LYSIPPUS

Strato thou hast some skill in poetry, What thinkest thou of a mask, will it be well? As masks can be. Noble Melantius, Enter Melantius the land by me welcomes thy virtues home, thou that with blows abroad bringest us our peace at home, the breath of Kings is Like the breath of gods, my brother wished thee here, and thou art here, he will be kind; and weary thee with often welcome, but the time does give thee a well come, above his, or all the world. 'Tis most true Mell ntius, He might not come till the solemnities Of this great match were passed. We have a mask to night, And you must tread a soldiers measure. You are mistaken sir, she is not married. A Lady sir, That bears the light above her, and strikes dead With flashes of her eye, the fair Evadne Your virtuous sister. The King my brother did it To honour you, and these solemnities Are at his charge. Oh t'were pity, for this Lady sir, Sits discontented with her watery eyes bent on the ear In unfrequented woods are her delight, Where when she sees a bank stuck full of flowers, Then she will fit, and sighs, and tell Her servants, what a Pretty place it were To bury lovers in, and make her maids Pluck'em, and strow them over her Like a corpse, She carries with her and infectious grief, That strikes all her beholders, she will sing The mourn ulst things that ever ear hath herd, And swoon, and sing again, and when the r st Of your young Ladies in their wanton blood, Tell mirthful tales in course that fills the room With laughter, she will with so sad a look Bring forth a story of the silent death Of some forsaken virgin, which her grief Will put in such a phrase, that ere she end Shee'le send them weeping one by one away. We are gone, Cleon, Strato, Diphilus. You'll let her take more, &c thank her too shortly. Where the body? Farewell thou worthy man, there were two bonds That tied our loves, a brother and a King, The least of which might fetch a flood of tears: But such the misery of greatness is, They have no time to mourn, then pardon me. Sirs, which way went she? Enter Strato. I would I were not: follow all, for this must have a sudden stop. Exeunt. See where he stands as boldly confident, As if he had his full command about him. 'Tis my fear too, Heaven forgive all: summon him Lord Cleon. Melantius. I am sorry that we meet thus, our old love Never required such distance, pray to heaven You have not left your self, and sought this safety More out of fear then honour, you have lost A noble master, which your faith, Melantius, I'm sure might have preserved. Melantius, write in that thy choice, My seal is at it. Away, away. Exeunt omnes. Where Amintor? How strange is this? So let them, theres time enough. Stop him. Look to him though, and bear those bodies in May this a fair example be me. To rule with temper, for on lu f ll Kings Unlooked for sudden death's from God are sent, But cursed is he that is their instrument. Gentlemen I am your King.