THE PICTURE. TO MY HONOURED AND SELECTED FRIENDS, OF THE NOBLE SOCIETY OF THE INNER TEMPLE. Ir may be objected, my not inscribing their names, or titles, to whom I dedicate this poem, proceedeth either from my diffidence of their affection to me, or their unwillingness to be published the patrons of a trifle. To such as shall make so strict an inquisition of me, I truly answer, The play, in the presentment, found such a general approbation, that it gave me assurance of their favour to whose protection it is now sacred; and they have professed they so sincerely allow of it, and the maker, that they would have freely granted that in the publication, which, for some reasons, I denied myself. One, and that is a main one; I had rather enjoy (as I have done) the real proofs of their friendship, than, mountebank-like, boast their numbers in a catalogue. Accept it, noble Gentlemen, as a confirmation of his service, who hath nothing else to assure you, and witness to the world, how much he stands engaged for your so frequent bounties; and in your charitable opinion of me believe, that you now may, and shall ever command, SCENE I.-The Frontiers of BOHEMIA. Math. Since we must part, Sophia, to pass further Wise, and discreet; and to thy understanding Soph. You put me, sir, To the utmost trial of it. Math. Nay, no melting; Since the necessity that now separates us, We have long since disputed, and the reasons And great men, my superiors, rivals for you; Or to be cried up by the public voice, Soph. In you alone, sir, I have all abundance. Math. For my mind's content, In your own language I could answer you. And to my power, though short of your desert, I have been ever an indulgent husband. We have long enjoy'd the sweets of love, and though We must not live such dotards on our pleasures, Competent means Maintains a quiet bed; want breeds dissention, Even in good women. Soph. Have you found in me, sir, Any distaste, or sign of discontent, Math. No, Sophia; Nor shalt thou ever have cause to repent Thy constant course in goodness, if heaven bless Thy noble parts, and shew them in full lustre. Not to be named with thee, should so outshine thee While you, to whose sweet innocence both Indies Soph. If I am so rich, or In your opinion, why should you borrow Math. Why! I should be censured And our poor fortunes; and from these command To the utmost of what's mine, live plentifully; Soph. Since you are not [not To be diverted, sir, from what you purpose, I will do in your absence, would shew poorly; [Kisses him. Math. O, farewell, girl. Hil. A kiss well begg'd, Corisca. Coris. 'Twas my fee ; [Kisses her. Love, how he melts! I cannot blame my lady's Hil. How the mammet twitters! Coris. Would I had been Her ladyship the last night! Hil. No more of that, wench. [Exeunt HILARIO, CORISCA, and the rest. [nourish Math. I am strangely troubled, yet why I should A fury here, and with imagined food, Having no real grounds on which to raise A building of suspicion she was ever Or can be false hereafter. I in this But foolishly enquire the knowledge of A future sorrow, which, if I find out, My present ignorance were a cheap purchase, Though with my loss of being. I have already Dealt with a friend of mine, a general scholar, One deeply read in nature's hidden secrets, And, though with much unwillingness, have won To do as much as art can, to resolve me [him My fate that follows-To my wish, he's come. Enter BAPTISTA. Julio Baptista, now I may affirm Your promise and performance walk together; Bapt. I could wish you had Made trial of my love some other way. Proportion your desire to any mean, I do pronounce you happy; I have found, Math. Good. Bapt. In reason, therefore, You should fix here, and make no further search Of what may fall hereafter. Math. O, Baptista, "Tis not in me to master so my passions; I must know further, or you have made good Without control or curb; nay, more, invited Bapt. As, no doubt, she will. Math. Those doubts must be made certainties, Baptista, By your assurance; or your boasted art Bapt. Sure, Mathias, I am no god, nor can I dive into Her hidden thoughts, or know what her intents are; E'en from the devils themselves: they can but guess, You may conclude impossible. All I can, I will do for you; when you are distant from her Math. I desire no more. Bapt. Take then this little model of Sophia, With more than human skill limn'd to the life; [Gives him a picture. Each line and lineament of it, in the drawing, So punctually observed, that, had it motion, In so much 'twere herself. Math. It is, indeed, An admirable piece! but if it have not Bapt. I'll instruct you: Carry it still about you, and as oft As you desire to know how she's affected, From the true form, and what's now white and red She's with all violence courted, but unconquer'd; Is forced, or with her free consent surrender'd. Math. How much you have engaged me for this favour, The service of my whole life shall make good. In the head of the Hungarian general's troop, Math. As my better angel, You shall direct and guide me. Bapt. As we ride I'll tell you more. Math. In all things I'll obey you. [Exeunt. Ubald. It concerns the lives Of two great armies. Ric. Was it cheerfully Received by the king? Ubald. Yes; for being assured The armies were in view of one another, Having proclaim'd a public fast and prayer For the good success, [he] dispatch'd a gentleman Of his privy chamber to the