Chapter 2

_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_. Ho! _Neptune!_

_Nept_. _Eolus!_

_Eol_. The Seas go hie, _Boreas_ hath rais'd a storm; go and applie Thy trident, else I prophesie, ere day Many a tall ship will be cast away: Descend with all the Gods, and all their power to strike a cal[m].

_Cin_. A thanks to every one, and to gratulate So great a service done at my desire, Ye shall have many floods fuller and higher Than you have wisht for; no Ebb shall dare To let the day see where your dwellings are: Now back unto your Government in haste, Lest your proud charge should swell above the waste, And win upon the Island.

_Nep_. We obey.

[_Neptune descends, and the Sea-gods_.

_Cinth_. Hold up thy head dead night; seest thou not day? The East begins to lighten, I must down And give my brother place.

_Nigh_. Oh! I could frown To see the day, the day that flings his light Upon my Kingdoms, and contemns old Night; Let him go on and flame, I hope to see Another wild-fire in his Axletree; And all false drencht; but I forgot, speak Queen. The day grows on I must no more be seen.

_Cin_. Heave up thy drowsie head agen, and see A greater light, a greater Majestie, Between our sect and us; whip up thy team; The day breaks here, and you some flashing stream Shot from the South; say, which way wilt thou go?

_Nigh_. I'le vanish into mists. [_Exeunt_.

_Cin_. I into day. _[Finis Mask_.

_King_. Take lights there Ladies, get the Bride to bed; We will not see you laid, good night _Amintor,_ We'l ease you of that tedious ceremony; Were it [my] case, I should think time run slow. If thou beest noble, youth, get me a boy, That may defend my Kingdom from my foes.

_Amin_. All happiness to you.

_King_. Good night _Melantius_. [_Exeunt_.

_Actus Secundus_.

_Enter_ Evadne, Aspatia, Dula, _and other Ladies_.

_Dul_. Madam, shall we undress you for this fight? The Wars are nak'd that you must make to night.

_Evad_. You are very merry _Dula_.

_Dul_. I should be far merrier Madam, if it were with me as it is with you.

_Eva_. Why how now wench?

_Dul_. Come Ladies will you help?

_Eva_. I am soon undone.

_Dul_. And as soon done: Good store of Cloaths will trouble you at both.

_Evad_. Art thou drunk _Dula_?

_Dul_. Why here's none but we.

_Evad_. Thou think'st belike, there is no modesty When we are alone.

_Dul_. I by my troth you hit my thoughts aright.

_Evad_. You prick me Lady.

_Dul_. 'Tis against my will, Anon you must endure more, and lie still. You're best to practise.

_Evad_. Sure this wench is mad.

_Dul_. No faith, this is a trick that I have had Since I was fourteen.

_Evad_. 'Tis high time to leave it.

_Dul_. Nay, now I'le keep it till the trick leave me; A dozen wanton words put in your head, Will make you lively in your Husbands bed.

_Evad_. Nay faith, then take it.

_Dul_. Take it Madam, where? We all I hope will take it that are here.

_Evad_. Nay then I'le give you o're.

_Dul_. So will I make The ablest man in _Rhodes_, or his heart to ake.

_Evad_. Wilt take my place to night?

_Dul_. I'le hold your Cards against any two I know.

_Evad_. What wilt thou do?

_Dul_. Madam, we'l do't, and make'm leave play too.

_Evad_. _Aspatia_, take her part.

_Dul_. I will refuse it. She will pluck down a side, she does not use it.

_Evad_. Why, do.

_Dul_. You will find the play Quickly, because your head lies well that way.

_Evad_. I thank thee _Dula_, would thou could'st instill Some of thy mirth into _Aspatia_: Nothing but sad thoughts in her breast do dwell, Methinks a mean betwixt you would do well.

_Dul_. 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 cheek, It were a fitter hour for me to laugh, When at the Altar the Religious Priest Were pacifying the offended powers With sacrifice, than now, this should have been My night, and all your hands have been imployed In giving me a spotless offering To young _Amintors_ bed, as we are now For you: pardon _Evadne_, would my worth Were great as yours, or that the King, or he, Or both thought so, perhaps he found me worthless, But till he did so, in these ears of mine, (These credulous ears) he pour'd the sweetest words That Art or Love could frame; if he were false, Pardon it heaven, and if I did want Vertue, you safely may forgive that too, For I have left none that I had from you.

