PLACENTA

F Ortune as yet is kind, well done my boy, Hold up your head, a little higher, yet, And can you weep? And sighs? Constantina. She calls at the window She stirs not yet Why Constantina. Would? Not yet? Oh what a sleepy girl is this? Oh now she comes. Not so loud (take heed) for fear The Dragon should be waking; have you yet God on your masculine habit? Descend then, if your mind be still the same, Before the Sun rise to betray your flight. 'Tis done, and not a creature but my self And the dumb night are guilty of it. In I do confess I wonder What should induce this peevish girl to take This strange disguised habit, and forsake Her uncle's house, but it is love forsooth: Well, be it what it will, I have procured, By her entreaty, and the gold she gave me, A boy as near her stature as I could, Whom I have clothed in her own apparel, And veiled in her scarf. Come on my boy. You have not yet forgotten, I hope, the instructions I read to you within. Come, let me see You vent a sighs now. Excellent: but be sure You speak not very often. Well said. But tell me you, sir boy, what wast that made You leave the London Players? Go to, you are a wag. See now she comes. Enter Constant. But o the Father! what pismire is this? Ah, I shall swoon to look upon her legs: Surely one blast of wind will break them quite. Now out upon her! mine are mill-posts to them. How my left eyebrow beats? I do not Like it, It does presage no good. My Constantina, Go back again I pray you, in good sooth 'Tis very dangerous thus discompanied To undertake a journey. If it must needs be so, why then farewell. I cannot choose but weep: sweet Constantina — Well, it the goodest Gentlewoman —but sh is gone— Many a deer morsel has she helped me to— But we must all depart—I do remember When she was but a little one, she ever Was found of me —but I must be content. Come on my boy, let not your face so much Be seen— when I have shown her lodging to you, And left you there— I cannot yet forbear, It will not from my heart— I'll go and visit The fair Pandora, that kind Gentlewoman, And see if that her closet can afford Any good thing to hold the heart. Come boy. Exeunt. What news with you, you fairy brat? you changeling? Daughter to Madam Pusse the kitchen maid, Take that and get you in, or I'll— She beats her. Will you not stir? Carry that chair in with you Milderkin. Exit Merda. What would you have me do? Will it suffice If ere the Sun does set you do embrace One of your Lovers? But I must have your help, You must not merely be a patient In this same plot; can you dissemble think you? Well then it's thus: you see your pampered Lovers (Like two fat Oxen in a Stall) stand blowing Upon their meat, are nice forsooth, and squeamish, Will not fallen to, because they're cloyed with dainties, The only way for to procure them stomachs, Is to withdraw their fodder; take your love Before their eyes, and give it to another, Or seem to do at least, it'll fetch them back; And make them lick their lips at you, scratch for you: I know not by what Fate, but true it is, We never prize ought right till the departure, And then our longing's multiplied. Can you fain A love unto some other Gentleman? And seem quite to neglect them and their service? So much, as nothing you can do, will more. A Lover's Like a Hunter, if the game Be God with too much ease he cares not for't; She that is wise in this our wayward age Will keep her Lovers sharp, make them to ceize Upon a firebrand for meat.— What say you? Try? O that I Had but that beauty in my managing, In-faith I would not partly with a good look Under a brace of Tens. For a kiss I'de have a Lordship; a whole Patrimony For a nights lodging; Come, you Maidens now Are grown too kind, too easy in your favours, A few smooth, oily, verses now adays Bought of some Poet, and so justly called The Gallants own that sends them, where your tresses Are termed Sunbeams, and your Ruby lips Congealed Nectar, have more power to win you, Then in my days two velvet Petticoats, Or and hundred acres turned into Taffaties. Speak, can you do it? It is enough, but see, What Strip ing's this comes here? Would? it's most happily This is Endymion Lucius his Page. Pandora, this same Boy was sent on purpose Unto this place by some kind Nymph or other Inhabiting these Woods in mere compassion Of thee and of thy Misery's; we could not Have studied for a better Stale then this: Prepare your self to feign a love unto him. Endymion All happiness. But Endymion, Prithee sweet Lad, let me entreat a courtesy, What Countryman are you? And English man? I rather think thou art a Russian Thou carriest such a Winter in thy breast. How canst thou suffer such a winning beauty To stand neglected? without a salutation? Go to, you shamefaced fool, go kiss her, go. Come on, Come on you little frozen-nothing, I think we must be fain to make you take Your love potion in a horn, you are so skittish. This was that simple one that could not counterfeit. You are a Wag: Take her by the hand and strain it gently, so. — Now kiss her fan and sighs. — Good, excellent. (Well I have seen some Gallants in my days, Though 'twas my fortune to be married, To that same lob my husband, but no matter;) Fie on this modesty, it's out of fashion, Give her a green gown quickly, she will thank you. Come, you're a fool; Down with her, she will discard you else, As bashful, and unfit for Ladies service.