CLEARCHUS

I would not have them think us such poor men that we are drove to seek for their relief, to endue for bred, and water, but rather that we come Like Noble wooers, full of rewards and presents able to return all favours we receive, and equally to honour them which honour us. As great as they, It shall appear he that is master of such a Fleet, may Style himself King, though Lord of nothing else. I marry Haimantus such a Jewel would Make the rest look dim, there are two Ladies in this I'll, if fame say true, the wonders of the World. When nature made they she summoned her whole Godhead, and unwearied wrought till she Had done, formed each limb as if she had begun there, She seemed to practice on the World till now, and what Like beautiful she Framed before, were but degrees to this height, These the assent from which she now must fallen They made her older then the labour of A thousand years. What's the matter? How nigh are they? Weel meet they. I shall wait upon him, but my Lord I must first desire, yowl honour me with your company a Shipboard, I shall not needs to excuse a Soldiers entertainment, I doubt not but your Lordship knows it well, plainness is half the praise on't. My Lord, yowl make me proud, your presence yet will add unto its glory. Exeunt omnes. This is stranger than all, with what licence this fell low abuses his Master, or speaks truths altogether, as unpar donable; sure he has a patent for't: I see I shall want names for all the monsters. If none know more than I, my Lord, you have lost your king. My Lord, I have found much honour in you, one that knows to show more civility to a Stranger than he can de serve, and only are unhappy at this time in and unworthy choice, but if you still can continue this nobleness, though the King frown, I shall gladly make some stay, at least till I have satisfied a strangers curiosity, and may seem rather to have left the place, than to have been thrust from it. My Lord, you know to speak a pleasing language. Yet my Lord bless me with the sighed, I can rejoice at so much excellence, though another do possess it, and no doubt as much of the owners felicity lies in others admiration, as in his own possession. Sir you have engaged Me your servant beyond my hope of freedom. Exeunt omnes Where are we now? Madam, our bold mistake hath thrust us on too far, to retire without excuse, which we shall hardly make unless, your favour meet us, we are Strangers that thus have er'd, unfortunately I must not say, that were a sin great as our rudeness, yet we ought to esteem a fault, though it is to us a blessed one, and hath conferred a happiness, our best deeds could not have deserved. Why should I fear to entertain a guest So honourable as love is, that fills The mind with noble thoughts, and strengthens men To act such deeds themselves style gods. Pallas Mars and Mercury, are but the proper names For virtues, loves effects, without some kind Of which there could be no society, The world is held up with Loves Deity, But it appears most godlike, when beauty Is its sphere. I will embrace thee therefore Gentle spirit. Fools do profane thy fires And call thee a Disease. Thou Wertenberg the old And first Religion, not taught, but born Within us, the only and first law, which None that loved could err in, thou hast too long Been absent, and unkindly never wouldst Vouchsafe a Dart till now. Dwell in my breast And teach me all thy laws. Let not thy shades And flowery banks withdraw thee, when thou mayest Inhabit here, make Paphies but thy refuge, The heart's thy native soil, thy mother's lap's A banishment to it. How well thou hast Already taught me, each Lover is thy Priest And speaks thy Power, without thy aid Beauty appears dead, and cold to all, as it hath Hitherto to me, nor Sinks it deeper than the eye. Thou art the Organ that bears The species inward. When thou sittest multiply de in every partly, Thou makest each limb as sensible as the Heart. Why are you thus cruel in your care? did you but know the felicities you have waked me from, you would have rocked my sleep for ever, thought it a greater mercy to have killed, then thus to have divor'st me, I was wrapped into the company of men, of gods, if compared with those we here converse with, enjoyed the most excellent things, there more, excellent, and glorified, was Crowned a King over all and with a traitorous push you have deposed me. Alas how fading is my happiness, which a small noise or motion can dis solve, nay turn to nothing. My Lord, think not so, for were the World dark a bout her, or I blind to all things else, in her I could find variety enough, and so long as she were not eclipsed I could not envy him that were so placed, that he at once could see the whole earth as in a Map. My Lord, I shall ever owe my life to you, as much as if you had saved it, and that I lived wholly by your gift, but here can be no danger where she wishes safety. Sure I was rude and barbarous; before This softer fire did touch my heart, and from The wild inhabitants of the wood, differed In passion only, and not reason; that Without more respect, my dull eyes could gaze Upon such brightness, and with a ready rudeness Could excuse the fault committed. The unhewn Clown not faltering with his tongue Or in his looks abashed, could answer to The Emperor of the world, when he that's Better taught and nearer to the Majesty That speaks, beats for a word, and answers but With looks: although at other times his learned Soul can dictate such as would be: if that the God of Wit his Deity were called in question, And forced to show some excellent Piece above all was ever writ, as the Tenure by which he holds his Godhead: Pardon that, Like the assendants of the Altar thus by degrees I come, and pause At each step, and bend unto that nearness, Rashness was my fault before, and brought me Into shame. Though no adoration, Yet there is a duty to be paid at Your fair shrine. This honourable admittance you have granted me shall hereafter be my only glory, the sweet meditation that accompanies my old age, nor shall the much envied youth, make me wish one day back to be partaker of their lesser pleasures, when I shall call these greater unto mind, what cordial will it be; when I can silently boast within my self, my younger days were graced by a Princess, the fairest in the world; so I may say. I humbly crave your pardon. 