love's riddle

s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng great britain -- history -- civil war, - -- poetry. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a poem on the late civil war . by mr. abraham cowley . london , printed . the publisher to the reader . meeting accidentally with this poem in manuscript , and being informed that it was a piece of the incomparable mr. ac's , i thought it unjust to hide such a treasure from the world. i remember'd that our author in his preface to his works , makes mention of some poems written by him on the late civil war , of which the following copy is questionably a part . in his most imperfect and unfinish'd pieces , you will discover the hand of so great a master . and ( whatever his own modesty might have advised to the contrary ) there is not one careless stroke of his but what should be kept sacred to posterity . he could write nothing that was not worth the preserving , being habitually a poet and always inspired . in this piece the iudicious reader will find the turn of the verse to be his ; the same copious and lively imagery of fancy , the same warmth of passion and delicacy of wit that sparkles in all his writings . and certainly no labours of a genius so rich in its self , and so cultivated with learning and manners , can prove an unwelcome present to the world. a poem on the late civil war . what rage does england from it self divide , more than the seas from all the world beside . from every part the roaring cannons play , from every part blood roars as loud as they . what english ground but still some moisture bears , of young mens blood , and more of mothers tears . what airs unthickened with the sighs of wives , tho' more of maids for their dear lovers lives . alas , what triumphs can this victory shew , that dies us red in blood and blushes too ! how can we wish that conquest , which bestows cypress , not bays , upon the conquering brows , it was not so when henry's dreadful name , not sword , nor cause , whole nations overcame . to farthest west did his swist conquests run , nor did his glory set but with the sun. in vain did roderic to his hold retreat , in vain had wretched ireland call'd him great . ireland ! which now most basely we begin to labour more to lose than he to win , it was not so when in the happy east , richard our mars , venus's isle possest . 'gainst the proud moon , he the english cross display'd , ecclips'd one horn , and the other paler made . when our dear lives we ventured bravely there , and digg'd our own to gain christs sepulchre . that sacred tomb which should we now enjoy , we should with as much zeal fight to destroy . the precious signs of our dead lord we scorn , and see his cross worse than his body torn . we hate it now both for the greek and iew , to us 't is folishness and scandal to . to what with worship the fond papist falls , that the fond zealot a cursed idol calls . so , 'twixt their double madness here 's the odds , one makes false devils , t'other makes false gods. it was not so when edward proved his cause , by a sword stronger than the salique laws . tho setched from pharamond , when the french did fight , with womens hearts against the womens right . the afflicted ocean his first conquest bore , , and drove red vvaves to the sad gallique shore ▪ as if he had angry with that element been , vvhich his wide soul bound with an island in . where 's now that spirit with which at cressey we , and poictiers forced from fate a victory ? two kings at once we brought sad captives home , a triumph scarcely known to ancient rome ; two foreign kings , but now alas we strive , our own , our own good soveraign to captive ! it was not so when agincourt was won , under great henry served the rain and sun , a nobler fight the sun himself ne'r knew , not when he stop'd his course a fight to view ! then death's old archer did more skilful grow , and learned to shoot more sure from th' english bow ; then france was her own story sadly taught , and felt how caesar and how edward fought . it was not so when that vast fleet of spain , lay torn and scatter'd on the english main ; through the proud world , a virgin , terror strook , the austrian crowns and rome's seven hills she shook : to her great neptune homaged all his streams and all the wide-stretched ocean was her thames . thus our fore-fathers fought , thus bravely bled , thus still they live , whil'st we alive are dead ; such acts they did that rome and caesar too , might envy those , whom once they did subdue . we 're not their off-spring , sure our heralds lie , but born we know not how , as now we die ; their precious blood we could not venture thus : some cadmus sure sow'd serpents teeth for us ; we could not else by mutual fury fall , whilst rhine and sequan for our armies call : chuse war or peace , you have a prince you know , as fit for both , as both are fit for you . furious as lightning when wars tempest came , but calm in peace , calm as a lambent flame . have you forgot those happy years of late , that saw nought ill , but us that were ingrate ; such years , as if earths youth return'd had been , and that old serpent time had cast his skin : as gloriously , and gently did they move , as the bright sun that measures them above ; then onely in books the learn'd could misery see , and the unlearned ne're heard of misery . then happy iames with as deep quiet reigned , as in his heavenly throne , by death , he gained . and least this blessing with his life should cease , he left us charles the pledge of future peace . charles under whom , with much ado , no less than sixteen years , we endur'd our happiness ; till in a moment , in the north we find , a tempest conjured up without a wind. as soon the north her kindness did repent , first the peace-maker , and next war she sent : just tweed that now had with long peace forgot on which side dwelt the english , which the scot : saw glittering arms shine sadly on his face ; vvhil'st all the affrighted fish sank down apace ; no blood did then from this dark quarrel grow , it gave blunt wounds , that bled not out till now ! for iove , who might have us'd his thundring power , chose to fall calmly in a golden showre ! a way we found to conquer , which by none of all our thrifty ancestors was known ; so strangly prodigal of late we are , vve there buy peace , and here at home buy vvar. how could a war so sad and barbarous please , but first by slandring those blest days of peace ? through all the excrements of state they pry , like emp'ricks to find out a malady ; and then with desperate boldness they endeavor , th' ague to cure by bringing in a feavor : the way is sure to expel some ill no doubt , the plague we know , drives all diseases out . vvhat strange wild fears did every morning breed , till a strange fancy made us sick indeed ? and cowardise did valours place supply , like those that kill themselves for fear to die ! vvhat frantick diligence in these men appears , that fear all ills , and act o'r all their fears ? thus into vvar we scared our selves ; and who but aaron's sons , that the first trumpet blew . fond men ! who knew not that they were to keep for god , and not for sacrifice , their sheep . the churches first this murderous doctrine sow , and learn to kill as well as bury now . the marble tombs where our fore-fathers lie , sweated with dread of too much company : and all their sleeping ashes shook for fear , least thousand ghosts should come and shroud them there . petitions next from every town they frame , to be restored to them from whom they came . the same stile all , and the same sense does pen , alas , they allow set forms of prayer to men. oh happy we , if men would neither hear their studied form , nor god their sudden prayer . they will be heard , and in unjustest wise , the many headed-rout for justice cries , they call for blood , which now i fear does call for blood again , much louder than they all . in sensless clamours , and confused noise , vve lost that rare , and yet unconquer'd voice : so when the sacred thracian lyre was drown'd , in the bistonian vvomens mixed sound . the wondring stones , that came before to hear , forgot themselves , and turn'd his murderers there . the same loud storm , blew the grave mitre down ; it blew down that , and with it shook the crown . then first a state , without a church begun ▪ comfort thy self dear church , for then 't was done . the same great storm , to sea great mary drove , the sea could not such dangerous tempests move . the same drove charles into the north , and then would readilier far have driven him back agen . to fly from noise of tumults is no shame , ne'r will their armies force them to the same : they all his castles , all his towns invade , he 's a large prisoner in all england made ! he must not pass to irelands weeping shore , the wounds these surgeons make must yield them more : he must not conquer his lewd rebels there , least he should learn by that to do it here . the sea they subject next to their command , the sea that crowns our kings and all their land. thus poor they leave him , their base pride and scorn , as poor as these , now mighty men , were born . when straight whole armies meet in charle's right , how no man knows , but here they are and fight . a man would swear that saw this altered state , kings were called gods , because they could create vain men ; 't is heaven this first assistance brings , the same is lord of hosts , that 's king of kings . had men forsook him , angels from above . ( the assyrian did less their justice move . ) would all have mustered in his righteous aid , and thunder against your cannon would have play'd . it needs not so , for man desires to right abused mankind , and wretches you must fight . worster first saw 't , and trembled at the view , too well the ills of civil war she knew . twice did the flames of old her towers invade , twice call'd she in vain for her own severn's aid . here first the rebel winds began to roar , brake loose from the just fetters which they bore . here mutinous waves above their shore did swell , and the first storm of that dire winter fell . but when the two great brethren once appeared , and their bright heads like leda's off-spring rear'd , when those sea-calming sons , from iove were spied , the winds all fled , the waves all sunk and died ! how fought-great rupert , with what rage and skill ? enough to have conquered had his cause been ill ! comely young man ▪ and yet his dreadful sight , the rebels blood to their saint hearts does fright . in vain alass it seeks so weak defence ; for his keen sword brings it again from thence : yet grieves heat the lawrels thence he bore ; alass poor prince , they 'll fight with him no more . his vertue will be eclipsed with too much fame , henceforth he will not conquer , but his name : here — with tainted blood the field did stain , by his own sacriledge , and 's countreys curses slain . the first commander did heavens vengeance shew , and led the rebels van to shades below . on two fair hills both armies next are seen , the affrighted valley sighs and sweats between ; here angels did , with fair expectance stay , and wish'd good things to a king as mild as they ; there fiends with hunger waiting did abide , and cursed both , but spurr'd on the guilty side . here stood religion , her looks gently sage , aged , but much more comely for her age ! there schism old hagg , tho' seeming young appears , as snakes by casting skins , renew their years ; undecent rags of several dies she wore , and in her hand torn liturgies she bore . here loyalty an humble cross display'd , and still as charles pass'd by , she bow'd and pray'd . sedition there her crimson banner spreads , shakes all her hands , and roars with all her heads . her knotty hairs were with dire serpents twist , and every serpent at each other hist. here stood white truth , and her own host does bless , clad with those armes of proof her nakedness . there perjuries like cannons roar aloud , and lies flew thick , like cannons smoaky cloud . here learning and th' arts met , as much they fear'd as when the hunns of old and goths appear'd . what should they do , unapt themselves to fight , they promised noble pens the acts to write . there ignorance advanced , and joy'd to spy so many that durst fight they know not why . from those , who most the slow-soul'd monks disdain , from those she hopes the monks dull age again , here mercy wairs with sad but gentle look , never alass had she her charles forsook ! for mercy on her friends , to heaven the cries , whilst iustice pulls down vengeance from the skies . oppression there , rapine and murder stood ready as was the field to drink their blood. a thousand wronged spirits amongst them moan'd , and thrice the ghost of mighty strafford groan'd . now flew their cannon thick through wounded air , sent to defend , and kill their soveraign there . more than he them , the bullets feared his head , and at his feet lay innocently dead . they knew not what those men that sent them meant , and acted their pretence not their intent . this was the day , this the first day that shew'd how much to charles for our long peace we ow'd : by his skill here , and spirit we understood , from war naught kept him but his countries good . in his great looks , what chearful anger shone , sad war , and joyful triumphs mixed in one . in the same beams of his majestick eye , his own men life , his foes did death espy . great rupert this , that wing great willmott leads , white-seathered conquest , flies o'r both their heads . they charge , as if alone , they 'd beat the foe ; whether their troops followed them up or no. they follow close and haste into the fight , as swift as strait the rebels make their flight . so swift the miscreants fly , as if each fear and jealousie they framed , had met them there . they heard wars musick , and away they flew , the trumpets fright worse than the organs do . their souls which still , new by-ways do invent , out at their wounded backs perversly went. pursue no more , ye noble victors stay , least too much conquest lose so brave a day : for still the battail sounds behind , and fate will not give all ; but sets us here a rate : too dear a rate she sets , and we must pay one honest man , for ten such knaves as they . streams of black tainted blood the field besmear , but pure well coloured drops shine here and there : they scorn to mix with flouds of baser veines , just as the nobler moisture , oyl disdains . thus fearless lindsey , thus bold aubigny , amid'st the corps of slaughtered rebels lie : more honourably then — e'r was found , with troops of living traytors circled round . rest valiant souls in peace , ye sacred pair , and all whose deaths attended on you there : you 'r kindly welcomed to heavens peaceful coast , by all the reverend martyrs noble host. your soaring souls they meet with triumph , all led by great stephen their old general . go — now prefer thy flourishing state , above those murdered heroes doleful fate . enjoy that life which thou durst basely save , and thought'st a saw-pit nobler than a grave , thus many saved themselves , and night the rest , night that agrees with their dark actions best . a dismal shade did heavens sad face o'r flow , dark as the night , slain rebels found below . no gentle stars their chearful glories rear'd , ashamed they were at what was done , and fear'd least wicked men their bold excuse should frame from some strange influence , and so vail their shame . to duty thus , order and law incline , they who ne'r err from one eternal line . as just the ruin of these men they thought , as sisera's was , 'gainst whom themselves had fought . still they rebellions ends remember well since lucifer the great , their shining captain fell . for this the bells they ring , and not in vain , well might they all ring out for thousands slain . for this the bonefires , their glad lightness spread , when funeral flames might more befit their dead . for this with solemn thanks they tire their god , and whilst they feel it , mock th' almighties rod. they proudly now abuse his justice more , than his long mercies they abu'sd before . yet these the men that true religion boast , the pure and holy , holy , holy , host ! what great reward for so much zeal is given ▪ heaven . why , heaven has thank'd them since as they thank'd witness thou brainford , say thou ancient town , how many in thy streets fell grovelling down . witness the red coats weltering in their gore , and died anew into the name they bore . witness their men blowed up into the air , all elements their ruins joyed to share . in the wide air quick flames their bodies tore , then drown'd in waves , thei 'r tost by waves to shore . witness thou thames , thou wast amazed to see men madly run to save themselves in thee . in vain , for rebels lives thou woulst not save , and down they sunk beneath thy conquering wave . good reverend thames , the best beloved of all those noble blood , that meet at neptune's hall ; london's proud towers , which do thy head adorn , are not thy glory now , but grief and scorn . thou grievest to see the white named palace shine , without the beams of it's own lord and thine : thy lord which is to all as good and free , as thou kind flood to thine own banks can be . how does thy peaceful back disdain to bear the rebels busie pride at westminster . thou who thy self doest without murmuring pay eternal tribute to thy prince the sea. to oxford next great charles in triumph came , oxford the british muses second fame . here learning with some state and reverence looks , and dwells in buildings lasting as her books ; both now eternal , but they had ashes been , had these religious vandals once got in . not bodley's noble work their rage would spare , for books they know the chief malignants are . in vain they silence every age before , for pens of time to come will wound them more . the temples decent wealth , and modest state , had suffered , this their avarice , that their hate . beggary and scorn into the church they 'd bring , and make god glorious , as they made the king , o happy town , that to lov'd charles's sight , in those sad times givest safety and delight . the fate which civil war it self doth bless , scarce wouldst thou change ; for peace this happiness . amidst all the joys which heaven allows thee here , think on thy sister , and then shed a tear . what fights did this sad winter see each day , her winds and storms came not so thick as they ! yet naught these far lost rebels could recall , not marlborough's nor cirencester's fall . yet still for peace the gentle conqueror sues , by his wrath they perish , yet his love refuse . nor yet is the plain lesson understood , writ by kind heaven , in b — and h's — blood. chad and his church saw where their enemy lay , and with just red , new marked their holy day . fond men , this blow the injured crosier strook , naught was more fit to perish but thy book . such fatal vengeance did wronged charlegrove shew , where — both begun and ended to . his cursed rebellion , where his soul 's repaid with separation , great as that he made . — whose spirit moved o'r this mighty frame , o' th brittish isle , and out this chaos came . — the man that taught confusions art , his treasons restless and yet noisless heart . his active brain , like aetna's top appear'd , where treason 's forged , yet no noise outward heard . 't was he continued what e'r bold m — said , and all the popular noise that p — has made . 't was he that taught the zealous rout to rise , and be his slaves for some feigned liberties . him for this black design , hell thought most fit , ah! wretched man , cursed by too good a wit. if not all this your stubborn hearts can fright , think on the west , think on the cornish might : the saxon fury , to that far stretch'd place , drove the torn reliques of great brutus race . here they of old , did in long safety lie , compassed with seas , and a worse enemy . ne'r till this time , ne'r did they meet with foes more cruel and more barbarous than those . ye noble brittains , who so oft with blood of pagan hosts , have died old tamar's flood . if any drop of mighty vther still , or vther's mighty'r son your veins does fill . shew then that spirit , till all men think by you the doubtful tales of your great arthur true . you have shewn it britains , and have often done things that have cheared the weary setting sun. again did tamar your dread arms behold , as just and as successful as the old : it kissed the cornish banks , and vow'd to bring his richest waves to feed the ensuing spring ; but murmur'd sadly , and almost deny'd all fruitful moisture to the devon side . ye sons of war , by whose bold acts we see how great a thing exalted man may be ; the world remains your debtor , that as yet ye have not all gone forth and conquered it . i knew that fate some wonders for you meant , when matchless hopton to your coasts the sent . hopton ! so wise , he needs not fortunes aid , so fortunate his wisdom's useless made . should his so often tryed companions fail , his spirit , alone , and courage would prevail . miraculous man ! how would i sing thy praise , had any muse crowned me with half the bays conquest hath given to thee ; and next thy name should berkly , stanning , digby press to fame . godolphin thee , thee greenvil i 'd rehearse , but tears break off my verse , how oft has vanquished stamford backward fled , swift as the parted souls of those he led ! how few did his huge multitudes defeat , for most are ciphers when the number 's great . numbers alass of men , that made no more , than he himself ten thousand times told o'r . who hears of stratton fight , but must confess all that he heard or read before was less . sad germany can no such trophy boast , for all the blood these twenty years sh' has lost . vast was their army , and their arms were more than th' host of hundred-handed gyants bore . so strong their arms , it did almost appear secure , had neither arms nor men been there . in hopton breaks , in breaks the cornish powers , few and scarce arm'd , yet was the advantage ours . what doubts could be , their outward strength to win , when we bore arms and magazine within . the violent swords out-did the muskets ire , it strook the bones , and there gave dreadful fire : we scorned their thunder and the reaking blade , a thicker smoak than all their cannon made . death and loud tumults fill'd the place around ; with fruitless rage ; fallen rebels bite the ground , the arms we gain'd , were wealth , bodies , of the foe , all that a full fraught victory can bestow . yet stays not hopton thus , but still proceeds , pursues himself through all his glorious deeds . vvith hertford , and the prince , he joyns his fate , the belgian trophies on their journey wait . the prince who oft had check'd proud w — fame . and fool'd that flying conquerours empty name : till by his loss that fertile monster thriv'd , this serpent cut in parts rejoyn'd and liv'd . it liv'd and would have stung us deeper yet , but that bold greenvil its whole fury met . he sold like decius his devoted breath , and left the common-wealth heir to his death . hail mighty ghost ! look from on high and see how much our hands and swords remember thee . at roundway heath , our rage at thy great fall , whet all our spirits and made us greenvils all . one thousand horse beat all their numerous power ; bless me ! and where was then their conqueror ! coward of fame , he flies in haste away , men , arms , and name leaves us the victors prey . what meant those iron regiments which he brought , that moving statues seem'd and so they fought . no way for death but by disease appear'd , cannon and mines a siege they scarcely feared : till 'gainst all hopes they prov'd in this sad sight , too weak too stand , and yet too slow for fight . the furies houl'd aloud through trembling air , th' astonish'd snakes fell sadly from their hair , to lud's proud town their hasty flight they took , the towers and temples at their entrance shook : in vain their loss the' attempted to disguise , and mustred up new troops of fruitless lies : god fought himself , nor could th' event be less , bright conquest walks the fields in all her dress . could this white day a gift more grateful bring ? oh yes ! it brought bless'd mary to the king ! in keynton field they met , at once they view their former victory and enjoy a new . keynton the place that fortune did approve , to be the noblest scene of war and love ; through the glad vail , ten thousand cupids fled and chas'd the wandring spirits of rebels dead , still the lewd scent of powder did they fear , and scatter'd eastern smells through all the air. look happy mount , look well , for this is she , that toyl'd and travel'd for thy victory , thy flourishing head to her with reverence bow , to her thou owest that fame which crowns thee now . from far stretcht shores they felt her spirit , and might : princes and god at any distance fight . at her return well might sh' a conquest have , whose very absence such a conquest gave . this in the west , nor did the north bestow less cause their usual gratitude to show ; with much of state brave cavendish led them forth , as swift and fierce as tempest from the north. cavendish whom every grace and every muse , kiss'd at his birth ; and for their own did chuse : so good a wit they meant not should excel in arms , but now they see 't and like it well : so large is that rich empire of his heart , well may they rest contented with a part ; how soon he forc'd the northern clouds to flight , and struck confusion into form and light ! scarce did the power divine in fewer days , a peaceful world out of a chaos raise . bradford and leeds propt up their sinking fame , they bragg'd of hosts , and fairfax was a name . leeds , bradford , fairfax powers are strait their own , as quickly as they vote men overthrown . bootes from his wain look'd down below , and saw our victory move not half so slow . i see the gallant earl break through the foes , in dust and sweat how gloriously he shows . i see him lead the pikes ; what will he do ? defend him heaven , oh whither will he go ? up to the cannons mouth he leads ! in vain they speak loud death and threaten till they 'r ta'ne . so capaneu's two armies fill'd with wonder , when he charged iove & grappled with his thunder . both hosts with silence , and with terror shook , as if not he , but they were thunder-strook : the courage here , and boldness was no less , onely the cause was better and success . heaven will let naught be by their cannon done , since at edghil they sin'd and burlington . go now your silly calumnies repeat , and make all papists whom you cannot beat . let the world know some way , with whom you are vext , and vote 'em turks when they overthrow you next . why will you die fond men , why will you buy at this fond rate , your countreys slavery ? is 't liberty ! what are those threats we hear , why do you thus th' old and new prison fill ? when that 's the onely why ; because you will ? fain would you make god too thus tyranous be , and damn poor men by such a stiff decree : is 't property ? why do such numbers then ▪ from god beg vengeance and relief from men ? why are the estates and good 's seiz'd on of all whom covetous or malicious men miscall ? what 's more our own than our own lives ? but oh could yeoman's , or could bourchier find it so ? the barbarous coward alway's used to fly , did know no other way to see men die . or is 't religion ? what then mean your lies your sacriledges and pulpit blasphemies , why are all sect's let loose , that ere had birth , since luther's noise wak'd the lethargick earth , the author went no further . the puritan and the papist by a scholler in oxford. cowley, abraham, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing c ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing c estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the puritan and the papist by a scholler in oxford. cowley, abraham, - . [ ], p. printed [by h. hall], [oxford] : m.dc.xliii [i.e. ] in verse. at head of title: a satyre. signed at end: a.c. [i.e. abraham cowley] imprint suggested by wing. reproduction of original in the bodleian library. eng catholic church -- controversial literature. puritans -- controversial literature. a r (wing c ). civilwar no a satyre. the puritan and the papist. by a scholler in oxford. cowley, abraham c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a satyre . the puritan and the papist . by a scholler in oxford . printed in the yeare m.dc.xliii . a satyre . the pvritan and the papist . so two rude waves , by stormes together throwne , roare at each other , fight , and then grow one . religion is a circle ; men contend , and runne the round in dispute without end . now in a circle who goe contrary , must at the last meet of necessity . the roman to advance the catholicke cause allowes a lie , and calls it pia fraus . the puritan approves and does the same , dislikes nought in it but the latin name . he flowes with these devises , and dares ly in very deed , in truth , and verity . he whines , and sighes out lies , with so much ruth , as if he griev'd , 'cause he could ne're speake truth . lies have possest the presse so , as their due , 't will scarcely , ' i feare , henceforth print bibles true . lies for their next strong fort ha' th' pulpit chose , there throng out at the preachers mouth , and nose . and how e're grosse , are certaine to beguile the poore booke-turners of the middle isle . nay to th' almighty's selfe they have beene bold to ly , and their blasphemous minister told they might say false to god , for if they were beaten , he knew 't not , for he was not there . but god , who their great thankefulnesse did see , rewards them straight with another victorie , just such another at brainceford ; and san's doubt . will weary er 't be long their gratitude out . not all the legends of the saints of old , not vast baronius , nor sly surius hold such plenty of apparent lies , as are in your one author , io. browne cleric . par. besides what your small poets have said , or writ . brookes , strode , and the baron of the saw-pit : with many a mentall reservation , you 'le maintaine liberty , reserv'd [ your owne . ] for th' publique good the summes rais'd you 'le disburse ; reserv'd , [ the greater part for your owne purse . ] you 'le root the cavaliers out , every man ; faith , let it be reserv'd here ; [ if yee can . ] you 'le make our gracious charles , a glorious king ; reserv'd [ in heaven , ] for thither ye would bring his royall head ; the onely secure roome for glorious kings , whither you 'le never come . to keepe the estates o' th' subjects you pretend ; reserv'd [ in your owne trunkes ; ] you will defend the church of england , 't is your protestation ; but that 's new-england , by'a small reservation . power of dispensing oaths the papists claime ; case hath got leave o' god , to doe the same . for you doe hate all swearing so , that when you have sworne an oath , ye breake it streight agen . a curse upon you ! which hurts most these nations , cavaliers swearing , or your protestations ? nay , though oaths by you be so much abhorr'd , ye allow god damne me in the puritan lord . they keepe the bible from lay-men , but ye ▪ avoid this , for ye have no laytie ▪ they in a forraigne , and unknowne tongue pray . you in an unknowne sence your prayers say : so that this difference 'twixt ye does ensue , fooles understand not them , nor wise men you . they an unprofitable zeale have got , of invocating saints that heare them not . 't were well you did so ; nought may more be fear'd in your fond prayers , then that they should be heard . to them your non-sence well enough might passe , they 'd ne're see that i' th' divine looking-glasse : nay , whether you 'de worship saints is not yet knowne , for ye' have as yet of your religion none . they by good-workes thinke to be justified , you into the same errour deeper slide ; you thinke by workes too justified to be , and those ill workes , lies , treason , perjurie . but oh your faith is mighty , that hath beene , as true faith ought to be , of things unseene . at worc'ster , brainceford , and edge hill , we see , onely by faith you' have gotten victory . such is your faith , and some such unseene way the publique faith at last your debts will pay . they hold free-will ( that nought their soules may bind ) as the great priviledge of all mankind . you 're here more moderate , for 't is your intent , to make 't a priv'ledge but of parliament . they forbid priests to marry ; you worse doe , their marriage you allow , yet punish too : for you 'de make priests so poore , that upon all who marry , scorne and beggery must fall . they a bold power o're sacred scriptures take , blot out some clauses , and some new ones make . your great lord iesuite brookes publiquely said , ( brookes whom too little learning hath made mad ) that to correct the creed ye should doe well , and blot out christs descending into hell . repent wild man , or you 'le ne're change , i feare , the sentence of your owne descending there . yet modestly they use the creed , for they would take the lords prayer root and branch away . and wisely said a levit of our nation , the lords prayer was a popish innovation . take heed , you 'le grant ere long it should be said , an 't be but to desire your daily bread , they keepe the people ignorant , and you keepe both the people , and yourselves so too . they blind obedience and blind duty teach ; you blind rebellion and blind faction preach . nor can i blame you much , that yee advance that which can onely save yee , ignorance ; though heaven be praysed , t'has oft beene proved well your ignorance is not invincible . nay such bold lies to god him selfe yee vaunt , as if you'd faine keepe him too ignorant . limbus and purgatory they beleive for lesser sinners , that is , i conceive , malignants onely ; you this tricke does please , for the same cause ye ' have made new limbuses , where we may ly imprison'd long ere we a day of iudgement in your courts shall see . but pym can like the pope with this dispence ; and for a bribe deliver soules from thence . their councels claime infallibility , such must your conventicle-synod be ; and teachers from all parts of th'earth yee call , to mak 't a councell oecumenicall . they sev'rall times appoint from meats t' abstaine ; you now for th'irish warres a fast ordaine ; and that that kingdome might be sure to fast yee take a course to sterve them all at last . nay though yee keepe no eves , fridayes , nor lent , not to dresse meate on sundayes you're content ; then you repeat , repeat , and pray , and pray ; your teeth keepe sabboth , and tongues working day . they preserve reliques ; you have few or none , unlesse the clout sent to iohn pym be one . and hollises rich widow , shee who carryed a relique in her wombe before she married . they in succeeding peter take a pride ; so doe you ; for your master ye' have denyed . but cheifely peters priviledge yee choose , at your own wills to bind and to unloose . he was a fisherman ; you may be so too , when nothing but your ships are left to you . he went to rome , to rome you backward ride , ( though both your goings are by some denyed . ) nor i' st a contradiction , if we say . you goe to rome the quite contrary way ; he dy'd o' the crosse ; that death 's unusuall now ; the gallowes is most like 't , and that 's for you . they musicke love i' th church ; it offends your sence , and therefore yee have sung it out from thence , which shewes , if right your mind be understood , you hate it not as musicke , but as good . your madnesse makes you sing , as much as they dance , who are bit with a tarantula . but do not to your selves ( alas ) appeare the most religious traitors that ere were , because your troopes singing of psalmes do goe ; ther 's many a traytor has marcht holbourn so . nor was 't your wit this holy project bore ; tweed and the tyne has seene those trickes before . they of strange miracles and wonders tell , you are your selves a kind of miracle ; even such a miracle as in writ divine we read o' th devills hurrying downe the swine . they have made images to speake , 't is said , you a dull image have your speaker made ; and that your bounty in offerings might abound , y' have to that idoll giv'n six thousand pound , they drive out devills , they say ; here yee begin to differ , i confesse ; you let them in . they maintaine transubstantiation ; you by a contrary philosophers stone , to transubstantiate mettalls , have the skill ; and turne the kingdomes gold to i'ron and steele . i' th' sacrament yee agree not , but 't is noted , bread must be flesh , wine bloud , if ere 't be voted . they make the pope their head , you exalt for him primate and metropolitane , master pym ; nay , white , who sits in the infallible chaire , and most infallibly speakes non-sence there : nay cromwell , pury , whistler , sir iohn wray , he who does say , and say , and say , and say . nay lowry , who does new church-gover'ment wish , and prophesies , like ionas , midst the fish . who can such various businesse wisely sway , and handle herrings , and bishops in one day . nay all your preachers , women , boyes , or men , from master calamy , to mistresse ven , are perfect popes in their owne parish growne ; for to outdoe the story of pope ione : your women preach too , and are like to bee the whores of babylon , as much as shee . they depose kings by force ; by force you 'de doe it . but first use faire meanes to perswade them to it . they dare kill kings ; now 'twixt ye here 's the strife , that you dare shoot at kings , to save their life . and what 's the difference , 'pray , whether he fall by the popes bull or your oxe generall ? three kingdomes thus ye strive to make your owne ; and , like the pope , usurpe a triple crowne . such is your faith , such your religion ; let 's view your manners now , and then i ha' done . your covetousnesse let gasping ireland tell , where first the irish lands , and next ye sell the english bloud ; and raise rebellion here , with that which should suppresse , and quench it there . what mighty summes have ye squeez'd out o' th' city ? enough to make 'em poore , and something witty . excise , loanes , contributions , pole-moneys , bribes , plunder , and such parliament priviledges , are words which you 'le ne're learne in holy writ , 'till the spirit and your synod ha's mended it . where 's all the twentieth part now , which hath beene paid you by some , to forfeit the nineteene ? where 's all the goods distrain'd , and plunders past ? for you 're growne wretched , pilfering knaves at last ; descend to brasse and pewter ; till of late , like midas , all ye toucht , must needs be plate . by what vast hopes is your ambition fed ? 't is writ in bloud , and may be plainly read . you must have places , and the kingdome sway ; the king must be a ward to your lord say . your innocent speaker to the rolles must rise , six thousand pound hath made him proud and wise . kimbolton for his fathers place doth call ; would be like him ; would he were , face and all . isaack would alwayes be lord mayor , and so may alwayes be , as much as he is now . for the five members , they so richly thrive , they 'le but continue alwayes members five . onely pym doth his naturall right enforce , by the mothers side he 's master of the horse . most shall have places by these popular tricks , the rest must be content with bishopricks . for 't is 'gainst superstition your intent , first to root out that great church ornament , money and lands ; your swords , alas , are drawne , against the bishop , not his cap , or lawne . o let not such loud sacriledge begin , tempted by henries rich successefull sinne . henry the monster king of all that age ; wilde in his lust , and wilder in his rage . expect not you his fate , though hotham thrives in imitating henries tricke for wives , nor fewer churches hopes then wives to see buried , and then their lands his owne to bee . ye boundlesse tyranes , how doe you outvy th' athenian thirty , romes dec●mviri ? in rage , injustice , cruelty as farre above those men , as you in number are . what mysteries of iniquity doe we see ? new prisons made to defend libertie ; where without cause , some are undone , some dy , like men bewitcht , they know not how , nor why . our goods forc'd from us for propriety's sake ; and all the reall non-sence which ye make . ship-money was unjustly ta'ne , ye say ; unjustlier farre you take the ships away . the high-commission you calld tyrannie , ye did ; good god! what is the high-committee ? ye said that gifts and bribes preferments bought , by money and bloud too , they now are sought . to the kings will the lawes men strove to draw ; the subjects will is now become the law . 't was fear'd a new religion would begin ; all new religions now are entred in . the king delinquents to protect did strive ; what clubs , pikes , halberts , lighters , sav'd the five ? you thinke the parliament , like your state of grace , what ever sinnes men doe , they keepe their place . invasions then were fear'd against the state , and strode swore that last yeare would be ' eighty-eight . you bring in forraine aid to your designes ; first those great forraine forces of divines , with which ships from america were fraught ; rather may stinking tobacco still be brought from thence , i say ; next ye the scots invite , which ye terme brotherly assistan●e right ; for with them you intend england to share : they , who , alas , but younger brothers are , must have the monies for their portion ; the houses and the lands will be your owne . we thanke ye for the wounds which we endure , whil'st scratches and slight pricks ye seeke to sure . we thanke ye for true reall feares at last , which free us from so many false ones past . we thanke ye for the bloud which fats our coast , ( that fatall debt paid to great straffords ghost . ) we thanke ye for the ills receiv'd , and all which by your diligence in good time we shall . we thanke ye , and our gratitude 's as great as yours , when you thank'd god for being ●eat . a. c. finis . a letter to a freind [sic] shewing the illegall proceedings of the two houses of parliament and observing god's aversenesse to their actions, which caused the authours returne to the king and his alleagiance. cowley, abraham, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing c ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing c estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a letter to a freind [sic] shewing the illegall proceedings of the two houses of parliament and observing god's aversenesse to their actions, which caused the authours returne to the king and his alleagiance. cowley, abraham, - . [ ], p. [s.n.], london : . signed at end: a.c. attributed to abraham cowley. cf. wrenn catalogue. reproduction of original in huntington library. eng england and wales. -- parliament. great britain -- politics and government -- - . a r (wing c ). civilwar no a letter to a freind, shewing, the illegall proceedings of the two houses of parliament: and observing god's aversenesse to their actions. w a. c a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a letter to a freind , shewing , the illegall proceedings of the two houses of parliament : and observing god's aversenesse to their actions . which caused the authours returne to the king and his alleagiance . london , printed in the yeare m. dc . xlv . a letter to a freind , shewing the illegall proceedings of the two houses of parliament . cosen , you know how earnestly , and with what charge i opposed the illegall demands of ship money and loanes , how i hated court monopolies , and arbitrary justice in the star-chamber , councell table , and marshalls court , how i abhorred the exorbitance of the high commission ; all which the king readily rectified in the begining of this parliament . you know with what cheerefullnesse i tendred my purse ( my person being unserviceable ) for the reformation of religion , the suppressing popery , the establishment of our liberties and properties , the removing of evill counsellors , the reducing the king to his great counsell the parliament , and the uniting of the sister countries in a brotherly union . you remember how willingly we declared and protested , that for the safety of the kings person , the defence of the houses of parliament , the protestant religion established , the lawes , liberty , and peace of the kingdome , we would live and dye with the earle of essex . and this being first commanded by the houses of parliament , then seconded by the pulpit , carried the face of law and the voice of religion , so that with us was all israel from dan to beersheba . we possest all the walled cities , while the king like david in the mountaines had not a towne to retreate to . we had thousands of the choice men strongly armed , while the king had only a handfull of out law'd cavaliers ( as we call them ) and them naked , not a musket , scarce a sword among them . we had all the crowne revenue , all the city plate to bodkins and thimbles , even talents of gold and silver , and the king scarce enough to buy his dinner . our magazines swelled with armes , ordnance , and ammunition of all sorts ; while the king ( the houses having seized his , ) wanted all . and lest he should have supplies from beyond-sea , we possest all his navie , all his port-townes , and left him not a cock-boate , not a haven . and better then all these , we had the advantage of a just cause , fighting for god , and reformation of religion ( as our preachers taught us ) for the defence of the kings person , our lawes , the properties and liberties ( as the two houses told us ) of subjects , and these backed with the pious fastes and humiliations of sanctified congregations , with humble and earnest prayers for successe . and could so just a cause , so piously mannaged , by such religious patriots , can such miscarry or want successe ? especially , while on the other-side the kings small army was unarmed , idolatrous and popish cavaliers , their cause justifying of idolatry , popery , superstition , maintenance of bishops , rebellion against the parliament , and subversion of the fundamentall lawes ; their prayers ( if any ) for successe but supplications out of a popish liturgy . and what can such armies , such persons , such a cause , such prayers expect but destruction ? thus both pulpit and parliament misse-led me , untill of late i considered the successe of both sides , and do you weigh them indifferently , and then tell me where we can boast a victory ? for if we consider the battailes we most bragg of , those at keinton , alresford , lansdowne , yorke , newbury , we shall finde the successe such , as if heaven rather intended both sides vanquished , then us victors . on the other side examine the actions at runawaydowne , newbury , newarke , cropready , lestishiell , pontfract , and elsewhere , weigh the disproportions and disadvantages the kings armies fought with , and then view their successe , and you will finde it so farre beyond the expectation of reason , as it is scarce within the reach of our beleife . inquire what plenty of men , armes , ordinance , great townes and strong holds the king now hath , and so many have we lost . consider how many thousands of men , how many armies my lord of essex , my lord of manchester , and sir william waller have lost , how much treasure they have exhausted , how our navy is decayed , how many of our ships and men drowned , while we had no enemy at sea but heaven ? nay how many of our ships with their lading have the windes ( siding against us ) carried in to the kings aide , and our destruction ? and can these argue lesse then gods displeasure against our proceedings ? these ill successes made me looke backe upon our state actors , that sit at the helme and direct all things , and among them even those that were best reputed of , for reformation and integrity to the common-wealth : as master hampden , that first raised armes against the king , when ( as we thought ) out of danger , you shall finde him shot in chalgrove field where the yeare before he had first taken up his armes . you may see patriot pym , whom the people for his speech applaud like herod , like herod eaten up of lice , the lord brooke ( armed as death could not enter him , and at a distance danger could not reach ) breathing out threats against the church , is before the church with a single bullet shot in the eye . my lord say ( whom heaven cannot hurt , if the plot hold , ) hath one sonne scorned for being a coward in so good a bad cause , his other sonne condemned to be hanged for being honester then his father in delivering bristol . sir john hotham and his sonne , whom the houses justified for treason against the king , the houses ( to maintaine their priviledge ) execute first the sonne , then the father by a court of warre for thinking to be honest . and as if the same method were to be observed for the whole house , they are hanging young waineman to come to my lord his father . the earle of essex whom the first yeare they salute with hosanna's , passe votes for his thanks and trophies ; but now decrie , and as much as they dare scorne and neglect him . warwicke & manchester , ( like tinker fox , and rag-man phips ) must now be squeezed ( as orenges ) to make sauce for the juncto palates , they are rich . others there be deserve observation . while i contemplated these great active men and their misfortunes , i could not thinke them lesse then farthing sparrowes , which fall not without the divine providence , & therefore strictly examined our cause by the rules of law and gospell , and in a matter of this consequence i have taken the best opinions both of divines and lawyers , and of both the most moderate , yet such as were rather engaged on ours , then on the kings side . all the divines agree , our kings to have their power from god , and therefore saint peter commands obedience to kings as to the supreame ; saint paul to the higher powers for there is no power but from god , and therefore ( saith he ) pay ye tribute . and they observe that these commands were to christians ; the obedience commanded to be given to pagans , to heathenish kings , as the romans , those of pontus , asia , bithynia , &c. the divines observe that saint peters epistle was to strangers in pontus , galatia , &c. not natives , they tyed only by a locall alleageance , we by a locall , by a native , by a sworne alleageance ; they to a heathenish , we to our annointed christian king . all divines agree christ would not have his church his gospell planted by any bloud , but his owne , and therefore would not suffer saint peter to strike , to rescue him his king , his god . christ then will not that his vine should be drest , his church reformed with the bloud of christians . yet now our reformed religion permits subjects ( jesuite-like ) to fight against their king , for the propagation of the gospell . and that all things be done ( as the apostle directs ) decently and in order , they have supprest all church-government , and left almost every man to be his owne bishop , and if he will his owne preist . the booke of common prayer composed by all the clergy of england , and they legally called , confirmed and sealed by their bloud , and commanded by severall parliaments for these yeares , yet now on a sudden voted downe as popish . but not one particular exception to any onething in the liturgy . but a set forme of prayer is a binding of the spirit , and therefore our new directory ties not the spirit to words ( for the cloven tongues speake all languages ) but the assembly of godly divines , prescribes only the matter or effect of their prayer , lest the spirit beeing at too much liberty should pray against the close committee and their proceedings . the ten commandements and commination ( as restraining our christian liberty and judaicall ; ) the creed ( not yet rectified according to the sence of the house ) as erroneous ; the epistles and gospells ( fitted to the celebration of their severall dayes ) as popish , according to the discipline of the kirke of scotland , are all excommunicated . so that now in our new reformed church we have neither good commanded , nor evill prohibited , no faith confest , nor good example to imitate . the reading psalmes had beene totally banished the church , because written by a king ; but in respect david was a prophet too they are left to the wisedome of the minister , to read if he will . but the better meetre of hopkins and sternhold , because composed by commoners , are commanded to be sung , to waken the sleepie devotion of the otherwise mute congregation . i pray thee pardon mee , that i a little sport with our misery ; but 't is in private , and onely to thee . all the lawyers i have spoken with ( except corbet and master prideaux ) unanimously agree that all ordinances made by one or both houses of parliament without the king's assent are ( like man without the breath of life ) handsome models , but uselesse : and that all things done or acted by colour or direction of those ordinances are illegall and invalid , and that there is neither president to warrant , nor reason to maintaine them . and that both our ancient and moderne lawes were made by the king , but advised and consented to by both houses , all which appeares clearly in the penning of our ordinances and acts of parliament , even from h. . untill within these two yeares ; for they run thus : the king at the instance of his great men provided and ordeined that , &c. and that manner of penning held untill r. . and then the king by assent of the lords , and at the request of the commons ordaines and establisheth , &c. and all the following parliaments , even this present in the act for the trienniall parliament uses the same words , be it enacted by the king , with the consent of the lords and commons . so that in all ages the king made the law , the lords and commons doe but advise and consent thereunto , and custome ( that is , a great part of our law ) will not that any old law be abrogated , or a new law made , but by the king with the consent of the two houses ; and they are all confident that master pryn cannot shew any one ordinance made without the kings assent , nor any one booke or any ancient opinion that they might ; nay the very practice of the houses is against it ; insomuch as nothing is of record with them but what hath life by the kings assent . so as if a bill hath passed in both houses , yet that if the sessions of parliament end before the kings assent had to that bill , the next sessions the same bill must be as at first thrice read in both houses ; and againe , have all the formalities and circumstances as it had the first sessions ; for they cannot this sessions take notice of their owne actionsin that before . the knights , citizens , and burgesses , are but atturnies or deputies for their severall counties , cities , and boroughs , and therefore they cannot ( as barons which sit in their owne right ) make a deputy or party to consent or act for them : because by law an atturny cannot make an atturny , & assigne the power and trust to another which is reposed in himselfe , and therefore cannot make committees in severall counties to raise armes , to commit their fellow subjects , &c. nor can atturnies exceed or alter the power given them by their deputation or letter of atturny , but must follow that . and what the power and authority given them is appeares in their indenture betweene the shriffe and those that elect them : which is but according as the kings writ requires , & not power to doe what they list , as appeares by crompt . juris . fol. . the constant practice and course of courts best shewes the power and jurisdiction of the court , ( say the lawyers ) and they averre that there is not any one ordinance of parliament to be found made by the lords and commons without the kings assent . and surely had the two houses such power , the parliament of edw. . rich. . and hen. . so bitter against the king , would have found both the precedent , and made use of the power . let these therefore that are so ready to raise armes without the kings assent , nay contrary to his command , nay even against his person , let them consider , that in rich. . where his barons of parliament and others by colour and in persuance of an ordinance of parliament , whereby hugh de le spencers were banished and to be proceeded against as enemies to the king and kingdome in case they did returne ; the sonne returning to the king , the barons and others pretending that the de le spencers could not be legally attainted by processe of law , because they ( the de le spencers ) had usurped the royall power , and therefore in case of necessity ( for so is the booke of old mag. char. fol. . ) mutually bound themselves by oath , ( as we by our protestations ) and with armes and banners displayed persue the de le spencers , and kill and imprison divers of the kings subjects , and take their townes , castles , houses , &c. and all without the kings assent , ( as ours doe ) for which they were glad to take a pardon , ( as ours would be of an act of oblivion the scotch word for a generall pardon ) for that oath , their armes , &c. touching the opinion raised this parliament , that the two houses are above the king , and therefore the king ought and must passe such bills , such acts as they resolve and offer to him . that ( say the lawyers ) is totally false and against all reason , law , and practice in all ages . and in considering thereof they have not beene led by the pamphlets published this parliament on either side , because such ( like schoole-disputants ) rather endeavour to maintaine their position and side , then to discover truth : therefore the lawyers grounded their judgement upon bookes formerly written , upon precedents of moderate times , when the kings prerogative and subjects liberty both knew and kept their proper bounds . the parliament ( say they ) of the hen. . cap. . declares , that the realme of england is an empire governed by one supreame head and king , having the dignity and estate of the imperiall crowne , unto whom a body politique compact of all sorts and degrees of people by the name of the spiritualty and temporalty beene bound , and owe next to god a naturall and humble obedience , being by gods goodnesse endued with plenary whole and entire power , authority and iurisdiction within his realme . this body politique no doubt is the two houses of parliament , and doubtlesse then the two houses owe this naturall and humble obedience ; and then sure if the servant be not greater then his master to whom he owes his obedience , the creature then his creatour , then the two houses that ( as appeares by their owne act for the continuance of this parliament ) are called by the king , and by him dissolve able , are not above the king , that is their breath and gives life to all their actions . and if the king be by god endued with plenary power , entire authority and jurisdiction . consider from whom can the two houses have their power , their authority , and jurisdiction to be above that given by god . in caudries case in the report . fol. . the king is said to be the vicar of the highest king , ordained to governe and rule the kingdome and people . the parliament in the hen. . acknowledged the jurisdiction of kings to be immediately from god . the statute of the of hen. . cap. . declares the king to be the onely supreame head in earth under god of the church of england , and that he hath power to redresse and reforme all errors and abuses in the church . in the hen. . cap. . the parliament declares , that the king is the onely supreame head under god of the church of england , having the whole governance , tuition and defence thereof , and of his subjects . and consonant to that is our statute , eliz. and in our oath of alleagiance , ( ordained by act of parliament ) we and especially the members of the house of commons acknowledge and sweare , that the kings highnesse is the onely supreame governour of the realme , both in ecclesiasticall and temporall causes . and our lawyers say , that the king being the supreame governour cannot have any governour naturall or politique , ( as the two houses ) above him ; and as he is the onely supreame governour must needs be above all other governours either naturall or politique . by the same oath we sweare allegiance to him and his heires and successours , which must needs be to his naturall capacity , for his politique cannot have heires . and in the case of the dutchy of lancaster , plowd . . it is resolved that the body politique of the king cannot be severed from his naturall body . and then it is ridiculous to thinke , much more to say , that the politique capacity of the king is included in the two houses of parliament , when his naturall is absent and dissenting to what they doe . if the two houses could make a law or ordinance to binde the subject without the kings assent , why should not all the bils that passed both houses but had not the kings assent , why should not they be good and valid , and binde the subiects ' they had the votes of both houses when full and entire , they had more consideration , more circumstance , all necessaries ( but the kings assent ) to the making of a law ; yet these bils in all ages have beene held naught and invalid . and shall the votes of the two houses uponmotion of a worthy member ( though not a th part of either house be present ) and without the kings assent , shall they make a good ordinance to repeale five statutes in the reignes of edw. . and queene eliz. as in the ordinance for the directory , and the booke of common prayer : all which have stood unquestioned these yeares , and in which time we have had parliaments , in which our now parliament-mens fathers and grand-fathers were members , and ( i beleive ) as wise , as honest , and as religious , as their sonnes and grand-children , and they approved , they practiced and followed that liturgy . the parliament jacob . cap. . prayes the kings royall assent to a bill , without which nothing ( say they ) can be compleate and perfect , nor remaine to posserity . and cowell ( who writ about yeares since ) speaking of the regality of the king , comprised under the title of prerogative , there is not one ( faith he ) that belonged to the most absolute prince in the world , which doth not also belong to our king , onely by the custome of this kingdome he maketh no lawes without the consent of the three estates , [ lords spirituall , lords temporall , and the commons ] though he may quash any lavv concluded by them . then how shall the votes and ordinances of a small part of the house be good , when against magn. char. against the petition of right , against our allegiance and protestation ? yet must we venture our lives to murther our brothers , and fellow subjects , or they us , or both , to maintaine what they vote , though against law , contrary to the gospell , and without precedent . but the two houses doe but endeavour to take the king from his evill counsellours , to bring him to his parliament , where he ought to be present & resident , or else they may force him , yea eradicate three eares of wheate to destroy one of tares . for that ( say the lawyers ) there is no precedent , no booke unlesse writ within these two yeares . but master hooker , alias vowell , ( who writ about the beginning of queene elizab. & is much quoted by master pryn ) writing the manner of holdings of parliaments ( as we may see in hollinshead , part . fol. . ) saith , that the king is gods anointed , his deputy and vicar on earth , the head of his realme , the cheifest ruler , on whom wholly and onely depends the government of the estates of the realme . that the king ought to be personally present in parliament three daies in every parliament ; first , on the day of appearance , secondly , on the day when the speaker of the house of commons is presented ; the third , when the parliament is prorogued . and for other daies ( saith the booke ) he is at his choice , to come or not to come . and it appeares by the statute of hen. . cap. . that if the king be absent from the parliament , he might alwaies give his royall assent by commission under the great seale , and by that it seemes he had liberty to be absent if he would . when rich. . refused to come to his parliament , the lords ( that threatned to depose him ) onely averred , that by an old ordinance of parliament if the king absented himselfe forty daies , then they might every man returne quietly to his owne house , and that they would doe so if he came not ; but they pretend no law to raise armes , to compell the king to come . and surely had there beene any colour to justifie it they would not have omitted it , and if there had beene any law or precedent ( though by popish parliaments ) since ric. . time to raise armes or make lawes without the kings assent , master pryn's zeale to the cause and hatred to the king would have found it before now . since therefore that the two houses cannot without the kings assent make a new nor abrogate an old law , cannot without the kings assent raise armes to execute a person condemned by parliament with the kings assent ( as in hu. de le spencers case ) but they must have a pardon for it . in what case are we , that have without the kings assent , nay contrary to his expresse command , contrary to mag. char. contrary to our petition of right , car. by armes taken the th part of every mans estate , imprisoned their persons , imposed new loanes , and new impositions , hanged citisens and gownemen , contrary to the priviledges of parliament , executed even members of the parliament by martiall law , and at the parliament doore , while the houses of parliament were sitting , the kings bench ( as we pretend ) open at westminster , the gaole-delivery for london and middlesex in the old baily ? nay contrary to our petition of right , & our statute made this parliament , have we not in the kings name because we could not in our owne , pressed our fellow subjects , and by armes compelled them to fight ? contrary to their sworne allegiance and vowed protestation , which is to maintaine the reformed protestant religion , expressed in the doctrine of the church of england ; yet we fight to turne out the liturgy , and prayers ordained by the whole church of england , and which we have long knowne to make roome for the extemporary and unknowne prayer of a single man , and him often unlearned , sometimes debauched , and this according to the kirke of scotland , not of england : to defend the kings royall person , his honour , his estate ; yet we iustifie them that fight against him , that permit nay licence libellous pamphlets against him and his honour , that robbe his exchequer by receiving and keeping from him his revenew : to maintaine the priviledges of parliament ; yet hale the members to prison , nay to execution by martiall law : to maintaine the lawfull rights and liberties of the subject , yet fight to have our estates , liberties , and lives taken away by votes , ordinances , and martiall law , and against the kings command . we have protested to preserve the peace of england , scotland , and ireland , yet fight here among our selves to annihilate and breake the cessation of armes and the peace there , and send for the scots hither to robbe , murder , and ( if god be not better to us then we to our selves ) utterly subdue and inslave us , to set up and enrich themselves . by what law can the scots prescribe us a church government ? by what law have they ( our homagers ) a voice in the settling of our militia , and the lawes of our nation ? to conclude , we fight to save a few close-committee men , our state-actours that have perswaded and voted us , and inforced the poore common souldiers to commit rapine , bloud-shed , sacriledge , and rebellion , to protect them , who with shimei , reviled and flung stones and dust at david by their declarations and pamphlets , who by their remonstrances and votes endeavoured to discover with cham the nakednesse of their father , who following the counsel of achitophel , have in the sight of all israel lyen with davids concubines , by usurping his authority and royall power . we fight to secure them , whom an act of oblivion cannot , and therefore must have the militia at their sole dispose , that the swords , and lives of the poore souldiers may protect , whom the law cannot justify . we fight to make london an independent city , to make the maior aldermen and common-councell a third house of parliament , and give them the tower of london , with the militia of the city and suburbs , lest the king being but gods vicar on earth their only supreme governour and soveraigne lord , as severall acts of parliaments have declared , lest he should rebell against them his native , his locall and his sworne subjects . we fight to abolish the ten commandements , the creed , the epistles and gospells , because not consistent with the scots presbyteriall discipline . what one act of charity or mercy have these reformers of religion done ? where have they offered to the king to part with any thing of any pretended right , liberty , or priviledge , to settle a peace in this church and common-wealth ? nay which of these is not greater in estate and wealth , in power and authority , then he was before the civil warre beganne , or shall be after the warre ended ? have not the earles of warwicke , manchester , and others that you know much inriched themselves and freinds by the harvest of this warre ? have not their chaplaines burges , sedgewicke , case , peters , and others treble revenues and in-comes , to preach doctrines answerable to the occasion of raising money , men , or armes , or crying no treaty , no peace ? doctrines sutable to their church and practice , that have in cold bloud murdered many poore protestant english-irish , for being on the kings side . while on the other part the king not delighting in bloud , hath pardoned divers whom the law condemned , nay he hath proclaimed pardon to all that would take it , and to purchase peace , he hath offered to part with his right , to divide his militia , putting it into the power of twentie men , whereof he to name ten , and the two houses ten commissioners . he desires and offers that popery may be supprest according to law , and not papists murdered because irish . he is willing that both church and common wealth should be rectified according to law , and according to law he offers to have all persons to be tryed by law . he commiserating his oppressed subjects the distracted church and ruined common-wealth , hath offered and desired a cessation from armes , but cannot obtaine it ; and then shall wee not beleive him the true father that would save the child ? god would not have his temple built by a man of bloud , though even david ; nor would christ have his church reformed with the bloud of christians . the king of peace cannot delight in warre . upon these considerations , cosen , i am resolved to leave their party that have misse-led me and my poore country-men to our ruine ; and i will now lay hold of the kings mercy and pardon offered by his proclamation , and by a hearty repentance i hope to expiate the bloud , the treason , and sacriledge , i have countenanced by my former opinions , and supported by my purse and perswasions . and i doe heartily wish , that my poore country-men and neighbours that by an illegall presse are forced from their wives and children , from their parents and freinds , to fight against the english protestant religion and liturgy , to set up a scotch directory against their king , to pay a tribute to their fellow subjects , against their protestation to protect such as have seduced and deceived them and their nations , that have raised this unnaturall warre upon pretences , feares and jealousies , and by the murther of many thousand english christians keepe themselves from a legall triall , that they may still sit quietly voting at westminster , and eate the fat of the land . cosen , i doe heartily wish that both you and the rest of my poore country-men would consider and weigh these things , and that god would give you relenting hearts truly penitent for these horrid sinnes , and then i would not doubt but you and they would end this warre ( for 't is in your powers ) by returning to the english protestant religion and liturgy , to your sworne alleagiance to your anointed king , and then to your owne vines and figge-trees . and no doubt but both you and they shall receive from god and the king the blessings due to the blessed peace-makers : which is heartily prayed for by him that will lead you the way , fleet-streete may . . a. c. finis . love's riddle cowley, abraham this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text s in the english short title catalog (stc ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. martin mueller incompletely or incorrectly transcribed words were reviewed and in many cases fixed by melina yeh hannah bredar this text has not been fully proofread earlyprint project evanston il, notre dame in, st.louis, washington mo distributed under a creative commons attribution-noncommercial . unported license a .xml loves riddle. a pastorall comædie; written, at the time of his being kings scholler in westminster schoole, by a. cowley. cowley, abraham, - . dpi tiff g page images university of michigan, digital library production service ann arbor, michigan march (tcp phase ) stc ( nd ed.) . greg, ii, (a). a

