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898 THE

BRITISH DRAMA.

THE

MAID'S TRAGEDY.

BY

BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

MEN.

WOMEN. KING.

EVADNE, wife to Amintor. Lysippus, brother to the king.

Aspatia, troth-plight wife to Amintor. AMINTOR, a noble gentleman.

ANTIPHALA, waiting gentlewomen to Aspatia. MELANUSS, I brothers to Evadne.

Dula, a lady. Callanax, an old humourous lord, and father Night, to Aspatia.

CYNTHIA, CLEOX,

NEPTUNE,

masquers.

Æolus, DIAGORAS, a sertant to Calianar.

Scene,-Rhodes.

STRATO,} gentlemen.

А СТІ.

Enter Cleon, STRATO, LYSIPPUs, and

Enter MELANTIUS.
DIPHILUS.

Lys. Noble Melantius! the land, by me,
Cleon. The rest are making ready, sir. Welcomes thy virtues home to Rhodes.
Lys. So let them; there is time enough. Thou, that with blood abroad buyest us our peace!

Diph. You are the brother to the king, my The breath of kings is like the breath of gods; lord; we will take your word.

My brother wished thee here, and thou art here. Lys. Strato, thou hast some skill in poetry : He will be too kind, and weary thee with What think'st thou of the masque? Will it be well? Often welcomes. But the time doth give thee Strat. As well as masque can be.

A welcome above his, or all the world's. Lys. As masque can be?

Mel. My lord, my thanks; but these scratch'd Strat. Yes; they must commend their king, and limbs of mine speak in praise of the assembly; bless the bride Have spoke my love and truth unto my friends, and bridegroom, in person of some god. They More than my tongue e'er could. My mind's the are tied to rules of Aattery. Cle. See, good my lord, who is returned ! It ever was to you: Where I find worth

A

same

I love the keeper till he let it go,

Made me imagine, you had heard the change. And then I follow it.

Mel. Who hath he taken then? Diph. Hail, worthy brother!

Lys. A lady, sir, He, that rejoices not at your return

That bears the light above her, and strikes dead In safety, is mine enemy for ever.

With flashes of her eye: the fair Evadne, Mel. I thank thee, Diphilus. But thou art Your virtuous sister. faulty;

Mel. Peace of heart betwixt them!
I sent for thee to exercise thine arms

But this is strange.
With me at Patria: Thou cam'st not, Diphilus; Lys. The king my brother did it
It was ill.

To honour you; and these solemnities
Diph. My noble brother, my excuse

Are at his charge. Is my king's straight command; which you, my lord, Mel. It is royal, like himself. But I am sad Can witness with me.

My speech bears so unfortunate a sound Lys. It is true, Melantius;

To beautiful Aspatia. There is rage He might not come, till the solemnity

Hid in her father's breast, Calianax, Of this great match was past.

Bent long against me; and he should not think, Diph, Have you heard of it?

If I could call it back, that I would take Mel. Yes, I have given cause to those, that So base revenges, as to scorn the state Envy my deeds abroad, to call me gamesome : Of his neglected daughter. Holds he still I have no other business here at Rhodes.

His greatness with the king? Lys. We have a masque to-night, and you must Lys. Yes. But this lady tread

Walks discontented, with her watery eyes A soldier's measure.

Bent on the earth. The unfrequented woods Mel. These soft and silken wars are not for me: Are her delight; and, when she sees a bank The music must be shrill, and all confused, Stuck full of flowers, she, with a sigh, will tell That stirs my blood; and then I dance with arms. Her servants, what a pretty place it were But is Amintor wed?

To bury lovers in ; and make her maids Diph. This day.

Pluck them, and strew her over like a corse. Mel. All joys upon him! for he is my friend. She carries with her an infectious grief, Wonder not, that I call a man so young my friend: That strikes all her beholders; she will sing His worth is great; valiant he is, and temperate; | The mournfullest things, that ever ear hath heard, And one that never thinks his life his own, And sigh, and sing again; and, when the rest If his friend need it. When he was a boy, Of our young ladies, in their wanton blood, As oft as I returned (as, without boast,

Tell mirthful tales in course, that fill the room I brought home conquest) he would gaze upon me, With laughter, she will, with so sad a look, And view me round, to find in what one limb Bring forth a story of the silent death The virtue lay to do those things he heard. Of some forsaken virgin, which her grief Then would ħe wish to see my sword, and feel Will put in such a phrase, that, ere she end, The quickness of the edge, and in his hand She'll send them weeping one by one away. Weigh it: He oft would make me smile at this. Mel. She has a brother under my command, His youth did promise much, and his ripe years Like her; a face as womanish as hers; Will see it all performed.

But with a spirit, that hath much out-grown

The number of his
Enter Aspatia, passing by.

years.

