LYSANDER

Archadea, thou heaven, within whose sphere The star that guides my motion is fixed, I court thy gracious bosom with a kiss For this admittance: in thine amorous arms Fair Ʋ ioletta, fairer then the flower That christened her, and graced her with that name Do play the wanton: Only her Father Like a covetous Churl, Owner of that valued Diamond, Hath made this desert I'll unwilling chest In which he locks her. But the fair advantage Of this large challenge, and my stars to friend, Aided by this disguise, I shall break open His iron Casket, and enlarge my hope. Dametas, Lysander then dissemble, For he's the man must work thy entrance. My mother is the Queen of Amasons, My self a virgin, married unto Arms And bold achievements, who have paced the world In quest of fair Autioste my sister: And turning homeward, the inconstant winds And wrathful Neptune cast me on this shore. My business is private with the Duke. I beseech you sir. 'Tis strange, I have herd thy master is a very good man where he takes. Good, and dost thou take after thy master? O, I feel your meaning. And I must maintain the fashion. Worshipful Dametas, my late shipwreck as you see, hath made a defeat both of my friends and treasure, notwithstanding, Fortune hath reserved me one Jewel, which if I might request your worship in love to accept, and be a means to work my admittance to the Duke, I should become a true debtor to your love. So doing, you shall perform the office of a dere-bought friend. Thats plain coosnage. And have you wrought it? Tmay be you did. Why the Jewel is right Dametas, had I but and Ass that would sweat me such pearl. Keep me back, thou couldst do no more and I were a poor men petitioner. You cannot sir. You Court spaniel, you unnecessary mushrump, that in one night art sprung out of the root of greatness, I have bought my admittance, and I'll hate in dspetto deal fato. With all my heart sir, I'll be the blind man and poor peti cioner, and thou shalt play the Court spaniel with the silver bell, & I cad me into the Presence. I Ʋ iolettaes presence would not quenched The memory of all things but herself, I should be more familiar with that fate. And I my country and my friend for love. What of me? Demetrius, Or some illusive tenant in his shape. In the mean time let it be yours to led the way. You over price us madam, not our dese But the weak spi of our opposites. Gave leister to the di nes of our worth. Did ever two princes meet such strange changes in their loves? now we have wrought our admittance, and in a manner God em into our possessions, ou Hope's Like false fires having brought us within en, vanish, and leave us out of all comfort. About it then, I'll sweat my invention to death but I'll oh uertake thee; but here comes one of my . I must hear his importunity, for no reasonable denial will brush him of. My Liege. For me, why my Lord, I am no Rosasolis, nor Aquam mi rabilis to recover sick folks. With me my Lord. Now alas good Lady. Dametas will storm at that, for he cannot endure Poetry should be countnanst: but how is't my Liege? Court me, court a woman my Liege. A man my liege, I would no colour fort. I'll warrant you, I'll play the Prince with much art. Shield this vain breath, beat at some ladies ear. But madam, now I am known to you, what further request you. Well madam, to give content to your affections, and in a strong hope you will mediate my suit to your daughter, sort out but fit time and opportunity, and master your desires. Pardon Mistress Miso, it my doing and the Dukes. I am of thy belief in that, Boy. Thy Lord shall never know't. What then? In the Country perhaps, and the out-skirtes of the city? This project cannot but bring forth some notable deceit. But how for transportation. O in any case. And see occasion Like a kind wench presents em in the we ry instant my honest friends welcome, have you not your dispatch with a letter to Lacedemon. you have my thanks, for the truth is, I must commit but sinesse of much import unto your trust, and to prevent much cir cumstances take my word, you are not ignorant of the Kings gene rall challenge. May a couple of plain witted princes have a sighed of your prizes: 'Tis not the Dukes pleasure Petitioners should buy their access. Of whose then, wag? Ladies are good workwomen too, then? Well, what, a Knave? Welcome Manassas: I have present employment for thee, in which I must borrow T'is not money (Manasses) but counsel and furtherance that we desire. Thou shalt be well considered; there's twenty Crowns in earnest. Tak't, in a word this honest Shepherd, and thy Lords daughter Madame Mopsa, are man and wife. Oh very much: for though they be man and wife by oath and protestation, the chiefest ceremony of all; namely Marriage, is yet unperformed, and hearing that you have taken order. You are in the right. Soon in the evening at Adonis Chapel. Art resolute? Thou Wertenberg a Knave by inheritance. Why you never light upon any Atheists, do you? Some buy'em at Booksellers stalls; but the best they bespeak of Poets. Me thinks Poets of all men, should not edify, they are so envious. I confess it my Liege, and Like a spent Dear, not able to maintain longer flight, I cast my self down breathless at your loves mercy: yet I beseech your Majesty, let not your eager de sire's, practice any present violence upon my yielding chastity: it only possession of my love you had in chase, which with conuenent time & place purchased, I put your grace in full pos session of. Then this present evening (and yet my Virgin blood, and ashamed to consent to the betraying of my modesty) meet me at Adonis bower, where isle make tender of subdued chastetie to your high Majesty, as my first & most victoriuos conqueror. If you deceive me. So farewell thought I, I have prepared you a Zelmane answerable to your expectation. Then triumph in thy will, and let thy thoughts Proclaim a lubilee: my teeming hope: Are now delivered of a gracious birth, Which I have Christened, opportunity. Unto whose shrine in honour of this day, My thoughts shall hold a monthly sacrifice, Love grant