_Evad_. Nay, leave this sad talk Madam.

_Asp_. Would I could, then should I leave the cause.

_Evad_. See if you have not spoil'd all _Dulas_ mirth.

_Asp_. Thou think'st thy heart hard, but if thou beest caught, remember me; thou shalt perceive a fire shot suddenly into thee.

_Dul_. That's not so good, let'm shoot any thing but fire, I fear'm not.

_Asp_. Well wench, thou mayst be taken.

_Evad_. Ladies good night, I'le do the rest my self.

_Dul_. Nay, let your Lord do some.

_Asp_. Lay a Garland on my Hearse of the dismal Yew.

_Evad_. That's one of your sad songs Madam.

_Asp_. Believe me, 'tis a very pretty one.

_Evad_. How is it Madam?

SONG.

Asp_. Lay a Garland on my Hearse of the dismal yew; Maidens, Willow branches bear; say I died true: My Love was false, but I was firm from my hour of birth; Upon my buried body lay lightly gentle earth_.

_Evad_. Fie on't 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 power To love one above an hour, But my heart would prompt mine eye On some other man to flie;_ Venus, _fix 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, Prove so unto you; may no discontent Grow 'twixt your Love and you; but if there do, Enquire of me, and I will guide your moan, Teach you an artificial way to grieve, To keep your sorrow waking; love your Lord No worse than I; but if you love so well, Alas, you may displease him, so did I. This is the last time you shall look on me: Ladies farewel; as soon as I am dead, Come all and watch one night about my Hearse; Bring each a mournful story and a tear To offer at it when I go to earth: With flattering Ivie clasp my Coffin round, Write on my brow my fortune, let my Bier Be born by Virgins that shall sing by course The truth of maids and perjuries of men.

_Evad_. Alas, I pity thee. [_Exit Evadne_.

_Omnes_. Madam, goodnight.

_1 Lady_. Come, we'l let in the Bridegroom.

_Dul_. Where's my Lord?

_1 Lady_. Here take this light.

[_Enter Amintor_.

_Dul_. You'l find her in the dark.

_1 Lady_. Your Lady's scarce a bed yet, you must help her.

_Asp_. Go and be happy in your Ladies love; May all the wrongs that you have done to me, Be utterly forgotten in my death. I'le trouble you no more, yet I will take A parting kiss, and will not be denied. You'l come my Lord, and see the Virgins weep When I am laid in earth, though you your self Can know no pity: thus I wind my self Into this willow Garland, and am prouder That I was once your Love (though now refus'd) Than to have had another true to me. So with my prayers I leave you, and must try Some yet unpractis'd way to grieve and die.

_Dul_. Come Ladies, will you go? _[Exit Aspatia_.

_Om_. Goodnight my Lord.

_Amin_. Much happiness unto you all.

_[Exeunt Ladies_.

I did that Lady wrong; methinks I feel Her grief shoot suddenly through all my veins; Mine eyes run; this is strange at such a time. It was the King first mov'd me to't, but he Has not my will in keeping--why do I Perplex my self thus? something whispers me, Go not to bed; my guilt is not so great As mine own conscience (too sensible) Would make me think; I only brake a promise, And 'twas the King that forc't me: timorous flesh, Why shak'st thou so? away my idle fears.

[_Enter Evadne_.

Yonder she is, the lustre of whose eye Can blot away the sad remembrance Of all these things: Oh my _Evadne_, spare That tender body, let it not take cold, The vapours of the night will not fall here. To bed my Love; _Hymen_ will punish us For being slack performers of his rites. Cam'st thou to call me?

_Evad_. No.

_Amin_. Come, come my Love, And let us lose our selves to one another. Why art thou up so long?

_Evad_. I am not well.

_Amint_. To bed then let me wind thee in these arms, Till I have banisht sickness.

_Evad_. Good my Lord, I cannot sleep.

