I must be brief, my cousin hath spoke much
In your behalf, and to give you some proof,
I entertain you as my servant,
You shall have the grace.
To tye my shooe.
Enter Calista.
But without leave hereafter from my Lady,
I dare not change discourse with you.
Happiness attend your honour.
My conference with a kinsman cannot call
Your anger on me.
No more of this, as you desire you may continue mine.
Suppose him otherwise: yet coming in
A lawfull way, it is excusable.
And that your tenderness of honour holds
The soveraigntie o're your passions. Yet you have
A noble Husband, with allow'd embraces,
To quench lascivious fires, should such flame in you,
As I must ne're believe. Were I the wife
Of one that could but zanie brave Cleander,
Even in his least perfections, (excuse
My o're-bold inference) I should desire
To meet no other object.
It is my wonder or astonishment rather,
You could deny the service of Lisander;
A man without a rival: one the King
And Kingdom gazes on with admiration,
For all the excellencies a Mother could
Wish in her only Son.
And obligation to Cleander, force me
To be deaf to his complaints?
Your rigor to command him from your presence,
Argu'd but small compassion; the Groves
Witness his grievous sufferings, your fair name
Upon the rinde of every gentle Poplar,
And amorous Myrtle, (trees to Venus sacred)
With adoration carv'd, and knee[l']d unto,
This you (unseen of him) both saw and heard
Without compassion, and what receiv'd he
For his true sorrows? but the heavy knowledge,
That 'twas your peremptory will and pleasure,
(How e're my Lord liv'd in him) he should quit
Your sight and house for ever.
Upon his hot bloud, and I hope 'twill cure him:
Yet I could wish the cause had concern'd others,
I might have met his sorrows with more pity;
At least have lent some counsel to his miseries,
Though now for honours sake, I must forget him,
And never know the name more of Lisander:
Yet in my justice I am bound to grant him,
(Laying his love aside) most truely noble.
But mention him no more, this instant hour
My Brother Lidian, new return'd from travel,
And his brave friend Clarange, long since rivals
For fair and rich Olinda, are to hear
Her absolute determination, whom
She pleases to elect: see all things ready
To entertain 'em: and on my displeasure
No more words of Lisander.
How e're she carries it, I know she loves him. [Exit.
That where we are most su'd to, we must flye most.
The trees grow up, and mix together freely,
The Oak's not envious of the sailing Cedar,
The lustie Vine not jealous of the Ivie
Because she clips the Elm; the flowers shoot up,
And wantonly kiss one another hourly,
This blossome glorying in the others beauty,
And yet they smell as sweet, and look as lovely:
But we are ty'd to grow alone. O honour,
Thou hard Law to our lives, chain to our freedoms
He that invented thee had many curses;
How is my soul divided! O Cleander,
My best deserving husband! O Lisander,
The truest lover that e're sacrific'd
To Cupid against Hymen! O mine honour;
A Tyrant, yet to be obey'd! and 'tis
But justice we should thy strict Laws endure,
Since our obedience to thee keeps us pure. [Exit.
Enter Cle[a]nder, Lidian, and Clarange.
Of dear friends is, the sorrow that I feel
For my Lisanders absence, one that stamps
A reverend print on friendship, does assure me.
You are rivals for a Lady, a fair Lady,
And in the acquisition of her favours,
Hazard the cutting of that Gordian knot
From your first childhood to this present hour,
By all the tyes of love and amity fasten'd.
I am blest in a wife (Heaven make me thankfull)
Inferiour to none (sans pride I speak it)
Yet if I were a free-man, and could purchase
At any rate the certainty to enjoy
Lisanders conversation while I liv'd,
Forgive me my Calista, and the Sex,
I never would seek change.
I dare not blame your choice, Lisanders worth
Being a Mistris to be ever courted;
Nor shall our equal suit to fair Olinda
Weaken, but adde strength to our true affection,
With zeal so long continued.
Whom she prefers, as she can choose but one,
By our so long tri'd friendship we have vow'd
The other shall desist.
But how this resolution will hold
In him that is refus'd, is not alone
Doubtfull, but dangerous.
Enter Malfort.
After some little conference with my Lady,
Of this room to give answer to her suitors.
To win the prize, and your despair to lose
What you contended for.
Enter Calista, Olinda, and Clarinda.
Unty'd? you promis'd that I should grow higher
In doing you service.
On the contending goddesses. You are
The Deitie that must make curst or happy
One of your languish[i]ng servants.
A fairer fortune than they can in reason
Hope for from me; from Lidian I expect,
When I have made him mine, all pleasures that
The sweetness of his manners, youth, and vertues
Can give assurance of: but turning this way
To brave Clarange, in his face appears
A kind of Majesty which should command,
Not sue for favour. If the fairest Lady
Of France, set forth with natures best endowments
Nay should I adde a Princess of the bloud,
Did now lay claim to either for a husband,
So vehement my affection is to both,
My envie at her happiness would kill me.
