Cle. I have been looking you.
Pri. The fair Cleanthe,
What may your business be?
Cle. O holy Mother
Such business, of such strange weight, now or never.
As ye have loved me, as ye do or may do,
When I shall find a fit time.
Pri. If by my means
Your business may be fitted; ye know me,
And how I am tyed unto you; be bold Daughter
To build your best hopes.
Cle. O but 'tis a strange one,
Stuck with as many dangers—
Pri. There's the working,
Small things perform themselves and give no pleasures;
Be confident, through death I'le serve.
Clea. Here.
Pri. Fye no corruption.
Cle. Take it; 'tis yours,
And goodness is no gall to th' Conscience,
I know ye have ways to vent it: ye may hold it.
Pr. I'll keep it for ye; when?
Cle. To morrow morning
I'll visit ye again; and when occasion
Offers it self—
Pr. Instruct me, and have at ye.
Cle. Farewel till then; be sure.
Pri. As your own thoughts, Lady.
Cle. 'Tis a main work, and full of fear. [Exit Cle.
Pri. Fools only
Make their effects seem fearful, farewell daughter.
This gold was well got for my old tuff Souldier,
Now I shall be his sweet again; what business
Is this she has a foot? some lusty lover
Beyond her line, the young Wench would fain piddle,
A little to revive her must be thought of,
'Tis even so, she must have it; but how by my means,
A Devil, can she drive it? I that wait still
Before the Goddess, giving Oracle,
How can I profit her? 'tis her own project,
And if she cast it false, her own fault be it. [Exit Priest.
Enter Polydore, Eumenes, Captains, Stremon.
Pol. Why, this is utter madness.
Eum. Thus it is, Sir.
Pol. Only the Princess sight?
1 Cap. All we can judge at.
Pol. This must be lookt to timely.
Eum. Yes, and wisely.
Pol. He does not offer at his life?
Eum. Not yet, Sir,
That we can hear of.
Pol. Noble Gentlemen,
Let me entreat your watches over him,
Ye cannot do a worthier work.
2 Cap. We came, Sir,
Provided for that service.
Pol. Where is Chilax?
Strem. A little busie, Sir.
Pol. Is the Fool and Boy here?
Strem. They are, Sir.
Enter Memnon.
Pol. Let 'em be still so; and as they find his humours.
Eumen. Now ye may behold him.
Pol. Stand close, and make no noise;
By his eyes now, Gentlemen,
I guess him full of anger.
Eumen. Be not seen there.
Mem. The hour's past long ago, he's false and fearful,
Coward, go with thy Caitive soul, thou Cur Dog,
Thou cold Clod, wild fire warm thee, monstrous fearful,
I know the Slave shakes but to think on't.
Pol. Who's that?
Eumen. I know not, Sir.
Mem. But I shall catch ye, Rascal,
Your mangy Soul is not immortal here, Sir,
Ye must dye, and we must meet; we must, maggot,
Be sure we must, for not a Nook of Hell,
Not the most horrid Pit shall harbour thee;
The Devils tail sha'n't hide thee, but I'll have thee,
And how I'll use thee! whips and firebrands:
Tosting thy tail against a flame of wild fire,
And basting it with Brimstone, shall be nothing,
Nothing at all; I'll teach ye to be treacherous:
Was never Slave so swing'd since Hell was Hell
As I will swinge thy Slaves Soul; and be sure on't.
Pol. Is this imagination, or some circumstance?
For 'tis extream strange.
Eumen. So is all he does, Sir.
Mem. Till then I'll leave ye; who's there? where's the Surgeon?
Demagoras?
Dem. My Lord.
Mem. Bring the Surgeon:
And wait you too.
Enter Surgeon.
Pol. What wou'd he with a Surgeon?
Eum. Things mustring in his head: pray mark.
Mem. Come hither,
Have you brought your Instruments?
Sur. They are within, Sir.
Mem. Put to the doors a while there; ye can incise
To a hairs breadth without defacing.
Sur. Yes Sir.
Mem. And take out fairly from the flesh.
Sur. The least thing.
