Sicelides a Piscatory, Play · Act 4
Act. 4.
Scen. 1.
Enter Perindus and Thalander.
Per.
BE patient.
Aty.
Yes, I am patient,
And suffer all, while all heauens ills are spent.
Per.
You giuegive your selfe to griefe…
Aty.
Sencelesse and mad.
Who in much griefe, is not extremely sad?
Per.
Alas sir, she was mortall, and must die.
Aty.
True, true, and could the fates no time …spie
But this? to me she neuer liu'd till now,
And now Perindus? now! oh—
Per.
She was my sister!
Aty.
Alas, thy sister!
She was my life, my soule, she was my love,
She was—words know not what she was to me:
She was—thou most accursed word of was…
Per.
Be comforted.
Tha.
Perindus, the very name of comfort, is most comfortlesse
Comfort, ioy, hope, liu'd in her cheerfull smiling,
And now must die, or liue in far ex…ing.
Comfort, ioy, hope, for euer I deny you,
And would not name you now but to defie you.
Per.
Sir, with more patience you hauehave often borne
Far greater euils.
Tha.
Perindus, doe not say so,
If thou yet louelove me, prethee doe not say so:
Was euer ill as this? hels breniary…
All torment in this narrow space is layd,
The wo…st of all, in these two words are sayd:
Olinda dead? dead! whither doest thou lead mee?
Why, I can goe alone, alone can finde
The way I seeke, I see it best when blinde.
I prethee leaue me.
Per.
Thalander, I'le not leaue thee,
Should heauen with thunder strike these arms that claspe thee,
My dying hands should but more firmely graspe thee.
Tha.
Thou violat'st thy louelove in thy mistaking,
And cleane forsak'st thy friend, in not forsaking
Olinda: I cannot come, they heere enc…aine me.
But neyther can, nor shall they here detaine me.
I'th' meane time, all the honour I can giuegive thee,
Is but a graue, that sacred rocke, the place
Of my conception, and my buriall:
Since Hymen will not, death shall make thee mine,
If not my marriage, my death-bed shall be thine.
Exeunt.
Sc…n. 2.
Enter Rimbombo.
Farewell yee mountaines, and thou burning AEt…a,
If yet I doe not beare thee in my brest,
And am my selfe, a liuing walking AEtna,
The Nymphs that on you dwell, are too coy,
Too coy and proud, more fierce then robbed tygre
More deafe then seas, and more inflexible
Then a growne Orke, false, flattering, cruell, craftie,
And which most grieues me, when I would embrace them,
Swifter then c…ased Deere, or dogs that chase them,
You heauens, what hauehave we poore men deserued,
That you should frame a woman, I and make her
So comely and so needefull? why should you cloath them
With so fine a shape? why should you place
Gold in their haire, allurement in their face?
And that which most may vex vsus, you impart
Fire into their burning eyes, y…e to their heart.
Why sweeten you their tongues with sugred charmes
And force men louelove, and need their greatest harmes?
And most of all, why doe you make them fleete?
Minds as the windes, and wings vponupon their feete?
Of hundred women that I know,
But one deserues to be a woman:
Whom better heauens hauehave not made more faire,
Then courteous, louing, kinde, and debonaire:
She, when she vsd our Mountaines, oft would stay,
And heare me speake, and vow, and sweare, and pray.
Here I hauehave learnt, she haunts along these shores:
Within these rockie clifts i'le hide my selfe,
Till fit occasion, if shee hauehave chang'd her minde,
Then safely may I curse all women. kinde. Exit.
Scen. 3.
Enter Armillu….
LoueLove, without thee, all life is tedious,
Without thee, there's no sweete, no ioy, no life;
Thou first gau'st life, and still with new succession,
Continuest what thou gau'st, with sweet inticements,
Taming the strongst rebellion, thy weapons women,
Whom thou so fram'st, that proudest men are glad,
Beaten with them, gently to kisse the rod.
Eyther my weighty passions pull too fast
The wheele of time, or else the houre is past:
But this is she, or I mistake it.
Enter Cosma.
Cos.
Women that to one man their passions bind,
As this man alters, so alters still their mind:
Thus euer change they, as those changing faires,
And with their louers still their louelove impaires:
But I, when once my louers change their graces,
Affect the same, though now in other faces:
Thus now my mind is firme, and constant prou'd,
Seeing I euer louelove, what first I lou'd.
Who blames the speedy heauen, for euer ranging?
Loue's fiery, winged, light, and therfore changing.
