ACT. 3. SCENE. I.
Garrula. Geron.
Gar.Would you thus offer, by your own diſeaſe
To ſhorten your Mothers dayes? Or can you pine
And I not grieve? or cannot grief kill me
Ger.A wiſe Philoſopher
Whilome did affirm,
That women who have paſt the fire of love
Have hearts, which grief can neither pierce, ne move.
Gar.Son, your Philoſophy ſails you, as your love
Blinds you: For
Cupids fire I know may be
Quench’d by old age: But grief’s unquenchable.
Sips her
My tongue ſtill ſalters with me (there’s my grief)
bottle.
[H6]And
The Love-ſick Court.
And there are not ſo many ſadoms ’twixt
A womans tongue and heart, but grief may find
The bottom, but for care to keep it up
By ſending down an Antidote before it.
Sips again.
Ger.But
Whilom did the love-ſick Poet prove’
No antidote againſt the power of Love.
Gar.Forbear your
Whiloms, and your old ſaid ſaws,
And ſince you are in love, and by that love
Grown ſick with the concealment.
Th’
Athenian boy who ſtole a fox did hide
Under his coat his theft from being deſcried
Until it tore his Gentals– – –his intrals
Os your diſeaſe, but to the cure, which is
The love of
Doris. How ha’you try’d her, ſon.
Ger.By oratory, Epiſtles, and by gifts
Which
Whilome Ovid ſaid were beſt of ſhifts.
Gar.Yes, ſuch a giſt it might be, and ſo faſtened.
Ger.But ſhe, as
Whilom ſaid
Anominus
Retorteth all with ſcorn injurious.
Gar.Yet will you leave your
Whiloms? And go ſeek
My Lady Governeſs? ſay I would ſpeak with her.
Ger.But
Whilome ſaid
Diogenes (tis true)
To one that would, I will not ſpeak with you.
Gar.Will you ſay as I ſay; and do as y’are bidden?
It is not her great Lady-ſhips daughters hand-maid
Shall ſcorn my ſon while I know w hat I know.
Is you love
Doris, run and tell her ſo.
Ger.For
Doris love, as
Whilome Dædalus,
I will take wing. But ſee I am prevented.
Ent. Thymile.
Thy.O
Garrula! well found, I was in queſt of you.
Gar.And I was eene a ſending for you, Madam.
Thy.What an imperious beldam’s this. But I
Muſt humour her. Sending for me do you ſay?
H6vFor
The Love-ſick Court.
Gar.Sending for you? Yes Madam, ſo I ſaid,
And ſai’t again. What, what, I know what I know.
You know I do; and that there is no ſuch
Diſtinction ’twixt the honours of your birth
And place; and mine of age and knowledge, but
You might vouchſaſe the ſummons when I ſend.
Thy.What needs this
Garrula? I am here you ſee.
Gar.You know I know, and have deſerv’d ſome favors,
I do not boſt for what. You know.
Who truſt thoſe ſecrets whereon honour reſts
To cuſtody in Mercenary breaſts
Do ſlave nobility; and though they pay
A daily ranſom, nere redem’t away.
Pray let us be more private, though indeed
I love your ſon for his great care of mine.
Gar.O, do you ſo? Go forth ſon
Geron, till
I call. All ſhall go well Ile warrant thee.
Said a Phyſitian, meaning to reſtore,
And kill’d the Patient was but ſick before.
Exit
Thy.Why Garrula do you maintain a ſtrife
Still in my grieved mind ’twixt hope and fear?
Cannot ſo many years of my known kindneſs
Win yet a confidence of ſecreſie.
You are as deeply bound by oath too as my ſelf.
Gar.I do confeſs my oath, and would not break it
Yet, Madam, as you are a woman, you
May know a broken oath is no ſuch burthen
As a great ſecret is; beſides the tickling
A woman has to in and out with’t. Oh
The tongue itche is intollerable! And were I
A woman of tongue, as moſt are of my calling
(Though Midwives ha’been held the beſt at ſecret
Councel keeping) it had been out I fear.
