THE amorous war. A tragicomedy.  Ovid Lib: 1. Amor: Militat omnis Amans; Et habet sua Castra Cupido. 
Printed in the year 1648.   


The PERSONS.  
Archidamus. King of Bythinia.  
Barsene. His sister.  


Lyncestes  
Polydamas   Two old Lords.  


Theagines.  
Meleager.   Two young Lords, their sons.  
Orythia. Wife to Theagenes.  
Thalaestris. Wife to Meleager.  


Menalippe  
Marthesia   Their women.  


Callias.  
Neander.  
Artops.   Three young Courtiers.  
Eurymedon. King of Thrace.  
Roxane. His sister.  


Clitus.  
Hippocles.   Two of his Lords.  


Macrinus.  
Lacero.  
Serpix.   Three common soldiers.  
Pistoclerus. A news spreader.  


Two men  
Two women   citizens.  
Two Priests.  
A Drummer.   The Scoene, Bythinia.  

THE amorous war. A tragicomedy.  

ACT. I.  

SCEN. I.  Afier a Warlike sound of drums and trumpet's within; Enter Callias, Neander, Artops. Call. 
HEre's a sweet change of Times; I, who had wont  
To have my boy sing me asleep between  
My mistress arms, and charm me every Night  
Ino a soft Elysium with his voice.  
Have been this week kept waking with this Music:  
If this hold four days more, I shall be fit,  
Like Blackbirds, to be whistled to, and taught,  
Out of mere tameness, to learn Tunes. Neand: I do  
Observe a certain kind of Copulation  
Twixt sound and sound. This noise hath sexes in it.  
The Drummers, and the trumpeters, and Fifes,  
Make the Male noise o'th' Streets; The women's cries,  
Loud shriekcs, & howl, make the Female. Between them  
A strange, ambiguous, confused roare's begot,  
Much like the fall of Nilus, where the waters  
Make All that dwell near deaf.  Art. 
My lodging stands  
I'th' Middle Region, Gentlemen; I lie  
Every Night in a Storm, and every Morning  
Do rise in perfect Thunder; Then my sleeps  
Are but my day's fears; which do walk; and then  
Present themselves in Visions. Two Armies usually  
Join Battle in my dreams; where I behold  
Thine, His, My brains knocked out. And when I wake,  
Wonder to find myself with all my Limbs;  
Feel for my other leg; suspect my eyes  
When they in form me I have both my arms.  Neand: 
I've slept but twice e'er since the news came that  
Eurymedon was landed; And then I had  
The strangest dreams too. My Man found me scaling  
My curtains for a Fort; Killing my Pillow;  
And entering Duel with my Breeches. Last night  
Me thought we Three (pray Heaven avert the Omen)  
Were shut up here i'th' City, and besieged  
By th' hang of my Chamber.  Call: 
How?  Neand: 
Me thought  
The Trojan faces were all turned to Thracians.  
And in this Siege, I dreamt, that You, and he,  
Forced by the Famine, were resolved to be  
My Cannibals and eat me.  Art: 
I do feel  
One of my Surloynes going.  Call: 
Well, what followed?  Neand: 
At last you cast Dice on my Body, which  
Part should be eaten first; And after all  
Concluded on my Head, and Purtenance.  Call: 
These are the fruits of thievery; Thus 'tis Gentlemen,  
When Kings can't Love the common way, but must  
Needs couple without friend's consent, and draw  
A Hue and cry of forty thousand afters 'em.  Neand: 
True,  Callias; 
I do maintain, that Armies  
Plundering of towns, and ravishing of Virgins,  
As naturally follow a good Face  
Stolen, as this was, as Aches do your Wenching.  
Or as your tailor, Artops, follows you  
With an old Bill uncleared.  Art: 
There surely is  
An unknown pleasure in all Matrimony  
Which carries danger with it. Else, why should Men  
So itch to steal their Wives? Our Neighbour Troy  
Is, Gentlemen, a sad example. If  
This prove a Smock. War of some ten years long;  
Or if Roxane be the Comet, and  
The burning of Bythinia the bright blaze  
Which she draws after her, we cannot help it.  
How stand you two affected to the war?  Call: 
Troth, I should like the camp well, if the Fields  
Did bring forth Featherbeds▪ Or if the streams,  
Like those o'th' Golden age, did run pure Wine.  
Or if Court meals would every twelve, and seven,  
Observe due hours. But; Gentlemen, to lie  
Half starved▪ with cold, i'th' air on scarce fresh Greensword;  
Just so march earth to earth; And then to live  
The Life of Nature; or, as some do call it,  
The life o'th' Hardy; Quench my thirst at the  
Next Spring, or fountain; Coffin up myself  
Each night in turf; and thence come forth like one  
Of Cadmus' soldiers, sown of Serpents Teeth,  
And start forth armed from a furrow, is  
A course, I fear, I shall leave to the valiant.  Nean: 
And then the dangers.  Art: 
True▪  Nean: 
Here comes a troop on,  
And you in honour can't but lose an eye.  
An Engine there goes off, and you will show  
Yourself a Coward unless you lose an Arme.  
Here you're surrounded, and then 'twerc base to bring  
More than one shoulder off. Gentlemen, Consider  
What a Discredit 'tis to have a Nose  
After a Battle; Or to walk the Streets  
On your own legs.  Art: 
I feel myself, already,  
Partly composed of Flesh, partly of wood  
Methinks I swing between two Crutches, like  
One hanged in chains, and tossed by th' wind; I look  
Within this week, to be but half the Thing  
You see me Now; The rest lopped off; And I  
Sliced into Reputation.  Call: 
I do perceive  
Your disc eet Disaffection to the war.  Neand: 
'Tis but a wise care of our safety; Nature  
Bids us preserve out selves.  Art: 
But how, Neander,  
How, without loss of fame, can we avoid  
To accompany the King?  Neand: 
Why, briefly thus.  
The King intends to send the Princesses  
Over to the Island as the safer place.  
And will assign a thousand for their Guard.  
Let's get ourselves enroled i'th' Number; so,  
Besides security, we shall enjoy  
The Company o'th' Ladies.  Art: 
Right; And in  
The absence of their Lords.  Call: 
Peace, here they come.   

SCAENA II.  To them Archidamus, Roxane, Barsene, Orithya, Thala. stris, Polydamas, Lyncestes, Theagines, Meleager. Arch: 
You see your Nuptials, Bright Roxane, and  
What choice you've made. I thought to have brought you to  
A Court and Palace, where your entertainment  
Would have been only Songs of Virgins; Posts  
Crowned and adorned with girlands; Sacrifices  
Striving to make our Streets but one perfume;  
And taking from our sight our Temples, with  
The numerous Clouds of Incense which they scatter,  
And send forth from their breathing Altars; And  
No other sounds heard but my people's shouts,  
And acclamations for your wished arrival.  
But you perceive you're landed in a camp;  
And your first step upon the shore proves to you  
A most unnatural siege. If for a Brother  
Thus to pursue a Sister be unnatural.  Roxan: 
Had you had his Consent, Sir, and no storm  
Followed your transportation of me from  
His Court to yours, but had you, undisturbed,  
Untroubled, in the progress of your Love,  
Proceeded to the Temple, There joined hands,  
And matched the common way of Princes where  
All that's required to make the wedding Day  
Solemn, are Tapers, Banquets, Revels, music,  
IT had been a dream, no Marriage; our soft joys  
Would have lost both their edge and appetite.  
That which you call unnatural in my Brother,  
I look on as a favour; thank him for  
The Argument he lends me to express  
How much more dear your Dangers make you to me.  
Believe me, Great Archydamus, the fire  
You kindled in my heart, when in those still,  
Quiet, silent nights you first did woo me, was  
But a weak spark, compared to the large Flame  
Which this war kindles in me. I behold  
Now a new amiableness in You; And  
Look on you through this Tempest, which is raised  
For my sake, as one made more Lovely to me.  
And with the same content do take delight  
To mingle Sufferings, as Nuptials with you.  
Nor should I think myself your Queen, unless  
With the same equal mind, I could go half  
In perils, as in kingdoms with you  Arch: 
Still  
You do speak like yourself, Roxane, Still  
Breath words, which sweeten Dangers, and provoke me  
To court them in their worst and dreadfullest shape;  
As things, without which, I should want fit Matter  
To merit by, or some way make myself  
Worthy of her for whom I undertake them.  
Nor will I doubt of victory, where I  
Have such a brave Inspirer. Had I been  
Borne cold, or sent into the World a Coward,  
Such a fair second, such a beauteous Cause,  
Would strike a valiant Heat into me; And  
Were my Sea covered with as many ships,  
As anchored before Troy; or should an Army,  
As vast, and numerous as his, who drank  
Up Rivers in his passage, and joined Europe  
To Asia with his fleet invade me, I  
Assisted with your virtues, should not doubt  
But to return with Conquest. Who are these?  Enter Eurim. Clit. Hipp. Lyncest 
Th' ambassadors sent from the Prince of Thrace,  
To demand restitution of their Princess.  Ar: 
Admit 'em to our presence.  Pol: 
The King expects you.   

SCAENA III.  To them Eurymedon, disguised like an ambassador, Clytus, Hyppocles. Archid: 
We are now prepared to hear your Embassy;  
Your Prince's pleasure?  Clyt: 
By us, Archidamus,  
With all the freedom which an injured Prince  
Can use towards Him that wronged Him, He lets you know,  
That 'tis no thirst, or covetous Ambition,  
T'enlarge his Territories, or to seek conquest there,  
Where 'tis as easy for him to overcome  
Almost as say so, which hath provoked him  
Thus to invade your kingdom; But a just sense,  
And apprehension of the blot, and stain,  
Which Annals and posterity (Besides  
The scorn o'th' present Age) must stick upon  
His sluggish memory, if He coldly should  
Sleep o'er his Infamy; or let you break  
The laws of Hospitality; and abuse  
His Court, in carrying away a Prize  
More dear to him then his kingdom, unrevenged.  
For though you may pretend Love for your boldness,  
Or say the Princess was an Actor in  
Her Amorous stealth, (which yet he much suspects,  
And she must blush t'acknwoledge) He says, Herein  
You do but gild your Crime; For what you call  
Affection he calls Rape; And says, he hopes,  
You'll pardon Him, if he do look upon You,  
Not as a Guest, but Robber; One that came not  
To fetch a Queen, but to transport a prey.  Archid: 
Is this all?  Eurym: 
He adds farther, that though he  
Confess himself inferior to the loud  
Fame of your sister's Beauty; To which nought  
Can be a Match but her own virtues; yet,  
When He looks on the Story of his ancestors,  
From which he thinks he hath not yet degenerated;  
When he considers (without boasting) that  
He's borne to a kingdom, to which yours hath been  
(Be't spoke without contempt) a Tributary;  
But chief, when he searcheth his own mind,  
And finds nought Hostile there; but a pure fire,  
Kindled from the report of the admired,  
Inflaming, rays, diffused from her bright eyes,  
He thinks you trespass against love, Sir, to  
Obey an angry, conquered, old man's Will,  
Made in the passion of his Overthrow,  
Although your Father, and to refuse a suit  
More noble, and open, than your own; And whilst  
You're pious, show yourself revengeful too.  Hippoc: 
Briefly Sir, therefore whither it were force,  
Or Combination, (For which to call it  
He says he knows not) unless you will restore  
His Sister, or repair him with your own,  
He says, he is resolved, either to fall  
A willing sacrifice ito his wronged Honour,  
Or build his unglad satisfaction on  
The ruins of your Country. And to this  
He doth require your Answer,  Archid: 
Were Roxane  
A Helen, (as she's not in ought I know  
But her great Beauty) Or were I a Paris;  
(Who find myself none but i'th' numerous fleet  
Brought after me) Had I been entertained  
A Prince, by a Prince, Sir, at your master's Court,  
And, in his absence, had first loosely tempted  
To my unlawful bed, then stolen his Wife;  
I do confess 'twere just for him to cite  
The breach of Hospitality, and t' invoke  
The Gods of Weddings, and Marriages against me.  
And I, till I restored th' unlawful prey,  
Should look upon myself, not as a Guest,  
But Ravisher. But if I came a Suitor,  
And brought a flame as pure, as holy, as  
That which burns on his Altars; If the Princess,  
Her own free Empress did vouchsafe to meet  
Mine with the like pure, amorous, equal fire:  
If I have since preserved her honour; kept  
Her white, and spotless as a Vest all; still  
Approached her presence with the same religion  
As I would places consecrate, or Temples,  
Whilst thus he does pursue my harmless Love,  
With Words fare more injurious than his Armies,  
With the like freedom You may tell Him, I'm  
The injured Prince. And though I grant his Father  
Once conquered mine, and we paid Tribute, (which  
He does not nobly to upbraid) It may be  
My turn to conquer next. Nor is the Bay  
Planted so firmly on his head, but that  
A good cause may remove it, and mak't mine.  
As for our close departure from his Court,  
Which he brands with the stile of Rape and Theft,  
You must assist me, Madam; was I your pirate,  
Or Servant? Did I lead you away Captive,  
Or conspire with you?  Rox: 
Sir, 'twere one wrong more  
Offered to your virtues, And I should transgress  
Against my clear Affections, not to say,  
The Plot was half mine, you did reveal your thoughts,  
With so much generous heat, so worthy of me,  
That I had no way left t'express myself  
As generous too, but to mixflame with flame;  
And to requite you with this poor return,  
To make your Country mine; And there to think  
Myself a Princess only, where I might  
Call you my Princes  Arch: 
Then, for my Sister,  
I am no Tyrant like your Master, Sir,  
To claim a sway o'er her Affections; Nor  
Doc count her Will i'th' number of my Subjects:  
She has free Liberty to make her choice;  
And can best answer you. Only she will,  
I hope remember, if there be a reverence  
Due to the words of dying Parents; Or if  
The last, short, breath were sacred, which bequeathed her  
To th' Prince of Thessaly, she can't consent  
Unto your master's suit, and not disturb  
Her father's Shade, to call him from his urn,  
To be a grieved spectator of her Nuptials.  Barsen. 
Besides Sir, as a stranger to a stranger,  
Pray bear a Princess message to your Prince.  
Tell Him He comes not nobly, thus t'invade  
Her whom he loves; or strive to make Her His  
By a forced Conquest. He's the first I've read of  
Who wooed a Lady with an Army by;  
Or put a poniard to his mistress breast,  
And then desired t'appear gracious.  
We look for softer Courtships; Humble prayers;  
Sighs which confess the Breather is our Captive.  
I have no Beauty to entice him to  
Lay down his forces. But if he come unarmed,  
In Person, (For I do not like State Love,  
Or to be wooed by an Ambassador,)  
If He bring with Him noble purposes,  
Such as my Brothers were, tell him, perhaps,  
I shall as nobly hear him. Mean time, his Sister,  
And I expect some penance from him, for  
Thus Troubling of our Peace.  Eur: 
Do you enjoin  
The chain, or Fetters, 'twil be his glory Madam,  
To wear them as your prisoner,  Exeunt Eurym. Clit. Hyp.  

SCAENA iv  Archidamus, Roxane, Barsene, Polydamas, Lyncestes, Theagines, Meleager, Orithya, Thalaestris. Archid: 
— Have you prepared  
The Ships, Lyncestes, to convey the Ladies  
Over to th' Island?  Lync: 
They are ready Sir,  
And only do expect their beauteous fraught.  
The Lady's Sir, will look like Goddesses  
Borne of the Sea.  Archid: 
And have you made, Polydamas,  
The Castle fit to entertain them?  Polyd: 
Sir,  
The Ladies locked up in a Brazen Tower  
Were not more safe? 'Tis now a place where pleasure  
Dwells joined with Strength. It only wants their presence,  
To be a Fort without, within a palace.  Arch: 
You are turned young again, My Lords; you speak  
So amorously I do begin to doubt  
Whether you may be trusted with a charge  
So dangerously inflaming.  Polyd: 
Sir, our sons  
Can promise for us, we intent no sieges  
Against their Beauties, in your absence; All  
Our Batteries to good faces were long since  
Spent on their mothers.  Arch: 
We dare venture you.  
Your sons, Theagines and Meleager,  
Shall go with us to th' field.  Rox: 
And will you then,  
Deprive me of the Glory Sir, of being  
A sharer in your dangers? I endured  
The Sea with you; Why should you think I am  
More timorous to endure the Land?  Arch: 
Because  
The Land's now more tempestuous than the Sea.  
For that smiled on your passage; And the Waves,  
As if they had teemed with a second Venus,  
Or understood the sweetness of their burden,  
Grew calm, serene, and Halcyon. But here  
You will expose yourself to Night alarms,  
Day Battles; and run hazards where the blind  
Sword can't distinguish 'twixt the fair and foul;  
See men act Wolves parts, and behold a spectacle,  
Not fit for your soft Sex, Men fall'n, and dying,  
Striving to kill their killers and departed  
With mutual slaughter.  Rox: 
What difference is there  
Betwixt the eye, and fancy, but only this  
That dangers to the Absent still show greater?  
When I make these descriptions to myself,  
And think you in the midst, though no spectator,  
I shall as truly suffer. My own Thoughts  
Of you will pass for Battles; And my fears,  
Where e'er you place me, will be fights and sieges.  
You could not deal more cruelly, should you  
Restore me to my Brother, than thus divorce  
Me from your Company. Besides, It is  
My Cause you fight for; I've an interest  
Going in the war; And will you, Sir, deny me  
The poor content of binding up your Wounds  
Received for me?  Bars: 
Madam, you'll give me leave,  
Here to strive with you; I've a Cause going too.  
Let me Sir, join in the request, that you  
Will take us with you. If there be no other  
Use of us, We'll help to put on your arms,  
And take them off.  Meleag: 
If our two Wives do join  
In the Petition, with their Chambermaids,  
They'll make a Female Regiment.  Theag: 
I look  
My Wife within these three days shall be Knighted.  Meleag: 
And I that mine be made a colonel.  Arch: 
Alas you know not what you ask; pray tell me,  
How would a spear show in your hand Roxane?  
Or Sister, How d'ye think it would become you  
To wield a Pike? or wear a sword? Or how  
Can I look on myself but as a guilty  
Betrayer of you, if the chance of war  
Should snatch you from me? Or you two be made  
Part of the conquerors Triumph? Come; I have  
Provided gentler entertainments for you.  
Your wishes will supply your presence; and  
Put Wings unto my Victory.  Rox: 
'Tis part  
Of my love Sir, to be obedient.  Exeunt.  