Enter AMINTOR.
Hail, maid and wife !
Thou fair Aspatia, may the holy knot,

Cle. My lord, the bridegroom!
That thou hast tied to-day, last till the hand Mel. I might run fiercely, not more hastily,
Of age undo it! mayest thou bring a race Upon my foe. I love thee well, Amintor ;
Unto Amintor, that may fill the world

My mouth is much too narrow for my heart; Successively with soldiers !

I joy to look upon

those
eyes

of thine; Asp. My hard fortunes

Thou art my friend, but my disorder'd speech Deserve not scorn; for I was never proud, Cuts off my love. When they were good,

[Erit. Amin. Thou art Melantius; Mél. How is this?

All love is spoke in that. A sacrifice, Lys. You are mistaken,

To thank the gods Melantius is return'd For she is not married.

In safety! Victory sits on his sword, Mel. You said Amintor was,

As she was wont: May she build there and dwell; Diph. It is true; but

And may thy armour be, as it hath been, Mel. Pardon me, I did receive

Only thy valour and thy innocence ! Letters at Patria from my Amintor,

What endless treasures would our enemies give, That he should marry her.

That I might hold thee still thus ! Diph. And so it stood

Mel. I am but poor In all opinion long; but your arrival

In words; but credit me, young man, thy mother

Could do no more but weep for joy to see thee Mel. (within.] Open the door.
After long absence : All the wounds, I have, Ding. Who is there?
Fetch'd not so much away, nor all the cries Mel. [within] Melantius.
Of widowed mothers. But this is peace,

Diag. I hope your lordship brings no troop And that was war.

with you; for, if f you do, I must return them. Amin. Pardon, thou holy god

Enter MELANTIUS and a Lady.
Of marriage-bed, and frown not; I am forc'd,
In answer of such noble tears as those,

Mel. None but this lady, sir.
To weep upon my wedding-day.

Diag: The ladies are all placed above, save Mel. I fear thou art grown too fickle; for I hear those, that come in the king's troop: The best A lady mourns for thee; men say, to death;

of Rhodes sit there, and there is room. Forsaken of thee; on what terms I know not.

Mel. I thank you, sir. When I have seen you Amin. She had my promise; but the king forbad it, placed, madam, I must attend the king; but, the And made me make this worthy change, thy sister, masque done, I'll wait on you again. Accompanied with graces far above her;

Diug. Stand back there-room for my lord With whom I long to lose my lusty youth,

Melantius-pray, bear back—this is no place for And grow old in her arms.

such youths and their trulls—let the doors shut Bēl. Be prosperous !

again.—No do your heads itch? I will scratch Enter Messenger.

them for you.—So, now thrust and hang.--Again!

who is it now ?-I cannot blame my lord CaliBless. My lord, the masquers rage for you. anax for going away: Would he were here! he Lys. We are gone. Cleon, Strato, Diphilus, would run raging among them, and break a dozen simin. We will all attend you. We shall trouble wiser heads than his own, in the twinkling of an you

eye.-What's the news now? With our solemnities.

Within.] I pray you, can you help me to the Vel. Not so, Amintor:

speech of the master-cook? But if you laugh at my rude carriage

Diag. If I open the door, I will cook some of In peace, I'll do as much for you in war, your calves heads. Peace, rogues !-- Again! who When you come thither. Yet I have a inistress is it? To bring to your delights; rough though I am, Mel. [rithin.] Melantius. I have a mistress, and she has a heart,

Enter CALIANAX. She says; but, trust me, it is stone, no better;

Cal. Let him not in. There is no place, that I can challenge in it.

Diag. O, my lord, I must. Make room there But you stand still, and here my way lies.

for my lord. Enter CALIANAX with DIAGORAS.

Enter MELANTIUS. Cal. Diagoras, look to the doors better, for Is your lady placed ?

[To Jel. shame! you let in all the world, and anon the Mel. Yes, sir, king will rail at ine—why, very well said—by I thank you. My lord Calianax, well met. Jove, the king will have the show in the court. Your causeless hate to me, I hope, is buried.

Diag. Why do you swear so, my lord? You Cal. Yes, I do service for your sister here, know, he will have it here.

That brings my own poor child to timeless death: Cal. By this light, if he be wise, he will not. She loves your friend Amintor; such another Diag. And, if he will not be wise, you are for- False-hearted lord as you.

Mel. You do me wrong, Ca! One may wear out his heart with swear- A most unmanly one, and I am slow ing, and get thanks on no side. I'll be gone- In taking vengeance ! But be well advised. look to it, who will.

Cal. It may be so. Who placed the lady there, Diag. My lord, I shall never keep them out. So near the presence of the king? Prav, stav; your looks will terrify them.

Mel. I did. Cal. My looks terrify them, you coxcombly Cal. My lord, she inust not sit there. ass, you! I will be judged by all the company, Mel. Why? whether thou hast not a worse face than I.

