I was prevented,
And did not look these three hours for the Princess.
Chi. Shall we be taken?
Priest. Speak for loves sake, Chilax;
I cannot, nor I dare not.
Chi. I'le speak Treason, for I had as lieve be hang'd for that.
Priest. Good Chilax.
Chi. Must it be sung or said? what shall I tell 'em?
They are here; here now preparing.
Priest. O my Conscience!
Chi. Plague o' your spurgall'd Conscience, does it tire now?
Now when it should be tuffest? I could make thee—
Priest. Save us, we are both undone else.
Chi. Down ye Dog then,
Be quiet, and be stanch to no inundations.
Nun. Here kneel again, and Venus grant your wishes.
Calis. O Divine Star of Heaven,
Thou in power above the seven:
Thou sweet kindler of desires,
Till they grow to mutual fires:
Thou, O gentle Queen, that art
Curer of each wounded heart:
Thou the fuel, and the flame;
Thou in Heaven, and here the same:
Thou the wooer, and the woo'd:
Thou the hunger, and the food:
Thou the prayer, and the pray'd;
Thou what is, or shall be said:
Thou still young, and golden tressed,
Make me by thy Answer blessed.
Chi. When?
Priest. Now speak handsomly, and small by all means,
I have told ye what. [Thunder.
Chi. But I'le tell you a new tale,
Now for my Neck-verse; I have heard thy prayers,
And mark me well.
Musick. Venus descends.
Nun. The Goddess is displeased much,
The temple shakes and totters; she appears,
Bow, Lady, bow.
Venus. Purge me the Temple round,
And live by this example henceforth sound.
Virgin, I have seen thy tears,
Heard thy wishes, and thy fears;
Thy holy Incense flew above,
Hark therefore to thy doom in Love;
Had thy heart been soft at first,
Now thou had'st allay'd thy thirst,
Had thy stubborn will but bended,
All thy sorrows here had ended;
Therefore to be just in Love,
A strange Fortune thou must prove,
And, for thou hast been stern and coy,
A dead Love thou shalt enjoy.
Cal. O gentle goddess!
Ven. Rise, thy doom is said,
And fear not, I will please thee with the dead. [Venus ascends.
Nun. Go up into the Temple and there end
Your holy Rites, the Goddess smiles upon ye. [Exeunt Cal. and Nun.
Enter Chilax in his Robe.
Chi. I'll no more Oracles, nor Miracles,
Nor no more Church work, I'll be drawn and hang'd first.
Am not I torn a pieces with the thunder?
Death, I can scarce believe I live yet,
It gave me on the buttocks, a cruel, a huge bang,
I had as lieve ha' had 'em scratcht with Dog-whips:
Be quiet henceforth, now ye feel the end on't,
I would advise ye my old friends, the good Gentlewoman
Is strucken dumb, and there her Grace sits mumping
Like an old Ape eating a Brawn; sure the good Goddess
Knew my intent was honest, to save the Princess,
And how we young men are entic'd to wickedness,
By these lewd Women, I had paid for't else too.
I am monstrous holy now, and cruel fearful,
O 'twas a plaguey thump, charg'd with a vengeance.
Enter Siphax, walks softly over the stage, and goes in.
Would I were well at home; the best is, 'tis not day:
Who's that? ha? Siphax! I'll be with you anon, Sir;
Ye shall be oracled I warrant ye,
And thunder'd too, as well as I; your Lordship
Enter Memnon, Eumenes, Stremon, and two carrying Torches.
Must needs enjoy the Princess, yes: ha! Torches?
And Memnon coming this way? he's Dog-mad,
And ten to one appearing thus unto him,
He worries me, I must go by him.
Eum. Sir?
Mem. Ask me no further questions; what art thou?
How dost thou stare! stand off; nay look upon me,
I do not shake, nor fear thee— [Draws his Sword.
Chi. He will kill me,
This is for Church work.
Mem. Why dost thou appear now?
Thou wert fairly slain: I know thee, Diocles,
And know thine envy to mine honour: but—
Chi. Stay Memnon,
I am a Spirit, and thou canst not hurt me.
Eum. This is the voice of Chilax.
Strem. What makes him thus?
Chi. 'Tis true, that I was slain in field, but foully,
By multitudes, not manhood: therefore mark me,
I do appear again to quit mine honour,
And on thee single.
Mem. I accept the challenge.
Where?
Chi. On the Stygian Banks.
Mem. When?
Chi. Four days hence.
Mem. Go noble Ghost, I will attend.
Chi. I thank ye.
Stre. Ye have sav'd your throat, and handsomly:
Farewel, Sir. [Exit Chilax.
Mem. Sing me the Battles of Pelusium,
In which this Worthy dyed.
Eum. This will spoil all, and make him worse
Than e'r he was: sit down, Sir,
And give your self to rest.