MARTIUS

Love is a pastime for children, breeding no thing but folly, and nourishing nothing but idleness. I would wish to be monarch of the world, conquering kingdoms Like villages, and being greatest on the earth be commander of the whole earth: for what is there that more tickles the mind of a king, then a hope to be the only king, wringing out of every country tribute, and in his own to fit in triumph. Those that call con querors ambitious, are Like those that tea ne thrift continued uetousnes, cleanliness pride, honesty preciseness. Come maund the world, Midas, a greater thing you cannot desire, a less you should not. To possess mountains of gold, and a mistress more precious then gold, and not to command the world, is to make Midas new prentice to a mint, and Iorneiman to a woman If my advise had taken place, Midas that now sitteth over head and ears in crowns, had worn upon his head many kings crowns, and been conqueror of the world, that now is commander of dross. That greediness of Mellacrites, whose heartstrings are made of Plutus purse-strings, hath made Midas a lump of earth, that should be a God on earth; and thy effeminate mind Eristus, whose eyes are stitched on Caelia's face, and thoughts gyude to her beauty, hath bred in all the court such a tender wantonness, that nothing is thought of but love, a passion proceeding of beastly lust, and continued loured with a courtly name of love. Thus whilst we follow the nature of things, we forget the names. Since this unsatiable thirst of gold, and untemperate humour of lust crept into the kings court, Soldiers have begged alms of Artificers, and with their helmet on their head been glad to follow a Lover with a glove in his hat, which so much abateth the courage of true Captains, that they must account it more honourable, in the court to be a coward so rich and amorous, than in a camp to be valiant, if poor and maimed. He is more favoured that pricks his finger with his mistress needle, then he that breaks his lance on his enemies face: and he that hath his mouth full of fair words, than he that hath his body full of deep scars. If one be old, & have silver hairs on his beard, so he have golden ruddocks in his bags, he must be wise and honourable. If young and have curled locks on his head, amorous glances with his eyes, smooth speeches in his mouth, every Ladies lap shall be his pillow, every Ladies face his glass, every Ladies ear a sheath for his flatteries; only Soldiers, if they be old, must beg in their own countries; if young, try the fortune of wars in another. He is the man; that being let blood caries his arm in a scarf of his mistress favour, not he that bears his leg on a stilt for his Countries safety. I understand no Oracles, shall the water turn every thing to gold, what then shall become of the fish: shall he be free from gold? what then shall become of us, of his crown, of our Country? I Like not these riddles. Yes. What else? Caelia hath sealed his mouth. I am not a little sorry, that because all that your Highness touches turns to pure gold, and therefore all your Princely affections should be con verted to dross. Doth your Majesty begin to melt your own Crown, that should make it with other Monarchies massy? Begin you to make incloasure of of your mind, and to debate of inheritance, when the sword proclaims you conqueror? If your Highness heart be not of kingdom proof, every pelting Prince will batter it. Though you loose this garish gold, let your mind be still of steel, and let the sharpest sword decide the right of Sceptres. Are not conquests good titles? If your Highness would be advised by me, then would I rob for kingdoms, and if I obtained, fain would I see him that durst call the Conqueror a thief. For my partly, I neither care nor wonder, I see all his expeditions for wars are laid in water: for now when he should execute, he begins to consult; and suf fers the enemies to bid us good morrow at our own doors, to whom we long since might have given the last Good night in their own beds. He weareth (I know not whither for warmth or wantonness) a great Tyara on his head, as though his head were not heavy enough, unless he loaded it with great rolls: and at Tyre never used (that I could hear of) but of old woe men, or pelting priests. This will make Pisidia won tun, Lycaonia stiff, all his Territories wavering; and he that hath coutcht so many Kingdoms in one Crown, will have his Kingdom scattered into as ma nigh Crowns, as he possesses Countries. I will rouse him up, and if his ears be not Asses ears, I will make them tingle. I respect not my life, I know it is my duty, and certainly I dare swear War is my pro fession. My Lords, I give you thanks, and am glad: for there are no stouter soldiers in the world, than those that are made of lovers, nor any more liberal in wars, than they that in peace have been covetous. Then doubt not, if courage and coin can prevail, but we shall prevail; & beside, nothing can prevail but for tune. But here comes Sophronia, I will first talk with her. Enter Sophronia, Camilla, Amerula. Madame, either our King hath no ears to hear, or no care to consider, both in what state we stand being his subjects, and what danger he is in being our King. Du tie is not regarded, courage contemned; altogether careless of us, and his own safety. Apollo may discover some odd riddle, but not give the redress, for yet did I never hear that his oram cles were without doubtfulness, nor his remedies with out impossibilities. This superstition of yours is able to bring errors among the common sort, not ease to your discontented mind. I, Bacchus gave the wish, and therefore was Like also to give the remedy. Tush, Apollo is tuning his pipes, or at barley break with Daphne, or assaying on some Shepherds coat, or taking measure of a serpents skin. Were I Midas, I would rather cut these ears off close from my head, than stand whimpering before such a blind God. I foresaw some old saw, which should be doubt full. Who would gad to such gods, that must be hono read if they speak without sense: and the Oracle wone dreaded at, as though it were above sense? Midas? Madam, he no sooner bathed his limbs in the river, but it turned to a golden stream, the sands to fine gold, and all to gold that was cast into the water. My das dismayed at the sudden alteration, assayed again to touch a stone, but he could not altar the nature of the stone. Then went we with him to the Temple of Bac chus, where we offered a lance wreathed about with y vie. Garlands of ripe grapes, and skins of Wolves and Panthers, and a great standing cup of the water, which so lately was turned to gold. Bacchus accepted our gifts, commanding Midas to honour the Gods, and also in wishing to be as wise, as he meant to have made him fortunate. I will humbly attend on your Highness, as still hoping to have my hearts desire, and you your height of honour. It may be that his wishing for gold, be king but dross of the world, is by all the Gods accoun ted foolish, and so discovered out of the earth: for, a King to thirst for gold in steed of honour, to pre far heaps of worldly coin before triumphs in warlike Conquests, was in my mind no Princely mind.