— [Pandora slips down and pulls him after her.] Why there, why so;— O for Neander now and Lucius To view this spectacle, this would crack that great That strong and mighty bound of friendship, and Make them both quarrel for her: nay Endymion, As she did pluck you down, so it's your office To take her up, else shee'l forget her self Good soul, and slumber there eternally.— All's well, All's well, save only here does want a pin. But stay I'll furnish you. — Yes, here's a knot molested too.— Rather gravity Who naturally tend downward thus. He never thinks of's Master: well this Boy, Must we train farther with us till we meet With our two icy Lovers. Come Pandora Will you entreat your fairest Paramour Accompany us into the Grove? we may Perchance there meet his Master, whom he seeks. So, so, I'll now go plant this billing couple Exeunt Pan. Endym. Under some pleasant tree, which done I'll go And range the fields for Lucius and Neander, And bring them to behold their close embraces, This certainly will make them hungry, and bite, Waken their dull and sleepy appetite, We never prize ought truly, think it deer, Until the time of parting does draw near.— Exit. I wonder much Where our two loving friends should lie so close; There's not a place where they do use, but we Have visited this morning. I do long To give them this most pleasing spectacle: But I will now search the Justice his house, Perchance they may be there. St; No. Oh yes your Uncle is at home. It will not yet be dinner time this hour; You may embrace another walk. Yet at the last? it's well, I'll give the word Unto Pandora: but with special care That the boy knows not of his Master's presence. Who's that calls me? But what old Gentleman is this? Pandora, kiss me girl, kiss me I say, I have deserved it, 'twas my invention, My plot this (girl) th'art happy wench, th'art happy. Your father's walked abroad with M is. Vrsely Your sister, but whither, there's none can tell me. As yet the plot concerning Constantina to herself. Is not descried. Ah me! Neander with his naked sword! Ple run in here. Forbear, or I'll find that swines face of yours. Oh heavens! it's he, most happy Constantina! Bridle your passion. What? Is the Players boy proved woman too? Would you have a brush? I'll brush ye ye villains, Nay, Mr. Loueall told me what dusty companions ye were, And that ye wanted brushing, and how ye bade Abused my husband, and my daughter, tied them To a tree, come one your ways, want ye brushing? You rascals, I'll brush you, would you be brushed She beats the ̄ forth Come on, lets see what covered dish have here now? She unties them High day! you lubberly knave; what Madame Gillian too? How now? They are both mad of a certain. You'll in? [Exit. Plac. & Merda.] It is strange, Not one about this house that can instruct me What should become of them, I wonder at it; But I am glad that Constantina's flight Is not suspected yet, so well that Boy Doe's personate her. All health old man. Next to that loving pair of friends, whose sorrows I have lamented oft, and amongst which I judge it not the least, that while ye two Discourse in sighs, and tears, that wanton maid That is the cause of all your heaviness, Lasciviously does sport herself, and melts In the embraces of and other. Regardless of your woes, or her own honour. I know him not, So far as to his name; but this mine eyes Dare witness, 'tis a composition Of blood and spirits not to be despised. A feature able enough to tempt; beside— Can ye retire your selves under this tree A little, and expect? but ever I go, Ye shall both promise as yee'r Gentlemen To endure the sighed with patience. It is enough. Can ye believe it yet? are your eyes yet Instructed? What do you mean? ah. Then take it in a word. Supposing it the only way to win One of you to her, I counsail'd her to feign A love unto some other Gentleman. While we were busy in these Consultations, As fortune would, your Page Endymion Came hither (Lucius) to seek his Master. We lay the train for him, she courts the Boy, And he (poor Lad) thinking her serious Was caught immediately. Hold the Gentlewoman Ay me! she swonnes, sweetest Pandora, ah. Ah good Lucius help, She's gone — alas good heart. What shall I do? Ah honey sweet Pandora speak. How doe's my sweetest honey? Would, would, he. While the poor fly does sport her self too long About the amorous flame, she burns her wings. Her counterfeiting of a Love, is now Turned into earnest. Endymion's now the man She swears she loves; as for the other two She has forgotten their very names already. And old coxcomb, and you shall be beaten. [She beats him.] Fear not that; I'll find and old statute for it, doubt it not. You are a gentleman? and you will be a gentleman? I'll make you gentle enough ever I have done with you. And you my sweet lips that will not call me mother, but look scurvily, Come on your ways I have the common law on my side too for this. [She beats Merda.] Yes, you shall be a Lower-house man, you shall; I'll take you down a Pin, you're too high now. Is this Neandur? It cannot be. Ah Constantina, ah good heart! was this The journey you intended? Speak Constantina. Oh me! She swounds again.