[H7]Thy.
The Love-ſick Court.
Thy.But ſtill take heed dear
Garrula.
Yet there are kindneſſes requir’d on your part.
Thy.Have I not ſtill been kind?
Gar.My memory ſerves me; and but that my tongue
Now ſalters with me – – – I could recount
Sips.
All the rewards I have had from time to time,
Since you tranſlated me from a Country houſwife,
Into the Midwife Royal; what in Gowns,
In Gold, in Jewels, Chains and Rings; and (which
I prize ’bove all) my ſyrrops and my ſippings.
Sips.
Thy.Your place of honour in the Court – – –
I hope I had that before i’the Kings favour,
As his Queens Midwiſe. She is in
Eliſium. Sips.
Thy.Then
Garrula your learned ſons preſerment,
Tutor and Governour to my Sons.
Hangs a tale, Madam. Now I come to th’point;
My ſon affects your daughters hand-maid
Doris,
Who ſlights his love. I muſt now by your power
Though I confeſs I hold her worthleſs of him.
Gar.I tell him ſo: But love has blinded him.
Ho
Geron, I ſay
Geron, come and hear.
Ent. Geron.
Ger.So
Whilome priſoners have been cal’d to come
From dungeon deep to hear a blacker doom.
Thy.Geron, be comforted. By all my power,
Ovid by his
Corynna ſweet, ſaid o – – –
Ent. Doris.
She comes, ſhe comes. My joyes do overflow.
Thy.Now Doris, what portends your haſt? Speak Maid,
Is it to
Geron, or to me, your buſineſs?
Dor.His ill looks, had almoſt made me miſcarry’t.
[H7v]Ma-
The Love-ſick Court.
Madam, the Princeſs inſtanty deſires
Thy.But by her Graces favour,
And your leave,
Dor, I will trench ſo far
On both your patiences, and for your good,
As to be witneſs of an interchange
Of ſome ſew words twixt
Geron and your ſelf.
Why look you from him ſo? he loves you,
Doris.
Dor.That’s more then I ere knew, or read, by all
He ſpeaks or writes to me. He cloaths his words
In furres and hoods, ſo, that I cannot find
The naked meaning of his buſineſs, Madam.
Thy.Speak plainly to her,
Geron.
Ger.My buſineſs is the ſame, that
Whilome drew
Demoſthenes to
Corinth, ſome repentance,
Gar.You muſt ſpeak plainer, Son.
Thy.And be you kinder,
Doris.
Dor.But not ſo kind, good Madam, as to grant
Ger.O forfeit not the praiſe
That
Whilome Ariſtote gave your Sex,
To be inrich’d with piety and pitty.
Dor.I know not what to pitty, but your want
Of utterance. It is ſome horrid thing
That you deſire, and are aſham’d to ſpeak it.
Ger.No, gentle
Doris, nothing but the thing,
Whereby great
Alexander Whilome ſaid,
He knew himſelf a mortal, and no God,
Dor.Be it what it will; I cannot
Give what I underſtand not. Y’are too aloof.
Gar.There’s comfort, Son. And I’le give thee inſtru-
To come more cloſe to her.
(ctions
[H8]Thy.
The Love-ſick Court.
And be my ſelf his Agent. Hee’s too learned,
Geron, you ſpeak too learnedly, as if
You woo’d a Muſe: And
Doris underſtands not,
But by your poſture, what you’ld have. I’le put
Your meaning into womans words; and ſuch
As ſhall be ſure to ſpeed. But firſt I’le wait
Upon the Princeſs.
Garrula, will you go?
Gar.And thank you for my Son: But ſtill – – – I know
Thy.Nay, I will do’t
Geron, be confident.
Ger.I thank your Ladyſhip as much as they
Who
Whilome – – – Whilome– – –
Dor.Knew not what to ſay.
Thy.Go
Geron, lead the way
Exeunt. omnes.
