Boy. As I am vertuous,
What, thieves amongst our selves?
Chi. Stremon.
Stre. Lieutenant.
Chi. Welcome a shore, a shore.
Fool. What Mounsieur Musick?
Stre. My fine Fool.
Boy. Fellow Crack, why what a consort
Are we now blest withal?
Fool. Fooling and fidling,
Nay and we live not now boys; what new songs, Sirra?
Stre. A thousand, man, a thousand.
Fool. Itching Airs
Alluding to the old sport.
Stre. Of all sizes.
Fool. And how does small Tym Treble here; the heart on't?
2 Boy. To do you service.
Fool. O Tym the times, the times Tym.
Stre. How does the General,
And next what money's stirring?
Chi. For the General
He's here, but such a General!
The time's chang'd, Stremon,
He was the liberal General, and the loving,
The feeder of a Souldier, and the Father,
But now become the stupid'st.
Stre. Why, what ails he?
Chi. Nay, if a Horse knew, and his head's big enough,
I'le hang for't; did'st thou ever see a Dog
Run mad o'th' tooth-ache, such another toy
Is he now, so he glotes and grins, and bites.
Fool. Why hang him quickly,
And then he cannot hurt folks.
Chi. One hour raving,
Another smiling, not a word the third hour,
I tell thee Stremon h'as a stirring soul,
What ever it attempts or labours at
Would wear out twenty bodies in another.
Fool. I'le keep it out of me, for mine's but Buckram,
He would bownce that out in two hours.
Chi. Then he talks
The strangest and the maddest stuff from reason,
Or any thing ye offer; stand thou there,
I'le show thee how he is, for I'le play Memnon
The strangest General that ere thou heardst of, Stremon.
Stre. My Lord.
Chi. Go presently and find me
A black Horse with a blew tail; bid the blank Cornet
Charge through the Sea, and sink the Navy: softly,
Our souls are things not to be waken'd in us
With larums, and loud bawlings, for in Elyzium
Stilness and quietness, and sweetness, Sirra,
I will have, for it much concerns mine honour,
Such a strong reputation for my welcome
As all the world shall say: for in the forefront
So many on white Unicorns, next them
My Gentlemen, my Cavaliers and Captains,
Ten deep and trapt with Tenter-hooks to take hold
Of all occasions: for Friday cannot fish out
The end I aim at; tell me of Diocles,
And what he dares do? dare he meet me naked?
Thunder in this hand? in his left—Fool—
Fool. Yes, Sir.
Chi. Fool, I would have thee fly i'th' Air, fly swiftly
To that place where the Sun sets, there deliver.
Fool. Deliver? what, Sir?
Chi. This Sir, this ye slave, Sir, [All laugh.
Death ye rude Rogues, ye Scarabe's.
Fool. Hold for Heav'ns sake, Lieutenant, sweet Lieutenant.
Chi. I have done, Sir.
Boy. You have wrung his neck off.
Chi. No Boy, 'tis the nature
Of this strange passion when't hits to hale people
Along by th' hair, to kick 'em, break their heads.
Fool. Do ye call this Acting, was your part to beat me?
Chi. Yes, I must act all that he does.
Fool. Plague act ye,
I'le act no more.
Stre. 'Tis but to shew man.
Fool. Then man
He should have shew'd it only, and not done it,
I am sure he beat me beyond Action,
Gouts o' your heavy fist.
Chi. I'le have thee to him,
Thou hast a fine wit, fine fool, and canst play rarely.
He'l hug thee, Boy, and stroke thee.
Fool. I'le to the stocks first,
E're I be strok't thus.
Strem. But how came he, Chilax?
Chi. I know not that.
Strem. I'le to him.
Chi. He loves thee well,
And much delights to hear thee sing; much taken
He has been with thy battel songs.
Stre. If Musick
Can find his madness; I'le so fiddle him,
That out it shall by th' shoulders.
Chi. My fine Fidler,
He'l firk you and ye take not heed too: 'twill be rare sport
To see his own trade triumph over him;
His Lute lac'd to his head, for creeping hedges;
For mony there's none stirring; try good Stremon
Now what your silver sound can do; our voices
Are but vain Echoes.
Stre. Something shall be done
Shall make him understand all; let's toth' Tavern,
I have some few Crowns left yet: my whistle wet once
I'le pipe him such a Paven—
Chi. Hold thy head up,
I'le cure it with a quart of wine; come Coxcomb,
Come Boy take heed of Napkins.
Fool. Youl'd no more acting?
Chi. No more Chicken.
Fool. Go then. [Exeunt omnes.