Ar.
True, fairest Nymph, LoueLove is a fire still burning,
And if not slak't, the heart to ashes turning.
Cos.
If I could scold, sir you might be chidden,
For comming to my thoughts before y'are bidden.
Ar.
Blame me not (Sweet) thy words do fanne thy fires,
And coole the flames which thy faire eye inspires.
Cos.
The fire so lately applied, so lately fram'd?
Me thinks, greene wood should not be yet inflam'd.
Ar.
Loues flame is not like earths, but heauens fire,
Like lightning, with a flash it lights desire.
…os.
I louelove not lightning: lightning louelove that flashes
Before't be all on fire, will be all ashes.
Ar.
Gather the fruite then while 'tis yet vnblas…ed.
Cos.
Ist worth the gathering? is it pleasing tasted?
Ar.
Take say …f this. kisses her.
Monster?
Enter Pas offering to kisse on the other side, disguised like a fury.
Cos.
Helpe ho.
Exeunt Armil. Cos. seuerall waie….
Scen. 4.
Pas. Fredocaldo.
Pas.
The Doe was almost strooke, 'twas time I came,
For once I'le be a keeper of the game.
I see 'tis Owle-light, Mineruaes waggoner, Enter Fred.
My old riuall, who this twenty yeeres
Saw nothing but what shin'd through gla…se windowes,
What comes he for? I'le stay a while and watch him.
Fred.
Most happy age that shall be crownd with louelove
Of thy louelove, Cosma: I am not as I seeme,
Farewell old age, I now am young againe
And feele not ages, but a louers paine,
In louelove I dare aduenture with the best,
Old beaten souldiers are the worthiest:
If all my riualls heard I could dare them,
If …uries should out-front me, I'de out-stare them. Pas runs vponupon him, hee falls and lyes.
Exit. Pas.
Enter Con…hylio in his Mistresses apparell.
Con.
How well my Mistris Cosmaes clothes do fit me?
What pitty 'twas, I was not made a woman?
I thinke … should hauehave made a pretty Nymph: ha?
I could hauehave beene a pittifull creature,
And yet perhaps, a good vnhappy wench.
Cosma by this hath met with her Armillus …
And sports her selfe: could I meete Fredocaldo,
I should hauehave sport enough: She stumbles at Fred.
What Fredocaldo dead? cou…age, man.
Fred.
I had a fearefull dreame and scarce am waken.
Con.
Come shake off dreames, sleepe is not fit for louers,
Wee'l to the rocky caue.
Fred.
My sunne? my fire?
Con.
But Fredocaldo, can you thinke that fire
Can louelove cold water, the sunne can frost desire?
Fred.
I tell thee fairest Cosma, those faire eyes
Bring backe my spring:
Wrong not thy selfe, deare louelove, so faire a day
Cannot but make mid-winter turne to May.
Cold rhewms I feele not, no frost's lockt in this chest…
Thy louelove begets a summer in my brest.
Con.
Fie Fredocaldo:
Not in the open aire.
Ex…unt…
Scen. 5.
Armillus. Cosma
Ar.
Wha… furies haunt this groue? is not this Cosma?
Yes: here again she comes… most blessed heauens, Enter Cosma
I see that yee are more gracious then Hell's spightfull.
Cosma?
Cos.
Armillus.
Ar.
My louelove.
Cos.
Sure thou hast done some cruell murder,
And the vnexplate ghost thus haunts thee.
Ar.
I neuer thought it, Cosma: rather some power of these woods,
Too enuious of my good hap, and iea…ous of thy fauor,
Thus crosses our desires… but if againe
He chance to interpose his horrid face,
I'le rather dye, then leaue thy wisht embrace. Enter Pa… disguised.
All hell and furies haunt vsus. Exit A….
Pa….
Well ouertaken, Nimph, start not, you are sure,
S…e I am your familiar.
Cos.
Beshrew your heart for thus affrighting me.
Pas.
Doe you not blush to cast your louelove vponupon a man,
Whose louelove is as himselfe an alien? to thine owne
Thou mak'st thee strange, familiar to vnknowne.
Cos
P…sh, thou art foolish, did I euer binde thee to me
Only? why shouldst thou then confine me
To thy sole passion? so oft before
You men hauehave chang'd, that you can change no more:
From bad to worse, from worse, to worst of all:
There lie you now, and can no lower fall:
And as you wisht that we should neuer roue,
We pray as fast, that you at length could moue.
