I love the keeper till he let it go,

Made me imagine, you had heard the change. And then I follow it.

Mel. Who hath he taken then? Diph. Hail, worthy brother !

Lys. A lady, sir, Hle, that rejoices not at your return

That bears the light above her, and strikes dead In safety, is mine enemy for ever.

With flashes of her eye: the fair Evadne, Mel. I thank thee, Diphilus. But thou art Your virtuous sister. faulty;

Mel. Peace of heart betwixt them !
I sent for thee to exercise thine arms

But this is strange.
With me at Patria: Thou cam’st not, Diphilus; Lys. The king my brother did it
It was ill.

To honour you; and these solemnities
Diph. My noble brother, my excuse

Are at his charge. Is my king's straight command; which you, my lord, Mel. It is royal, like himself. But I am sad Can witness with me.

My speech bears so unfortunate a sound Lys. It is true, Melantius;

To beautiful Aspatia. There is rage He might not come, till the solemnity

Hid in her father's breast, Calianax, Of this great match was past.

Bent long against me; and he should not think, Diph. Have you heard of it?

If I could call it back, that I would take Mel. Yes. I have given cause to those, that So base revenges, as to scorn the state Envy my deeds abroad,

call me gamesome : Of his neglected daughter. Holds he still I have no other business here at Rhodes.

His greatness with the king? Lys. We have a masque to-night, and you must Lys. Yes. But this lady tread

Walks discontented, with her watery eyes A soldier's measure.

Bent on the earth. The unfrequented woods Mel. These soft and silken wars are not for me: Are her delight; and, when she sees a bank The music must be shrill, and all confused, Stuck full of flowers, she, with a sigh, will tell That stirs my blood; and then I dance with arms. Her servants, what a pretty place it were But is Amintor wed?

To bury lovers in ; and make her maids Diph. This day.

Pluck them, and strew her over like a corse. Mel. All joys upon him! for he is my

friend. She carries with her an infectious grief, Wonder not, that I call a man so young my friend: That strikes all her beholders; she will sing Ilis worth is great; valiant he is, and temperate; The mournfullest things, that ever ear hath heard, And one that never thinks his life his own, And sigh, and sing again; and, when the rest If his friend need it. When he was a boy, Of our young ladies, in their wanton blood, As oft as I returned (as, without boast,

Tell mirthful tales in course, that fill the room I brought home conquest) he would gaze upon me, With laughter, she will, with so sad a look, And view me round, to find in what one limb Bring forth a story of the silent death The virtue lay to do those things he heard. Of some forsaken virgin, which her grief Then would he wish to see my sword, and feel Will put in such a phrase, that, ere she end, The quickness of the edge, and in his hand She'll send them weeping one by one away. Weigh it: He oft would make me smile at this. Mel. She has a brother under my command, Ilis youth did promise much, and his ripe years Like her; a face as womanish as hers; Will see it all performed.

But with a spirit, that hath much out-grown

The number of his
Enter Aspatia, passing by.

years. Hail, maid and wife!

Enter AMINTOR. Thou fair Aspatia, may the holy knot,

Cle. My lord, the bridegroom! That thou hast tied to-day, last till the hand Mel. I might run fiercely, not more hastily, Of age undo it! mayest thou bring a race Upon my foe. I love thee well, Amintor; Unto Amintor, that may fill the world

My mouth is much too narrow for my heart; Successively with soldiers !

I joy to look upon those eyes of thine ; Asp. My hard fortunes

Thou art my friend, but my disorder'd speech Deserve not scorn; for I was never proud, Cuts off my love. When they were good.

[Exit. Amin. Thou art Melantius; Mel, llow is this?

All love is spoke in that. A sacrifice, Lys. You are mistaken,

To thank the gods Melantius is return'd For she is not married.

In safety! Victory sits on his sword, Niel. You said Amintor was.

As she was wont: May she build there and dwell; Diph. It is true; but

And may thy armour be, as it hath been, Mel. Pardon me, I did receive

Only thy valour and thy innocence! Letters at Patria from my Amintor,

What endless treasures would our enemies give, That he should marry her.