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loves riddle. a pastorall comædie; written, at the time of his being kings scholler in westminster schoole, by a. cowley. cowley, abraham, - . [ ] p. : port. printed by iohn dawson, for henry seile, and are to be sold at the tygres head in fleet-street over against st. dunstans church, london : .

in verse.

signatures: a-f.

with a final epilogue leaf.

reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery.

a shc love's riddle cowley, abraham melina yeh hannah bredar play comedy shc no a s (stc ). athis text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. incorporated ~ , textual changes made to the shc corpus by hannah bredar, kate needham, and lydia zoells between april and july during visits, separately or together, to the bodleian, folger and houghton libraries as well as the rare book libraries at northwestern university and the university of chicago

vera effigies . abrahami cowley . regii alvmni scholae west :

loves riddle . a pastorall comaedie ; written , at the time of his being kings scholler in westminster schoole , by a. cowley .

london , printed by iohn dawson , for henry seile , and are to be sold at the tygres head in fleet street over against st. dunstans church . .

to the truly worthy , and noble , sir kenelme digbie knight . this latter age , the lees of time , hath knowne , few , that have made both pallas arts their owne . but you , great sir , two lawrels weare , and are victorious in peace , as well as war . learning by right of conquest is your owne , and every liberall art your captive growne . as if neglected science ( for it now wants some defenders ) fled for helpe to you . whom i must follow , and let this for mee an earnest of my future service bee . which i should feare to send you , did i know your judgement onely , not your candor too . for t' was a worke , stolne ( though you 'le justly call this play , as fond as those ) from cat , or ball . had it beene written since , i should , i feare , scarse have abstain'd from a philosopher . which by tradition here is thought to bee a necessarie part in comedie . nor need i tell you this ; each line of it betray 's the time and place wherein t' was writ , and i could wish , that i might safely say to th' reader , that t' was done but th' other day . yet 't is not stuff'd with names of gods , hard words , such as the metamorphosis affords . nor has 't a part for robinson , whom they at schoole , account essentiall to a play . the stile is low , such as you 'le easily take for what a swaine might speake , and a boy make . take it , as early fruits , which rare appeare though not halfe ripe , but worst of all the yeare . and if it please your tast , my muse will say , the birch which crown'd her then , is growne a bay . yours in all observance , a. covvley .

the scaene sicily . the actors names . demophil two old folke of a noble family . spodaia two old folke of a noble family . florellus their children . callidora their children . philistus two gent. both in love with callidora . aphron two gent. both in love with callidora . clariana , sister to philistus . melarnus a crabbed old shepheard . truga his wife . hylace their daughter . aegon — an ancient countrey man . bellula — his supposed daughter . palaemon — a young swaine in love with hylace . alupis — a merry shepheard . clariana's mayd .

actus i. scaena i. enter callidora disguised in mans apparell . madde feet , yee have beene traytours to your master : where have you lead me ? sure my truant mind hath taught my body thus to wander too ; faintnesse and feare surprize me ; yee just gods , if yee have brought me to this place to scourge the folly of my love , ( i might say madnesse ) dispatch me quickly ; send some pittying men or cruell beast to find me ; let me bee fed by the one , or let mee feed the other . why are these trees so brave ? why doe they weare such greene and fresh apparell ? how they smile ! how their proud toppes play with the courting wind ! can they behold me pine and languish here , and yet not sympathize at all in mourning ? doe they upbraid my sorrowes ? can it bee that these thick branches never seene before but by the sunne , should learne so much of man ? the trees in courtiers gardens , which are conscious of their guilt masters statelinesse and pride , themselves would pitty me ; yet these — who 's there ? enter alupis singing . . rise up thou mournfull swaine , for 't is but a folly to be melancholy and get thee thy pipe againe . . come sing away the day , for 't is but a folly to be melancholly , let 's live here whilst wee may . cal. i marry sir , this fellow hath some fire in him , me thinkes a sad and drowsie shepheard is a prodigie in nature , for the woods should bee as farre from sorrow , as they are from sorrowes causes , riches and the like . haile to you swaine , i am a gentleman driven here by ignorance of the way , and would confesse my selfe bound to you for a curtesie , if you would please to helpe me to some lodging where i may rest my selfe . alu. for 't is but a folly , &c. cal. well ; if the rest bee like this fellow here ; then i have travel'd fairely now ; for certainly this is a land of fooles ; some colonie of elder brothers have beene planted here , and begot this faire generation . prithee , good shepheard , tell mee where thou dwelst ? alu. for 't is but a folly , &c. call. why art thou madde ? alu. what if i bee ? i hope 't is no discredit for me sir ? for in this age who is not ? i 'le prove it to you , your citizen hee 's madde to trust the gentleman both with his wares and wife . your courtier hee 's madde to spend his time in studying postures , cringes , and fashions , and new complements ; your lawyer hee 's madde to sell away his tongue for money , and his client madder to buy it of him , since 't is of no use but to undoe men , and the latine tongue ; your schollers they are madde to breake their braines , out-watch the moone , and looke more pale then shee , that so when all the arts call him their master , hee may perhaps get some small vicaridge , or be the vsher of a schoole ; but there 's a thing in blacke called poet , who is ten degrees in madnesse above these ; his meanes is what the gentle fates please to allow him by the death or mariage of some mighty lord , which hee must solemnize with a new song . cal. this fellowes wit amazeth me ; but friend , what doe you thinke of lovers ? alu. worst of all ; is 't not a pretty folly to stand thus , and sigh , and fold the armes , and cry my coelia , my soule , my life , my calia , then to wring ones state for presents , and ones brayne for sonnets ? o! 't is beyond the name of phrenzie . cal. what so satyricke shepheard ? i beleeve you did not learne these flashes in the woods ; how is it possible that you should get such neere acquaintance with the citie manners , and yet live here in such a silent place , where one would thinke the very name of city could hardly enter . alu. why , i 'le tell you sir : my father dyed , ( you force me to remember a griefe that deserves teares ) and left me young , and ( if a shepheard may be said so ) rich , i in an itching wantonnesse to see what other swaines so wondred at , the citie , streight sold my rurall portion ( for the wealth of shepheards is their flockes ) and thither went , where whil'st my money lasted i was welcome , and liv'd in credit , but when that was gone , and the last piece sigh'd in my empty pocket , i was contemn'd , then i began to feele how dearely i had bought experience , and without any thing besides repentance to load me , return'd back , and here i live to laugh at all those follyes which i saw . song . the merry waves dance up and downe , and play , sport is granted to the sea . birds are the queristers of th' empty ayre , sport is never wanting there . the ground doth smile at the springs flowry birth , sport is granted to the earth . the fire it's cheering flame on high doth reare , sport is never wanting there . if all the elements , the earth , the sea , ayre , and fire , so merry bee ; why is mans mirth so seldome , and so small , who is compounded of them all ? cal. you may rejoyce ; but sighes befit me better . alu. now on my conscience thou hast lost a mistris ; if it be so , thanke god , and love no more ; or else perhaps she' has burnt your whining letter , or kist another gentleman in your sight , or else denyed you her glove , or laught at you , causes indeed , which deserve speciall mourning , and now you come to talke with your god cupid in private here , and call the woods to witnesse , and all the streames which murmure when they heare the injuries they suffer ; i am sorry i have beene a hindrance to your meditations , farewell sir . cal. nay , good shepheard , you mistake mee . alu. faith , i am very chary of my health , i would be loath to be infected sir . cal. thou needest not feare ; i have no disease at all besides a troubled mind . alu. why that 's the worst , the worst of all . cal. and therefore it doth challenge your piety the more , you should the rather , strive to be my physitian . alu. the good gods forbid it ; j turne physitian ? my parents brought me up more piously , then that i should play booty with a sicknesse , turne a consumption to mens purses , and purge them , worse then their bodyes , and set up an apothecaries shop in private chambers , live by revenew of close-stooles and urinals , deferre off sick mens health from day to day as if they went to law with their disease . no , i was borne for better ends , then to send away his majesties subjects to hell so fast , as if i were to share the stakes with charon . cal. your wit erres much : for as the soule is nobler then the body , so it's corruption askes a better medicine then is applyed to gouts , catarrs , or agues , and that is counsell . alu. so then : i should bee your soules physitian ; why , i could talke out an houre or so , but then i want a cushion to thump my precepts into ; but tell me 'pray , what name beares your disease ? cal. a feaver , shepheard , but so farre above an outward one , that the vicissitudes of that may seeme but warmth , and coolenesse only ; this , flame , and frost . alu. so ; i understand you , you are a lover , which is by translation a foole , or a beast , for i 'le define you ; you 're partly chamaeleon , partly salamander , you 're fed by th' ayre , and live i' the fire . cal. why did you never love ? have you no softnesse , nought of your mother in you ? if that sun which scorched me , should cast one beame upon you . t' would quickly melt the ice about your heart , and lend your eyes fresh streames . alu. 'faith , i thinke not ; i have seene all your beautyes of the court , and yet was never ravisht , never made a dolefull sonnet unto angry cupid , either to warme her heart , or else coole mine , and no face yet could ever wound me so , but that i quickly found a remedie . cal. that were an art worth learning , and you need not be niggard of your knowledge ; see the sunne though it have given this many thousand yeares light to the world , yet is as bigge and bright as e're it was , and hath not lost one beame of his first glory ; then let charity perswade you to instruct me , i shall bee a very thankfull scholler . alu. i shall : for 't is both easily taught and learn'd , come sing away the day , &c. mirth is the only physick , cal. it is a way which i have much desired to cheate my sorrow with ; and for that purpose would faine turne shepheard , and in rurall sports we are my lifes remnant out ; i would forget all things , my very name if it were possible . alu. pray let me learne it first . cal. 't is callidorus . alu. thanke you ; if you your selfe chance to forget it come but to me i 'le doe you the same curtesie , in the meane while make me your servant sir , i will instruct you in things necessary for the creation of a shepheard , and wee two will laugh at all the world securely , and fling jests 'gainst the businesses of state without endangering our eares . come , come away , for 't is but a folly to be melancholy , let 's live here whil'st we may . exeunt . enter palaemon , melarnus , truga , aegon bellula , hylace . pa.

i see i am undone .

mel.

come no matter for that , you love my daughter ? by pan ; but come , no matter for that ; you my hilace ?

tru.

nay good duck , doe not vexe your selfe ; what though he loves her ? you know she will not have him .

mel.

come , no matter for that ; i will vex my selfe , and vex him too , shall such an idle fellow as he strive to entice away honest mens children ? let him goe feed his flocks ; but alas ! he has none to trouble him ; ha , ha , ha , yet hee would marry my daughter .

pa. thou art a malicious doting man , and one who cannot boast of any thing but that shee calls thee father , though i cannot number so large a flock of sheepe as thou , nor send so many cheeses to the city , yet in my mind i am an emperour if but compar'd with thee . tru. of what place i pray ? 't is of some new discovered countrey , is 't not ? pa. prithee good wintor if thou wilt be talking , keepe thy breath in a little , for it smells worse then a goat ; yet thou must talke , for thou hast nothing left thee of a woman but lust , and tongue hyl. shepheard , here 's none so taken with your wit but you might spare it ; if you be so lavish , you 'le have none left another time to make the song of the forsaken lover with . pa. i 'me dumbe , my lips are seal'd , seal'd up for ever may my rash tongue forget to be interpreter , and organ of my senses , if you say , it hath offended you . hyl. troth if you make but that condition , i shall agree to 't quickly : mel. by pan well said girle ; what a foole was i to suspect thee of loving him ? but come 't is no matter for that ; when e're thou maried i 'le adde ten sheepe more to thy portion , for putting this one jest upon him . aegon . nay now i must needs tell you that your anger is grounded with no reason to maintaine it , if you intend your daughter shall not marry him , say so , but play not with his passion , for 't is inhumane wit which jeeres the wretched . mel. come 't is no matter for that ; what i doe , i doe ; i shall not need your counsell . tru. i hope my husband and i have enough wisdome to governe our owne child ; if we want any 't will be to little purpose , i dare say , to come to borrow some of you . aeg. 't is very likely pritty mistris maukin , you with a face lookes like a winter apple when 't is shrunke up together and halfe rotten , i 'de see you hang'd up for a thing to skare the crowes away before i le spend my breath to teach you any . hyl. alas good shepheard ! what doe you imagine that i should love you for ? pal. for all my services , the vertuous zeale and constancie with which i ever woed you , though i were blacker then a starlesse night , or consciences where guilt and horror dwell , although splay-legd , crooked , deform'd in all parts , and but the chao's only of a man ; yet if i love and honor you , humanitie would teach you not to hate , or laugh at me . hy. pray spare your fine perswasions , and set speeches , and rather tell them to those stones and trees , 't will be to as good purpose quite , as when you spend them upon me . pa. give me my finall answer , that i may bee either blest for ever , or die quickly ; delay 's a cruell rack , and kils by piece-meales . hy. then here 't is , you 're an asse , ( take that for your incivilitie to my mother ) and i will never love you . pal. you 're a woman ; a cruell and fond woman , and my passion shall trouble you no more ; but when i 'me dead my angry ghost shall vex you worse then now your pride doth mee , farewell . enter aphron madde meeting palaemon going out . aph. nay stay sir , have you found her ? pa. how now ? what 's the matter ? aph. for i will have her out of you , or else i 'le cut thee into atomes , til the wind play with the shreeds of thy torne body . looke her or i will do 't . pal. whom ; or where ? aph. i 'le tell thee honest fellow ; thou shalt goe from me as an embassador to the sunne , for men call him the eye of heaven , ( from which nothing lyes hid ) and tell him — doe you marke me — tell him from me — that if he send not word where shee is gone , — i will — nay by the gods i will . aeg. alas poore gentleman ! sure he hath lost some mistris ; beautious women take notice of him , ( pray ) your speaking is worth more then all the rest . bell. you 're very welcome cal. thanke you fayre nymph , this is indeed a welcome salutes her , bell. i never saw , beauty and affability so well conjoyn'd before ; if i stay long i shall be quite undone . alu. nay come , put on too . hyl. you are most kindly welcome . cal. you blesse mee too much ; the honour of your lip is entertainment princes might wish for . hyl. blesse me how hee lookes ! and how he talkes ; his kisse was honey too , his lips as red and sweet as early cheryes , softer then bevers skins bel, blesse me , how i envy her ! would i had that kisse too ! hyl, how his eye shines ! what a bright flame it shootes ! bel. how red his cheekes are ! so our garden apples looke on that side where the hot sun salutes them . hyl, how well his haires become him ! just like that starre which ushers on the day . bell. how faire he is ! fairer then whitest blossomes ? trug. they two have got a kisse ; why should i lose it for want of speaking ? you 're welcome shepheard . alu. come on : for 't is but a folly , &c : tru. doe you heare ? you are welcome . alu. oh! here 's another must have a kisse : tru. goe you 're a paltry knave , i , that you are , to wrong an honest woman thus . alu. why hee shall kisse thee , never feare it , alas ! i did but jest , he 'le do 't for all this , nay , because i will be a patron to thee i 'le speake to him . tru. you 're a slandering knave , and you shall know 't , that you shall . al. nay , if you scould so lowd others shall know it too ; he must stop your mouth , or you 'le talke on this three houres ; callidorus if you can patiently endure a stinke , or have frequented ere the city beare-garden , prithee salute this fourescore yeares , and free me , she sayes you 're welcome too . cal. i cry you mercy shepheardesse , by pan i did not see you . tru. if my husband and alupis were not here i 'de rather pay him back his kisse againe , then be beholding to him . al. what , thou hast don 't ? well if thou dost not dye upon 't , hereafter thy body will agree even with the worst and stinking'st ayre in europe . cal. nay , be not angry shepheardesse , you know he doth but jest as 't is his custome . tru. i know it is his custome ; he was alwayes wont to abuse me , like a knave as he is , but i 'le endure 't no more . al. prithee good callidorus if her breath be not too bad , goe stop her mouth againe , she 'le scould till night else . tru. yes marry will i , that i will , you rascall you , i 'le teach you to lay your frumps upon me ; you delight in it , doe you ? al. prithee be quiet , leave but talking to me and i will never jeere thee any more , we two will be so peaceable hereafter . tru. well upon that condition . al. so , i 'me deliver'd , why how now ladds ? what have you lost your tongues ? i le have them cry'd , palaemon , aegon , callidorus , what ? are you all dumbe ? i pray continue so , and i 'le be merry with my selfe . song . 't is better to dance then sing , the cause is if you will know it , that i to my selfe shall bring a poverty voluntary if once i grow but a poet . aegon . and yet me thinkes you sing , al. o yes , because here 's none doe dance , and both are better farre then to be sad . aegon . come then let 's have a round . al. a match ; palaemon whither goe you ? pa. the gods forbid that i should mock my selfe , cheate my owne mind , i dance and weepe at once ? you may : farewell . exit . al. 't is such a whining foole ; come , come , melarnus . mel.

i have no mind to dance ; but come no matter for that , rather then breake the squares . —

cal.

by your leave , fayre one .

hil.

would i were in her place .

al. come hilace , thee and i wench i warrant thee , you and your wife together . god blesse you ; so — for 't is but a folly , &c. dance . tru. so there 's enough , i 'me halfe a weary , mel. come no matter for that , i have not danc't so much this yeare . al. so farewell , you 'le come along with me . cal. yes , farewell gentle swaines . tru. farewell good shepheard , bel. your best wishes follow you . hyl. pan alwayes guide you . mel. it 's no matter for that , come away . exeunt . finis actus primi .