Cease then for shame to raile at womens ranging:
When men begin, women will leaue their changing.
Farewell.
Pas.
Nay soft, I am dog well bitten,
And will not part so easily with my prey,
I hauehave not tasted venison many a day.
Cos.
I cannot well deny thee, 'tis thy right:
Thou well hast purchast it, this be thy right.
Exe…t.
Scen… 6.
Conchilio.
Con.
Ha, ha, he: this old dry stubble, how it crackes i'th' burning! alas poore saplesse oake: 'tis time 'twere down, I stayd till he was ready, all vnready, but when he 'gan to put on his spectacles, away slipt I: hee'l doe my mistris little hurt. Spectacles! hah, ha, he! now for my louing Lobster, this is his time; and if the Cyclops too doe keepe his promise, O what rare compound of mirth… I'le make, while the one with sha'me, the other with feare I'le take!
The fish comes alreadie to the net. Enter Cancrone, going backeward vponupon her. He lookes ouer his shoulders.
Can.
To all I speake, but I tell no man,
Whether I louelove Nymph or woman.
Con.
Tell not mee, but tell the rocks,
Not words must disciple you but knocks.
I am out of your debt for a rime.
Can.
I thinke shee knew my cue,
The charme begins to worke already.
Con.
I know not how this fishers hooke hath caught mee,
I euer for his rudenesse louelove him: 'tis the badge of innocencie.
Can.
Somewhat rude if you will, but innocent in your face.
Con.
O those glearing eyes that dart the beames,
The beames that drownd my heart with fierie streames.
Can.
Now to Cupids arrowe tree, and she sinks downe-right condoling; Cosma, I hauehave pitty on thee, but it beseemes a man of my confession, to hauehave a negligent care of his good reparation abroad in the world and else-where; I would be loth to be seene in my louelove-worke, i'le mount the tree and scry the coast. He goes vp the tree.
Con.
Stay not, but come againe thy selfe, sweete heart, to receiue me.
Can.
O ho, here's bundance of people, bundance a lookers on, I dare not louelove thee before them all, wee'l into the myrtle groue present.
Con.
Quickly returne, my louelove, returne Cancrone my dearest.
Can.
Stand forth Cosma, and say on till thou come to that, I cry, I dye, I lye.
Con.
I spie him now approaching, Enter Rimbombo. What though he be all ragges in his limbs? what though his gesture taste of violence? we Nymphes, they say, like not such wooers worst.
Rim.
Thou speakest of thy Rimbombo, that myrtle groues which louelove the winding shores, deserue to bee to Venus consecrate, as faster friend… to louers, then the woods and caues of all the Mounts of Sicily, whose Nymph… do coyly shunne and mocke our troopes,
Con.
you come somewhat before your time, Rimbombo,
And Yet in louelove preuention is no crime:
Louers may come before, not out of time.
And truly I wish, y'had come a little sooner.
…uen now a mong…ell crabbed fisher swaine
Laid siege to this vnconquered fort.
Rim.
What wight of brauest blood by sea and land dares share with mee in Cosmaes louelove? by Polypheme my sea-bred fire I vow, the sand on which he treads, is not so small, as shall this pestell make his pounded bones.
Con,
Nay now he treadeth not vponupon these sands, but is fled vp to the hills, and shortly thence will of himselfe come tumbling downe to mee.
Rim.
I would he durst: I neuer yet but once did tast of fishers blood, tis iollie sweete: come fisher, this way or that way I am for you at both weapons, club or teeth: let's to the groue, see, eueryevery mirtle tree bids warre to fishers peace, and ioy to mee. Why weepes my Cosma? Sweete, feare not that which thou desirest.
Con.
Sweete Cyclops, meanst thou to rauish mee?
Rim.
O heauens thine owne appointed time and place, thine, owne sweete Cyclops, and can rauishment?—
Con.
Why this know; wee Nymphs that long liue chast, and weare our girdle of virginity — but lo, Diana stops my tongue, shee bends her deadly bow, I dare not.
Rim.
Speake on, here's none but trees, and thy tru…tie true Rimbombo.
Con.
By that bright flame which like one only sunne giues day to'th spheare of thy maiesticke face, I thee adiure, that thou disclose to none this sacred mysterie.
Rim.
Not: to my mother: no not in my dreame: say on
Con.
Wee neither yeeld, nor take in louelove delight,
Vntill our girdle fi…st be once vnplight
By louers hands, and then about his wast,
By our owne hands the same be tied fast.
Now all is out.
Rim.