SCAENA v  Theagines, Meleager, Orithya, Thalaestris. Theag: 
What? You expect we should be solemn now.  
And take a ceremonious farewell of you?  Oryth. 
We should not else think we have civil husbands;  
To leave us bluntly; or as soldiers court  
Their Mistresses; who scarce do ask consent  
But fall to th' business.  Mel: 
Well, look you show yourselves  
Our true Wives in our absence. If you should,  
To ease retirement, and divert the Melancholy  
Of Solitude, wove us a fine Court laurel  
To crown our Victories at our return—  
You understand Thalaestris?  Thal: 
Sir, we hope  
You are not jealous; you will place no Spies,  
To register who visits us.  Theag: 
No Lady;  
But Stories speak of certain strange things done,  
By Ladies in th' absence of their Lords.  Thal: 
They speak Sir, of as strange things done by Lords  
In th' absence of their Ladies.  Mel: 
If we should  
Slip from the camp sometimes, and steal a night,  
I hope you would not shut your Castle gates  
Against us, would you?  Orith: 
'Tis as we hear report  
Wither you're valiant. I disdain a Coward  
Though't be my Husband.  Thal: 
And I.  Theag: 
And in these  
Stout, generous thoughts we leave you.  Orith: 
Look I do  
Winne reputation by you.  Mel: 
Farewell Thalaestris.  Thal: 
Remember, Sir, You do things worthy of me.  Exeunt Theag: Meleag:  

SCAENA vi  To them Callias, Neander, Artops. Call: 
Ladies, we have a small suit to you, which  
Concerns yourselves.  Orith: 
'Twill the more easily  
Be granted, Sir, what is't?  Neand: 
'Tis, that you'll speak  
To th' King, we may stay, and be listed Guards  
Unto your persons, in these times of Danger.  Art: 
'Tis no plot Ladies, to decline the War;  
But to do service to you here at home;  
And to defend you against Assaults.  Thal: 
That, Sir,  
The Fortwill do, and the strong walls o'th' Castle.  Call. 
Troth, Madam, we beg this in pity to you.  
How will you spend your days, Ladies with Ladies,  
And but two reverend old Males among you?  Neand: 
Either you must betake yourselves to your needles.  
And work the siege of Troy o'er; or the tragedy  
Of Hero and Leander, in sad Stitches;  
Or else betake yourselves to your spindle, like  
Penelope, and sing the adventures of  
Your absent Husbands to a distaff, and  
Beguile the hours in flax.  Call. 
Or else you must  
Hire some old, frosty, cold Philosopher,  
To read on flowers t'you, every time you walk  
Into the Garden, and convert their Colours  
Into Your Lectures. Show You why the Primrose  
Is pale, and why the s is red.  Art: 
Then for your Nights—  Call. 
True, Ladies, do but consider,  
How you will spend your Nights?  Art: 
Watch how your loan,  
Forsaken, Taper wastes itself, and pines  
Away, out o'th' mere sense it hath to burn  
So fruitlessly, till it consume itself  
Into its own darkness?  Neand: 
Or shall your Women keep you  
Awake with amorous Tales? Troth, Ladies, Story  
Is a dead Thing, if not reduced to practise.  
Say, to delude the tediousness o'th' Night,  
You should share i'th' same bed. Two o'th' same Sex,  
Make but one in th' affairs of Love,  Thal. 
We see  
You've studied our case for us. Truth is, Gentlemen,  
The lists are full already.  Orith. 
Besides, 'twould breed  
Saspitions in our Husbands. So we leave you.  Exeunti. Call. 
We are defeated, Gentlemen;  Neand: 
what remedy?  Art: 
By that time they've laid fallow but three Nights  
They will send after, and petition us.  Call: 
Come let's prepare to go with th'King.  Neand. 
Led on;  
Necessity breeds resolution.    

ACTUS. II.  

SCAENA I.  Enter severally two old Citizens frighted. 1 cit 
Oh Neighbour—  2 cit 
What's the news. Sir?  1 cit 
Heavy news, Oh Sir—  2 cit 
Out with it.  1 cit 
Neighbour, I do look  
Within this hour not to be worth a Spit,  
Brasle pot, or a child's whistle; or to be able,  
To call this aged satin doublet mine,  
In which I've borne five praetorships. The enemy  
Hath taken the Island, burned the Castle, and  
The Ladies in't.  2 cit 
How?  1 cit 
One of their Guard who scaped,  
Herd six of 'em cry out for water. And  
They are sailing towards the City.  2 cit 
I'll home presently,  
And hid my money. It came from the Earth,  
And shall a while thither return again.  1 cit 
That will not serve the turn.  2 cit 
Noah?  1 cit 
Noah; They say,  
There is one ship laden with nought but Engines,  
To totture those who do refuse to tell  
Where they have hid their Wealth. I feel my fingers  
Already squeezed 'twixt pincers; Irons hissing  
At the soles of my feet; My body caught  
Up into th' air by the strappado. Tricks  
Shown on my Limbs; My bones tossed out of joint,  
And finely tossed, and racked in joint again.  2 cit 
To prevent this, and to defeat their tortures,  
I'll choose my own death, and even hang myself,   

SCAENA. II.  To them enter two Women Citizens, 1 woman. 
What pity 'tis that such fine Ladies should  
Have such untimely ends.  1 cit 
D'ye hear? The news  
Is certain. They are burnt.  2 cit 
I do perceive it.  
Pray hark.  2 Wom. 
They say Great people have their Destinies,  
As well as Meaner. And they that are borne  
Under a watery Planet, to be drowned,  
Shall ne'er die in their beds.  2 Cit: 
Are then, the Ladies  
Drowned, Gentlewoman?  2 woman: 
Not cast away by wrack, Sir.  
It seems the Enemy way laid the ships  
That carried 'em, and sunk 'em.  1 Cit: 
But is this certain?  1 woman: 
Most certain Sir, my husband's Journey man  
Came just now from the Port, and saw ten of  
Their bodies swim down with the Tide.  2 Cit: 
And what  
D'ye hear o'th' Enemies coming?  1 woman: 
They have sent  
A most strange Message to the City, Sir.  1 Cit: 
What is't, I pray?  1 woman: 
Why, Sir, that all rich Burgesses  
Must put themselves in Tribes; And in their chains,  
And scarlet gowns, some three hours hence, must, in  
A solemn, grave, procession, two, and two,  
Your Officers before you, with their Maces,  
T'enrich the entertainment, meet them at  
Their Landing; where together with your chains,  
You're to resign the keys to all your Chests,  2 woman: 
And, then, for us; They do demand that all  
Who are not rich, but yet have handsome Wives,  
Shall yield them up. How do you think, Sir, will  
The soldier's deal with us, like Women?  1 woman: 
I do  
So fear their boisterousness. Will they, think you,  
Strip us and leave us naked? Or be content  
To ravish us, and let us go?  2 woman: 
Look, here  
Does come my servant Pistoclerus; he  Enter Pistoc: 
Can tell us more. What news dear servant?  Pissed: 
Fly, fly,  
The Prince is overthrown; The Ladies are  
All taken Prisoners; The Enemy is entered  
Half way into the City; Your two Houses  
By this are ransacked; I saw divers loads  
Of Jewels, Plate, and hang, carried out.  1 Cit: 
But good, but good Sir, is this true?  Pissed: 
Is my  
Name Pistoclerus?  1 Cit: 
Yes, Sir.  Pissed: 
Then 'tis true.  
Make haste and save your Daughters, or they'll else  
Be put to ransoms for their Maidenheads.  1 Cit: 
We thank you Sir. Come Neighbour.  2 Cit: 
Oh that ever  
I did live to be rich, or see these days.  Exeunt. Cit: Pissed: 
Your husbands too are seized on, And are threatened  
To be put to the rack, unless they will  
Produce their Wives.  1 woman: 
we'll make haste to relieve them  2 woman: 
I take my leave; And shall be glad to see you  
Sometimes i'th' Suburbs Sir,  Pissed: 
I' le follow you.  Exeunt Women. Pissed: 
This is called comedy, raised from tragedy.  
Never was City in such tumult, as  
I have put this into. The women want  
Nothing but spears, circled with Ivy, to hold  
A perfect feast to Bacchus. And to bear  
Their Pans, and Kettles, up and down the streets,  
Instead of Drums, and Cymbals. The men have all  
Armed themselves with what came next to hand.  
I saw a troop of Butchers marching down  
Their Shambles with their Cleavers. After them  
Followed a Regiment of tailors with  
Their Yeards, and Bodkins. In the rear, a Company  
Of shoemakers with awls. Each Trade takes arms  
Within its own profession. Now will I follow  
My suburb Mistress; whose husband is content  
To make one o'th' fifteen of us; And doth  
Connive by turns. The tamest fellow, and  
So little owner of his own Wife, that  
He verily believes he Cuckolds us  
When he lies with her. Amongst us there is One  
Maimed soldier, with one leg, who still pays double;  
And goes to bed to her with a stirrup? 'Tis  
The commonest, and the prating'st Varlet, she  
Calls me her Chaerilus, I her my Lycoris.  
She makes me tell her news whole days together:  
Which I, her sponge, do suck up in my travels  
From Company to Company, and do  
Enlarge with my Additions, and Notes politic;  
And then as severally disperse; And so  
Draw custom to her House; which she calls pay.   

SCAENA III.  Lyncestes, Polydamas: Lync: 
This must needs be conspiracy; There is  
A Riddle in't my Lord, which you and I  
Cannot unfold. It must be Time, the Mother  
Of Truth, which must expound this Mystery,  
How should they draw their Fleet up else? By what  
Instinct, or mark, should they know so exactly  
The ship the Ladies were in, As if they  
Had hung their Petticoats for sails up, or  
Had turned their gowns to streamers? Single it out  
From all the rest, and take'em? As if one  
Oth' Princesses had been a sign o'th' vessel,  
And stood forth the Roxane, or Barsene,  
Instead o'th' Centaur, Andromeda, or Castor?  Polyd: 
They did not bring a Thracian Prophet with them,  
Or call Tyresias from the Elysian Groves,  
To be their Oracle, to tell them justly  
The critical Point, and Minute of our passage.  
'Tis now just stealth for stealth; our King transported  
One pair of black eyes, And they've seized a carrack,  
And Ship full of them.  Lync: 
I will strait put to Sea,  
In their pursuit. If they be not transformed  
Into sea-nymphs; Or hid their watery Deities  
Amongst eels, and Dolphins, I will rescue them.  Polyd: 
'Twill concern me to stay here, and compose  
Those Frights o'th' City; which this news hath put  
Into a posture of Confusion.  
At your return we will to th' King; And let  
Him know the Accident. Mean time, In hope  
You'll bring them home true Ladies, as they went.  
That's humane Ladies, purely made of Flesh;  
Or else true mermaids, that is, Ladies made  
Half Fish, half Flesh, I'll stop all Messengers.  
The news will but disturb his Victories.  Exeunt  

SCAENA iu.  Enter Clytus and Hyppocles with Orithya, Thalaestris, Menalippe and Marthesa like Amazon Captives, shackled with Golden Fetters, and pinioned with silken cords, two & two as in a wood Clyt: 
Can you imagine you could carry your  
Design in Clouds, and change your shapes, like Spirits,  
And take what forms you please, and we not know it?  Hypp: 
Alas we had our plot going too; Our spies  
Gave us intelligence, where, when to seize you.  
'Tis not unknown to us you called a council  
Of war; In which, without your husband's knowledge,  
You did resolve to put yourselves in arms,  
And fight against us. We can tell you that  
Roxane was to be your general;  
Barsene Captain of the Engines; You,  
Lady Ulysses, were to command the Horse,  
This Lady Hector the foot; And these two, here,  
Were to be Scouts by Night, by Day your Squires,  
To bear your Targets after you.  Orith: 
You've had  
A noble Conquest of it, to surprise  
A Company of poor weak Women. Is this  
The valour of your Nation, to proceed  
By plot and stratagem against such as us?  Clyt: 
These are war Arts.  Thal: 
Or is this noble usage,  
To Fetter us, and cast us into chains?  
You could but Manicle your slaves thus.  Clyt. 
We  
Do but observe the Law of arms towards those  
Whom we do take in arms.  Orith: 
Does then the Law  
Bid you keep no distinction between Sexes?  Hypp: 
Yes, where the Persons whom we conquer do.  
But you have lost your privilege; And put off  
Your Sex for ours.  Clit: 
We look not on you now,  
As vanquished Ladies, but as vanquished captains;  
And so must use you.  Orith: 
Alas, what's your Intent?  
Is't to enrich yourselves with our poor spoils?  Thal: 
If Plunder be your aim, pray take our Jewels;  
Bestow them on your Mistresses, at your  
Return; And tell them how generously, how stoutly,  
You purchased them; Say you betrayed the Wearers  
First, and then rifled 'em.  Orith: 
Pray strip us; And  
Let us redeem our Liberty with the  
Poor ransom of our clothes.  Clyt: 
You are deceived;  
Our purposes are much more high, and noble,  
Then to raise booty from you, thiefs conquer so.  
Our custom is, when we take Prisoners, to  
Led them in Triumph through our Thracian streets;  
Your Beauties, thus adorned, will save the charge  
Of guilded Pageants, to entertain the People.  Thal: 
Must we be made a show, then, to delight  
Your Wives and children?  Clyt: 
How should they make us welcome  
At our return else?  Hipp: 
Can we take your fields,  
And towns, and Cities, and Rivers Prisoners too,  
And could transport them with us, these we should  
Make part o'th' Triumph; But because we cannot,  
What Nature makes impossible, we do  
Supply with Art, And lead them painted; And  
The pencil doth present in Colours, what  
The Truth of Things denies.  Clyt: 
Then for your persons,  
Being our lawful Captives; 'Tis our custom  
To give you to our Ladies, to be their slaves  
In ordinary; To starch, and to belong  
Unto their Laundries, And so we do divide  
Our Conquests with them. But because we will  
Deal honourably with you, we intent  
To use you as our other Wives; you shall  
Be seconds in the pleasures of our Beds.  Hipp: 
I do presume such Warlike Ladies, as  
Yourselves, must have read Homer; you shall be  
My Briseis, I your Agamemnon.  Clyt: 
You  
My Chrysis, I your stout Achilles; These  
Two white she Myrmidons will serve to raise  
A Breed between them and our Pages.  Orith: 
Sir,  
Have you a sense of nobleness?  Clyt. 
Yes Lady,  
And you shall find it.  Orith: 
Finish your Conquest, then,  
And take a life I'm weary of. I am  
Your Prisoner, Let me be your slaughter too.  Thal: 
Show yourselves equally as valiant in  
Our Death, as our surprise. Take a frail breath,  
Which, to enjoy, with these conditions, will  
Add new weights to our thraldom; And you will  
Afflict us with our preservation.  Orith: 
By your own Lady, Sir, if you have one,  
Let me beseech you, kill me; 'twill be fare  
More noble than to Love me.  Thal: 
Every hour  
We live your Captives, thus, will seem an Age  
Of Infamy.  Menal: 
Madam, Let's stand upon  
Our natural Defence; They are but two  
Against us four.  March: 
Let's Mutiny, and by  
Our own swords free ourselves. They've only  
A Heart to take us treacherously like thiefs;  
But dare not fight with us.  Clyt: 
What would you do  
Pretty sergeant Major damsel were you lose,  
Who are thus Valiant in your Shackles?  Hypp: 
Now  
You'll know your dooms. Here comes our Prince with his  
Fair brace of Prisoners.   