actus ii. scaena i. enter demophil , spodaia , philistus , clariana . _demo. nay , shee is lost for ever , and her name which us'd to be so comfortable , now is poyson to our thoughts , and to augment our misery paints forth our former happinesse , o callidora , o my callidora ! i shall ne're see thee more . spo. if cursed aphron hath caryed her away , and tryumphs now in the destruction of our hoary age 't were better shee were dead ; dem. 't were better we were all dead ; the enjoying of tedious life is a worse punishment then losing of my daughter ; oh! my friends , why have i lived so long ? cla. good sir be comforted : brother speake to them . spo. would i had dyed , when first i brought thee forth my girle , my best girle , then i should have slept in quiet , and not wept now . phi. i am halfe a statue freeze me up quite yee gods , and let me be my owne sad monument . cla. alas ! you doe but hurt your selves with weeping ; consider pray , it may be she 'le come back . dem. oh! never , never , 't is impossible as to call back sixteene , and with vaine rhetoricke perswade my lifes fresh aprill to returne , shee 's dead , or else farre worse , kept up by aphron whom if i could but see , me thinkes new bloud would creepe into my veines , and my faint sinewes renew themselves , i doubt not but to find strength enough yet to be reveng'd of aphron . sp. would i were with thee , girle , where ere thou art . cla. for shame good brother , see if you can comfort them , me thinkes you should say something . phi. doe you thinke my griefes so light ? or was the interest so small which i had in her ? i a comforter ? alas ! she was my wife , for we were married in our affection , in our vowes ; and nothing stopt the enjoying of each other , but the thinne partition of some ceremonies . i lost my hopes , my expectations , my joyes , nay more , i lost my selfe with her ; you have a son , yet left behind , whose memorie may sweeten all this gall . spo. i , we had one , but fate 's so cruell to us , and such dangers attend a travelling man , that 't were presumption to say we have him ; we have sent for him to blot out the remembrance of his sister : but whether we shall ever see him here , the gods can only tell , we barely hope . dem. this newes , alas ! will be but a sad welcome to him . phi. why doe i play thus with my misery ? 't is vaine to thinke i can live here without her , i le seeke her where e're she is ; patience in this would be a vice , and men might justly say my love was but a flash of winged lightning , and not a vestall flame , which alwayes shines his woing is a complement , not passion , who can if fortune snatch away his mistris , spend some few teares , then take another choyce , mine is not so ; oh callidora ! cla. fye brother , you 're a man , and should not be shaken with every wind , if it were possible to call her back with mourning , mourning were a piety , but since it cannot , you must give me leave to call it folly : phi. so it is ; and i will therefore shape some other course , this dolefull place shall never see me more , vnlesse it see her too in my embraces , you sister may retyre unto my farme , adjoyning to the woods ; and my estate i leave for you to manage , if i find her , expect me there , if not doe you live happier then your brother hath : cla. alas ! how can i if you leave me ? but i hope your resolutions may be altered . ph. never , farewell : good demophil , farewell spodaia , temper your laments ; if i returne we shall againe be happy . spo. you shall not want my prayers . dem. the gods that pitty lovers ( if there bee any ) attend upon you . cla. will you needs goe ? ph. i knit delayes ; 't were time i were now ready , and i shall sinne if i seeme dull or slow in any thing which touches callidora , dem. oh! that name wounds me ; we 'le beare you company a little way , and clariana looke to see us often at your countrey farme , wee 'le sigh , and grieve together . exeunt . enter alupis and palaemon . alu. come , come away , &c. now where are all your sonnets ? your rare fancies ? could the fine morning musick which you wak'd your mistris with , prevaile no more then this ? why in the citie now your very fidlers good morrow to your worship , will get something , hath she denyed thee quite ? pa. shee hath undone me ; i have plow'd the sea , and begot storming billowes , al. can no perswasions move her ? pa. no more then thy least breath can stirre an oake , which hath this many yeares scorn'd the fierce warres of all the winds . al. 't is a good hearing ; then she 'le cost you no more payres of turtle doves , nor garlands knit with amorous conceits , i doe perceive some ragges of the court fashions visibly creeping now into the woods , the more hee shewes his love , the more shee slights him , yet will take any gift of him , as willingly as countrey justices the hens and geese of their offending neighbours ; this is right ; now if i lov'd this wench i would so handle her , i 'de teach her what the difference were betwixt one who had seene the court and citie tricks , and a meere shepheard . pa. lions are tam'd , and become slaves to men , and tygres oft forget the cruelty they suckt from their fierce mothers ; but , a woman ah me ! a woman ! — al. yet if i saw such wonders in her face as you doe , i should never doubt to win her . pa. how pray ? if gifts would doe it , she hath had the daintiest lambes , the hope of all my flock , i let my apples hang for her to gather , the painfull bee did never load my hives , with honey which she tasted not . al. you mistake me friend ; i meane not so . pa. how then ? if poetry would do 't , what shade hath not beene auditor of my amorous pipe ? what bankes are not acquainted with her prayses ? which i have sung in verses , and the sheepheards say they are good ones , nay they call me poet , although i am not easie to beleeve them . al. no , no , no ; that 's not the way . pa. why how ? if shew of griefe had rhetorick enough to move her , i dare sweare she had beene mine long before this , what day did ere peepe forth in which i wept not dulier then the morning ? which of the winds hath not my sighes encreas'd at sundry times ? how often have i cryed hylace , hylace , till the docile woods have answered hylace ; and every valley as if it were my rivall , sounded hylace . al. i , and you were a most rare foole for doing so , why 't was that poyson'd all ; had i a mistris i 'de almost beat her , by this light , i would , for they are much about your spaniels nature , but whilst you cry deare hylace , ô hylace ! pitty the tortures of my burning heart , she 'le alwayes mince it , like a citizens wife , at the first asking ; though her tickled bloud leapes at the very mention ; therefore now leave off your whining tricks , and take my counsell . first then be merry ; for 't is but a folly , &c. pal. 't is a hard lesson for my mind to learne , but i would force my selfe , if that would helpe me . al. why thou shalt see it will ; next i would have thee to laugh at her , and mocke her pittifully ; study for jeeres against next time you see her , i 'le goe along with you , and helpe to abuse her , till we have made her cry , worse then e're you did ; when we have us'd her thus a little while , shee 'le be as tame and gentle . — pa. but alas ! this will provoke her more . al. i le warrant thee : besides , what if it should ? she hath refus'd you utterly already . and cannot hurt you worse ; come , come , be rul'd ; and follow me , we 'le put it straight in practize . for 't is but a folly , &c. pa. a match ; i le try alwayes ; she can but scorne me , there is this good in depth of misery that men may attempt any thing , they know the worst before hand . exeunt . enter callidorus . how happy is that man , who in these woods with secure silence weares away his time ! who is acquainted better with himselfe then others ; who so great a stranger is to citie follyes , that he knowes them not . he sits all day upon some mossie hill his rurall throne , arm'd with his crooke , his scepter , a flowry garland is his country crowne ; the gentle lambes and sheepe his loyall subjects which every yeare pay him their fleecy tribute ; thus in an humble statelinesse and majestie he tunes his pipe , the woods best melody , and is at once , what many monarches are not both king and poet . i could gladly wish to spend the rest of my unprofitable , and needlesse dayes in their innocuous sports , but then my father , mother , and my brother recurse unto my thoughts , and straight plucke downe the resolution i had built before ; love names philistus to me , and o'th' sudden the woods seeme base , and all their harmlesse pleasures the daughters of necessity , not vertue . thus with my selfe i wage a warre , and am to my owne rest a traytor ; i would faine goe home , but still the thought of aphron frights me . how now ? who 's here ? ô 't is faire hylace the grumbling shepheards daughter . enter hylace . brightest of all those starres that paint the woods , and grace these shady habitations , you 're welcome , how shall i requite the benefit which you bestow upon so poore a stranger with your faire presence ? hyl. if it be any curtesie , 't is one which j would gladly doe you , i have brought a rurall present , some of our owne apples , my father and my mother are so hard , they watch'd the tree , or else they had beene more , such as they are , if they can please your tast , my wish is crown'd . cal. o you 're too kind , and teach that duty to me which i ought to have perform'd ; i would i could returne the halfe of your deserts ! but i am poore in every thing but thankes . hy. your acceptation only is reward too great for me . cal. how they blush ? a man may well imagine they were yours , they beare so great a shew of modesty . hyl. o you mock my boldnesse to thrust into your company ; but truly i meant no hurt in 't ; my intents were vertuous . cal. the gods forbid that i should nurse a thought so wicked , thou art innocent i know , and pure as venus doves , or mountaine snow which no foot hath defil'd , thy soule is whiter if there be any possibilitie of 't ) then that cleere skin which cloathes thy dainty body . hy. nay my good will deserves not to be jeer'd , you know i am a rude and countrey wench . cal. farre be it from my thoughts , i sweare i honour and love those maiden vertues which adorne you . hy. i would you did , as well as i doe you , but the just gods intend not me so happy , and i must be contented — i 'me undone . ent. bellula here 's bellula ; what is she growne my rivall ? bell. blesse me ! whom see i ? hylace ? some cloud or friendly mist involve me . hy. nay bellula ; i see you well enough . cal. why doth the day start backe ? are you so cruell to shew us first the light , and having struck wonder into us snatch it from our sight ? if spring crown'd with the glories of the earth appeare upon the heavenly ram , and streight creepe back againe into a grey-hayr'd frost , men will accuse its forwardnesse . hy. pray heaven hee be not taken with her , shee 's somewhat faire ; he did not speake so long a speech to mee i 'me sure of 't , though i brought him apples . bell. i did mistake my way ; pray pardon me . hyl. i would you had else . cal. i must thanke fortune then which lead you hither , but you can stay a little while and blesse us ? bel. yes ( and love knowes how willingly ) alas ! i shall quite spoyle my garland ere i give it him , with hiding it from hylace , 'pray fan shee hath not stolne his heart already from him , and cheated my intentions . hy. i would faine be going , but if i should leave her it may be i shall give her opportunity to winne him from me , for i know she loveth him , and hath perhaps a better tongue then i , although i should bee loth to yeeld to her in beauty or complexion . bell. let me speake in private with you ; i am bold to bring a garland to you , 't is of the best flowers which i could gather , i was picking them all yesterday . cal. how you oblige me to you ! i thanke you sweetest , how they flourish still ! sure they grow better , since your hand hath nipt them . bell. they will doe , when your brow hath honour'd them , then they may well grow proud , and shine more freshly . call. what perfumes dwell in them ? they owe these odours to your breath . hy. defend me yee good gods , i thinke he kisses her , how long they have beene talking ? now perhaps shee 's woing him ; perhaps he forgets me and will consent , i 'le put him in remembrance ; you have not tasted of the apples yet , and they were good ones truly . call. i will doe presently best hilace . hy. that 's something yet , would he would speake so alwayes . cal. i would not change them for those glorious apples which give such fame to the hesperian gardens . bell. she hath out-gone me in her present now , but i have got a beechen cup at home curiously graven with the spreading leaves , and gladsome burthen of a fruitfull vine , which damon , the best artist of these woods made and bestow'd upon me , i 'le bring that tomorrow and give it him , and then i 'le warrant her shee will not goe beyond me . hy. what have you got a chaplet ? ôh ! this is i see of bellula's composing . bell. why hylace ? you cannot make a better , what flowers 'pray doth it want ? cal. poore soules i pitty them , and the more , because i have not beene my selfe a stranger to these love passions , but i wonder what they can find in me worth their affection truly i would faine satisfie them both , but can doe neither ; 't is fates crime , not mine . ball. weither goe you shepheard ? hyl. you will not leave us will you ? cal. indeed i ought not , you have both me bought with your courtesies and should divide me . hy. shee came last to you . bell. she hath another love , and kills palaemon with her cruelty , how can shee expect mercy from another ? in what a labyrinth doth love draw mortalls and then blindfolds them ! what a mist it throwes vpon their senses ! if he be a god as sure he is ( his power could not be so great else ) he knowes the impossibilitie which nature hath set betwixt us , yet entangles us , and laughs to see us struggle . d' yee both love me ? bell. i doe i 'me sure . hyl. and i as much as she . cal. i pitty both of you , for you have sow'd vpon unthankfull sand , whose dry'd up wombe nature denyes to blesse with fruitfulnesse , you are both fayre , and more then common graces inhabite in you both , bellula's eyes shine like the lampe of heaven , and so doth hylaces . hylaces cheekes are deeper dy'd in scarlet then the chast mornings blushes , so are bellula's , and i protest i love you both . yet cannot , yet must not enjoy either . bell. you speake riddles . cal. which times commentarie must only explaine to you ; and till then farewell good bellula , farewell good hylace , i thanke you both . exit . hyl. alas ! my hopes are strangled . exit . bell. i will not yet despaire : he may grow milder , he bade me farewell first ; and lookt upon me with a more stedfast eye , then upon her when he departed hence : 't was a good signe ; at least i will imagine it to be so , hope is the truest friend , and seldome leaves one . exit . enter truga . i doubt not but this will move him , for they 're good apples , but my teeth are gone , i cannot bite them ; but for all that though i le warrant you i can love a young fellow as well as any of them all : i that i can , and kisse him too as sweetly . oh! here 's the mad-man . enter aphron . ap. hercules , hercules , ho hercules , where are you ? lend me thy club and skin , and when i ha' done , i le fling them to thee againe , why hercules ? pox on you , are you drunke ? can you not answer ? i le travell then without them , and doe wonders . tru. i quake all over , worse then any fitt of the palsie which i have had this forty yeares could make me doe . ap. so i ha' found the plot out , first i 'le climbe up , on porter atlas shoulders , and then craule into heaven , and i 'me sure i cannot chuse but find her there : tru. what will become of me if he should see me ? truly he 's a good proper gentleman , if he were not mad , i would not be so 'fraid of him . ap. what have i caught thee fayrest of all women ? where hast thou hid thy selfe so long from aphron ? aphron who hath beene dead till this blest minute ? tru. ha , ha , ha , whom doth he take me for ! ap. thy skin is whiter then the snowy feathers of leda's swannes . tru. law you there now , — i thought i was not so unhandsome , as they 'd make me ap. thy haires are brighter then the moones , then when she spreads her beames and fills her orbe trug. beshrew their heart that call this gentleman mad , he hath his senses i le warrant him , about him , as well as any fellow of them all . apu. thy teeth are like two arches made of ivory , of purest ivory . tru. i for those few i have , i thinke they 're white enough . ap. thou art as fresh as may is , and thy look is picture of the spring . tru. nay , i am but some fourscore yeares and tenne and beare my age well ; yet alupis sayes i looke like january , but i 'le teach the knave another tune i le warrant him . ap. thy lips are cheryes , let me tast them sweet ? tru. you have begd so handsomly . ap. ha! yee good gods defend me ! 't is a witch , a hag . trug. what am i ? ap. a witch , one that did take the shape of my best mistris , but thou couldst not long belye her purenesse . tru. now he 's starke mad againe upon the sudden ; he had some sense even now . ap. thou lookst as if thou wert some wicked woman frighted out of the grave ; defend me , how her eyes doe sinke into their ugly holes , as if they were afraid to see the light . tru. i will not be abus'd thus , that i will not my haire was bright even now , and my lookes fresh : am i so quickly changed ? ap. her breath infects the ayre , and sowes a pestilence where e're it comes ; what hath she there ? j ! these are apples made up with the stings of scorpions , and the bloud of basiliskes ; which being swallowed up , a thousand paines eate on the heart , and gnaw the entrailes out tru. thou lyest ; j , that thou do'st , for these are honest apples , that they are ; i 'me sure i gathered them my selfe . ap. from the stygian tree ; give them me quickly , or i will — tru. what will you doe ? pray take them . ap. get thee gone quickly , from me , for i know thee ; thou art tisiphone . tru. 't is false ; for i know no such woman . i 'me glad i am got from him , would j had my apples too , but 't is no matter though , i 'le have a better gift for callidorus to morrow . ap. the fiend is vanisht from me , and hath left these behind for me to tast of , but i will be too cunning ; thus i 'le scatter them , now i have spoyld her plot ; vnhappy hee who finds them . exit . finis actus secundi .

actus iii . scaena i. enter florellus . the sun five times hath gone his yearly progresse , since last i saw my sister , and returning bigge with desire to view my native sicilie , i found my aged parents sadly mourning the funerall ( for to them it seemes no lesse ) of their departed daughter ; what a welcome this was to me , all in whose hearts a veine of marble growes not , easily may conceive without the dumbe perswasions of my teares . yet as if that were nothing , and it were a kind of happinesse in misery if 't come without an army to attend it , as i pass'd through these woods i saw a woman whom her attyre call'd shepheardesse , but face some disguis'd angell , or a silvan goddesse ; it struck such adoration ( for i durst not harbour the love of so divine a beauty ) that ever since i could not teach my thoughts another object ; ( in this happy place ( happy her presence made it ) she appear'd , and breath'd fresh honours on the smiling trees , which owe more of their gallantry to her then to the musky kisses of the west wind . ha! sure 't is she ; thus doth the sunne breake forth from the blacke curtaine of an envious cloud . enter alupis , bellula , hylace . al. for 't is but a folly , &c. hyl. wee did not send for you ; pray leave us . alu. no , by this light , not till i see you cry ; when you have shed some penitentiall teares for wronging of palaemon , there may be a truce concluded betwixt you and me . bell. this is uncivill to thrust into our company ; doe you thinke that we admire your wit ? pray goe to them that doe , we would be private . al. to what purpose ? you 'd aske how many shepheards she hath strooken , which is the properest man ? which kisses sweetest ? which brings her the best presents ? and then tell what a fine man wooes you , how redde his lips are ? how bright his eyes are ? and what dainty sonnets he hath composed in honor of your beauty ? and then at last , with what rare tricks you foole him ? these are your learn'd discourses ; but were all men of my temperance , and wisdome too , you should wooe us , i , and wooe hardly too before you got us . flo. oh prophanenesse ! can hee so rudely speake to that blest virgin , and not be strucken dumbe ? al. nay , you have both a mind to me ; i know it , but i will marry neither ; i come hither not to gaze on you , or extoll your beauty ; i come to vex you . flo. ruder yet ? i cannot , i will not suffer this ; madde fellow , is there no other nymph in all these spacious woods , to fling thy wilde , and saucie laughter at , but her , whom thy great deity even pan himselfe would honor , doe not dare to utter the smallest accent if not cloath'd with reverence , nay , doe not looke upon her but with eyes as humble and submissive as thou wouldst vpon the brow of majesty , when it frownes , i speake but that which duty binds us all to , thou shalt not thinke upon her , no not thinke , without as much respect and honor to her as holy men in superstitious zeale give to the images they worship . bell. oh! this is the gentleman courted me th' other day . al. why ? have you got a pattent to restraine me ? or doe you thinke your glorious sute can fright me ? 't would doe you much more credit at the theater , to rise betwixt the acts , and looke about the boxes , and then cry , god save you madame , or heare you out in quarreling at an ordinary , and make your oathes become you ; have you shown your gay apparell every where in towne , that you can afford us the sight oft , or hath that grand divell whose eclipped sergeant , frighted you out of the city ? flo. your loose jests when they are shot at me , i scorne to take any revenge upon them , but neglect , for then 't is rashnesse only , but as soone as you begin to violate her name , nature and conscience too bids me be angry , for then 't is wickednesse . al. well , if it be so , i hope you can forgive the sinne that 's past without the dolefull sight of trickling teares , for i have eyes of pumice ; i 'me content to let her rest in quiet , but you have given me free leave t' abuse you , on the condition you will revenge it only with neglect , for then 't is rashnesse only . flo. what are you biting ? where did you pick these fragments up of wit . al. where i pay'd deare enough a conscience for them , they should be more then fragments by their price , i bought them sir , even from the very merchants , i scorn'd to deale with your poore city pedlers , that sell by retayle : but let that passe ; for 't is but a folly : flo. then you have seene the city . al. i and felt it too , i thanke the divell ; i 'me sure it suckt up in three yeares the whole estate my father left , though he were counted rich , a pox of forlorne captaines , pittifull things , whom you mistake for souldiers , only by their sounding oathes , and a buffe jerkin , and some histories which they have learn'd by roate , of battailes fought in persia , or polonia , where they themselves were of the conquering side , although god knowes one of the city captaines , arm'd with broad scarfe , feather . and scarlet breeches , when he instructs the youth on holy-dayes , and is made sicke with fearfull noyse of guns , would pose them in the art military ; these were my first leeches . flo. so , no wonder then you spent so fast . al. pish , these were nothing : i grew to keepe your poets company those are the soakers , they refin'd me first of those grosse humors that are bred by money and made me streight a wit , as now you see , for 't is but a folly . flo. but hast thou none to fling thy salt upon but these bright virgins ? al. yes now you are here ; you are as good a theame as i could wish . hy. 't is best for me to goe , whilst they are talking for if i steale not from alupis sight , he 'le follow me all day to vex me . exit . al. what are you vanishing coy mistris hylace ? nay , i 'le be with you streight , but first i 'le fetch palaemon , now if he can play his part and leave off whining , wee 'le have princely sport , well , i may live in time to have the women scratch out my eyes , or else scould me to death , i shall deserve it richly : farewell sir : i have employment with the damsell gone and cannot now intend you . exit . flo. they 're both gone , direct me now good love , and teach my tongue th' inchantments that thou woo'dst thy psyche with . bell. farewell sir . flo. oh! be not so cruell , let me enjoy my selfe a little while , which without you i cannot . bell. pray let me goe , to tend my sheepe , there 's none that lookes to them , and if my father misse me , he 'le so chide . flo. alas ! thou needest not feare , for th' wolfe himselfe though hunger whet the fury of its nature , would learne to spare thy pretty flocks , and be as carefull as the shepheards dog to guard them , nay if he should not , pan would present be , and keepe thy tender lambes in safety for thee , for though he be a god he would not blush to be thy servant . bell. oh! you 're courtly sir . but your fine words will not defend my sheepe , or stop them if they wander ; let me goe . flo. are you so fearefull of your cattels losse ? yet so neglectfull of my perishing , ( for without you how can i choose but perish ? ) though i my selfe were most contemptible , yet for this reason only , that i love and honour you , i deserve more then they doe . bell. what would you doe , that thus you urge my stay ? flo. nothing i sweare that should offend a saint , nothing which can call up thy maiden bloud to lend thy face a blush , nothing which chaste and vertuous sisters can deny their brothers , i doe confesse i love you , but the fire in which iove courted his ambitious mistris , or that by holy men on altars kindled , is not so pure as mine is ; i would only gaze thus upon thee ; feed my hungry eyes sometimes with those bright tresses , which the wind farre happier then i , playes up and downe in , and sometimes with thy cheekes , those rosy twins ; then gently touch thy hand , and often kist it , till thou thy selfe shouldst checke my modesty and yeeld thy lips , but further , though thou should'st like other maids with weake resistance aske it , ( which i am sure thou wilt not ) i 'de not offer till lawfull hymen joyne us both , and give a licence unto my desires . bell. which i need not bestow much language to oppose , fortune and nature have forbidden it , when they made me a rude and homely wench you ( if your clothes and cariage be not lyers , ) by state and birth a gentleman . flo. i hope i may without suspition of a boaster say that i am so , else my love were impudence for doe you thinke wise nature did intend you for a shepheardesse , when she bestow'd such paines in your creation ? would she fetch the perfumes of arabia for your breath ? or ransack pestum of her choycest roses t' adorne your cheekes ? would she bereave the rock of corall for your lips ? and catch two starres as they were falling , which she form'd your eyes of ? would she her selfe turne work-woman and spinne threeds of the finest gold to be your tresses ? or rob the great to make one microcosme ? and having finisht quite the beauteous wonder , hide it from publique view and admiration ! no ; she would set it on some pyramide , to be the spectacle of many eyes : and it doth grieve me that my niggard fortune rays'd me not up to higher eminency , not that i am ambitious of such honors but that through them i might be made more worthy to enjoy you . bell. you are for ought i see too great already ; i will either live an undefiled virgin as i am or if i marry , not belye my birth , but joyne my selfe to some plaine vertuous shepheard ( for callidorus is so , and i will be either his or no bodyes . ) aside . flo. pray heare me . bell. alas ! i have sir , and doe therefore now prepare to answer , if this passion bee love , my fortune bids me to deny you ; if lust , my honesty commands to scorne you , farewell . flo. o stay a little ! but two words : she 's gone , gone like the glorious sun , which being sette night creepes behind and covers all ; some way i must seeke out to win her , or what 's easier ( and the blind man himselfe without a guide may find ) some way to dye ; would i had beene borne a poore shepheard in these shady woods . nature is cruell in her benefits and when she gives us honey , mingles gall . she said that if she married , the woods should find a husband for her . i will wooe her in sylvan habit , then perhaps she 'le love me — but yet i will not , that 's in vaine ; i will too , it cannot hurt to try . exit . enter alupis , palaemon , after them hylace . al. nay come , she 's just behind us , are you ready ? when she scoulds , bee you low deft , if she cry then laugh abundantly , thus we will vex her into a good conceit of you . pal. i 'le warrant you ; you have instructed me enough , shee comes . hyl. is 't possible that bellula — pal. fayre creature — hyl. sure thou wert borne to trouble me , who sent for thee ? pa. whom all the nymphs ( though women use to be ) as you know , envious of anothers beauty ) confesse the pride and glory of these woods . hyl. when did you make this speech ? 't is a most neat one goe , get you gone , looke to your rotting cattell , you 'le never keepe a wife , who are not able to keepe your sheepe . al. good ! she abuses him now 't is a miracle he doth not cry . pal. thou whom the starres might envy 'cause they are outshone by thee on earth . hyl. pray get you gon , or hold your prating tongue , for whatsoever thou sayest , i will not heare a syllable , much lesse answer thee . pa. no ; i 'le try that streight i have a present here — which if you 'le give me leave , i shall presume to dedicate to your service . hy. you 're so cunning , and have such pretty wayes to entice me with , come let me see it . pa. oh! have you found a tongue ? i thought i had not beene worth an answer ? hy. how now ; what tricks are these ? give it me quickly , or — pa. pray get you gon , or hold your prating tongue ; for whatsoever thou sayest i will not heare a syllable , much lesse answer thee . al. good boy 'faith : now let me come . hy. this is some plot i see , would i were gone , i had as lief see the wolfe as this alupis . al. here 's a fine ring , i faith , a very pretty one , doe your teeth water at it damsell ? ha ? why we will sell our sheepe , and oxen , girle , hang them scurvy beasts , to buy you pretty knacks that you might laugh at us , and call us fooles and jeere us too , as farre as your wit reaches , bid us be gone , and when we have talkt two houres , deny to answer us ; nay you must stay she offers to be gone . and heare a little more . hy. must i ? are you the master of my businesse ? i will not . al. faith but you shall ; heare therefore and be patient . i 'le have thee made a lady , yes a lady , for when thou 'st got a chaine about thy necke and comely bobes to dandle in thine eares ; when thou 'st perfum'd thy haire , that if thy breath should be corrupted , it might scape unknowne , and then bestow'd two houres in curling it , vncovering thy breast hither , thine armes hither , and had thy fucus curiously lay'd on ; thou 'dst be the finest proud thing , i le warrant thee thou would'st outdoe them all . so , now goe thee to her and let me breathe a little ; for 't is but a folly , &c. hy. oh! is 't your turne to speake againe ? no doubt but we shall have a good oration then , for they call you the learned shepheard ; well this is your love i see . pa. ha , ha , ha , what should i love a stone ? or wooe a picture ? alas ! i must be gone , for whatsoe're i say , you will not heare a syllable much lesse answer ; goe , you thinke you are , so singularly handsome , when alas , galla , menalca's daughter , bellula , or amaryllis overcome you quite . hy. this is a scurvy fellow ; i le fit him for 't , no doubt they are ; i wonder that your wisdome will trouble me so long with your vaine suite , why doe you not wooe them ? pa. perhaps i doe ; i 'le not tell you , because you 'le envy them , and alwayes be dispraising of their beauties . hy. it shall appeare i will not , for i 'le sooner embrace a scorpion , then thee , base man . pa. ha , ha , ha . alupis do'st thou heare her ? she 'le cry presently , doe not despaire yet girle , by your good carriage you may recall me still ; some few entreatyes mingled with teares may get a kisse perhaps . hy. j would not kisse thee for the wealth of sicily thou wicked perjur'd fellow . pal. alupis , ôh ! we have incenst her too much ! how she lookes ? prithee alupis helpe me to intreate , you know we did but jest , deare hylace , alupis , prithee speake , best , beauteous hylace , i did but doe 't to try you , pray forgive me , vpon my knees i begge it . al. here 's a pretious foole . hyl. do'st thou still mock me ? hast thou found more wayes ? thou need'st not vex thy wit to move my hate , sooner the sunne and starres shall shine together , sooner the wolfe make peace with tender lambes then i with thee ; thou' rt a disease to me and wound'st my eyes . exit . pal. eternall night involve me ! if there be a punishment , ( but sure there is not any ) greater then what her anger hath inflicted , may that fall on me too ? how have i fool'd away my hopes ? how have i beene my selfe to my owne selfe a theefe ? al. i told you this , that if she should but frowne , you must needs fall to your old tricks againe . pa. is this your art ? a lovers curse upon it ; oh! alupis thou hast done worse then murthered me : for which may all thy flocks pine and decay like me , may thy curst wit hurt all ; but most its master , may'st thou ( for i can wish no greater ill ) love one like me , and be , like me , contemn'd . thou 'ast all the darts my tongue can fling at thee , but i will be reveng'd some other way before i dye , which cannot now be long . alu. poore shepheard , i begin to pitty him . i 'le see if j can comfort him ; palaemon , — pal. nay , doe not follow me , griefe , passion and troubled thoughts are my companions , those i had rather entertaine then thee , if you choose this way let me goe the other , and in both parts distracted error , thee may revenge quickly meet , may death meet me . exit . alu. well , i say pan defend me from a lover of all tame mad-men certainly they 're the worst , i would not meet with two such creatures more for any good , they without doubt would put me , if it be possible into a fit of sadnesse , though it be but a folly , &c. well ; i must find some plot yet to salve this because i have engaged my wit in the businesse , and 't would be a great scandall to the citie if i who have spent my meanes there , should not be able to cheate these shepheards . how now , how now , have we more distressed lovers here ? enter aphron . aph. no , i 'me a madde man . al. i gave a shrewd ghesse at it at first sight i thought thee little better . aph. better ? why ? can there be any better then a mad-man ? i tell thee , i came here to be a mad-man , nay , doe not disswade me from 't , i would bee a very madman . al. a good resolution ! 't is as gentile a course as you can take , i have knowne great ones have not beene asham'd of 't , but what cause pray drove you into this humour ? aph. why a mistris , and such a beauteous one — do'st thou see no body ? she sits upon a throne amongst the starres and outshines them , looke up and bee amazed such was her beauty here , — sure there doe lye a thousand vapours in thy sleepy eyes , do'st thou not see her yet ? not yet , nor yet ? alu. no in good troth . aph. thou' rt dull and ignorant , not skill'd at all in deepe astrology . let me instruct thee ? alu. prithee doe , for thou art in an admirable case to teach now , ap. i 'le shew thee first all the coelestiall signes , and to begin , looke on that horned head . al. whose is 't ? iupiters ? ap. no , 't is the ramme ! next that , the spacious bull fils up the place . al. the bull ? 't is well , the fellowes of the guard intend not to come thither ; if they did the gods might chance to lose their beefe . ap. and then , yonder 's the signe of gemini , do'st see it ? alu. yes , yes , i see one of the zealous sisters mingled in friendship with a holy brother ; to beget reformations . ap. and there sits capricorne . al. a welchman is 't not ? ap. there cancer creepes along with gouty pace , as if his feet were sleepy , there , doe you marke it ? al. i , i , alderman-like a walking after dinner , his paunch orechargd with capon and with white broth . ap. but now , now , now , now , gaze eternally hadst thou as many eyes as the blacke night they would be all too little ; seest thou virgo ? al. no by my troth , there are so few on earth , i should be loth to sweare there 's more in heaven , then onely one . ap. that was my mistris once , but is of late translated to the height of deserv'd glory , and addes new ornaments to the wondring heavens . why doe i stay behind then , a meere nothing without her presence to give life and being ? if there be any hill whose lofty top nature hath made contiguous with heaven , though it be steepe , rugged as neptunes brow , though arm'd with cold , with hunger , and diseases , and all the other souldiers of misery , yet i would climbe it up , that i might come next place to thee , and there be made a starre . al. i prithee doe , for amongst all the beasts that helpe to make up the coelestiall signes there 's a calfe wanting yet . ap. but stay — al. nay , i have learn'd enough astrology . ap. hunger and faintnesse have already seaz'd me , 't is a long journey thither , i shall want provision ; canst thou helpe me , gentle shepheard ? and when i am come thither i will snatch the crowne of ariadne , and fling 't downe to thee for a reward . al. no doubt you will ; but you shall need no victuals , when you have ended your toylesome journey , kill the ram you talke of , and feed your selfe with most celestiall mutton . ap. thou' rt in the right , if they deny me that i 'le pluck the beare downe from the artique pole , and drowne it in those waters it avoids , and dares not touch ; i 'le tugge the hyades and make them to sinke downe in spight of nature ; i 'le meet with charles his wayne , and overturne it and breake the wheeles of 't , till böotes start for feare , and grow more slow then e're he was . al. by this good light he 'le snuffe the moone anon , here 's words indeed would fright a conjurer 't is pitty that these huge giganticke speeches are not upon the stage , they would doe rarely for none would understand them , i could wish some poet here now , with his table-booke . ap. i 'le cuffe with pollux , and out-ride thee , castor , when the fierce lyon roares i 'le plucke his heart out and be call'd cordelion ; i 'le grapple with the scorpion , take his sting out and fling him to the earth . al. to me good sir , it may perhaps rayse me a great estate with shewing it up and downe for pence apiece ap. alcides freed the earth from savadge monsters , and i will free the heavens and bee call'd don hercules alcido de secundo . al. a brave castilian name . ap. 't is a hard taske , but if that fellow did so much by strength , i may well do 't arm'd both with love and fury . alup. of which thou hast enough . aph, farewell thou ratte . the cedar bids the shrub adiew . al. farewell don hercules alcido de secundo . if thou scar'st any , 't will be by that name . this is a wonderfull rare fellow , and i like his humor mightily — who 's here ? enter truga . the chronicle of a hundred yeares agoe ! how many crowes hath she outliv'd ? sure death hath quite forgot her ; by this memento mori i must invent some trick to helpe palaemon . tru. i am going againe to callidorus , but i have got a better present now , my owne ring made of good ebony , which a yong handsome shepheard bestow'd on me some fourescore years agoe , then they all lov'd me , i was a handsome lasse , j wosse in those dayes . al. i so thou wert i 'le warrant ; here 's good signe of 't now i le begin the worke , reverend truga , whose very autumne shewes how glorious the spring-time of your youth was — tru. are you come to put your mocks upon me ? al. i doe confesse indeed my former speeches have beene too rude and saucy ; i have flung madde jests too wildly at you ; but considering the reverence which is due to age , and vertue , i have repented , will you see my teares ? and beleeve them ? oh for an onyon now ! or j shall laugh alowd ; ha , ha , ha ! ) aside . tru. alas good soule i doe forgive you truly ; i would not have you weepe for me , indeed i ever thought you would repent at last , al. you might well , but the right valewing of your worth and vertue hath turn'd the folly of my former scorne inro a wiser reverence , pardon me if i say love . tru. i , i , with all my heart , but doe you speake sincerely ? al. oh! it grieves me that you should doubt it , what i spoke before were lyes , the off-spring of a foolish rashnesse , i see some sparks still of your former beauty , which spight of time still flourish . tru. why , i am not so old as you imagined , i am yet but fourescore yeares . am i a january now ? how doe you thinke ? i alwayes did beleeve you 'd be of another opinion one day ; i know you did but jest . al. oh no , oh no , ( i see it takes ) aside . how you bely your age — for — let me see — a man would take you — let me see — for — some forty yeares or thereabouts ( i meane foure hundred ) not a jot more j sweare . aside . tru. oh no! you flatter me , but i looke something fresh indeed this morning . i should please callidorus mightily , but i 'le not goe perhaps ; this fellow is as handsome quite as he , and i perceive he loves me hugely , i protest i will not aside have him grow madde , which he may chance to doe if i should scorne him . al. i have something here which i would faine reveale to you , but dare not without your licence . tru. doe in pans name , doe ; now , now . al. the comely gravity which adornes your age , and makes you still seeme lovely , hath so strucken me — tru. alas good soule ! i must seeme coy at first , but not too long , for feare i should quite lose him . al. that i shall perish utterly , unlesse your gentle nature helpe me . tru. alas good shepheard ! and in troth i faine would helpe you but i am past those vanities of love . al. oh no! wise nature which preserv'd your life till now doth it because you should enjoy these pleasures which doe belong to life , if you deny me , i am undone . tru. well you should not win me but that i am loath to be held the cause of any young mans ruine , doe not thinke it my want of chastity , but my good nature which would see no one hurt . al. ah pretty soule ! aside . how supple 't is like wax before the sun ! now cannot i chuse but kisse her , there 's the plague of 't , let 's then joyne our hearts , and seale them with a kisse tru. well , let us then : 't were incivility to be your debtor , i 'le give you back againe your kisse , sweetheart , and come in th' afternoone , i 'le see you ; my husband will be gone to sell some kine , and hylace tending the sheepe , till then farewell good duck ( offers to goe . ) but doe you heare , because you shall remember ( turnes back . ) to come i 'le give thee here this ebon ring but doe not weare it , lest my husband chance to see 't : farewell duck . al. lest her husband chance to see 't ; she cannot deny this , here 's enough ; my scoene of love is done then , is she gone ? i 'le call her back ; ho truga ; truga hô : tru. why doe you call me duck ? al only to aske one foolish question of thee : ha'n't you a husband ? tru. yes , you know i have . al. and doe you love him ? tru. why doe you aske ? i doe . al. yet you can be content to make him cuckold tru. rather then to see you perish in your flames . al. why art thou now two hundred yeares of age , yet hast no more discretion but to thinke that i could love thee ? ha , ha , were 't mine i 'de sell thee to some gardiner , thou wouldst serve to scare away the theeves aswell as crowes . tru. oh , you 're dispos'd to jest i see , farewell . al. nay , i 'me in very earnest ; i love you ? why thy face is a vizard . trug. leave off these tricks , i shall be angry else , and take away the favours i bestow'd . al. 't is knowne that thou hast eyes by the holes only , which are crept farther in , then thy nose out , and that 's almost a yard ; thy quarreling teeth of such a colour are , that they themselves scare one another , and doe stand at distance . thy skin hangs loose as if it fear'd the bones ( for flesh thou hast not ) and is growne so black that a wilde centaure would not meddle with thee . to conclude , nature made thee when she was only dispos'd to jest , and length of time hath made thee more ridiculous . tru. base villaine , is this your love ? give me my ring againe ? al. no , no ; soft there : i intend to bestow it on your husband ; he 'le keepe it better farre then you have done . trug. what shall i doe ? alupis , good alupis , stay but a little while , pray doe but heare me . al. no , i 'le come to you in the afternoone your husband will be selling of some kine and hylace tending the sheepe . tru. pray heare me , command me any thing and be but silent of this , good alupis ; hugh , hugh , hugh . al. yes , yes , i will be silent , i 'le only blow a trumpet on yon hill , till all the countrey swaines are flockt about me . then show the ring , and tell the passages 'twixt you and me . trug. alas ! i am undone . al. well now 't is ripe ; i have had sport enough since i behold your penitentiall teares i 'le propose this to you , if you can get your daughter to be married to palaemon this day , for i 'le allow no longer time ; to morrow i 'le restore your ring , and sweare never to mention what is past betwixt us , if not — you know what followes — take your choyse . tru. i 'le doe my best endevour . al. goe make hast then , you know your time 's bnt short , and use it well : now if this faile the divel 's in all wit . exit truga . i 'le goe and thrust it forward , if it take , i 'le sing away the day , for 't is but a folly to be melancholly , let 's live here whilst wee may . exit . finis actus tertij .