A pretty piece of work, my hands do their office nimbly
I hauehave vnfettered thee, come put this sweete yoke on mee.
Con.
Nay turne about, it must be tied contrarie to other girdles, iust behind. Stand neerer to mee, yet neere.
Rim.
As close as thou wilt, Cosma; I would your filthy fisher saw vsus now, 't would make his teeth water.
Con.
Hang him stinking Lobster, he da…res not look vponupon any of thy kinne: his haddocke eyes would start out of his head, if he should see but one haire of Rimbomboes head.
Rim.
How long wilt thou be tying mee?
Con.
The more knots I tie, the faster will my louelove be to you: but you'l be prating of this secret, when you come home among yo…r mounting Nymphs.
Rim.
If I doe, then ge…d mee: hast thou done?
Con.
I hauehave but three knots to tie: they are all true knots.
Rim.
When thou hast done, preethee come kisse me, Cosma, Conchylio steales away, leauing him bound to the tree where Cancrone is. I see thou art a pure virgin, thou neuer didst this office before, thou art no quicker at it. What Cosma? what? no Cosma! what a wooden wench? here's a true louelove knot with a witnes. O faithlesse Cosma! O witlesse Rimbombo! O Nymph! O fishers! O shepheards! O Satyrs! O Cyclops!
Enter Conchylio againe.
Con.
Ha, ha ha: O louelove! O wit! O tree! O girdle! O platterface!
O oyster eyes!
Rim.
Thou bitch, thou witch, thou spawne of a mermaid.
Con.
Thou AEtna, thou Chaos, thou Hell: nay tugge and tugge, my virginitie is tough and strong enough: O for, some Nymphs fishers or shepheards to baite this Orke. I'le out and call in some bandog: so ho, so ho, ho, ho. Exit.
Rim.
The knots are so many, the girdle so strong, and the tree stands so fast. O anger! O shame! here shee'll bring in all the country to laugh mee to death, hide yet thy face with some of these lower boughs.
Enter Conchylio.
Con.
So ho, so ho: O dogged fortune! not one Nymph to be found not one feate fisher! not one: but that feating fisher that is readie to wing his sea token net on the Cyclops blockhead.
Rim.
Away thou monstrous woman, oh, oh…
Con.
Away thou monstrous mans ah ha hey.
Rim.
How now! what's that? what, hauehave I another witnes of my folly? what gobbet of mans flesh grows… vponupon this tree?
Con.
Ile hauehave a graft of this mi…tle tree, it beares fine louelove wormes, on the s…ocke, a maggot wou'd vp in a Cobweb, on the bough a barnacle, which ere long will fall and turne to a goose: now Cupids gosling, now on your bare-head knee, goe begge at Cupids doore.
Can.
Ah cursed Cupid … i'le no more of thy seruice, I had rather fight with nine Orkes, ha, hei, au.
Rim.
Come downe thou fished bit; my mouth shall catch thee. Gentle C…sma, i'le forgiue thee all, & louelove thee yet, if thou wilt helpe to reach my walking sticke; i'le make my young Orke-ketcher beleeue he shall bee his grandsires heire.
Con.
Your staffe? marry and shalt, it's a pretty pole to bang those boughes withall, and when thou doest it, doe but gape, and that rotten plumme will fall into thy mouth.
Can.
Nay, I know of old I should be deuoured.
Con.
Thy staffe, Rimbombo, is not for a weak Nymph to lift.
Rim.
Yet a little more to this hand: Oh oh, my shoulder's thunderstrook!While Rimbombo reaches for his staffe, Cancrone leapes on's backe, and lies on the ground. O coward Ioue, to strike me on the backe, bu… wast our fisher lubber? is he escap't our hands?
Con.
VVhy Cancrone, rise, i'le helpe thee.
Can.
Good Charon carry me ouer gently, my bones are sore, and your boate side so hard.
Con.
GiueGive me thy hand, i'le waft thee.
Can.
I tell thee Charon, I hauehave nothing to giuegive thee for ferriage, i'le helpe to row, I hauehave beene a poore fisher while I liu'd…
Rim.
I would I were there too, but that I should sinke Charons boate with a tree at my backe.
Con.
VVhy valorous Cancron…, view thy selfe and mee thy captiue Cosma, we are conquerours, behold our enemies in fetters fast bound.
Can.
Am I aliue indeede? me thought this legge hung out of Charons boate i'th' water, did I tie the Ork… there; Cancro… Come captain, let's goe triumphing to the temple. rises vp.