ACT 3. SCENE 2.
King. Stratocles. Diſanius. Juſtinius.
King.Pray trouble me no further. I have ſaid,
That is in five dayes ſpace ſhe make not choice
Of one of thoſe whom (I muſt tell you
Stractocles)
She loves, and I preſer before you, then
I’le weigh your ſuit and reaſons; and till then
I ſay’t again, you are a trouble to me.
Str.A trouble Sir? That were a time that knew me,
A trouble to your enemies, not you,
When this ſame lump of earth (which now’s a trouble)
Stood a ſole Bulwark of your Realm; repelling
Arms of foes; ſhrowding your fearful Subjects
Under my ſhield; guarding your fields and Vineyards
From deſolation; your Palaces from ruine;
You loſe the glory of your deeds by blazing
[H8v]Your
The Love-ſick Court.
Your own renown. He that commends himſelf,
Speaks upon truſt, and is his hearers ſlave.
Str.Peace, envy, and be thankful for thy life
Which thy tongue forfeits.
Juſt.Let my mildneſs tell you,
You are irreverent before the King,
Who has not been forgetful of your worth,
Nor ſlow in your reward. Then moderate
Your heat with counſel; and be firſt aſſiſtant
Unto the publick good: So ſhall you merit
The firſt regard in honours and affairs
Troubles me not a litte. I had thought
Thereby to have declin’d this weighty care
From my declining ſhoulders, and have given
My countrey ſatiſfaction, and my ſelf,
In chuſing of a ſon and ſucceſſor.
But I am priſoner in the Labyrinth
In matters of the future ſeldom ſtoops
To humane apprehenſion; yet vouchſafes
To anſwer our demands: but chides withall
Our too much incenſs with obſcurity.
Your grace however may preſume, where they
Shal deign to ſpend a word, and take an offering.
It is a certain augury of good.
King.Thou haſt allay’d my ſear.
Juſtinus come,
Lead me thy brains aſſiſtance. For in thee
I find a temper that accords with me.
Exit King Juſt.
Diſ.Souldier, I dare yet tell thee thou art raſh;
Fooliſh as valliant; and as eaſily may’ſt
For all thy loftineſs be undermin’d
As the baſe bramble: Boaſting weakneſs, thee
I [1]And
The Love-ſick Court.
And promiſing Ambition leads thee up
An earthly exhalation into th’air;
Where with a litte borrow d light, one moment,
Thou ſhin’ſt the mark and wonder of all eyes;
But ſoon conſum’d and darted to the Center,
Becom ſt the ſcorn of men and ſport of Children.
Str.You are oth fect of Cinicks, and have learn’d
Your now adorning multitude upbraid
Your inſolence and pride, and gain the name
Of Prophets by your downfall, while one ſwears
He had foretold it long; Another dreampt it;
All joyntly cry we never could indure him;
See what a look he has; what brawny lips;
What poyſonous eyes; and what an impudent front!
Str.You will out-run your priviledge of prating
Of ſeed upon ſo flinty ſoyl as thou.
Be as thou art, and periſh.
Exit.
That out of all thy bookiſh
Theory
Knowes not the ſoul to be Aerial
And of a ſoaring nature; not unlike
The noble Falcon that will never ceaſe
To work ’bove all that tops her. The ſupream
Eſtate on earth, and next unto the Gods
Is majeſty; and that’s my preſent gain,
Though I have all but that, yet wanting that
All is as none to me: And ſince my way
Muſt be upon the Ruins (ſowre
Diſanius)
Of thee, and of thy glories in thy Nephews
The Kings dear darlings, for whoſe pretious ſakes
I muſt attend five dayes (yet be a trouble)
[I1v]I’le
The Love-ſick Court.
I’le travail through your bloods: Thy ſelf has
The quicker motion by thy timely envy. (gi’n me
Thou haſt ſet ſpurs to the pale horſe of death,
That into duſt ſhall trample all thoſe lets
Which ſtand twixt me and the
Theſſalian Crown,
Upon whoſe back I’le ſet this Rider.