That I might hold thee still thus ! Diph. And so it stood

Mel. I am but poor In all opinion long; but your arrival

In words; but credit me, young man, thy mother

a

Could do no more but weep for joy to see thee Mel. [within.] Open the door.
After long absence : All the wounds, I have, Diag. Who is there?
Fetch'd not so much away, nor all the cries Mel. [within] Melantius.
Of widowed mothers. But this is peace,

Diag. I hope your lordship brings no troop And that was war.

with

you; for, if you do, I must return them. Amin. Pardon, thou holy god

Enter MELAntius and a Lady.
Of marriage-bed, and frown not; I am forc'd,
In answer of such noble tears as those,

MIcl. None but this lady, sir.
To weep upon my wedding-day.

Ding: The ladies are all placed above, save Mel. I fear thou art grown too fickle; for I hear those that come in the king's troop: The best A lady mourns for thee; men say, to death;

of Rhodes sit there, and there is room. Forsaken of thee; on what terms I know not.

Mel. I thank you, sir. When I have seen you Amin. She had my promise; but the king forbad it, placed, madam, I must attend the king; but, the And made me make this worthy change, thy sister, masque done, I'll wait on you again. Accompanied with graces far above her;

Diag. Stand back there-room for

my

lord With whom I long to lose my lusty youth,

Melantius-pray, bear back—this is no place for And grow old in her arms.

such youths and their trulls—let the doors shut Mel. Be prosperous !

again.—No !-do your heads itch? I will scratch Enter Messenger.

them for you. So, now thrust and hang.--Again!

who is it now?-I cannot blame my lord CaliVess. My lord, the masquers rage for you. anax for going away: Would he were here! he Lys. We are gone. Cleon, Strato, Diphilus— would run raging among them, and break a dozen Amin. We will all attend you. We shall trouble wiser heads than his own, in the twinkling of an you

eye.-What's the news now? With our solemnities.

Within.] I pray you, can you help me to the

I Mel. Not so, Amintor:

speech of the master-cook? But if you laugh at my rude carriage

Diag. If I open the door, I will cook some of In peace, I'll do as much for you in war, your calves heads. Peace, rogues !-Again! who When you come thither. Yet I have a mistress

is it?
To bring to your delights; rough though I am, Mel. [within.] Melantius.
I have a mistress, and she has a heart,

Enter CALIANAX,
She savs; but, trust me, it is stone, no better; Cal. Let him not in.
There is no place, that I can challenge in it.

Diag. O, my lord, I must. Make room there But you stand still, and here my way lies. for

my

lord. Enter CALIANAX with DiagoRAS.

Enter MELANTIUS. Cal. Diagoras, look to the doors better, for Is your lady placed ?

[To Mel. shame! you let in all the world, and anon the Mel. Yes, sir, king will rail at me—why, very well said—by I thank you. My lord Calianax, well met. Jove, the king will have the show in the court. Your causeless hate to me, I hope, is buried.

Diag. Why do you swear so, my lord? You Cal. Yes, I do service for your sister here, know, he will have it here.

That brings my own poor child to timeless death: Cal. By this light, if he be wise, he will not. She loves your friend Amintor; such another Diag. And, if he will not be wise, you are for- False-hearted lord as you.

Mel. You do me wrong, Cal. One may wear out his heart with swear- A most unmanly one, and I am slow ing, and get thanks on no side. I'll be gone- In taking vengeance ! But be well advised. look to it, who will.

Cal. It may be so. Who placed the lady there, Diag. My lord, I shall never keep them out. So near the presence of the king ? Prav, stay; your looks will terrify them.

Mel. I did. Cal. My looks terrify them, you coxcombly Cal. My lord, she must not sit there. ass, you! I will be judged by all the company, Mel. Why? whether thou hast not a worse face than I.

Cal. The place is kep for women of more worth. Diag. I mean, because they know you and Miel. More worth than she? It mis-becomes your office.

your age, Cal. Office! I would I could put it off: I am And place, to be thus womanish. Forbear! sure I sweat quite through my office. I might What you have spoke, I am content to think trave made room at my daughter's wedding : they The palsy shook your tongue to. have near killed her among them; and now I Cal. Why, it is well, if I stand here to place must do service for him, that hath forsaken her. men's wenches. Serve, that will.

[Erit.