Con.
Nay, the Ork's dead and buried, this is the second fatall for the Cyclops.
Can.
Is he safe? i'le make side-slops on him. I lay studying how to deale with him vponupon equall tearmes: come if thou darest, thou sea-bred brat of Polyphemes sine, you that would licke your lips at sweete fishers blood! sweete fishers blood! marke that Cosma: I hope you thinke so too.
Rim.
Sweete fisher, I will turne thy net maker if thou wilt vndoe me.
Can.
No, it shall nere be said that I was the vndoing of any man by net-making, and besides, I hauehave forsworne the mudd…e trade.
Con.
Cancrone… wher's thy spirit? this is that pocketted vp thy grandsire in his wide intrailes.
Can.
Me thought, when I was on the tree… his breath smel… of fish, my stomacke euen foam'd at him. Now then, sir Bompelo, as that Orke mouth of thine did crumme thy por…idge with my grandsires braines, and then gaue him his deaths wound too, so will I first mince out thy scald-pate bones, and giuegive thy flesh to a fishers boy for haddocks meate, & then, O th…n I will ge…d thee, that thou neuer shalt run rutting after the Nymphs. How lik'st thou this…
Rim.
Shame and scorne make me silent.
Con.
Nay, I will tell thee fitter vengeanc…, vse him, as sage Vlysses did his father Polypheme.
Can.
That same Fool…shes had … pole-cat… head, I …eane to mitigate him: he was something, as it wa…e about branding a huge stone in a caue, in a goate skinne with Polypheme … when the fire-brand was asleepe.
Con.
I, I, in the caue …e br…ded ou… Polyph…mes eye, when he was asleepe, and you must imitate him …here … his owne staffe, and make it an ex…guisher fo… that … la…pe.
Rim.
This sport I like worst of all: helpe, gods of the woods.
Can.
I'le blow the coale while you take your …, but will your farginity hold him fast?
Con.
I warrant you it has been tried, come be thou my rest, i'le tilt on thy shoulders.
Can.
Raunt tara, raunt taunt: & Cancrone fals, and his dagger from him in the Cyclops reach. I shall make you stumble, let me Come hindermost.
Con.
O your Whineyeard, the enemy hath seazd on't.
Can.
'Tis no matter, hee'l hardly make it fly out of the Eel… skinne, it hath seene no sunne this fiue quarters of a yeere I am sure.
Con.
I hope the salt breath of the sea hath seald it vp.
Can.
O Cosma, 'tis out, let vsus out too.
Con.
O Cancrone, loe thy Cosma, Cupid, and Co…chilio. Cyclops, blame not this my supposed sexe, no Nymph, but lad hath caught thee in this snare. Exit.
Rim.
The greater shame, and fouler scorne to me.
Vp to the hill, Rimbombo flye this shore,
And neuer deale with fisher-Nymph-lad more. Exit.
CHORVS,
This his wiues quicke …ate lamenting,
Orp…hus sate his soule tormenting:
While the speedy wood came running,
And riuers stood to heare his cunning…
The hares ran with the dogs along,
Not from the dogs, but to his song:
But when all his verses turning,
OnelyOnly fram'd his poore hearts burning:
Of the higher powers complaining,
Downe he went to hell disdaining:
There his siluer Lute-strings hitting,
And his potent verses fitting:
All the sweets that ere …e tooke
From his sacred mothers brooke:
What his double sorrow giues him…
And louelove that doubly double grieues him:
There he spends to mooue deafe hell,
Ch…rming Deuils with his spell:
And …ith sweetest asking leau…
Does the Lord of ghosts deceaue.
Caron amaz'd his boate foreslowes,
While the boate, the sculler rowes,
And of it selfe to'th' shoare d…th floate,
…ipping on the dancing moate.
The t…reeheaded Porter preast to heare,
Prickt vp his thrice double …are,
The Furies, plague… for Guilt vp-heaping,
Now as guilty, fell a weeping:
Ixion, though his wheele stood still,
Still was wrapt with Musickes skill.
Tantale might hauehave eaten now,
The fruite as still as was the bough,
But he foole no longer fearing,
Staru'd his tast to feede his hearing.
Thus since louelove hath wonne the field,
Heauen and Hell, to Earth must yeeld,
Blest soule that dyest in loues sweete sound,
That l…st in louelove in louelove art found.
If but a true-loues ioy thou once doe proue,
Thou wilt not louelove to liue, vnlesse thou liue to lou….