CYNTHIA

It skylleth not which, go to, in both, for she shall find examples infinite in either, what punishment long tongues have. Eumenides, if either the Sooth sayers in Egypt, or the Enchanters in Thessaly, or the Philosophers in Greece, or all the Sages of the world, can find remedy, I will procure it, therefore dispatch with all speed: you Eumenides into Thessaly. You Zon tes into Greece, (because you are acquainted in Athens.) You Panthon to Egypt, saying that Cynthia sends, and if you will, commandeth. You see Pythagoras what ridiculous opini ons you hold, and I doubt not but you are now of anon there mind. I have always studied to have rather living virtues then painted Gods, the body of Truth, then the tomb. But let us walk to Endymion, it may be it lies in your Arts to deliver him, as for Eumenides, I fear he is dead. Coin Floscula, I am sure you are glad that you shall behold Endymion. Are you in love with his person. What say you Semele? Belike you cannot speak except you be spiteful. But as good be silent as saucy. Panelion, what punishment were fit for Semele, in whose speech and thoughts, is only contempt and courness? Agreed; Semele, if thou speak this twelvemonth, thou shalt forfeit thy tongue. Behold Endymion, alas poor Gentleman, hast thou spent thy youth in sleep, that once vowed all to my service. Hollow eyes? grey hairs? wrinkled cheeks? and decayed limbs? Is it destiny, or deceit that hath brought this to pass? If the first, who could prevent thy wretched stars. If the latter, I would I might know thy cruel enemy. I favoured thee Endymion for thy honour, thy virtues, thy affections: but to bring thy thoughts within the come pass of thy Fortune's, I have seemed strange, that I might have thee stayed, and now are thy days ended before my favour begin. But whom have we here, is it not Corsites? Speak on, thy offence cannot deserve grea ter punishment: but see thou rehearse the truth, else shalt thou not find me as thou wishest me. In love? A thing far unfitting the name of a Captain, and (as I thought) the tough and vnsmoo worser nature of Corsites. But forth. How say you my Lords, is not Tellus always practising of some deceits? In sooth Corsites thy face is now too foul for a Lover, and thine heart too fond for a Soldier. You may see when Warri ors become wantons, how their manners altar with their faces. Is it not a shame Corsites, that having lived so long in Mars his Camp, thou shouldst now be rocked in Venus Cradle. Dost thou we are Cupid's Quiver at thy girdle, and make Lances of looks? Well Corsites rouse thy self, and be as thou hast been, and let Tellus who is made all of love, melt herself in her own looseness. Could you not stir Endymion with that doubled strength of yours? What say you Gyptes. Well Endymion arise, a while fit down, for that thy limbs are stiff, and not able to stay thee, and tell what hast thou seen in thy sleep all this while? What dreams, visions, thoughts, and Fortune's? For it is impossible, but in so long time, thou shouldst see things strange. What didst thou imagine was in the last leaf? Dipsas, thy years are not so many as thy vices, yet more in number then commonly nature doth afford, or justice should permit. Hast thou almost these fifty years practised that detested wickedness of witchcraft? Wast thou so simple, as for to know the nam ture of Simples, of all creatures to be most sinful? Thou hast threatened to turn my course awry, and altar by thy damnable Art, the government that I now possess by the eternal Gods. But know thou Dipsas, and let all the Enchanters know, that Cynthia being placed for light on earth, is also protected by the pow ers of heaven. Breath out thou mayest words, gather thou mayest herbs, find out thou mayest stones agree able to thine Art, yet of no force to appall my heart, in which courage is so rooted, and constant persuasion of the mercy of the Gods so grounded, that all thy witchcraft I esteem as weak, as the world doth thy case wretched. This noble Gentleman Geron, once thy husband, but now thy mortal hate, didst thou procure to live in a Desert, almost desperate. Endymion the flower of my Court, and the hope of succeeding time, hast thou bewitched by Art, before thou wouldst suffer him to flourish by nature. Stay, here comes Tellus, we shall now know all. Is it possible Tellus, that so few years should harbour so many mischiefs? Thy swelling pride have I born, because it is a thing that beauty makes blame less, which the more it exceeds fairness in measure, the more it stretcheth it self in disdain. Thy devises against Corsites I smile at, for that wits the sharper they are, the shrewder they are. But this unacquainted and most unnatural practice with a vile Enchantress, a gainst so noble a Gentleman as Endymion, I abhor, as a thing most malicious, and will revenge, as a deed most monstrous. And as for you Dipsas, I will send you into the De serte amongst wild beasts, and try whither you can cast Lyons, Tygars, Boars, and Bears, into as dead a sleep as you did Endymion, or turn them to trees, as you have done Bagoa. But tell me Tellus, what was the cause of this cruel partly, far unfitting thy sex, in which nothing should be but simpleness: and much disagree king from thy face, in which nothing seemed to be but softness. Say on Tellus, I cannot imagine any thing that can colour such a cruelty. A strange effect of love, to work such and extreme hate. How say you Endymion, all this was for love? That were as bade, for then by contrary you should never sleep. But on Tellus, let us hear the end. Endymion, how will you clear your self? Well Tellus proceed, but briefly, least ta king delight in uttering thy love, thou offend us with the length of it. Of whom? Tellus speak boldly. Speak I say; who dare take offence, if thou be commanded by Cynthia? For my love Tellus, that were strange. Endi mion is it true? What will this breed to in the end? Well Endymion, we shall hear all. How say you my Lords to this matter? But what say you Endymion, hath Tellus told troth? Was there such a time when as for my love thou