You burn with equal flames, and so affect me;
Abundance makes me poor; such is the hard
Condition of my fortune; be your own judges;
If I should favour both, 'twill taint my honour,
And that before my life I must prefer;
If one I lean to, the other is disvalued;
You are fierie both, and love will make you warmer.
Is too apparent: my name's call'd in question:
Your swords flie out, your angers range at large:
Then what a murther of my modesty follows?
That will deny a blessing when 'tis offer'd,
Would I were murther'd so, I would thank my modesty.
The greatest torture.
And you shall see how willingly we will execute.
And to preserve your friendship I resolve
Against my self, and 'tis not to be alter'd:
You are both brave gentlemen, I'le still profess it,
Both noble servants, for whose gentle offers,
The undeserving, and the poor Olinda
Is ever bound; you love both, fair, and vertuously;
Would I could be so happy to content both:
Which since I cannot, take this resolute answer;
Go from me both contentedly, and he
That last makes his return, and comes to visit,
Comes to my bed. You know my will: farewel;
My heart's too big to utter more: come friend.
[Exeunt Olinda, Calista, Clarinda.
[Exeunt Clarange, and Lidian.
A suddain and a dangerous division
Of their long love will follow: have you took
Your leave of fair Olinda?
Enter Calista, with a purse.
I were most happy.
And Heaven knows I love him.
For me you have forgot, and what I am to you.
You lock'd all your delights in, it would grieve you:
A little you would wander from the fondness
You ow'd your husband: I have lost a friend,
A noble friend, all that was excellent
In man, or man-kind, was contain'd within him,
That loss my wife—
Enter Malfort.
A fee for my good news.
But I'le be merry: let's meet him my Calista.
My Father will bring joy enough for one moneth,
To put him out of memorie.
Enter Dorilaus, his arm in a scarff.
Bless my fair child, I am come to visit yee,
To see what house you keep, they say you are bountifull,
I like the noise well, and I come to trie it.
Ne're a great belly yet? how have you trifl'd?
If I had done so (Son) I should have heard on't
On both sides by Saint Denis.
We have time enough for that.
'Tis a good sign you'l mend your fault, how dost thou,
My good Calista?
I hope you bring a fruitfulness along with ye.
Your mother groan'd for't wench, so did some other,
But I durst never tell.
Two or three Guns; I have one here in my buttock,
'Twould trouble a Surgeons teeth to pull it out.
'Tis time for me to trudge: art such a coward,
At the meer name of hurt to change thy colour?
I have been shot that men might see clean through me,
And yet I fainted not: besides my self,
Here are an hospital of hurt men for ye.
Enter Servants, wounded in several places.
Hurt to the proof, they are through, and through I assure ye;
And that's good game, they scorn your puling scratches.
And get your plaisters, and your warm stupes ready:
Have you ne're a Shepheard that can tarr us over?
'Twill prove a business else, we are so many.
Coming to see you, I was set upon,
I and my men, as we were singing frolickly,
Not dreaming of an ambush of base Rogues,
Set on i'th' forest, I have forgot the name—
In the wild Forest?
Set on by villains, that make boot of all men,
The Peers of France are pillage there, they shot at us,
Hurt us, un-hors'd us, came to the sword, there pli'd us,
Opprest us with fresh multitudes, fresh shot still,
Rogues that would hang themselves for a fresh doublet,
And for a Scarlet Cassock kill their Fathers.
Our poor blouds were ingag'd: yet we strook bravely,
And more than once or twice we made them shun us,
And shrink their rugged heads: but we were hurt all.
Or to be mercifull unto our souls;
So near we were. Alas poor wench, wipe, wipe.
See Heaven sends remedy.
My heart was even a bleeding in my body.
As he rod by, belike he heard our bickering,
Saw our distresses, drew his sword, and prov'd
He came to execute, and not to argue.
Lord what a lightning methought flew about him,
When he once toss'd his blade! in face Adonis,
While peace inhabited between his eye-brows:
But when his noble anger stirr'd his metal,
And blew his fierie parts into a flame,
Like Pallas, when she sits between two armies,
Viewing with horrid brows their sad events,
Such then he look'd: and as her shield had arm'd him.
This Gentleman I must love naturally:
Nothing can keep me off; I pray you go on Sir.
This bud of Mars, for yet he is no riper,
When once he had drawn bloud, and flesh'd his sword,
Fitted his manly metal to his spirit,
How he bestirr'd him! what a lane he made!
And through their fierie Bullets thrust securely:
The hardned villains wondring at his confidence,
Lame as I was I follow'd, and admir'd too,
And stirr'd, and laid about me with new spirit,
My men too with new hearts thrust into action,
And down the Rogues went.
When like to lightning he broke through his vanguard,
How the Greeks frighted ran away by Troops,
And trod down Troops to save their lives: so this man
Dispers'd these slaves: had they been more and mightier,
He had come off the greater, and more wonder.
But not without that pious care to see safe
Me, and my weak men lodg'd, and dress'd; I urg'd him
First hither, that I might more freely thank him:
He told me he had business, crav'd my pardon,
Business of much import.