Enter
Mat.My ſoveraign Lord.
Matho.
Str.I like that compellation:
Thou ſtil’ſt me as thou wiſheſt me, on whom
Depends thy conſequent advancement,
Matho.
But we but dream of ſoveraignty and ſleep
To the Atchievement: ſomething muſt be done
With waekſul eyes and ready hands my
Matho.
Mat.Now my King ſpeaks himſelf. Let but your eye
Find out the way theſe ready hands ſhall act
The ſtrength of your deſigns. I can perceive
That now the labour of your love-like brain
Is bringing forth the
Pallas, ſhall inſpire
Me, to perform the work of my advancement.
Str.Tis not yet ripe for the delivery,
But thou ſhalt quickly have it. Follow me.
Exit
ACT 3. SCENE 3.
Eudina. Thymele. Placilla.
Eud.Good Madam, let me be excus’d. The mirth
You offer’d to allay or quench my ſorrows
Might have been well receiv’d at former times:
But now it is unſeaſonable.
Thy.Yet think on’t, Madam,
How gravely
Geron goes, and with what ſcorn
The wanton Girl recoyles.
Eud.Good, ſpeak no more on’t.
Thy.Then Beldame
Garrula’s reaſons urging
Doris,
I 2Shewing
The Love-ſick Court.
Shewing how either of his pupils grace
In your electing
Philoclcs or
Phillrgus,
Though to them doubtful, is a ſure advancement
Eud.Still you move like thoſe
That do in merry tales mis-ſpend their breath
To thoſe that are that day mark’d out for death.
Thy.You may not ſay ſo (Madam) tis in you
By taking one, to give new life to two;
Your ſelf, and if you’l give me leave to name
The other, be it
Philargus: or is chance
Shall ſavour better,
Philocles or him,
Let it be him that gives you the firſt viſit.
Eud.That were to ſancy in our ſelves an Oracle;
Or to give fortune power, to execute
The judgement of the
Delphian God.
But that his Oracle would have it ſo.
Pla.Was it for that you now ſent for
Philargus.Aſide.
Thy.Say, ſhall it be ſo Madam; or ſuppoſe ſo?
Eud.This pleaſes better yet then
Gerons wooing.
Praythee
Placilla ſing And may thy voice
Attract him that may prove the happier choice.
Pla.Ile try my beſt in notes, and what they want
Ile ſtrive to make effectyual in my wiſhes.
Eud.Thanks kind
Placilla.-.But the leaden weights
Of ſleep oppreſs mine eye-lids, and I ſhall not hear thee.
Thy.Yet ſit, and let her ſing: you’l ſleep the better.
Placilla Sings. After a ſtrain or two, Eudina ſleeps,
and enters, as a viſion at the ſeveral doors, Philargus
and Philocles; They meet and embrace affectionately:
then whiſper a while: Then ſudenly ſtart off, and draw
their ſwords: menace each other, and ſeverally depart.
The ſong ended, Eudina affrightedly ſtarts up.
[I2v]Eud.
The Love-ſick Court.
Eud.Stay
Philocles, ſtay
Philargus. Let not fury
Lead you to end that difference with your ſwords,
Which onely fits my life to ſatiſfie.
Thy.What means your Grace.
Eud.Purſu’em, with prevention,
Before they meet again, or one or both
Muſt periſh; did you not obſerve their challenge,
And eithers daring other to the field?
Thy.Who Madam, where? and when?
Eud.Now; here; your ſons.
Thy.Becauſe we were awake
Pla.Collect your ſpirits Madam; you ſlept.
Eud.It was an omenous dream then.
I dare divine it Madam. And now ſee
Enter Philargus
Whom fortune firſt hath ſent to be your choice.
Philargus, you have won the glorious prize.
Philar.But dos the glory of the world,
Eudina, grant it.