Cal. The place is kep for women of more worth. Diag. I mean, because they know you and Mel. More worth than she? It mis-becomes yonr office.

your age, Cal. Office! I would I could put it off: I am And place, to be thus womanish. Forbear! sure I sweat quite through my office. I might What you have spoke, I am content to think have made rooin at my daughter's wedding : they The palsy shook your tongue to. have near killed her among them; and now I Cal. Why, it is well, if I stand here to place must do service for him, that hath forsaken her. men's wencites. Serve, that will.

[Exit. Mel. I shall forget this place, thy age, my safety, Diag. He is so humourous since his daughter And, thorough all, cut that poor sickly week, was forsaken. Hark, hark! there, there ! so, so! | Thou hast to live, away from thee. Codes Codes! [Knock within.] What now? Cal. Nay, I know you can fight for your whore,

Sworn.

Mel. Bate the king, and be he flesh and blood, | By which I may discover all the place He lies, that says it ! Thy mother at fifteen And persons, and how many longing eyes Was black and sinful to her.

Are come to wait on our solemnities. Diag. Good my lord !

Enter CINTHIA.
Mel. Some god pluck threescore years from
that fond man,

How dull and black am I! I could not find
That I may kill him, and not stain mine honour. This beauty without thee, I am so blind.
It is the curse of soldiers, that in peace

Methinks, they shew like to those eastern streaks, They shall be braved by such ignoble men,

That warn us hence, before the morning breaks. As, if the land were troubled, would with tears

Back, my pale servant, for these eyes know how And knees beg succour from them. Would, that To shoot far more and quicker rays than thou. blood,

Cinth. Great queen, they be a troop, for whom

alone
That sea of blood, that I have lost in fight,
Were running in thy veins, that it might make thee One of my clearest moons I have put on;
Apt to say less, or able to maintain,

A troop, that looks as if thyself and I Should'st thou say more! This Rhodes, I see, is Had plucked our reins in, and our whips laid by, nought

To gaze upon these mortals, that appear But a place privileged to do men wrong.

Brighter than we. Cal. Ay, you may say your pleasure.

Night. Then let us keep them here;

And never more our chariots drive away,
Enter AMINTOR.

But hold our places, and out-shine the day.
Amin. What vile injury

Cinth. Great queen of shadows, you are pleased Has stirred my worthy friend, who is as slow

to speak To fight with words as he is quick of hand ?

Of more than may be done : We may not break Mel. That heap of age, which I should reve

The gods' decrees; but, when our time is come, rence,

Must drive away, and give the day our room. If it were temperate; but testy years

Night. Then shine at full, fair queen, and by Are most contemptible.

thy power Amin. Good sir, forbear.

Produce a birth, to crown this happy hour, Cal. There is just such another as yourself.

Of nymphs and shepherds : Let their songs disAmin. He will wrong you, or me, or any man,

cover, And as if he had no life to lose, Since this our match. The king is coming in :

Easy and sweet, who is a happy lover.

Or, if thou woo't, then call thine own Endymion, I would not for more wealth than I enjoy,

From the sweet flowery bed he lies upon, He should perceive you raging. He did hear On Latinus' top, thy pale beams drawn away; You were at difference now, which hastened him.

And of this long night let him make a day. Cal. Make room there! (Hautboys playwithin. Cinth. Thou dream’st, dark queen; that fair Enter King, EVADNE, Aspatia, lords, and ladies.

boy was not mine,

Nor went I down to kiss him. Ease and wine King. Melantius, thou art welcome, and my love Have bred these bold tales: Poets, when they rage, Is with thee still : But this is not a place

Turn gods to men, and make an hour an age. To brabble in. Calianax, join hands.

But I will give a greater state and glory, Cal. He shall not have my hand.

And raise to time a noble memory King. This is no time

Of what these lovers are. Rise, rise, I say, To force you to it. I do love

you
both :

Thou power of deeps; thy surges lade away, Calianax, you look well to your office;

Neptune, great king of waters, and by me
And you, Melantius, are welcome home.

Be proud to be commanded.
Begin the masque !
Me!. Sister, I joy to see you, and your choice.

NEPTUNE rises.
You looked with my eyes, when you took that man:

Nept. Cinthia, see, Be happy in him!

[Recorders play.

Thy word hath fetch'd me hither : Let me know,

Why I ascend?
Evad. O, my dearest brother!
Your presence is more joyful than this day

Cinth. Doth this majestic show
Can be unto me.

Give thee no knowledge yet?
THE MASQUE.

Nept. Yes, now I see

Something intended, Cinthia, worthy thee.
Night rises in mists.

Go on; I'll be a helper.
Night. Our reign is come; for in the raging sea Cinth. Hie thee, then,
The sun is drowned, and with him fell the day. And charge the wind Ay from his rocky den.
Bright Cinthia, hear my voice; I am the Night, Let loose thy subjects; only Boreas,
For whom thou bear'st about thy borrowed light. Too foul for our intention, as he was,
Appear; no longer thy pale visage shroud, Still keep him fast chained : We must have none
But strike thy silver horns quite through a cloud,

here And send a beam upon my swarthy face; But vernal blasts, and gentle winds appear;