general, With absolute authority from him, To try the fortune of a day. Ric. No doubt then The general will come on, and fight it bravely. I grant to be the noblest of professions; Ubald. Give me our court warfare : Ric. Fair and sound together Do very well, Ubaldo; but such are, know Their value, prized too high. By thy own report, That spent upon thee more in cullises, Besides apothecaries and surgeons' bills, Ubald. You talk, Ricardo, as if yet you were A novice in those mysteries. Ric. By no means; My doctor can assure the contrary: I lose no time. I have felt the pain and pleasure, Ubald. Wherefore, then, Do you envy me? Ric. It grows not from my want, Nor thy abundance; but being, as I am, The likelier man, and of much more experience, My good parts are my curses: there's no beauty, But yields ere it be summon'd; and, as nature Had sign'd me the monopoly of maidenheads, There's none can buy till I have made my market. Satiety cloys me; as I live, I would part with Half my estate, nay, travel o'er the world, To find that only phoenix in my search, That could hold out against me. Ubald. Be not rapt so; You may spare that labour. As she is a woman, What think you of the queen? Ric. I dare not aim at The petticoat royal, that is still excepted: Yet, were she not my king's, being the abstract Of all that's rare, or to be wish'd in woman, Ubald. Yes, as 'tis said, and the letter writ and To write her in my catalogue, having enjoy'd her, sign'd By the general, Ferdinand. Ric. Nay, then, sans question, It is of moment. I would venture my neck to a halter-but we talk Impossibilities as she hath a beauty [of Would make old Nestor young; such majesty Draws forth a sword of terror to defend it, Ric. She well knows Her worth, and values it. Ubald. And so far the king is Indulgent to her humours, that he forbears The duty of a husband, but when she calls for't. Ubald. At this very instant, When both his life and crown are at the stake, Ric. This night she promised to appear. . Ubald. You may Believe it by the diligence of the king, As if he were her harbinger. Enter LADISLAUS, EUBULUS, and Attendants with perfumes. Ladis. These rooms Are not perfumed, as we directed. Eubu. Not, sir! Thy gross comparison! When my Honoria, Too curious, much less prodigal, to receive her? Eubu. As dotage hath done you. Ladis. Dotage? O blasphemy! is it in me Eubu. And you the son Of ours, I take it; by what privilege else, Ladis. Her birth, old man, Old in the kingdom's service, which protects thee And faintly speak her: from her heavenly mind, Our modern poets could not, in their fancy, Loud music. Enter HONORIA in state, under a Canopy; her train borne up by SYLVIA and ACANTHE, Ric. Wonder! It is more, sir. Ubald. A rapture, an astonishment. Eubu. As the king thinks; that is the surest We courtiers ever lie at.-Was prince ever [guard So drown'd in dotage? Without spectacles I can see a handsome woman, and she is so: In a husband and a king, marks her the way In Jove's tribunal: and, like Mercury, Hon. That you please, sir, With such assurances of love and favour, [Aside. To grace your handmaid, but in being yours, sir, Ladis. You transcend In all things excellent; and it is my glory, Exact from these my subjects, you from me Hon. O forbear, sir! Let not my lips envy my robe; on them Ladis. Gracious sovereign! Eubu. Is not here fine fooling! He's questionless, bewitch'd. Would I were gelt, So that would disenchant him! though I forfeit My life for't, I must speak.-By your good leave, [Passing before the king. sir I have no suit to you, nor can you grant one, Having no power: you are like me, a subject, Her more than serene majesty being present. It does belong to your place, see it reform'd ; Ladis. Do not tempt me. Eubu. Tempt you! in what? in following your example? If you are angry, question me hereafter, As Ladislaus should do Eubulus, On equal terms. You were of late my sovereign, To her divinity, and desire a boon Nay, be not moved; for our mirth's sake let us hear him. Eubu. 'Tis but to ask a question: Have you ne'er read The story of Semiramis and Ninus ? Hon. Not as I remember. Eubu. I will then instruct you, [me) And 'tis to the purpose: This Ninus was a king, One day to be her subjects, and to put Pleased to impose upon them :-pray you command You shall hear what follow'd. Ladis. Well, sir, to your story. [him Eubu. You have no warrant, stand by; let me Your pleasure, goddess. Hon. Let this nod assure you. [know Eubu. Goddess-like, indeed! as I live, a pretty idol! She knowing her power, wisely made use of it; Ladis. Is't possible? [wisdom Eubu. The story says so, and commends her Ubald. Devilish counsel ! Ubald. The queen appears, too, full Of deep imaginations; Eubulus Hath put both to it. Ric. Now she seems resolved: I long to know the issue. [HONORIA descends from the throne. Hon. Give me leave, Dear sir, to reprehend you for appearing And though you make me personate a queen, Before I enter'd, still your humble wife, Ric. Admirable ! And say, however the event may plead In your defence, you had a guilty cause; Hon. Eubulus, I am so; 'Tis rooted in me; you mistake my temper. I do profess myself to be the most Ambitious of my sex, but not to hold Command over my lord; such a proud torrent Would sink me in my wishes: not that I Eubu. This I look'd for; After this seeming humble ebb, I knew Hon. By my birth, And liberal gifts of nature, as of fortune, [Aside. |