Mel. I shall forget this place, thy age, my safety, Diag. He is so humourous since his daughter And, thorough all, cut that poor sickly week, was fursaken.--Hark, hark! there, there ! so, so! Thou hast to live, away from thee. Codes, Codes ! [Knock within.] What now? Cal. Nay, I know you can fight for your whore.

Mel. Bate the king, and be he flesh and blood, | By which I may discover all the place
He lies, that says it! Thy mother at fifteen And persons, and how many longing eyes
Was black and sinful to her.

Are come to wait on our solemnities.
Diag. Good

my
lord !

Enter CINTHIA.
Mel. Some god pluck threescore years from
that fond man,

How dull and black am I! I could not find

I am so blind.
That I may kill him, and not stain mine honour. This beauty without
It is the curse of soldiers, that in

Methinks, they shew like to those eastern streaks,

peace They shall be braved by such ignoble men,

That warn us hence, before the morning breaks. As, if the land were troubled, would with tears

Back, my pale servant, for these eyes know how And knees beg succour from them. 'Would, that To shoot far more and quicker rays than thou. blood,

Cinth. Great queen, they be a troop, for whom

alone
That sca of blood, that I have lost in fight,
Were running in thy veins, that it might make thee One of my clearest moons I have put on;
Apt to say less, or able to maintain,

A troop, that looks as if thyself and I
Should'st thou say more! This Rhodes, I sce, is Had plucked our reins in, and our whips laid by,

To nought

gaze upon these mortals, that appear But a place privileged to do men wrong.

Brighter than we.
Cul. Ay, you may say your pleasure.

Night. Then let us keep them here;
And never more our chariots drive

away,
Enter AMINTOR.

But hold our places, and out-shine the day. Amin. What vile injury

Cinth. Great queen of shadows, you are pleased Ilas stirred my worthy friend, who is as slow

to speak To fight with words as he is quick of hard?

Of more than may be done : We may not break Mlel. That heap of age, which I should reve

The gods decrees; but, when our time is come, rence,

Must drive away, and give the day our room. If it were temperate; but testy years

Night. Then shine at full, fair queen, and by Are most contemptible.

thy power Amin. Good sir, forbear.

Produce a birth, to crown this happy hour, Cal. There is just such another as yourself. Of nymphs and shepherds : Let their songs disAmin. He will wrong you, or me, or any man,

cover, And talk as if he had no life to lose,

Easy and sweet, who is a happy lover. Since this our match. The king is coming in :

Or, if thou woo't, then call thine own Endymion, I would not for more wealth than I enjoy, From the sweet flowery bed he lies upon, Ile should perceive you raging. Ile did hear

On Latmus' top, thy pale beams drawn away; You were at difference now, which hastened him. And of this long night let him make a day.

Cal. Make room there ! [Hautboys pluywithin. Cinth. Thou dream’st, dark queen; that fair Enter King, Evadne, Aspatia, lords, and ladies.

boy was not mine,

Nor went I down to kiss him. Ease and wine King. Melantius, thou art welcome, and my love Have bred these bold tales: Poets, when they rage, Is with thee still : But this is not a place Turn gods to men, and make an hour an age. To brabble in. Calianax, join hands.

But I will give a greater state and glory, Cal. He shall not have my hand.

And raise to time a noble memory King. This is no time

Of what these lovers are. Rise, rise, I say, To force you to it. I do love you

both:

Thou power of deeps; thy surges lade away, Calianax, you look well to your office;

Neptune, great king of waters, and by me
And you, Melantius, are welcome home.
Begin the masque!

Be proud to be commanded.

NEPTUNE rises.
Mel. Sister, I joy to see you, and your choice.
You looked with my eyes, when you took that man:

Nept. Cinthia, see,
Be happy in him!

Recorders play

Thy word hath fetch'd me hither : Let me know, Evad. O, my dearest brother!

Why I ascend ? Your presence is more joyful than this day

Cinth. Doth this majestic show Can be unto me.

Give thee no knowledge yet?

Nept. Yes, now I see
THE MASQUE.

Something intended, Cinthia, worthy thee.
Night rises in mists.

