Clo. How is it?
Chi. Come, 'tis as well as can be.
Clo. But is it possible
This should be true you tell me?
Chi. 'Tis most certain.
Clo. Such a gross Ass to love the Princess?
Chi. Peace,
Pull your Robe close about ye: you are perfect
In all I taught ye?
Cl[o]. Sure.
Chi. Gods give thee good luck.
'Tis strange my Brains should still be beating Knavery
For all these dangers, but they are needful mischiefs,
And such are Nuts to me; and I must do 'em.
You will remember me—
Clo. By this kiss, Chilax.
Chi. No more of that, I fear another thunder.
Clo. We are not i'th' Temple, man.
Enter Siphax.
Chi. Peace, here he comes,
Now to our business handsomly; away now. [Ex. Chilax, and Cloe.
Si. 'Twas sure the Princess, for he kneel'd unto her,
And she lookt every way: I hope the Oracle
Has made me happy; me I hope she lookt for,
Enter Chilax, and Cloe at the other door.
Fortune, I will so honour thee, Love, so adore thee.
She is here again, looks round about her, again too,
'Tis done, I know 'tis done; 'tis Chilax with her,
And I shall know of him; who's that?
Chi. Speak softly,
The Princess from the Oracle.
Si. She views me,
By Heaven she beckons me.
Chi. Come near, she wou'd have ye.
Si. O royal Lady. [Kisses her hand.
Chi. She wills ye read that, for belike she's bound to silence
For such a time; she is wondrous gracious to ye.
Si. Heav'n make me thankful.
Chi. She would have ye read it. [He reads.
Si. Siphax, the will of Heaven hath cast me on thee
To be thy Wife, whose Will must be obey'd:
Use me with honour, I shall love thee dearly,
And make thee understand thy worths hereafter;
Convey me to a secret Ceremony,
That both our hearts and loves may be united,
And use no Language, till before my Brother
We both appear, where I will shew the Oracle,
For till that time I am bound, I must not answer.
Si. O happy I!
Chi. Ye are a made man.
Si. But Chilax,
Where are her Women?
Chi. None but your Graces Sister,
Because she would have it private to the World yet,
Knows of this business.
Si. I shall thank thee, Chilax,
Thou art a careful man.
Chi. Your Graces Servant.
Si. I'll find a fit place for thee.
Chi. If you will not,
There's a good Lady will, she points ye forward,
Away and take your fortune; not a word, Sir:
So, you are greas'd I hope. [Ex. Si. and Cloe, manet Chilax.
Enter Stremon, Fool, and Boy.
Chi. Stremon, Fool, Picus,
Where have you left your Lord?
Strem. I' th' Temple, Chilax.
Chi. Why are ye from him?
Strem. Why, the King is with him,
And all the Lords.
Chi. Is not the Princess there too?
Strem. Yes.
And the strangest Coil amongst 'em; She weeps bitterly:
The King entreats, and frowns, my Lord like Autumn
Drops off his hopes by handfulls, all the Temple
Sweats with this Agony.
Chi. Where's young Polydore?
Strem. Dead, as they said, o' th' sudden.
Chi. Dead?
Strem. For certain,
But not yet known abroad.
Chi. There's a new trouble,
A brave young man he was; but we must all dye.
Strem. Did not the General meet you this morning
Like a tall Stallion Nun?
Chi. No more o' that, Boy.
Strem. You had been ferretting.
Chi. That's all one, Fool;
My Master Fool that taught my wits to traffick,
What has your Wisedom done? how have you profited?
Out with your Audit: come, you are not empty,
Put out mine eye with twelve-pence? do you shaker?
What think you of this shaking? here's wit, Coxcomb,
Ha Boys? ha my fine Rascals, here's a Ring, { Pulls out
a Purse.
How right they go!
Fool. O let me ring the fore Bell.
[Chi.] And here are thumpers, Chiqueens, golden rogues,
Wit, wit, ye Rascals.
Fool. I have a Stye here, Chilax.
Chi. I have no Gold to cure it, not a penny,
Not one cross, Cavalier; we are dull Souldiers,
Gross heavy-headed fellows; fight for Victuals?