And in a noble sort requite his piety,
'Twas his desire to dedicate this service
To your fair thoughts.
And nam'd you mine: I think that's all his knowledge.
Saving mine honour, any thing I had now
But to enjoy his sight, but his bare picture;
Make me his Saint, I must needs honour him.
We all are bound in gratitude to compel thee.
To make question this act could be another mans:
'Tis Lisander, a handsome timber'd man?
I'le mourn his going now, and mourn it seriously:
When you weep for him, Sir, I'le bear you company.
That so much honour, so much honesty
Should be in one man, to do things thus bravely,
Make me his Saint, to me give this brave service:
What may I do to recompence his goodness?
I cannot tell.
And fitter for a bed than long discourses.
Actus Secundus. Scena Prima.
Enter Lisander, and Lancelot.
Thy Master's life is in thy trust, and therefore
Be very carefull.
You in your own discretion shall think fittest,
To keep your self unknown.
'Tis not the first time I have gone invisible:
I am as fine a Fairie in a business
Concerning night-work—
With this purse (which deliver'd,
You may spare your Oratory) convey this Letter to
Calista's woman.
At my return discard me. [Exit.
Enter Clarange.
The site of your house, and the handsomness about it:
Believe me it stands healthfully and sweetly.
Are ever at your service.
Now if you please go forward in your storie
Of your dear friend and Mistris.
And tell it short, because 'tis breakfast time,
(And love is a tedious thing to a quick stomach)
You eat not yester-night.
A Gentleman of noble hope, one Lidian,
Both brought up from our infancy together,
One company, one friendship, and one exercise
Ever affecting, one bed holding us,
One grief, and one joy parted still between us,
More than companions, twins in all our actions,
We grew up till we were men, held one heart still:
Time call'd us on to Arms, we were one Souldier,
Alike we sought our dangers and our honours,
Gloried alike one in anothers nobleness:
When Arms had made us fit, we were one lover,
We lov'd one woman, lov'd without division,
And woo'd a long time with one fair affection;
And she, as it appears, loves us alike too.
At length considering what our love must grow to,
And covet in the end, this one was parted,
Rivals and honours make men stand at distance.
We then woo'd with advantage, but were friends still,
Saluted fairly, kept the peace of love,
We could not both enjoy the Ladies favour,
Without some scandal to her reputation,
We put it to her choice, this was her sentence,
To part both from her, and the last returning
Should be her Lord; we obey'd, and now you know it;
And for my part, (so truely I am touch'd with't)
I will go far enough, and be the last too,
Or ne're return.
But mild, compar'd with what's pronounc'd on me.
Our loving youth is born to many miseries.
What is that Lidian pray ye?
As many hopes hang on his noble head,
As blossoms on a bough in May, and sweet ones.
Enter a Servant.
At door, would speak with you on private business.
Enter Alcidon.
With Monsieur Clarange I would speak.
Ye are nobly welcome; I wait your business.
He shall command me Sir, I'le wait upon him
Within this hour.
Wil't please you bring a friend? we are two of us,
And pity either, Sir, should be unfurnish'd.
'Twill not be possible.
I know you are so full of brave acquaintance,
And worthy friends, you cannot want a partner:
I would be loth to stand still, Sir; besides,
You know the custom, and the vantage of it,
If you come in alone.
Games won and lost on equal terms shew fairest.
Unless men be at home by Revelation:
So please you breath a while; when I have done with him,
You may be exercis'd too: I'le trouble no man.
Enter Lisander.
Leave you a while, two hours hence I'le return friend.
Before you pass the walks, and back again,
I will be with ye.
To press you, I would go.
This Gentleman and I upon appointment,
Are going to visit a Lady.
Come he may see the Gentlewoman too,
And be most welcom, I do beseech you take him.
A prettie wench too.
And at the place: My service to the Lady.
Lisander reads.
Monsieur,
I Know you have considered the dark sentence Olinda gave us, and that (however she disguis'd it) it pointed more at our swords edges than our bodies banishments; the last must injoy her: if we retire, our youths are lost in wandring; in emulation we shall grow old men, and feeble, which is the scorn of love, and rust of honour, and so return more fit to wed our Sepulchers, than the Saint we aim at; let us therefore make our journey short, and our hearts ready, and with our swords in our hands put it to fortune, which shall be worthy to receive that blessing, I'le stay you on the mountain, our old hunting place, this Gentleman alone runs the hazard with me, and so I kiss your hand.
Your Servant Lidian.
What have I thrust my self into? is this that Lidian
You told me of?
No cause to heave my sword against but his?
To save the Father yesterday, and this morning,
To help to kill the Son? this is most courteous!
The only way to make the Daughter doat on me.
No life to sacrifice, but part of hers?
Do you fight straight?
The balefull tidings of this day will break out,
And this nights Sun will set in bloud; I am troubl'd:
If I am kill'd, I am happy.
[Exeunt.
Enter Malfort, and Clarinda.