actus iiii . scaena i. enter callidorus , bellula , florellus . _cal. pray follow me no more , me thinks that modesty which is so lively painted in your face should prompt your maiden heart with feares and blushes to trust your selfe in so much privatnesse with one you know not . bel. i should love those feares and call them hopes , could i perswade my selfe , there were so much heate in you as to cause them ; prithee leave me ; if thou dost hope successe to thine owne love , why interrupt'st thou mine ? flo. if love cause you to follow him , how can you angry bee ? because love forces me without resistance to doe the same to you ? bell. love should not grow so subtill as to play with arguments . flo. love should not be an enemy to reason . cal. to love is of it selfe a kind of folly , but to love one who cannot render back equall desire , is nothing else but madnesse : bell. tell him so ; 't is a lesson he should learne . flo. not to love is of 't selfe a kind of hardnesse , but not to love him who hath alwayes woo'd you with chast desires , is nothing lesse then tyranny . bell. tell him so ; 't is a lesson he should learne . call. why doe you follow him that flyes from you ? flo. why doe you fly from him that followes you ? bell. why doe you follow ? why doe you fly from me ? call. the fates command me that i must not love you . flo. the fates command me that i needs must love you . bell. the fates impose the like command on me , that you i must , that you i cannot love . flo. vnhappy man ! when i begin to cloath my love with words , and court her with perswasions , she stands unmov'd , and doth not cleare her brow of the least wrinkle which sate there before ; so when the waters with an amorous noyse leape up and downe , and in a wanton dance kisse the dull rocke , that scornes their fond embraces , and darts them back ; till they with terror scattered , drop downe againe in teares . bell. vnhappy woman ! when i begin to shew him all my passion , he flyes from me , and will not cleare his brow of any cloud which covered it before ; so when the ravishing nightingale hath tun'd her mournfull notes , and silenc'd all the birds , yet the deafe wind flirts by , and in disdaine with a rude whistle leaues her . cal. we are all three vnhappy ; borne to be the proud example of loves great god-head , not his god-like goodnesse . let us not call upon our selves those miseries which love hath not , and those it hath beare bravely , our desires yet are like some hidden text , where one word seemes to contradict another , they are loves nonsence , wrapt up in thicke clouds till fate be pleas'd to write a commentary , which doubtlesse 't will ; till then let let us endure , and sound a parlee to our passions , bell. we may joyne hands though , may we not ? flo. we may , and lips too , may we not ? bell, we may ; come let 's sit downe and talke . cal. and looke upon each other . flo. then kisse againe . bell. then looke . call. then talke againe , what are we like ? the hand of mother nature would be quite pos'd to make our simile . flo. we are the trigon in loves hemisphere . bel. we are three strings on venus dainty'st lute , where all three hinder one anothers musick , yet all three joyne and make one harmony . call. we are three flowers of venus dainty garden , where all three hinder one anothers odor , yet all three joyne , and make one nosegay up . flo. come let us kisse againe . bell. and looke . call. and talke . flo. nay rather sing , your lips are natures organs , and made for nought lesse sweet then harmony . call. pray doe . bell. though i forfeit my little skill in singing to your wit , yet i will do 't , since you command . song . it is a punishment to love , and not to love a punishment doth prove ; but of all paines there 's no such paine , as 't is to love , and not be lov'd againe . till sixteene parents we obey , after sixteene , men steale our hearts away how wretched are we women growne , whose wills , whose minds , whose hearts are ne're our owne ! call. thanke you . flo. for ever be the tales of orpheus silent , had the same age seene thee , that very poet , who drew all to him by his harmony , thou would'st have drawne to thee . cal. come shall we rise ? bell. if it please you , i will . call. i cannot chuse but pitty these two lovers , and am taken much with the serious trifles of their passion . let 's goe and see , if we can breake this net in which we all are caught ; if any man aske who we are , we 'le say we are loves riddle . exeunt . enter aegon , palaemon , alupis . pa. thou art my better genius , honest aegon , al. and what am i ? pa. my selfe , my soule , my friend , let me hugge thee alupis , and thee aegon , thee for inventing it , thee for putting it in act ; but doe you thinke the plot will hold ? alu. hold ? why i 'le warrant thee it shall hold , till we have ty'd you both in wedlock fast , then let the bonds of matrimonie hold you if 't will , if that will not neither , i can tell you what will i 'me sure ; a halter . then sing , &c. — aegon come , shall we knock ? al. i doe ; for 't is , &c. — aegon . ho truga ; who 's within there ? al. you , winter , ho , you that the grave expected some hundred yeares agoe , you that intend to live till you turne skeleton , and make all men aweary of you but physitians , pox on you , will you come . enter clariana and her maid . cla. did you command the servants to withdraw ? m. i did forsooth . cla. and have you shut the doores ? m. yes . cl. is there none can over-heare our talke ? m. your curious enquiry much amazeth me , and i could wish you would excuse my boldnesse if i should aske the reason . cl. thou knowest well that thou hast found me alwayes liker to thy kinswoman then mistris , that thy brest has beene the cabinet of all my secrets , this i tell thee , not as an exprobration , but because i must require thy faith and counsell here . and therefore prithee sweare — m. sweare ? to doe what ? cl. to be more silent then the dead of night , and to thy power to helpe me . m. would my power to assist you were as ready as my will , and for my tongue that mistris i 'le condemne vnto perpetuall silence , ere it shall betray the smallest word that you commit to 't . by all — cl. nay doe not sweare , i will not wrong thy vertue to bind it with an oath . i le tell thee all ; doth not my face seeme paler then 't was wont ? doth not my eye looke as it borrowed flame from my fond heart ; could not my frequent weepings , my sudden sighes , and abrupt speeches tell thee what j am growne ? m. you are the same you were , or else my eyes are lyars . cl. no , i 'me a wretched lover ; could'st thou nor read that out of my blushes ? fie upon thee ; thou art a novice in loves schoole i see ; trust me i envy at thy ignorance , that canst not find out cupids characters in a lost mayd , sure thou didst never know him . m. would you durst trust me with his name , sure he had charmes about him that might tempt chast votaries , or move a scythian rock when he shot fire into your chaster breast . cl. i am asham'd to tell thee , prithee ghesse him , m. why 't is impossible . cl. thou saw'st the gentleman whom i this morning brought in to be my guest . m. yes , but am ignorant , who , or from whence he is ; cl. thou shalt know all ; the freshnesse of the morning did invite me to walke abroad , there i began to thinke how i had lost my brother , that one thought like circles in the water begat many , those and the pleasant verdure of the fields made me forget the way , and did entice me farther then either feare or modesty else would have suffred me , beneath an oake which spread a flourishing canopy round about , and was it selfe alone almost a wood , i found a gentleman distracted strangely , crying alowd for either food , or sleepe , and knocking his white hands against the ground , making that groane like me , when i beheld it , pitty , and feare , both proper to us women , drave my feet backe farre swifter then they went , when i came home , i tooke two servants with me and fetch'd the gentleman , hither i brought him , and with such cheare as then the house afforded , replenished him , he was much mended suddenly , is now asleepe , and when he wakes i hope will find his senses perfect . m. you did shew in this , what never was a stranger to you , much piety ; but wander from your subject ; you have not yet discovered , who it is deserves your love . cl. fy , fy , how dull thou art , thou dost not use in other things to be so ; why i love him ; his name i cannot tell thee ; for 't is my great unhappinesse to bee still ignorant of that my selfe . he comes , looke , this is hee , but doe not grow my rivall if thou canst thuse . m. you need not , fear 't forsooth . enter aphron . cl. leave me alone with him ; withdraw . m. i doe . exit maid . ap. where am i now ? under the northerne pole where a perpetuall winter binds the ground and glazeth up the flouds ? or where the sun with neighbouring rayes bakes the divided earth , and drinkes the rivers up ? or doe i sleepe ? is 't not some foolish dreame deludes my fancy ? who am j ? i begin to question that . was not my countrey sicily ? my name call'd aphron , wretched aphron ? cla. yee good gods forbid ; is this that man who was the cause of all the griefe for callidora's losse ? is this the man that i so oft have curst ? now i could almost hate him , and me thinkes he is not quite so handsome as he was ; and yet alas he is , though by his meanes my brother is gone from me , and heaven knowes if i shall see him more , foole as i am , i cannot chuse but love him . ap. cheate me not good eyes , what woman , or what angel doe i see ? oh stay , and let me worship e're thou goest , whether thou beest a goddesse which thy beauty commands me to beleeve , or else some mortall which i the rather am induc'd to thinke , because i know the gods all hate me so , they would not looke upon me . cl. spare these titles i am a wretched woman , who for pitty ( alas that i should pitty ! t 'had bin better ( aside ) that i had beene remorslesse ) brought you hither , where with some food and rest , thanks to the gods your senses are recovered . ap. my good angell ! i doe remember now that i was madde for want of meat and sleepe , thrice did the sun cheere all the world but me , thrice did the night with silent and bewitching darknesse give a resting time to every thing but aphron . the fish , the beasts , the birds , the smallest creatures and the most despicable snor'd securely . the aguish head of every tree by aeolus was rockt asleepe , and shooke as if it nodded . the crooked mountaines seem'd to bow and slumber , the very rivers ceas'd their daily murmur , nothing did watch , but the pale moone , and i paler then shee ; griefe wedded to this toyle what else could it beget but franticknesse ? but now me thinkes , i am my owne , my braine swimmes not as it was wont ; o brightest virgin shew me some way by which i may be gratefull , and if i do 't not , let an eternall phrenzie jmmediatly seize on me . cl. alas ! 't was only my love , and if you will reward me for 't , pay that j lent you , i 'le require no interest ; the principall 's enough . ap. you speake in mists . cl. you 're loth perhaps to understand . ap. if you intend that i should love and honour you , i doe by all the gods . cl. but i am covetous in my demands , i am not satisfied with wind-like promises which only touch the lips ; i aske your heart your whole heart for me , in exchange of mine , which so i gave to you . ap. ha! you amaze me . oh! you have spoken something worse then lightning , that blasts the inward parts , leaves , the outward whole , my gratitude commands me to obey you , but i am borne a man , and have those passions fighting within me , which i must obey . whilst callidora lives , although she bee as cruell , as thy breast is soft and gentle ; 't is sinne for me to thinke of any other . cl. you cannot love me then ? ap. i doe i sweare , above my selfe i doe : my selfe ? what said i ? alas ! that 's nothing ; above any thing but heaven and callidora . cl. fare you well then , i would not doe that wrong to one i love , to urge him farther then his power and will ; farewell , remember me when you are gone , and happy in the love of callidora . exit . ap. when j doe not , may i forget my selfe , would i were madde againe ; then i might rave with priviledge , i should not know the griefes that hurried me about , 't were better farre to lose the senses , then be tortured by them . where is she gone ? i did not aske her name , foole that i was , alas poore gentlewoman ! can any one love me ? yee cruell gods , is 't not enough that i my selfe am miserable , must i make others so too ? i le goe in and comfort her ; alas ! how can i though ? i le grieve with her , that is in ills a comfort . exit . enter alupis , melarnus , truga , palaemon , aegon . pa. before when you denyed your daughter to me 't was fortunes fault , not mine , but since good fate or rather aegon , better farre then fate hath raysd me up to what you aym'd at , riches , i see not with what countenance you can coyne any second argument against me . mel. come , no matter for that : yes , i could wish you were lesse eloquent , you have a vice call'd poesie which much displeaseth me , but no matter for that neither . al. alas ! hee 'le leave that straight when he has got but money ; he that swims in tagus , never will goe back to helicon . besides , when he hath maried hylace whom should he wooe , to praise her comely feature , her skin like falling snow , her eyes like starres , her cheekes like roses ( which are common places of all your lovers praises ) ôh ! those vanities , things quite as light , and foolish as a mistris , are by a mistris first begot , and left when they leave her . ra. why doe you thinke that poesie an art which even the gods — al. pox on your arts , let him thinke what he will ; what 's that to us ? aegon . well , i would gladly have an answer of you , since i have made palaemon here my sonne , if you conceive your daughter is so good , wee will not presse you , but seeke out some other who may perhaps please me and him aswell . pa. which is impossi ' — al. rot on your possibles — thy mouth like a crackt fiddle never sounds but out of tune ; come , put on truga you 'le never speake unlesse i shew the ring . tru. yes , yes , i doe , i doe ; doe yee heare sweet heart ? are you madde to fling away a fortune that 's thrust upon you , you know aegon 's rich . mel. come , no matter for that , that 's thrust upon me ? i would faine see any man thrust ought upon me ; but 's no matter for that , i will doe that which i intend to doe , and 't is no matter for that neither , that 's thrust upon me ? pa. come , what say you melarnus ? mel. what say i ? 't is no matter what i say , i 'le speake to aegon , if i speake to any , and not to you ; but no matter for that ; harke you , will you leave all the meanes you have to this palaemon ? tru. i duck , he sayes he will . mel. pish , 't is no matter for that , i le heare him say so . aeg. i will , and here doe openly protest , that since my bellula ( mine that was once ) thinkes her selfe wiser then her father is , and will be govern'd rather by her passions , then by the square that i prescribe to her , that i will never count her as my daughter . al. well acted by god pan , see but what 't is to have me for a tutor in these rogueries . mel. but tell me now , good neighbour , what estate doe you intend to give him ? aeg. that estate which fortune and my care hath given to me , the money which i have , and that 's not much , the sheepe , and goats . mel. and not the oxen too ? aeg. yes ; every thing . mel. the horses too ? aeg. i tell you , every thing . al. by pan hee 'le make him promise him particularly each thing above the valew of a beanes-straw . you 'le leave him the pailes too , to milke the kine in , and harnesse for the horses , will you not ? mel. i , i , what else ; but 't is no matter for that , i know palaemon 's an ingenious man , and love him therefore ; but 's no matter for that neither aeg. well , since we are both agreed , why do we stay here i know palaemon longs t' imbrace his hylace . mel. i , i , 't is no matter for that , within this houre wee will be ready , aegon , pray be you so , farewell my son in law that shall be , but 's no matter for that : farewell all : come truga . exeunt melarnus and truga . aeg. come on then , let 's not stay too long in trifling , palaemon goe , and prepare your selfe against the time . i 'le goe acquaint my bellula with your plot , lest this unwelcome newes should too much grieve her , before she know my meaning . a. doe , doe ; and i 'le goe study some new-found wayes to vex the foole malernus . for 't is but a folly , to be melancholy , &c. enter florellus . whilst callidorus lives , i cannot love thee . these were her parting words ; i le kill him then ; why doe i doubt it foole ? such wounds as these require no gentler med'cine ; me thinkes love frownes at me now , and sayes i am too dull , too slow in his command : and yet i will not , these hands are virgins yet , unstain'd with villany , shall i begin to teach them ? — me thinkes piety frownes at me now , and sayes , i am too weake against my passions . pietie ! — 't was feare begot that bugbeare ; for thee bellula i durst be wicked , though i saw ioves hand arm'd with a naked thunderbolt : farewell , if thou beest any thing , and not a shadow to fright boyes and old women ) farewell conscience , goe and be strong in other petty things to lovers come , when lovers may make use of thee , not else : and yet , — what shall i doe or say ? i see the better way , and know 't is better , yet still this devious error drawes me backward . so when contrary winds rush out and meet , and wrastle on the sea with equall fury the waves swell into mountaines , and are driven now back , now forward , doubtfull of the two which captaine to obey . enter alupis . al. ha , ha , i le have such excellent sport for 't is but a folly , &c. flo. why here 's a fellow now makes sport of every thing , see one mans fate how it excels another , hee can sit , and passe away the day in jollity , my musick is my sighes , whilst teares keepe time . al. who 's here ? a most rare posture ! how the good soule folds in his armes ! he dreames sure that he hugges his mistris now , for that is his disease without all doubt , so , good , with what judicious garbe hee plucks his hat over his eyes ; so , so , good ! better yet ; he cryes ; by this good light , he cryes ; the man is carefull , and intends to water his sheepe with his owne teares ; ha , ha , ha , ha . flo. dost thou see any thing that deserves thy laughter , fond swaine ? al. i see nothing in good troth but you , flo. to jeere those who are fates may-game is a redoubled fault ; for 't is both sinne , and folly too ; our life is so uncertaine thou canst not promise that thy mirth shall last to morrow , and not meet with any rubbe , then thou mayst act that part , to day thou laugh'st as al. i act a part ? it must be in a comedy then , i abhorre tragedyes : besides , i never practiz'd this posture ; hey ho ! woe , alas ! why doe i live ? my musick is my sighes whilst teares keepe time . flo. you take too great a licence to your wit ; wit , did i say ? i meane , that which you think so . and it deserves my pitty , more then anger . else you should find , that blowes are heavier farre then the most studied jests you can throw at me . al. faith it will be but labour lost to beat mee , all will not teach me how to act this part ; woe 's me ! alas ! i 'me a dull rogue , and so shall never learne it . flo. you 're unmannerly to talke thus sawcily with one you know not , nay , hardly ever saw before , be gone and leave me as you found me , my worst thoughts are better company then thou . al. enjoy them then , here 's no body desires to rob you of them . i would have left your company without bidding , 't is not so pleasant , i remember well , when i had spent all my money , i stood thus and therefore hate the posture ever since . d' yee heare ? i 'me going to a wedding now ; if you 'ave a mind to dance , come along with me , bring your hard-hearted mistris with you too , perhaps i may perswade her , and tell her your musick 's sighes , and that your teares keepe time . will you not goe ? farewell then , good tragicall actor . now have at thee melarnus ; for 't is but a folly , &c. exit flo. thou art a prophet , shepheard ; she is hard as rocks which suffer the continuall siege of sea and wind against them ; but i will win her or lose ( which i should gladly doe ) my selfe : my selfe ? why so i have already : ho! who hath found florellus ? he is lost , lost to himselfe , and to his parents likewise , ( who having miss'd me , doe by this time search each corner for to find me ) ôh ! florellus , thou must be wicked , or for ever wretched , hard is the physick , harder the disease . finis actus quarti .

actus v. scaena i. enter alupis , palaemon , aegon . _pa. the gods convert these omens into good : and mocke my feares ; thrice in the very threshold , without its masters leave my foot stood still , thrice in the way it stumbled : al. thrice , and thrice you were a foole then for observing it . why these are follyes the young yeares of truga did hardly know ; are they not vanisht yet ? pa. blame not my feare : that 's cupids vsher alwayes ; though hylace were now in my embraces , i should halfe doubt it . al. if you chanc'd to stumble . aeg. let him enjoy his madnesse , the same liberty hee 'le grant to you , when you 're a lover too . al. i , when i am , he may ; yet if i were one i should not be dismay'd because threshold — pa. alas ! that was not all , as i came by the oake to faunus sacred , where the shepheards exercise rurall sports on festivalls , on that trees toppe an inauspicious crow foretold some ill to happen . aeg. and because crowes foretell wet weather , you interpret it the raine of your owne eyes ; but leave these tricks and let me advise you . melarnus speaking to hylace within his dore . mel. well come , no matter for that ; i doe beleeve thee ; girle and would they have such sport with vexing me ! but 's no matter for that ; i le vex them for 't . i know your fiery lover will be here strait , but i shall coole him ; but come , no matter for that ! goe get you in , for i doe see them comming . aeg. here comes melarnus . pa. hee lookes cheerefully , i hope all 's well ? aeg. melarnus , opportunely : we were a comming just now unto you . mel. yes , very likely ; would you have spoken with me ? aeg. spoken with you ? why , are you madde ? have you forgot your promise ? mel. my promise ? oh ! 't is true , i said indeed i would goe with you to day to sell some kine , stay but a little , i le be ready streight . pa. i am amaz'd ; good aegon speake to him . al. by this good light , i see no likelyhood of any mariage , except betwixt the kine and oxen . harke you hither ; a rotte upon your beasts ; is hylace ready ? mel. it 's no matter for that ! who 's there ? alupis ? give me thy hand 'faith , thou' rt a merry fellow , i have not seene thee here these many dayes , but now i thinke on 't , it 's no matter for that neither . al. thy memory 's fled away sure with thy wit . was not i here lesse then an houre agoe with aegon , when you made the match ? mel. oh! then you 'le goe along with us , faith doe ; for you will make us very merry . al. i shall , if you thus make a foole of me . mel. oh no! you 'le make you sport with vexing me , but mum ; no matter for that neither : there i bob'd him privatly , i thinke . aside . aeg. come , what 's the businesse ? al. the businesse ? why hee 's madde , beyond the cure of all the herbes grow in anticyra . aeg. you see we have not fayl'd our word melarnus , i and my sonne are come . mel. your son ! goodlack ! i thought , i sweare , you had no other child besides your daughter bellula . aegon . nay , then i see you are dispos'd to make us fooles , — did not i tell you that 't was my intent to adopt palaemon for my son and heire ? al. did not you examine whether he would leave him all , lest that he should adopt some other heire to the cheese-presses , the milking-pailes , and creame-boules ? did you not ? mel. in troth 't is well ; but where is bellula ? aegon . nay ; prithee leave these tricks , and tell me what you intend , is hylace ready ? mel. ready ? what else ? shee 's to be married presently : to a young shepheard , but 's no matter for that . fa. that 's i , hence feares ; attend upon the infancie of love , she 's now mine owne . al. why i ; did not the crow on the oake foretell you this ? mel. hylace , hylace , come forth , here 's some are come to dance at your wedding , and they 're welcome . ( enter hylace . ) pa. the light appeares , just like the rising sun , when o're yon hill it peepes , and with a draught of morning dew salutes the day , how fast the night of all my sorrow flyes away , quite banisht with her sight ! hy. did you call for me ? mel. is damaetas come ? fy , how slow he is at such a time ? but it 's no matter for that ; well get you in , and prepare to welcome him . pa. will you be gone so quickly , ôh ! bright hylace that blessed houre by me so often begg'd , by you so oft deny'd , is now approaching . mel. what , how now ? what doe you kisse her ? ( exit hylace . ) if damoetas were here , he would grow jealous , but 't is a parting kisse , and so in manners she cannot deny it you ; but it 's no matter for that . al. how ? mel. what doe you wonder at ? why doe you thinke as soone as they are maried , damoetas such a foole , to let his wife be kist by every body ? pa. how now ? damoetas ? why what hath he to doe with her ? mel. ha , ha ! what hath the husband then to doe with 's wife ? good : 't is no matter for that though ; he knowes what . aeg. you meane palaemon sure , ha , doe you not ? mel. 't is no matter for that , what i meane , i meane , well , rest ye merry gentlemen , i must in , and see my daughters wedding , if you please to dance with us ; damaetas sure will thanke yee ; pray bring your son and heire palaemon with you , bellula's cast away , ha , ha , ha , ha ! and the poore foole melarnus must be cheated , but it 's no matter for that ; how now alupis ? i thought you would have had most excellent sport with abusing poore melarnus ? that same coxcombe , for hee 's a foole ; but it 's no matter for that , aegon hath cheated him , palaemon is maried to hylace , and one alupis doth nothing else but vex him , ha , ha , ha ! but it 's no matter for that ; farewell gentles , or if yee 'le come and dance , yee shall be welcome , will you palaemon ? 't is your mistris wedding . i am a foole , a coxcombe , gull'd on every side , no matter for that though ; what i have done , i have done ? ha , ha , ha ! exit . aeg. how now ? what are you both dumbe ? both thunder-strooke ? this was your plot alupis . al. i 'le begin . may his sheepe rotte , and he for want of food be forc't to eat them then ; may every man abuse him , and yet he not have the wit to abuse any man , may he never speake more sence then he did now ; and may he never bee ridde of his old wife truga , may his sonne in law be a more famous cuckold made then any one i knew when i liv'd in the city . pa. foole as thou art , the sun shall lose his course , and brightnesse too , ere hylace her chastity . oh no! yee gods , may she be happy alwayes , happy in the embraces of damoetas ; and that shall be some comfort to my ghost when i am dead ; and dead i shall be shortly . al. may a disease seize upon all his cattle , and a farre worse on him ; till he at last bee carried to some hospitall i' the city , and there kill'd by a chirurgion for experience . and when hee 's gone , i le wish this good thing for him , may the earth lye gently on him — that the dogges may teare him up the easier . aeg. a curse upon thee ! and upon me for trusting thy fond counsels ! was this your cunning trick ? why thou hast wounded my conscience and my reputation too , with what face can i looke on the other swaines ? or who will ever trust me , who have broke my faith thus openly ? pa. a curse upon thee , this is the second time that thy perswasions made me not only foole , but wicked too ; i should have dyed in quiet else , and knowne no other wound , but that of her denyall ; go now , and bragge how thou hast us'd palaemon , but yet me thinkes you might have chose some other for subject of your mirth , not me . aeg. nor me . al. and yet if this had prospered ( as i wonder who it should be , betray'd us , since we three and truga only knew it , whom , if she betray'd us , i — ) if this , i say , had prospered , you would have hugg'd me for inventing it , and him for putting it in act ; foolish men that doe not marke the thing but the event ! your judgements hang on fortune , not on reason . aeg. dost thou upbraid us too ? pa. first make us wretched , and then laugh at us ? beleeve , alupis , thou shalt not long have cause to boast thy villany . al. my villany ? doe what yee can : you 're fooles , and there 's an end ; i le talke with you no more , i had as good speake reason to the wind as you , that can but hisse at it . aeg. wee will doe more ; palaemon , come away , he hath wrong'd both ; and both shall satisfie . al. which he will never doe ; nay , goe and plod , your two wise braines will invent certainely politique ginnes to catch me in . exeunt . and now have at thee truga , if i find that thou art guiltie ; mum , — i have a ring . — palaemon , aegon , hylace , melarnus are all against me ; no great matter : hang care , for 't is but a folly , &c. exit . enter bellula . this way my callidorus went , what chance hath snatch'd him from my sight ? how shall i find him ? how shall i find my selfe , now i have lost him ? with yee my feet and eyes i will not make the smallest truce , till yee have sought him out . exit . enter callidorus and florellus . come , now your businesse . flo. 't is a fatall one , which will almost as much shame me to speake , much more to act , as 't will fright you to heare it . cal. fright me ? it must be then some wickednesse , i am accustom'd so to misery , that cannot do 't . flo. oh! 't is a sinne young man , a sinne which every one shall wonder at , none not condemne , if ever it be knowne ? me thinkes my bloud shrinkes back into my veines , and my affrighted hayres are turn'd to bristles . doe not my eyes creepe backe into their cells ; as if they seem'd to wish for thicker darknesse , then either night or death to cover them ? doth not my face looke black and horrid too ? as black and horrid as my thoughts ? ha ! tell me . cal. i am a novice in all villanyes , if your intents be such , dismisse me , pray , my nature is more easie to discover then helpe you ; so , farewell . flo. yet stay a little longer ; you must stay : you are an actor in this tragedy . cal. what would you doe ? flo. alas ! i would doe nothing ; but i must — cal. what must you doe ? flo. i must . — love thou hast got the victory — kill thee . cal. who ? me ? you doe but jest , i should believe you , if i could tell how to frame a cause , or thinke on any injury worth such a large revenge , which i have done you . flo. oh no! there 's all the wickednesse , they may seeme to find excuse for their abhorred fact ; that kill when wrongs , and anger urgeth them ; because thou art so good , so affable . so full of graces , both of mind and body , therefore i kill thee , wilt thou know it plainely , because whilst thou art living , bellula protested she would never be anothers , therefore i kill thee . call. had i beene your rivall you might have had some cause ; cause did i say ? you might have had pretence for such a villany : he who unjustly kills is twice a murtherer . flo. he whom love bids to kill is not a murtherer . cal. call not that love that 's ill ; 't is only fury . flo. fury in ills is halfe excusable : therefore prepare thy selfe ; if any sinne ( though i beleeve thy hot and flourishing youth , as innocent as other mens nativities ) hath flung a spot upon thy purer conscience wash it in some few teares . call. are you resolv'd to be so cruell ? flo. i must , or be as cruell to my selfe . call. as sick men doe their beds , so have i yet injoy'd my selfe , with little rest , much trouble : i have beene made the ball of love and fortune , and am almost worne out with often playing . and therefore i would entertaine my death as some good friend whose comming i expected ; were it not that my parents — flo. here ; see , i doe not come ( drawes two swords from under his garment and offers one to call . ) like a foule murtherer to intrap you falsly , take your own choyse , and then defend your selfe . cal. 't is nobly done ; and since it must be so , although my strength and courage call me woman i will not dye like sheepe without resistance , if innocence be guard sufficient , i 'me sure he cannot hurt me . flo. are you ready ? the fatall cuckow on yon spreading tree hath sounded out your dying knell already . cal. i am . flo. 't is well , and i could wish thy hand were strong enough ; 't is thou deservest the victory , nay , were not th' hope of bellula ingraven in all my thoughts , i would my selfe play booty against my selfe ; but bellula — come on . fight enter philistus . this is the wood adjoyning to the farme , where i gave order unto clariana my sister , to remaine till my returne ; here 't is in vaine to seeke her , yet who knowes ? though it be in vaine i le seeke ; to him that doth propose no journeys end , no path's amisse . why how now ? what doe you meane ? for shame part shepheards , i thought you honest shepheards , had not had sees them fighting . so much of court , and citie follies in you . flo. 't is philistus ; i hope he will not know me , now i begin to see how black and horrid my attempt was ; how much unlike florellus , thankes to the juster deityes for declining from both the danger , and from me the sin . phi. 't would be a wrong to charity to dismisse yee before i see you friends , give me your weapons . cal. 't is he ; why doe i doubt ? most willingly , and my selfe too , best man ; now kill me shepheard — phi. what doe you meane ? ( swounds ) rise , prithee rise ; sure you have wounded him . enter bellula . deceive me not good eyes ; what doe i see ? my callidorus dead ? 't is impossible ! who is it that lyes slaine there ? are you dumbe ? who is 't i pray ? flo. faire mistris — bel. pish , faire mistris , — i aske who 't is ; if it be callidorus — phi. was his name callidorus ? it is strange . bel. you are a villaine , and you too a villaine , wake callidorus , wake , it is thy bellula that calls thee , wake , it is thy bellula ; why gentlemen ? why shepheard ? fye for shame , have you no charity ? ô my callidorus ! speake but one word — cal. 't is not well done to trouble me , why doe you envy me this little rest ? bel. no ; i will follow thee . ( swounds . ) flo. o helpe , helpe quickly , what doe you meane ? your callidorus lives . bel. callidorus ! flo. and will be well immediatly , take courage , looke up a little : wretched as i am , i am the cause of all this ill . phi. what shall we doe ? i have a sister dwells close by this place , let 's hast to bring them thither . but le ts be sudden . flo. as wing'd lightning is . come bellula in spite of fortune now i doe embrace thee . phi. i did protest without my callidora ne're to returne , but pitty hath o'recome . bel. where am i ? flo. where i could alwayes wish thee : in those armes which would enfold thee with more subtill knots , then amorous ivy , whilst it hugges the oake . cal. where doe ye beare me ? is philistus well ? phi. how should he know my name ? 't is to me a riddle nay shepheard find another time to court in , make hast now with your burthen . flo. with what ease should i goe alwaies were i burthened thus ! exeunt enter aphron . she told me she was sister to philistus , who having mist the beauteous callidora , hath undertooke a long , and hopelesse journey to find her out ; then callidora's fled , without her parents knowledge , and who knowes when shee 'le returne , or if she doe , what then ? lambes will make peace , and joyne themselves with wolves ere she with me , worse then a wolfe to her : besides , how durst i undertake to court her ? how dare i looke upon her after this ? foole as i am , i will forget her quite , and clariana shall hence-forth — but yet how faire she was ! what then ? so 's clariana ; what graces did she dart on all beholders ? shee did ; but so does clariana too , shee was as pure and white as parian marble , what then ? shee was as hard too ; clariana is pure and white as ericina's doves , and is as soft , as gallesse too as they , her pitty sav'd my life , and did restore my wandring senses , if i should not love her , i were farre madder now , then when she found me , i will goe in and render up my selfe , for her most faithfull servant . wonderfull ! exit . enter againe . shee has lockt me in , and keepes me here her prisoner . in these two chambers ; what can she intend ? no matter , she intends no hurt i 'me sure , i 'le patiently expect her comming to me . exit . enter demophil , spodaia , clariana , florellus , callidora , bellula , philistus . dem. my daughter found againe , and son returnd ! ha , ha ! me thinkes it makes me young againe . my daughter and my son meet here together ! philistus with them too ! that we should come to grieve with clariana , and find her here . nay , when we thought we had lost florellus too to find them both , me thinkes it makes me young againe . spo. i thought i never should have seene thee more my callidora ; come wench , now let 's heare , the story of your flight and life in the woods . phi. doe happy mistris for the recordation , of fore past ils , makes us the sweetlier rellish our present good . cal. of aphrons love to me , and my antipathy towards him , there 's none here ignorant , you know too . how guarded with his love , or rather fury , and some few men he broke into our house with resolution to make me the prey of his wild lust . sp. i , there 's a villaine now ; oh ! that i had him here . cla. oh! say not so : the crymes which lovers for their mistris act beare both the weight aud stampe of piety . dem. come girle ; goe on , goe on . his wild lust — cla. what sudden feare shooke me , you may imagine , what should i doe ? you both were out of towne , and most of the servants at that time gone with you . i on the sudden found a corner out , and hid my selfe , till they wearied with searching , quitted the house , but fearing lest they should attempt the same againe ere your returne , i tooke with me money and other necessaries ; and in a sute my brother left behind disguis'd my selfe , thus to the woods i went , where meeting with an honest merry swaine , i by his helpe was furnisht , and made shepheard . sp. nay , i must needs say for her , she was alwayes a witty wench . dem. pish , pish : and made a shepheard — cal. it hapned that this gentle shepheardesse , ( i can attribute it to nought in me deserv'd so much ) began to love me . phi. why so did all besides i le warrant you , nor can i blame them , though they were my rivall . cal. another shepheard with as much desire wooed her in vaine , as she in vaine wooed me , who seeing that no hope was left for him , whilst i enjoy'd this life t' enjoy his bellula , ( for by that name she 's knowne ) sought to take me out of the way as a partition betwixt his love and him , whilst in the fields wee two were strugling , ( him his strength defending . and me my innocence . ) flo. i am asham'd to looke upon their faces . what shall i say ? my guilt 's above excuse . cal. philistus ; as if the gods had all agreed to make him mine , just at the nick came in and parted us , with sudden joy i sounded , which bellula perceiving ( for even then shee came to seeke me ) sudden griefe did force the same effect from her , which joy from me . hither they brought us both , in this amazement , where being straight recover'd to our selves , i found you here , and you your dutifull daughter . spo. the gods be thankt . dem. goe on . cal. nay , you have all sir . dem. where 's that shepheard ? flo. here . dem. here , where ? flo. here , your unhappy sonne 's the man ; for her i put on sylvan weeds , for her faire sake i would have stayn'd my innocent hands in bloud , forgive me all , 't was not a sin of malice , 't was not begot by lust , but sacred love ; the cause must be the excuse for the effect . dem. you should have us'd some other meanes , florellus . cal. alas ! 't was the gods will sir , without that i had beene undiscovered yet ; philistus wandred too farre , my brother yet a shepheard , you groaning for our losse , upon this wheele all our felicity is turn'd . sp. alas ! you have forgot the power of love , sweet-heart . dem. be patient son , and temper your desire , you shall not want a wife that will perhaps please you as well , i 'me sure befit you better . flo. they marry not , but sell themselves t' a wife , whom the large dowry tempts , and take more pleasure to hugge the wealthy bagges then her that brought them . let them whom nature bestowes nothing on seeke to patch up their want by parents plenty ; the beautifull , the chast , the vertuous , her selfe alone is portion to her selfe . enter aegon . by your leave ; i come to seeke a daughter . o! are you there , 't is well . flo. this is her father , i doe conjure you father , by the love which parents beare their children , to make up the match betwixt us now , or if you will not send for your friends , prepare a coffin for me and let a grave be dig'd , i will be happy , or else not know my misery to morrow ; spo. you doe not thinke what ill may happen husband , come , let him have her , you have meanes enough for him , the wench is faire , and if her face be not a flatterer , of a noble mind , although not stocke . aeg. i doe not like this stragling , come along , by your leave gentlemen , i hope you will pardon my bold intrusion . cl. you 're very welcome . what are you going bellula ? pray stay , though nature contradicts our love , i hope that i may have your friendship . aeg. bellula ! bel. my father calls ; farewell ; your name , and memory in spite of fate , i 'le love , farewell . flo. would you be gone , and not bestow one word vpon your faithfull servant ? doe not all my griefes and troubles for your sake sustaynd . deserve , farewell florellus ? bel. fare you well then . flo. alas ! how can i , sweet , unlesse you stay , or i goe with you ? you were pleas'd ere while to say you honoured me with the next place to callidorus in your heart , then now i should be first : doe you repent your sentence ? or can that tongue sound lesse then oracle ? bel. perhaps i am of that opinion still , but must obey my father . aeg. why bellula ? would you have ought with her sir ? flo. yes , i would have her selfe ; if constancy and love be meritorious , i deserve her . why father , mother , sister , gentlemen , will you plead for me ? dem. since 't must be so , i 'le beare it patiently , shepheard you see how much our son is taken with your faire daughter , therefore if you thinke him fitting for her husband speake , and let it be made a match immediatly , we shall expect no other dowrie then her vertue . aeg. which only i can promise ; for her fortune is beneath you so farre , that i could almost suspect your words , but that you seeme more noble . how now , what say you girle ? bel. i only doe depend upon your will . aeg. and i le not be an enemy to thy good fortune . take her sir , and the gods blesse you . flo. with greater joy then i would take a crowne . al. the gods blesse you . flo. they have don 't already . aeg. lest you should thinke when time , and oft enjoying hath dul'd the point , and edge of your affection that you have wrong'd your selfe and family , by marying one whose very name , a shepheardesse , might fling some spot upon your birth , i 'le tell you , she is not mine , nor borne in these rude woods : flo. how ! you speake misty wonders . aeg. i speake truths sir , some fifteene yeares agoe , as i was walking i found a nurse wounded , and groning out her latest spirit , and by her a faire child , and , which her very dressing might declare , of wealthy parents , as soone as i came to them i as'kd her who had us'd her so inhumanly : she answered turkish pirats ; and withall desired me to looke unto the child , for 't is , said she , a noblemans of sicily , his name she would have spoke , but death permitted not . her as i could , i caused to be buried , but brought home the little girle with me , where by my wives perswasions wee agreed , because the gods had blest us with no issue , to nourish as our owne , and call it bellula whom now you see , your wife , your daughter . spo. is 't possible ? flo. her manners shew'd her noble . aeg. i call the gods to witnesse , this is true . and for the farther testimony of it , i have yet kept at home the furniture , and the rich mantle which she then was wrapt in , which now perhaps may serve to some good use thereby to know her parents . dem. sure this is aphrons sister then , for just about the time he mentions , i remember , the governour of pachinus , then his father told me that certaine pirats of argier had broke into his house , and stolne from thence with other things his daughter , and her nurse , who being after taken , and executed , their last confession was , that they indeed wounded the nurse , but she fled with the child , whilst they were busie searching for more prey . whom since her father , neither saw , nor heard of . cla. then now i 'me sure sir , you would gladly pardon the rash attempt of aphron , for your daughter , since fortune hath joyn'd , both of you by kindred . dem. most willingly : spo. i , i , alas ! 't was love : flo. where should wee find him out ? cla. i le save that labour . exit clariana . cal. where 's hylace pray shepheard ? and the rest of my good silvan friends ? me thinkes i would , faine take my leave of them . aeg. i 'le fetch them hither . they 're not farre off , and if you please to helpe the match betwixt hylace and palaemon , 't would be a good deed , i le goe fetch them . exit . enter aphron , clariana . ap. ha! whether have you led me clariana ? some steepy mountaine bury me alive , or rock intombe me in its stony intrayles , whom doe i see ? cla. why doe you stare my aphron ? they have forgiven all . dem. come , aphron , welcome , we have forgot the wrong you did my daughter , the name of love hath cover'd all ; this is a joyfull day , and sacred to great hymen 't were sin not to be friends with all men now . sp. methinks , i have much adoe to forgive the rascall . ( aside . ) ap. i know not what to say ; doe you all pardon me ? i have done wrong to yee all , yea , to all those that have a share in vertue . can yee pardon me ? all . most willingly . aph. doe you say so faire virgin ? you i have injur'd most : with love , with saucy love , which i henceforth recall , and will looke on you with an adoration , not with desire hereafter ; tell me , pray , doth any man yet call you his ? cal. yes ; philistus . ap. i congratulate it sir . the gods make yee both happy : foole , as i am , you are at the height already of felicity , to which there 's nothing can be added now , but perpetuity ; you shall not find me your rivall any more , though i confesse i honor her , and will for ever doe so . clariana , i am so much unworthy of thy love . that — cl. goe no farther sir , 't is i should say so of my owne selfe . phi. how sister ? are you two so neere upon a match ? ap. in our hearts sir , wee are already joyn'd , it may be though you will be loth to have unhappy aphron , stile you his brother ? phi. no sir , if you both agree , to me it shall not be unwelcome . why here 's a day indeed ; sure hymen now meanes to spend all his torches . dem. 't is my son sir , new come from travaile , and your brother now . ap. i understand not . dem. had you not a sister ? ap. i had sir ; but where now she is none knowes , besides the gods . dem. is 't not about some fifteene yeares agoe since that the nurse scap't with her from the hands of turkish pyrats that beset the house ? ap. it is sir . dem your sister lives then , and is maried now to florellus ; this is she , you shall be enform'd of all the circumstances anon . ap. 't is impossible . i shall be made too happy on the sudden . my sister found , and clariana mine ! come not too thick good joyes , you will oppresse me . enter melarnus , truga , aegon , hylace , palaemon . cal. shepheards you 're welcome all ; though i have lost your good society , i hope i shall not your friendship , and best wishes . aegon . nay , here 's wonders ; now callidorus is found out a woman , bellula not my daughter , and is maried to yonder gentleman , for which i intend to doe in earnest what before i jested , to adopt palaemon for my heire . mel. ha , ha , ha ! come it 's no matter for that ; doe you thinke to cheate me once againe with your fine tricks ? no matter for that neither . ha , ha , ha ! alas ! shee 's maried to dametas . aeg. nay , that was your plot melarnus , i met with him , and he denyes it to me . hy. henceforth i must not love , but honor you — to callidora : aeg. by all the gods i will . tru. he will , he will ; duck . mel. of everything ? aeg. of every thing ; i call these gentlemen to witnesse here , that since i have no child to care for ; i will make palaemon heire to those small meanes the gods , have blest me with , if he doe marry hylace . mel. come it 's no matter for that , i scarce beleeve you . dem. wee 'le be his suretyes . mel. hylace what thinke you of palaemon ? can you love him ? h 'as our consents , but it 's no matter for that , if he doe please you , speake , or now , or never . hyl. why doe i doubt fond girle ? shee 's now a woman . mel. no matter for that , what you doe , doe quickly . hyl. my duty binds me not to be averse to what likes you . — mel. why take her then palaemon ; she 's yours for ever . pa. with farre more joy then i would doe the wealth of both the indyes , thou art above a father to me , aegon . w' are freed from misery with sense of joy , wee are not borne so ; oh ! my hylace , it is my comfort now that thou wert hard , and cruell till this day , delights are sweetest ? when poysoned with the trouble to attaine them . enter alupis . for 't is but a folly , &c by your leave , i come to seeke a woman , that hath outlived the memorie of her youth , with skin as black as her teeth , if she have any , with a face would fright the constable and his watch out of their wits ( and that 's easily done you 'le say ) if they should meet her at midnight . o! are you there ? i thought i smelt you somewhere ; come hither my she nestor , pretty truga , come hither , my sweet duck . tru. why ? are you not asham'd to abuse me thus , before this company ? al. i have something more ; i come to shew the ring before them all ; how durst you thus betray us to melarnus ? tru. 't is false , 't was hylace that over-heard you ; shee told me so ; but they are maried now . al. what doe you thinke to flam me ? why ho ! here 's newes . pa. alupis art thou there ? forgive my anger , i am the happiest man alive , alupis , hylace is mine , here are more wonders too , thou shalt know all anon . tru. alupis , give me . al. well , rather then be troubled . aeg. alupis welcome , now w' are friends i hope ? give me your hand . mel. and me . al. with all my heart , i 'me glad to see yee have learn'd more wit at last . cal. this is the shepheard , father , to whose care i owe for many favours in the woods , you 're welcome heartily ; here 's every body payr'd of a sudden ; when shall 's see you maried ? al. me ? when there are no ropes to hang my selfe , no rocks to breake my neck downe ; i abhorre to live in a perpetuall belfary ; i never could abide to have a master , much lesse a mistris , and i will not marry , because , i 'le sing away the day , for 't is but a folly to be melancholly , i le be merry whilst i may . phi. you 're welcome all , and i desire you all to be my guests to day ; a wedding dinner , such as the sudden can afford , wee 'le have , come will yee walke in gentlemen ? dem. yes , yes , what crosses have yee borne before yee joyn'd ! what seas past through before yee touch't the port ! thus lovers doe , ere they are crown'd by fates with palme , the tree their patience imitates . finis .

