DULCIMEL

Ther's a ship of fools going out, shall I prefer thee Nymphodoro, thou mayest be masters mate, my father hath made Dondilo Captain, else thou shouldst have his place. May I rest sure thou wilt conceal a secret? How may I rest truly assured? Why, canst thou not conceal a secret? Oh Philocalia that difficulty only inflames me, when the enterprise is easy, the victory is inglorious, no let my wise aged, learned, intelligent Father, that can interpret eyes un derstand the language of birds, interpret the grumbling of dogs & the continued ̄ ference of cats, that can read even silence, let him forbid all enterviewes, all speeches, all tokens, all messages, all (as he thinks) human means, I will speak to the Prince, court the Prince, that he shall understand me, nay I will so stalk on the blind side of my all knowing father's wit, that do what his wisdom can, he shall be my only mediator, my only messenger, my only honourable spokesman, he shall carry my favours, he shall amplify my affection nay he shall direct the Prince the means the very way to my bed, he and only he, when he only can do this, and only would not do this, he only shall do this. Pish Philocalia, 'tis against the nature of love, not to be violent. Constancy? constancy and patience are virtues in no living creatures but Centinels and Anglers: heres our father. Nay I protest what ere he feign to you (as he can feign most deeply) And as I said, royally wise, and wisely royal Father— Though he can feign, yet I presume your sense is quick e nough to find him. But other talk for us were far more fit, For see here comes the prince Tiberio. Dear father in all duty, let me beseech your leave, that I may but— Yet let me, (the loyal servant of simplicity.) Heavens forbid such insolence, yet let me denounce my hearty hatred. Tho't be but in the Princes ear, (since fit's not maid ̄ S blush to rail aloud. Let me but check his heat. And take him down deer father, from his full pride of Hope's. Oh my princely father now or never let your princely wisdom appear. My Lord the Prince. Oh Lord what wisdom our good parents need, to shield their chickens from deceits, & wiles of kite Like youth. Alas had not your grace been provident, a very Nestor in advise and knowledge, would, where had you poor Dulci mell been now, what veins had not I been drawn in to? Father do you see that tree, that leans joust on my chamber window? Oh sir, but note the policy of youth, mark but the stratagems of working love, The prince salutes me, and thus greets my ear. Although he knew, I yet stood wavering, what to elect, because though I affected, yet destitute of means to in joy each other, impossibility of having, might kill our hope and with our hope desires to enjoy. Therefore to avoid all faint excuses, and vain fears, thus he devised: to Dulcimels chamber window. A well grown plain tree spreads his hap pie arms, by that in depth of night one may ascend, (despite all father's jealousy's and fears) into her bed. You shall provide a Priest (quoth he) in truth I pro missed & so you well may tell him, for I temporized and only held him off. With full intention to disclose it all, to your preventing wisdom. Oh Sir in that is all, when but this night? This very night when the court revels had over waked your spirits, and made them full of sleep, then— Royally wise, and wisely royal father. I humbly thank your worthy piety, that through your only means I have obtained so fit, loving & desired a hus band. And you may say, (if so your wisdom please As you are truly wise) how weak a creature Soft woman is to beat the seidge and strength, Of so prevailing feature, and fair language, As that of his is ever: you may add, (If so your wisdom please, as you are wise) Faith Philocalia, I must of force trust thy silence, for my breast breaks, if I confer not my thoughts upon thee. Fie on these Philosophical discoursing wome ̄ , prithee confer with me Like a creature made of flesh and blood, and tell me, if it be not a scandal to the soul of all being propor cion, that I a female of 15. of a lightsome and civil discretion, healthy, lusty, vigorous, full and idle, should for ever be shack led to the crampy shins of a waywarde, dull, Sour, austere, rough, rhewmy, threescore and four. Now heaven bless me, as it is pity that every knave is not a fool, so it is shame, that every old man is not, and re steth not a widower. They say in China, when women are passed childbearing, they are all burned to make gunpowder. I wonder what men should be done withal, when they are passed child-getting, yet upon my love Philocalia (which with Ladies is often above their honour) I do even dote upon the best partly of the Duke. His son, yes sooth, and so love him, that I must ma rye him. Because I love him, and because he his virtuous, I love to marry. I, with him his virtues. A jest upon your understanding, isle maintain that wisdom in a woman is most foolish quality: A Lady of a good complexion, naturally well witted, perfectly bred and well exercised, in discourse of the best men, shall make fools of a thousand of these book thinking creatures, I speak it by way of justification, I tell thee, (look that no body eaves drop us.) I tell thee I am truly learned, for I proteig rance and wise, for I love my self and virtuous enough for a Lady of fifteen. Shall I speak Like a creature's of a good healthful blood and not Like one of these weak green sickness, leave pthisic, starvelings: First for the virtue of magnanimity, I am very valiant, for there is no heroic Actium so particularly noble & glorious to our sex, as not to fallen to Actium, the greatest deed we can do is not to do (look that no body listen) Then am I full of patience, and can bear more then a Sumpter horse, for (to speak sensibly) what burden is there so heavy to a Porters back, as Virginity to a well complectioned young Ladies thoughts? (look no body Harken) By this hand the noblest vow is that of Virginity, because the hardest, I will have the Prince. But sooth my wisest father, the young Prince is yet forgetful, and rests resolute, in his much unadvised love. Oh bounteous heaven, how liberal are your graces to my Nestor-like Father. 'Tis so oraculous Father, he hath now more then cour ted with bore Phrases. See Father see, the very bane of honour, Corruption of justice and Virginity, Gifts hath he left with me, Oh view this scarffe, This as he called it most envied silk, That should embrace and arm, or wast, or side, Which he much feared should never, this he left, Despite my much resistance. Nay my worthy Father, read but these cunning letters Gracious my father fear not, I rest most duteous to your dispose. Consort of Music. You are most welcome to our long desiring Father, to us you are come.— Is this your father's true proportion? Shows a picture. And the best graced. I wonder he would send a counterfeit to move our love, My Lord, please you to scent this flower. This hath been such as you are, hath been sir; they say in England, that a far famed Friar had girt the Island round with a brass wall, if that they could have catched, Time is, but Time is passed, left it hill clipped with aged Neptune's arm. Yet blushes at it when she rises. But is your Father's age thus fresh, hath yet his head so ma nigh hairs? More say you? Right sir, for this hath none, is his eye so quick as this same piece makes him show? This model speaks above forty. Your father hath a fair Solicitor, And be it spoke with virgin modesty, I would he were no elder, not that I do fly His side for years, or other Hope's of youth, But in regard the malice of lewd tongues Quick to deprave on possibilities, (Almost impossibilities) will spread Dulcimel & Tiberio confer privately. Rumours, to honour dangerous. And as I told you sir, Tiberio being sent, Graced in high trust as to negotiate His royal father's love, if he neglect The honour of this faith, joust care of state, And every fortune that gives likelihood To his best Hope's, to draw our weaker heart To his own love (as I protest he do's) I am of years, apt for his love, & if he should proceed in private urgent suit, how easy it, To win my love, for you may say (if so Your wisdom please) you find in me A very forward passion to enjoy him, And therefore you beseech him seriously Straight to forbear, with such close cunning art, To urge his too well graced suit: for you (If so your Lordship please) may say I told you all. O Philocalia, in heavy sadness & unwanton phrase there lies all the brain work, by what means I could fallen into a miserable blank verse presently. Faith only a woman's reason, because I was expressly forbidden to love him, at the first view I liked him, and no So ner had my father's wisdom mistrusted my liking, but I grew loath his judgement should err. I pitied he should prove a fool in his old age, and without cause mistrust me?