didst vow thy self to death, and in respect of it loathed thy life? speak Endymion, I will not revenge it with hate. But I cannot tell whither Corsites, be agreed. Well enjoy thy love. But what have you wrought in the Castle Tellus? Then so much of Endymion as his picture comes to, possess and play withal. Now it rests Dipsas, that if thou wilt for swear that vile Art of Enchanting, Geron hath pro mised again to receive thee, otherwise if thou be wed dead to that wickedness, I must and will see it punished to the uttermost. How say you Geron, will you admit her to your Wife? Well Endymion, nothing rests now but that we depart. Thou hast my favour, Tellus her friend, Eumenides in Paradise with his Semele, Geron contented with Dipsas. Well Sir. Tophas, it may be there are more virtues in me then my self knoweth of, for Endymion I awaked, and at my words he waxed young, I will try whither I can turn this tree again to thy true love. Bagoa, Cynthia putteth and end to thy harden Fortune's, for being turned to a tree for revealing a truth, I will recover thee again, if in my power be the effect of truth. Come my Lords let us in, you Gyptes and Pythagoras, if you cannot content your selves in our Court, to fallen from vain follies of Philosophers, to such virtues as are here practised, you shall be entertained according to your deserts, for Cynthia is no stepmother to strangers. Then follow. IS the report true, that Endymion is stricken into such a dead sleep, that nothing can either wake him or move him? What makes you Tellus to be so short? the time was Endymion only was. What have we hear before my face, these un seemly and malepart overthwarts? I will tame your tongues, and your thoughts, and make your speeches and swerable to your duties, and your conceits fit for my dignity, else will I banish you both my person and the world. If you be so deer to him, how happeneth it you neither go to see him, nor search for remedy for him? Presumptuous girl, I will make thy tongue and example of unrecoverable displeasure, Corsites carry her to the Castle in the Desert, there to remain and weave. No more Floscula, pity doth him no good, I would any thing else might, and I vow by the unspot ted honour of a Lady he should not miss it: but is this all Giptes, that is to be done? Corsites what say you, will you undertake this? Well, I will provide others. Pithagoras and Giptes, you shall yet remain in my Court, till I hear what may be done in this matter. Let us go in. Eumenides, it cannot sink into my head, that I should be signified by that sacred Fountain, for many things are there in the world, to which those words may be applied. Will you not yet tell me her name? Well, let us to Endymion. I will not be so state lie (good Endymion ) not to stoop to do thee good: and if thy liberty consist in a kiss from me, thou shalt have it. And although my mouth hath been here tofore as untouched as my thoughts, yet now to recover thy life, (though to restore thy youth it be impossible) I will do that to Endymion, which yet never mortal man could boast of heretofore, nor shall ever hope for hereafter. Soft Eumenides, stand still. I command thee once again stir not: I will stand behind him. Endymion, speak sweet Endymion, knowest thou not Cynthia? I am Cynthia, and thou Endymion. You have good cause to remember Eumeni des, who hath for thy safety forsaken his own solace. Well Endymion begin. A strange sighed. Giptes at our better leisure shall expound it. Poor Endymion, how wast thou affrighted? What else? I am content to be dieted, therefore let us in. Eumenides, see that Endymion be well tended, least either eating immoderately, or sleeping again too long, he fallen into a deadly surfette, or into his former sleep. See this also be proclaimed, that whosoever will discover this practice, shall have of Cynthia infinite thanks, and no small rewards. What young again? then it is pity to pu nish Tellus. Endymion, you must now tell who Eumenides shrineth for his Saint. Semele Eumenides? is it Semele? the very wasp of all women, whose tongue stingeth as much as and And dears tooth? Nay sith Endymion is restored, we will have all parties pleased. Semele, are you content after so long trial of his faith, such rare secrecy, such unspotted love, to take Eumenides? Why speak you not? Not a word? It is true Endymion. Eumenides, take Semele. Take her I say. Speaks the Parrat? she shall nod hereafter with signs: cut off her tongue, nay her head, that would ving a servant of honourable birth, honest manners, true love, will not be persuaded. I thank you Semele. What shall become of Tellus? Tellus you know Endymion is vowed to a service, from which death cannot remove him. Corsites casts still a lovely looks to wards you, how say you will have your Corsites, and so re ceiue pardon for all that is passed? I have had trial of Endymion, & conceive greater assurance of his age, then I could hope of his youth. It shall never be said that Cynthia, whose mercy and goodness fills the heavens with joys, & the world with marvels, will suffer either Endymion or any to perish, if he may be protected. Awake him. How now Corsites, what make you here? How came you deformed? Look on thy hands, and then thou seest the picture of thy face. Pythagoras and Gyptes, what think you of Endi mion? what reason is to be given, what remedy? Endymion, this honourable respect of thine, shall be christened love in thee, & my reward for it favour. Pierce ver Endymion in loving me, & I account more strength in a true heart, then in a walled City. I have laboured to win all, and study to keep such as I have won, but those that neither my favour can move to continue constant, nor my offered benefits get to be faith full, the Gods shall either reduce to truth, or revenge their treacheries with justice. Endymion continue as thou hast begun, and thou shalt find that Cynthia shineth not on thee in vain. Thy tongue Eumenides? what shouldst thou live wanting a tongue to blaze the beauty of Semele. Well Semele, I will not command love, for it cannot be en forced: let me entreat it.