SIMONIDES

Are the Knights ready to begin the Triumph? Return them, We are ready, & our daughter here In honour of whose Birth these Triumphs are, Sits here Like Beauty's child, whom Nature got, For men to see; and seeing wonder at. It's it it should be so, for Princes are A model which Heaven makes Like to it self: As Jewels lose their glory, if neglected, So Princes their Renowns, if not respected: T'is now your honour (Daughter) to entertain The labour of each Knight, in his device. Who is the first, that does prefer himself? He loves you well, that holds his life of you. Who is the second, that presents himself? Knights, to say you're welcome, were superfluous. I place upon the volume of your deeds, As in a Title page, your worth in arms, Were more then you expect, or more then's fit, Since every worth in show commends it self: Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a Feast. You are Princes, and my guests. Call it by what you will, the day is your, And here (I hope) is none that envies it: In framing and Artist, art hath thus decreed, To make some good, but others to exceed, And you are her laboured scholar: come Queen a Feast, For (Daughter) so you are; here take your place: Martial the rest, as they deserve their grace. Your presence glads our days, honour we love, For who hates honour, hates the Gods above. Fit sir, fit. By oue (I wonder) that is King of thoughts, These Cates resist me, he not thought upon. What are you merry, Knights? Here, with a Cup that's stur'd unto the brim, As do you love, fill to your Mistress lips, We drink this health to you. Yet pause awhile, yond Knight does fit too melancholy, As if the entertainment in our Court, Had not a show might countervail his worth: Note it not you, Thaisa. Knights, from my daughter this I let you know That for this twelvemonth, shee'le not undertake A married life: her reason to her self is only known, Which from her, by no means can I get. To you as much: Sir, I am beholding to you For your sweet Music this last night: I do protest, my ears were never better fed With such delightful pleasing harmony. Yea Mistress, are you so peremptory? I am glad on't with all my heart, I'll tame you; I'll bring you in subjection. Will you not, having my consent, Bestow your love and your affections, Upon a Stranger? who for ought I know, May be (nor can I think the contrary) As great in blood as I my self: Therefore, hear you Mistress, either frame Your will to mine: and you sir, hear you; Either be ruled by me, or I'll make you, Man and wife: nay come, your hands, And lips must seal it too: and being joined, I'll thus your Hope's destroy, and for further grief: God give you joy; what are you both pleased? What are you both agreed? It pleases me so well, that I will see you wed, And then with what haste you can, get you to bed. Oh attend my Daughter, Princes in this, should live Like Gods above, Who freely give to every one that come to honour them: And Princes not doing so, are Like to Gnats, Which make a found, but killed, are wondered at: Therefore to make his entrance more sweet, Here, say we drink this standing boul of wine to him. How? do as I bid you, or you'll move me else. And furthermore tell him, we desire to know of him Of whence he is, his name, and Parentage? Now by the Gods, I pity his misfortune, And will awake him from his melancholy. Come Gentlemen, we fit too long on trifles, And waste the time which looks for other revels; Even in your Armours as you are addressed, Will well become a Soldiers dance: I will not have excuse with saying this, Loud Music is too harsh for Ladies heads, Since they love men in arms, as well as beds. So, this was well asked, was so well performed. Come sir, here's a Lady that wants breathing too, And I have herd, you Knights of Tyre, Are excellent in making Ladies trip; And that their Measures are as excellent. O that's as much, as you would be denied Of your fair courtesy: unclasp, unclasp. Thanks Gentlemen to all, all ave done well; But you the best: Pages and lights, to conduct These Knights unto their several Lodgings: Yours sir, we have given order be next our own. Faith, by no means, she hath so strictly Tied her to her Chamber, that t'is impossible: One twelve Moons more shee'le wear Diana's livery: This by the eye of Cinthya hath she vowed, And on her Virgin honour, will not break it. So, they are well dispatched: Now to my daughters Letter; she tells me here, Shee'le wed the stranger Knight; Or never more to view nor day nor light. T'is well Mistress, your choice agrees with mine: I Like that well: nay how absolute she's in't, Not minding whither I dislike or no. Well, I do commend her choice, and will no longer Have it be delayed: Soft, here he comes, I must dissemble it. Sir, you are Musics master. Let me ask you one thing: What do you think of my Daughter, sir? And she is fair too, is she not? Sir, my Daughter thinks very well of you, I so well, that you must be her Master, And she will be your Scholar; therefore look to it. She thinks not so: peruse this writing else. Thou hast bewitched my daughter, And thou art a villain. Traitor, thou liest. I, traitor. Now by the Gods, I do applaud his courage. No here comes my Daughter, she can witness it. And with the third? What is the fourth. Which shows that Beauty hath his power & will, Which can as well inflame, as it can kill. And what's the sixth, and last; the which, The knight himself with such a graceful courtesy delivered? A pretty moral from ̄ the dejected state wherein he is, He Hope's by you, his Fortune's et may flourish. Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan The outward habit, by the inward man. But stay, the Knights are coming, We will withdraw into the Gallery. He's but a country Gentleman: ha done no more Then other Knights have done, ha broken a Staff, Or so; so let it pass.