SCAENA v  To them Eurymedon, Roxane, Barsene, like Amazons, as in a wood Eurym: 
— You're the first Lady, Madam,  
That e'er yet bore such arms against her Lover.  
I thought to find your Quiver in your looks,  
Not hanging at your back; And to encounter  
No Shafts or arrows, but those bright ones shot  
From your fair eyes. Thus doubly armed you have  
Taken a Course to make me twice your Captive.  Bars: 
You show, Sir, how you love me thus to style  
Yourself the prisoner, of your prisoner.  
You're the first Prince I've read of, (If I may  
Call you a Prince, who by this act have shown  
Yourself s'unlike one) who first did surprise  
His mistress, and then Wooed her; Or bound her first,  
Then told her that he loved her. Wild Salvages,  
And lustful satyrs court thus; who do know  
No difference betwixt their Loves, and Rapes;  
But call a rude force kindness; think theyare amorous  
●th 'midst of violence; And call't Love's fire,  
And flame, which is a foul intemperate heat,  
Kindled from every thing that's fair; on which  
They look not as 'tis fair, or amiable,  
But as it may be sullied and contribute  
Unto their beastly fatisfaction.  Eurym. 
I hope you think not, Madam, I'll make use  
Of this advantage so barbarously, as  
T'attempt your person?—  — Bars: 
That were a crime, which would  
Provoke the Gods, which do inhabit these  
Quiet, hallowed shades, to take revenge upon you.  
And you would trespass against the place, as well  
As against your honour.  Eurym: 
I do confess you are,  
To an irregular eye, wholly composed  
Of sweet enticements. A thousand Beauties fly  
From you, at every look in soft Temptations.  
And from a mind which knows no holier use  
Of such a heavenly form, but first to covet,  
And then t'enjoy, there might be danger; And  
The Assailer might excuse his fault from that  
Which left him not himself, but snatched him to  
Forbidden pleasures. But I do look upon you  
With other eyes. As you're to me a Venus,  
And strike a warm flame in me, so you are  
Diana too, and do infuse a chaste,  
Religious coldness. You do not only stand  
Before me safe as in a Circle, made  
By your own charms; But do me me  
With the same Vertuous spells.  Bars: 
I yet scarce think  
Myself secure, when I think you my pirate.  Eurym: 
You'll find the enterprise deserves a name  
More gentle, when you know my Sister went  
Half pirate with me. I had no other way  
To gain a free, and Innocent access.  
To enter your Castle had been impossible;  
Unless, like Jove, I had transformed myself  
Into a shower, and reigned myself down from  
The Skies into your presence.  Bars: 
Had you a hand  
In my betraying, then?  Rox: 
If for one Lady  
To contrive Service for another; Or if  
T'assist a Brother in his virtuous Love  
Be to betray, I do confess Barsene,  
I'm a conspirator. Or if he break  
Conditions, and make this ignoble use  
Of such a favour, having had his Audience,  
Not to restore us to our Liberty,  
I am betrayed too. They were first my Letters  
Which drew him from his Country with a Fleet,  
In show for my pursuit, but in reality,  
T'enjoy this Interveiw, and make his eyes  
The Judges of the picture I made of you;  
Or whether I erred not in my descriptions, or  
Presented you by a false partial light,  
When I deciphered you just such another  
As he doth now behold you.  Bars: 
Is this true, Sir?  Eurym: 
Witness ye Gods, if among all your Worshippers,  
There be one who contemplates your Divine,  
Invisible, shapeless, substances with a  
More awful reverence, or pays Devotion  
To Powers he sees not with a stronger fervour,  
Then I did to you, Madam: whom I did  
Adore before I saw; And you had then  
A perfect Shrine, and Temple in me; where  
I did frame such ideas of you, so pure,  
So free from these gross figures, which do stir  
The vulgar admiration, that, if I said,  
A mind was worshipped by a Mind, And that  
My thoughts supplied the place of Sacrifices,  
Which flew between us; And, like winged prayers,  
Maintained a sacred intercourse, & traffic,  
With the original of what I fancied,  
I do but rudely, but half express myself.  Bars. 
You make me blush.  Eur. 
But when in the disguise  
Of my ambassador, I saw before me  
The Queen of Love, veiled in your beauteous shape;  
With all her Graces, & winged Cupid's about her.  
When I beheld all those celestial Images,  
Which I framed of your Absence, and adored  
Abstracted from you, clothed in your fair face,  
If I projected for this hour, or used  
The Invention of one struck, to purchase this  
Short Audience from you, you are t'imputeimpute th'offence,  
Or boldness, not to me, but unto Nature,  
Who did not make me blind, But sent me in  
To th'world with eyes.  Bars: 
If you proceed, I must  
Accuse her, that she gave me ears to hear  
Such praises so misplaced.  Eur: 
Madam, then briefly,  
I claim an interest in you, Love for Love;  
Which that you may grant as a Princess, and I  
Receive it as a Prince, here I do banish  
All shows and signs of Hostile force, and do  
Release you, and your fair train. You Hippocles,  
And Clitus, First ask pardon for your cruelty,  
Although but acted, and then unbind the Ladies.  Clyt: 
Madam, I hope you can forgive; If not,  
Please you to take me prisoner, so you will  
Promise my thraldom shall be only such  
As yours should have been, had we in earnest kept you  They unbind'em. 
Outright our Captives, I will be content  
To exchange shackles with you.  Hipp: 
Pray hold your legs  
A little fairelier, Madam. Methinks we two  
Make the emblem of the Jealous husband, and  
The Handsome wife.  Orith: 
How's that Sir?  Hipp: 
Why there was  
One, who by day still locked his wife in chains,  
And gave her ease by night.  Clyt: 
You two would feign  
Have your two legs at large too.  Hipp. 
Now your arms  
Are set at liberty, look you employ not  
Your natural weapons against us.  Men. 
What are those Sir?  Hipp. 
Your nails.  Men. 
We scorn to scratch.  Eur. 
Next, after this  
Rude Interruption of it, For when you  
Have pardoned it, I still must look upon  
It as an amorous Crime) I will myself  
Continue your safe passage to your Island;  
And see you received in your Castle.  Bar. 
That  
Will only alter our Captivity,  
Not take't away. We must still think ourselves  
Your prisoners there, if you bear arms against us.  Eurym. 
Here, then, To let you see, my purpose is not  
To be an Enemy to your Brother, and  
A Supplicant to you; But that I came  
To carry a Queen, not conquest home with me,  
I do resign my Forces, and lay down  
Myself, and Armies at your Feet, Bright Princess;  
Say, what peace would you have? I will refuse  
No Articles, so you be one of them.  Barsen. 
You have expressed yourself so Nobly, shown  
Such generous signs of your Intentions, and  
Gained such a Conquest o'er me by your free,  
And Princely Carriage, That as an earnest of  
Greater returns, we'll make you partner in  
A harmless plot we have, which shall conclude  
With all that all we wish.  Rox. 
we've a design  
To try how our surprise takes with our camp.  
Our Habits and the Art we will put to 'em,  
Will keep us from being known.  Bars. 
I will defer  
Your farther satisfaction, or confess  
How much I am engaged, Sir, to requite  
Your pure Affections with my own, till our  
Next Conference. And lest you should believe,  
(How ere you've changed a Tempest to a calm,  
And make me now in Love with my own fright)  
You not deserve to undergo some penance  
For making us afraid, your punishment,  
Shall be to fetch my Answer at my Tent,  Eurym. 
And I shall think't an Age till I receive it.  Exeunt.  

SCAENA. Vi  Callias, Neander, Artops. Call. 
Did we three ere look to be captains?  Nean. 
Troth,  
I thought my Marches only would have been  
To lead a Company of Ladies in  
Court Rank and File, unto a mask, and Play,  
And bacl again.  Art. 
And as for skirmishes,  
I thought all mine would have proved Chamber one's,  
Tongue-Fights Or if they had proceeded farther  
To th' Drawing of blood, at most, Naile-Combates.  Call. 
I've  
The strangest Company of volunteers;  
All Gentlemen of Hedges & highways.  
I do command an hospital. Of Fifty  
But two have Shirts among 'em; And those worn  
Not as shift, or Things at first ordained to be  
Made clean, and washed; but as perpetual Garments;  
Not to be put of till They do forsake  
Their Wearers, Voluntarily, and creep from them.  
That which was linen once, Time turns to troops.  
I'll undertake could all quick Things which are  
Bithynian in our Regiment bear arms,  
We need not fear the Persian. Every soldier  
Would be a moving Legion. Neand. My Company,  
Is much like yours. Last Muster, when I reckoned  
By th'poll▪ They were Threescore, But when by doublets,  
Scarce Thirty; And these fit for summer wars.  
A fine, warm, intercourse doth pass between  
Their Skin, and Sun. fare off They show directly  
Like soldiers of the first Ages, before such Things  
As Clothes, or Garments were invented; Near hand  
You'd think They had held civil conflict, and  
Torn one another thus ragged. If we fight  
With th' Enemy; their first great enterprise  
Will be for Breeches; The next for Conquest.  Art. 
Troth,  
Mine are not altogether so completely  
Ragged and torn, as yours are. But for Courages  
And looks, I do perceive a kind of quiet,  
Yet understood Conspiracy among them,  
How not to fight; And can observe a speaking,  
Sly Combination pass 'twixt face and face,  
How to escape. Their Marches are divided  
Between a certain provident care to fly,  
And fear of hanging.  Call: 
And yet these thin-sould Rascals  
Dare mutiny for pay. This Morning I  
Consumed in hearing greivances. One told me  
He was this week preserved by Miracle;  
Lived on one bunch of Radishes, which sure  
He thinks did multiply from one to many,  
He had been famished else. Another told me,  
A Cheese had like t'have raised Commotion  
'Twixt him and four comrades; which had sufficed them  
Four days. A Third doth verily believe  
He shall in time reduce his Body to  
A perfect Habit of eating nothing; For  
He doth protest He hath not tasted food  
These eight and forty hours.  Neand: 
Here comes the King.   

SCAENA VII.  To them Archidamus, Theagines, Meleager. Arch. 
How do your works go on Theagines?  
Are they of Height and Strength enough to keep  
Us from th' Assaults o'th' Enemy, until  
Our other Forces come?  Theag: 
Unless we should  
Like th' Ancient giants, who invaded Heaven,  
Pile hills on hills, or compass in ourselves  
With mountains heaped on mountains, Sir, we cannot  
Immure ourselves with more Defences, or  
Raise Guards more strong, or more Impregnable.  
That which was erst a Champion Feild is now  
A perfect Fort. If they have winged Horses,  
Or feathered Breed of Pegasus, and can  
Be a flying Army in the air, or give  
Us battle from the Clouds, there is some fear  
They may surprise us; But by th' common way  
Of Battery by rams, or Engines, They  
As well may beseige rocks, or strive to make  
Their soldier's scale Towers.  Arch. 
And have you Meleager  
Made true Discovery of their camp?  Mel. 
It seems  
They mean to make the plain beyond next Hill,  
The Scene o'th' Fight. I have observed from thence  
Their several Quarters; Tents cast into Streets,  
Painted pavilions in the midst, and Heart  
o'th' Leaguer. which show like movable palaces;  
And vie a kind of bravery with the sun,  
Which shall cast, or reflect the brightest Glory.  
About these in a decent order stand  
A Numerous town of Tabernacles, of  
Less Glitterings, which do end in a large Suburbs  
Of common soldiers cabins. Had they brought  
Their Wives, and Temples with them, it would be  
A perfect warlike City.  Arch. 
You describe  
The preparations of a Wedding; This  
Trim show can't be intended for a fight.  
Have they secured all this with Trenches too?  
Have they walls to their painted City?  Mel: 
It seems  
They mean their number shall supply those, Sir,  
Unless it were the Persian Army, which  
Was overcome by Alexander, where  
The Grcekes once fought, and beheld a Masque,  
Performed by Ladies in gilt Chariots; And where  
The soldiers took Directions how to fight  
From harps and Lutes, which played between the battles,  
As between Acts and Entrances, I ne'er read  
Of any expedition which consisted  
Of so much Spectacle and Number too.  Arch. 
Surely Eurimedon hath raised these forces  
To make an Entertainment for my sister,  
And make his Conquest of the Ladies show  
More sweet, and Courtly. hark; what means this shout?  A shout within. 
Go one of you, and see.  Call: 
Troth, Sir, if I  Exit Neand. 
May take the humble leave to speak, methinks  
You might compose this war by Treaty. A priest,  
In my poor judgement, Sir, might save much blood,  
And join hands, which divided will join battles.  Arch: 
You fain would give up your Commission, Callias,  
And be at Court again.  Call: 
Troth, Sir, I had  
Much rather tyre myself with dancing at  
Your, and your sister's Nuptials, then here venture  
Marts on my transitory Life. Which if  
It have a lease of three weeks longer, or  
If providence do spin it out a Moneth,  
'Tis more than I expect. Your Father, Sir,  
Must thank you in the Elisyan Shades hereafter,  
For being so pious to prefer his will  
before your Subjects safety. If Eurymedon  Enter Neand. 
Endow your Sister with your kingdom, say  
Your Court once bred a Prophet.  Arch. 
Called a Coward.  Neand: 
The Queen o'th' Amazons, Sir, hearing of  
Your wars, is newly landed, and hath brought  
An Army of She Archers in your Succour.  
She hath before her sent two Captains of  
Her Guard, who call Themselves ambassadprs; But look  
Like Nymphs sent of an Errand from the goddess  
Of Woods and hunt, who would have your leave,  
To make war on your Stags, Wild boars, and Panthers.  
Look here they come, Sir.   

SCAENA VIII.  To them Menalippe, Marthesia, like Amazons. Men. 
— Pray which is the King?  Neand. 
He, Lady, in the purple scarf.  Men. 
Our Queen,  
The famed Hippolyta, having achieved  
Her conquest on the Scythians, and returning  
Home, with Antiope, her sister, to offer  
Their laurels up to those Assisting Gods  
Which cast them on their Victories, as she sailed  
Along your Coasts, hearing you are engaged  
In a war something like the Trojan, where  
She lost an ancestor, offers herself,  
And whole fleet to your service. Her reward,  
She says will be th' Acceptance, nor expects  
More thanks, then to be known to your brave self,  
And the fair Cause you fight for.  Mar. 
She adds farther,  
That she desires (Because she will not, Sir,  
Unshippe her Forces, without your consent,  
Which might raise terror in your people, And  
Appear no Visit, but Invasion)  
You'll send a Conduct to meet her on the way  
Now to wards your Camp; So, to secure the passage  
Of these few Ladies she brings with her.  Arch. 
Ladies,  
Pray tell your Queen, she hath by your brave Message,  
Purchased one laurel more; And added me,  
And my whole kingdom to her other Conquests.  
The honour she vouchsafes me is so great,  
That I'll myself be of her conduct.  Men. 
Sir?  
She's proud to be your soldier.  Call. 
Ladies?  Men. 
Sir?  Call. 
You have no Message from the other Ladies,  
To us Three, have you?  Men. 
How d'ye mean?  Call, 
If  
Your Queen come here to propagate; or if  
You, and your sister warriors bring a purpose  
To carry home Bithynian Issue, pray tell 'em  
We are their Servants.  Men. 
We shall Sir,  Call. 
And so  
Diana speed you, ladies'.  Arch: 
You two prepare  Ex: Men: March: 
Camp Entertainment for her. You three put  
Your troops in order to attend us.  Neand: 
We shall Sir:  
'Twill be the strangest sight to see naked men  Arch. Ex. Theag, Mel. 
March before Armed Women.  Art: 
Gentlemen,  
What think you of this Embassy?  Nea. 
Why that  
The Revolutions come, In which we shall,  
Be conquered of our Maidenheads.  Art: 
Methinks  
I see myself already a Father to  
A fine, smart Amazon; I look she should  
Come into th' World with Bow and arrows, And  
Be borne with a short sword.  Call: 
If our fights prove  
Night Skirmishes, I'll sacrifice to Love.  Exeunt.   

ACTUS III.  

SCAENA I.  Callias, Neander, Artops. Call. 
Two weeks of this, conceive me, Gentlemen,  
We cannot scape a famine, but shall frolic  
Ourselves into a Dearth, Then live by th' Ounce,  
And dine and sup in weight and measure, to  
Permit things to increase again. We have  
At once exhausted three Elements, the Earth,  
Water, and Sky, for Rarities; If the fourth  
Bred aught but Salamanders, or afforded  
Ought strange, or edible, I do believe  
We should have ransacked that too.  Neand: 
I have read  
Of feasting, and heard Philosophers dispute  
It for a vice, but ne'er saw it practised but  
In this large entertainment. Sure the Lords  
Who had the ordering on't first read the works  
Of some old studied Epicure, who placed  
Felicity i'th' palate, and then brought  
His rules and precepts into cheer. There wanted  
Only pearls to be melted, Gems dissolved,  
And Jewels drunk to the Queen's health, to make it  
A perfect Sacrifice to Luxury.  Art: 
If this hold, gentlemans, I do forefee  
We shall within this Month forget ourselves  
To be Bithinyans, that is, soldiers, who  
Can live on camp far, and turn Persians,  
Where our whole business, will be only these  
Two fine, soft, exercises, to eat, and wench.  Call: 
How do you like the Queen?  Nean. 
Me thinks her cheeks,  
Speak through their Amorous brown, as if she came  
For something else then fight. There's a story  
Of a Greek Prince, and of a Queen, her Country woman,  
Who joined Sex thirteen days together, to  
Raise Progeny between them. If this should  
Claim Copulation by the Law of Nations,  
And challenge a short use, for a month, or so,  
Of the King's body, for procreation sake,  
I cannot see how, in humanity,  
Having so good a Title as the Want  
Of Men, and Males, in her own Country; she  
Can be denied.  Art: 
Or if her Sister should  
Claim the short use of one of us, and plead  
Her natural Right unto our Bodies, 'twere  
A Nationall Wrong, not to endeavour to  
Dismiss her with posterity.  Neand: 
You speak  
As if you had hopes, Artops.  Art: 
I profess  
To me she's Lightning, Gentlemen; she melts  
My sword i'th' scabbard; I stand before her like  
Stubble before a burning glass, Her eyes  
At every glance do turn me into flame.  Call: 
Will not one of the other Ladies please  
Your high taste, Artops? Me thinks those faces are  
Most fair, which are most easy of fruition.  Neand: 
I am resolved to sound the true depth of  
Their errand.  Call: 
And I.  Arr: 
I think I shall submit,  
And make a Third.  Neand. 
Peace, here they come; Me thinks  
Yond two by Sympathy already do  
Send Tickets to invite us to their Tents.   