Mem. Well come hither; take off my doublet,
For look ye Surgeon, I must have ye cut
My Heart out here, and handsomly: Nay, stare not,
Nor do not start; I'll cut your throat else, Surgeon,
Come swear to do it.
Sur. Good Sir—
Mem. Sirrah, hold him,
I'll have but one blow at his head.
Sur. I'll do it,
Why what should we do living after you, Sir?
We'll dye before if ye please.
Mem. No, no.
Sur. Living? hang living.
Is there ne'r a Cat hole where I may creep through?
Would I were in the Indies. [Aside.
Mem. Swear then, and after my death presently
To kill your selves and follow, as ye are honest,
As ye have faiths, and loves to me.
Dem. We'll do it.
Eum. Pray do not stir yet, we are near enough
To run between all dangers.
Mem. Here I am, Sir;
Come, look upon me, view the best way boldly,
Fear nothing, but cut home; if your hand shake, Sirrah,
Or any way deface my heart i'th' cutting,
Make the least scratch upon it; but draw it whole,
Excellent fair, shewing at all points, Surgeon,
The Honour and the Valour of the Owner,
Mixt with the most immaculate love I send it,
Look to't, I'll slice thee to the Soul.
Sur. Ne'r fear, Sir,
I'll do it daintily; would I were out once.
Mem. I will not have ye smile, Sirrah, when ye do it,
As though ye cut a Ladies Corn; 'tis scurvy:
Do me it as thou dost thy Prayers, seriously.
Sur. I'll do it in a dump, Sir.
Mem. In a Dog, Sir,
I'll have no dumps, nor dumplins; fetch your tools,
And then I'll tell ye more.
Sur. If I return
To hear more, I'll be hang'd for't.
Mem. Quick, quick.
Dem. Yes Sir,
With all the heels we have. [Exeunt Surgeon, Demagoras.
Eumen. Yet stand.
Pol. He'l do it.
Eum. He cannot, and we here.
Mem. Why when ye Rascals,
Ye dull Slaves: will ye come, Sir? Surgeon, syringe,
Dog-leach, shall I come fetch ye?
Pol. Now I'll to him.
God save ye honour'd Brother.
Mem. My dear Polydore,
Welcome from travel, welcome; and how do ye?
Pol. Well Sir, would you were so.
Mem. I am, I thank ye.
You are a better'd man much, I the same still,
An old rude Souldier, Sir.
Pol. Pray be plain, Brother,
And tell me but the meaning of this Vision,
For to me it appears no more; so far
From common Course and Reason.
Mem. Thank thee, Fortune,
At length I have found the man: the man must do it,
The man in honour bound.
Pol. To do what?
Mem. Hark, for I will bless ye with the circumstance
Of that weak shadow that appear'd.
Pol. Speak on, Sir. [Walks with him.
Mem. It is no Story for all ears.
Pol. The Princess? [Whispers.
Mem. Peace and hear all.
Pol. How?
Eum. Sure 'tis dangerous
He starts so at it.
Pol. Your heart? do you know, Sir?
Mem. Yes, Pray thee be softer.
Pol. Me to do it?
Mem. Only reserv'd, and dedicated.
Pol. For shame, Brother,
Know what ye are, a man.
Mem. None of your Athens,
Good sweet Sir, no Philosophy, thou feel'st not
The honourable end, fool.
Pol. I am sure I feel
The shame and scorn that follows; have ye serv'd thus long
The glory of your Country, in your Conquests?
The envy of your Neighbours, in your Vertues?
Rul'd Armies of your own, given Laws to Nations,
Belov'd and fear'd as far as Fame has travell'd,
Call'd the most fortunate and happy Memnon,
To lose all here at home, poorly to lose it?
Poorly, and pettishly, ridiculously
To fling away your fortune? where's your Wisedom?
Where's that you govern'd others by, discretion?
Do's your Rule lastly hold upon your self? fie Brother,
How ye are faln? Get up into your honour,
The top branch of your bravery, and from thence,
Look and behold how little Memnon seems now.
Mem. Hum! 'tis well spoken; but dost thou think young Scholar,
The tongues of Angels from my happiness
Could turn the end I aim at? no, they cannot.
