The Maids Tragedy. John Fletcher
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wrong you, or me, or any man, And talk as if he had no life to lose Since this our match: the King is coming in, I would not for more wealth than I enjoy, He should perceive you raging, he did hear You were at difference now, which hastned him.
Cal. Make room there.
Hoboyes play within.
Enter King, Evadne, Aspatia, Lords and Ladies.
King. Melantius, thou art welcome, and my love Is with thee still; but this is not a place To brabble in; Calianax, joyn hands.
Cal. He shall not have my hand.
King. This is no time To force you to't, I do love you both: Calianax, you look well to your Office; And you Melantius are welcome home; begin the Mask.
Mel. Sister, I joy to see you, and your choice, You lookt with my eyes when you took that man; Be happy in him.
[Recorders.
Evad. O my dearest brother! Your presence is more joyful than this day can be unto me.
The Mask.
Night rises in mists.
Nigh. Our raign is come; for in the raging Sea The Sun is drown'd, and with him fell the day: Bright Cinthia hear my voice, I am the Night For whom thou bear'st about thy borrowed light; Appear, no longer thy pale visage shrowd, But strike thy silver horn through a cloud, And send a beam upon my swarthy face, By which I may discover all the place And persons, and how many longing eyes Are come to wait on our solemnities.
[Enter Cinthia.
How dull and black am I! I could not find
This beauty without thee, I am so blind;
Methinks they shew like to those Eastern streaks
That warn us hence before the morning breaks;
Back my pale servant, for these eyes know how
To shoot far more and quicker rayes than thou.
Cinth. Great Queen, they be a Troop for whom alone One of my clearest moons I have put on; A Troop that looks as if thy self and I Had pluckt our rains in, and our whips laid by To gaze upon these Mortals, that appear Brighter than we.
Night. Then let us keep 'em here, And never more our Chariots drive away, But hold our places, and out-shine the day.
Cinth. Great Queen of shadows, you are pleas'd 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. Yet whil'st our raign lasts, let us stretch our power To give our servants one contented hour, With such unwonted solemn grace and state, As may for ever after force them hate Our brothers glorious beams, and wish the night Crown'd with a thousand stars, and our cold light: For almost all the world their service bend To Phoebus and in vain my light I lend, Gaz'd on unto my setting from my rise Almost of none, but of unquiet eyes.
Nigh. Then shine at full, fair Queen, and by thy power Produce a birth to crown this happy hour; Of Nymphs and Shepherds let their songs discover, Easie and sweet, who is a happy Lover; Or if thou woot, then call thine own Endymion From the sweet flowry bed he lies upon, On Latmus top, thy pale beams drawn away, And of this long night let him make a day.
Cinth. Thou dream'st dark Queen, that fair boy was not mine, Nor went I down to kiss him; ease and wine Have bred these bold tales; Poets when they rage, Turn gods to men, and make an hour an age; But I will give a greater state and glory, And raise to time a noble memory Of what these Lovers are; rise, rise, I say, Thou power of deeps, thy surges laid away, Neptune great King of waters, and by me Be proud to be commanded.
[Neptune rises.
Nep. Cinthia, see, Thy word hath fetcht me hither, let me know why I ascend.
Cinth. Doth this majestick show Give thee no knowledge yet?
Nep. Yes, now I see. Something intended (Cinthia) worthy thee; Go on, I'le be a helper.
Cinth. Hie thee then, And charge the wind flie from his Rockie Den. Let loose thy subjects, only Boreas Too foul for our intention as he was; Still keep him fast chain'd; we must have none here But vernal blasts, and gentle winds appear, Such as blow flowers, and through the glad Boughs sing Many soft welcomes to the lusty spring. These are our musick: next, thy watry race Bring on in couples; we are pleas'd to grace This noble night, each in their richest things Your own deeps or the broken vessel brings; Be prodigal, and I shall be as kind, And shine at full upon you.
Nep. Ho the wind Commanding Eolus!
[Enter Eolus out of a Rock.
Eol. Great Neptune!
Nep. He.
Eol. What is thy will?
Nep. We do command thee free Favonius and thy milder winds to wait Upon our Cinthia, but tye Boreas straight; He's too rebellious.
Eol. I shall do it.
Nep. Do, great master of the flood, and all below, Thy full command has taken.
Eol. Ho! the main; Neptune.
Nep. Here.
Eol. Boreas has broke his chain, And struggling with the rest, has got away.
Nep. Let him alone, I'le take him up at sea; He will not long be thence; go once again And call out of the bottoms of the Main, Blew Proteus, and the rest; charge them put on Their greatest pearls, and the most sparkling stone The bearing Rock breeds, till this night is done By me a solemn honour to the Moon; Flie like a full sail.
Eol. I am gone.
Cin. Dark night, Strike a full silence, do a thorow right To this great Chorus, that our Musick may Touch high as heaven, and make the East break day At mid-[n]ight.
[Musick.
SONG.
Cinthia to thy power, and them we obey. Joy to this great company, and no day Come to steal this night away, Till the rites of love are ended, And the lusty Bridegroom say, Welcome light of all befriended. Pace out you watry powers below, let your feet Like the Gallies when they row, even beat. Let your unknown measures set To the still winds, tell to all That Gods are come immortal great, To honour this great Nuptial.
The Measure. Second 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 blushes 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; Stay and hide all, but help not though she call.
Nep. Great Queen of us and Heaven, Hear what I bring to make this hour a full one, If not her measure.
Cinth. Speak Seas King.
Nep. Thy tunes my Amphitrite joyes to have, When they will dance upon the rising wave, And court me as the sails, my Trytons play Musick to lead a storm, I'le lead the way.
Song. Measure.
_To bed, to bed; come Hymen, lead the Bride,
And lay her by her Husbands side:
Bring in the Virgins every one
That grieve to lie alone:
That they may kiss while they may say, a maid,
To morrow 'twill be other, kist and said:
Hesperus be long a shining, Whilst these Lovers are a twining_.
Eol.