epilogue spoken by alupis . the author bid me tell you — 'faith , i have forgot what 't was ; and i 'me a very slave if i know what to say ; but only this , bee merry , that my counsell alwayes is . let no grave man knit up his brow , and say , 't is foolish : why ? 't was a boy made the play . nor any yet of those that sit behind , because he goes in plush , be of his mind . let none his time , or his spent money grieve , bee merry ; give me your hands , and i 'le believe . or if you will not , i 'le goe in , and see , if i can turne the authors mind , with mee to sing away the day , for 't is but a folly to bee melancholy , since that can't mend the play .

machine-generated castlist a -alupis a -callidamus a -florellus a -truga a -aphron a -palaemon a -bellula a -melarnus a -hylace a -aegon a -clariana a -demophil a -philistus a -spodaia a -unassigned a -all a -missing

textual notes

the textual notes below aim at making textual corrections readable in their immediate context and facilitating access to the source text. a five-digit number preceded by 'a' or 'b' represents an eebo-tcp filenumber. a notation like " -b- " means "look for eebo page image of that text, word on the right side of the double-page image." that reference is followed by the corrupt reading. a black dot stands for an unidentified letter, a black square for an unidentified punctuation mark, a diamond for a missing word, and the ellipsis for a short span of undefined length. the corrected reading is displayed as a keyword in context.

a - -a- ▪ betray's the time and place wherein t'was writ , and i could wish , that i might safely say a - -a- prodigiein thinkes a sad and drowsie shepheard is a prodigie in nature , for the woods should bee as a - -b- figh is't not a pretty folly to stand thus , and sigh , and fold the armes , and cry my coelia a - -b- jests'gainst laugh at all the world securely , and fling jests 'gainst the businesses of state without a - -b- for'tis endangering our eares . come , come away , for 'tis but a folly to be melancholy , let's a - -b- ▪ knave , and you shall know't , that you shall . a - -b- diolefull therefore shape some other course , this dolefull place shall never see me more , vnlesse a - -b- iearne 'tis a hard lesson for my mind to learne , but i would force my selfe , if that would a - -b- ▪ would force my selfe , if that would helpe me . a - -a- ▪ day upon some mossie hill his rurall throne , arm'd with his crooke , his scepter , a a - -a- ▪ i'me sure i cannot chuse but find her there : a - -a- taft thy lips are cheryes , let me tast them sweet ? a - -b- ▪ captaines , arm'd with broad scarfe , feather . and scarlet breeches , when he instructs a - -b- ▪ wert borne to trouble me , who sent for thee ? a - -a- boy'faith good boy 'faith : now let me come . a - -a- ▪ mingled in friendship with a holy brother ; to beget reformations . a - -b- withall i , i , with all my heart , but doe you speake sincerely a - -b- ▪ see some sparks still of your former beauty , which spight of time still flourish . a - -a- ▪ how supple 'tis like wax before the sun ! now cannot i chuse but kisse her , there's a - -a- cl▪ cl. a - -b- mel▪ mel. a - -a- beteer say ? i see the better way , and know 'tis better , yet still this devious error drawes me a - -b- jefts blowes are heavier farre then the most studied jests you can throw at me . a - -b- ▪ that though ; what i have done , i have done ? ha , ha , ha ! a - -b- ▪ thou art , the sun shall lose his course , and brightnesse too , ere hylace her chastity a - -a- ▪ judgements hang on fortune , not on reason . a - -a- ▪ wee will doe more ; palaemon , come away , he hath wrong'd both ; and both shall satisfie a - -b- ▪ not my eyes creepe backe into their cells ; as if they seem'd to wish for thicker darknesse a - -b- ▪ yet stay a little longer ; you must stay : you are an actor in this tragedy . a - -b- ▪ she told me she was sister to philistus , who having mist the beauteous callidora a - -b- ▪ faire she was ! what then ? so's clariana ; what graces did she dart on all beholders a - -a- iust resolution to make me the prey of his wild lust . a - -b- shepheatdesse it hapned that this gentle shepheardesse , ( i can attribute it to nought in me deserv'd a - -a- ▪ latest spirit , and by her a faire child , and , which her very dressing might declare a - -a- ▪ must not love , but honor you — to callidora :

cutter of coleman-street a comedy : the scene london, in the year / written by abraham cowley. cowley, abraham, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing c ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing c estc r ocm

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early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) cutter of coleman-street a comedy : the scene london, in the year / written by abraham cowley. cowley, abraham, - . [ ], , [ ] p. printed for henry herringman ..., london : . the author's comedy, the guardian, rewritten by himself. cf. pref. reproduction of original in huntington library. eng shcnocutter of coleman streetcowley, abraham . b the rate of . defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion

cutter of coleman-street . a comedy .

the scene london , in the year .

written by abraham cowley .

london , printed for henry herringman at the sign of the anchor in the lower walk in the new-exchange . anno dom. .

preface .

a comedy , called the guardian , and made by me when i was very young , was acted formerly at camebridge , and several times after privately during the troubles , as i am told , with good approbation , as it has been lately too at dublin there being many things in it which i disliked , and finding my self for some dayes idle , and alone in the countrey , i fell upon the changing of it almost wholly , as now it is , and as it was play'd since at his royal highness's theatre under this new name . it met at the first representation with no favourable reception , and i think there was something of faction against it , by the early appearance of some mens disapprobation before they had seen enough of it to build their dislike upon their iudgment . afterwards it got some ground , and found friends as well as adversarys . in which condition i should willingly let it dye , if the main imputations under which it suffered , had been shot only against my wit or art in these matters , and not directed against the tenderest parts of human reputation , good nature , good manners , and piety it self . the first clamour which some malitious persons raised , and made a great noise with , was , that it was a piece intended for abuse and satyre against the kings party . good god! against the kings party ? after having served it twenty years during all the time of their misfortunes and afflictions , i must be a very rash and imprudent person if i chose out that of their restitution to begin a quarrel with them . i must be too much a madman to be trusted with such an edg'd tool as comedy . but first , why should either the whole party ( as it was once distinguisht by that name , which i hope is abolisht now by universal loyalty ) or any man of virtue or honour in it , believe themselves injured or at all concerned , by the representation of the faults and follies of a few who in the general division of the nation had crowded in among them ? in all mixt numbers ( which is the case of parties ) nay , in the most entire and continued bodies there are often some degenerate and corrupted parts , which may be cast away from that , and even cut off from this unity , without any infection of scandal to the remaining body . the church of rome with all her arrogance , and her wide pretences of certainty in all truths , and exemption from all errors , does not clap on this enchanted armour of infallibility upon all her particular subjects , nor is offended at the reproof even of her greatest doctors . we are not , i hope , become such puritans our selves as to assume the name of the congregation of the spotless . it is hard for any party to be so ill as that no good , impossible to be so good as that no ill should be found among them . and it has been the perpetual privilege of satyre and comedy to pluck their vices and follies though not their persons out of the sanctuary of any title . a cowardly ranting souldier , an ignorant charlatanical doctor , a foolish cheating lawyer , a silly pedantical scholar , hav , alwayes been , and still are the principal subjects of all comedye without any scandal given to those honourable professions , or ever taken by their severest professors ; and , if any good physician or divine should be offended with me here for inveighing against a quack , or for finding deacon soaker too often in the butteryes , my respect and reverence to their callings would make me troubled at their displeasure , but i could not abstain from taking them for very cholerique and quarrelsome persons . what does this therefore amount to , if it were true which is objected ? but it is far from being so ; for the representation of two sharks about the town ( fellows merry and ingenious enough , and therefore admitted into better companyes than they deserve , yet withall too very scoundrels , which is no unfrequent character at london ) the representation i say of these as pretended officers of the royal army , was made for no other purpose but to show the world , that the vices and extravagancies imputed vulgarly to the cavaliers , were really committed by aliens who only usurped that name , and endeavoured to cover the reproach of their indigency or infamy of their actions with so honourable a title . so that the business was not here to correct or cut off any natural branches , though never so corrupted or luxuriant , but to separate and cast away that vermine which by sticking so close to them had done great and considerable prejudice both to the beauty and fertility of the tree ; and this is as plainly said , and as often inculcated as if one should write round about a signe , this is a dog , this is a dog , out of over-much caution lest some might happen to mistake it for a lyon , therefore when this calumny could not hold ( for the case is cleer , and will take no colour ) some others sought out a subtiler hint to traduce me upon the same score , and were angry that the person whom i made a true gentleman , and one both of considerable quality and sufferings in the royal party , should not have a fair and noble character throughout , but should submit in his great extremities to wrong his niece for his own relief . this is a refined exception , such as i little foresaw , nor should with the dulness of my usual charity , have found out against another man in twenty years . the truth is , i did not intend the character of a hero , one of exemplary virtue , and as homer often terms such men , unblameable , but an ordinary jovial gentleman , commonly called a good fellow , one not so conscientious as to sterve rather than do the least injury , and yet endowed with so much sense of honour as to refuse when that necessity was removed , the gain of five thousand pounds which he might have taken from his niece by the rigour of a forfeiture ; and let the frankness of this latter generosity so expiate for the former frailty , as may make us not ashamed of his company , for if his true metal be but equal to his allay , it will not indeed render him one of the finest sorts of men , but it will make him current , for ought i know , in any party that ever yet was in the world. if you be to choose parts for a comedy out of any noble or elevated rank of persons , the most proper for that work are the worst of that kind . comedy is humble of her nature , and has alwayes been bred low , so that she knows not how to behave her self with the great or the accomplisht . she does not pretend to the brisk and bold qualities of wine , but to the stomachal acidity of vinegar , and therefore is best placed among that sort of people which the romans call the lees of romulus . if i had designed here the celebration of the virtues of our friends , i would have made the scene nobler where i intended to erect their statues . they should have stood in odes , and tragedies , and epique poems , ( neither have i totally omitted those greater testimonies of my esteem of them ) sed nunc non erat his locus , &c. and so much for this little spiny objection which a man cannot see without a magnifying glass . the next is enough to knock a man down , and accuses me of no less than prophaness . prophane , to deride the hypocrisie of those men whose skuls are not yet bare upon the gates since the publique and just punishment of it ? but there is some imitation of scripture phrases ; god forbid ; there is no representation of the true face of scripture , but only of that vizard which these hypocrites ( that is , by interpretation actors with a vizard ) draw upon it . it is prophane to speak of harrisons return to life again , when some of his friends really profest their belief of it , and he himself had been said to promise it ? a man may be so imprudently scrupulous as to find prophaness in any thing either said or written by applying it under some similitude or other to some expressions in scripture . this nicety is both vain and endless . but i call god to witness , that rather than one tittle should remain among all my writings which according to my severest judgment should be found guilty of the crime objected , i would myself burn and extinguish them all together . nothing is so detestably lewd and rechless as the derision of things sacred , and would be in me more unpardonable than any man else , who have endeavoured to root out the ordinary weeds of poetry , and to plant it almost wholly with divinity . i am so far from allowing any loose or irreverent expressions in matters of that religion which i believe , that i am very tender in this point even for the grossest errors of conscientious persons , they are the properest object ( me thinks ) both of our â��itty and charity too ; they are the innocent and white sectaries , in comparison of another kind who engraft pride upon ignorance , tyranny upon liberty , and upon all their heresies , treason and rebellion . these are principles so destructive to the peace and society of mankind that they deserve to be persued by our serious hatred , and the putting a mask of sanctity upon such devils is do ridiculous , that it ought to be exposed to contempt and laughter . they are indeed prophane , who counterfeit the softness of the voyce of holiness to disguize the roughness of the hands of impiety , and not they who with reverence to the thing which the others dissemble , deride nothing but their dissimulation . if some piece of an admirable artist should be ill copyed even to ridiculousness by an ignorant hand , and another painter should undertake to draw that copy , and make it yet more ridiculous , to shew apparently the difference of the two works , and deformity of the latter , will not every man see plainly that the abuse is intended to the foolish imitation , and not to the excellent original ? i might say much more to confute and confound this very false and malitious accusation , but this is enough i hope to cleer the matter , and is i am afraid too much for a preface to a work of so little consideration . as for all other objections which have been or may be made against the invention or elocution , or any thing else which comes under the critical iurisdiction , let it stand or fall as it can answer for it self , for i do not lay the great stress of my reputation upon a structure of this nature , much less upon the slight reparations only of an old and unfashionable building . there is no writer but may fail sometimes in point of wit , and it is no less frequent for the auditors to fail in point of iudgment . i perceive plainly by dayly experience that fortune is mistris of the theatre , as tully sayes it is of all popular assemblies . no man can tell sometimes from whence the invisible winds arise that move them . there are a multitude of people who are truly and onely spectators at a play , without any use of their understanding , and these carry it sometimes by the strength of their number . there are others who use their understanding too much , who think it a sign of weakness or stupidity to let any thing pass by them unattaqued , and that the honour of their iudgment ( as some brutals imagine of their courage ) consists in quarrelling with every thing . we are therefore wonderfull wise men , and have a fine business of it , we who spend our time in poetry , i do sometimes laugh , and am often angry with my self when i think on it , and if i had a son inclined by nature to the same folly , i believe i should bind him from it , by the strictest conjurations of a paternal blessing . for what can be more ridiculous than to labour to give men delight , whilst they labour on their part more earnestly to take offence ? to expose ones self voluntarily and frankly to all the dangers of that narrow passage to unprofitable fame , which is defended by rude multitudes of the ignorant , and by armed troops of the malitious ? if we do ill many discover it and all despise us , if we do well but few men find it out , and fewer entertain it kindly . if we commit errors there is no parson , if we could do wonders there would be but little thanks , and that too extorted from unwilling givers . but some perhaps may say , was it not alwayes thus ? do you expect a particular privilege that was never yet enjoyed by any poet ? were the ancient graecian , or noble roman authors , was virgil himself exempt from this passibility , qui melior multis quam tu fuit , improbe , rebus , who was in many things thy better far , thou impudent pretender ? as was said by lucretius to a person who took it ill that he was to dye , though he had seen so many do it before him who better deserved immortality ; and this is to repine at the natural condition of a living poet , as he did at that of a living mortal . i do not only ackowledge the prae-eminence of virgil ( whose footsteps i adore ) but submit to many of his roman brethren , and i confess that even they in their own times were not secure from the assaults of detraction ( though horace brags at last , jam dente minÃ¹s mordeor invido ) but then the barkings of a few were drown'd in the applause of all the rest of the world , and the poison of their bitings extiguisht by the antidote of great rewards , and great encouragements , which is a way of curing now out of use , and i really profess that i neither expect , nor think i deserve it . indolency would serve my turn instead of pleasure ; but the case is not so well ; for though i comfort my self with some assurance of the favour and affection of very many candid and good natured ( and yet too judicious and even critical ) persons , yet this i do affirm , that from all which i have written i never received the least benefit , or the least advantage , but on the contrary have felt sometimes the effects of malice and misfortune .

the prologue . as when the midland sea is no where clear from dreadfull fleets of tunis and argier , which coast about , to all they meet with foes , and upon which nought can be got but blowes , the merchand ships so much their passage doubt , that , though full-freighted , none dares venture out , and trade dacayes , and scarcity ensues ; just so the timerous wits of late refuse , though laded , to put forth upon the stage , affrighted by the critiques of this age . it is a party numerous , watchfull , bold ; they can from nought , which sailes in sight , with-hold . nor doe their cheap , though mortal , thunder spare ; they shoot , alas , with wind-gunns , charg'd with air. but yet , gentlemen critiques of argier , for your own int'rest i 'de advise ye here to let this little forlorn hope goe by safe and untoucht ; that must not be ( you 'l cry ) if ye be wise , it must ; i le tell yee why . there are seven , eight , nine , â�� stay â�� there are behind ten playes at least , which wait but for a wind , and the glad news that we the enemy miss , and those are all your own , if you spare this. some are but new trim'd up , others quite new , some by known shipwrights built , and others too by that great author made , who ere he be , that stiles himself person of qualitie . all these , if we miscarry here to day . will rather till they rot in th' harbour stay , nay they will back again , though they were come , ev'n to their last safe rode , to tyring room . therefore again i say , if you be wise , let this for once pass free ; let it suffise that we your soveraing power here to avow , thus humbly ere we pass , strike sail to you.

added at court. stay gentlemen ; what i have said , was all but forc'd submission , which i now recall . ye 're all but pirats now again ; for here does the true soveraign of the seas appear . the soveraign of these narrow seas of wit ; 't is his own thames ; he knows and governs it . 't is his dominion , and domain ; as hee pleases , 't is either shut to us or free. not onely , if his pasport we obtain , vve fear no little rovers of the main , but if our neptune his calm visage show , no wave shall dare to rise or vvind to blow .

the persons . colonel jolly a gentleman whose estate was confiscated in the late troubles . mistris aurelia his daughter . mistris lucia his niece , left to his tuition . cutter a merry sharking fellow about the town , pretending to have been a colonel in the kings army . worm his companion , and such another fellow , pretending to have been a captain . mr. puny a young , rich , brisk fop , pretending to extraordinary wit , suter to mistris lucia . mr. truman senior . an old , testy , covetous gentleman . mr. truman junior his son , in love with mistris lucia . mistris barebottle a sopeboylers widdow , who had bought jollys estate , a pretended saint . mistris tabitha her daughter . mistris jane mistris lucias maid , a little laughing fop. mr. soaker a little fudling deacon . several servants

cutter of coleman-street .

act .

scene . truman iunior . how hard , alas , is that young lover's fate , who has a father covetous and cholerique ! what has he made me swear ? â�� i dare not think upon the oath , lest i should keep it â�� never to see my mistris more , or hear her speak without his leave ; and farewel then the use of eyes and ears ; â�� and all this wickedness i submitted to , for fear of being disinherited ; for fear of losing durt and dross , i lose my mistris â�� there 's a lover ! fitter much for hell than thousand perjuries could make him , fit to be made th' example which all women should reproach men with , when themselves grow false ; yet she , the good and charitable lucia , with such a bounty as has onely been practis'd by heaven , and kings inspir'd from thence , forgives still , and still loves her perjur'd rebel , i 'le to my father strait , and swear to him ten thousand oathes ne'r to observe that wicked one which he ' has extorted from me â�� here he comes ; and my weak heart , already us'd to falshood , begins to waver .

scene . truman senior , truman iunior . trum. sen. well , dick , you know what you swore to me yesterday , and solemnly .

i ha' been considering , and considering all night , dick , for your good , and me-thinks , supposing i were a young man again , and the case my own ( for i love to be just in all things ) me-thinks 'tis hard for a young man , i say , who has been a lover so long as you ha' been , to break off on a suddain . am i in the right or no , dick ? do you mark me ?

trum. iun. hard , sir , 't is harder much than any death prolong'd by tortures . trum. sen.

why so i thought ; and therefore out o' my care for your ease , i have hit upon an expedient that i think will salve the matter !

trum. jun. and i will thank you for it more , sir , than for the life you gave me . trum. sen.

why ! well said , dick , and i 'me glad with all my heart , i thought upon 't ; in brief , 't is this , dick ; i ha' found out another mistris for you .

trum. jun. another ? heaven forbid , sir ! trum. sen. i ; another , good-man jack sawce ; marry come up ; wo'nt one o' my choosing serve your turn , as well as one o' your own ; sure i 'me the older man , jack sawce , and should be the wiser ! trum. jun. but nature , sir , that 's wiser than all mankind , is mistris in the choice of our affections , affections are not rais'd from outward reasons , but inward sympathies . trum. sen.

very well , dick , if you be a dutiful son to me , you shall have a good estate , and so has she ;

there 's sympathy for you now ; but i perceive you 'r hankring still after mrs. lucy ,

do , do ! forswear your self ; do , damn your self , and be a beggar too ; sure i would never undo my self , by perjury ; if i had a mind to go to hell , cromwel should make me a lord for 't ! i , and one of his councel too , i 'de never be damn'd for nothing , for a whim-wham in a coif . but to be short , the person i design for you is mrs. tabith baarebottle , our neighbour the widow's daughter . what do you start at , sirra ? i , sirra , jack an-apes , if you start when your father speaks to you .

trum. jun.

you did not think her father once i 'me sure a person fit for your alliance , when he plundred your house in hartfordshire , and took away the very hop-poles , pretending they were arms too .

trum. sen.

he was a very rogue , that 's the truth on 't , as to the business between man and man , but as to god-ward he was always counted an upright man , and very devout . but that 's all one , i 'me sure h 'as rais'd a fine estate out o' nothing by his industry in these times : an' i had not been a beast too â�� but heaven's will be done , i could not ha' don 't with a good conscience . well , dick , i 'le go talk with her mother about this matter , and examine fully what her estate is , for unless it prove a good one , i tell you true , dick , i 'me o' your opinion , not to marry such a rogues daughter .

trum. jun. i beseech you , sir â�� exit trum : sen. it is in vain to speak to him â�� though i to save this dung-hill an estate have done a crime like theirs , who have abjur'd their king for the same cause , i will not yet , like them , persue the guilt , and in thy place , lucia my lawful soverain , set up a low and scandalous usurper ! enter servant . serv.

't is well the old man's just gone . there 's a gentlewoman without , sir , desires to speak one word with you .

trum. jun.

with me ? who is 't ?

serv.

it should be mrs. lucia by her voice , sir , but she 's veil'd all over . will you please to see her , sir ?

trum.

will i see her , blockhead ? yes ; go out and kneel to her and pray her to come in . ( exit serv. )

scene . lucia ( veil'd ) truman . trum. this is a favour , madam ! that i as little hop'd , as i am able to thank you for it â�� but why all this muffling ? why a disguise , my dearest , between us ? unless to increase , my desire first , and then my joy to see thee thou cast this subtil night before thy beauty . and now like one scorch'd with some raging feaver , upon whose flames no dew of sleep has faln , i do begin to quarrel with the darkness , and blame the sloathful rising of the morn , and with more joy shall welcome it , than they whose icy dwellings the cold bear o're-looks , when after half the years winter and night , day and the spring at once salutes their sight ! thus it appears , thus like thy matchless beauty , offers to pull off the veil . when this black clowd is vanish'd . why d' e you shrink back , my dearest ? i prethee let me look a little on thee : 't is all the pleasure love has yet allow'd me , and more than nature does in all things else . at least speak to me ; well may i call it night when silence too thus joyns it self with darkness . ha! i had quite forgot the cursed oath i made â�� pish ! what 's an oath forc'd from a lovers tongue ? 't is not recorded in heaven's dreadful book , but scatter'd loosely by the breath that made it , away with it ; to make it was but a rashness , to keep it were a sin â�� dear madam â�� offers agen , but she refuses , & gives him a note ha! let 's see this then first ! you know i have forgiven your unkind oath to your he reads . father , and shall never suffer you to be perjur'd .

i come onely to let you know , that the physician and the ' pothecary will do this morning what we propos'd , be ready at hand , if there should be occasion for your presence , i dare not stay one minute . farewel .

now thousand angels wait upon thee , lucia , and thousand blessings upon all thou do'st . let me but kiss your hand , and i 'le dismiss you . ah cruel father , when thou mad'st the oath , thou little thought'st that thou had'st left such blessings for me out of it . exeunt .

scene . colonel iolly , will ( his man. ) col. iolly in an indian gown and night-cap . ioll.

give me the pills ; what said the doctor , will ?

will.

he said a great deal , sir , but i was not doctor enough to understand half of it .

ioll.

a man may drink , he says , for all these bawbles ?

will.

he 's ill advised if he give your worship drinking pills , for when you were drinking last together , a fit took you to beat the doctor , which your worship told him was a new disease .

ioll.

he was drunk then himself first , and spoke false latin , which becomes a doctor worse than a beating . but he does not remember that , i hope , now ?

will. i think he does , sir , for he says the pills are to purge black choler ! ioll.

i , melancholy ; i shall ha' need of them then , for my old purger of melancholy , canary , will grow too dear for me shortly ; my own estate was sold for being with the king at oxford . a curse upon an old dunce that needs must be going to oxford at my years ! my good neighbor , i thank him , collonel fear-the lord-barebottle , a saint and a sope-boyler , bought it ; but he 's dead , and boiling now himself , that 's the best of 't ; there 's a cavalier's comfort ! if his damnable wife now would marry me , it would return again , as i hope all things will at last ; and even that too were as hard a composition for ones own , as ever was made at habber-dashers-hall ; but hang her , she 'l ha' none o' me , unless i were true rich and counterfeit godly ; let her go to her husband ; ( so much for that â�� it does not go down takes a pill . so glib as an egg in muskadine ) now when my nieces portion too goes out o' my hands , which i can keep but till a handsome wench of eighteen pleases to marry ( a pitiful slender tenure that 's the truth on 't ) i ha' nothing to do but to live by plots for the king , or at least to be hang'd by ' em . ( so , go thou too ) well , something must be takes the two other pills . done , unless a man could get true gems by drinking , or like a mouse in a cheese , make himself a house by eating .

will , did you send for colonel cutter and captain worm , to come and keep me company this morning that i take physick ? they 'l be loth to come to day , there 's so little hope o' drinking here .

will. they said they would be here , sir , before this time ; some morning's draught , i believe , has intercepted ' em . ioll.

i could repent now heartily , but that 't would look as if i were compell'd to 't , and besides if it should draw me to amendment , 't would undo me now , till i ha' gotten something . 't is a hard case to wrong my pretty niece ; but unless i get this wicked widow , i and my daughter must starve else ; and that 's harder yet ; necessity is , as i take it , fatality , and that will excuse all things , o! here they are !

scene . colonel iolly , colonel cutter , captain worm . ioll.

welcome ! men o' war , what news abroad in town ?

cut.

brave news i faith , it arriv'd but yesterday by an irish priest , that came over in the habit of a fish-wife , a cunning fellow , and a man o' business , he 's to lie leiger here for a whole irish college beyond-sea , and do all their affairs of state. the captain spoke with him last night at the blew anchor !

ioll.

well , and what is 't ?

worm .

why , business is afloat again ; the king has muster'd five and twenty thousand men in flanders , as tall fellows as any are in christendom .

ioll.

a pox upon you for a couple of gross cheats !

i wonder from what fools in what blind corners you get a dinner for this stuff .

cut.

nay , there 's another news that 's stranger ye , but for that let the captain answer .

wor.

i confess i should ha' thought it very ridiculous , but that i saw it from a good hand beyond sea , under black and white , and all in cypher .

ioll.

oh it cann't miss then ; what may it be , pray ?

wor. why , that the emperor of muscovy has promis'd to land ten thousand bears in england to over-run the country . ioll.

oh! that 's in revenge of the late barbarous murder of their brethren here i warrant you !

cut. why , colonel , things will come about again ! we shall have another 'bout for't ! ioll.

why all this to a friend that knows you ? where were thy former bouts , i prethee cutter ? where didst thou ever serve the king , or when ?

cut.

why every where ; and the last time at worcester

if i never serv'd him since , the faults not mine ; an there had been any action â��

ioll.

at worcester , cutter ? prethee how got's thou thither ?

cut.

why as you and all other gentlemen should ha' done ; i carri'd him in a troop of reformado officers ; most of them had been under my command before !

ioll.

i 'le be sworn they were reformado tapsters then ; but prethee how gots thou off ?

cut.

why as the king himself , and all the rest of the great ones ; in a disguise ; if you 'l needs know 't .

vvor.

he 's very cautious , colonel , h 'as kept it ever since .

ioll.

that 's too long 'ifaith , cutter , prethee take one disguise now more at last , and put thy self into the habit of a gentleman .

cut.

i 'le answer no more prethees ; is this the mornings-draught you sent for me to ?

ioll.

no , i ha' better news for ye both , than ever ye had from a good irish hand ; the truth is i have a plot for yee , which if it take , ye shall no more make monstrous tales from bruges to revive your sinking credits in loyal ale-houses , nor inveigle into taverns young foremen of the shop , or little beardless blades of the inns of court , to drink to the royal family parabolically , and with bouncing oathes like cannon at every health ; nor upon unlucky failing afternoons take melancholy turns in the temple walks , and when you meet acquaintance , cry , you wonder why your lawyer stays so long with a pox to him .

vvor.

this physick has stirr'd ill humors in the colonel , would they were once well purg'd , and we a drinking again lovingly together as we were wont to do .

ioll.

nor make headless quarrels about the reckoning time , and leave the house in confusion ; nor when you go to bed produce ten several snuffs to make up one poor pipe o' tobacco !

cut.

would i had one here now ; i ha' n't had my morning smoak yet , by this day !

ioll.

nor change your names and lodgings as often as a whore : for as yet if ye liv'd like tartars in a cart ( as i fear ye must die in one ) your home could not be more uncertain . to day at wapping , and to morrow you appear again upon mill-bank ( like a duck that dives at this end of the pond , and rises unexpectedly at the other ) i do not think pythagoras his soul e're chang'd so many dwellings as you ha' done within these two years .

cut.

why , what then , colonel ? soldiers must remove their tents sometimes , alexander the great did it a thousand times .

vvorm . nine hundred , cutter , you 'r but a dunce in story ; but what 's all this to th' matter , noble colonel ? you run a wool-gathering like a zealous teacher ; where 's the use of consolation that you promis'd us ? ioll.

why thou shalt have it , little vvorm , for these damn'd pills begin to make me horrible sick , and are not like to allow of long digressions ; thus briefly then , as befits a man in my case !

when my brother the merchant went into afrique , to follow his great trade there â��

vvor.

how o' devil could he follow it ? why he had quite lost his memory ; i knew him when he was fain to carry his own name in writing about him for fear lest he should forget it .

ioll.

oh his man iohn , you know , did all , yet still he would go about with old iohn , and thought if he did go , he did his business himself ; well , when he went he left his daughter with a portion o' five thousand pounds to my tuition , and if she married without my consent , she was to have but a thousand of it . when he was gon two years he dy'd â��

wor.

he did a little forget himself me-thinks , when he left the estate in your hands , collonel .

ioll.

hold your tongue , captain coxcomb ; now the case is this ; ye shall give me a thousand pounds for my interest and favour in this business , settle the rest upon her , and her children , or me and mine , if she ha' none ( d' ee mark me ? for i will not have one penny of the principal pass through such glewy fingers ) upon these terms i 'le marry her to one of you ; always provided though , that he whom she shall choose ( for she shall have as fair a choice as can be between two such fellows ) shall give me good assurances of living afterwards like a gentleman , as befits her husband , and cast off the t'others company !

cut.

the conditions may be admitted of , though if i have her , she 'l ha' no ill bargain on 't when the king comes home ; but how , colonel , if she should prove a foolish fantastical wench , and refuse to marry either of us ?

ioll.

why ! then she shall never ha' my consent to marry any body ; and she 'l be hang'd , i think , first in the friar's rope , ere she turn nun.

wor.

i 'l be a carthusian an she do !

ioll.

if 't were not for chastity and obedience thou mightest be so ; their t'other vow of never carrying any mony about them , thou hast kept from thy youth upwards .

wor.

i 'le have her ; i 'me the better scholar ; and we 're both equal soldiers , i 'me sure .

cut.

thou , captain bobadil ? what with that ember-week face o' thine ? that rasor o' thy nose ? thou look'st as if thou hadst never been fed since thou suck'st thy mothers milk . thy cheeks begin to fall into thy mouth , that thou mightest eat them . why thou very lath , with a thing cut like a face at top , and a slit at bottom . i am a man ha' serv'd my king and country , a person of honor , dogbolt , and a colonel .

wor.

yes , as priests are made now a daies , a colonel made by thine own self . i must confess thus much o' thy good parts , thou 'rt beholding to no body but thy self for what thou art . thou a soldier ? did not i see thee once in a quarrel at nine-pins behind sodom-lane disarm'd with one o' the pins ? alas , good cutter ! there 's difference , as i take it , betwixt the clattering o' swords and quart-pots , the effusion of blood and claret-wine â��

cut.

( what a barking little curr's this ? )

wor.

the smoak o' guns and tobacco â�� nor can you , cutter , fight the better , because you ha' beat an old bawd or a drawer ; besides , what parts hast thou ? hast thou scholarship enough to make a brewers clark ? canst thou read the bible ? i 'me sure thou hast not ; canst thou write more than thine own name , and that in such vile characters , that most men take 'em for arabian pot-hooks ! dost thou not live , cutter , in the chymaerian darkness of ignorance ?

ioll.

cymmerian , captain , prethee let it be cymmerian !

wor.

i ; i know some will have it so ; but by this light i always call 't chymaerian !

cut.

o brave scholar ! has the colonel caught you in false latin , you dunce you ? you 'd e'en as good stick to your captainship ; and that you may thank me for , you ingrateful pimp you , was not i the first that ever call'd you so ? and said you had serv'd stoutly in my regiment at newberry ?

ioll.

thy regiment ? â�� well ! leave your quarrelling , baboons , and try your fortunes fairly ; i begin to be very very sick , i 'le leave you , and send in my niece to intertain you , upon my life , if you quarrel any more , as great soldiers as you are , i 'le ha' you cashier'd for ever out o' this garrison o' mine , look to 't . exit col. ioll.

wor.

come cutter , wee 'd e'en better play fair play with one another , than lose all to a third . let 's draw cuts who shall accost her first when she comes in , and the t'other void the room for a little while .

cutt.

agreed ! you may thank the colonel for comming off so easily ; you know well enough i dare not offend him at such a time as this !

wor.

the longest first â�� draw lots .

cut.

mine ! od's my life ! here she is already !

scene . lucia , cutter , worm . luc. not choose amiss ? indeed i must do , uncle , to her self at her entrance . if i should choose again ; especially , if i should do 't out of your drinking company ; though i have seen these fellows here , i think a hundred times , yet i so much despise 'em ,

i never askt their names : but i must speak to 'em now . my uncle , gentlemen , will wait upon you presently again , and sent me hither to desire your patience !

cut.

patience , madam , will be no virtue requisite for us , whilst you are pleas'd to stay here ; ha , ha ! cutter ! that lit pretty pat 'ifaith for a beginning , vvorm goes out .

luc.

is your friend going , sir ?

cut.

friend , madam ? â�� ( i hope i shall be even with him presently ) he 's a merry fellow that your uncle and i divert our selves withall .

luc.

what is he ? pray sir.

cut.

that 's something difficult to tell you , madam ; but he has been all things . he was a scholar once , and since a merchant , but broke the first half year ; after that he serv'd a justice o' peace , and from thence turn'd a kind o' sollicitor at goldsmiths-hall ; h 'as a pretty smattering too in poetry , and would ha' been my lady protectres's poet ; he writ once a copy in praise of her beauty , but her highness gave him for it but an old half-crown piece in gold , which she had hoorded up before these troubles , and that discourag'd him from any further applications to the court. since that , h 'as been a little agitator for the cavalier party , and drew in one of the 'prentices that were hang'd lately ; he 's a good ingenious fellow , that 's the truth on 't , and a pleasant droll when h 'as got a cup o' wine in his pate , which your uncle and i supply him with ; but for matters that concern the king neither of us trust him . not that i can say h 'as betraid any body , but he 's so indigent a varlet , that i 'm afraid he would sell his soul to oliver for a noble . but madam , what a pox should we talk any more o' that mole-catcher ? ( now i 'm out again â�� i am so us'd onely to ranting whores , that an honest gentlewoman puts me to a non-plus ! )

luc.

why , my uncle recommended him to me , sir , as a person of quality , and of the same condition with your self , onely that you had been a collonel o' foot , and he a captain of horse in his majesty's service .

cut.

you know your uncle's drolling humor , madam ; he thought there was no danger in the raillerie , and that you 'd quickly find out what he was ; here he comes again , enter worm . i 'le leave him with you , madam , for a minute , and wait upon you immediately , ( i am at a loss , and must recover my self ) captain , i ha' dealt better by you than you deserv'd , and given you a high character to her ; see you do me right too , if there be occasion â�� i 'l make bold though to hearken whether you do or no.

exit cutter , and stands at the dore . wor.

madam , my noble friend your uncle has been pleas'd to honor me so far with his good opinion , as to allow me the liberty to kiss your hands .

luc. you 'r welcome , sir , but pray , sir , give me leave before you enter into farther complement to ask one question of you . wor. i shall resolve you , madam , with that truth which may , i hope , invite you to believe me in what i 'me to say afterwards . luc.

't is to tell me your friends name , sir , and his quality , which , though i 've seen him oft , i am yet ignorant of : i suppose him to be some honorable person , who has eminently serv'd the king in the late wars .

cut.