This is no Book-case, Brother; will ye do it?
Use no more art, I am resolv'd.
P[o]l. Ye may Sir
Command me to do any thing that's honest,
And for your noble end: but this, it carries—
Mem. Ye shall not be so honour'd; live an Ass still,
And learn to spell for profit: go, go study.
Eum. Ye must not hold him up so, he is lost then.
Mem. Get thee to School again, and talk of turnips,
And find the natural Cause out, why a Dog
Turns thrice about e're he lyes down: there's Learning.
Pol. Come, I will do it now; 'tis brave, I find it,
And now allow the reason.
Mem. O do you so, Sir?
Do ye find it currant?
Pol. Yes, yes, excellent.
Mem. I told ye.
Pol. I was foolish: I have here too
The rarest way to find the truth out; hark ye?
Ye shall be rul'd by me.
Mem. It will be: but—
Pol. I reach it,
If the worst fall, have at the worst; we'll both go.
But two days, and 'tis thus; ha?
Mem. 'Twill do well so.
Pol. Then is't not excellent, do ye conceive it?
Mem. 'Twill work for certain.
Pol. O 'twill tickle her,
And you shall know then by a line.
Mem. I like it,
But let me not be fool'd again.
Pol. Doubt nothing,
You do me wrong then, get ye in there private
As I have taught ye; Basta.
Mem. Work. [Exit Memnon.
Pol. I will do.
Eum. Have ye found the cause?
Pol. Yes, and the strangest, Gentlemen,
That e'r I heard of, anon I'll tell ye: Stremon
Be you still near him to affect his fancy,
And keep his thoughts off: let the Fool and Boy
Stay him, they may do some pleasure too: Eumenes
What if he had a Wench, a handsome Whore brought,
Rarely drest up, and taught to state it?
Eum. Well Sir.
Pol. His cause is meerly heat: and made believe
It were the Princess mad for him.
Eum. I think
'Twere not amiss.
1 Cap. And let him kiss her.
Pol. What else?
2 Cap. I'll be his Bawd an't please you, young and wholesome
I can assure ye he shall have.
Eum. Faith let him.
Pol. He shall, I hope 'twill help him, walk a little.
I'll tell you how his case stands, and my project
In which you may be mourners, but by all means
Stir not you from him, Stremon.
Strem. On our lives, Sir. [Exeunt.
Pri. O y'are a precious man! two days in town
And never see your old Friend?
Chi. Prithee pardon me.
Pri. And in my Conscience if I had not sent.
Chi. No more, I would ha' come; I must.
Pri. I find ye,
God a mercy want, ye never care for me
But when your Slops are empty.
Chi. Ne'r fear that, Wench;
Shall find good currant Coin still; Is this the old House?
Pri. Have ye forgot it?
Chi. And the door still standing
That goes into the Temple?
Pri. Still.
Chi. The Robes too,
That I was wont to shift in here?
Pri. All here still.
Chi. O ye tuff Rogue, what troubles have I trotted through!
What fears and frights! every poor Mouse a Monster
That I heard stir, and every stick I trod on,
A sharp sting to my Conscience.
Pri. 'Las poor Conscience.
Chi. And all to liquor thy old Boots, Wench.
Pri. Out Beast:
How you talk!
Chi. I am old, Wench,
And talking to an old man is like a stomacher,
It keeps his blood warm.
Pri. But pray tell me—
Chi. Any thing.
Pri. Where did the Boy meet with ye? at a Wench sure?
At one end of a Wench, a Cup of Wine, sure?
Chi. Thou know'st I am too honest.
Pri. That's your fault,
And that the Surgeon knows.
Chi. Then farewel,
I will not fail ye soon.
Pri. Ye shall stay Supper;
I have sworn ye shall, by this ye shall.
Chi. I will, Wench;
But after Supper for an hour, my business.
Pri. And but an hour?
Chi. No by this kiss, that ended
I will return and all night in thine Arms wench.
Pr. No more, I'le take your meaning; come 'tis Supper time. [Exeunt.
Enter Calis, Cleanthe, Lucippe.