Eud.My affrightment ſhakes me ſtill – – –
O my
Philargus, I am now inſpir’d
Sure by a viſion from the Gods, with knowledge,
That, in my choice of you, or
Philocles,
I ſhall become the ruin of you both.
Philar.Tis not in ſate to wound our common friendſhip.
Eud.Tis better in my ſelf to kill the danger.
Philar.The Gods avert ſuch purpoſes. If you
Deprive the world of your fair ſelf, then we
Both fall by neceſſary conſequence.
But what are we? This
Theſſaly muſt ſuffer.
The King muſt yield, to ſee a new and ſtrange
Succeſſion appointed to his Crown;
And by his ſubjects, not himſelf.
I 3Deters
The Love-ſick Court.
Deters me: yet let me prevail
Philargus
(To quit me of my ſears) that ere I paſſe
My faith unto a huſband, your and
Philocles,
Before the Gods, your Mother, and my ſelf,
Once more, do celebrate your vow of Friendſhip.
And let me be excus’d in this: for I
Muſt tell you, dear
Philargus, that tho’ now
My love be fixt on one of you (albeit
I name not which) I will not take him with
Leaſt ſcruple of a ſear of loſing him
Again by th’others ſpight; nor leave that other
Leſſe lov’d by me, then now he is, for ever;
And tho but one can be poſſeſs’d of me
One ſriendſhip, yet, muſt marry us all three.
Philar.The Gods have ſpoke it in you; it is their
Divine injunction; Madam, I obey it,
And dare engage as much for
Philocles.
Thy.This is moſt fair: now, till you meet, tis fit
You fall on lighter purpoſes for your health.
Son, here was mirth to day; although the Princeſſe
To his fair
Doris. We are now become
His Tutors, Madam, to be amorous.
Thy.Placilla, come you hither. I obſerve
A change in you of late; and do ſuſpect
The Reaſon. What! Do you bluſh at my ſuſpition?
Nay then you mak’t my knowledge. You are in Love.
I’le yet come nearer you. I gueſſe with whom:
And at fit time I’le ſchool you for’t.
Now if you pleaſe wee’l take ſome ayr.
Philargus
Craves leave to ſeek his brother.
Thy.I wait o’your Grace. Nay, do not look diſpleas’d:
I3vI
The Love-ſick Court.
I tell you Girl, there is danger in it.
Exit Eud. Thym.
Thym.What! has my Mother chid you. I’le not queſtion
Her Reaſon, nor your ſault; but pray thee ſiſter
Is
Philocles approach to ſee the Princeſſe
Ere my return, tell him I ſtay at’s lodging,
Firſt, to confer with him.
Philar.Introth thou weepſt. Therefore to comfort you,
Becauſe I know by ſome infallible ſignes,
You are more tender of his Love then mine.
He ſtands in equal competition yet
With me for fair
Eudina. And is Fortune
Allots her me, I’le be as kind a brother
And ſtil the ſame to you as
Philocles.
I pray thee dry thine eyes.
Ent. Matho diſguiſed
Mat.Is a diſguis’d face and a counterfeit
with a letter.
Ever prevail’d, may theſe in this plot ſpeed.
Philarg. reads
My Lord, I had this in charge to render to you.
Ex. Matho.
Pla.I am diſcover’d in my lawleſſe love.
Remember,
Cupid, whom thou makeſt thy Anvil;
A poor weak virgin. If thou art a God,
Be juſt and reaſonable. It ſavours not
Of juſtice, to provoke inceſtuous flames,
Nor Reaſon to enforce an Ardency
Of things impoſſible. Let me not burn
With neighbouring fire, which, to enjoy, I muſt
Therefore diſpair becauſe it is ſo near.
Philar.Ha! where’s this fellow? is he gone?
Philar.Tis
Philocles his hand! An eager challenge!
A challenge, and to me, his friend and Brother.
Now
Oracle, where’s your Riddle? Anſwer me,
Apollo’s fiddle-ſtick. O ye
Delphian Prieſts,
I 4You
The Love-ſick Court.