_Amin_. _Evadne_, we'l watch, I mean no sleeping.

_Evad_. I'le not go to bed.

_Amin_. I prethee do.

_Evad_. I will not for the world.

_Amin_. Why my dear Love?

_Evad_. Why? I have sworn I will not.

_Amin_. Sworn!

_Evad_. I.

_Amint_. How? Sworn _Evadne_?

_Evad_. Yes, Sworn _Amintor_, and will swear again If you will wish to hear me. 0 _Amin_. To whom have you Sworn this?

_Evad_. If I should name him, the matter were not great.

_Amin_. Come, this is but the coyness of a Bride.

_Evad_. The coyness of a Bride?

_Amin_. How prettily that frown becomes thee!

_Evad_. Do you like it so?

_Amin_. Thou canst not dress thy face in such a look But I shall like it.

_Evad_. What look likes you best?

_Amin_. Why do you ask?

_Evad_. That I may shew you one less pleasing to you.

_Amin_. How's that?

_Evad_. That I may shew you one less pleasing to you.

_Amint_. I prethee put thy jests in milder looks. It shews as thou wert angry.

_Evad_. So perhaps I am indeed.

_Amint_. Why, who has done thee wrong? Name me the man, and by thy self I swear, Thy yet unconquer'd self, I will revenge thee.

_Evad_. Now I shall try thy truth; if thou dost love me, Thou weigh'st not any thing compar'd with me; Life, Honour, joyes Eternal, all Delights This world can yield, or hopeful people feign, Or in the life to come, are light as Air To a true Lover when his Lady frowns, And bids him do this: wilt thou kill this man? Swear my _Amintor_, and I'le kiss the sin off from thy lips.

_Amin_. I will not swear sweet Love, Till I do know the cause.

_Evad_. I would thou wouldst; Why, it is thou that wrongest me, I hate thee, Thou shouldst have kill'd thy self.

_Amint_. If I should know that, I should quickly kill The man you hated.

_Evad_. Know it then, and do't.

_Amint_. Oh no, what look soe're thou shalt put on, To try my faith, I shall not think thee false; I cannot find one blemish in thy face, Where falsehood should abide: leave and to bed; If you have sworn to any of the Virgins That were your old companions, to preserve Your Maidenhead a night, it may be done without this means.

_Evad_. A Maidenhead _Amintor_ at my years?

_Amint_. Sure she raves, this cannot be Thy natural temper; shall I call thy maids? Either thy healthful sleep hath left thee long, Or else some Fever rages in thy blood.

_Evad_. Neither _Amintor_; think you I am mad, Because I speak the truth?

_Amint_. Will you not lie with me to night?

_Evad_. To night? you talk as if I would hereafter.

_Amint_. Hereafter? yes, I do.

_Evad_. You are deceiv'd, put off amazement, and with patience mark What I shall utter, for the Oracle Knows nothing truer, 'tis not for a night Or two that I forbear thy bed, but for ever.

_Amint_. I dream,--awake _Amintor_!

_Evad_. You hear right, I sooner will find out the beds of Snakes, And with my youthful blood warm their cold flesh, Letting them curle themselves about my Limbs, Than sleep one night with thee; this is not feign'd, Nor sounds it like the coyness of a Bride.

_Amin_. Is flesh so earthly to endure all this? Are these the joyes of Marriage? _Hymen_ keep This story (that will make succeeding youth Neglect thy Ceremonies) from all ears. Let it not rise up for thy shame and mine To after ages; we will scorn thy Laws, If thou no better bless them; touch the heart Of her that thou hast sent me, or the world Shall know there's not an Altar that will smoak In praise of thee; we will adopt us Sons; Then vertue shall inherit, and not blood: If we do lust, we'l take the next we meet, Serving our selves as other Creatures do, And never take note of the Female more, Nor of her issue. I do rage in vain, She can but jest; Oh! pardon me my Love; So dear the thoughts are that I hold of thee, That I must break forth; satisfie my fear: It is a pain beyond the hand of death, To be in doubt; confirm it with an Oath, if this be true.