SCAENA II.  To them Archidamus, Theagines, Meleager, Roxane, Barsene, Orithya, Thalaestris, Menalippe, Marthesia, like Amazons: Their faces discoloured to a comely Browne. Arch. 
You truly show, Gracious Hippolyta,  
How much you are a soldier, who can be  
Content with such rude Entertainment; where  
The most I could express, was, that you were  
Received into a siege. Where my Distresses,  
And poverty, are fame to call Themselves  
Magnificent from what I lack, but would  
Feign furnish out with Words, and say My Intent  
Was large, though my expression was but small.  
If aught hereafter make this place or Army  
Deserving of your stay, it must be your  
Own self sufficient goodness, which can put  
Splendid Names on Defects, And the fair train  
You've brought along with you. Whose Company,  
Transforms a wild camp into your own Court;  
And makes you at home in my poor Country.  Rox. 
Sir,  
We hope you do not think we came to feast,  
Or revel with You; For that you have expressed  
Even to a trespass against our Discipline;  
Whilst taking us for Women, you forget  
W''re soldiers too; And turn your camp into  
A soft Receipt of Ladies. 'Tis against  
Our country custom to spend our days in Bancuets,  
Or Nights in masks; Our Times are more virile,  
And different from the rest of our soft Sex,  
Who do divide Themselves between their beds,  
Glass, tires, dress, and Discourse of Servants.  
We count our hours o'th' Night by several Watches,  
And Releifes of our sentinels; And reckon  
Our hours o'th' Day, not by our Feasts, but Marches.  
We know no glass but our own Armour; Nor  
ere see ourselves but i'th' clear brightness of  
Our shields, and Helmets; And than our Dressings are,  
Such as you See, a Sword, Bow, Shafts, and Quiver.  Barsen. 
We came to help you fight, Sir, And to carry  
Deeds worthy of our Name home with us. 'Twill  
Be our reproach in History, if't be known  
We did nought in Bythinia, after all  
Our other great achievements, but see plays;  
Pass the lose hours in feasting; Know no fights  
But such as are dramatic, and proceed  
From the Invention of your Poets; who  
Kill only on the Stage, and then revive  
Their slaughtered persons in the Tiring-House.  Orith: 
If with my Queen's leave, I may speak, Sir, If  
We vanquish not the Thracians, who are now  
Your Enemies, or give them battle: We  
Shall seem a fleet of Gossips, who took shore,  
Only to see, and to be seen; And so  
Return Inglorious.  Thal. 
Besides, Our Citizens  
Will count us Cowards; And weary to be governed  
By such faint, sluggish Princesses; will mutiny,  
Shake off the yoke of Subjects, and endanger  
To turn our Monarchy into a Many-  
He●ded Democracy; And than you know  
What must needs follow where the State consists  
All of Plebeians; where that Beast the Rude  
Multitude rules, and none obey.  Arch: 
You show  
Valours so much beyond your Sex, and stir  
So just a shame, and blushing in us of  
Our own unequal Courages, that I  
Must needs look on you, not as you are Ladies,  
But warlike Goddesses stepped down from heaven;  
Each of you an Armed Pallas, to assist  
The just Cause of th'afflicted. Or if this  
Express you not; In each of you, methinks,  
I once more see Achilles like a girl.  
And 'twill be Honour to me, when hereafter  
Posterity in Chronicle shall rank me  
A sharer in your Actions; And my Conquests  
Shall run in story bound with yours. Not to  
Offend you therefore with aught effeminate,  
Or what befits not you to see, or this  
Place to present, as one addition more  
To your entertainment I've provided  
A warlike Dance performed by Warlike moors;  
Just in such postures as they adore their Gods,  
Before they go to battle. Bid 'em enter.  Here six moors dance after the ancient Aethiopian manner. Erect arrows stuck round their heads, in their curled hair, instead of Quivers. Their bows in their hands, Their upper parts naked; Their nether from the wast, to their knees covered with basoes of blue satin, edged with a deep silver fringe. Their legs also naked, incircled with rings of gold; the like their arms. Great pendants of pearl at their ears. At every close, expressing a cheerful Adoration of their Gods. 
My next care, Madam, shallbe to make these follies  
Pass into better spectacles. I will  
Send for the Ladies from their Castle. Your presence  
Will make't a new delight t' enjoy the sounds,  
And roughness of the Campe.   

SCAENA III.  To them Lyncestes, Polydamas. Archid: 
— My Lord Lyncestes,  Polydamas, 
How do the Ladies brook  
Their Solitude? Have they not yet created  
One of themselves priest to the Company,  
To say prayers twice a day for their releasement?  Lync: 
Sure Sir, They were not Ladies, but a Crew  
Of Spirits; who appeared like women, and  
A while wore humane faces made of lips,  
And eyes, and cheeks, & dimples, to delude  
The easy sight of the beholders, and  
Then vanished bacl into themselves again.  Arch: 
They are not grown invisible. I hope;  
They've no enchanted Rings among 'em?  Lync: 
Sir,  
I have sailed round your Coast, as fare as Water  
Would give me leaze; Have ransacked every creek,  
Examined every hole which would but lodge  
A Conger, or a Poore-Iohn; And can find  
No more print of them then Ships leave i'th' Sea.  
Uulesse I should have hired your negroes, Sir,  
Which I met here at door to dive for 'em,  
As Indians do for pearl, in hope to find 'em,  
Some forty fathom deep in Oyster shells,  
I know not where to seek 'em.  Arch: 
Are they lost then?  Lync: 
Eurymedon in person with his fleet  
Concealed, Sir, seized them in their passage over  
Into the Island; And whether he have sent 'em  
Home to Bizantium, or keep them here  
His prisoners, is uncertain.  Polyd: 
The Report  
Had like t'have put Chalcedon, Sir, into  
A civil war. The People of both Sexes,  
Till I allayed them, were up in a Commotion.  Arch: 
O my prophetic soul! which whispered me  
I should not trust 'em to an Element  
So false and treacherous.  Theag: 
Are our two Ladies  
Vapoured a way i'th' mist too, Sir, and seized on?  Lync: 
Yes, and their women; They have not left a beauty  
Ith' City; or aught which you can call handsome  
To breed upon, or to continue a  
Succession of good faces.  Theag: 
I expect  
In time to see my wife return then, with  
A race of little Thracians all noble by  
The bearers side.  Meleag: 
And I that my Wife save me  
The future labout of begetting, and  
Without my help return me a fine troop  
And Squadron, which will call her Mother, and  
Me captain.  Arch: 
Had he seized my crown; or taken  
Me prisoner, and with me my kingdom, It  
Had been a loss I could have borne; And thought it  
One of the Chances which prove Princes subject  
To men's Misfortunes. But to deprive me of  
Her, who to me was Empire, kingdom, crown,  
And all Things else, which make men happy; She  
Whose two eyes were the suns that ruled my Day,  
And to whom only her Absence did make Night;  
She who smiled virtue, and whose beauteous looks  
Were a soft, visible, music, which entranced  
The lookers on, and struck harmonious raptures  
Into every chaste soul, and instilled pure fires  
Int' every unchaste; She who had the power  
To charm fierce tigers, and make Panthers tame,  
And civilize the wildest savage, but  
He who surprised Her, and made his Sister, and  
My destined Queen part of his piracy;—  
Thus to deprive me of my joys i'th' porch,  
And entrance to them, is a wrong like that,  
Where the fair Bride is ravished from the bridegroom,  
Upon the nuptial Day; or where their Hands  
Are rudely sundered whilst the priest is tying  
The holy Knot. But why do I turn Woman,  
And add to th' loss by my Complaints. You two  
Straight bacl to th' City; Raise new Forces; add  
Wings to your expedition, I shall think  
Time moves not with its own haste, till we give  
The Robbers Battle, and redeem the prey.  Ex: Lync: Polyd. Rox: 
Come, Sir, you shall divert the Thought of your  
Recoverable lose at our Tent; where  
We will divide griefs with you, or find ways  
To make them wholly ours.  Arch: 
Your Company  
relieves me, Madam; And I shall not think  
Myself unfortunate in such a presence.  Exeunt.  

SCAENA. iv  Callias, Neander, Artops, Orithya, Thalaestris, Menalippe, Marthesia. Call. 
Ladies?  Orith. 
Sir?  Call. 
You don't train this afternoon,  
Or muster, do you?  Orith. 
Your reason Sir?  Call: 
Because,  
If no affair of Discipline call on you  
To leave us, we'd feign change some camp air with you,  Thal: 
W''re at full leisure, Sir.  Call. 
Pray, Ladies, let us  
Be bold to ask you then, what places hold you  
In your Queen's Army? Do you command the Foot,  
And infantry? Or are you Cavaliers  
And regent's of the Horse?  Orith: 
Why do you ask?  Call. 
Not out of curiosity, t' inform  
Ourselves in your Arts Military; But only  
Out of a free desire we have Commanders  
To be admitted servants to Commanders.  Orith. 
How do you mean?  Nean. 
Troth, Ladies, to divert  
The melancholy and sadness which this Accident  
Will raise among us; we would gladly join  
Soldiers with soldiers, and make both Armies one.  Thal: 
That's done already Sir.  Art. 
Our meaning is,  
We would feign do you civil Right, and pay you  
The debts of nature which you come for. Officers  
Mingling with Officers will raise a Race  
Of stout young Alexanders between them, who'll  
Once more subdue the world.  Thal: 
Now you speak  
Without Clouds, we conceive you. Do you think then,  
We come to seek men to get children on us?  Call. 
We hope you're like your Mothers. We know, Ladies  
Without our help you are but barren Things;  
And cannot propagate between yourselves.  Orith. 
Well, say this be our Errand, since you speak  
So understandingly; what would you do  
To help us in Necessity?  Neand: 
Do? Why,  
What should we do? Do service to your Country;  
And strive to keep you still a People, by  
A new succession of Amazons.  Orith: 
But say  
They should prove males, Sir.  Nean. 
Then breed them up to save you  
The trouble of such journeys; and employ 'em,  
As you do us their Fathers, to th' public good.  Thal: 
But 'tis against our laws to Foster, Sir,  
Male births.  Neand: 
What do you with 'em? drown 'em then?  Thal: 
Restore 'em to their getters. Would you receive 'em,  
If we should send 'em home?  Neand: 
So they be borne  
Perfect; not half male, and half female; I'll  
Nurse no Hermaphrodites.  Orith: 
Besides, you have  
Been used to th' Ladies of your own Court; you'll  
ne'er like our Company. We are not fair  
And beautiful enough to stir your Loves  
To serve us in our needs.  Art. 
By this hand, ladies',  
I'm more inflamed to see a certain true,  
And Genuine smile creep o'er your Nutbrown faces,  
And make a kind of daybreak there, than all  
The artificial whites and reds, laid on  
By our Court painters, who call't Beauty to  
Create their own looks.  Thal. 
Are there such Arts, then?  Call. 
You saw the two Lords here?  Thol. 
Yes Sir,  Call. 
They  
Have two young Ladies, whom I do question, whether  
They may call Wives, or Pictures.  Neand. 
Their wedding day  
Saw them, perhaps, in their own blushes; And  
They lay the first night in their unbought Roses;  
But ever since have varied shapes; scarce worn  
The same face twice. Who'd lie with such she Proteusses?  
Who change form in the embrac; And do lie down  
One Mistress, and i'th' morning rise another?  Orith. 
Our looks are course, but native, Sir.  Nean. 
You're like  
The Times which Love delights in; we behold  
A fair night in your faces stuck with Stars.  Call. 
Me thinks ye exceed the Queen of Love; she had  
But one black Mole, you are all but one fair Spot.  Art. 
Believe it Ladies, were he not a boy,  
I'd say you'd brought each of you in those lovely,  
Dark, shady cheeks, a Cupid, who from thence,  
As from an amiable twilight, shoots  
His golden arrows.  Orith. 
You do express yourselves  
So affectionate, so like lovers—  Thal. 
So comply  
With our own wishes, which are to requite  
Your love with love—  Orith. 
And do so nobly know  
The wants of Ladies, and can as nobly pardon  
All their defects, that henceforth we'll expect  
Some enter course of visit from you.  Thal. 
We  
Shall long to see you at our poor Tents, choose  
Your own times; We lock not our curtains.  Exeunt Ladies.  

SCAENA v  To them Theagines and Meleager. Theag. 
What, laying siege to th' Ladies, Gentlemen?  Call. 
Trying, my Lord, what Forts They wear; or where  
They are most easy to be scaled; We have yet  
But made an Attempt upon their outworks, and  
Held parley with them.  Mel. 
And how, and how, in Troth,  
D'ye find 'em? Tractable? Will They surrender  
On easy Compositian, without a long  
And tedious Battery?  Neand. 
We find 'em made,  
As other Ladies are, of flesh and blood:  
I do perceive no difference, My Lords,  
Twixt airs, and climates; But where men meet women,  
Nature will have'ts Effects, for the preservation  
Oth' universe: unless there should be some  
To ask, others to grant; some to beget,  
Others to bring forth, the World would have an end  
In the short Circle of one Age.  Theag. 
I hope  
It is not come to that already; you have  
Had a quick victory, to see and conquer.  Mel. 
theyare very waxed, sure, who take Impression  
At the first chafing.  Art. 
Waxen? Why I'll tell you,  
I never yet saw Things so yielding▪ So  
Obedient to the Touch. I do believe,  
Should we dissemble coyness, or stand out,  
They would put Questions to us; And upon  
Refusal, take arms, and invade our Lodgings.  
And what would be the fruits of such a war,  
Backed with so good a Cause, your lordship's judge.  Neand: 
Alas you must consider, Good my Lords,  
Necessity's a Tyrant. Had they Men  
In their own country to supply their Wants,  
Or were their State composed so, that without  
Danger to th' Commonwealth, there might be some  
Kept at the publique charge to lie with them,  
At th' Age of procreation, and so be  
The Fathers of their Country, whilst they mingled  
Natives with Natives, It perhaps would seem  
Immodest to seek foreign help. But where  
Males are against the Law; And where to Marry  
Is worse than to commit; And where a Husband  
Is a Crime worse than Fornication; what  
In this Case would you have them do?  Call: 
Unless  
Nature had made them double, and enabled 'em  
To be both Sexes to themselves; Or else,  
Unless they could bear children, as we see,  
Our fields bear flowers; Where one and the same soil,  
Watered by a soft shower, or breathed upon  
By a warm air, is Father, Mother, All,  
To its own Issue, How d'ye think they should  
Produce posterity? Troth, My Lords, I feel  
A certain generous pity in me to  
Their reasonable long.  Theag. 
Well, Gentlemen,  
You have convinced us. But do you think the Two  
Princesses came for the same purpose?  Art: 
As sure  
As we have leave, Sir, to make visits, or  
Choose our own Nights with these departed Ladies.  Moll: 
And have you?  Art: 
Ask them, Neand Troth my Lords,  
Work enough with your own two Ladies, when (you'll have  
You next recover'em; and therefore will not,  
We hope, disturb us, who are single, in  
Our amorous courses. We are promised all▪  
The pleasures which their Tents can yield: And told  
There shall be no locks 'twixt us and our joys.   

SCAENA. Vi  To them Macrinus, Lacero, Serpix; Three tottered common soldiers, with a Drummer before them; And Cock-feathers in their Hats. Call. 
How now? What have we here? The sign oth'Battle  
'Twixt Time and Ragged Breeches? And whither now  
Tends your most tottered March? What make your four  
Half Doublets from your Colours?  Macr. 
Sir, we are  
Employed as public persons, by our Companies,  
To tell the King our Greivances. Beat on  
To th' King's Pavilion.  Neand: 
Public: 'Tis true, you are;  
Your elbows witness for you; There's not one  
Bare part about you that's not public. But  
Pray stay, pray stay a little, Gentlemen;  
What Greivances have your most lousy valours  
To present now?  Lac: 
Such, Sir, as we have often  
Complained to you of, and you'll not redress us.  Serp: 
The King is Just, Sir, and allows us pay,  
Which you melt up by th' way. You may make sport,  
And laugh at our poor ruins; But 'tis our rags,  
And bareness, which doth make you glitter.  Mac: 
If  
We had our Right, your large scarves, every one  
Of which displayed, would make the Colours to  
A Company, should be our Shirts.  Art. 
How, Sir?  Lac: 
Sir, it is true; And your large Feathers, each  
Of which, waved by the wind, does make you walk  
In perfect flourish; And present you like  
Three winged Dedalus', prepared to fly,  
Should be our coats, and plume us.  Ser. 
And that shine  
And blaze of plate about you, which puts out  
Our eyes, when we march 'gainst the sun, and arms you  
Completely with your own gold Lace, which is  
Laid on so thick, that your own trim do  
Render you Engine proof, without more arms,  
Should go to buy us bread.  Art. 
This is most rare  
With reference to the Feathers in your Hats,  
Most pilfering Gentlemen, which show you have  
Skirmished with Neighbouring poultry, larely, and having  
Eaten part of your Conquest, wear the rest  
As Emblems of your wand'ring from the camp,  
And inroads on Backsides. If I may ask you,  
Where have you learned this Eloquence? I do not  
Read that Demosthenes declaimed with Toes  
Looking through leather Casements. Or that He was  
Sent in an embassy with half a Stockin,  
Or such decayed Caparisons, as I  
Observe in your retinue.  Macr. 
Sir, we need  
No Teacher but our wants to find us words.  Lacer. 
Had you Three reckoned th'Age oth'Warre by fasting  
As we have done; who by our hunger know  
'Tis now a month since it began; or did you  
Know only these two poor reliefs, warm days  
For Clothes, warm air for food.  Serp. 
Or had you  
Been Three comrades like us, Three days to one.  
Dried biscuit, and horne Stock-fish, both which might  
Be shot for Battery, And for hardness be  
Reckoned into th' Artillery, we do  
Believe you would not starve in silence; Or  
Depart this life without some Testimony  
That you were famished hence.  Call. 
Why hark you, you  
Rascals, who think the life of man consists  
In eating; And that you were sent into the world  
To devour Flocks and herds; what are you made for?  
Resolve me, if you can; What is the End  
Of your Creation, but to fight, go naked,  
And starve in Sun shine?  Neand. 
True; other use  
Can there be of you in a State, but either  
To be hanged if you steal, if you do not  
To suffer hunger, and be lousy in  
Your country's Cause? And if you scape the Sword,  
And do survive, to be a burden to  
The Common wealth, to be dispatched by famines  
for the public ease?  Art. 
Besides, why do you trouble  
Us with your meager visages? what are  
Your torn necessities to us?  Mac. 
Does not  
Our pay pass through your hands? Are not you our Captains?  Art. 
And are there no ways, Sir, to live, besides  
Your four and eight pence weekly?  Lac: 
we'd be glad  
To learn them, Sir.  Art: 
Pray let me ask you, then,  
And answer with discretion. What is  
The natural use of Capons, Hens, and Geese?  
For what serve turkeys?  Mac: 
To be eaten.  Art: 
Right;  
You and I jump. And what's the use of Sheep?  
I do not mean with fleeces; (That falls under  
Another question:) But as they are Mutton?  Lac: 
Why to be eaten too.  Art: 
Still right. And lastly,  
What is the use of wool made into Cloth?  
Is't not to cover?  Serp. 
'Tis so, Sir,  Art: 
And what's  
The use of Plate and Money? Is't not to  
Supply men's Wants, and buy the things they need?  Serp: 
Most true Sir,  Art: 
And are these times which do make  
The stealth of all these lawful, And reach out  
All these unto you for the venturing: And  
Are you so cowardly, or rather so  
In love with your own Lice, that you must ask  
Us for relief? Or think of such a base,  
Poor, contemptible thing as Pay?  Mac: 
Is this  
The answer you will give us?  Art: 
This is all.  
Plundering a large Revenue; 〈◊〉 is your own  
Fault if towns clothe you not; Or if the Fields  
Afford you not provision.  Mac: 
We must then  
Here let you know, we'll Mutiny. Beat bacl.  Call: 
You Mutiny, you ill faced Rascals; Have you  
A mind to cheat the Hangman with your Wardrobes?  
Or an itch to disgrace the Gibbet with  
Your Goblin Carkaffes before your times?  Lac: 
we'll raise the camp against you.  Serp: 
Come, let's raise  
Let's raise the Campe.  Neand: 
Away you heaps of vermin.  
Earth yourselves in your Trenches: And there live  
The quiet life of Moles; Feed on the roots  Ex: Mac: 
Of wholesome herbs which grow about you go.  Lac: 
Ser:  Call. 
My Lords, we must take leave.  Art: 
You see the peace  
Oth' Army lies on't.  Neand: 
We kiss your lordship's hands.  Exeunt.  

