GEOGRAPHUS

Come, now you shall, Astronomia. Kiss. No not so, I hope you do not use to kiss with your teeth. I, but (my fine Wit-catcher) I mean you do not Show your teeth when you kiss: — it is thy Ambrosiake lip (sweet Nymph ) which thus I salute after the fine French — thus, He kisses Astron. the gracious Spanish, — (hold still) thus the slavering Dutch — (nay, I will) and thus the devouring Italian fashion — I'm a Courtier sweet Nymph, I'm a Courtier; pardon my (you know the Court-humor) boldness. No, sweet chuck, but to kiss them In breath; to make them long-breathed in kissing, and able to endure a Smothering and Revive again. Come, my Heaven, I must take off your Zone; shall Astronomia be in girded with a Zone, and not Geographus? e specially since all we Lovers live under Zona torrida. With all my heart (my double soul) I have All ready traveled over the whole Earth, and am now again in Travel to be Delivered of a second Attempt, the Peregrinam cion of the Heavens; which to effect, I know no more expe dite Course, then to have Recourse to Astronomia. I, but I'll make you Laugh. Nay, but Nymph, Won't you then? Be kind. (The plague of Lovers! crossing in the point; He espies Phy sica entering. Yond der comes thy mother Physica ) why be kind as she has been. It may be she won't consent. Nay, good love, He speaks this drawing back to depart. think this but and exiliency of my affection, or rather think not out at all, but only (Oh my Venus lipped) of this Wooers modest kiss, that is but lent till the next meeting: but farewell, I see thy Mother's aged brow wrinkled already; and I had rather again undertake my performed journey about the World, then thou shouldst be shent for me; once more farewell, Geographus his Astro nomia. Exit Geographus. Well Sir, we thank you; Apollo be always the Pa Throne of your Muse and Health. How now my nimble Crotchet? who was the first Fiddle-maker? Why, for that reason I proposed it. I, but Answer. What then was the first kind of Instrument? Why, I can tell. And Harp. A Bagpipe? why prithee? I conceit it, Musicam. Indeed I think this a truth; for as the voice was before the Instrument, so the Wind-instrument before the stringed. But then how came your Trumpet up? Nay, I do believe there is a great virtue in Music. Indeed I think so, and that's the reason, it's likely, why Apollo is the God both of Music and Physic: and now I remember it, in one place where we came, in our tram vails, there were no Physicians, but all their sick folks were cured by Music; where was it, Phantastes? I have quite for God. Well, Musicam, I could talk with thee all day— But I cannot stay now; I'm afraid they stay for me at the banquet. Is thy Mistress there? Well, farewell till anon: you'll meet us at supper? woun't you? Here's a health to Astronomia. He drinks. He's a puny cannot swagger, Carouse and yet never stagger, But be soberly drunk And closely have his punk: He's a puny cannot swagger. Here's a health to Astronomia. In the most parts of the World, Sir. They are yet Sir but a miscellany, but I am now in reducing of them. Sir, they are principally drawn from the People, and Country: discoursing upon the policy, and natural dispo sition of the first; as on the situation, and fertility of the see cond. Sir, the observation of government was my first and principal intendment, especially in some secrets of state, as yet (to my knowledge) not observed, at least not revealed by any. I will show unto you. You shall understand that too. The secret is concer ning the happy detection of such, as from enemy-states, are usually sent to the subversion of a Land; my means of attai ning to the knowledge of this Mystery, was my acquaintance with a Gentleman in Italy, who having been one of the most practised Intelligencers in Europe, upon the death of his Lord, who employed him, fell into great wants; when, out of the fullness of a grieved mind, and the rather to excite in me a compassion of his griefs, unfolded unto me the whole secret. The Italian Lord, that employed this Gentleman, furnished him always with money, that he might cast him self into what shape he would, then sent him to the enemies Land, where living, (either concealing his own Country, or professing a dislike of it) and insinuating himself into the acquaintance of men next to the best, would, commonly by entertaining their humours, and giving occasion of such dis course at any meeting, with much Art and ease, allure every man, to discover (even for glory, to show who could show most) all intended and secret employments into foreign Lands; by this means he would learn the whole design, agent, time, and whatsoever other necessary circumstance; then the person to be employed, being commonly of estate not beyond himself, he would upon some sought (though but slight) occasion, grow so far acquainted