Enter Siphax at one door, and a Gentleman at the other.
Si. God save you Sir; pray how might I see the Princess?
Gent. Why very fitly, Sir, she's even now ready
To walk out this way intoth' Park; stand there,
Ye cannot miss her sight, Sir.
Si. I much thank ye. [Exit Gentleman.
Enter Calis, Lucippe, and Cleanthe.
Cal. Let's have a care, for I'le assure ye Wenches
I wou'd not meet him willingly again;
For though I do not fear him, yet his fashion
I wou'd not be acquainted much with.
Cle. Gentle Lady,
Ye need not fear, the walks are view'd and empty,
But me thinks, Madam, this kind heart of his—
Lucip. He's slow a coming.
Si. Keep me ye blest Angels,
What killing power is this?
Cal. Why, dost thou look for't?
Dost think he spoke in earnest?
Lucip. Methinks, Madam,
A Gentleman should keep his word; and to a Lady,
A Lady of your excellencies.
Cal. Out Fool!
Send me his heart? what should we do with't? dance it?
Lucip. Dry it and drink it for the Worms.
Cal. Who's that?
What man stands there?
Clean. Where?
Cal. There.
Cle. A Gentleman,
Which I beseech your grace to honour so much,
As know him for your servants Brother.
Cal. Siphax?
Cle. The same an't please your grace; what does he here?
Upon what business? and I ignorant?
Cal. He's grown a handsome Gentleman: good Siphax
Y'are welcome from the Wars; wou'd ye with us, Sir?
Pray speak your will: he blushes, be not fearfull,
I can assure ye for your Sisters sake, Sir,
There's my hand on it.
Cle. Do you hear, Sir?
Cal. Sure these Souldiers
Are all grown senseless.
Cle. Do ye know where ye are, Sir?
Cal. Tongue-tyed,
He looks not well too, by my life, I think—
Cle. Speak for shame speak.
Lucip. A man wou'd speak—
Cal. These Souldiers
Are all dumb Saints: consider and take time, Sir,
Let's forward Wenches, come, his Palat's down.
Luc. Dare these men charge i'th' face of fire and bullets?
And hang their heads down at a handsome Woman?
Good master Mars, that's a foul fault. [Ex. Prin. Lucippe.
Cle. Fye beast,
No more my Brother.
Si. Sister, honoured Sister.
Cle. Dishonoured fool.
Si. I do confess.
Cle. Fye on thee.
Si. But stay till I deliver.
Cle. Let me go,
I am asham'd to own thee.
Si. Fare ye well then,
Ye must ne're see me more.
Cle. Why stay dear Siphax,
My anger's past; I will hear ye speak.
Si. O Sister!
Cle. Out with it Man.
Si. O I have drunk my mischief.
Cle. Ha? what?
Si. My destruction.
In at mine eyes I have drunk it; O the Princess,
The rare sweet Princess!
Cle. How fool? the rare Princess?
Was it the Princess that thou said'st?
Si. The Princess.
Cle. Thou dost not love her sure, thou darst not.
Si. Yes by Heaven.
Cle. Yes by Heaven? I know thou darst not.
The Princess? 'tis thy life the knowledge of it,
Presumption that will draw into it all thy kindred,
And leave 'em slaves and succourless; the Princess?
Why she's a sacred thing to see and worship,
Fixt from us as the Sun is, high, and glorious,
To be ador'd not doted on; desire things possible,
Thou foolish young man, nourish not a hope
Will hale thy heart out.
Si. 'Tis my destinie,
And I know both disgrace and death will quit it,
If it be known.
Cle. Pursue it not then, Siphax,
Get thee good wholesome thoughts may nourish thee,
Go home and pray.
Si. I cannot.
Cle. Sleep then, Siphax,
And dream away thy doting.
Si. I must have her,
Or you no more your Brother; work Cleanthe,
Work, and work speedily, or I shall die Wench.
Cle. Dye then, I dare forget; farewel.
Si. Farewel Sister.
Farewel for ever, see me buried.
Cle. Stay.
Pray stay: he's all my brothers: no way Siphax,
No other Woman?
Si. None, none, she or sinking.
Cle. Go and hope well, my life I'le venture for thee
And all my art, a Woman may work miracles;
No more, pray heartily against my fortunes,
For much I fear a main one.
Si. I shall do it. [Exeunt.
Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.
Enter a Priestess of Venus and a Boy.
Pri. Find him by any means; and good child tell him
He has forgot his old friend, give him this,
And say this night without excuse or business,
As ever he may find a friend, come to me,
He knows the way and how, begon.
Boy. I gallop. [Exit Boy.