SCAENA VII.  Theagines, Meleager, To them Menalippe, Marthesia. Theag: 
Why here be three new captains now, who make  
The Right use of the war. Spend their Assaults  
On such soft, harmless, yielding Things, as Ladies,  
And keep Themselves in Spangles, with the pay  
Of their poor soldiers.  Mel: 
It appears to me  
Strange what design should cast these Amazons  
Upon our shore. I hope they have no aim  
To take Advantage of our fight▪ or keep  
Themselves spectators till both Armies have  
Weakened Themselves, and then o'ercome the victor's.  
I would be loath to have it said in story,  
We were subdued by Women with one Breast.  
And it would trouble me to see myself  
Led Captive; And transported to a Land  
Where I must propagate at the mercy of  
Those who did take me prisoner; And get Children  
By th'night, and task, upon my conquerors.  Theag. 
Believed their project is less politic.  
You hear the Errand they come for is to  
Lie with us in our landlord.  Mel: 
Still 'tis strange  
They should so quickly open, And reveal  
Themselves so easy, so prepared, as these  
Three make 'em.  Theag: 
Pray Heaven, my Lord, our Ladies  
Show not Themselves as easy, and as pliant,  
I th' other Camp. 'Tis true indeed, their case  
Is 〈…〉 had no Dearth of Husbands,  
Which should invite 'em to require relief  
From th' Enemy. But if they should conclude  
A peace for us; And it one of the Articles  
Be, to give something they can spare, and we  
Not miss, we cannot help it if they show  
Themselves good patriots; And prefer their country  
Before our private Interests; or their  
More private Honesties.  Mel: 
True; 'Tis but losing  
A little Honour for the public Good;  
And Honours but a Word; We shall not be  
Impoverished by the loss. All parts in Women  
Are like their lips; And lips you know are Springs.  
If a whole Army quench their Thirst there, still  
As much is left as taken; The first stock  Ent. 
Menal.  
Remains entire.  Theag. 
My Lord, Behold; what say  Marth: 
You to a Message now?  Mel: 
l'me now confirmed.  Men: 
Are you my Lord Theagines?  Theag: 
Yes Lady.  March: 
And you my Lord Meleager?  Mel: 
'Tis my names  Men: 
You're o'th' Bedchamber to th' King?  Mel: 
We are so.  
They have had good Intelligence.  March: 
Our Ladies  
Hearing you're noble, and delighting much  
In persons valiant, and of great Action, (as  
They are informed you are) will take it for  
An honour, if you will vouchsafe to be  
Oth' Bedchamber to them too, for the space  
Of a short visit.  Men. 
They say they do long,  
Long, very much t'impart a business to you.  Thea: 
You do not know what 'tis?  Men. 
Sir, it requires  
The secrecy of their Tents to know it.  Mel: 
When  
Pray, is the time they'd be at leisure, Ladies,  
For us to wait upon'em?  March: 
At all times, Sir,  
They say you cannot err. Only they will  
Take't as the greater favour, If to beguile  
The tedious hours with discourse of the Ancients,  
And the Comparison of women's deeds,  
With those of Men, you will divide your Nights,  
Sometimes with them.  Men: 
But chiefly, they desire  
You would now come along with us.  Thea. 
My Lord,  
What would come on't if we Two should suppose  
Ourselves unmarried? Our Wives when we next meet,  
If before hand they not requite us) will  
Find us whole Husbands.  Mel: 
I am resolved to make  
Use of the Opportunity. The worst  
That can befall us, if our Ladies know it,  
Is to seal mutual pardons.  Theag: 
Come, ladies', you  
Shall be our Clue to guide us.  Men: 
We will lead you  
Into a pleasing Labarynth.  Mel: 
‛ I will be  
Our wish to be lost in such Company.    

ACTUS iv  

SCAENA I.  Archidamus, Roxane, Barsene, Orithya, Thelastris. Rox: 
Come, Sir, we are resolved, if't bei' th'power  
Of Ladies to effect it, to cure you of  
Your sadness, you no longer shall afflict  
Us and yourself with melancholy. It does not  
Show princely in you, thus to enthrall yourself  
To th' Memory of a Woman. We thought to find you  
A warrior; One in whose stout breast so poor  
So effeminate a thing as Love, or the  
Loss of a Mistress, would have passed among  
Those ordinary Cares, which are at once  
Considered and forgotten.  Bars: 
'Tis for subjects  
To affect Constancy, or melt and pine,  
And breath themselves away i'th' Contemplation  
Of those they Love; Or to affect Lone walks,  
There raise an idol to themselves, And then  
Fall down and worship it. You've turned your camp  
Into a cloister, Sir. And are retired  
●th 'mid'st of Legions. Nor can we imagine  
We have your Company, when present with us,  
Your thoughts are so away.  Arch: 
Had you e'er seen  
The wondrous object that attracts them, or  
Discerned the secret influences, which  
Pass from her soul to mine, and mingled there,  
In one strict union, at this distance make us  
So much each others as to have no power  
T'untwist ourselves, or have the leisure to  
Look towards aught which wears not her fair shape  
To me, or mine to her, you might as well  
Condition with the passive Iron not  
To turn to th' Loadstone; Or chide the Needle for  
Moving towards the bright pole, as accuse me  
For thinking on Roxane. I confess,  
Bright Princesses, 'Tis Love that makes me rude;  
And but I hope you have brought pardons with you,  
And can forgive one robbed of his free self,  
Nor left to his own Carriage; I should count  
Those hours which I have stolen from you, to pay  
Devotion unto Her, a sacrilege  
Committed against your Beauties; Or a Theft,  
Which doth take Worship from one goddess to  
Consume it on Another.  Rox. 
we'll allow  
Roxane, Sir, (For so I do perceive  
You call your Princess) To be all that a Prince  
In Love can fancy fair, or amiable;  
(Yet I must tell you too, Love's a false glass,  
Which still shows things much fairer than they are.)  
we'll grant all your Descriptions true, that to  
Her fairness she hath Virtues, which do add  
A Beauty to her Beauty, and render her  
One, pure, through, rich Gem▪ which entirely is  
Nothing but Worth and Luster; yet if this gem  
Be dropped into the Sea, or lost i'th' vast  
Chaos of Waves, will you make war with Nature,  
Or force the Ocean to restore your jewel  
Made Irrecoverable?  Arch. 
Do you then look  
Upon my loss no otherwise?  Rox: 
Not, when  
I weigh her brother's power; Th'uncertain Chances  
Of wars like this; The many Subjects lives,  
Which must be sacrificed to her recovery.  
The most you can expect if you prevail,  
Is that your nuptials should be mixed with slaughters;  
And that your Marriage Tapers should be kindled  
From funeral piles; And so Roxanes Wedding,  
Thus ravished to and fro, like Proserpina's,  
Ith' under World, be kept amongst Ghosts and shades.  Bars: 
Besides, how are you sure your constancy  
Is answered, Sir, with constancy? Our hearts  
Are changeable; nor do I see why Princes  
Should be less frail than others, who confine  
Affection to the sight, since Love's a fire  
Which doth not only languish, and go out,  
Where fuel is substracted, But is kept burning  
Only i'th' presence of another fire.  Arch: 
I'll rather think nature can change her Courts  
Rivers run backwards from the Ocean,  
Things heavy can fly up, and light fall down;  
Or that the Heavenly orbs can vary, and  
By shuffling of themselves, the higher with lower,  
Lose their first Order, and in this confusion  
Wheel round in Discord, as before in music,  
Then she can cease to Love me. Roxane is  
To me a vestal, and I one to her;  
There's but one holy flame between us, which  
Cannot expire but with ourselves.  Rox: 
But you'll  
Allow there may, Sir, be degrees in Love;  
And that a lesser fire ought to give way  
In justice to a greater; And though not quenched,  
Yield itself swallowed by it.  Arch: 
Madam, pray  
Explain yourself.  Rox: 
Say, then, Archidamus,  
(For now I will be free) there should be those,  
Who though they bring no bright stars in their eyes,  
Or such charms in their faces, as Roxane,  
(Which to affect, were to take fire from looks,  
And love by th'sense, and outside, not by th' mind.)  
Yet being of equal birth, of as great virtues,  
Of greater Dowries, (For those I speak of  
Do with a kingdom bring their Conquests too)  
But above all (for they dare strive here, and  
Account themselves superior) say they should bring  
Greater Affection, And to show they do,  
No longer able to conceal their Flames,  
Should lay aside their Sex, and Act your part,  
And tell you that they love you; Would such deserve  
A repulse from you? Or could you, Sir, to gain  
The name and stile of Constant unto one,  
Be unjust to two? And not repay their flame  
With such another?  Arch: 
There can be no such, Madam.  Bars: 
Without more clouds, say, Sir, we be those two?  Arch: 
You, Ladies? You are fit to conquer Princes;  
And t'have the Gods steal down in varied shapes,  
To beget Hero's on you and half Gods;  
Not to betray such weak as as  
To sue to those who do adore you. Besides,  
You two admit no choice, where both are equal,  
Both twins in their perfections, as in birth,  
Unless I could divide myself, and be  
Two to you Two. (for here is no election  
Of one without wrong to the other) And  
Can multiply myself into a number,  
How can I answer both?  Rox: 
By choosing one.  
We are agreed between ourselves; she that's  
Refused, shall home, and wear the crown, the other  
Stay here and be your Queen.  Arch: 
O Love! why as  
Thou dost wove knots, dost thou not teach a way  
How to untie them too? I do confess  
Myself lost in a sweet perplexity.  
I'm now the Prince ' fore whom three Goddesses  
Strove for the Golden Ball, or which should be  
Preferred for Beauty. When I do consider  
Your several shapes, I am snatched several ways;  
And am at once three Lovers. If I therefore,  
Amidst such equal merits, can't make choice  
Of one before the other, 'Tis because  
I am not blind. Where Objects are alike  
Faire, and distracting, He must want his eyes  
We doth prefer.  Rox: 
we'll give you this night's respite  
To think upon election. Mean time, Sir,  
There's a short Banquet waits you at our Tent.  Arch: 
You'll be the music to it.  Orith: 
Madam,  
Now your Play's done, ours will begin; we do  
Only want stage room.  Bars. 
Look you play your parts well.  Thal: 
As well as our Hypocrisy & false faces  
Will give us leave.  
— Orithya, what d'ye think  
Oth' Prince's Constancy? should he be tempted  
To leave Roxane for Roxane, and make  
Choice of the Disguised for the true, 'twould prove  
A fine gin laid to prove men frail, and subject  
To our Infirmities.  Orith. 
I know not how  
This tedious Scoene of Love hath wrought on him;  
But it to me was Opium, and raised slumber.  
A Gentle murmur did glide by my ears  
Like the soft fall of streams. A little more  
Of such slight, aery stuff, had bound my senses  
Up in a perfect sleep.  Thal. 
I did observe  
The Onsets, & replies too; Methought they ran  
In Artops & Neander's candid stile,  
When they do court our Women in Milke-verse,  
Or tell them news or Stories in Sonnet prose.  
I should ne'er be thus cruel to him I love,  
To show him shades in stead of substance; 'Tis,  
Methinks, embracing Clouds.   

SCAENA. II.  To them Menalippe, Marthesia. Lights, and a Banquet follow. Men. 
— Madam, your great design  
Goes rarely on, Your Lords are come, and are  
Disposing of their Ambush.  Orith: 
And have you, Menalippe,  
Bespoke the false alarm at the just hour?  Men: 
Clocks strike not dulier after Quarters, Madam,  
Then our she Drummer will observe her Cue,  
And make things dreadful.  Thal: 
Marthesia, stand you Sentinel  
Against they come.  Mar. 
Troth, Madam, 'tis to me  
A comedy before hand to imagine  
How they will bear th'affright.  Men. 
Methinks I see 'em  
Rolling themselves up in their own gold Lace,  
Like Urchines in their prickles. Or wishing to  
Exchange place with their swords, and case themselves  
In their own scabbards.  Mar. 
Stand, who comes there?  Thal: 
There they are; go Menalippe bid the Lords  
With their stout Squadron, observe their Entrances.  Exit Menal.  

SCAENA III.  To them at door first, afterwards entered Call: Neand: Art: Call. 
You'll not exact the Word of us, I hope,  
My pretty Perdue Virgin; if you do,  
Pray call your corporal.  Neand: 
We do not come  
As spies; If you suspect, commit us to  
Your Ladies.  Art. 
Or else keep us prisoners in  
Your corpses of Guard, till they release us.  March. 
Now,  
I know you're friends, you may pass. I was set  
Here to attend your coming; To prevent  
Your danger of mistaking the right Tent.  Call. 
We should have found that by Instinct. Neand. Bright Ladies,  
We have made bold to use the Liberty  
You gave us; And try what camp hours you keep.  Art: 
I hope we're not unseasonable; we  
Came, Ladies, to keep watch with you.  Orith. 
The time  
Oth' night adds to our visit; Had you come  
By day, you'd brought but half yourselves, and only  
Made visit to our eyes; where all that could  
Have passed, had been to see, and to be seen.  Art: 
True, Ladies, whereas now you have us all;  
And other Senses may be pleased too; And  
Go sharers with the sight.  Thal. 
Besides, The Day  
Turns all Things into crystal, Sir; Our Tents  
Had been transparent, like their silks; And we  
Had not been private in our Closets.  Neand. 
Right;  
Whereas the Night turns all Things into Shade;  
And draws jet curtains 'bout our pleasures; And  
Makes a fair Lady invisible in one's arms.  Orith: 
Will you vouchsafe to sit and taste of this  
'Slight Banquet, Gentlemen.  Call: 
You make it Three.  Thal. 
You do not reckon us 'mongst Marmalade,  
Quinses, and Apricots? of take us for  
Ladies preserved?  Call: 
No Ladies; yet I hope  
'Tis no offence to say you're each of you  
A various Banquet, where a breathing sweetness  
Feasts the spectators; And diverts all thought  
Of eating to beholding; And from beholding  
T' enjoying.  Neand: 
All these do take value,  
Not from the Art, which joined to nature, made 'em,  
But from you who bestow'em. These Cherries do  
Take Colour from your lips; This Amber casts  
A perfume from your Breath; what ever's delightful  
In them refiects from you.  Art: 
And lest there should  
Be Music wanting to this Banquet, when  
You speak, the Sirens sing  Orith. 
You've brought, we see,  
The art to flatter and dissemble with you.  Thal: 
I now begin to fear you. It can't be  
You should thus feign and love us.  Neand: 
Not love you, Ladies?  
Why what signs would you have? What is required  
To Love which we would not perform?  Thal: 
Would you  
Fight for us, if need were?  Orith: 
Or enter duel  
In Defence of our Honours?  Neand: 
Would we? By  
This hand, should you command, we would, ourselves  
Alone, now venture on the Thracian Campe.  Call: 
Or presently send challenges to Nine  
Of their best captains, to fight Three to One.  Art: 
We will do more than fight; with your fair leaves,  
We will get Fighters on you  Orith. 
Is that your errand?  Art: 
That and to help away the Solitude  
And tediousness o'th' night.  Thal: 
Well, since we do  
Beleeve you valiant, and worthy of our favours,  
How will you order things? Three to two Women  
Is one to much:  Orith. 
One must stand out; unless  
You'll take the sentinel in for a Third.  
To men of your indifferent purposes  
It should be all one; she's of the right Sex.  Neand: 
We'll draw cuts who shall have her. What say you  
My pretty Diomedes o'th' Cawdles. will you  
For one night lay aside your contemplations  They draw Lots. 
How to take town in Marchpane; or express  
The Siege of Thebes, or Travels of Ulysses  
In sweet meats, And make one of us?  Mar: 
I'll take  
My fortune Sir,  Neand: 
Artops, She's yours; I did  
Praesage thy melting hymns, and strains, would end  
In a corn-cutter.  Art. 
She is not fifty Sir,  
Nor I the fifteenth in succession, to  
A Flavia, who brings manchet to the camp;  
This is no Sutler's wife.  Thal: 
Go wench prepare  
The Beds.  Orith: 
But should you, now, reveal, or rumour  
Your Entertainment.  Call: 
Do you think us illbred Rascals?  
Fellows that can't conceal?  Thal: 
Or should you tell  
How kind, how free you found us how we used you—  An alarm within. Ne. 
We'll rather cut our tongues our & live speechless.  Ori: 
Hark, what means this?  Tha: 
The Camp is up in arms   