with him, as to entreat the courtesy of Nations of him, to carry a Letter from him to that Country; which being with all courtesy granted, he would, against the time of his departure, provide a Letter fairly written, containing nothing but some come plement, or lighter business to his friend — No, Sir, but to another agent, whom his Lord im ployed at home, as this Gentleman abroad. Withal giving his friend in charge, upon their love, to give all courteous entertainment to the bearer thereof; as, to provide him a fit lodging, with all other compliments of friendship: then reading this Letter to the Gentleman, to free him from all suspicion of false dealing, would seal it in his presence, and deliver it to him— This Letter, Sir, being written by the Art of Stega nography, contained the whole intendment of this employed Messenger. That Art (as Trithemius has at large discovered, or rather taught it) proceeds upon many devices, as the put ting together every first letter of a word, or every last, or eve ry second, according to the compact before laid between these two friends. Upon the receipt of which, proceeded first a most courteous entertaining, and then upon the maturity of his intendments, and artificial detection of all his designs. I shall rest, Sir, at the bounty of your virtue. Nay, honoured Polites, let me beg Magus his life. Then let Geographus obtain the request on this con dition, that they undertake a voluntary travail, in stead of and enforced banishment. Faith I'm almost extracted, I'm come to the Mercury already; there's nothing left but my wits: but what if I can get no customers now? Foh! that's a stinking trade. O, Astronomia! there's my chiefest grief, I con fesse; for as it's held policy in rich men to love; so I fear it will prove ridiculous in me, if once I grow poor. Well, but what course shall I take, if I get money? O! thou hast a rare wit, my fine Phantastes! well, let's commit it to the heavens, and if my stars bless me but to obtain Astronomia; I'll count it as and enjoying of the whole world, which I have yet but seen. Exeunt Geographus & Phantastes. ANd did she not say, Melancholico, she was a divine Lady? Oh, Sir, I could tell you such wonders, as would in flame you with a desire. Sir, I can impart such rarities of relation unto you, as would amaze you; and yet they are familiar to a Trauai lour. In a City of Greece, I remember I saw the admired net, which Vulcan made to entangle Mars and Venus; and it's hanged up in a Temple dedicated to the same God, and by himself was given thereunto, to the terror of all Cuckold-makers for ever. Hum—o—true Sir, it was invisible, but, Now Sir— it is to be seen. Nay, Sir, in another place of Greece there is a round, close Valley, encompassed with exceeding high Hills; only on one side there is a narrow entrance into it & through the midst of it runs a delicate stream, by the bank of which if a man stand, he shall as perfectly hear the Music of the Spheres, as if he were amongst them: and the cause of this, by the inhabitants is thought to be the height of the Hills: which keeping-in the found, and bringing it down to the uva ter, does by and aerial resultancy produce a most reciprocal representation of the divine harmony. Nay, Sir, moreover it is so sweet, that the hearer can never leave hearing of his own accord, but stands still. Hum—faith I was told the device of that, but I have forgotten. Why, I have seen white bears with faces would make you fallen in love with them. Nay, Sir, and these have long tails. It's true; yet (if you mark it) it's broken. Again, Sir, in my travails in Tuscany, I beheld a most curious piece of Architecture; it was and hall built in the form of a cross, that, which way soever the wind sat, or the sun shined, a man might always go to one of the ends, and so decline the present violence of the season: and as in and arbour unto which the Sun has access, you shall see boughs at the top correspondently represented on the ground in the shadow: so whatsoever curious work was seen in the roof of this building, the same underneath was expressed in the Floor. If you please, Sir, now to employ me, not only my Wants, but also my Love shall make me diligently re spectfull. Ah, dearest Astronomia, it's for thy sake I do thus. He speaks this aside to himself, and Poeta oh uer-heares him. Thanks, They all salute him, & he them mutually, espe cially the Ladies. courteous Ethicus —save you gallants— fair Ladies— What's the matter? Phantastes, Choler, Musi Can, go out again Come, be mannerly. Be made fit down again. She did not look well. 'Twas, I fear me, a fit of and Ague. Musicians, depart the room. The Musicians go out. A second health to Astronomia. He drinks. Begin, wee'll follow. Faith, I can drink no more, Poeta. What? By Jove you're almost foxt. Sleep, sleep, Poeta. Exit Geographus.