'Tis strange so much seriousenesse can produce such follies, yet I have fair grounds for what I said, which most excellently show themselves in every partly. What honours you have laid upon me, I may bleed for, but cannot purchase any Like they; nor return such back again, there all must submit, your gifts, as your beauty's, are excelling. But away vain words, I will endeavour to grow strong in those virtues, and not melt in the passion you have nam, I'll set new Laws to all noble Lovers, that shall make all their idle passion ap pear as found unto themselves as others, make them throw by their Pen, and with their Sword to act those Fictions nor daring to name nor think upon the Saint they wor ship, but when they have and offering some virtuous in crease to bring them near. Thus is a Love that's free to all, none is injured by it Himens. Torch burns brighter by such flames, and Vesta's fires more lasting and more pure, who can complain the want of beauty, when any (any that dares be good) may adore any, and she Like her Picture though she truly look one way may, seem to cast a gracious eye over all. How glad, how much greater should I grow, if I could promise to my self, but one of those seeming looks from you. Sir, say not so, you have not warrant, though you rank your self within the number. The place, and per sons rather appear to me, as if there were some Religion towards. If you have not yet done, I can hear you still, and with such lectures be content to have my self persuaded to that thing, whose embraces I would leap into; would I could lend aides equal to yours, but theres none so good, yet if you can stay so long, I can command worthy helpers. Haimantus you shall presently away, and take the whole charge upon your self. How do you, my Lord? Sir, is not the Traitor known that did it? My Lord, you speak very doubtful. I hope you do not think but I am sorry for the accident. I see my Lord, you know to bestow injuries, though no courtesies, to a stranger. You are unworthy— And though I am encompassed with all the dangers I may justly fear from so barbarous a place, which dares do any thing it lustest unto, without regard of laws or hospitality, I'de tell you so, and were you from the Dunghill that you stalk on (it is no better) I'de pull down that unmannered pride within you. They hold you in your safety, nor is the distance betwixt your life and death longer than this space that parts us. If you dare, oretake me, I'll stay you out a days sail at Sea. I chal lenge you to a princely combat, where come with all your Power, that I may destroy so many bruit beasts from of the earth. Exit. Clearchus Do ye hear the news my Lord? All's lost. Yet it may be but a rumor and scattered by the enemy, Phronimus and Eurilochus in their convoy with the young King are taken. The Camp is ready to mutiny on the report. No, The rumour goes that two Lords were taken on the way by a Troop of horse of the adverse party, the young King being in his disguise, and not yet known, passed undiscove read as one of their followers. My Lord, raise your self, the news may be false, and all the danger they are in may be by this your belief, give not your self cause to mourn hereafter, that all perishd on a mi stake, if that this the worst of evils be befallen, it ought not to be the reason of your neglect, but greater care and vigilance. The Soldiers are in a mutiny. What news, my Lord? Some of those which were sent to corrupt the ene mies are returned, and say their words were hearkened to, beyond their expectation: and if a present assault were given, there were no doubt of victory, all is in such a tumult. Sir, I have found a royal welcome, such as cannot be bettered but by your own wishes, which are the only things above your actions. Yet ere I go, I have a request to you, but it's such as I must not receive, unless another will be content to ask it for me, you are the man, my Lord, and your company I desire, which if I can obtain, I dare promise to my self a vi ctorious enterprise. Is this your royal entertainment? a Common host would have given one as civil; shown his guests their quarter, and then left them to stumble out again; my receivers are all vanished — And undeserving scorn will trouble me— neither of the two Princes were in the train; they might have trusted they, I could have gaged a Kingdom for their security. The meanest things displease me not, if they are the fullest offerings of the place, and gratefully I can submit to the necessity: but where they are afforded I can relish nothing but the choicest, and look on ought but what invites the gene rall and first eye, here a continual Spring and Harvest make but one season, no scarcity does dwell but in their minds, and then I think my self neglected with the best things. Was not the fellow drunk? Now they begin to muster up again, here I stand Like one that learns to make his first honour. When comes the fourth? three of the Elements have passed by simple and unmix, Water, Earth and Air, livelier expressed than in a Masque: the fourth was in the Prince, he singd my face with a compliment. I am arrived among a stranger peo ple, than ever I herd lyde of yet, at my return I shall have undiscovered story enough to fill a map, though the Land be known, I have passed some two degrees, and may lawfully ex tend my lines to twenty, and fill the vacuity with monsters and Fish-heads. Sir, by your favour, if your business call you not, pray let me entreat your company awhile. Have you commanded all the Mariners aboard each Captain to his charge; bid the Soldiers fill the decks with their full numbers, and display their colours. Let nothing wanting that may add to the glory of the Navy. Sir as I; new friend, let me embrace you, but this all teration shall not give me leave to forget those former fa vours I am to serve you for, what I receive in your disguise, I shall be ever ready to pay unto your self. Till this fell out we had no sense of the hap pinesse we were in. Pray my Lord, what are they which are taken? It were a creuelty to wish it other, I will not be guilty of such desires, if after a brother, I and humble servant shall be thought on, it's the time and place I am ambitious off. I will withdraw Sir, and though there is no happiness, I can enjoy so great, as beholding yours, I will deny my self the view. 'Tis enough, I obey, my business is much below my love, and I will rather destroy the one, then offend the other, yet now I have granted I'll entreat again, as for a new favour. I may persuade, though deny nothing. My voyage was bound to another place, before happily I was cast upon this shore, and though I call my self a Prince, I am a servant to my employ ments, and obey the Commission of a Father, the expense, and expectation of a Kingdom, Fame, thou spokst loudly of these Ladies, and yet thy voice was narrow in their Praise. The King is royal and chides me kindly, he binds a stranger ever to his Service. If with your leaves I shall depart, as a man that is pulled from his delights, with a strong hand, being freed recoils a gain to them, so speedy shall be my return, and in my absence account all violence, that does detain me, by that time too, your first troubles will be settled, & you more fit to receive and idleman.