SCAENA. iv  To them Menalippe, and Marthesia, in show frighted, Afterwards Theagines, and Meleager, as one door; Macrinus, Lacero, Serpix at another; all disguised. Men: 
Fly, Madams fly, we are betrayed.  Mar: 
The enemy  
Hath seized upon the Works; taken the King;  
Burnt our Queen's Tent; slain all the captains; and is  
Now marching hither.  Orith: 
Now show your valours, And  
Help to defend those whom you Love.  Call. 
Alas, Ladies;  
You can fight for yourselves. This is the first  
Time we e'er saw the Field.  Neand: 
Alas what can  
Three do against an Army?  Thal: 
Will you not  
Then draw your weapons, But stand like worsted captains  
In Arras?  Orith: 
Will you let us and yourselves  
Be taken and make no resistance? or will you  
Be killed like people in their sleep?  Neard: 
'Las, Ladies,  
What would you have us do? we have been borne  
And bred in peace, and were ne'er used to fight.  Orith. 
O more than Women Cowards! And will you die  Clashing of Swords within. 
Like men oth'peace to?  Ar. 
Hark, swords, swords; they come.  Thal. 
Why do you quake? why do you look about you?  
Would you feign hid yourselves?  Art. 
Hark swords again.  Orith. 
If you will, There's an old Drum yonder, with  
One head, we'll whelm it over you.  Art. 
Thank you, ladies'.  Thal. 
Or pack you up in one o'th' wagons, with  
A bare Hide over you, where you may pass  
For Cheese, or Ammunition.  Call. 
'Twill do well.  Men. 
Or Madam, what if we pulled down our Tents,  
And wrapped them up i'th' curtains?  Neand: 
'twill do better.  
Theag. within. You Three take that way, we'll take this; slay all  Enter The: Mel: Mac: Lac: Serp: 
That will not yield.  Art. 
Oh! here they come The what? flying?  
Taking wing? Seize these captains; And disarm 'em.  Mel. 
Ladies, we do intent no war against you.  
Our Quarrels are with men.  Theag: 
Do they refuse?  They disarm 'em. 
Show them camp Law.  Call. 
We do not, Sir, there friend,  
There is my Sword.  Neand. 
And there is mine; pray use  
Me like a Gentleman.  Serp 
Come, Sir, you part  
As slowly with your sword, as that with th' scabbard.  Macr. 
You've no Artillery in your pocket, have you,  
That will o'ertake men at a Distance, and  
Arrest'em at Fivescore?  Nea. 
Sure friend there's all.  The. 
Next blind their eyes with their own scarves.  Mac 
Hold Gentlemen.  
Hold your heads fair, & shut your eyes, that we  They blind 'em. 
May close '●m double.  Lac. 
Stir not as you desire  
To keep 'em in your Head, and not put out.  Call. 
We do not, Sir.  Serp. 
So; There's one darkness more  
Than that we caught you in.  Theag. 
Now lead'em bond  
To th' other Captives, And attend the council  
Of war with'em i'th' morning.  Mac. 
Come Gentlemen.  Exeunt.  

SCAENA. V  Theagines, Meleager, Orithya, Thalaestris, Menalippe, Marthesia. Theag: 
Ladies, you see we've kept our Words; The hours  
Did fly with leaden Wings till we did earn  
The sweet Rewards you've promised.  Mel: 
Next unto  
The thought of this night's Raptures, which you will  
Inspire into our souls, we do take pleasure  
To be thought worthy to be actors in  
Your just revenge.  Orith: 
My Lords, we look on you  
As those we dare trust; such as understand  
What Ladies favours are, How merited;  
And withal, how to be concealed. Love hath  
His Mysteries, as well as shrines, & Temples;  
To which a Secrecy is due; And theyare  
Profaned when published.  Thal: 
Besides, you are our Equals;  
And though we cannot call you Husbands, yet  
To reap the fruit of Husbands from you, will be  
No stain, or blemish to us. But could you think us,  
So vulgar, so indifferent, so hard driven,  
In making our Elections, to defile  
The Honours of our Beds with those who next  
Would find us Bodies?  Orith: 
Especially, with those  
Who'd make our Nights the Discourse of Their days.  
And so they might gain credit by our favours,  
Would prostitute our Fames; And when They did not  
Enjoy our persons, would call't new pleasures to  
Lie with our Reputations.  Thal: 
What would These Three  
Parcell-guilt silken-Gentlemen have said  
Had They possessed us, who so freely boasted  
The leave we gave them to make visits to us?  
As if to show good breeding were a Crime;  
Or to be civil in a strange place.  Theag: 
True Ladies;  
They said you were the most strange easy Things;  
So inclining to mankind, as if you had  
A purpose to disperse Bills through the camp,  
T' invite Men to your Lodgings; And would propose  
Rewards to them who best performed.  Thal. 
They said  
You had two Ladies too, which did use painting;  
And ne'er wore their own faces; But did vary  
Shapes every Morning; And go forth of their Closets  
Things of their own Creation.  Orith. 
They left it  
Doubtful too, and to be suspected, as if  
Your Ladies loved Plurality; And that they  
At Court did go half Husbands with you.  Mel. 
Well,  
Half our Revenge is past; The other half  
We will contrive between your Melting arms.  Orith. 
You two sing us asleep; And when you've done,  
Go walk the Round, and see the Watch relieved.  Exeunt. 

The first Song, sung by Two Amazons.  

(1)  
Time is a feathered Thing;  
And whilst I praise  
The sparklings of thy looks, and call them rays,  
Takes Wing;  
Leaving behind him as He flies,  
An unperceived dimness in thine eyes,  
His Minutes whilst theyare told,  
Do make us old;  
And every Sand of his fleet glass,  
Increasing Age as it doth pass,  
Insensibly sows wrinkles there,  
Where Flowers and Roses do appear,  
Whilst we do speak our fire  
Doth into Ice expire.  
Flames turn to Frost;  
And e've we can  
Know how our Crow turns Swan,  
Or how a Silver Snow  
Springs there where jet did grow,  
Our fading Spring is in dull Winter lost.   

(2)  
Since, then, the Night hath hurled  
Darkness, Loves shade,  
Over its Enemy the Day, and made  
The World,  
Just such a blind and shapeless Thing,  
As 'twas before Light did from darkness spring;  
Let us employ its treasure,  
And make shade pleasure;  
Let's number out the hours by Blisses,  
And count the Minutes by our Kisses.  
Let the heaven's new Motions feel;  
And by our embraces wheel.  
And whilst we try the Way.  
By which Love doth convey  
Soul into soul;  
And mingling so,  
Makes them such Raptures know,  
As makes them entranced lie  
In mutual ecstasy:  
Let the Harmonious spheres in music roll.    Ex: Men: & a March:  

SCAENA. Vi  Having changed Clothes to their Doublets, Enter Callias, Neander, Artops. Their eyes blinded with black patches; led by Macrinus, Lacero, Serpix. Macr: 
Come Gentlemen, Without Resistance now  
Disrobe your upper parts. What's wanting in  
Good Clothes, your patience must supply.  Lac: 
Good Troth  
Your Doublets suite not with your Breeches; Rents  
To Rents, And rags to rags is fashionable.  
But as you're now you look like Men of Gold  
Creeping forth of your  Oar; 
And are the Emblems  
Of that State which does know no middle Subjects,  
But is composed wholly of Lords and beggars.  Call: 
Well, Sir, Necessity which made you feed  
The Numerous Thracians, which now feed on me  They change Doublets. 
In these your Breeches, And draw blood, which is  
Against Camp Law, does here persuade me to  
Resign my Doublet; pray shake yours, Sir.  Neand: 
There,  
My friend, who e'er you are, There is whole plunder.  
Pray, if you can, spare me a Doublet which  
Hath Linings in't, and no glass-windows. For, if  
My feeling do not fail me with my sight,  
Your Nether Garment is half Net, half Breeches;  
And Statutably will catch Greater Fish,  
And let small pass, as well as cloth.  Lac: 
Troth, Sir,  
You shall even have 'em as I wore'em, fellows;  
They were New once; It was not in my power  
To keep them at a stand, by Miracle.  
Time which devoured his Children, will eat Holes, Sir.  Art: 
Stay, stay, stay, stay friend: Sure you must release  
My eyes, to see to put your Vesture on right.  Serp: 
I warrant you, Sir.  Art: 
So; There is one Arm  
Past through a Labyrinth. I do expect  
The Other should be lost by th'way. This jerkin  
Is wholly made of doors; And had need have  
A Thread belong to it.  Serp: 
Now 'tis on, Sir.  Art. 
Thank you.  
You're sure you've not mistaken?  Serp. 
How d'ye mean?  Art: 
I mean your Breeches for your Doublet; As being  
Indifferent in their use; which should be worn  
Above, and which below?  Serp. 
All's right, believe it, Sir.  Mac: 
Next, Gentlemen, you must once more submit  
Your arms to these Hemp prisons. No striving; You  
Know where you are.  Call. 
Sir, we are tame; you've made us  
So by the Imprisonment of our legs already.  
But if our elbows do break prison, pray  They pinion them. 
Impute it to the looseness of your buildings.  Lac: 
So; Now you're All complete; you looked before  
Like Him who first invented Coaches, to hid  
His double Making; Who was downwards Serpent,  
Upwards a well shaped Man.  Serp. 
Good troth, Me thought,  
Your Nether parts looked as They would petition  
Your upper for an alms; Or else, as if  
You had 'bove Girdle been the Founders, and  
Below, the hospital.  Call: 
Well, friends, you may  
Laugh at our Miseries, and raise sport from  
Your torn Exchanges. But is this noble usage  
Of soldiers unto soldiers, thus to strip us?  Mac: 
When we take sheep with golden Flecees, 'Tis  
Our custom to return Wool for their Plate.  Lac: 
We do not strip you, but change Cases: Clothes  
For Clothes was still held honourable.  Neand: 
And now,  
In troth, most Worthy captains, (For we have  
Created you) what's your Intent? what will you  
Do with us thus reduced to Totters?  Mac: 
That  
Is as the council shall determine. Perhaps,  
Employ you in our works to dig: And there  
Work out your ransoms, till the war be ended,  
As pioneers.  Neand: 
Must we roll wheelbarrows?  
Or manage Spades, and mattocks then? And earn  
Our bread and water with the Picke-Axe?  Serp: 
Perhaps,  
We shall obtain you outright for our Slaves.  
Then having marked you, to be known our bondmen,  
We will transport you home to Thrace, and there  
Make sale of you in some public Market: you'll  
Be vendible Commodities. Perhaps,  
Some who have store of Wives will buy you to  
Make Eunuchs of, and geld you.  Mac: 
Or perhaps  
Some Ancient widows, long past bearing, will  
Buy you for their own private use.  'Las: 
Or else,  
Perhaps, to make short work, The council will  
Condemn you to the galleys, There to row  
Your days out 'gainst the Persian; or fetch corn  
Monthly from Egypt: Sugar from Creet: or sponges  
From Samos.  Art: 
And our Wages be to feel  
The scourge about our shoulders if the wind  
Sat opposite, & we can't row.  Lac: 
There must  
Be such corrections, to quicken Diligence.  Call. 
Pray as you're noble, and know how to pity  
Humane Misfortunes, let us ask one Question.  Mac: 
As many as you please.  Call. 
If by starlight  
You can discern so fare, How fare are we  
From a Tall oak, which may be clymbed by such  
Ivyes as we? Or a strait elm, which may  
Support th'embraces of such Vines?  Mac: 
Why ask you?  Call: 
Because if any such kind natural plant  
Be near, we would entreat you not t'omit  
The Opportunity; But to prevent  
Our Greater by less sufferings, would employ  
Those Cords which bind our arms, about our Necks,  
And hang us up by moonshine.  Mac: 
Alas, such favours  
Are not in our powers. If it be your fate  
So to be sentenced, we will do you all  
The friendly Offices we can.  Call: 
We thank you.  Lac: 
Mean time, perhaps to you 'tis Midnight, Gentlemen;  
No sun appears to you: But to us Day breaks.  
We will conduct you to the place where you  
Shall know your dooms. Pray follow leisurely.  
And do not stumble.  Neand: 
If't be our Destiny  
To die by th' string, the comfort is we're Three.    

ACTUS v  

SCAENA I.  Enter Theagines and Meleager buttoning themselves. After a while followed by Orithya and Thalaestris. Theag: 
In my opinion, my Lord, these are  
The strangest amazon's that ever left  
Their female country for the use of Men.  
How did you find yours? Mine had Breasts.  Mel. 
Troth mine,  
I think hatl. seal't the razor too; I had  
No leisure to examine parts. I found  
No defects in her; But methought she was  
To me a whole and perfect Woman; I'm sure  
She found me an entire and perfect Man.  Theag: 
There's a strange sweetness in them; how they melt  
Between one arms, and call one Husband?  Mel: 
I  
Thought mine would have fulfilled the Fable, where  
The Nymph dissolved into a fountain.  Theag: 
But  
How will our Ladies brook this if they know it?  Mel: 
How? Thank us for being civil unto Ladies.  
Would they be willing these should report us clowns?  
Or Men void of Humanity, at their  
Return home to their country.  Theag: 
'Tis true; had we  
Dismissed them as they came, both to our shame,  
And shame of our posterity, they might  
Record us Impotent in Chronicle;  
Or say they were received Women by Women.  Mel. 
Here they come. Ladies, you appear to us  Enter Orish. Thal. 
Like Two Sun rise breaking from your curtains.  Theag: 
The Day till now was not begun; you make  
The Morning, which enables us to see  
Those Beauties by their own light, which did turn  
The darkness of the Night into such pleasure,  
As happy Lovers do enjoy below,  
In their Elysian fields.  Orith: 
Fie, fie, my Lords,  
Is this your recompense to mock us for  
Having bad faces?  Thal▪ ' 
'Cause Nature played the Stepdame,  
And made us not of the same Orient matter  
Of which she framed your Ladies; Must you add  
Your flouts to her hard Workmanship?  Theag: 
'Fore Heaven  
I could for ever gaze on your fair eyes.  
'Tis Heaven, where e'er I may behold your faces;  
You're wholly made of charm.  Mel: 
You are two Circe's,  
Two amiable Conjurers; Once gotten  
Into your Circle, there's no getting out:  
A Thousand Graces play upon your lips,  
And every kiss is a new Siren, which  
Invites us to take more, and there to fix,  
Till they grow Infinite.  Theag: 
Then for your beds,  
They are two Phoenix Nests which breath perfumes;  
You risen from us, to Day, as Spice from Altars,  
Two perfect Sacrifices  Orith. 
Well, since you will  
Needs put great value on slight favours, we  
Shall know how you esteem us by your visits  
In this kind often.  Thal. 
Next, That you may perceive  
What Confidence we dare put in you; And  
How ill it would become us to admit  
You to our Beds, and shut you from our Counsels:  
Knew that this Day, if you do not prevent it,  
Your camp will be betrayed to th' Enemy.  Theag: 
How Ladies? 'Tis not possible; pray who  
Should be the Traitors?  Orith: 
Our Princess, and her Sister.  
You stand amazed now.  Theag. 
Troth it stirs my wonder,  
Treason should lodge in such fair looks.  Thal. 
These looks  
Are, Sir, the Cause, and Ground of what we tell you.  
Your King ignobly did refuse them, when  
They fell below Themselves, and wooed Him.  Orith. 
Which  
Being known to th' Prince of Thrace, he joining Love  
To their Revenge, hath frequently stolen hither  
In a Disguise, and courted, & prevailed.  
This Morning is appointed as the last  
Time of their Interveiwes, before the nuptials.  Thal. 
'Tis too concluded, Sir, He shall restore  
Your Princess, (For He says, To force Affection,  
Were to wed half a Queen, and match her Body  
Without her soul; Nor can the Marriage be  
Perfect where minds join not as well as hands,  
And have their Knot too) And in her stead shall  
Make choice of one of ours.  Orith. 
Then for  
Roxane, he'll transport her bacl, as scorning  
To match there where himself hath been refused.  
And for the Carriage of all this, 'Tis ordered  
That when the Battles join, we, on the Word,  
And sign given, shall revolt, and turn to that side.  Mel. 
You have made great Discoveries.  Theag. 
Who is this?  Eurymedon passeth by. Orith. 
Now trust your own eyes; That's Eurymedon,  
Going to our Queens Tent. Make what wise use  
Of this you please. And say you have not lost  
By th'Company of Ladies.  Theag. 
We look upon you  
As the preservers of our country.  Mel. 
We  
Will erect Sacred Statues to you, as  Ent. Menalippe & Marthesia. 
To th' Tutelar Deities that saved us.  Men. 
Madam,  
Here is the second part o'th' comedy.  
The Soldiers are come with their prisoners:  
The strangest spectacle—  Orith. 
Why, what's the Matter?  Mar. 
Unless it were the farce, where the decays  
Of Time are acted, I never saw three men  
So made of rags. The soldiers have changed Clothes,  
And plundered 'em.  Thal. 
Go bid 'em enter.  Mel. 
Come Ladies  
we'll make two in your council, And then to th'King.   

