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Full speech
Fair S r . I wish you would be pleased t'imploy Your service on and object of more worth. Could my perfections, valued at the highest rate, But countervail a dram of your great worth, Then should I think my self born under stars Most happy and auspicious. Cursed was the wight that did in murder first Imbrue his guilty hands: cursed was that hand Which first was taught by damned hellish art To forge the killing blade in Vulcan's flames: What raging fury reigns in mortal breasts, That man should man pursue with deadly hate; O what maglignant power hath defaced, That specious image of the gods above? Who hath inspired man with that bestial quality Of murderous revenge? The Lybian Lyons seldom are at odds, The Tigers of Hyrcania do agree, But man to man's become a very devil: That Thracian God which is delighted most With humane sacrifices, is now adored; Bloodthirsty Mars now bears the only sway, Who direful devastations does affect, Peace hath forsook the earth, and fell debate Shaking his battered arms, now stalketh every where. I hoped for nuptials sweet, of late, but now I may have cause to fear a funeral. Hymen affrighted with the confused noise Of brutish war, is fled I know not whither. My dearest Rhodon must depart from me, And in the field engage his tender Corpse To all extremities of death, of wounds, of danger, Of sickness and unrest: Then o you powers, that are the grand protectors Of Hybla's happiness and welfare; Whither you do delight in our flower-crowned mountains, Our odorous vales, or in our Crystal fountains, Your gracious favour I implore, besceching you To guard the person of my dearest Rhodon; Found woman, how forgetful have I been? Here is a gem whose price does far transcend All estimation: my faithful Panace Deliver't thou unto my gentle Shepherd, And pray him wear it for my sake. It from the bowels of a Cock was taken, And whoso wears the same (as wise men say) Shall ever be victorious in war.
Plot summary
Plot — Rhodon and Iris
: Aiming to sow dissension among the flowers, Poneria and Agnostus disguise themselves as a virtuous maiden and a wise man. Rhodon has recently breken off his suit to Eglantine, and is now expected to marry Iris. His sister Violetta appeals to him for help against the marauding Martagon, who has trampled on her flowers and forced her to live away from her home. Martagon conspires with Eglantine’s brother to forestall Rhodon’s match with Iris. The jilted Eglantine grows melancholy, but Poneria stops her killing herself and gets her to tart herself up for an assignation with Rhodon. It becomes clear that Martagon has no intention of making restitution to Violetta, so Rhodon will have to take him on by force: a floral war seems inevitable. Iris gives Rhodon a gern which makes the wearer victorious in battle; Violetta gives him a lettuce which guarantees sustenance and prevents poisoning. Martagon suborns Poneria to kill Rhodon, so she gives Eglantine a poison, telling her it is a love-philtre. Posing as Iris, Eglantine gives it to him, claiming it to be a restorative, and expects him to fall in love with her. Instead. he falls iJ, but is cured by the vegetable antidote from his sister. _ 2335. Rhodon and Iris | 499 Rhodon challenges. Martagon to single combat, but. he refuses: the full armies will settle it. Realizing that, since Rhodon is alive, Poneria’s plot has miscarried, Martagon orders her out-of his territory, so she goes to Rhodon and tells him. that it was Eglantine, not Iris, who gave him the poison. The flower armies get into position for battle, but Flora intervenes and.orders the fighting to stop. Martagon is ordered to make restitution to Violetta, Eglantine is sentenced to ten years’ penance in a vestal temple, Poneria and Agnostus are banished,- and Iris is bestowed on Rhodon as his bride.