AMETHUS

Perform your duties where you owe them first, I dare not be so sudden in the pleasures, Thy presence hath brought home. Pray give leave, He shall attend your entertainments soon, Next day, and next day, for and hour or two, I would engross him only. How did the Rivals partly? Now for the bird. Thou hast discoursed A truth of mirth and pity. But is this miracle Not to be seen? Came he with you to Cyprus? Now th'art doubly welcome: I will not loose the sighed of such a rarity For one partly of my Hope's. When d'ee intend To visit my great-spirited Sister. Without offence? Parthenophill Shall find a worthy entertainment too. Thou art not still a coward. I'll prepare A noble welcome. And (friend) ere we partly, Unload to thee and overcharged heart. Does this show well? Not Like a Lady of the trim, new crept Out of the shell of sluttish sweat and labour, Into the glittering pomp of ease and wantonness, Embroideries, and all these antic fashions, That shape a woman monstrous; to transform Your education, and a Noble birth Into contempt and laughter. Sister, Sister, She who derives her blood from Princes, ought To glorify her greatness by humility. Young Menaphon, My worthy friend, has loved you long, and truly, To witness his obedience to your scorn, Twelve months (wronged Gentleman) he undertook A voluntary exile. Wherefore (Sister) In this time of his absence, have you not Disposed of your affections on some Monarch? Or sent Ambassadors to some neighbouring King With fawning protestations of your graces? Your rare perfections, admirable beauty? This had been a new piece of modesty, Would have deserved a Chronicle! Thamasta. No more, no more; be affable to both: Time may reclaim your cruelty. Now I commend thee, Thou'lt change at last, I hope. Have you suruaid the Garden? Excellent Sister. Come, come, we'll wait thee, Sister: this begin ning Does relish happy process. Honour and health still wait upon the Prince. Sir, I am bold with favour to present Unto your Highness, Menaphon my friend, Returned from travail. And if your Highness please to hear the en trance Into their first acquaintance, you will say— I told you so. Shall we to the Castle? I need not fear thee, Rhetias. —Sister, soon Expect us: this day we will range the City. My Lord Meleander, Menaphon your Kinsman Newly returned from travail, comes to tender His duty t'ee: to you his love, fair Mistress. For my friends sake, Lady pray give him welcome. My intents are joust and honourable. Cleophyla, although these blacker clouds Of sadness, thicken and make dark the sky Of thy fair eyes, yet give me leave to follow The stream of my affections: they are pure, Without all mixture of unnoble thoughts. Can you be ever mine? But give me leave to hope. Away, away to Court, the Prince is pleased To see a Mask to night, we must attend him: 'Tis near upon the time.—How thrives your suit? Affectionately? Women in their passion, Like false fierce flash, to fright our trembling senses; Yet in themselves contain nor light nor heat. My Sister do this? She, whose pride did scorn All thoughts that were not busied on a Crown? To fallen so far beneath her Fortune's now? You are my friend. Truth, Menaphon? What then, Sir? My Menaphon, excuse me, I grow wild, And would not willingly believe the truth Of my dishonour: She shall know how much I am a debtor to thy noble goodness, By checking the contempt, her poor desires Have sunk her fame in. Prithee tell me (friend) How did the Youth receive her? Hark ye: The mask of your ambition is fallen off, Your pride hath stoop't to such and abject lowness, That you have now discovered to report Your nakedness in virtue, honours, shame— You have sold your birth, for lust. Yes, and at a deer expense Purchased the only glories of a Wanton. Let repentance stop your mouth. Learn to redeem your fault. 'Tis strange. What rests for me? I'm still a Bachelor: Sweet Maid, resolve me, May I yet call you mine? It shall suffice me. The Prince hath sent you (My Lord) this Staff of Office, and withal Salutes you Grand Commander of the Ports Throughout his Principalities. He shortly Will visit you himself: I must attend him.— You're both dismissed. Give me thy hand, I will not say, Th'art well come, That is the common road of continued ̄ mon friends, I am glad I have thee here—Oh, I want words To let thee know my heart. Yes, it's, as firmly, as that holy thing Called Friendship can unite it. Menaphon, My Menaphon: now all the goodly blessings, That can create a Heaven on earth, dwell with thee. Twelve months we have been sundered, but henceforth We never more will partly, till that sad hour, In which death leaves the one of us behind, To see the others funerals performed. Let's now a while be free. How have thy travails Disburdened thee abroad of discontents? Such is my case at home. Cleophyla, thy Kinswoman, that Maid Of sweetness and humility, more pities Her Father's poor afflictions, then the tide Of my complaints. Not any, Menaphon. Her bosom yet Is intermured with Ice, though by the truth Of love, no day hath ever passed, wherein I have not mentioned thy deserts, thy constancy Thy—Come, in troth I dare not tell thee what, Lest thou mightest think I fawnd upon a sin Friendship was never guilty of; for flattery Is monstrous in a true friend. If thou meanest the Prince, It does, he's the same melancholy man, He was at's Father's death, sometime speaks sense, But seldom mirth; will smile, but seldom laugh; Will lend and ear to business, deal in none; Gaze upon Revels, Antic Fopperies, But is not moved; will sparingly discourse, Hear music; but what most he takes delight in, Are handsome pictures; one so young, and goodly, So sweet in his own nature, any Story Hath seldom mentioned. This little I'll of Cyprus sure abounds In greater wonders, both for change and fortune, Then any you have seen abroad. Jewel, Menaphon? Prithee do. I cannot yet conceive, what you infer By Art and Nature. And so do I, good,—on. Your eyes, Parthenophill, Are guilty of some passion. Sweet Maid, forget me not; we now must partly. Still you my truth. I will esteem him dearly. All the flatteries Of greatness have exposed ye to contempt. And therefore Lady (pray observe him well) He henceforth covets plain equality; Endeavouring to rank his Fortune's low, With some fit partner, whom without presumption, Without offence, or danger, he may cherish; Yes and command too, as a Wife; a Wife; A Wife, my most great Lady 'Tis a trick, There is no trust in female cunning (friend) Let her first purge her follies passed, and clear The wrongs done to her honour, by some sure Apparent testimony of her constancy: Or we will not believe these childish plots; As you respect my friendship, lend no ear To a reply. Think on't. We must have entrance. Your Ladyship has had a time of Scolding to your humour: Does the storm hold still? Pish, I know her spirit, and her envy. Clophila hath played the Church-mans partly, I'll not forbid the Banes. The Ladies are turned Lawyers, and plead hand somely Their Clients cases. I am and easy Judge, And so shalt thou be Menaphon. I give thee My Sister for a wise; a good one, friend. Dote on a stranger?