't is a shrewd discerning wench , she has hit me at the door . right already !

wor.

they call him collonel cutter , but to deal faithfully with you , madam , he 's no more a colonel than you 'r a major general .

cut.

ha! sure i mistake the rogue !

wor.

he never serv'd his king , not he , no more than he does his maker ; 't is true , h 'as drunk his health as often as any man , upon other mens charges , and he was for a little while , i think , a kind of hector , 'till he was soundly beaten one day , and dragg'd about the room , like old hector o' troy about the town .

cut.

what does this dog mean , trow ?

vvor.

once indeed he was very low for almost a twelve-month , and had neither mony enough to hire a barber , nor buy sizars , and then he wore a beard ( he said ) for king charls ; he 's now in pretty good cloathes , but would you saw the furniture of his chamber ! marry half a chair , an earthen chamberpot without an ear , and the bottom of an ink-horn for a candle-stick , the rest is broken foul tobacco-pipes , and a dozen o' gally-pots with sawfe in ' em .

cut.

was there ever such a cursed villain !

vvor.

h 'as been a known cheat about the town these twenty years .

luc.

what does my uncle mean to keep him company , if he be such a one ?

vvor.

why he 's infatuated , i think ! i ha' warn'd him on 't a thousand times ; he has some wit ( to give the devil his due ) and that 't is makes us endure him , but however i 'd advise your uncle to be a a little more cautious how he talks before him o' state matters , for he 's shrewdly wrong'd if he be n't cromwel's agent for all the taverns between kings-street and the devil at temple-bar , indeed he 's a kind o' resident in ' em .

cut.

flesh and blood can bear no longer â�� vvorm , you 'r a stinking , lying , perjur'd , damn'd villain ; and if i do not bring you , madam , his nose and both his ears , and lay 'em at your feet here before night , may the pillory and the pox take mine â�ª till then , suspend your judgment . exit cutter .

luc.

nay , you 'r both even ; just such an excellent character did he bestow on you ; why , thou vile wretch ,

go to the stews , the gaol , and there make love , thou 'lt find none there but such as will scorn thee ! vvor.

why here 's brave work i'faith ! i ha' carri'd it swimmingly , i 'le e'en go steal away and drink a dozen before i venture to think one thought o' the business . exit .

luc. go cursed race , which stick your loathsome crimes upon the honorable cause and patty ; and to the noble loyal sufferers , a worser suffering add of hate and infamy . go to the robbers and the parricides , and fix your spots upon their painted vizards , not on the native face of innocence , 't is you retard that industry by which our country would recover from this sickness ; which , whilst it fears th' eruption of such ulcers , keeps a disease tormenting it within , but if kind heav'n please to restore our health , when once the great physician shall return , he quickly will i hope restore our beauty . exit .

act. .

scene . aurelia . i see 't is no small part of policy to keep some little spies in an enemies quarters : the parliament had reason â��

i would not for five hundred pounds but ha' corrupted my cousin lucia's maid ; and yet it costs me nothing but sack-possets , and wine , and sugar when her mistris is a bed , and tawd'ry ribbonds , or fine trimm'd gloves sometimes , and once i think a pair of counterfeit rubie pendants that cost me half a crown . the poor wench loves dy'd glass like any indian , for a diamond bob i 'd have her maden-head if i were a man and she a maid . if her mistris did but talk in her sleep sometimes o' my conscience she 'd sit up all night and watch her , onely to tell me in the morning what she said ; 't is the prettiest diligent wretch in her calling , now she has undertaken't .

her intelligence just now was very good , and may be o' consequence ; that young truman is stoln up the back way into my cousin's chamber .

these are your grave maids that study romances , and will be all mandanas and cassandras , and never spit but by the rules of honor ; oh , here she comes , i hope , with fresh intelligence from the foes rendevouz .

scene . aurelia , iane. iane.

ha , ha , ha ! for the love of goodness hold me , or i shall fall down with laughing , ha , ha , ha ! 't is the best humor â�� no â�� i can't tell it you for laughing â�� ha , ha , ha ! the prettiest sport , ha , ha , ha !

aur. why , thou hast not seen him lie with her , hast thou ? the wench is mad ; prethee what is 't ? iane.

why ( hee , hei , ha ! ) my mistris sits by her servant in a long veil that covers her from top to toe , and says not one word to him , because of the oath you know that the old man forc'd his son to take after your father had forbid him the house , and he talks half an hour , like an ass as he is , all alone , and looks upon her hand all the while , and kisses it , but that which makes me die with laughing at the conceit ( ha , ha , ha ! ) is , that when he asks her any thing , she goes to the table , and writes her answer , you never saw such an innocent puppet-play !

aur.

dear iane ( kiss me , iane , ) how shall i do to see ' em ?

ian.

why , madam , i 'l go look the key of my mistris closet above , that looks into her chamber , where you may see all , and not be seen .

aur.

why that 's as good as the trick o' the veil ; do , dear iane , quickly , 't will make us excellent sport at night , and we 'l fuddle our noses together , shall we , dear iane ?

iane.

i , dear madam ! i 'l go seek out the key . exit iane.

aur.

't is strange , if this trick o' my cousins should beget no trick o' mine , that would be pittiful dul doings .

scene . aurelia , mr. puny . aur.

here comes another of her servants ; a young , rich , fantastical fop , that would be a wit , and has got a new way of being so ; he scorns to speak any thing that 's common , and finds out some impertinent similitude for every thing , the devil i think can't find out one for him . this coxcomb has so little brains too , as to make me the confident of his amours , i 'le thank him for his confidence ere i ha' done with him .

pun :

whofe here ? o madam ! is your father out of his metaphorical grave yet ? you understand my meaning , my dear confident ? you 'r a wit !

aur.

like what , mr. puny ?

pun.

why â�� like â�� me !

aur.

that 's right your way , mr. puny , it s an odd similitude .

pun.

but where 's your father little queen o' diamonds ? is he extant ? i long like a woman big with twins to speak with him !

aur.

you can't now possibly , there was never any creature so sick with a disease as he is with physick , to day , the doctor and the ' pothecarie's with him ; and will let no body come in . but , mr. puny , i have words o' comfort for you !

pun.

what , my dear quenn o' sheba ! and i have ophir for thee if thou hast .

aur.

why your rival is forbid our house , and has sworn to his father never to see or hear your mistris more .

pun.

i knew that yesterday as well as i knew my credo , but i 'm the very jew of malta if she did not use me since that , worse than i 'de use a rotten apple .

aur.

why that can't be , brother wit , why that were uncivilly done of her !

pun.

o hang her , queen of fairies , ( i'm all for queens to day i think ) she cares much for that ; no , that assyrian crocodile truman is still swimming in her praecordiums , but i 'le so ferret him out , i 'l beat him as a bloomsbury whore beats hemp ; i 'l spoil his grave dominical postures ; i 'l make him sneak , and look like a door off the hinges .

aur.

that 's hard ! but he deserves it truly , if he strive to annihilate .

pun.

why well said , sister wit , now thou speak'st oddly too !

aur.

well , without wit or foolery , mr. puny , what will you give me , if this night , this very improbable night , i make you marry my cousin lucia ?

pun.

thou talk'st like medusa's head , thou astonishest me .

aur.

well , in plain language as befits a bargain ; there 's pen and inck in the next chamber , give but a bill under your hand to pay me five hundred pounds in gold ( upon forfeiture of a thousand if you fail ) within an hour after the business is done , and i 'l be bound body for body my cousin lucia shall be your wife this night ; if i deceive you , your bond will do you no hurt , if , i do not , consider a little before-hand , whether the work deserves the reward , and do as you think fit .

pun.

there shall be no more considering than in a hasty pudding ; i 'l write it an' you will , in short-hand , to dispatch immediately , and presently go put five hundred mari-golds in a purse for you , come away like an arrow out of a scythian bow.

aur.

i 'l do your business for you , i 'l warrant you ; allons mon-cher . exeunt .

scene . cutter , worm . cut.

now i ha' thee at the place , where thou affronted'st me , here will i cut thy throat .

wor.

you 'l be hang'd first .

cut.

no by this light .

wor.

you 'l be hang'd after then .

cut.

not so neither ; for i 'l hew thee into so many morsels , that the crowner shall not be able to give his verdict whether 't was the body of a man or of a beast , as thou art . thou shalt be mince-meat , worm , within this hour .

wor.

he was a coward once , nor have i ever heard one syllable since of his reformation , he shall not daunt me .

cut.

come on ; i 'l send thee presently to erebus draws . without either bail or main-prize .

wor.

have at you , cutter , an' thou hadst as many lives as are in plutarch , i 'd make an end of e'm all .

cut.

come on , miscreant .

wor.

do , do ! strike an' thou dar'st .

cut.

coward , i 'l give thee the advantage of the first push , coward .

wor.

i scorn to take any thing o' thee , jew .

cut.

if thou dar'st not strike first , thou submitt'ft , and i give thee thy life .

wor.

remember , cutter , you were treacherous first to me , and therefore must begin . come , pox upon 't , this quarrel will cost us quarts o' wine a piece before the treaty o' peace be ended .

cut.

here 's company coming in ; i 'l hear o' no treaties , worm , we 'l fight it out .

scene . aurelia , puny , cutter , vvorm . aur.

five hundred neat gentlemen-like twenty-shilling reading . pieces , though never wash'd nor barb'd â�� a curse upon him , cann't he write a bond without these sotteries ?

pun.

why how now panims ? fighting like two sea-fish in the map ? why how now my little gallimaufry , my oleopodrido of arts and arms ; hold the feirce gudgings !

aur.

' ods my life , puny , let 's go in again ; that 's the onely way to part ' em .

pun.

do , do ! kill one another and be hang'd like ropes of onyons .

cut.

at your command ? no , puny ! i 'le be forc'd by no man ; put up , vvorm ; we 'l fight for no man's pleasure but our own .

vvor.

agreed ! i won't make sport with murdering any man , an' he were a turk .

pun.

why now ye speak like the pacifique sea ; we 'l to the king's poleanon , and drink all into pylados again ; we 'l drink up a whole vessel there to redintegration , and that so big , that the tun of heidelberg shall seem but a barel of pickled oisters to 't ; mean time , thou pretty little smith o' my good fortune , beat hard upon the anvil of your plot , i 'l go and provide the spankers . exit puny .

cut.

your cousin , mrs. aurelia , has abus'd us most irreverently .

aur.

why what 's the matter ?

cut.

your father recommended us two as suters to her .

aur.

and she 'd ha' none of you ? what a foolish girl 't is , to stand in her own light so ?

vvor.

nay , that 's not all , but she us'd us worse than if we 'd been the veriest rogues upon the face of the whole earth .

aur.

that 's a little thought too much , but 't was safer erring o' that hand .

cut.

i , we 'r like to get much , i see , by complaining to you .

enter iane. ian.

ha , ha , ha ! here 's the key o' the closet , go up softly , madam , ha , ha , ha ! and make no noise , dear madam , i must be gone .

exit . aur.

why does this little foppitee laugh always ? 't is such a ninny that she betrays her mistris , and thinks she does no hurt at all , no , not she ; well , wretched lovers , come along with me now , ( but softly upon your lives , as you would steal to a mistris through her mothers chamber ) and i 'l shew you this severe penelope , lockt up alone in a chamber vvith your rival .

cut.

as softly as snovv falls .

vvor.

or vapors rise .

aur.

what are you punish too vvith your similitudes ? mum â�� not a vvord â�� pull off your shoes at bottom of the stairs , and follovv me .

scene . enter truman junior . and presently aurelia , cutter , and worm appear at a little window . trum. why should her cruel uncle seek t' oppose a love in all respects so good and equal ? he has some vvicked end in 't , and deserves to be deceiv'd ! cut. deceiv'd ? pray mark that madam . trum. she is gone in to see if things be ripe yet to make our last attempt upon her uncle ; if our plot fail â�� aur. a plot 'ifaith , and i shall counter-plot ye . trum. in spight of our vvorst enemies , our kindred , and a rash oath that 's cancell'd in the making , we vvill pursue our loves to the last point , and buy that paradise though 't be vvith martyrdom !

scene . enter lucia . she goes to the table and vvrites whilst he speaks , and gives him the paper . trum. she 's come , me-thinks i see her through her veil ; she 's naked in my heart vvith all her beauties . wor.

thou hast a bawdy heart i 'le warrant thee .

cut.

hold your peace , coxcomb .

trum. that has , i think , taken an oath quite contrary to mine , never to see any thing else !

he 's extreme sick , and thinks he shall die , reads a paper given him by lucia . the doctor and ' pothecary have acted very well ; i 'le be with him presently , go into my little oratory , and pray for the a cry within , mrs. aurelia . success â�� i 'l pray with as much zeal as any sinner , converted just upon the point of death , prays his short time out . exeunt truman & lucia .

aur.

what can this mean ? and they cry within . the cry within there ? pray let 's go down and see what 's the matter .

enter will and ralph crying . will.

ah , lord ! my poor master ! mrs. aurelia , mrs. aurelia .

aur.

here , what 's the business ?

ralph .

oh lord ! the saddest accident .

aur.

for the love of heaven speak quickly .

vvill.

i cannot speak for weeping ; my poor master's poison'd .

aur.

poison'd ? how prethee , and by whom ?

will.

why by the strangest accident , mistris .

the doctor prescrib'd one what dee' call it with a hard name , and that careless rogue the 'pothecaries man ( mistaking one glass for another that stood by it ) put in another what dee' call it , that is a mortal poison .

aur.

oh then 't is plain , this was the plot they talk'd of ; ye heard , gentlemen , what they said ; pray follow me and bear witness . exit aurelia .

cut.

undoubtedly they had a hand in 't ; we shall be brought to swear against them , worm .

vvorm .

i 'l swear what i heard , and what i heard not but i 'l hang ' em . i see i shall be revenged o' that proud tit ; but it grieves me for the colonel .

scene . colonel jolly ( brought in a chair ) aurelia , cutter , worm , will , ralph , other servants . ioll.

oh! i ha' vomited out all my guts , and all my entrails â��

aur.

oh my dear father !

ioll.

i 'm going , daughter â�� ha' ye sent the pocky doctor and the plaguy ' pothecary to a justice o' peace to be examin'd ?

will.

yes , sir , your worship's steward and the constable are gone with 'em ; does your worship think they did it out o' malice , and not by a mistake ? if i had thought they did , i 'd a hang'd 'em presently , that you might ha' seen it done before you dy'd .

ioll.

huh , huh , huh ! i think that rogue the doctor did it , because i beat him t'other day in our drinking ! huh , huh , huh !

aur.

no , sir , ( o my dear father ) no , sir , you little think who were the contrivers of your murder , e'en my cousin luce and her gallant â�� oh lord â�� 't is discover'd by a miraculous providence â�� they 'r both together in her chamber now , and there we overheard 'em as it pleas'd â�� these two gentlemen heard 'em as well as i â��

ioll.

can they be such monsters ? oh! i 'm as hot as lucifer â�� oh â�� oh â�� ! what did you hear e'm say ? â�� oh my stomach !

cut.

why that they had a plot â��

aur.

and that the doctor and ' pothecary had done it very well .

vvor.

i and your niece ask'd if he thought the poison were strong enough .

aur.

there never was such an impudence !

vvill.

how murder will out ! i always thought , fellow ralph , your mistris lucia was naught with that young smooth-fac'd varlet ; do you remember , ralph , what i told you in the butteries once ?

aur.

here she comes ! o impudence ! enter lucia .

ioll.

oh! oh! oh! â�� go all aside a little , and let me speak with her alone . come hither , niece â�� oh! oh â�� ! you see by what accident 'thas pleas'd â�� huh â�� huh â�� huh â�� to take away your loving uncle , niece ! huh : â��

luc.

i see 't , sir , with that grief which your misfortune and mine in the loss of you does require .

cut.

there 's a devil for you ; but , captain , joll. and luc : talk together . did you hear her speak o' poison , and whether it were strong enough ?

vvor.

no , but i love to strike home when , i do a business , i 'm for through-stich ; i 'm through pac'd , what a pox should a man stand mincing ?

luc. i hope , sir , and have faith , that you 'l recover ! but , sir , because the danger 's too apparent ,

and who ( alas ) knows how ` heaven may dispose of you ? before it grow too late ( after your blessing ) i humbly beg one boon upon my knees .

ioll.

what is 't ( rise up niece ) oh â�� i can deny you nothing at this time sure !

luc. it is ( i wo' not rise , sir , till you grant it ) that since the love 'twixt truman and my self has been so sixt , and like our fortunes equal , ye would be pleas'd to sign before your death , the confirmation of that love , our contract , and when your soul shall meet above , my fathers , as soon as he has bid you welcome thither , he 'l thank you for this goodness to his daughter ; i do conjure you , sir , by his memory ! by all your hopes of happiness hereafter !

in a better world ! and all your dearest wishes of happiness for those whom ye love most , and leave behind you here !

ioll.

you ha' deserv'd so well o' me niece , that 't is impossible to deny you any thing ; where 's gentle mr. truman ?

luc. in the next room , sir , waiting on your will as on the sentence of his life and death too . ioll.

oh â�� i 'm very sick â�� pray bring him in .

luc. a thousand angels guard your life , sir ! or if you die , carry you up to heaven . exit . wor.

was there ever such a young dissembling witch ?

cut. here 's woman in perfection ! the devil 's in their tails and in their tongues ! their possest both ways ! ioll.

will â�ª ralph , is ieremy there too ? be ready when i speak to you .

enter truman , lucia , ( veil'd . ) trum.

our prayers are heard , 't is as we wish'd , dear lucia , oh this blest hour !

ioll.

take him and carry him up to the green chamber â�� oh my belly â�� lock him in sure there , till you see what becomes of me ; if i do die , he and his mistris shall have but an ill match of it at tyburn . oh my guts â�� lock up luce too in her chamber .

trum.

what do ye mean , gentlemen ? are ye mad ?

will.

we mean to lock you up safe , sir , for a great jewel as you are !

luc.

pray hear me all .

ioll.

away with ' em . exit all the servants , with truman and lucia several ways .

aur.

how do you , sir ? i hope you may o're-come it , your natures strong , sir.

ioll.

no , 't is impossible ; and yet i find a little ease , but 't is but a flash â�� aurelia â�� oh there it wrings me again â�� fetch me the cordial-glass in the cabinet window , and the little prayer-book ; i would fain repent , but it comes so hardly â�� i am very unfit to die , if it would please heaven â�� so , set down the glass â�� there â�� give me â��

aur.

the prayer-book , sir , 's all mouldy , i must wipe it first .

ioll.

lay it down too â�� so â�� it begins t' asswage a little â�� there lay down the book ; 't will but trouble my brains now i 'm a dying .

enter will. will.

here 's the widow , sir , without , and mrs. tabitha her daughter , they have heard o' your misfortune , and ha' brought mr. knock-down to comfort you .

ioll.

how ? everlasting knock-down ! will they trouble a man thus when he 's a dying ? sirrah ! blockhead ! let in ioseph knock-down , and i 'l send thee to heaven afore me ; i have but an hour or two to live perhaps , and that 's not enough for him i 'm sure to preach in !

will.

shall mrs. barebottle come in , sir ?

ioll.

that 's a she knock-down too ; well , let her come in â�� huh ! huh ! huh ! i must bear all things patiently now ; but sirrah , rogue ! take heed o' ioseph knock-down , thou shalt not live with ears if ioseph knock-down enter .

enter widow , tabitha . vvid.

how de' you neighbour colonel ? how is 't ? take comfort .

ioll.

cut off in the flower o' my age , widow .

vvid.

why , man's life is but a flower , mr. iolly , and the flower withers , and man withers , as mr. knock-down observed last sabbath-day at evening exercise ; but , neighbour , you 'r past the flower , you 'r grown old as well as i â��

ioll.

i' the very flower ; that damn'd quack-salver â��

tabith. me-thoughts he was the ugliest fellow , mother , and they say he 's a papish too , forsooth . wid.

i never liked a doctor with a red nose ; my husband was wont to say â�� how do you , mrs. aurelia ? comfort your self , we must all die sooner or later ; to day here , to morrow gone .

ioll.

oh the torture of such a tongue ! would i were dead already , and this my funeral sermon .

wid.

alas poor man ! his tongue i warrant yee is hot as passes ; you have a better memory than i , tabitha , tell him what mr. knock-down said was a saints duty in tormenting sicknesses , now poison 's a great tormentor .

ioll.

oh! oh! â�� this additional poison will certainly make an end of me !

wid.

why seek for spiritual incomes , mr. colonel ; i 'l tell you what my husband barebottle was wont to observe ( and he was a colonel too ) he never sought for incomes but he had some blessing followed immediately ; once he sought forem in hartfordshire , and the next day he took as many horses and arms in the country as serv'd to raise three troops ; another time he sought for 'em in bucklersbury , and three days after a friend of his , that he owed five hundred pounds too , was hang'd for a malignant , and the debt forgiven him by the parliament ; a third time he sought for 'em in hartfordshire â��

tabith.

no , mother , 't was in vvorcester-shire , forsooth .

vvid.

i , child , it was indeed in vvorcester-shire ; and within two months after the dean of vvorcester's estate fell to him .

ioll.

he sought for 'em once out o' my estate too , i thank him ; oh my head !

vvid.

why truly , neighbour colonel , he had that but for his penny , and would have had but a hard bargain of it , if he had not by a friends means of the councel hook'd in two thousand pounds of his arrears .

cut.

for shame let 's relieve him ; colonel , you said you had a mind to settle some affairs of your estate with me , and captain worm here .

wid.

i 'l leave you then for a while , pray send for me , neighbor , when you have a mind to 't heaven strengthen you ; come , tabitha .

ioll.

aurelia , go out with them , and leave us three together for half an hour . exit wid. tab. aur. stay you , will , and reach me the cordial ; i begin to hope that my extreme violent fit of vomiting and purging has wrought out all the poison , and sav'd my life â�� my pain 's almost quite gone , but i 'm so sore and faint â�� give me the glass .

wor.

what d' you mean , colonel ? you will not doat , i hope , now you 'r dying ? drink i know not what there , made by a doctor and a ' pothecary ? drink a cup o' sack , man ; healing sack ; you 'l find your old antidote best .

cut.

h 'as reason , colonel , it agrees best with your nature ; 't is good to recover your strength â�� as for the danger , that 's past , i 'm confident , already .

iol.

dost thou think so , honest cutter ? fetch him a bottle o' sack , will , for that news ; i 'le drink a little my self , one little beer-glass .

cut.

poor creature ! he would try all ways to live !

ioll.

why if i do die , cutter , a glass o' sack will do me no hurt i hope ; i do not intend to die the whining way , like a girl that 's afraid to lead apes in hell â�� so , enter will , with a bottle & great glass give it me ; a little fuller , â�� yet â�� it warms exceedingly â�� and is very cordial â�� so , â�� fill to the gentlemen .

wor. let 's drink , let 's drink , whilst breath we have ; sings . you 'l find but cold , but cold drinking in the grave . cut. a catch ' ifaith ! boy , go down , boy , go down , and fill us t'other quart , that we may drink the colonel's health wor. that we may drink the colonel's health both. before that we do part . wor. why dost thou frown , thou arrant clown ? hey boyes â�� tope â�� ioll.

why this is very cheerly ! pray let 's ha' the catch that we made t' other night against the doctor .

wor. away with 't , cutter ; hum â�� come fill us the glass o' sack. cut. what health do we lack ? vvor. confusion to the quack . both. confound him , confound him , diseases all around him . cut. and fill again the sack , wor. that no man may lack , cut. confusion to the quack , both. confusion to the quack , confound him , confound him , diseases all around him . wor. he 's a kind of grave-maker , cut. a urinal shaker , vvor. a wretched groat-taker , cut. a stinking close-stool raker , vvor. he 's a quack that 's worse than a quaker . both. he 's a quack , &c. vvor. hey , boys â�� gingo â�� ioll. give me the glass , vvill.

i le venture once more what e're come on 't , here 's a health to the royal travailer , and so finis coronat .

vvor. come on boys , vivat ; have at you agen then . now a pox on the poll , of old politique noll . both. wee 'l drink till we bring , in triumph back the king. vvor. may he live till he see , old noll upon a tree . vvor. and many such as he . both. may he live till , &c. ioll. i 'me very sick again ; vvill.

help me into my bed ; rest you merry , gentlemen .

cut.

nay , we 'l go in with him , captain , he shall not die this bout .

wor.

it 's pity but he should , he dos't so bravely ; come along then , kiss me , cutter ; is not this better than quarrelling ?

both. may he live till he see , &c. hey for fidlers now ! exeunt .

act .

scene . iolly , aurelia . ioll.

't is true , aurelia , the story they all agree in ; 't was nothing but a simple plot o' the two lovers to put me in fear o' death , in hope to work then upon my good nature , or my conscience , and quack conspired with them out o' revenge ; 't was a cursed rogue though to give me such an unmerciful dose of scammony ! it might ha' prov'd but an ill jest ; but however , i will not be a loser by the business , ere i ha' done with 't .

aur.

me-thinks there might be something extracted out of it .

ioll.

why so there shall ; i 'le pretend , aurelia , to be still desperately sick , and that i was really poison'd , no man will blame me after that , for whatsoever i do with my niece . but that 's not all , i will be mightily troubled in conscience , send for the widow , and be converted by her , that will win her heart , joyn'd with the hopes of my swallowing lucia's portion .

aur.

for that point i 'l assist you , sir , assure her that my cousin lucia is married privately this after-noon to mr. puny .

ioll.

i would she were , wench , ( for thine and my sake ) her portion would be forfeited then indeed , and she would ha' no great need of 't , for that fop's very rich .

aur.

well , sir , i 'l bring sufficient proofs of that , to satisfie the widow , and that 's all you require ; be pleas'd to let the secret of the business rest with me yet a while , to morrow you shall know 't . but for my own part , sir , if i were in your place , i 'd rather patiently lose my estate for ever , than take 't again with her .

ioll.

oh! hold your self contented , good frank-hearted aurelia ; would i were to marry such a one every week these two years : see how we differ now ?

aur.

bless us ! what humming and hawing will be i' this house ! what preaching , and houling , and fasting , and eating among the saints ! their first pious work will be to banish fletcher and ben iohnson out o' the parlour , and bring in their rooms martin mar-prelate , and posies of holy hony-suckles , and a sawf-box for a wounded conscience , and a bundle of grapes from canaan . i cann't abide 'em ; but i 'l break my sister tabitha's heart within a month one way or other . but , sir , suppose the king should come in again , ( as i hope he will for all these villains ) and you have your own again o' course , you 'd be very proud of a soap-boylers widow then in hide-park , sir.

ioll.

oh! then the bishops will come in too , and she 'l away to new-england ; well , this does not do my business ; i 'l about it , and send for her . exit .

enter ralph . aur.

and i 'l about mine ; ralph , did you speak to mr. puny to meet me an hour hence at the back-dore in the garden ? he must not know the estate the house is in yet .

ralph .

yes , forsooth , he bad me tell you , he 'd no more fail you than the sun fails barnaby-day , i know not what he means by 't , but he charg'd me to tell you so , and he would bring ( forsooth ) his regiment of five hundred . he 's a mad man , i think .

aurel.

well , did you speak to mr. soaker to stay within too , the little deacon that uses to drink with will and you ?

ral.

yes , forsooth , he 's in the buttery .

aur.

pray heaven he don't forget my instructions there ! but first i have a little trick for my lovers to begin withall , they shall ha' twenty more before i ha' done with ' em . exit :

scene . enter truman junior . trum.

the veil of this mistake will soon be cast away , i would i could remove lucia's as easily , and see her face again , as fair , as shortly our innocence will appear .

but if my angry father come to know our late intelligence in this unlucky business , though we ha' fulfill'd the letter of his will , that which can satisfie a lover's conscience , will hardly do so to an old man's passion ; ye heavenly powers , or take away my life , or give me quickly that for which i onely am content to keep it .

scene . enter aurelia , ( veil'd . ) ha! i did but speak just now of heavenly powers , and my blest angel enters , sure they have heard me , and promise what i prayed for . my dear lucia , i thought you 'd been a kind of prisoner too . she gives him a paper and embraces him . she 's kinder too than she was wont to be ; my prayers are heard and granted , i 'm confirm'd in 't .

by my maid's means i have gotten keys both of my reads . own chamber and yours ; we may escape if you please ; but that i fear would ruine you ; we lie both now in the same house , a good fortune that is not like to continue ; since i have the engagement of your faith , i account my self your wife already , and shall put my honor into your hands ; about midnight i shall steal to you ; if i were to speak this i should blush , but i know whom i trust .

yours , lucia . trum. thou dost not know me , lucia , aside . and hast forgot thy self : i am amaz'd . stay , here 's a postscript . ( burn this paper as soon as you have read it . ) burn it ? yes , would i had don 't before , burns it at the candle . may all remembrance of thee perish with thee , unhappy paper ! thy very ashes sure will not be innocent , but flie about and hurt some chast man's eyes , as they do mine . weeps . oh , lucia , this i thought of all misfortunes would never have befaln me , to see thee forget the ways of virtue and of honor. i little thought to see upon our love , that flourish'd with so sweet and fresh a beauty , the slimy traces of that serpent , lust. what devil has poison'd her ? i know not what to say to her . go , lucia , retire , prethee , to thy chamber , and call thy wandring virtue home again , it is not yet far gone , but call it quickly , 't is in a dangerous way ; i will forget thy error , and spend this night in prayers that heaven may do so . exit aur. would she have had me been mine own adulterer ? before my marriage ? â�� oh lust â�� oh frailty â�� where in all human nature shall we miss the ulcerous fermentations of thy heat , when thus ( alas ) we find thee breaking out upon the comli'st visage of perfection ? exit .

scene . aurelia . aur.

pray heaven , i ha'nt made my foolish wit stay for me ; if he talk with others of the house before me , i 'm undone . stay , have i my paper ready ? oh! that 's pulls out a paeper . well ! my hand i 'm sure 's as like hers as the left is to the right , we were taught by the same master , pure italian , there 's her a's and her g's i 'l swear â�� oh! are you come ? that 's well .

scene . enter puny .

't is almost four o' clock and that 's the precious hour .

pun.

my little heliogabalus , here i am , praesto !

aur.

you 'r always calling me names , mr. puny , that 's unkindly done to one that 's labouring for you , as i am .

pun.

i ha' made more haste hither than a parson does to a living o' three hundred and fifty pounds a year .

aur.

puny , you 'r not a man o' business i see , that 's not the style o' business ; well , i ha' done , i think , the work for you , 't is as odd a plot as ever you heard .

pun.

i like it better , i love odd things .

aur.

why thus then , you know mr. truman took an oath to his father never to see my cousin more without his leave .

pun.

pish , do i know that a lawyer loves to take mony in michaelmas term ?

aur.

a pies upon you : well , my father has made lucy swear too never to see truman without his consent .

pun.

good , there will be a good bo-peep love .

aur.

for all this , thy'r resolv'd to marry this after-noon , ( nay don't interrupt me with your fopperies , or i 'l be gon ) and to save their oathes ( like cunning caluists , as all lovers are ) they 'l be married in a dark room ( do you mark me ? ) the minister , mr. soaker , is to marry them without book ; and because thei 'r bound not to speak to one another ( for that i forgat to tell you ) they 'r to signifie their consent , when he asks 'em , will you such a one â�� by reverences , and giving their hands ; you never heard of such a humor , but their both mad â��

pun.

ha! ha ! ha ! rare , as fantastical as a whirl-gig â�� but how come you to know all this , my little pretty witch of lancashire ?

aur.

why that i 'me coming to ; her maid you must know is my pensioner , and betrays all counsels ; and to confirm all this to you , here 's her last letter to truman about the business , which my intelligencer ha's deliver'd to me instead of him , you know her hand , read it all over to your self .

pun.

i le swear by her foot , this is her hand , â�� hum â�� my uncles sick , and no body will be at this [ reads . ] side o' the house , â�� the matted chamber â�� hum â�� in at the back door which shall be left only put to â�� ( ha , ha , ha ! ) mr. soaker with you â�� just at four â�� you must not stay long with me â�� ( ha , ha , ha ! ) when 't is done and past recovery they 'l release us of our oaths â�� hum â�� i shall not fail â�� yours l. ( ha , ha , ha . )

aur.

now he knows nothing o' the time , for that he should ha' known by this letter ; and you conceive my design , i hope ? you 'r not a wit for nothing .

pun.

my dear pythagorean , that i should go in and marry her instead of him ?

aur.

right ! thou 'st a shrewd reach .

pun.

but where 's old soaker all this while ?

aur.

why , i ha' told all this to him , only naming you in all things instead of truman ; and that 't was my contrivance all for my cosens and your sake ; he 's within at a call , i le send for him ; whose there ? mary ? call hither mr. soaker ; i ha' given him five pounds , and for so much more he 'l marry you to another to morrow , if you will.

pun.

i adore thee queen solomon ; i had rather be marri'd by such a plot as this , than be nephew to prester iohn â�� i le mak 't a thousand spankers .

enter mr. soaker . aur.

oh come 't is time mr. soaker ; as soon as you ha' done leave the marri'd couple together , i le lock this door upon you , go out at the to'ther , where shee 'l come in to you .

pun.

't is as dark as the devil's conscience ; but the best is , the parson ha's a good fieri facies , like a holiday , that will give some light.

aur.

no! there 's light enough to keep you from stumbling within . oh! i forgot to tell you , break a piece of gold , and give her half , for a proof of the â�� do you understand me ?

pun.

't is well thought on ; but domine doctoribus , can you say the service without book are you sure ?

soaker .

i warrant you sir ; can you lye with her without book afterwards ?

pun.

hee 's a wit too by iuno ; all are wits that have a finger in this venison pasty .

aur.

shee 'l come , immediately , go in ; do not stay above half an hour , mr. puny , my cozen will be mist else , and all spoil'd .

pun.

i le warrant you , let 's in ; dear learning lead the way . they go in , and aurelia locks the door o' the out-side .

aur.

so , all 's sure this way ; i le be with you straight .

exit .

scene . enter jolly , cutter . ioll.

so , now the widdow 's gone , i may breathe a little ; i believe really that true devotion is a great pleasure , but 't is a damn'd constraint and drudgery me-thinks , this dissimulation of it . i wonder how the new saints can endure it , to be always at the work , day and night acting ; but great gain makes every thing seem easie ; and they have , i suppose , good lusty recreations in private . she 's gone , the little holy thing , as proud as lucifer , with the imagination of having been the chosen instrument of my conversion from popery , prelacy , and cavalerism , she 's gone to bragg of 't to ioseph knock-down , and bring him to confirm me . but cutter , thine was the best humor that ever was begot in a rogues noddle , to be converted in an instant , the inspiration way , by my example ! it may hap to get thee tabitha .

cut.

nay , and i hit just pat upon her way , for though the mother be a kind of brownist , ( i know not what the devil she is indeed ) yet tabitha is o' the fifth monarchy faith , and was wont to go every sunday a-foot over the bridge to hear mr. feak , when he was prisoner in lambeth house , she has had a vision too her self of horns , and strange things .

ioll.

pish ! cutter , for the way that 's not material , so there be but enough of nonsense and hypocrisie ; but cutter , you must reform your habit too , a little ; off with that sword and buff and greasie plume o' ribbons in your hat. they 'l be back here presently , do 't quickly .

cut.

i le be chang'd in an instant , like a scene , and then i le fetch 'em to you . exit .

scene . enter truman senior . sen. trum.

i , there goes one of his swaggerers ; i could ha' swagger'd with him once â�� oh! colonel , you 'r finely poison'd , are you not ? would i had the poisoning o' you â�� where 's my son dick ? what ha' you done with him ?

ioll.

mr. truman . â��

trum.

true me no more than i true you â�� come â�� colonel you 'r but a swaggering â�� i le ha' the law to swagger with you , that i will.

ioll.

first leave your raging ; though you should rage like tamerlain at the bull , 't would do no good here .

trum.

do you call me names too ? i le have an action o' scandalum . well colonel , since you provoke me , the protector shall know what you are , and what you would have had me done for the king in the time of the last rising .

ioll.

mr. truman , i took you for a person of honour , and a friend to his majesty ; i little thought to hear you speak of betraying a gentleman to the protector .

trum. s.

betraying ? no sir , i scorn it as much as you , but i le let him know what you are , and so forth , an' you keep my son from me .

ioll.

mr. truman , if you 'l but hear me patiently , i shall propose a thing that will , i hope , be good and acceptable both to your son and you .

trum.

say you so sir ? well ; but i wo'nt be call'd tamerlain .

ioll.

my niece , not only by her wicked design to poison me , but by marrying her self without my consent this day to puny , has ( as you know very well , for you were a witness sir to my brother's will ) lost all the right she had to a plentifull portion . aurelia shall have that and my estate , ( which now within few days i shall recover ) after my death ; she 's not i think unhandsome , and all that know her will confess she wants no wit ; with these qualities , and this fortune , if your son like her , ( for though h 'as injur'd me , sir , i forget that , and attribute it only to the enchantments of my niece ) i do so well approve both of his birth and parts , and of that fortune , which you i think will please to make him , that i should be extremely glad of the alliance .

trum. s.

good colonel , you were always a kind neighbour and loving friend to our family , and so were we to you , and had respects for you ; you know i would have had dick marry your niece , till you declar'd he should ha' no portion with her .

ioll.

for that i had a particular reason , sir ; your son 's above in my house , shall i call him , sir , that we may know his mind ? i would not have him forc'd .

trum. s.

pray send for him good colonel ; forc'd ? no , i le make him do 't , i le warrant you . boys must not be their own choosers , colonel , they must not 'ifaith , they have their sympathies and fiddle-come-saddles in their brain , and know not what they would ha' themselves .

scene . enter lucia . ioll.

why how now lucia ? how come you from your chamber ?

luc.

i hope you did not mean me a prisoner , sir , since now you 'r satisfy'd sufficiently that you 'r not poison'd ?

ioll.

i am not dead , that 's true . but i may thank heaven , and a strong constitution for 't ; you did your weak endeavours ; however , for the honour of our family , and for your father's sake , i le speak no more o' that , but i could wish , for the security of my life hereafter , that you would go home to your husband , for they say you 'r marri'd niece this day without my knowledge â�� nay , â�� i 'm content , â�� go home to him when you please , you shall ha' your thousand pounds .

trum. s.

heark you , colonel , she should not have a groat of e'em , not a groat ; she can't recover 't by law , i know the will.

luc.

i marry'd sir ? 't is the first news i 've heard of 't .

scene . enter trum. jun. lucia goes to put on her veil . ioll.

nay , leave your pretty jesuitical love-tricks to salve an oath ; mr. truman , you may let your son see her now .

trum. s.

i dick you may see her as much as you please ; she 's marri'd .

trum. j.

marri'd ?

trum. s.

i marri'd , so i say , marri'd this after-noon to mr. puny .

luc.

what do they mean ?

trum. s.

and dick i ha' got a wife too for you , you shall ha' pretty mrs. aurelia .

trum. j.

lucia marri'd ?

trum. s.

her father and i are agreed of all things ; heark you dick , she has a brave fortune now .

trum. j.

marri'd to puny ?

trum. s.

you shall have her presently .

trum. j.

this after-noon ?

trum. s.

come dick ; there 's a wife for you dick.

trum. j.

i wo'nt marry , sir.

trum. s.

what do you say sir ?

trum. j.

i wo' not marry sir.

trum. s.

get you out o' my sight you rebel .

ioll.

nay , good mr. truman .

trum. s.

i le ne're acknowledge him for my son again ; i tell you colonel , he 's always thus with his wo'nots and his cannots .

scene . enter puny . pun.

we ha' made short work on 't ; t' was a brave quick parsonides ; the little skittish philly got away from me i know not how , like an eele out of a basket.

ioll.

give him a little time mr. truman , he 's troubl'd yet at my nieces marriage , t' will over quickly .

tru. s.

give my son time , mr. iolly ? marry come up â��

scene . enter aurelia , ( after puny . ) aur.

what ha' you done already ? you 'r a sweet husband indeed .

pun.

oh! my little pimp of honour ! here , here 's the five hundred marigolds ; hold thy hand dido â�� yonder 's my vvife , by satan ; how a devil did that little mephistophilus get hither before me ?

aur.

to her puny ; never conceal the mystery any longer , 't is too good a jest to be kept close .

trum. s.

for your sake i will then , colonel ; come prethee , dick , be cheerfull . â��

trum. j.

i beseech you , â�� sir â��

trum. s.

look you there colonel , now he should do what i would have him , now hee 's a beseeching â�� 't is the proudest stubborn'st coxcomb â��

pun.

and now my noble uncle â�� nay , never to iolly . be angry at a marriage i' the way of wit â�� my fair egyptian queen , come to thine antony .

luc.

what would this rude fellow have ?

trum. j.

i am drown'd in wonder !

pun.