You hang religion up, like painted cloaths
Before unſeemly walls, to cloak their filth
And palliate their wicked miſteries.
You’l hear more of his kindneſs to you ſhorty.
Exit
Pla.He ſuſpects too, with much diſpleaſure, my
Unreaſonable Love to
Philocles.
But why ſhould we be Reaſons followers
With lots of liberty? which of the Creatures
Allayes his heat toward any of his kind,
’Cauſe the ſame belly gave them being? They
Obſerve no difference of Sire, or Dam,
Brother, or Siſter, being mature for love.
Ah, whither am I going? Beſtial thoughts
Forth of my boſom; Leave me not my Soul,
Or my ſoules better part, my reaſon. Oh
It was returning but a flaming ſhaft
Enter Philocles.
Of love has ſet it’s Manſion afire
And ſrights it back again.
Pla.That name of Siſter, like a violent cold
Upon an extream heat, ſeavers my blood
Philoc.Me thinks you are ſad and troubled ſiſter.
Why thus alone? Or have you entertain’d
That troubleſome companion, Love? Come tell me,
I can adviſe you very learnedly:
For
Cupids Scholars are more exquiſite
In giving councel then in uſing it.
Pla.How ſhall I anſwer him? I dare not look on.
Unto the preſent garb: I have aſſum’d
[I4v]Philoc.
The Love-ſick Court.
Whoſe ſorrow is but outward, as a ſtranger
Call’d to be preſent at a funeral
Clads himſelf like the reſt, is ſerious,
And ſilent with a countenance dejected,
And
Teſtudineous pace; but has not tears,
Nor groanings for a loſs to him unknown:
The Obſequies performed uncloaths himſelf
Of grieſe and weeds together. But my ſiſter,
You are not pleas’d to talk upon this ſubject.
Pla.He’has given me now a Colour for my ſadneſs.
The Princeſs is retir’d; She has been troubled
With a moſt fearful dream of a Duello
Betwixt you and
Philargus to be ſought.
Philo.. With friendly Courteſies?
Pla.Nay, with ſwords ſhe ſaid.
Pla.Philargus hath been with her, and to him
She told her ſears, enjoyning him, that both
Of you ſhould come, and jointy before her
Declare your conſtant friendſhip.
Pla.But truſt me Sir, I ſear
Philargus took not
All as ſhe meant it; for at his departing,
He look’d diſpleaſedly; and, when I demanded
His healths condition, he ſaid he was ſick
As I am in his. That was his meaning ſiſter.
(w’ye.
Pla.Pardon my ſear; which is, that hee’s not friends
Philoc.Away, your ſear has made you idle.
It is my love, in that black horror clad,
Which will, before it leaves me, make me mad.
Exit
[I5]Philoc.
The Love-ſick Court.
Philoc.Ile ſeek him out.
Enter Matho diſguis’d,
Math.My Lord, I was commanded
a Letter.
To convey theſe into your Lordſhips hands.
The man that mov’d me. For I know him not;
But the reward. I humbly take my leave.
Exit
Philoc.My brother write. Ha! Are we at ſuch diſtance?
Thou art no Propheteſs,
Placilla, art thou?
He Reads.
Brother Philocles, we are the laughing ſtock of the Nati-
on; and injurious both to the King, our Countrey, the
divine Eudina, and our ſelves, by our childiſh love. The
time is ſhort, meet me, (I conjure you by our Friendſhip)
within three hours, in the North vale of Tempe; where
it ſhall be the Gods election to take one of us, and leave the
other for Eudina. Expoſtulate not with your ſelf, much
leſs with me otherwiſe then by weapon, or never expect to
ſee your Brother Philargus.
O Gods and men! where ſhall we go to find
Friendſhip and truth? Bee’t ſo: For in th’event
We may be happy both: But with this ods;
One with
Eudina, tother with the Gods.
Exit
Explicit Actus Tertius.