Demetrius, meet the Like success, Our pains are crowned with double happiness. I have cleared the way to Violetta, but what order hast thou taken, with thy burbolts: Dameta, Myso, and amorous Mopso. No: having brought them aboard, weel make return to the Duke, to let him understand we stole not our prizes but won them manfully at the point of wit. Nor demetrius neither, nor Manasses? In love, and in Archadea. We had never met in love, His syllables betray him. I arrest you. For that which made the amorous Gods leave heaven, For love: but why is Demetrius thus disguised? Why wag, is thy master in love? Because I feared a chiding, for doubting thine honourable thoughts would not have consented to my effeminate attempts, I stole this secret course, and manner of disguise, as best helping to ac cease, which it hath begotten, now what access will bring forth, I come mit to unborn Industry. Indeed thats not the least hindrance, yet the Duke him self, and my quaint disguise hath removed it out of my way, who not only takes me for a woman, but hath allowed me for my loves companion. Dametas is the oistershell that holds thy pearl, our wits must fish for him. Like and old Usurer at a young heirs inhe tance, and I h'ate ready hookt for him: and he ere he comes, my plot is to prefer thee to his service. Dametas, my love is yours. Come come sir, your worship shall not refuse him. I'll attend them presently, be a good servant Dorus. Well, since the shape of our proceeding grows so mon strous, lets cast our inventions in a new mould, and having so firm a foundation as this disguise to built upon, lets draw the model, and raise the whole frame of our attempts anew. Why so be, I Like a man that will confess his error. No he was the man, marry I was the woman in the moon, that made you walk all this last night Like the man in the missed, I could say somewhat to you to Madam as for demetrius & his man let them stand Like fools as they are. to them we durst, nay you must think we are no fools, And when you can bring proof that we are cosend of our Wenches weel be the woodcocks. And abused isle lose my life before I lose my honour, To be rou ̄ worser I have a suit to you in the behalf of this woodman Is this scene of your own inventing my liege? How occasion plays the wanton with me. Well my liege, do but you work my admittance to your daughter, & I'll bestow all the art I am Worth in courting her, and see, as if Fortune had a hand in our Comedy, she hath entered the Duchess joust at her que, shadow your self in your Ark, & leave me to give her entertainment. Miso should be either a hangman or a Herald, for she never comes amongst us, but she quarters our company and arms. Fie madam, this courtesy is more then needs Well madam, sith your observation hath discovered me, upon promise of your secrecy I confess my self a man. And I confirmt with this. Thats not to do now madam, for he as confidently believes and ardently courts me for a woman, as you for a man. To take me for a man. Upon you both, so, so, so, how greedily their inventions Like bugles follows the sent of their own gullery, yet these are no fools, God forbid, not they: but to the drift, mirth in my warm blood sits, laughing at this division of their wits. My choice is cast, help sweet occasion. Well, bettered. The Duke and I. I'll follow. In what? Would I might led you, To my bed. By this air I would. I'de love you sweet. Accept it then. Of loves, and mine. Yield to that. Your self? The Dukes: play smooth and fine, The smallest help that is, will make your mine. Your mine, for though the cast I lose, I would won your love. Badd's the best, I win her for ten crowns, and there they be. A match betwixt you and me. I would won you Madam. I mean your bet. Madam believe me, I am as I protest, a Prince, my name Lysander. Thus clouded as you see, for your love, my soul speaks in my tongue: I appointed this match at bowls a purpose to ac quaint you with it. Dear Madam. Our winnings come, a kiss and bore the rest. Ready to imbark upon ̄ the next tide of occasion whatsoever. Tush man, be not so timorous, my credit shall countenance thee: be not and Ass, make use of thy time: thy Masters sir vice is no heritage; the world knows he gettes under the Duke, thou art a fool, and thou wilt lose under him: there's a hundred Crowns for thee; tush man, thy betters will strain curtsy with aleagence for a bribe. These are notable knavish courses. What breeding hast had? But and you used such a high and elevate style, your audi tories low and humble understandings should never crawl ouer't. How do they come by them? Prithee be brief? A good Sheepish admonition. Thou speakest Like a Christian: prithee what Religion art of? You'll be mindful of to morrow-night. Demetrius. with a confection of love, which I have so tempered with fair promices, as their minds are in loves heaven already: Ʋ idelicet in Adonis bower, where this evening I have given em my word to meet em; but I have so cast it, that Manasses shall meet em in my steed. you understand me, with these few crowns receive my mind which is to convey the 2, ladies whom we in these disguises have won to Lacedemon, wele give your sufficient assurance of that and the princesses themselves shall confirm it. Whither my sh wne in the rescue of the Ladies, or the ardent glances her daughters beauty steals from mine eyes, give her thoughts encouragement, I know not, but her Hope's stand confi dent I am a man, & for that cause am I barred from access. And so will we, my resolutions already bent, & if I shoot not, the next level I take, I beseech thee break thy bow about mine ears, and strike the horns in my forehead, for married men to hang their caps on. How say y u my lady, what Oule sings out of that Ivy bush Fair to the point of our expectlicion, I have made away the Duke and the Dutch. Now we have made a smooth passage to our escape, how shall convey our lover out of the Island. My Hippolita: the keeper of this loue-lottery, And could you draw no blood of their wits: Come we have wone the conquest, and thats sufficient.