't was i , my dear philoclea , that marri'd thee e'en row in the dark room , like an amorous cat ; you may remember the damask bed by a better token of two than a bow'd philip and mary .

luc. i call heaven to witness , which will protect and justifie the innocent , i understand not the least word he utters , but as i took him always for a fool , i now do for a mad-man . aur.

she 's angry yet to have mistook her man. 't is true , sir , all that mr. puny says , i mean for to iolly the marriage , for the rest , she 's best able to answer for her self .

luc.

true , cousin , then i see 't is some conspiracy t' ensnare my honor and my innocence .

aur.

the parson , mr. soaker , that married 'em is still within .

will.

he 's i' th' buttery , shall i call him , sir ?

ioll.

i , quickly .

trum. j.

't is the sight of me , no doubt , confounds her with a shame to confess any thing ; it seems that sudden fit of raging lust , that brought her to my chamber , could not rest till it was satisfi'd , it seems i know not what .

enter mr. soaker . ioll.

mr. soaker , did you marry my niece this after-noon to mr. puny in the matted chamber ?

soak .

yes , sir , i hope your worship wo'nt be angry , marriage , your worship knows , is honorable .

luc.

hast thou no conscience neither ?

scene . enter widow , tabitha , cutter in a puritanical habit . ioll.

niece , go in a little , i 'l come t' you presently and examine this matter further ; mr. puny , lead in your wife for shame .

luc. villain , come not near me , i 'l sooner touch a scorpion or a viper . exit . pun.

she 's as humerous as a bel-rope ; she need not be so cholerique , i 'm sure i behav'd my self like propria quae maribus .

aur.

come in with me , mr. puny , i 'l teach you how you shall handle her . exeunt aur. pun.

ioll.

mr. truman , pray take your son home , and see how you can work upon him there ; speak fairly to him .

trum. s.

speak fairly to my son ? i 'l see him buried first .

ioll.

i mean perswade him â��

trum. s.

oh! that 's another matter ; i will perswade him , colonel , but if ever i speak fair to him till he mends his manners â�� come along with me , jack-sawce , come home . exeunt trum. sen. trum. jun.

trum. j.

i sir , any whither .

wid.

what 's the matter , brother colonel , are there any broils here ?

ioll.

why , sister , my niece has married without my consent , and so it pleases , it e'en pleases heaven to bestow her estate upon me .

wid.

why , brother , there 's a blessing now already ; if you had been a wicked cavalier still she 'd ha' done her duty , i warrant you , and defrauded you of the whole estate ; my brother cutter here is grown the heavenliest man o' the sudden , 't is his work .

cut.

sister barebottle , i must not be called cutter any more , that is a name of cavalero darkness , the devil was a cutter from the beginning , my name is now abednego , i had a vision which whisper'd to me through a key-hole , go call thy self abednego .

tab.

the wonderful vocation of some vessels !

cut.

it is a name that signifies fiery furnaces , and tribulation , and martyrdom , i know i am to suffer for the truth .

tab.

not as to death , brother , if it be his will.

cut.

as to death , sister , but i shall gloriously return .

ioll.

what , brother , after death ? that were miraculous .

cut.

why the wonder of it is , that it is to be miraculous .

ioll.

but miracles are ceas'd , brother , in this wicked age of cavalerism .

cut.

they are not ceas'd , brother , nor shall they cease till the monarchy be establish'd .

i say again i am to return , and to return upon a purple dromadary , which signifies magistracy , with an ax in my hand that is called reformation , and i am to strike with that ax upon the gate of westminster-hall , and cry , down babylon , and the building called westminster-hall is to run away and cast it self into the river , and then major general harrison is to come in green sleeves from the north upon a sky-colour'd mule , which signifies heavenly instruction .

tab.

oh the father ! he 's as full of mysteries as an egg is full of meat .

cut.

and he is to have a trumpet in his mouth as big as a steeple , and at the sounding of that trumpet all the churches in london are to fall down .

wid.

o strange , what times shall we see here in poor england !

cut.

and then venner shall march up to us from the west in the figure of a wave of the sea , holding in his hand a ship that shall be call'd the ark of the reform'd .

ioll.

but when must this be , brother abednego ?

cut.

why all these things are to be when the cat of the north has o're-come the lion of the south , and when the mouse of the west has slain the elephant of the east . i do hear a silent voice within me , that bids me rise up presently and declare these things to the congregation of the lovely in coleman-street . tabitha , tabitha , tabitha , i call thee thrice , come along with me , tabitha .

exit . tab.

there was something of this , as i remember , in my last vision of horns the other day . holy man ! i follow thee ; farewell , forsooth , mother , till anon .

ioll.

come , let 's go in too , sister . exeunt .

act .

scene . truman iunior . what shall i think hence-forth of woman-kind ? when i know lucia was the best of it , and see her what she is ? what are they made of ? their love , their faith , their souls enslav'd to passion ! nothing at their command beside their tears , and we , vain men , whom such heat-drops deceive ! hereafter i will set my self at liberty , and if i sigh or grieve , it shall not be for love of one , but pity of all the sex.

scene . enter lucia . ha! she will not let me see her sure ; if ever , lucia , a veil befitted thee , 't is now , that thou maist hide thy guilty blushes . luc. if all their malice yet have not prevail'd on truman's constancy , they 'l miss their wicked end , and i shall live still . i 'l go and speak to him . trum.

forbear , lucia , for i have made a second oath , which i shall keep , i hope , with lesser trouble , never to see thy face more .

luc. you were wont , sir , to say , you could not live without the sight of 't . trum.

i ; 't was a good one then .

luc.

has one day spoil'd it ?

trum.

o yes , more than a hundred years of time , made as much more by sorrow , and by sickness , could e're have done .

luc. pray hear me , truman : for never innocent maid was wrong'd as i am ; believe what i shall say to you , and confirm by all the holiest vows that can bind souls . trum. i have believ'd those female tricks too long ; i know thou canst speak winningly , but thy words are not what nature meant them , thy minds picture ; i 'l believe now what represents it better , thine own hand , and the proof of mine own eyes . luc. i know not what you mean ; believe my tears . trum. they 'r idle empty bubbles . rais'd by the agitation of thy passions , and hollow as thy heart ; there is no weight in ' em . go thou once , lucia ; farewel , thou that wer't dearer to me once , than all the outward things of all the world beside , or my own soul within me , farewel for ever ; go to thine husband , and love him better than thou didst thy lover . i ne're will see the more , nor shall , i fear , ere see my self again . luc. here me but once . kneels . trum. no , 't is enough ; heaven hear thee when thou kneel'st to it . exit . luc. will he ? he 's gone ; now all the world has left me , rises . and i am desolately miserable ; 't is done unkindly , most unkindly , truman . had a blest angel come to me and said that thou wert false , i should have sworn it li'd , and thought that rather faln than thee . go , dear , false man , go seek out a new mistris ; but when you ha' talk'd , and lov'd , and vow'd , and sworn a little while , take heed of using her as you do me ; no , may your love to her be such as mine to you , which all thy injuries shall never change , nor death it self abolish . may she be worthier of your bed than i , and when the happy course of many years shall make you appear old to all but her , may you in the fair glass of your fresh issue see your own youth again ; but i would have 'em true in their loves , and kill no innocent maids ; for me it is no matter ; when i 'm dead , my busie soul shall flutter still about him , 't will not be else in heaven ; it shall watch over his sleeps , and drive away all dreams that come not with a soft and downy wing ; if any dangers threaten , it shall becken and call his spirit away , till they be past , and be more diligent than his guardian angel ; and when just heaven , as i 'm assur'd it will , shall clear my honor and my innocence , he 'l sigh , i know , and pity my misfortunes , and blame himself , and curse my false accusers , and weep upon my grave for my wrong'd virtue , and mistaken truth , and unjust death , i ask no more . exit .

scene . enter truman iunior . 't was barbarously done to leave her so ; kneeling and weeping to me ; 't was inhuman ; i 'l back and take my leave more civilly , so as befits one who was once her worshipper . goes over the stage , and comes back . she 's gone ; why let her go ; i feel her still ; i feel the root of her , labouring within to sprout afresh , but i will pluck it up , or tear my heart with 't .

scene . enter jolly , truman senior . ioll.

he 's there , sir , pray let him now resolve you positively what he means to do .

trum. s. what he means to do , colonel ? that were fine 'ifaith ; if he be my son he shall mean nothing ; boys must not have their meanings , colonel : let him mean what i mean with a wennion . trum. j. i shall be prest , i see , by 'em , upon the hateful subject of a marriage ; and to fill up the measure of affliction , now i have lost that which i lov'd , compell'd to take that which i hate . trum. s.

i wil not be troubled , colonel , with his meanings , if he do not marry her this very evening ( for i 'le ha' none of his flim-flams and his may-be's ) i 'l send for my son tom from st. iohn's college ( he 's a pretty scholar i can tell you , colonel , i have heard him syllogize it with mr. soaker in mood and figure ) and settle my estate upon him with her ; if he have his meanings too â�ª and his sympathies , i 'l disinherit 'em both , and marry the maid my self , if she can like me , i have one tooth yet left , colonel , and that 's a colt's one .

trum. j. did i submit to lose the sight of lucia onely to save my unfortunate inheritance , and can there be impos'd a harder article for me to boggle at ? would i had been born some wretched peasants son , and never known what love or riches were . ha â�� i 'l marry her â�� why should i not ? if i must marry some body , and hold my estate by such a slavish tenure , why not her as well as any else ? all women are alike i see by lucia , 't is but resolving to be miserable , and that is resolv'd for me by my destiny . ioll. well , try him pray , but do it kindly , sir , and artificially . trum. s.

i warrant you ; dick , i 'l ha' you marry mrs. aurelia to night .

trum. j.

to night ? the warning's short , sir , and it may be â��

trum. s.

why look you , colonel , he 's at 's old look , he 's at 's may-bees again .

trum. j.

i know not , sir â��

trum. s.

i , and his know-nots , you shall have him at his wo' nots presently ; sirra â�� i will have you know , sir â��

ioll.

nay , good mr. truman â�� you know not yet what answer he intends to make you .

trum. j.

be pleas'd , sir , to consider â��

trum. s.

look you , sir , i must consider now , he upbraids his father with the want of consideration , like a varlet as he is .

trum. j. what shall i do ? why should not i do any thing , since all things are indifferent ? ioll.

i beseech you , mr. truman , have but a little patience â�� your father , sir , desires to know â��

trum. s.

i do not desire him , colonel , nor never will desire him , i command him upon the duty of a child â��

ioll.

whether you can dispose your self to love and marry my daughter aurelia , and if you can , for several reasons we desire it may be presently consummated .

trum. j. out with it , stubborn tongue ; i shall obey my father , sir , in all things . trum. s.

ha! what dee' you say , sir ?

ioll.

this old testy fool is angry , i think , to have no more occasion given him of being so .

trum. j.

i shall obey you , sir.

ioll.

you speak , sir , like a vertuous gentleman , the same obedience and resignation , to a father's will , i found in my aurelia , and where two such persons meet , the issue cannot chuse but be successful .

trum. s.

ah dick , my son dick , he was always the best natur'd boy â�� he was like his father in that â�� he makes me weep with tenderness , like an old fool as i am â�� thou shalt have all my estate , dick , i 'l put my self to a pension rather than thou shalt want â�� go spruse up thy self a little presently , thou art not merry 'ifaith , dick , prethee be merry , dick , and fetch fine mrs. aurelia presently to the little church behind the colonel's garden , mr. soaker shall be there immediately and wait for you at the porch ( we 'l have it instantly , colonel , done , lest the young fool should relapse ) come , dear dick , let 's go cheerily on with the business .

trum. j.

what have i said ? what am i doing ? the best is , it is no matter what i say or do .

ioll.

i 'l see aurelia shall be ready , and all things on my part within this half hour .

trum. s.

good , honest , noble colonel , let me shake you by the hand . come , dear dick , we lose time . exeunt .

scene . enter cutter , tabitha , a boy . cut.

and the vision told me , sister tabitha , that this same day , the first of the seventh month , in the year of grace . and of revelation , and confusion of carnal monarchies the tenth , that we two , who are both holy vessels , should by an holy man be joyned together in the holy bond of sanctifi'd matrimony .

tab :

i brother abednego , but our friends consents â��

cut.

heaven is our friend , and , sister , heaven puts this into our thoughts ; it is , no doubt , for propagation of the great mystery ; there shall arise from our two bodies , a great confounder of gogmagog , who shall be called the pestle of antichrist , and his children shall inherit the grapes of canaan .

tab.

my mother will be angry , i 'm afraid .

cut.

your mother will rejoyce , the vision says so , sister , the vision says your mother will rejoyce ; how will it rejoyce her righteous heart to see you , tabitha , riding behind me upon the purple dromedary ? i would not for the world that you should do it , but that we are commanded from above ; for to do things without the aforesaid command is like unto the building of a fire without the bottom-cake .

tab.

i i , that it is , he knows .

cut.

now to confirm to you the truth of this vision , there is to meet us at a zealous shoomaker 's habitation hard by here , by the command of a vision too , our brother zephaniah fat 's , an opener of revelations to the worthy in mary white-chapel , and he is the chosen vessel to joyn our hands .

tab.

i would my mother knew 't ; but if that holy man come too by a vision , i shall have grace , i hope , not to resist .

cut.

sister , let me speak one word of instruction to yonder babe .

tab.

oh how my bowels yern !

cut.

sirra , is my little doctor already staying for me at tom underleather my shoomaker 's house ?

boy .

yes , sir , but he 's in so strange a habit , that mr. underleather's boy franck and i were ready to die with laughing at him .

cut.

oh so much the better ; go you little piece of a rogue and get every thing ready against i come back . exit boy . sister , that babe you saw me speaking to is predestinated to spiritual mightiness , and is to be restorer of the mystical tribe of gad â��

tab.

oh the wonderous â�� but , brother abednego , will you not pronounce this evening tide before the congregation of the spotless in coleman-street ?

cut.

the will of the latter vision is to be fulfilled first , as a preparatory vision ; let us not make the messenger of mystery , who is sent by a vision so far as from mary white-chapel for our sakes , to stay too long from his lawful vocation of basket-making . come , sister tabitha .

tab.

hei , ho ! but i will not resist . exeunt .

scene . enter jolly , puny , worm . ioll.

mr. puny , since you threaten me , i tell you plainly i think my niece has undone her self by marrying thee , for though thou hast a fair estate at present , i 'm hainously mistaken if thou beest not cheated of it all within these three years by such rabbit-suckers as these , that keep thee company , and like lying sons o' the devil as they are , cry thee up for a wit , when there 's nothing so unlike , no not any of thy own similitudes , thy odious comparisons .

pun.

the colonel's raging mad , like a baker in the subburbs , when his oven's over-heated .

wor.

good , very good i'faith .

ioll.

i , that was one of 'em ; as for her portion , i thought to ha' given her a thousand pounds , but â��

pun.

o magnanimous colonel ! what a portion for a toothpick-maker's daughter !

wor.

good , shoot him thick with similies like hail-shot .

ioll.

but now thou shalt not have a groat with her .

pun.

what not a poor old harry-groat that looks as thin as a poet's cloak ? but however , my noble mountain hearted uncle , i ha' made her maiden-head a crack'd groat already , and if i ha' nothing more from her , she shall ha' nothing more from me ; no , she shall foot stokins in a stall for me , or make childrens caps in a garret fifteen stories high .

ioll.

for that matter ( for though thou speak'st no sense i guess thy brutish meaning ) the law will allow her honorable alimony out o' your foolship's fortune .

pun.

and the law will allow me her portion too , good colonel uncle , you 'r not too big to be brought into westminster-hall ; nay , captain , his niece uses me worse too , she will not let me touch the nail of her little finger , and rails at me like a flounder-mouth'd fish-woman with a face like billingsgate .

ioll.

what flesh can support such an affected widgen , who ha's not a design to cheat him of something as that vermin ha's ? well , i shall be able to live now i hope as befits a gentleman , and therefore i 'le endure the company of fopps and knaves no longer .

wor.

come colonel , let 's go in , and dispute the difference conscienciously over a bottle o' sack.

ioll.

i keep no tavern , worm ; or if i did , thy whole estate would hardly reach to a gill.

wor.

colonel , thou art grown unkind , and art drunk this afternoon without me .

ioll.

without thee , buffoon ? why i tell thee , thou shall never shew that odd , pimping , cheating face o' thine within my doors agen , i 'le turn away any man o' mine that shall disparage himself to drink with such a fellow as thou art .

wor.

as i ? why what am i ? pray ? mighty colonel !

ioll.

thou art or hast been every thing that 's ill , there is no scandalous way of living , no vocation of the devil , that thou hast not set up in at one time or other ; fortune ha's whip'd thee about through all her streets ; thou 'rt one that lives like a raven , by providence and rapin ; now thou 'rt feeding upon that raw young fellow , and doest devour and kaw him ; thou 'rt one that if thou should'st by chance go to bed sober , would'st write it down in thy almanack , for an unlucky day ; sleep is not the image of death to thee , unless thou bee'st dead drunk ; thou art â�� i know not what â�� thou' rt any thing , and shall be to me herafter nothing .

pun.

this colonel pisses vinegar to day .

wor.

this is uncivil language colonel to an old camerade , and one of your own party .

ioll.

my comrade ? o' my party thou ? or any but the party of the pick-purses !

pun.

this bouncing bear of a colonel will break the back o' my little whelp of a captain , unless i take him off ; come away captain , i 'le firk his back with two bum-baylies , till he spew up every stiver of her portion .

ioll.

fare-ye-well , gentlemen , come not near these doors if you love your own leather , i 'l ha' my scullions batter you with bones and turneps , and the maids drown you with piss-pots , if you do but approach the windows ; these are sawcy knaves indeed , to come to me for pounds and portions . exit .

wor.

poverty , the pox , an ill wife , and the devil go with thee , colonel .

pun.

i vex'd him to the gills , worm , when i put that bitter bob o' the baker upon him .

wor.

i ? i' st e'n so ? not come to your house ? by iove i 'l turn him out of it himself by a trick that i have .

pun.

pish ! thou talk'st as ravingly as a costermonger in a feaver .

wor.

i 'l do 't by iove .

pun.

how , prethee , captain ? what does thy pericranium mean ?

vvor.

why here i ha 't , by iove ; i 'm ravish'd with the fancy of it ; let me see â�� let me see â�� his brother went seven years ago to guiny . â��

pun.

i , but the merchants say he 's dead long since , and gon to the blackamores below .

vvor.

the more knaves they ; he lives , and i 'm the man.

pun.

ha! ha ! ha ! thou talk'st like a sowc'd hoggs-face .

vvor.

i knew him very well , and am pretty like him , liker than any of your similitudes , puny ; by long conversation with him , and the colonel , i know all passages betwixt 'em ; and what his humor and his estate was , much better than he himself , when he was alive ; he was a stranger thing than any monster in afrique where he traded .

pun.

how ! prethee captain ? i love these odd fantastical things as an alderman loves lobsters .

vvor.

why , you must know , he had quite lost his memory , totally , and yet thought himself an able man for business , and that he did himself all that was done by his man iohn , who went always along with him ; like a dog with a blind man.

pun.

ha! ha ! ha ! sublimely fantastical

vvor.

he carry'd a scrowl about him of memorandums , even of his daughters and his brothers names , and where his house stood ; for as i told you , he remembred nothing ; and where his scrowl failed , iohn was his remembrancer , we were wont to call him remembrancer iohn .

pun.

ha , ha , ha ! rarely exotique ! i 'l act that apple iohn , never was such a iohn as i ; not iohn o' gant , or iohn o' nokes , i will turn remembrancer iohn , as round as a wedding ring , ha , ha , ha !

vvor.

well said ! but you must lay aside conceits for a while , and remote fancies . i 'l teach you his humor instantly ; now will i and my man iohn swarthy our faces over as if that country's heat had made 'em so , ( which will disguise us sufficiently ) and attire our selves in some strange habits o' those parts , ( i know not how yet , but we shall see it in speed's mapps ) and come and take possession of our house and estate .

pun.

dear ovid , let 's about thy metamorphosis .

vvor.

't will be discover'd perhaps at last , but however , for the present 't will break off his match with the widdow , ( which makes him so proud now ) and therefore it must be done in the twinkling of an eye , for they say he 's to marry her this night ; if all fail , 't will be at least a merry 'bout for an hour , and a mask to the wedding .

pun.

quick , dear rogue ! quick as precipitation .

vvor.

i know where we can ha' cloaths , hard by here ; give me ten pounds to hire 'em , and come away , but of all things , man iohn , take heed of being witty .

pun.

i , that 's the devil on 't ; well , go ; i 'l follow you behind like a long rapier . exeunt .

scene . aurelia . aur.

if they would allow me but a little time , i could play such a trick with mr. truman , as should smart sorely for the rest of his life , and be reveng'd abundantly on my cozen , for getting of him from me , when i was such a foolish girl three year ago as to be in love with him .

but they would have us marri'd instantly , the parson stays for us at church . i know not what to do â�� all must out â�� odds my life he 's coming to fetch me here to church already .

scene . enter truman iunior . trum. j. i must go through with it now ; i 'l marry her , and live with her according to the forms , but i will never touch her as a woman . she stays for me â�� madam â�� aur. sir. trum. j. i cannot out with it â�� madam . aur. sir â�� trum. j. must we go marry , madam ? aur. our friends will have it so , it seems . trum. why will you marry me ? what is there in me that can deserve your liking ? i shall be the most untoward and ill-favour'd husband that ever took a melting maid t' his bed ; the faculties of my soul are all untuned , and every glory of my springing youth is faln into a strange and suddain winter , you cannot love me sure . aur. not to distraction , sir. trum. no , nor i you ; why should we marry then ? it were a folly , were it not , aurelia ? aur.

why they say , 't is the best marriage , when like is joyn'd to like ; now we shall make a very even match , for neither you love me , nor i love you , and 't is to be hop'd we may get children that will love neither of us .

trum. nay , by my soul i love you , but alas , not in that way that husbands should their wives ; i cannot toy , nor kiss , nor do i know not what , and yet i was a lover , as true a lover â�� aur. alack a day ! trum. 't was then , ( me-thoughts ) the only happiness to sit and talk , and look upon my mistriss , or if she was not by , to think upon her ; then every morning , next to my devotion , nay often too ( forgive me heaven ) before it , she slipt into my fancy , and i took it as a good omen for the following day ; it was a pretty foolish kind of life , an honest , harmless vanity ; but now the fairest face moves me no more , than snow or lillies when i see 'em , and pass by ; and i as soon should deeply fall in love with the fresh scarlet of an eastern cloud , as the red lips and cheeks of any woman ; i do confess , aurelia , thou art fair , and very witty , and ( i think ) well-natur'd , but thou' rt a woman still . aur. the sight of you sir , makes me not repent at all my being so . trum. and prethee now , aurelia , tell me truly , are any women constant in their vows ? can they continue a whole moneth , a week , and never change their faith ? oh! if they could , they would be excellent things ; nay ne're dissemble ; are not their lusts unruly , and to them such tyrants as their beauties are to us ? are their tears true , and solid when they weep ? aur. sure mr. truman you ha'nt slept of late , if we should be marry'd to night , what would you do for sleep ? trum. why ? do not marry'd people sleep o' nights ? aur. yes ! yes ! alas good innocence . trum. they have a scurvy life on 't if they don't ; but wee 'l not live as other people do , wee 'l find out some new handsome way of love , some way of love that few shall imitate , yet all admire ; for 't is a sordid thing , that lust should dare t' insinuate it self into the marriage-bed ; wee 'l get no children , the worst of men and women can do that ; besides too , if our issue should be female , they would all learn to flatter and dissemble , they would deceive with promises and vows some simple men , and then prove false and kill 'em , would they not do 't , aurelia ? aur.

i , any thing mr. truman ; but what shall we do sir , when we are marry'd , pray ?

trum. why ! wee 'l live very lovingly together , sometimes wee 'l sit and talk of excellent things , and laugh at all the nonsence of the world ; sometimes wee 'l walk together , sometimes wee 'l read , and sometimes eat , and sometimes sleep ; and sometimes pray , and then at last , wee 'l dye , and go to heaven together ; 't will be rare ! aur.

we may do all this ( me-thinks ) and never marry for the matter .

trum. 't is true , we may so ! but since our parents are resolv'd upon it , in such a circumstance let 'em have their humor . my father sent me in to complement , and keep a prating here , and play the fool ; i cannot do 't , what should i say , aurelia ? what do they use to say ? aur. i believe you knew sir , when you woo'd my cozen. trum. i , but those days are past ; they 'r go for ever , and nothing else , but nights are to succeed 'em ; gone like the faith and truth of women kind , and never to be seen again ! o lucia ! thou wast a woundrous angel in those days of thy blest state of innocence . there was a cheek ! a fore-head ! and an eye ! â�� did you observe her eye , aurelia ? aur. o yes sir ! there were very pretty babies in 't . trum. it was as glorious as the eye of heaven ; like the souls eye it peirc'd through every thing ; and then her hands â�� her hands of liquid ivory ! did she but touch her lute ( the pleasing'st harmony then upon earth when she her self was silent ) the subtil motion of her flying fingers taught musique a new art , to take the sight , as well as ear. aur.

i , sir , i ! you 'd best go look her out , and marry her , she has but one husband yet .

trum. nay , prethee , good aurelia be not angry , for i will never love or see her more . i do not say she was more fair than thou art , yet if i did ? no , but i wo'not say so !

only allow me this one short last remembrance of one i lov'd so long . and now i think on 't , i 'l beg a favour of you , you will laugh at me i know , when you have heard it , but prethee grant it ; 't is that you would be veil'd , as lucia was of late , for this one day ; i would fain marry thee so ; 't is an odd foolish fancy , i confess , but love and grief may be allow'd sometimes a little innocent folly .

aur. good ! this fool will help me i see to cheat himself ; at a dead lift , a little hint will serve me . i 'l do 't for him to the life . trum. will you aurelia ? aur.

that 's but a small compliance ; you 'l ha' power anon to command me greater things .

trum. we shall be marry'd very privately ; none but our selves ; and that 's e'en best , aurelia . why do i stick here at a fatal step that must be made ? aurelia , are you ready ? the minister stays for us . aur.

i 'l but go in and take my veil , as you command me sir ; walk but a few turns in the garden , in less than half an hour i 'l come to you , ha , ha , ha ! exit .

trum. i go , i am condemn'd , and must obey ; the executioner stays for me at church . exit .

act .

scene . colonel jolly , will. ioll.

so , i have her at last , and honest ioseph knock-down married us , me-thinks , with convenient brevity ; i have some hold now upon my estate again ( though she , i confess , be a clog upon it worse than a mort-gage ) that , my good neighbour barebottle left wholly to his wife ; almost all the rest of the incomes upon his seeking , go to his daughter tabitha , whom cutter has got by this time , and promises me to live like an honest gentleman hereafter ; now he may do so comfortably and merrily . she marri'd me thus suddenly , like a good houswife , purely to save charges ; however though , we 'l have a good supper for her , and her eating tribe ; will , is the cook a doing according to my directions ?

will.

yes , sir , he 's very hard at his business ; he 's swearing and cursing in the kitchin , that your worship may hear him hither , he 'l fright my new old mistris out of the house .

ioll.

't is such an over-roasted coxcomb â�� bid him be sure to season well the venison that came in luckily to day .

will.

troth , sir , i dare not speak to him now , unless i should put on your worship's armour that lies hid in the barel below ; he 'd like to ha' spitted me just now , like a goose as i was , for telling him he look'd like the ox that 's roasted whole in st. iames's fair. who 's there ?

ioll.

see who 's at door . i shall ha' some plundred plate , i hope , to entertain my friends with , when we come to visit the truncks with iron hoops ; who is 't ?

will.

nay , heaven knows , sir ; two fiends , i think , to take away the cook for swearing . they ha' thrust in after me .

scene . enter worm and puny disguised like the merchant and john. wor.

they 'l hardly know us at first in these forein habits .

pun.

i sir , and as the sun has us'd us in those hot countries .

wor.

why , this is my old house here , iohn ; ha , ha ! little thought i to see my old house upon tower-hill again . where 's my brother iolly ?

ioll.

they call me colonel iolly .

wor.

ha! let me see , a burly man of a looks on his note . moderate stature â�� a beard a little greyish â�� ha ! a quick eye , and a nose inclining to red â��

pun.

nay , 't is my master's worship , sir , would we were no more alter'd since our travels .

wor.

it agrees very well â�� save you good brother , you little thought to see me here again , though i dare say you wish'd it ; stay , let me see , how many years , iohn , is 't since we went from hence ?

pun.

't is now seven years , sir.

wor.

seven ? me-thinks i was here but yesterday , how the what deye-call-it-runs ? how do you call it ?

pun.

the time , sir.

wor.

i , i , the time , iohn ; what was i saying ? i was telling you , brother , that i had quite forgot you ; was i not telling him so , iohn ?

ioll.

faith we 'r both quits then ; i 'l swear i ha' forgot you ; why you were dead five years ago .

wor.

was i ? i ha' quite forgot it ; iohn , was i dead five years ago ? my memory fails me very much of late .

pun.

we were worse than dead , sir , we were taken by a barbarous nation , and there made slaves ; iohn , quoth he ? i was poor iohn i 'm sure ; they kept us three whole years with nothing but water and acorns , till we look'd like wicker bottles .

wor.

what , sirrah , did your master look like ? i 'l teach you to say your master look'd like what de-ye-call ' ums .

ioll.

where did they take you prisoners ?

wor.

nay , ask iohn , he can tell you i warrant you ; 't was in â�� tell him , iohn , where it was .

pun.

in guiny .

ioll.

by what country-men were you taken ?

wor.

why they were called â�� i ha' forgot what they call 'em , 't was an odd kind o' name , but iohn can tell you .

pun.

who i , sir ? do you think i can remember all things ?

wor.

't is i' my book here i remember well . name any nation under the sun.

pun.

i know the name , sir , well enough ; but i onely try'd my master's memory , 't was the tartarians .

wor.

i , i , those were the men .

ioll.

how , iohn ? why all the world man lies betwixt 'em , they live up in the north.

pun.

the north ?

ioll.

i the very north , iohn .

pun.

that 's true indeed , but these were another nation of tartarians that liv'd in the south , they came antiently from the others .

ioll.

how got you from 'em , iohn , at last ?

pun.

why faith , sir , by a ladies means , who , to tell you the truth , fell in love with me ; my master has it all in his book , 't is a brave story .

ioll.

in what ship came you back ?

pun.

a plague of 't , that question will be our ruine .

vvor.

what ship ? 't was call'd a thing that swims , what d ee you call 't ?

ioll.

the mermaid ?

vvor.

no , no , let me see .

ioll.

the triton ?

vvor.

no , no , a thing that in the water does â�� it swims in the water â��

ioll.

what is 't ? the dolphin ?

vvor.

no , no , i ha' quite forgot the name on 't , but 't is no matter , it swims â��

ioll.

what say you , iohn ?

pun.

i , sir , my master knows well enough ; you cann't conceive the misery we endur'd , sir.

ioll.

well , brother , i 'l but ask you one question more , where did you leave your will ?

pun.

' life , now he 's pos'd again â�� we shall never carry 't through .

vvor.

i 'l tell you presently , brother â�� let me see , reads in his scrowl . memorandums about my will ; left to my brother the whole charge of my estate â�� hum â�� hum â�� five thousand pounds â�� hum â�� what did you ask me , brother ?

ioll.

in what place you left your will ?

vvor.

i that was it indeed â�� , that was the very thing you ask'd me ; what a treacherous memory have i ? my memory is so short â��

ioll.

this is no answer to my question yet .

wor.

't is true indeed ; what was your question , brother ?

ioll.

where you left your will ?

wor.

good lord , that i should forget you ask'd me that ! i had forgot it , i'faith law that i had , you 'l pardon , i hope , my infirmity , for i alas â�� alas â�� i ha' forgot what i was going to say to you , but i was saying something , that i was .

ioll.

well , gentlemen , i 'm now in haste , walk but a while into the parlour there , i 'l come to you presently .

wor.

but where 's my daughter â��

pun.

lucia , sir ?

wor.

i , lucia â�� put me in mind to ask for her ( a plague o' your tartarians . )

pun.

and o' your what dee-ye-call-'ems .

wor.

' life , tartarians !

exeunt worm , puny . ioll.

if these be rogues , ( as rogues they seem to be ) i will so exercise my rogues , the tyranny of a new beadle over a beggar shall be nothing to 't ; what think'st thou of 'em , will ?

will.

faith , sir , i know not â�� h'as just my masters nose and upper-lip ; but if you think it be not he , sir , i 'l beat 'em worse than the tartarians did .

ioll.

no , let 's try 'em first â�� trick for trick â�� thou were wont to be a precious knave , and a great actor too , a very roscius ; did'st not thou play once the clown in musidorus ?

will.

no , but i plaid the bear , sir.

ioll.

the bear ! why that 's as good a part ; thou 'rt an actor then i 'l warrant thee , the bears a well-penn'd part , and you remember my brother's humor , don't you ? they have almost hit it .

will.

i , sir , i knew the shortness of his memory , he would always forget to pay me my wages , till he was put in mind of 't .

ioll.

well said , i 'l dress thee within , and all the servants shall acknowledge thee , you conceive the design â�� be confident , and thou cast not miss ; but who shall do trusty iohn ?

will :

oh , ralph the butler , sir , 's an excellent try'd actor , he play'd a king once ; i ha' heard him speak a play ex tempore in the butteries .

ioll.

o excellent ralph ! incomparable ralph against the world ! come away , vvilliam , i 'l give you instructions within , it must be done in a moment . exeunt .

scene . enter aurelia , jane . iane.

ha , ha , ha ! this is the best plot o' yours , dear madam , to marry me to mr. truman in a veil instead of your self ; i cann't chuse but laugh at the very conceit of 't ; 't will make excellent sport : my mistris will be so mad when she knows that i have got her servant from her , ha , ha , ha !

aur.

well , are you ready ? veil your self all over , and never speak one word to him , what ever he says , ( he 'l ha' no mind to talk much ) but give him your hand , and go along with him to church ; and when you come to , i take thee â�� mumble it over that he may n't distinguish the voice .

iane.

ha , ha , ha ! i cann't speak for laughing â�� dear hony madam , let me but go in and put on a couple o' patches ; you cann't imagine how much prettier i look with a lozenge under the left eye , and a half moon o' this cheek ; and then i 'le but slip on the silver-lac'd shoes that you gave me , and be with him in a trice .

aur.

don't stay , he 's a fantastical fellow , if the whimsey take him he 'l be gone . exeunt .

scene . lucia . they say he 's to pass instantly this way to lead his bride to church ; ingrateful man ! i 'l stand here to upbraid his guilty conscience , and in that black attire in which he saw me when he spoke the last kind words to me ; 't will now befit my sorrows , and the widow-hood of my love ; he comes alone , what can that mean ?

scene . enter truman junior . trum. come , madam , the priest stays for us too long ; i ask your pardon for my dull delay , and am asham'd of 't . luc. what does he mean ? i 'l go with him what e'er it mean. exeunt

scene . enter cutter , tabitha , boy . cut. come to my bed , my dear , my dear , sings . my dear come to my bed , for the pleasant pain , and the loss with gain is the loss of a maidenhead . for the pleasant , &c. tab. is that a psalm , brother husband , which you sing ? cut. no , sister wife , a short ejaculation onely . well said , boy , bring in the things , â�� boy brings a hat and feather , sword and belt , broad lac'd band , and periwig . tab.

what do you mean , brother abednego ? you will not turn cavalier , i hope , again , you will not open before sion in the dressings of babylon ?

cut.

what do these cloathes befit queen tabitha's husband upon her day o' nuptials ? this hat with a high black chimney for a crown , and a brim no broader than a hatband ? shall i , who am to ride the purple dromedary , go drest like revelation fat 's the basket-maker ? give me the peruique , boy ; shall empress tabitha's husband go as if his head were scalded ? or wear the seam of a shirt here for a a band ? shall i who am zealous even to slaying , walk in the streets without a sword , and not dare to thrust men from the wall , if any shall presume to take 't of empress tabitha ? are the fidlers coming , boy ?

tab.

pish , i cannot abide these doings ; are you mad ? there come no prophane fidlers here .

cut.

be peaceable gentle tabitha ; they will not bring the organs with them hither ; i say be peaceable , and conform to revelations ; it was the vision bad me do this ; wil't thou resist the vision ?

tab.

an' these be your visions ? little did i think i wusse â�� o what shall i do ? is this your conversion ? which of all the prophets wore such a map about their ears , or such a sheet about their necks ? oh! my mother ! what shall i do ? i 'm undone .

cut.

vvhat shalt thou do ? why , thou shalt dance , and sing , and drink , and be merry ; thou shalt go with thy hair curl'd , and thy brests open ; thou shalt wear fine black stars upon thy face , and bobs in thy ears bigger than bouncing pears ; nay , if thou do'st begin but to look rustily â�� i 'l ha' thee paint thy self , like the vvhore o' babylon .

tab.

oh! that ever i was born to see this day â��

cut.

what , dost thou weep , queen dido ? thou shalt ha' sack to drive away thy sorrows ; bring in the bottle , boy , i 'l be a loving husband , the vision must be obey'd ; sing tabitha ; weep o' thy wedding day ? 't is ominous ; come to my bed my dear , &c. oh , art thou come boy ? fill a brimmer , nay , fuller yet , yet a little fuller ! here lady spouse , here 's to our sport at night .

tab.

drink it your self , an you will ; i 'l not touch it , not i.

cut.

by this hand thou shal't pledge me , seeing the vision said so ; drink , or i 'l take a coach , and carry thee to the opera immediately .

tab.

oh lord , i can't abide it â�� drinks off .

cut.

why , this will chear thy heart ; sack , and a husband ? both comfortable things ; have at you agen .

tab.

i 'l pledge you no more , not i.

cut.

here take the glass , and take it off â�� off every drop , or i 'l swear a hundred oaths in a breathing time .

tab.

well! you 'r the strangest man â�� drink .

cut.

why , this is right ; nay , off with 't ; so â�� but the vision said , that if we left our drink behind us we should be hang'd , as many other honest men na'been , only by a little negligence in the like case ; here 's to you tabitha once agen , we must fulfill the vision to a tittle .

tab.

what must i drink agen ? well ! you are such another brother â�� husband .

cut.

bravely done , tabitha ! now thou obey'st the vision , thou wil't ha' revelations presently .

tab.

oh! lord ! my head 's giddy â�� nay , brother , husband , the boy 's taking away the bottle , and there 's another glass or two in it still .

cut.

o villainous boy ! fill out you bastard , and squeeze out the last drop .

tab.

i 'l drink to you now , my dear ; 't is not handsome for you to begin always â�� come to my bed my drinks . dear , and how wa st ? 't was a pretty song , methoughts .

cut.

o divine tabitha ! here come the fidlers too , strike up ye rogues .

tab.

what must we dance too ? is that the fashion ? i could ha' danc'd the curranto when i was a girl , the curranto's a curious dance .

cut.

we 'l out-dance the dancing disease ; but tabitha , there 's one poor health left still to be drunk with musique .

tab.

let me begin't ; here duck , here 's to all that drinks . love us .

cut.

a health , ye eternal scrapers , sound a health ; rarely done tabitha , what think'st thou now o' thy mother ?

tab.

a fig for my mother ; i 'l be a mother my self shortly ; come duckling , shall we go home ?

cut.

go home ? the bride-groom and his spouse go home ? no , we 'l dance home ; afore us squeakers , that way , and be hang'd you sempiternal rakers . o brave ! queen tabitha ! excellent empress tabitha , on ye rogues . exeunt .

scene . enter jolly , worm , puny . wor.

but where 's my what dee ye call her , brother ?

ioll.

what sir ?

wor.

my daughter â�� lucia , a pretty fair complexioned reads . girl , with a black eye , a round chin , a little dimpled , and a mole upon â�� i would fain see my daughter â�� brother .

ioll.

vvhy , you shall sir presently , she 's very well ; what noise is that ? how now ? what 's the matter ?

enter servant . serv.

ho! my old master ! my old masters come , he 's lighted just now at the door with his man iohn ; he 's asking for you , he longs to see you ; my master , my old master .

ioll.

this fellows mad.

serv.

if you wo'nt believe me , go but in and see sir ; he 's not so much alter'd , but you 'l quickly know him , i knew him before he was lighted , pray , go in sir.

ioll.

vvhy , this is strange â�� there was indeed some weeks since a report at the exchange that he was alive still , which was brought by a ship that came from barbary ; but that he should be split in two after his death , and live agen in both , is wonderfull to me . i 'l go see what 's the matter .

exeunt jolly , servant . pun.

i begin to shake like a plum-tree leaf .

wor.