Go on; I'll be a helper.
Night. Our reign is come; for in the raging sea Cinth. Hie thee, then,
The sun is drowned, and with him fell the day. And charge the wind fly from his rocky den.
Bright Cinthia, hear my voice; I am the Night, Let loose thy subjects; only Boreas,
For whom thou bear'st about thy borrowed light. Too foul for our intention, as he was,
Appear; no longer thy pale visage shroud, Still keep him fast chained : We must have none
But strike thy silver horns quite through a cloud,

here And send a beam upon iny swarthy face; But vernal blasts, and gentle winds appear;

a

Such as blow flowers, and thro' the glad boughs

SONG. sing

Hold back thy hours, dark Night, till we have Many soft welcomes to the lusty spring :

done : These are our music. Next, thy watery race

The day will come too soon ; Bring on in couples (we are pleased to grace

Young maids will curse thee, if thou steal'st away, This noble night), each in their richest things

And leav'st their losses open to the day :
Your own deeps, or the broken vessel, brings.

Stuy, stay, and hide
Be prodigal, and I shall be as kind,
And shine at full upon you.

The blushes of the bride.

Stay, gentle Night, and with thy darkness cover Nept. Ho! the windCommanding Æolus !

The kisses of her lover.

Stay, and confound her tears, and her shrill cryo Enter Æolus, out of a rock.

ings, Æol. Great Neptune?

Her weak denials, vows, and often dyings; Nept. He.

Stay, and hide all, fol. What is thy will ?

But help not, tho' she call.
Nept. We do command thee free
Favonius, and thy milder winds, to wait

Nept. Great queen of us and heaven, hear

what I bring Upon our Cinthia; but tie Boreas straight; To make this hour a full one, He's too rebellious.

If not o'ermeasure.
Eol. I shall do it.

Cinth. Speak, sea's king.
Nept. Do.
Æol. Great master of the food, and all below; When they will dance upon the rising wave,

Nept. The tunes my Amphitrite joys to have, Thy full command has taken. -110! the Main! And court me as she sails. My tritons, play Neptune!

Music to lead a storm; I'll lead the way. Nept. Here.

[Measure. Æol. Boreas has broke his chain, And, struggling, with the rest has got away.

SONG. Nept. Let him alone, I'll take him up at sea; To bed, to bed; come Hymen, lead the bride, He will not long be thence. Go once again, And lay her by her husband's side : And call out of the bottoms of the main

Bring in the virgins every one, Blue Proteus, and the rest; charge them put on

That grieve to lie alone ; Their greatest pearls, and the most sparkling stone That they may kiss while they may say, a muid; The beaten rock breeds ; 'till this night is done To-morrow, 'twill be other, kiss'd, and said. By me a solemn honour to the moon.

Hesperus be long a shining,
Fly, like a full sail.

Whilst these lorers are a-twining.
Fol. I am gone.
Cinth. Dark Night,

ol. Ho! Neptune! Strike a full silence; do a thorough right

Nept. Æolus ! To this great chorus; that our music may

Æol. The seas go high, Touch high as heaven, and make the east break Boreas hath rais'd a storm : Go and apply day

Thy trident; else, I prophesy, ere day At mid-night.

[Music.

Many a tall ship will be cast away.

Descend with all thy gods, and all their power, SONG.

To strike a calm.

Cinth. A thanks to every one, and to gratulate Cinthia, to thy power and thee,

So great a service, done at my desire,

Ye shall have many foods, fuller and higher
Joy to this great company!

Than
you

have wished for; no ebb shall dare Come to steal this night away,

To let the day see, where your dwellings are.

Now back unto your government in haste,
'Till the rites of love are ended ;
And the lusty bridegroom say,

Lest your proud charge should swell above the

waste,
Welcome, light, of all befriended.

And win upon the island.
Pace out, you watery powers below ;

Nept. We obey.
Let

[Neptune descends, and the sea gods. Like the gallies when they row,

Cinth. Ilold up thy head, dead Night; seest Even beat.

thou not day?
unknown measures, set

The east begins to lighten: I must down,
To the still winds, tell to all,

And give my brother place.
That gods are come, immortal, great,

Night. Oh, I could frown
To honour this great nuptial.

To see the Day; the Day, that sings his light [The measure. Upon my kingdoin, and contemns old Night!

a

We obey.