SCAENA II.  To them Callias, Neander, Artops: (Led by Macrinus, Lacero, Serpix. Macr. 
Come Gentlemen, now stand in rank, and keep  
Due Distance from the Lords; Lest there pass from you  
A creeping intercourse, which may disturb  
The sitting of the Court.  Theag. 
Are these the captains  
You took last Night?  Mac: 
These are the Three Commanders  
An't please your Lordships; who have since changed shapes  
With us their conquerors.  Mel. 
Indeed They look  
As if They lately had been in a Fight;  
Their Garments do want Surgeons. What's your name?  Cal. 
Callias Me. What's yours?  Ne: 
Neander. Me. What's yours?  Theag. 
I do remember you; you were employed  (Art: Artops. 
In our late Civil wars, by the factious Members  
Of our Synedrium, when they armed their slaves,  
And made their Bondmen Curiasseirs against  
Th' Equestrall Order; And did enact it lawful  
Ith' King's Name to take arms against Him; And  
Out of Obedience to Him to rebel.  
And amongst their other wild and surious Votes,  
Decreed it lawful, for the Good o'th' Subject,  
To rifle their Estates; slaughter their persons;  
Ravish their Wives, and to deflower their Daughters.  Mel. 
Are these the Three, who helped to make war against  
Our Gods? And to reform their Temples, did  
Deface their Altars? And called it sacrifice  
To rob Them of their Incense, And pull down  
Their Images? And did erect strange priests,  
Taken from awls and anvils, to deliver  
False Oracles unto the people?  Theag: 
These  
Sir, are the Three.  Mel: 
Apply the rack to them,  
To force true Answers from them to our Questions.  Call. 
Pray hold, pray hold, friends. Alas, My Lords, we are not  
The men you mean. We ne'er saw wars before,  
Civil, or foreign; Nor ever were beyond  
Our own Coasts yet.  Neand. 
Nor do we understand  
What your Synedrium is, unless it be  
Your Mayor and Senate of Byzantium.  
Who, as we hear, once in an age run mad;  
And then talk Idly, of nought but Liberty;  
Changing of Government; The fatal periods  
Of States and kingdoms; How They may coin new Gods,  
And new Religions.  Art: 
They may vote twice two Thirty:  
Or their own Scarlet's grey; Or Thracians, Scythians;  
Or that They not rebel against your King,  
When in a popular fury They cast off  
The yoke of Subjects, For any aid They e'er  
Received from us.  Theag. 
Well, since you've cleared yourselves  
Of that great Doubt; Resolve us then, what makes  
The Queen of Amazons among you?  Call: 
What made  
Her Grandmother in Alexander's Army?  
She comes to show Her self her niece, To fight,  
And to have amazon's begot upon her.  Neand. 
Had these not interrupted us, we should  
By this have known whither her Ladies came  
For the same business.  Mel. 
That Sir is presumed;  
Subjects are bound to imitate their Princes.  Theag: 
Next, what are your designs? we hear you mean  
This Day to give us Battle. Call. For our designs,  
Some say you have tame pigeons, taught to fly  
With news and Letters, betwixt camp and camp;  
Whereby our Counsels are no sooner hatched,  
But They take Wing to you.  Neand. 
Others affirm,  
You have your Multiplying Instruments,  
Which take our truths at one end, and, like Glasses,  
Show Them in various shapes to th' people; And  
Return your Monsters to us at the Other,  
In shapes more various and prodigious,  
To fright us, as the Barbarous did of old,  
With Elephants, and Castles in the air;  
And such like Expeditions; which once known,  
Look big, and are despised.  Art. 
Then for the battle,  
This is the Day for our New Legions  
To be brought in; which when They come; Our King  
Intends to stake his kingdom 'gainst your Princess:  
The conqueror take both.  Mel. 
This is a plainness,  
Which does show generous in you. Lastly, therefore  
As you'll avoid the Tortures of the wheel,  
Or rack, in Questions of this moment; Tell us,  
What Officers have you that may be bought,  
To let us have good pennyworths, if we  
Should have occasion to join Art to arms,  
And chaffer for a Castle, Fort, or town,  
Or a defeat, or so? How's your Prince guarded?  Call. 
As a Prince should be, by Gentlemen; whose Lives  
Are cheaper to them then their Honours; And  
More cheaply to be purchased from Them. Men  
Who'd look on tempter's, as New Enemies;  
And think't New Justice added to their Cause,  
To fight against those who would corrupt 'em, briefly,  
The are Men who do propose only these two  
Brave Ends unto Themselves, to die, and to  
Be loyal to their Prince; About whose person  
Their Valours make one Guard, their Loves another.  Art. 
Some under Officers perhaps there may be,  
Whose Trade & Occupation 'tis to Kill,  
And to grow rich by Slaughters; Vile Market Spirits,  
Who do not fight for Fame, or Cause. but think  
That side is most i'th' Right which gives most pay,  
And these war's justest where there is most plunder:  
Whom you may buy o'er to your side, and we  
Upon a New Sale, may buy bacl again.  
You I believe have some in your camp too,  
Who are like Victory; Hover a while  
With doubtful Wings between both Armies, and  
At last forsake the weakest.  Theag: 
Since you've made  
A free Confession, we'll now proceed unto  
As free a Censure of you. My Lords, pronounce  
Each in your order.  Orith. 
My sentence is, that since  
They were caught in a Lady's Tent, at hours  
When all good soldiers should be on their Watches;  
And since They were surprised, and no swords drawn:  
(Which renders them uncapable of a  
More Manly punishment) They be attired  
In women's Clothes, and so led through the camp  
In triumph, then left to their ransoms.  Thal. 
I  
Concur with you; But do add farther, that  
In stead of ransom, in that dress They be  
Returned to be Another show of scorn  
To their own Army.  Theag. 
What say you two?  Men. 
We  
Do both agree in one brief Vote; which is,  
That since we hear they boast of Lady's favours,  
To which a grateful speechlessenesse is due,  
That first They have their Tongues cut out, and so  
Made Mutes; Next, that they be gelt, and made Eunuchs;  
And thus disabled from all what concerns  
The Company of Women, but to keep 'em;  
That they be fold to th' Persian; who'll employ 'em  
With these Capacities in their seraglios.  Serp. 
You see we told you true.  Call. 
Pray, pray my Lords,  
Reverse this cruel sentence. Rather let us  
Be dressed like Women, then be made not Men.  Neand. 
Rather cut off our Heads, than Tongues; and make us  
Mutes that way.  Mel. 
To which of us do you speak?  Neand: 
To the Lords with the triple voices.  Mel. 
Well,  
Though we might show our rights of Conquest on you,  
And yet proceed to harder dooms; since victors  
Cannot be cruel, where the worst is lawful;  
Yet if you'll swear never hereafter to  
Bear arms against us, with your eyes we will  
Restore you to your Liberty.  Art: 
Let's swear;  
IT will be a fine excuse to keep's from fight.  Call: 
We swear.  Mel: 
By our Gods or your own?  Call: 
By all  
Our Country Gods we'll near bear arms against you.  Mel: 
You take the same oath?  Nean: 
Yes.  Art: 
If you'll have me  
I'll swear by all your Gods too, you shall never  
Take me in arms against you.  The. 
Perhaps you will  
Outrun your followers. Now unbind 'em; next  They unbind 'em, They unblinde 'em. 
Give'em their sight.  Orith. 
Ha', ha', ha', look how meekly,  
And peaceably they look?  Thal: 
what a Tranquillity,  
And harmless calm is in their Countenances?  Men. 
How undisturbed they beat this? How serenely?  
As if they were at Truce with all the world.  Mar 
who would not be a Coward, to be endued  
with such a gift of Patience?  Theag: 
Gentlemen,  
Having so amply testified your valours  
To us, and these fair Ladies, We'll report  
Your Chievalry to th'King. Mean time we leave you  
To you stout Resolutions, and Chronicle,  
To be set forth in Epic Meeter on you.  Mel: 
Farewell brave Champions; Take heed your examples  
Do not infect your Companions.  Orith: 
Pray, when  
You have spare hours, and are returned unto  
Your Courages, let us once more partake  
Of your defences at our Tent.  Thal: 
And as  
You find us free, and yielding, pray for our  
Sakes, and your own, conceal your Entertainment.  Exeunt. Men. 
Pray keep yourselves whole men.  Mar: 
And safe from dangers  Mac: 
Captains we have our pay a month before hand.  
We'll take leave too, and return to our postures.  Call: 
Pray stay pray stay; Is not your name Macrinus?  Mac: 
Yes Sir.  Nean: 
Yours Lacero I take it?  Lac: 
True Sir.  Call. 
And you are Lantspesado Serpix?  Serp. 
Sir,  
I should deny myself else.  Neand. 
And 'tis thought  
These are your Breeches?  Lac. 
We confess it; And  
These yours, and Doublets.  Mac: 
Troth we know you scorn  
To wear 'em after us; or to put on  
Clothes which you once cast off.  Serp. 
Adieu sweet Captains;  
We will report your Bounty to the Campe.  Lacer. 
And show how you have guilded us, and made us  
Three complete Gentlemen of your Companies.  Exeunt.  

SCAENA III.  Callias, Neander, Artops. Call. 
Neander?  Neand. 
Hum.  Call. 
Was this a Dream, & did  
All these appear to us in our sleep? or wast  
A real vision?  Neand. 
Why do you ask?  Call. 
Because, if it were real, I expect  
That passages so fit for History,  
Shall not scape Mercuries or Scout. Gazetes;  
But shortly be recorded with the deeds  
Of Democraticke John, or the Rednosed burgess,  
Who enacts Ordinances in sack; Or with  
The Life and Death of preaching Nol and Rowland.  Neand▪ 
If we scape rascal poetry I care not.  
All my fear is, lest He who carved the emblem  
Of the ox with four horns, spitting fire, like one  
O●h ' Bulls which Jason conquered, should cut us  
With Wings, in most vile libel figure, flying,  
Like owls by Twilight, and moultring these our feathers,  
Before two she Kites, following us with Quivers.  Call: 
True; And then Pistoolerus, who lives by  
His yearly Gifts in scraping verse, and pictures,  
T'expound this to the Multitude in Ballad,  
Sung to the direful Tune of Orpheus torn  
By Oyster Wives.  Neand. 
Artops, Suppose this should  
Arrive to th'Knowledge of your brown Lycoris  
Ith' Suburbs?  Art: 
Pray don't trouble me, I'm in  
A serious Contemplation.  Neand. 
What is't?  Art. 
Why,  
If you'll needs know, 'Tis whither it be not fit  
(To prove ourselves no Cowards, and to show  
How much we can slight Death in any shape)  
That we should call our Regiments together;  
Erect a handsome Traverse; Then desire  
The Company They'd join with us in one  
Of Homer's Odes, and after a short Confession,  
Turn ourselves off in Packthread.  Call: 
Come, we must  
Do something to redeem our Credits: The boys  
Will else tie Squibbes behind us, as we pass,  
And make us walk the streets in fireworks.  Exeunt.  

SCAENA. iv  Eurymedon, Roxane, Barsene. Eurym. 
Madam, you put too great names on my Visits,  
To style them meritorious Dangers. 'Tis  
So little I have done, thus to adventure  
To your fair presence, secured only by  
The weak veil and cloud which I wear about me,  
That this but ranks me yet amongst vulgar Lovers;  
Who would do much more for one fading kiss,  
Which dies in the fruition, and perishes  
Whilst 'tis received, from her they love.  Bars. 
But Sir,  
So often to descend from your great self,  
Where once had been enough to gain a Princess;  
And to submit yourself to this dark shade,  
Which might betray you, and at best conceals you  
But as Eclipses do conceal the Sun;  
Which when They hid, do rob him too, and take  
His bright rays from him; And all this to enjoy  
The frail Sight of a Woman, who returns  
You nought but task for Visit, and whose presence  
Might it securely be possessed, and you  
Not venture a Captivity as often  
As you pass to and fro▪ at most can make  
But this poor, short requital, To be seen  
Such as She is, one only rich in promises,  
Where She wants Treasures more substantial;  
And those performed so much below the Receiver,  
So apt to breed Repentance, as to deserve  
Only to pass amongst the Injuries of Love,  
Is such a nobleness, which first esteems  
And values mean Things, whose Worth is Opinion,  
And then finds Arguments to prise them, and  
T'account them amiable▪ you've added This  
To my Releasement when I was your prisoner,  
Still to proceed in the same generous error;  
Still to believe me worthy to be loved,  
As then to be surprised, and to be told so.  Eurym. 
You are the first, Most Gracious Barsene,  
Who rob herself to make Another rich;  
Or stripped herself of her own praises to  
Adorn another's Wants, and then look on him  
As a Thing Worthy to be valued, The Gods  
When They return a large and plenteous vintage  
For a few Drops of Wine poured on their Altars:  
Or do repay a grain or Two consumed  
In Sacrifice, with a whole field of Incense;  
Or when They do requite a pilgrimage  
Made to their Shrines, with Answers which do promise  
More than the Supplicant or asks, or hopes for,  
Are not more Bounteous, more free and liberal,  
Then you; who thus do glorify what You  
In Justice might despise; And call your own  
Perfections, which attract me to your presence,  
Des●rt in me; Or think I merit, when  
You make me happy. Nor can I count my visits  
Among my Dangers, which are so much sweetened  
By your Allowance of Them. If they be Dangers,  
'Tis a felicity I cover to  
Be always ways near my thraldom. To be taken  
Coming or Going, and held Captive, Will  
Be such a suffering as will endear itself;  
And be one of my pleasures, when I think  
For whose sake I'm a Bondman.  Bar: 
But, Great Sir,  
What can you see in me, besides a mind  
Willing to understand itself beloved,  
And to return Affection for Affection,  
Which should expose you to these perils; And  
Make't an Adventure every time you see me;  
And your return bacl an Escape?  Eur: 
I see  
A form more beautiful, more attracting, then  
All those for which the King of God's left Heaven.  
And which t'enjoy, he rather chose to be  
Transformed into a Flame, or spangled shower,  
Then to remain the Thunderer; And thought it  
A happier shape to be a Swan, then to  
Be clothed with his own Lightning. Should you set me  
The tasks of Hercules, or bid me turn  
Fable into story, and make his Labours mine;  
Or should enjoin me fights where th'enemy  
Grows numerous from my Conquests. And multiplies  
From every wound I give him; And having finished  
One Labour, should you strait prescribe another;  
And make me so divide my life between  
My Love and Conflicts; Such a reward as you,  
Would be a greater recompense, then to  
Be placed among the stars, and there to shine  
A Constellation, wreathed about with my  
Own Victories; and glittering with the spoils  
I took from lions.  Rox: 
Well, Sir, Barsene hath  
Received so true, so full a Testimony  
Both of your Love, and fortitude, that now  
Nothing is wanting to put both you and us  
In full possession of our wishes, but  
The opportunity to reveal ourselves  
After the noblest manner.  Bar: 
Your task is only  
To set your Army in Array, to join  
Battle with ours, that, from this show of war,  
We may at our Return unto ourselves,  
The better raise a peace: And make an Olive  
Spring from our myrtles. Mean time I am your Conquest.  Eur. 
And I, who came a Prince, return your Captive.  Exeunt.  

SCAENA v  Archidamus, Lyncestes, Polydamas, Theagines, Meleager. Archid. 
My Lords, Lyncestes and Polydamas,  
You Two stop all the passages by which  
The Prince of Thrace is to return; That done,  
Put the new forces you have brought in posture,  
And fit Array, if need be, to suppress  
All camp Commotions. We are not safe amongst Women.  Lync. 
It shall be done.  Arch. 
And let th'old Forces be  
In Readiness, if th'Adverse Army do  
Invite us to join Battle, to entertain it,  
And meet them in the field.  Polyd. 
It shall be ordered.  Arch 
But is it credible Eurymedon  
Should have the Confidence to trust himself  
To a thin weak Disguise, and in a Cloud  
So open and transparent, should pass through  
My camp, on such a treacherous enterprise?  Theag. 
He's now Sir at the Queen's Tent, where they hold  
A secret Consultation.  Mel. 
We saw him enter  
Just at the Instant when two of her Ladies,  
The One 〈◊〉 general of the Army,  
The Other Lady marshal of the field,  
Were telling us plot.  Arch. 
That 'tis concluded,  
Roxane shall be carried bacl to Thrace,  
Barsene be restored (perhaps deflowered)  
And He to choose Hyppolyta, or her Sister,  
Instead of Mine to be his Queen?  Theag. 
Yes, Sir,  
They are indifferent, and are resolved,  
Since you refused 'em, to wed by Lottery,  
Of which refusal they are so sensible,  
That when both armies join, 'tis too contrived,  
(Which I do wonder they should, yet, discover)  
The Amazons, upon the sign given, shall  
Turn to the other side; And sacrifice  
Your overthrow to their Revenge; Or what's  
More to be feared, your kingdom to their nuptials.  Mel: 
Antiope, the sister, wants a portion;  
And if she bring your crown, and sceptre with her;  
Or, if t'enlarge her husband's Territories,  
She add yours to 'em, the Match will be more Princely,  
And she appear so much the more herself, Sir,  
If she can raise a Dowry from your Conquest.  Arch: 
Oh the deceitfulness of Women! whose  
Affection's like the Rainbow, can show painted,  
And Court us with a thousand Beauteous Colours,  
Yet all this only serve to gild a storm;  
And make a Tempest look more flattering.  
We must use Plot against Plot. To seize upon  
The Ladies were dishonourable; And  
To take these Captive who are now our Guests,  
(Though they deserve it, having forfeited  
The Smile of Friends they brought, for Enemies)  
Would be our blot in History. You two, therefore,  
Seize on the Prince at his return, His ransom  
Shall be the Restitution of our Ladies.  A Battle beaten within, Enter Macrinus. 
Hark, what means this?  Macr. 
Arm, arm yourselves, both camps  
Are joined; And th' Amazons have put themselves  
In arms against us, 'Tis rumoured through the Field,  
To charge us in the Rear, The Thracians  
In Front: and so t'encircle us a a  
Parenthesis of Enemies, composed  
Of Men before us, and Women, Sir, behind.  Arch: 
We'll to the field straight. O false Sex! The wind  
May be made constant, but not womankind.  Exeunt.  