Fool. Why, ye are the Spirits of the time.
Chi. By no means.
Fool. The valiant firie.
Chi. Fie, fie, no.
Fool. Be-lee me, Sir.
Chi. I wou'd I cou'd, Sir.
Fool. I will satisfie ye.
Chi. But I will not content you; alas poor Boy,
Thou shew'st an honest Nature, weepst for thy Master,
There's a red Rogue to buy thee Handkerchiefs.
Fool. He was an honest Gentleman, I have lost too.
Chi. You have indeed your labour, Fool; but Stremon,
Dost thou want money too? no Vertue living?
No firking out at fingers ends?
Strem. It seems so.
Chi. Will ye all serve me?
Strem. Yes, when ye are Lord General,
For less I will not go.
Chi. There's Gold for thee then,
Thou hast a Souldiers mind. Fool—
Fool. Here, your first man.
Chi. I will give thee for thy Wit, for 'tis a fine wit,
A dainty diving Wit, hold up, just nothing,
Go graze i' th' Commons, yet I am merciful—
There's six-pence: buy a Saucer, steal an old Gown,
And beg i' th' Temple for a Prophet, come away Boys,
Let's see how things are carried, Fool, up Sirrah,
You may chance get a dinner: Boy, your preferment
I'll undertake, for your brave Masters sake,
You shall not perish.
Fool. Chilax.
Chi. Please me well, Fool.
And you shall light my pipes: away to the Temple.
But stay, the King's here, sport upon sport, Boys.
Enter King, Lords, Siphax kneeling, Cloe with a Vail.
King. What would you have, Captain?
Speak suddenly, for I am wondrous busie.
Si. A pardon, Royal Sir.
King. For what?
Si. For that
Which was Heaven's Will, should not be mine alone, Sir;
My marrying with this Lady.
King. It needs no pardon,
For Marriage is no Sin.
Si. Not in it self, Sir;
But in presuming too much: yet Heaven knows,
So does the Oracle that cast it on me,
And——the Princess, royal Sir.
King. What Princess?
Si. O be not angry my dread King, your Sister.
King. My Sister; she's i' th' Temple, Man.
Si. She is here, Sir.
Lord. The Captain's mad, she's kneeling at the Altar.
King. I know she is; with all my heart good Captain,
I do forgive ye both: be unvail'd, Lady. [Puts off her Vail.
Will ye have more forgiveness? the man's frantick,
Come let's go bring her out: God give ye joy, Sir.
Si. How, Cloe? my old Cloe? [Ex. King, Lords.
Clo. Even the same, Sir.
Chi. Gods give your manhood much content.
Strem. The Princess
Looks something musty since her coming over.
Fool. 'Twere good you'd brush her over.
Si. Fools and Fidlers
Make sport at my abuse too?
Fool. O 'tis the Nature
Of us Fools to make bold with one another,
But you are wise, brave sirs.
Chi. Cheer up your Princess,
Believe it Sir, the King will not be angry,
Or say he were; why, 'twas the Oracle.
The Oracle, an't like your Grace, the Oracle.
Strem. And who, most mighty Siphax?
Siph. With mine own whore.
Cloe. With whom else should ye marry, speak your conscience,
Will ye transgress the law of Arms, that ever
Rewards the Souldier with his own sins?
Siph. Devils.
Cloe. Ye had my maiden-head, my youth, my sweetness,
Is it not justice then?—
Siph. I see it must be,
But by this hand, I'le hang a lock upon thee.
Cloe. You shall not need, my honesty shall doe it.
Siph. If there be wars in all the world—
Cloe. I'le with ye,
For you know I have been a Souldier,
Come, curse on: when I need another Oracle.
Chi. Send for me Siphax, I'le fit ye with a Princess,
And so to both your honours.
Fool. And your graces.
Siph. The Devil grace ye all.
Cloe. God a mercy Chilax.
Chi. Shall we laugh half an hour now?
Strem. No the King comes,
And all the train.
Chi. Away then, our Act's ended. [Exeunt.