And no day

your feet,

Let your

BRITISH DRAMA.

[Ereunt.

Cinth. I into day.

THE MASQUE Ends.

King. Take lights there. Ladies, get the bride

to bed.

Let him go on and Aame! I hope to see
Another wild-fire in his axletree;
And all fall drenched. But I forgot; speak, queen.
The day grows on; I must no more be seen.

Cinth. Heave up thy drowsy head again, and see
A greater light, a greater majesty,
Between our sect and us! Whip up thy team!
The day-break's here, and yon sun-saring beam
Shot from the south. Say, which way

wilt thou go? Night. I'll vanish into mists.

We will not see you laid. Good night, Amintor;
We'll ease you of that tedious ceremony.
Were it my case, I should think time run slow.

Amin. All happiness to you.
King. Good night, Melantius. [Ereunt.

ACT II.

From my

:

Enter EvADNE, Aspatia, Dula, and other la

SONG. dies.

Asp. Lay a garland on my hearse, Erad. Dula, 'Would, thou could'st instil

Of the dismal

yew; Some of thy mirth into Aspatia!

Maidens, willow branches bear ; Nothing but sad thoughts in her breast do dwell:

Say, I died true : Methinks, a mean betwixt you would do well.

My love was false, but I was firm Dula. She is in love : Hang me, if I were so,

hour of birth But I could run my country. I love, too,

Upon my buried body lie To do those things that people in love do.

Lighily, gentle earth! Asp. It were a timeless smile should prove my cheek:

Evad. Fie on it, madam! the words are so It were a fitter hour for me to laugh,

strange, they are able to make one dream of hobWhen at the altar the religious priest

goblins.

I could never have the power :' Sing Were pacifying the offended powers

that, Dula. With sacrifice, than now. This should have been Dula. I could never have the pow'r My night : and all your hands have been employed

To love one above an hour, In giving me a spotless offering

But my heart would prompt mine eye To young Ainintor's bed, as we are now

On some other man to fly : For you. Pardon, Evadne; 'would, my worth

Venus, fir thou mine eyes fast, Were great as yours, or that the king, or he, Or, if not, give me all that I shall see at last. Or both, thoughit so! Perhaps, he found me worthless :

Evad. So, leave me now. But, till he did so, in these ears of mine,

Dula. Nay, we must see you laid. These credulous ears, he poured the sweetest words Asp. Madam, good night. May all the marThat art or love could frame. If he were false,

riage joys Pardon it, Heaven! And if I did want

That longing maids imagine in their beds,
Virtue, you safely may forgive that too; Prove so unto you. May no discontent
For I have lost none, that I had from you. Grow 'twixt your love and you ! But, if there do,

Etad. Nay, leave this sad talk, madam. Enquire of me, and I will guide your moan;
Asp. 'Would, I could! then should I leave the Teach you an artificial way to grieve,

To keep your sorrow waking. Love

your

lord Evad. See, if you have not spoiled all Dula's No worse than I ; but, if you love so well, mirth.

Alas, you may displease him; so did I. Asp. Thou thinkest thy heart hard; but if thou This is the last time you shall look on me. be'st caught,

Ladies, farewell. As soon as I am dead,
Remember me; thou shalt perceive a fire Come all, and watch one night about my hearse;
Shot suddenly into thee.

Bring each a mournful story, and a tear,
Dula. That's not so good ; let them shoot any To offer at it, when I go to earth.
thing but fire, I fear them not.

With flattering ivy clasp my coffin round;
Asp. Well, wench, thou may'st be taken. Write on my brow my fortune; let my bier
Evud. Ladies, good night: I'll do the rest myself. Be borne by virgins, that shall sing, by course,
Dula. Nay, let your lord do some.

The truth of maids, and perjuries of men.
Evad. Alas, I pity thee.

[Erit Eral. Asp. Lay a garland on my hearse,

Omnes. Madam, good night.
Of the dismal yeu.

1 Lady. Come, we'll let in the bridegroom.

Dula. Where's my lord ?
Evad. That's one of your sad songs, madam.
Asp. Believe me, 'tis a very pretty one.

Enter AMINTOR.
Evad. Ilow is it, madam?

1 Lady. llere, take this light,

cause,