SCAENA vi  After a Battle beaten within, enter at one door, in fight postures, Archidamus, ' Theagines, Meleager. At the other Eurymedon, Clitus, Hippocles. Arch: 
I'm glad I have met you out of clouds, in your  
Own shape, and like yourself. You've hitherto  
Obscured yourself, in mists, of your own raising  
To play the these in, since you landed false Prince!  
Was't not enough you did pursue my Queen  
With your unnecessary expedition;  
And when our Nuptial Torch was placed, and kindled  
Upon the Altar. must then quench it, And  
Like those who do rob Temples (For to take her  
Thus from me was plain sacrilege) must snatch her  
Then bacl again, just when the sacred Cake  
Was breaking 'twixt the Flamens hands, And all  
The Gods of Weddings in their Saffron Robes,  
But as part of your piracy, and stealth,  
(If yet the treacherous surprise of a  
Weak Company of Ladies do deserve  
A name not yet more Infamous) must join  
My sister, and the beauteous part of my  
Whole Court, and kingdom in the Rape? As if  
You meant t' erect a new Seraglio, or  
T'enlarge your old▪ And take them prisoners first,  
Then use them amongst your other prostitutes?  Eurym: 
Is this all?  Arch: 
There is one thing more. To show  
Your power upon that Sex, (which you, I see,  
Have strived by all ways to make yours, And, where  
By force you could not, have conquered by Petition)  
Was't not enough you did begin the war  
In the suprize of Ladies, but that since  
You must continue it by Stratagem,  
More treacherous than the first? And in your false  
And borrowed shapes, (In which you nightly have  
Appeared to the Queen of Amazons) must tempt  
Her, and her Ladies from their pure Affections,  
Which made them first resolve, won by the Justice,  
And goodness of my Cause, to fight for me,  
Until seduced they grew conspirators,  
And did resolve to fight for you? Had you  
First taken, and then matched Barsene, yet,  
To be your Queen, thus, had not been a Wedding,  
But a Captivity; And to be forced  
Unto your bed with shackles on, is not  
To be your Princess, but your slave. But first  
To take her prisoner, And, (For aught I know)  
To use your power of Conquest on her, And  
To make her first unworthy of your Nuptials,  
And then despise her, for one more entire,  
More free, and more untouched, (For your new Loves  
Made to Hippolyta, and her sister Prince,  
Have not been so disguis ', like you the Lover,  
As to escape my knowledge) is such a wrong,  
(Besides my other Interest of having  
My Queen kept from me) as I stand here to punish;  
Or else to add my fall unto my sufferings.  Eurym: 
Have you, Sir, finished your Oration?  Arch: 
This  
Only remains. To save th'expense of blood,  
Which may be shed on both sides, since the quarrel  
Is purely ours, Let's not engage our Armies  
But here conclude the war, The injured with  
The Injurer, in one fair, single combat.  Theag: 
Sir, we've a Cause going too; And have two Ladies.  
Who well might think us two Indiffereut Cowards,  
And very cold in their Revenge, should we  
Stand peaceable spectators, whilst you fight.  Mel: 
We do beseech you, Sir, Let us join our  
Poor Interest with yours; And since the number,  
And quality of the Combatants is equal,  
T'express the like sense of our wrongs, let it  
Be Three to Three.  Clyt: 
We do accept the challenge;  
And will maintain, your Ladies are our Prisoners,  
More Nobly than they were at 〈…〉 Wives;  
And that we took them far 〈…〉  
Then you first married'em. Eurym: Pray stay a little.  
To show Archidamus, (〈…〉,  
Although I justly might, call you false Prince,  
Being guilty of those Accusations, which  
You stick on me) that we being equal causes,  
As well as equal Valours, to defend them,  
Since you observed a Method in your Wrongs,  
And those suspicions only, and imaginary,  
I'll use one in my Answers? 'Tis confessed  
I did use Art to gain by plot what was  
By plot taken from me, Roxane, my best sister.  
And if in her surprise I recover recover  
But what you first stole, and redeemed my loss  
With some enforcement, this deserves the name  
Of a retrieve not of a piracy.  
Next that I took your Sister with my own,  
'Twas part of my Affection to her; Love  
Prompted me to the Action; which doth not  
Cease to be Love. because it once put on  
The shape of Force▪ And that force but made use of,  
To let her know that he who took her was  
The greater prisoner, and was first surprised.  
How I have used her since, the Gods, and she,  
Her own Historian, when you see her next  
Will witness for me. Lastly, if refused  
By you, (I will not say by her, for her  
Consent takes flame from yours) I've been a Suitor,  
Where I've been freely heard, and entertained,  
Asked and prevailed, For you to claim a sovereignty,  
Over th'Affections of Hippolyta.  
Or her fair Sister, or call me thief, or treacherous,  
〈…〉 night's to my disguises,  
〈…〉 to them might be more  
〈…〉, is such a Wrong  
To me and them; That in their Absence. I  
Stand here to make good with my sword, my stealths,  
Have been more noble than your open Visits.  
And that I am more Constant to Barsene  
In the new purchase of their Loves, than you  
Are to Roxane in refusing them.  
Now, Sir, I am prepared to meet your strokes.  Clyt: 
Your Challenge holds too?  Theag: 
Yes; you shall perceive,  
You fight not now with Women.  Hipp: 
We see you're Men,  
And you shall find us such.  Mel: 
'Tis nobly promised.   

SCAENA. VII.  As they prepare to fight enter to them, Their faces undiscoloured, and to be known, Roxane, who takes hold of Archidamus, Barsene of Eurymedon. Rox: 
Hold as you're Princes; And respect the Cries,  
Of your own Ladies, who in your wounds bleed.  
And, if you fall must here expire with you;  
Since neither of you can fall singly, and  
We not be slain too.  Bar: 
Great Archidamus,—  
My royal Lord Eurymedon,— (For now  
I dare profess you) what mean you to contract,  
And thus remove the war into a duel?  
O sheath your swords; See your Barsene begs.  Rox: 
Once more hear your Roxane, Sir; And here  
Cast down your weapon. Or if we be the cause  
Of this your strife, be reconciled by turning  
Your swords on us. See here two Sacrifices  
Ready to buy your peace with their own slaughters.  Arch: 
How's this? Roxane and Barsene? Sure  
My eyes are not themselves; Or else my joys  
Make me take Visions for Realities.  Theag: 
Beleeve us, Sir, These are no empty shades  
Which will appear and vanish.  Mel: 
There have bodies,  
Composed of Flesh and blood.  Eur: 
Now, Sir, you see,  
If you'll proceed ith'Combate, I want not  
A noble cause to fight for. If you'll now  
Call my surprise of these a piracy,  
Or my stolen visits since made to their Tents  
A Treason, in which these went conspirators,  
I hope you'll think't a Treason, in which I  
Had only this one honourable aim,  
To render myself worthy to be owned  
by this fair Princess; and to betray you to  
A league and friendship with me by th'exchange  
Of Queens and Sisters.  Arch: 
Is this true?  Rox: 
Our plot  
Was in these borrowed shapes only to try  
How you would bear our loss; Or whither we  
Might tempt you from your Constancy. Which, Sir,  
Hath been so firm, so settled, four shaken,  
So much beyond her Merits who made trial,  
That l'm now twice yours; And the second time  Takes her in his arms. 
Here cast myself into your arms.  Arc. 
You're here,  
Once more my bright star fixed in your own sphere,  Bar: 
Then, for you, Great Eurymedon, To leave  
Your kingdom for the sight, and spectacle  
Of one, whose Beauty can at most aspire  
But to be seen, and pardoned; After that,  
To turn that which at first showed boisterous force,  
Into a generous Courtship; And to change  
That which I first took for a rude surprise,  
Into the noblest way of Love; And there  
To be a Suplicant, and to spend sighs,  
Prayers, and Petitions, where you might command  
Affection as your Conquest, adds so pure,  
So clear, so bright a Luster to your flame,  
And calls forth such a just, and heat heat  
From me, to meet with yours, that from the time  
You did release, I became your Captive;  
And you gained this by setting of me free,  
only to change one thraldom for another;  
And from that time to make me wear your Fetters,  
And to be wholly yours.  Eur: 
If these be Fetters,  
I shall for ever wish to be your prison;  Takes her in his arms. 
And thus to hold you chained. I hope. Sir, you  
Will not unlinke us now.  Arch 
Such a separation  
Were such a sin, as would be punished with  
The Anger of the Gods; And would deserve  
To have another added to it; And I  
Be once more in the number of the divorced.  
To make the knot more firm, here, Sir, In sign  
You've had two conquests of me, I lay down  
Myself, and Weapon at your feet.  Eur. 
And I  
First conquered by your Sister, next, your self,  
Make this confession of it.  Theag: 
My Lords  They lay down their Swords 
You see the wars are ended; If't please you  
Let us put up our swords.  Clyt: 
We'll show the way, Sir.  Arch: 
Next since there's nothing wanting to Combine us,  
In one strict union, but the Priest, and Temple,  
Please you, we will to th' Altar, and there first.  
Conclude a lasting peace, And then our Nuptials.  Exeunt. Eurym: 
Led on; I follow you.  Theag: 
I mar'le, my Lord.  
Our Amazons appear not, with their Brace  
Of Posset-makers.  Mel: 
They are but shifting faces;  Enter Orith. Thal. 
That they may laugh at us in their own shapes.  
See where they come.  Thea: 
How's this? How's this? I'll pawn  
My life another comedy; Let's stand,  
And over-heare'em.  Mel: 
Look how they show in Helmets.   

SCAENA. VIII.  Enter Callias, Neander, Artops. Leading Orithya, Thalastris, Menalippe and Marthesia; with Helmets on, plumed as taken prisoners by them. Call: 
Come, come along. Nay you shall know most stout,  
Most stern Bellona's, what 'tis to be traitors  
Against a State, Was this your errand? This  
Your fair pretence of having Children by us,  
To betray those that should beget 'em? Now  
We know how you overcome the Scythians;  
You did invite them to your Tents, And there  
Conquered the Men by night, by day their Country.  Neand. 
What could you see in us to think us of  
A feebler fabric, or not so well built,  
Nor of such tough Chinea as the Thracians, that  
You should so itch to sell us to 'em, for  
Night's Lodgings, And the transitory pleasure  
Of keeping of you waking?  Orith: 
To the wrong  
You offer to our Innocence, and Honours,  
You're scurrilous and that is one wrong more  
Offered to our chaste ears. Your mouths need washing;  
Or rather gelding. We project to betray you?  Art: 
Why, I beseech you, Lady Telamon,  
If I should ask you, And this Lady Ajax,  
Together with your two Sarpedons here,  
Was't not contrived you in our absence should  
Seize on our Magazine? Then crested thus  
In your bright Helmets, (To which nothing lacks  
But a shield with a Gorgon's Head, to turn  
Us into a stone, and Conquer us with ill looks,)  
That you should sally forth upon us; And  
Then join, almost had said couple, with  
The Enemy? You will deny this?  Thal: 
Yes,  
And having had experience of your Valours,  
Dare here maintain the contrary with our swords,  
Two Women against three Men, without our seconds,  
We seize upon your Magazine?  Call: 
so you'll  
Deny you did receive us at your Tabernacle,  
Your amorous pavilion; And that these two  
Sweet cymbal-beaters, otherwise called Drummers,  
Did strike a false alarm?  Neand: 
Or that you hired  
Three Meager-halfe-pin'd-Rascals, having first  
Depriv'd us of our eyes, To lead us thrice  
Round 'bout the works, to lengthen out our progress  
Towards the enemy's camp; And there to be  
Arraigned before a council, which consisted  
Of two she colonels, two she Clerks of  
Your Comfits, and Suckets; two young Lords; who no doubt  
Enjoyed all that we came for.  Orith: 
'Tis confessed, Sir.  
Had you enjoyed us, our Children only had  
Been valiant by the mother's side.  Art: 
We'll have  
Our council too; where we expect you shall  
Confess your Treason too, Against the King.  
March on before there.  Theag: 
Pray stay Gentlemen;  
Where do you lead these Ladies, thus three deep  
In File, without a drum? You are not going  
To teach 'em postures, are you? Or make a Muster  
Of four commanded by three?  Mel: 
If you mean  
To lead 'em against the Enemy, to show  
Your Fortitudes before 'em, once more; surely  
The wars are ended.  Call: 
Sir, we are leading 'em  
To th'King; we have discovered a foul Treason.  Theag: 
How?  Neand: 
Yes, Sir, such a Treason, and these the plotters  
As does show Women make but th'other twin  
With mischief; And that Falsehood, when it would  
Betray men, still assumes their shape.  Art: 
These Sir,  
Who can lodge Serpents amongst their Roses, and  
Smile o'er their Treacheries, But that we did  
Timely prevent 'em, would have put the camp  
Into a mutiny. We did take these  
Two Lady-Rhetoricks mounting heaps of turf,  
Provided to make speeches to the soldiers;  
T'inflame them to Rebellion.  Mel: 
'Tis not possible.  Neand: 
Yes, Sir, And these two Yeomen of the Galley pots,  
Were employed, as we hear, to offer the  
Free use both of Themselves, and Ladies, to  
All those who with them would forsake our side,  
And turn to th' Thracians.  Orith: 
We will endure't no longer.  
These iron veils cast off, thus we confute you.  They take off their helmets Call: 
How's this? Orithya and Thalaestris? with  
Their Women Menalippe and Marthesia?  Art: 
Amazon-fighters turned to our own Court peace-wormes.  
And my two Troilus' transfored to Knitsters?  Theag: 
They are our Wives. Was ever such a plot  
Laid by two Women to keep their Husbands honest?  Mel: 
They've turned what I thought Fornication  
Into the acts of wedlock. How I love  
Such projects, where men are betrayed unto  
Their lawful pleasure, and tempted to commit  
Adultery with Innocence, and no sin follow?  Thal: 
Pray view us well; And now our paintings off,  
(As you once pleasantly did style us) pray,  
Officious Gentlemen; what other plot  
Can you discern in us, but to laugh at you?  Neand: 
This comes of policy; Our wisdoms have  
Made us three sage, discreet, deep, most rare coxcombs.  Men: 
Ha', ha', ha'; Sure they did expect the King  
Should Knight 'em for their rare Discovery.  Mar: 
Or  
Prefer 'em to the Council Board, and make 'em  
Spies general of the State.  Orith: 
Troth, Gentlemen,  
If you intent to scape plays, and at your  
Return home to Chalcedon, not to see  
Your Deeds brought on the Stage, take our advice;  
Travel till this be over.  Thal: 
And be sure,  
You keep yourselves from Duels; lest your Country  
Do suffer in your Valours.  Theag: 
You see there is  
No meddling with these Women; I'll undertake,  
They can change shapes, as often as shift Linen.  
The book of Transformations, which reports  
Of Women turned to Baytrees, and of Men  
Turned into Women, hath not more various forms,  
Then these can practise.  Mel: 
Alas 'tis not your case  
To be deceived. They did deceive us too.  Orith: 
We have two constant Lords of you. So't had been  
Had we been Amazons in earnest.  Theag. 
you are  
The Two first Ladies that ere made their husband's  
Cuckold themselves with their own Wives.  Thal. 
By this  
Good light 'twould be but justice now to put  
A Court-trick on you.  Mel. 
Alas Thalaestris; I  
Discerned you by your breasts.  Th. 
Be sure you say  Enter Arch. Eurym. &c 
With your own Wife.  Mel. 
Look, Gentlemen,  
D'ye know these Shapes? Here comes the second part  
Oth' Metamorphofis.   

SCAENA IX.  Enter two priest's carrying two hallowed Torch: Followed by Archidamus leading Roxane, and Eurymedon leading Barsene waited on by Clytus and Hippocles. Arch: 
— Thus having made  
Our realms one people, by the League and Knot  
We've tied before the Gods, you two proceed  
In the last rites of this our union,  
And sing the Nuptial Song.  

The second Song, sung by two Priests, holding two marriage Tapers.  

(1)  
Behold these hallowed Tapers; And here see,  
What Wells, and Springs of fire they be.  
How their two lustres twining  
Make mutual shining.  
Whilst one from th'other kindled, doth requite  
I's borrowed, with as great a Light for Light,  
And kindles bacl again.  
And thus combining rays with rays,  
And joining flames, like Marriage days,  
A holy nuptial 'twixt them do maintain.   

(2)  
Yet these but the dark signs, and be be  
Of those concealed fires, which none see  
But Gods, and such whose eyes  
Love Glorifies,  
Between these breasts a sacred flame doth spring,  
Which intermingling Rites, whilst we do sing,  
Is to itself the Priest.  
Whilst Heart with Heart, thus intermoved,  
And pairs made one, The loved with Loved,  
Themselves between themselves in Hymen's twist.    The Song is seconded with a shout within. 
— Hark, hark, what is  
The meaning of this shout and Acclamation?  Enter Lync: Polyd: Lync: 
Sir, the two Armies hearing that their Princes  
Have struck a Peace, have first exchanged their arms,  
And next, in Imitation of your nuptials,  
Which with this shout they celebrate, have cast  
Themselves into new postures of embraces.  Polyd: 
Did you behold 'em, you'd believe there past  
A mutual wedding between Troop and troop,  
And Regiment and Regiment. They want  
Only one of your Priests here to perform  
The holy Ceremony between 'em, To  
Make it a perfect Day of Hymenaeals.  Arch: 
And so't shall be. Nought now remains, but that  
We do add Triumphs to our I●yes, and mingle,  
Our Feasts, and Daunees with our Sacrifices,  
In thankfulness to th' Gods. Then Princes do  
Match truly, when their kingdoms marry too.  
FINIS.