THISBE

Know you not That Pallas high feast called Quinquatria This day was celebrated here in Athens, One with a ship by land, (as is the manner) Was consecrated, Cnemon was employed, Clad in his robes, and on his head a crown, To sing the usual hymn endue to her praise I saw him busy in the ceremonies. He did it neatly; I would not for my maidenhead have missed So rare a sighed, not for ten maidenheads. Mistress, 'tis to late; see Cnemon there returned in all his robes. I shall sweet Mistress.— Exit Thisbe. My Mistress knows How to deceive old Dotards with false shows. Exeunt. As your own heart could wish, as your trusty cabinet. I will not digress a hairs breadth mistress. I am your creature in all things, especially in matters of this nature. I wait your pleasure. I must give Cnemon good con tenance, well, I must entice the young man, well, I must lie with him too, very well; faith these are no harsh commands, it shall never grieve me to be employed in such work, would my mistress had no harder labour for me, this is a task of pleasure; I have a warrant now for what I shall do; I durst not yield to C mon before when he attempted me, now let him come with his stoutest artillery, I will stand the charge vali antly. Courteous Cnemon, Although at first I did deny your suit, Impute it not to want of love, but place And opportunity, beside the doubt And danger which the Actium brings with it If once discovered, made me to commit So gross and error. You shall see I will not be refractory to ought You shall advice me, I do know your mind, You talk simply Cnemon, if you count it a dangerous matter for me being a bondmaid, bought with money, to be taken a bed with you; what punishment think you her wor thy, who is a freewoman, and lawfully married to a husband, yet plays false, and bears a man too many. Your virtuous stepmother, my Mistress Demeneta, now you may be revenged upon her by discovering it to your father Aristippus. To confirm my report (if you please) I will delive the adulterer unto you in the very act. With all my heart, not only for your sake who have been injured by her before, but for mine own also, who, for that she hath me in jealousy, am used of her very extremely, wherefore if thou be a man apprehend him. Comfort your self deer mistress I beseech you. Fie, fie, forget him, think upon his pride And high disdain against you, think he does Deserve this punishment and greater too. Well I perceive your mind, she thinks to make me Support the fury of her frantic fits, But I shall overreach you sure in wit, And lay the saddle on the right horse back, aside. Why do you thus accuse your trusty servant? You know I did but what I was commanded, Nor ere did any thing without your warrant, If this thing happened not as you would have it, Ascribe it not to any fault in me, But r there, as you justly may, to fortune; If you will have me yet devise some way To remedy your present grief and sorrow, You shall perceive how ready my good will Shall be at your commands. Mistress this: All men suppose that Cnemon is departed The town of Athens and the territory As he was judged to do, but I know well (Who have searched all things merely for your sake) That he remains here still in secret manner With one Arsinoe whom I think you know, She plays well on the Virginals, with her He lies every night, for this fair maid Wone with his love, and pitying his distress Received him in, and promises as soon As all things are provided for her journey, To go away with him. Much, i'll pretend I am in love with Cnemon, And will desire for old acquaintance sake, Arsinoe would be pleased to suffer me In stead of her to lie with him one night, Which if I can obtain, it shall be yours, You shall enjoy him in Arsinoes stead, And isle provide before he go to bed He shall have wine sufficient, least our plot Should be discovered; if you have your wish, Rest then contented to give over your love, For in most nature's it is easily seen That such love whose beginning's violent After the first experiment decays And waxes cold, but grant it burn a fresh Within your bosom (which you gods forbid) 'Tis but to make a new voyage, & seek out A new way to achieve it. Fear it not, I crave but three days to bring this about. Master I doubt not but my sudden coming Appears strange as being unexpected, The cause whereof I will relate unto you Without more circumstance, or vain preambl ; I come here to accuse my self unto you; And to receive such punishment as your Discretion shall think fit for my offence; By me sir you have partly lost your son, I do confess I was and accessary, Though much against my will; when I perceived My mistress lived not well, but wronged your bed, Not only provident to shun the danger Might light upon my self for keeping counsel (If it should come to light by any other) But chiefly sorrowful for your mishap, Who should in recompense of all your kindness Unto your wife, reap such disgrace from her, I came one night to my young master Cnemon, (My self not daring to acquaint you with it) And told him there was one who used to play The lecher with my mistress, he enraged, Thinking that then they were in bed together, Took suddenly his sword into his hand, And notwithstanding that I told them then They were not at their sport, he would not hear me, But thinking that I had repented of Bewraying it, ran Like a mad man forth Unto your bedside with intent to kill Adulterer, what followed sir you know: Now to confirm that this I say is true, If so you please, this night isle show your wife My mistress Demeneta with her friend A bed together in a neighbours house Without the City. You know the garden where the monument Of Epicures does stand, there come a little Before the night and stay for me; adieu. Exeunt. Thanks good Arsinoe, will you teach me now A lesson on the Virginals? I will tell thee, You know Feledemus the dancer We too must dance la volta here to night, Let's have a chamber and a bed made ready Sweet sister, for I've promised him this night He shall come first, and I will follow after, Assoon as I to bed have brought my mistress. But when he comes I pray you Be out the way, for he is very shamefaced As being a novice in this art. Not yet I can assure ye, His flower is yet to spend and strength of youth. In time I may, at night expect me sister. If this my plot do hit Near was the Like devised by woman's wit. Exeunt. Bind the adulterer fast master. Oh wonderful thing, the villain is fled, take heed sir that you be not again deceived. O yes, her neck Is broken sir. What sly evasion to put off thy gilded Is left thee now poor Thisbe? what device To shun the severe justice of the Law? All will be now discovered, and my plots Return upon my self, the heavens are just In sending Cnemon home from banishment To punish me in cheering of himself, Canst thou behold his face, or speak one word In thy defence, when he stands forth t'accuse thee Before the people? Oh what shame, what curses Breathed from a general mouth will weigh thee down Even to Avernus gulf; I feel the weight Of my offences poised in the scale Of sad despair; Oh thou incendiary Of all this mischief, says my guilty thoughts, Thou murtheress of thy mistress, High thee hence To the infernal shades, where never light Appears, but gloomy darkness covers all Under her sable mantle, there find out Medea, Clitemnestra, Pasiphe, Long since condemned for murder to this place, Companions of thy shame; why lingrest thou Upon the earth? is not thy sin complete. And ripe for hell? yes, yes, I know it is, I know it is, my sad despairing thoughts, I'll follow your suggestions, gentle viol Reserved for such a use, this kiss from thee Shall cross the sentence of the Laws decree. She drinks poison. Not to gain a crown, 'Tis done, and passed prevention. Write it then. Cnemon writes. I Thisbe do confess young Cnemon was Unjustly banished, I and Demeneta Did forge that plot against him, for the which We have our condign punishment. Come mistress, let me make you unready instantly, all that I promised you is done, I will go fetch young Cnemon unto you who is making merry here by, and return suddenly, lie down, take your pleasure and say nothing. Exit Thisbe.