't is a meer plot o' the devils to have us beaten , if he send him in just at this nick.

scene . enter ralph ( as john ) and two or three servants . . serv.

ah rogue , art thou come at last ?

. serv.

why , you 'l not look upon your old friends ! give me your golls , iohn .

ral.

thank ye all heartily for your love ; thank you with all my heart ; my old bed-fellow , robin , and how does little ginny do ?

. serv.

a murren take you , you 'l ne're leave your waggery .

pun.

a murren take ye all , i shall be paid the portion here with a witness .

ral.

and how does ralph ? good honest ralph ; there is not an honester fellow in christendome , though i say 't my self , that should not say 't .

. serv.

ha , ha , ha ! why ralph the rogue 's well still ; come let 's go to him into the buttery , he 'l be over-joy'd to see thee , and give us a cup o' the best stingo there .

ral.

vvell said ; steel to the back still robin ; that was your word you know ; my masters coming in ! go , go , i 'l follow you .

serv.

make haste , good iohn .

ral.

here 's a company of as honest fellow-servants ; i 'm glad , i 'm come among 'em agen .

wor.

and would i were got out from 'em , as honest as they are ; that robin has a thrashing hand .

pun.

iohn with a pox to him ! would i were hid like a maggot in a pescod .

scene . enter jolly , vvilliam . ioll.

me-thinks you 'r not return'd , but born to us anew .

will.

thank you good brother ; truly we ha' past through many dangers ; my man iohn shall tell you all , i 'm old and crazie .

enter servant . serv.

sir , the vviddow ( my mistriss i should say ) is coming in here with mr. knock-down , and four or five more .

ioll.

o'ds my life ! this farce is neither of doctrine nor use to them ! keep 'em here , iohn , till i come back .

exit jolly . wor.

i 'm glad the colonel 's gone ; now will i sneak away , as if i had stoln a silver spoon .

vvill.

vvho are those , iohn ? by your leave sir , would you speak with any body here ?

vvor.

the colonel , sir ? but i 'l take some other time to wait upon him , my occasions call me now .

vvill.

pray stay , sir , who did you say you would ha' spoken with ?

vvor.

the colonel , sir ; but another time will serve ; he has business now .

vvill.

vvhom would he speak with , iohn ? i forget still .

ral.

the colonel , sir.

vvill.

colonel ! what colonel ?

wor.

your brother , i suppose he is sir , but another time â��

will.

't is true indeed ; i had forgot , i faith , my brother was a colonel ; i cry you mercy sir , he 'l be here presently . ye seem to be foreiners by your habits gentlemen .

wor.

no sir , we are english-men .

will.

english-men ? law you there now ! would you ha' spoke with me , sir ?

wor.

no sir , your brother ; but my business requires no haste , and therefore â��

will.

you 'r not in haste , you say ; pray sir , sit down then , may i crave your name , sir ?

wor.

my name 's not worth the knowing sir â��

will.

this gentleman ?

wor.

't is my man , sir , his name 's iohn .

pun.

i 'l be iohn no more , not i , i 'l be iackanapes first ; no , my name 's timothy sir.

will.

mr. iohn timothy , very well , sir ; ye seem to be travellers .

wor.

we are just now as you see , arriv'd out of afrique , sir , and therefore have some business that requires â��

will.

of afrique ? law ye there now ; what country , pray ?

wor.

prester-iohn's country ; fare you well , sir , for the present , i must be excus'd .

will.

marry god forbid ; what come from prester-iohn , and we not drink a cup o' sack together .

wor.

what shall i do ? friend , shall i trouble you to shew me a private place ? i 'l wait upon you presently agen , sir.

will.

you 'l stay here master ? â��

pun.

i 'l only make a little maids water sir , and come back to you immediately .

ral.

the door 's lock'd sir , the colonel ha's lock'd us in here â�� why do you shake sir ?

pun. nothing â�� only i have extreme list to make water . here 's the colonel , i 'l sneak behind the hangings .

scene . enter jolly , widdow . ioll.

we 'l leave those gentlemen within a while upon the point of reprobation ; but sweet heart , i ha' two brothers here , newly arriv'd , which you must be acquainted with .

wid.

marry , heaven fore-shield ! not the merchant i hope ?

ioll.

no , brethren in love , only â�� how d ee you brother ?

wor.

i your brother ; what de' e mean ?

ioll.

why , are not you my brother iolly , that was taken prisoner by the southern tartars ?

vvor.

i brother , i by tartars ?

ioll.

what an impudent slave is this ? sirra , monster , did'st thou not come with thy man iohn ?

vvor.

i my man iohn ? here 's no such person here ; you see you 'r mistaken .

ioll.

sirra , i 'l strike thee dead .

vvor.

hold , hold , sir , i do remember now i was the merchant iolly , but when you ask'd me i had quite forgot it ; alas , i 'm very crasie .

ioll.

that 's not amiss ; but since thou art not he , i must know who thou art .

vvor.

why , do'nt you know me ? i 'm captain vvorm , and puny was my man iohn .

ioll.

where 's the fool , puny ? is he slipt away ?

pun.

yes , and no fool for 't neither for ought i know yet .

vvor.

why , we hit upon this frolique , colonel , only for a kind o' mask ( de' ye conceive me , colonel ? ) to celebrate your nuptials ; mr. puny had a mind to reconcile himself with you in a merry way o' drollery , and so had i too , though i hope you were not in earnest with me .

ioll.

oh! is that all ? well said vvill , bravely done vvill , i faith ; i told thee , vvill , what 't was to have acted a bear ; and ralph was an excellent iohn too .

vvor.

how 's this ? then i 'm an ass agen ; this damn'd punies fearfulness spoil'd all .

pun.

this cursed coward vvorm ! i thought they were not the right ones .

ioll.

here 's something for you to drink ; go look to supper , this is your cue or exit . ex. will & ralph .

vvid.

what need you , love , ha' given 'em any thing ? in truth , love , ã��â��ã�� ' too lavish .

vvor.

't was wittily put off o' me however .

scene . enter cutter , tabitha , with fidlers . ioll.

here are more maskers too , i think ; this masking is a heavenly entertainment for the widow , who ne'er saw any shew yet but the puppet-play o' ninive .

cut.

stay without , scrapers .

tab.

oh lord , i 'm as weary with dancing as passes ; husband , husband , yonder 's my mother ; o mother what do you think i ha' been doing to day ?

vvid.

why what , child ? no hurt , i hope .

tab.

nay nothing , i have onely been married a little , and my husband abednego and i have so danc'd it since .

cut.

brave tabitha still ; never be angry mother , you know where marriages are made , your daughters and your own were made in the same place , i warrant you , they 'r so like .

vvid.

vvell , his will be done â�� there 's â�� no resisting providence â�� but how , son abednego , come you into that roaring habit of perdition ?

cut.

mother , i was commanded by the vision , there is some great end for it of edification , which you shall know by the sequel .

scene . enter truman senior , truman junior , lucia veil'd . trum. sen.

come , dick , bring in your wife to your t'other father , and ask him blessing handsomely ;

welcome , dear daughter ; off with your veil ; luc. unveils . heaven bless ye both . ioll.

ha! what 's this ? more masking ? why how now , mr. truman ? you ha' not married my niece , i hope , instead o' my daughter ?

trum. j. i onely did , sir , as i was appointed , and am amaz'd as much as you . trum. s. villain , rebel , traitor , out o' my sight you son of a â�� ioll.

nay , hold him ; patience , good mr. truman , let 's understand the matter a little â��

trum. s.

i wo'not understand , no that i wo'not , i wo'not understand a word , whilst he and his whore are in my fight .

ioll.

nay , good sir â�� why , what niece ? two husbands in one afternoon ? that 's too much o' conscience .

luc. two , sir ? i know of none but this , and how i came by him too , that i know not . ioll. this is ridle me ridle me â�� where 's my daughter ? ho ! aurelia .

scene . enter aurelia . aur.

here , sir , i was just coming in .

ioll.

ha' not you married young mr. truman ?

aur.

no , sir.

ioll.

why , who then has he marri'd ?

aur. nay that , sir , he may answer for himself , if he be of age to marry . ioll.

but did not you promise me you 'd marry him this afternoon , and go to church with him presently to do 't ?

aur.

but , sir , my husband forbad the banes.

ioll.

they 're all mad ; your husband ?

aur.

i sir , the truth o' the matter , sir , is this , ( for it must out i see ) 't was i that was married this afternoon in the matted chamber to mr. puny , instead o' my cousin lucia .

ioll.

stranger and stranger ! what , and he not know 't ?

aur.

no , nor the parson , sir , himself .

ioll.

hey day !

aur.

't was done in the dark , sir , and i veil'd like my cousin ; 't was a very clandestine marriage , i confess , but there are sufficient proofs of it ; and for one , here 's half the piece of gold he broke with me , which he 'l know when he sees .

pun.

o rare , by hymen i 'm glad o' the change ; 't is a pretty sorceress by my troath ; wit to wit quoth the devil to the lawyer ; i 'l out amongst 'em presently , 't has sav'd me a beating too , which perhaps is all her portion .

ioll.

you turn my head , you dizzie me ; but wouldst thou marrie him without either knowing my mind , or so much as his ?

aur.

his , sir ? he gave me five hundred pieces in gold to make the match ; look , they are here still , sir.

ioll.

thou hast lost thy senses , vvench , and wilt make me do so too .

aur.

briefly the truth is this , sir , he gave me these five hundred pieces to marry him by a trick to my cousin lucia , and by another trick i took the money and married him my self ; the manner , sir , you shall know anon at leisure , onely your pardon , sir , for the omission of my duty to you , i beg upon my knees .

ioll.

nay , wench , there 's no hurt done , fifteen hundred pounds a year is no ill match for the daughter of a sequestred cavalier â��

aur.

i thought so , sir.

ioll.

if we could but cure him of some sottish affectations , but that must be thy task .

aur.

my life on 't , sir.

pun.

i 'l out ; uncle father your blessing â�� my little matchivil , i knew well enough 't was you ; what did you think i knew not cross from pile ?

aur.

did you i'faith ?

pun.

i by this kiss of amber-grees , or i 'm a cabbage .

aur.

why then you out-witted me , and i 'm content .

pun.

a pox upon you merchant iolly , are you there ?

ioll.

but stay , how come you , niece , to be marri'd to mr. truman ?

luc.

i know not , sir , as i was walking in the garden .

trum. j. i thought ' thad been â�� but blest be the mistake , what ever prove the consequence to all the less important fortunes of my life . ioll.

nay , there 's no hurt done here neither â��

trum. s.

no hurt , colonel ? i 'l see him hang'd at my door before he shall have a beggarly â��

ioll.

hark you , mr. truman , one word aside talk aside . ( for it is not necessary yet my wife should know so much . )

aur.

this foolish iane ( as i perceive by the story ) has lost a husband by staying for a black patch .

ioll.

though i in rigour by my brothers will might claim the forfeiture of her estate , yet i assure you she shall have it all to the utmost farthing ; in a day like this , when heaven bestows on me and on my daughter so unexpected and so fair a fortune , it were an ill return to rob an orphan committed to my charge .

aur my father 's in the right . and as he clears her fortune , so will i her honor. hark you , sir. trum. s.

why you speak , sir , like a vertuous noble gentleman , and do just as i should do my self in the same case ; it is â��

aur.

't was i upon my credit in a veil ; to trum. jun. i 'l tell , if you please , all that you said , when you had read the letter . but d' you hear , mr. truman , do not you believe now that i had a design to lie with you ( if you had consented to my coming at mid-night ) for upon my faith i had not , bud did it purely to try upon what terms your two romantique loves stood .

cut.

ha , ha , ha ! but your farce was not right me-thinks at the end .

pun.

why how , pray ?

cut.

why there should ha' been a beating , a lusty cudgeling to make it come off smartly with a twang at the tail .

wor.

say you so ? h 'as got a set of damnable brawny servingmen .

cut.

at least iohn pudding here should ha' been basted .

wor.

a curse upon him , he sav'd himself like a rat behind the hangings .

trum. j. o lucia , how shall i beg thy pardon for my unjust suspitions of thy virtue ? can you forgive a very repentant sinner ? vvill a whole life of penitence absolve me ? trum. s.

't is enough , good noble colonel , i 'm satisfi'd ; come , dick , i see 't was heavens will , and she 's a very worthy virtuous gentlewoman ; i 'm old and testy , but 't is quickly over ; my blessing upon you both .

cut.

vvhy so , all 's well of all sides then ; let me see , here 's a brave coupling day , onely poor vvorm must lead a monkish life of 't .

aur :

i 'l have a vvife for him too , if you will , fine mrs. iane within ; i 'le undertake for her , i ha' set her a gog aside . to day for a husband , the first comer has her sure .

wor.

i , but what portion has she , mrs. puny ? for we captains o' the king's side ha' no need o' vvives with nothing .

aur.

vvhy lozenges , and half-moons , and a pair of silver-lac'd shoes ; but that tropes lost to you ; well , we 'l see among us what may be done for her .

ioll.

come , let 's go in to supper ; there never was such a day of intrigues as this in one family . if my true brother had come in at last too after his being five years dead , 't would ha' been a very play.

exeunt .

finis .

epilogue , spoken by cutter . me-thinks a vision bids me silence break , without his peruique . and some words to this congregation speak , so great and gay a one i ne'er did meet at the monarch's court in coleman-street . but yet i wonder much not to espy a brother in all this court call'd zephaniah . bless me ! where are we ? what may this place be ? for i begin by vision now to see that this is a meer theater ; well then , if 't be e'en so , i 'l cutter be again . puts on his peruique . not cutter the pretended cavaleer , for to confess ingenuously here to you who always of that party were , i never was of any ; up and down i rowld , a very rakehell of this town . but now my follies and my faults are ended , my fortune and my mind are both amended , and if we may believe one who has fail'd before , our author says he 'l mend , that is , he 'l write no more .

epilogue , at court. the madness of your people , and the rage , you 've seen too long upon the publique stage , 't is time at last ( great sir ) 't is time to see their tragique follies brought to comedy . if any blame the lowness of our scene , we humbly think some persons there have been on the worlds theatre not long ago , much more too high , than here they are too low. and well we know that comedy of old , did her plebeian rank with so much honour hold , that it appear'd not then too base or light , for the great scipio's conquering hand to write . how e're , if such mean persons seem too rude , when into royal presence they intrude , yet we shall hope a pardon to receive from you , a prince so practis'd to forgive ; a prince , who with th' applause of earth and heaven , the rudeness of the vulgar has forgiven . finis .

a proposition for the advancement of experimental philosophy. by a. cowley. proposition for the advancement of learning cowley, abraham, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing c thomason e _ thomason e _ estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ] or :e [ ]) a proposition for the advancement of experimental philosophy. by a. cowley. proposition for the advancement of learning cowley, abraham, - . p. p. [ ], , [ ] p. printed by j.m. for henry herringman; and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the blew-anchor in the lower-walk of the new-exchange, london : . dedication signed: p.p. the last leaf is blank. a reissue of "a proposition for the advancement of learning", with title page cancelled by a² (new title page and dedication). annotation on thomason copy e. [ ]: "march "; imprint date crossed through. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng royal society (great britain) -- history -- early works to . science -- history -- early works to . philosophy -- early works to . education -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - pip willcox sampled and proofread - pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a proposition for the advancement of experimental philosophy . by a. cowley . london , printed by j. m. for henry herringman ; and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the blew-anchor in the lower-walk of the new-exchange , . to the honourable society for the advancement of experimental philosophy . the author of the following discourse , having since his going into france allowed me to make it publick , i thought i should do it most right by presenting it to your considerations ; to the end that when it hath been fully examin'd by you , and receiv'd such additions or alterations as you shall think fit , the design thereof may be promoted by your recommending the practice of it to the nation . i am , your most humble servant , p. p. a proposition for the advancement of learning . by a. cowley . virg. o fortunati quorum jam maenia surgunt ! london , printed by j. m. for henry herringman , and are to be sold at his shop at the blew anchor in the lower-walk of the new-exchange , . the preface . all knowledge must either be of god , or of his creatures , that is , of nature ; the first is called from the object , divinity ; the latter , natural philosophy , and is divided into the contemplation of the immediate or mediate creatures of god , that is , the creatures of his creature man. of this latter kind are all arts for the use of humane life , which are thus again divided : some are purely humane , or made by man alone , and as it were intirely spun out of himself , without relation to other creatures , such are grammar and logick , to improve his natural qualities of internal and external speech ; as likewise rhetorick and politicks ( or law ) to fulfill and exalt his natural inclination to society . other are mixt , and are mans creatures no otherwise then by the result which he effects by conjunction and application of the creatures of god. of these parts of philosophy that which treats of god almighty ( properly called divinity ) which is almost only to be sought out of his revealed will , and therefore requires only the diligent and pious study of that , and of the best interpreters upon it ; and that part which i call purely humane , depending solely upon memory and wit , that is , reading and invention , are both excellently well provided for by the constitution of our vniversities . but the other two parts , the inquisition into the nature of gods creatures , and the application of them to humane vses ( especially the latter ) seem to be very slenderly provided for , or rather almost totally neglected , except onely some small assistances to physick , and the mathematicks . and therefore the founders of our colledges have taken ample care to supply the students with multitude of books , and to appoint tutors and frequent exercises , the one to interpret , and the other to confirm their reading , as also to afford them sufficient plenty and leisure for the opportunities of their private study , that the beams which they receive by lecture may be doubled by reflections of their own wit : but towards the observation and application , as i said , of the creatures themselves , they have allowed no instruments , materials , or conveniences . partly , because the necessary expence thereof is much greater , then of the other ; and partly from that idle and pernicious opinion which had long possest the world , that all things to be searcht in nature , had been already found and discovered by the ancients , and that it were a folly to travel about for that which others had before brought home to us . and the great importer of all truths they took to be aristotle , as if ( as macrobius speaks foolishly of hippocrates ) he could neither deceive nor be deceived , or as if there had been not only no lies in him , but all verities . o true philosophers in one sence ! and contented with a very little ! not that i would disparage the admirable wit , and worthy labours of many of the ancients , much less of aristotle , the most eminent among them ; but it were madness to imagine that the cisterns of men should afford us as much , and as wholesome waters , as the fountains of nature . as we understand the manners of men by conversation among them , and not by reading romances , the same is our case in the true apprehension & judgement of things . and no man can hope to make himself as rich by stealing out of others truncks , as he might by opening and digging of new mines . if he conceive that all are already exhausted , let him consider that many lazily thought so hundred years ago , and yet nevertheless since that time whole regions of art have been discovered , which the ancients as little dreamt of as they did of america . there is yet many a terra incognita behind to exercise our diligence , and let us exercise it never so much , we shall leave work enough too for our posterity . this therefore being laid down as a certain foundation , that we must not content our selves with that inheritance of knowledge which is left us by the labour and bounty of our ancestors , but seek to improve those very grounds , and adde to them new and greater purchases ; it remains to be considered by what means we are most likely to attain the ends of this vertuous covetousness . and certainly the solitary and unactive contemplation of nature , by the most ingenious persons living , in their own private studies , can never effect it . our reasoning faculty as well as fancy , does but dream , when it is not guided by sensible objects . we shall compound where nature has divided , and divide where nature has compounded , and create nothing but either deformed monsters , or at best pretty but impossible mermaids . 't is like painting by memory and imagination which can never produce a picture to the life . many persons of admirable abilities ( if they had been wisely managed and profitably employed ) have spent their whole time and diligence in commentating upon aristotles philosophy , who could never go beyond him , because their design was only to follow , not grasp , or lay hold on , or so much as touch nature , because they catcht only at the shadow of her in their own brains . and therefore we see that for above a thousand years together nothing almost of ornament or advantage was added to the vses of humane society , except only guns and printing , whereas since the industry of men has ventured to go abroad , out of books and out of themselves , and to work among gods creatures , instead of playing among their own , every age has abounded with excellent inventions , and every year perhaps might do so , if a considerable number of select persons were set apart , and well directed , and plentifully provided for the search of them . but our vniversities having been founded in those former times that i complain of , it is no wonder if they be defective in their constitution as to this way of learning , which was not then thought on . for the supplying of which defect , it is humbly proposed to his sacred majesty , his most honourable parliament , and privy council , and to all such of his subjects as are willing and able to contribute any thing towards the advancement of real and useful learning , that by their authority , encouragement , patronage , and bounty , a philosophical colledge may be erected , after this ensuing , or some such like model . the colledge . that the philosophical colledge be scituated within one , two , or ( at farthest ) three miles of londòn , and , if it be possible to find that convenience , upon the side of the river , or very near it . that the revenue of this colledge amount to four thousand pounds a year . that the company received into it be as follows . . twenty philosophers or professors . . sixteen young scholars , servants to the professors . . a chaplain . . a baily for the revenue . . a manciple or purveyour for the provisions of the house . . two gardeners . . a master-cook . . an under-cock . . a butler . . an under-butler . . a chirurgeon . . two lungs , or chymical servants . . a library-keeper who is likewise to be apothecary , druggist , and keeper of instruments , engines , &c. . an officer to feed and take care of all beasts , fowl , &c. kept by the colledge . . a groom of the stable . . a messenger to send up and down for all uses of the colledge . . four old women , to tend the chambers , keep the house clean , and such like services . that the annual allowance for this company be as follows . . to every professor , and to the chaplain , one hundred and twenty pounds . . to the sixteen scholars l a piece , l for their diet , and l for their entertainment . . to the baily l besides allowance for his journeys . . to the purveyour or manciple thirty pounds . . to each of the gardeners twenty pounds . . to the master-cook twenty pounds . . to the under-cook four pounds . . to the butler ten pounds . . to the under-butler four pounds . . to the chirurgeon thirty pounds . . to the library-keeper thirty pounds . . to each of the lungs twelve pounds . . to the keeper of the beasts six pounds . . to the groom five pounds . . to the messenger twelve pounds . . to the four necessary women ten pounds . for the manciples table at which all the servants of the house are to eat , except the scholars , one hundred sixty pounds . for horses for the service of the colledge , thirty pounds . all which amounts to three thousand two hundred eighty five pounds . so that there remains for keeping of the house and gardens , and operatories , and instruments , and animals , and experiments of all sorts , and all other expences , seven hundred & fifteen pounds . which were a very inconsiderable sum for the great uses to which it is designed , but that i conceive the industry of the colledge will in a short time so enrich it self as to get a far better stock for the advance and enlargement of the work when it is once begun ; neither is the continuance of particular mens liberality to be despaired of , when it shall be encouraged by the sight of that publick benefit which will accrue to all mankind , and chiefly to our nation , by this foundation . something likewise will arise from leases and other casualties ; that nothing of which may be diverted to the private gain of the professors , or any other use besides that of the search of nature , and by it the general good of the world , and that care may be taken for the certain performance of all things ordained by the institution , as likewise for the protection and encouragement of the company , it is proposed . that some person of eminent quality , a lover of solid learning , and no stranger in it , be chosen chancellour or president of the colledge , and that eight governours more , men qualified in the like manner , be joyned with him , two of which shall yearly be appointed visitors of the colledge , and receive an exact account of all expences even to the smallest , and of the true estate of their publick treasure , under the hands and oaths of the professors resident . that the choice of the professors in any vacancy belong to the chancellour and the governours , but that the professors ( who are likeliest to know what men of the nation are most proper for the duties of their society ) direct their choice by recommending two or three persons to them at every election . and that if any learned person within his majesties dominions discover or eminently improve any useful kind of knowledge , he may upon that ground for his reward and the encouragement of others , be preferr'd , if he pretend to the place , before any body else . that the governours have power to turn out any professor who shall be proved to be either scandalous or unprofitable to the society . that the colledge be built after this , or some such manner : that it consist of three fair quadrangular courts , and three large grounds , enclosed with good walls behind them . that the first court be built with a fair cloyster , and the professors lodgings or rather little houses , four on each side at some distance from one another , and with little gardens behind them , just after the manner of the chartreux beyond sea. that the inside of the cloyster be lined with a gravel-walk , and that walk with a row of trees , and that in the middle there be a parterre of flowers , and a fountain . that the second quadrangle just behind the first , be so contrived , as to contain these parts . . a chappel . . a hall with two long tables on each side for the scholars and officers of the house to eat at , and with a pulpit and forms at the end for the publick lectures . . a large and pleasant dining-room within the hall for the professors to eat in , and to hold their assemblies and conferences . . a publick school-house . . a library . . a gallery to walk in , adorned with the pictures or statues of all the inventors of any thing useful to humane life ; as printing , guns , america , &c. and of late in anatomy , the circulation of the blood , the milky veins , and such like discoveries in any art , with short elogies under the portraictures : as likewise the figures of all sorts of creatures , and the stuft skins of as many strange animals as can be gotten . . an anatomy chamber adorned with skeletons and anatomical pictures , and prepared with all conveniencies for dissection . . a chamber for all manner of druggs , and apothecaries materials . . a mathematical chamber furnisht with all forts of mathematical instruments , being an appendix to the library . . lodgings for the chaplain , chirurgeon , library-keeper and purveyour , near the chappel , anatomy chamber , library and hall. that the third court be on one side of these , very large , but meanly built , being designed only for use and not for beauty too , as the others . that it contain the kitchin , butteries , brew-house , bake-house , dairy , lardry , stables , &c. and especially great laboratories for chymical operations , and lodgings for the under-servants . that behind the second court be placed the garden , containing all sorts of plants that our soil will bear , and at the end a little house of pleasure , a lodge for the gardener , and a grove of trees cut out into walks . that the second enclosed ground be a garden , destined only to the tryal of all manner of experiments concerning plants , as their melioration , acceleration , retardation , conservation , composition , transmutation , coloration , or whatsoever else can be produced by art either for use or curiosity , with a lodge in it for the gardener . that the third ground be employed in convenient receptacles for all sorts of creatures which the professors shall judge necessary for their more exact search into the nature of animals , and the improvement of their uses to us . that there be likewise built in some place of the colledge where it may serve most for ornament of the whole , a very high tower for observation of celestial bodies , adorned with all sorts of dyals and such like curiosities ; and that there be very deep vaults made under ground , for experiments most proper to such places , which will be undoubtedly very many . much might be added , but truly i am afraid this is too much already for the charity or generosity of this age to extend to ; and we do not design this after the model of solomons house in my lord bacon ( which is a project for experiments that can never be experimented ) but propose it within such bounds of expence as have often been exceeded by the buildings of private citzens . of the professors , scholars , chaplain , and other officers . that of the twenty professors four be always travelling beyond seas , and sixteen always resident , unless by permission upon extraordinary occasions , and every one so absent , leaving a deputy behind him to supply his duties . that the four professors itinerant be assigned to the four parts of the world , europe , asia , afrique , and america , there to reside three years at least , and to give a constant account of all things that belong to the learning , and especially natural experimental philosophy of those parts . that the expence of all dispatches , and all books , simples , animals , stones , metals , minerals , &c. and all curiosities whatsoever , natural or artificial , sent by them to the colledge , shall be defrayed out of the treasury , and an additional allowance ( above the l ) made to them as soon as the colledges revenue shall be improved . that at their going abroad they shall take a solemn oath never to write any thing to the colledge , but what after very diligent examination , they shall fully believe to be true , and to confess and recant it as soon as they find themselves in an errour . that the sixteen professors resident shall be bound to study and teach all sorts of natural , experimental philosophy , to consist of the mathematicks , mechanicks , medicine , anatomy , chymistry , the history of animals , plants , minerals , elements , &c. agriculture , architecture , art military , navigation , gardening ; the mysteries of all trades , and improvement of them ; the facture of all merchandizes , all natural magick or divination ; and briefly all things contained in the catalogue of natural histories annexed to my lord bacon's organon . that once a day from easter till michaelmas , and twice a week from michaelmas to easter , at the hours in the afternoon most convenient for auditors from london according to the time of the year , there shall be a lecture read in the hall , upon such parts of natural experimental philosophy , as the professors shall agree on among themselves , and as each of them shall be able to perform usefully and honourably . that two of the professors by daily , weekly , or monethly turns shall teach the publick schools according to the rules hereafter prescribed . that all the professors shall be equal in all respects ( except precedency , choice of lodging , and such like priviledges , which shall belong to seniority in the colledge ) and that all shall be masters and treasurers by annual turns , which two officers for the time being shall take place of all the rest , and shall be arbitri duarum mensarum . that the master shall command all the officers of the colledge , appoint assemblies or conferences upon occasion , and preside in them with a double voice , and in his absence the treasurer , whose business is to receive and disburse all moneys by the masters order in writing , ( if it be an extraordinary ) after consent of the other professors . that all the professors shall sup together in the parlour within the hall every night , and shall dine there twice a week ( to wit sundays and thursdays ) at two round tables for the convenience of discourse , which shall be for the most part of such matters as may improve their studies and professions , and to keep them from falling into loose or unprofitable talk shall be the duty of the two arbitri mensarum , who may likewise command any of the servant-scholars to read to them what he shall think fit , whilst they are at table : that it shall belong likewise to the said arbitri mensarum only , to invite strangers , which they shall rarely do , unless they be men of learning or great parts , and shall not invite above two at a time to one table , nothing being more vain and unfruitful then numerous meetings of acquaintance . that the professors resident shall allow the colledge twenty pounds a year for their diet , whether they continue there all the time or not . that they shall have once a week an assembly or conference concerning the affairs of the colledge and the progress of their experimental philosophy . that if any one find out any thing which he conceives to be of consequence , he shall communicate it to the assembly to be examined , experimented , approved or rejected . that if any one be author of an invention that may bring in profit , the third part of it shall belong to the inventor , and the two other to the society ; and besides if the thing be very considerable , his statue or picture with an elogy under it , shall be placed in the gallery , and made a denison of that corporation of famous men. that all the professors shall be always assigned to some particular inquisition ( besides the ordinary course of their studies ) of which they shall give an account to the assembly , so that by this means there may be every day some operation or other made in all the arts , as chymistry , anatomy , mechanicks , and the like , and that the colledge shall furnish for the charge of the operation . that there shall be kept a register under lock and key , and not to be seen but by the professors , of all the experiments that succeed , signed by the persons who made the tryall . that the popular and received errours in experimental philosophy ( with which , like weeds in a neglected garden it is now almost all overgrown ) shall be evinced by tryal , and taken notice of in the publick lectures , that they may no longer abuse the credulous , and beget new ones by consequence of similitude . that every third year ( after the full settlement of the foundation ) the colledge shall give an account in print , in proper and ancient latine , of the fruits of their triennial industry . that every professor resident shall have his scholar to wait upon him in his chamber and at table , whom he shall be obliged to breed up in natural philosophy , and render an account of his progress to the assembly , from whose election he received him , and therefore is responsible to it , both for the care of his education , and the just and civil usage of him . that the scholar shall understand latine very well , and be moderately initiated in the greek before he be capable of being chosen into the service , and that he shall not remain in it above seven years . that his lodging shall be with the professor whom he serves . that no professor shall be a married man , or a divine , or lawyer in practice , only physick he may be allowed to prescribe , because the study of that art is a great part of the duty of his place , and the duty of that is so great , that it will not suffer him to lose much time in mercenary practice . that the professors shall in the colledge wear the habit of ordinary masters of art in the universities , or of doctors , if any of them be so . that they shall all keep an inviolable and exemplary friendship with one another , and that the assembly shall lay a considerable pecuniary mulct upon any one who shall be proved to have entered so far into a quarrel as to give uncivil language to his brother-professor ; and that the perseverance in any enmity shall be punish'd by the governours with expulsion . that the chaplain shall eat at the masters table , ( paying his twenty pounds a year as the others do ) and that he shall read prayers once a day at least , a little before supper-time ; that he shall preach in the chappel every sunday morning , and catechize in the after-noon the scholars and the school-boys ; that he shall every moneth administer the holy sacrament ; that he shall not trouble himself and his auditors with the controversies of divinity , but only teach god in his just commandments , and in his wonderful works . the schòol . that the school may be built so as to contain about two hundred boys . that it be divided into four classes , not as others are ordinarily into six or seven , because we suppose that the children sent hither to be initiated in things as well as words , ought to have past the two or three first , and to have attained the age of about thirteen years , being already well advanced in the latine grammar , and some authors . that none , though never so rich , shall pay any thing for their teaching ; and that if any professor shall be convicted to have taken any money in consideration of his pains in the school , he shall be expelled with ignominie by the governours ; but if any persons of great estate and quality , finding their sons much better proficients in learning here , then boys of the same age commonly are at other schools , shall not think fit to receive an obligation of so near concernment without returning some marks of acknowledgement , they may , if they please ( for nothing is to be demanded ) bestow some little rarity or curiosity upon the society in recompence of their trouble . and because it is deplorable to consider the loss which children make of their time at most schools , employing , or rather casting away six or seven years in the learning of words only , and that too very imperfectly : that a method be here established for the infusing knowledge and language at the same time into them ; and that this may be their apprenticeship in natural philosophy . this we conceive may be done , by breeding them up in authors , or pieces of authors , who treat of some parts of nature , and who may be understood with as much ease and pleasure , as those which are commonly taught ; such are in latine varro , cato , columella , pliny , part of celsus , and of seneca , cicero de divinatione , de naturâ deorum , and several scattered pieces , virgil's georgicks , grotius , nenesianus , manilius ; and because the truth is we want good poets ( i mean we have but few ) who have purposely treated of solid and learned , that is , natural matters ( the most part indulging to the weakness of the world , and feeding it either with the follies of love , or with the fables of gods and heroes ) we conceive that one book ought to be compiled of all the scattered little parcels among the ancient poets that might serve for the advancement of natural science , and which would make no small or unuseful or unpleasant volumn . to this we would have added the morals and rhetoricks of cicero , and the institutions of quintilian ; and for the comoedians , from whom almost all that necessary part of common discourse , and all the most intimate proprieties of the language are drawn , we conceive the boys may be made masters of them , as a part of their recreation and not of their task , if once a moneth , or at least once in two , they act one of terences comoedies , and afterwards ( the most advanced ) some of plautus his ; and this is for many reasons one of the best exercises they can be enjoyned , and most innocent pleasures they can be allowed . as for the greek authors , they may study nicander , oppianus ( whom scaliger does not doubt to prefer above homer himself , and place next to his adored virgil ) aristotles history of animals , and other parts , theophrastus and dioscorides of plants , and a collection made out of several both poets and other grecian writers . for the morals and rhetorick aristotle may suffice , or hermogenes and longinus be added for the latter ; with the history of animals they should be shewed anatomy as a divertisement , and made to know the figures and natures of those creatures which are not common among us , disabusing them at the same time of those errours which are universally admitted concerning many . the same method should be used to make them acquainted with all plants ; and to this must be added a little of the ancient and modern geography , the understanding of the globes , and the principles of geometry and astronomy . they should likewise use to declaim in latine and english , as the romans did in greek and latine ; and in all this travel be rather led on by familiarity , encouragement , and emulation , then driven by severity , punishment , and terrour . upon festivals and play-times they should exercise themselves in the fields by riding , leaping , fencing , mustering and training after the manner of souldiers , &c. and to prevent all dangers and all disorder , there should always be two of the scholars with them to be as witnesses and directors of their actions ; in foul weather it would not be amiss for them to learn to dance , that is , to learn just so much ( for all beyond is superfluous , if not worse ) as may give them a graceful comportment of their bodies . upon sundays , and all days of devotion , they are to be a part of the chaplains province . that for all these ends the colledge so order it , as that there may be some convenient & pleasant houses thereabouts , kept by religious , discreet , and careful persons , for the lodging and boarding of young scholars , that they have a constant eye over them to see that they be bred up there piously , cleanly , and plentifully , according to the proportion of their parents expences . and that the colledge , when it shall please god either by their own industry and success , or by the benevolence of patrons ; to enrich them so far , as that it may come to their turn and duty to be charitable to others , shall at their own charges erect and maintain some house or houses for the entertainment of such poor mens sons whose good natural parts may promise either use or ornament to the common-wealth , during the time of their abode at school , and shall take care that it shall be done with the same conveniences as are enjoyed even by rich mens children ( though they maintain the fewer for that cause ) there being nothing of eminent and illustrious to be expected from a low , sordid , and hospital-like education . conclusion . if i be not much abused by a natural fondness to my own conceptions ( that 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the greeks , which no other language has a proper word for ) there was never any project thought upon , which deserves to meet with so few adversaries as this ; for who can without impudent folly oppose the establishment of twenty well selected persons in such a condition of life , that their whole business and sole profession may be to study the improvement and advantage of all other professions , from that of the highest general even to the lowest artisan ? who shall be obliged to imploy their whole time , wit , learning , and industry , to these four , the most useful that can be imagined , and to no other ends ; first , to weigh , examine , and prove all things of nature delivered to us by former ages , to detect , explode , and strike a censure through all false monies with which the world has been paid and cheated so long , and ( as i may say ) to set the mark of the colledge upon all true coins that they may pass hereafter without any farther tryal . secondly , to recover the lost inventions , and , as it were , drown'd lands of the ancients . thirdly , to improve all arts which we now have ; and lastly , to discover others which we yet have not . and who shall besides all this ( as a benefit by the by ) give the best education in the world ( purely gratis ) to as many mens children as shall think fit to make use of the obligation . neither does it at all check or enterfere with any parties in state or religion , but is indifferently to be embraced by all differences in opinion , and can hardly be conceived capable ( as many good institutions have done ) even of degeneration into any thing harmful . so that , all things considered , i will suppose this proposition shall encounter with no enemies , the only question is , whether it will find friends enough to carry it on from discourse and design to reality and effect ; the necessary expences of the beginning ( for it will maintain it self well enough afterwards ) being so great ( though i have set them as low as is possible in order to so vast a work ) that it may seem hopeless to raise such a sum out of those few dead reliques of humane charity and publick generosity which are yet remaining in the world. finis .