I love the keeper till he let it go, Diph. Hail, worthy brother! Mel. I thank thee, Diphilus. But thou art faulty; I sent for thee to exercise thine arms With me at Patria: Thou cam'st not, Diphilus; It was ill. Diph. My noble brother, my excuse Is my king's straight command; which you, my lord, Can witness with me. Lys. It is true, Melantius; He might not come, till the solemnity Diph. Have you heard of it? Mel. Yes. I have given cause to those, that Envy my deeds abroad, to call me gamesome: I have no other business here at Rhodes. Lys. We have a masque to-night, and you must tread Mel. All joys upon him! for he is my friend. I brought home conquest) he would gaze upon me, Enter ASPATIA, passing by. Made me imagine, you had heard the change. Mel. Who hath he taken then? Lys. A lady, sir, That bears the light above her, and strikes dead Mel. Peace of heart betwixt them! Lys. The king my brother did it Mel. It is royal, like himself. But I am sad Bent long against me; and he should not think, Lys. Yes. But this lady Walks discontented, with her watery eyes Mel. She has a brother under my command, Enter AMINTOR. Cle. My lord, the bridegroom! Mel. I might run fiercely, not more hastily, Upon my foe. I love thee well, Amintor; My mouth is much too narrow for my heart; I joy to look upon those eyes of thine; Thou art my friend, but my disorder'd speech Cuts off my love. Amin. Thou art Melantius; All love is spoke in that. A sacrifice, To thank the gods Melantius is return'd In safety! Victory sits on his sword, As she was wont: May she build there and dwell; What endless treasures would our enemies give, Mel. I am but poor In words; but credit me, young man, thy mother Could do no more but weep for joy to see thee Amin. Pardon, thou holy god Of marriage-bed, and frown not; I am forc'd, Mel. I fear thou art grown too fickle; for I hear Mel. Be prosperous! Enter Messenger. Mess. My lord, the masquers rage for you. you With our solemnities. Mel. Not so, Amintor: But if you laugh at my rude carriage Enter CALIANAX with DIAGORAS. Cal. Diagoras, look to the doors better, for shame! you let in all the world, and anon the king will rail at me-why, very well said-by Jove, the king will have the show in the court. Ding. Why do you swear so, my lord? You know, he will have it here. Cal. By this light, if he be wise, he will not. sworn. Cal. One may wear out his heart with swearing, and get thanks on no side. I'll be gone look to it, who will. Diag. My lord, I shall never keep them out. Pray, stay; your looks will terrify them. Cal. My looks terrify them, you coxcombly ass, you! I will be judged by all the company, whether thou hast not a worse face than I. Diag. I mean, because they know you and your office. Cal. Office! I would I could put it off: I am sure I sweat quite through my office. I might have made room at my daughter's wedding: they have near killed her among them; and now I must do service for him, that hath forsaken her. Serve, that will. [Exit. Diag. He is so humourous since his daughter was forsaken.-Hark, hark! there, there! so, so! Codes, Codes! [Knock within.] What now? Mel. [within.] Open the door. Diag. Who is there? Mel. [within] Melantius. Diag hope your lordship brings no troop with you; for, if you do, I must return them. Enter MELANTIUS and a Lady. Mel. None but this lady, sir. Diag. The ladies are all placed above, save those, that come in the king's troop: The best of Rhodes sit there, and there is room. Mel. I thank you, sir. When I have seen you placed, madam, I must attend the king; but, the masque done, I'll wait on you again. Diag. Stand back there-room for my lord Melantius-pray, bear back-this is no place for such youths and their trulls-let the doors shut again.-No!-do your heads itch? I will scratch them for you. So, now thrust and hang.-Again! who is it now?-I cannot blame my lord Calianax for going away: Would he were here! he would run raging among them, and break a dozen wiser heads than his own, in the twinkling of an eye. What's the news now? Within.] I pray you, can you help me to the speech of the master-cook? Diag. If I open the door, I will cook some of your calves heads. Peace, rogues!