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.