_Evad_. Do you invent the form: Let there be in it all the binding words Devils and Conjurers can put together, And I will take it; I have sworn before, And here by all things holy do again, Never to be acquainted with thy bed. Is your doubt over now?

_Amint_. I know too much, would I had doubted still; Was ever such a marriage night as this! You powers above, if you did ever mean Man should be us'd thus, you have thought a way How he may bear himself, and save his honour: Instruct me in it; for to my dull eyes There is no mean, no moderate course to run, I must live scorn'd, or be a murderer: Is there a third? why is this night so calm? Why does not Heaven speak in Thunder to us, And drown her voice?

_Evad_. This rage will do no good.

_Amint_. _Evadne_, hear me, thou hast ta'ne an Oath, But such a rash one, that to keep it, were Worse than to swear it; call it back to thee; Such vows as those never ascend the Heaven; A tear or two will wash it quite away: Have mercy on my youth, my hopeful youth, If thou be pitiful, for (without boast) This Land was proud of me: what Lady was there That men call'd fair and vertuous in this Isle, That would have shun'd my love? It is in thee To make me hold this worth--Oh! we vain men That trust out all our reputation, To rest upon the weak and yielding hand Of feeble Women! but thou art not stone; Thy flesh is soft, and in thine eyes doth dwell The spirit of Love, thy heart cannot be hard. Come lead me from the bottom of despair, To all the joyes thou hast; I know thou wilt; And make me careful, lest the sudden change O're-come my spirits.

_Evad_. When I call back this Oath, the pains of hell inviron me.

_Amin_. I sleep, and am too temperate; come to bed, or by Those hairs, which if thou hast a soul like to thy locks, Were threads for Kings to wear about their arms.

_Evad_. Why so perhaps they are.

_Amint_. I'le drag thee to my bed, and make thy tongue Undo this wicked Oath, or on thy flesh I'le print a thousand wounds to let out life.

_Evad_. I fear thee not, do what thou dar'st to me; Every ill-sounding word, or threatning look Thou shew'st to me, will be reveng'd at full.

_Amint_. It will not sure _Evadne_.

_Evad_. Do not you hazard that.

_Amint_. Ha'ye your Champions?

_Evad_. Alas _Amintor_, thinkst thou I forbear To sleep with thee, because I have put on A maidens strictness? look upon these cheeks, And thou shalt find the hot and rising blood Unapt for such a vow; no, in this heart There dwels as much desire, and as much will To put that wisht act in practice, as ever yet Was known to woman, and they have been shown Both; but it was the folly of thy youth, To think this beauty (to what Land soe're It shall be call'd) shall stoop to any second. I do enjoy the best, and in that height Have sworn to stand or die: you guess the man.

_Amint_. No, let me know the man that wrongs me so, That I may cut his body into motes, And scatter it before the Northern wind.

_Evad_. You dare not strike him.

_Amint_. Do not wrong me so; Yes, if his body were a poysonous plant, That it were death to touch, I have a soul Will throw me on him.

_Evad_. Why 'tis the King.

_Amint_. The King!

_Evad_. What will you do now?

_Amint_. 'Tis not the King.

_Evad_. What, did he make this match for dull _Amintor_?

_Amint_. Oh! thou hast nam'd a word that wipes away All thoughts revengeful: in that sacred name, The King, there lies a terror: what frail man Dares lift his hand against it? let the Gods Speak to him when they please; Till then let us suffer and wait.

_Evad_. Why should you fill your self so full of heat, And haste so to my bed? I am no Virgin.

_Amint_. What Devil put it in thy fancy then To marry me?

_Evad_. Alas, I must have one To Father Children, and to bear the name Of Husband to me, that my sin may be more honourable.

_Amint_. What a strange thing am I!

_Evad_. A miserable one; one that my self am sorry for.

_Amint_. Why shew it then in this, If thou hast pity, though thy love be none, Kill me, and all true Lovers that shall live In after ages crost in their desires, Shall bless thy memory, and call thee good, Because such mercy in thy heart was found, To rid a lingring Wretch.

_Evad_. I must have one To fill thy room again, if thou wert dead, Else by this night I would: I pity thee.