—Again! who is it? Mel. [within.] Melantius. Enter CALIANAX, If it were temperate; but testy years Amin. Good sir, forbear. Cal. There is just such another as yourself. Cal. He shall not have my hand. To force you to it. I do love you both: your choice. Mel. Sister, I joy to see you, and You looked with my eyes, when you took that man: Be happy in him! [Recorders play. Evad. O, my dearest brother! Your presence is more joyful than this day Can be unto me. | By which I may discover all the place How dull and black am I! I could not find One of my clearest moons I have put on; Night. Then let us keep them here; Cinth. Great queen of shadows, you are pleased to speak Of more than may be done: We may not break The gods' decrees; but, when our time is come, Must drive away, and give the day our room. Night. Then shine at full, fair queen, and by thy power Produce a birth, to crown this happy hour, cover, songs dis Easy and sweet, who is a happy lover. Cinth. Thou dream'st, dark queen; that fair boy was not mine, Nor went I down to kiss him. Ease and wine NEPTUNE rises. Nept. Cinthia, see, Thy word hath fetch'd me hither: Let me know, Why I ascend? Činth. Doth this majestic show Give thee no knowledge yet? Nept. Yes, now I see Something intended, Cinthia, worthy thee. Cinth. Hie thee, then, And charge the wind fly from his rocky den. But vernal blasts, and gentle winds appear; Eol. I shall do it. SONG. Hold back thy hours, dark Night, till we have The day will come too soon; The blushes of the bride. Stay, gentle Night, and with thy darkness cover Stay, and confound her tears, and her shrill cry- Her weak denials, vows, and often dyings; But help not, tho' she call. Nept. Great queen of us and heaven, hear what I bring To make this hour a full one, If not o'ermeasure. Cinth. Speak, sea's king. Nept. The tunes my Amphitrite joys to have, Eol. Great master of the flood, and all below, When they will dance upon the rising wave, Thy full command has taken.- -Ho! the Main! Eol. Boreas has broke his chain, Nept. Let him alone, I'll take him up at sea; Fol. I am gone. Cinth. Dark Night, Strike a full silence; do a thorough right Touch high as heaven, and make the east break At mid-night. [Music. [The measure. And court me as she sails. My tritons, play SONG. [Measure. To bed, to bed; come Hymen, lead the bride, Bring in the virgins every one, That grieve to lie alone; That they may kiss while they may say, a maid; Whilst these lovers are a-twining. Nept. Eolus! Eol. The seas go high, Boreas hath rais'd a storm: Go and apply To strike a calm. Let him go on and flame! I hope to see Cinth. Heave up thy drowsy head again, and see ACT II. Enter EVADNE, ASPATIA, DULA, and other la dies. Evad. DULA, 'Would, thou could'st instil Some of thy mirth into Aspatia! Nothing but sad thoughts in her breast do dwell: Methinks, a mean betwixt you would do well. Dula. She is in love: Hang me, if I were so, But I could run my country. I love, too, To do those things that people in love do. Asp. It were a timeless smile should prove my cheek: It were a fitter hour for me to laugh, With sacrifice, than now. This should have been : To young Amintor's bed, as we are now less : But, till he did so, in these ears of mine, Evad. Nay, leave this sad talk, madam. cause. Evad. See, if you have not spoiled all Dula's mirth. Asp. Thou thinkest thy heart hard; but if thou be'st caught, Remember me; thou shalt perceive a fire Dula. That's not so good; let them shoot any thing but fire, I fear them not. Asp. Well, wench, thou may'st be taken. Asp. Lay a garland on my hearse, Evad. That's one of your sad songs, madam. SONG. Asp. Lay a garland on my hearse, [Exeunt. My love was false, but I was firm Evad. Fie on it, madam! the words are so strange, they are able to make one dream of hobgoblins. I could never have the power:' Sing that, Dula. Dula. I could never have the pow'r To love one above an hour, But my heart would prompt mine eye Venus, fix thou mine eyes fast, Or, if not, give me all that I shall see at last. Evad. So, leave me now. Dula. Nay, we must see you laid. Asp. Madam, good night. May all the mar- That longing maids imagine in their beds, 1 Lady. Come, we'll let in the bridegroom. Enter AMINTOR. 1 Lady. Here, take this light. |