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 Diph. This day. 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 Hid in her father's breast, Calianax, Bent long against me; and he should not think, Lys. Yes. But this lady Mel. She has a brother under my command, Like her; a face as womanish as hers; But with a spirit, that hath much out-grown The number of his years, Enter AMINTOR. Cle. My lord, the bridegroom! Mel. I might run fiercely, not more hastily, 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. By this light, if he be wise, he will not. sworn. Cal. One may wear out his heart with swear Mel. [within.] Open the door. Mel. [within] Melantius. Diag. I 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? for Mel. [within.] Melantius. Enter CALIANAX. Cal. Let him not in, Diag. O, my lord, I must. Make room there [To Mel. Enter MELANTIUS. Is your lady placed? Mel. Yes, sir, I thank you. My lord Calianax, well met. Cal. Yes, I do service for your sister here, Mel. You do me wrong, 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. Diag. My lord, I shall never keep them out. Pray, stay; your looks will terrify them. Cal. My looks terrify them, you coxcombly whether thou hast not a worse face than I. Cal. Office! I would I could put it off: I am Cal. It may be so. Who placed the lady there, So near the presence of the king? Mel. I did. Cal. My lord, she must not sit there. Cal. The place is kep for women of more worth. 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 Was black and sinful to her. Diag. Good my lord! Mel. Some god pluck threescore years from That I may kill him, and not stain mine honour. That sea of blood, that I have lost in fight, But a place privileged to do men wrong. Amin. What vile injury Has stirred my worthy friend, who is as slow rence, 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: Mel. Sister, I joy to see you, and your choice. You looked with my eyes, when Be happy in him!" you Ecad. O, my dearest brother! took that man: [Recorders play. Your presence is more joyful than this day Can be unto me. And persons, and how many longing eyes How dull and black am I! I could not find Cinth. Great queen, they be a troop, for whom 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 Thy word hath fetch'd me hither: Let me know, Why I ascend? Cinth. 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. Still keep him fast chained: We must have none here But vernal blasts, and gentle winds appear; SONG. Hold back thy hours, dark Night, till we have done: The day will come too soon; Young maids will curse thee, if thou steal'st away, And leav'st their losses open to the day: Stay, stay, and hide The blushes of the bride. Stay, gentle Night, and with thy darkness cover The kisses of her lover. Stay, and confound her tears, and her shrill cryings, 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, Cinth. Speak, sea's king. When they will dance upon the rising wave, Nept. The tunes my Amphitrite joys to have, And court me as she sails. My tritons, play Music to lead a storm; I'll lead the way. SONG. [Measure. 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 check: It were a fitter hour for me to laugh, With sacrifice, than now. This should have been : Το young Amintor's bed, as we are now 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, Maidens, willow branches bear; 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 marriage joys That longing maids imagine in their beds, [Exit Evad. 1 Lady. Come, we'll let in the bridegroom. Dula. Where's my lord? Enter AMINTOR. 1 Lady. Here, take this light. |