Gab. Look up and see. Duke. What may this mean? Behold the drunken murderer Of that young gentleman; behold the rankest, The vilest, basest slave that ever flourish'd! Duke. Who kill'd him? Gab. I; and there's the cause I did it: Read, if your eyes will give you leave. Hel. Oh, monstrous! Gab. Nay, out it shall: there, take this false heart to ye, The base dishonour of a thousand women! Keep it in gold, duke; 'tis a precious jewel. Now to myself! for I have liv'd a fair age, Longer by some months than I had a mind to. [tracted! Duke. Hold! Gab. Here, young Perolot, my first-conTrue love shall never go alone. Duke. Hold, Gabriella! Thus let me seek my grave, and my shames Maria. Nor shalt thou alone, my noble mistress: Why should I live, and thou dead? [written. Lord. Save the wench there! Gent. Your Grace has your alas too. For thou hast lost an honest noble child. Gent. 'Tis heir enough b’has left, a good remembrance42. Duke. See all their bodies buried decently; Tho' some deserv'd it not!-How do you do, lady? Hel. Even, with your grace's leave, ripe for a monastery; There will I wed my life to tears and prayers, And never know what man is more. Eman. By this we plainly view the two imposthumes [wantonness; That choak a kingdom's welfare; case and In both of which Lavall was capital: [nour, For, first, ease stole away his mind froin boThat active noble thoughts had kept still working; And then deliver'd him to drink and women, Lust and outrageous riot; and what their ends are, How infamous and foul, we see example. Therefore, that great man that will keep his name, And gain his merit out of Virtue's schools, Must make the pleasures of the world his fouls. [Flourish. From all remembrance of him, like a shade! And last, view who relieves him! and that gone, We hope your favour, and our play is done. [Flourish Enter Anthropos, Desire, Vain-Delight, and Bounty. Anth. What hast thou done, Desire? and how employ'd The charge I gave thee, about levying wealth For our supplies? Desire. I have done all, yet nothing; Tried all, and all my ways, yet all miscarried: There dwells a sordid duluess in their minds, Thou son of earth, colder than that thou'rt made of. I came to Craft; found all his hooks about him, And all his nets baited and set43; his sly self And greedy Lucre at a serious conference Which way to tie the world within their sta tutes: 42 'Tis heir enough has lost a good remembrance.] Corrected by Sympson. 43 all his hooks about him, And all his nets baited and set.] Mr. Sympson says, that to bait and set nets is inaccurate, and therefore would have hooks and nets change places: but nets are sometimes baited and set as well as hooks, as for cray fish, grigs, &c., so that the change is not necessary. Seward, 4 H 2 Business Business of all sides++ and of all sorts swarm ing, [clar'd Like bees broke loose in summer; I deYour will and want together, both enforcing With all the power and pains I had, to reach Yet all fell short. Anth. His answer? [him; [plies Your wants are never ending; and those supThat came to stop those breaches, are ever lavish'd, Before they reach the main, in toys and trifles, Gewgaws, and gilded puppets. Vain-Delight, He says, has ruin'd you, with clapping all That comes in for support, on cloaths and coaches [mistress, Perfumes and powder'd pates; and that your The lady Pleasure, like a sea devours At length both you and him too. If you have houses, [hear you, Or land, or jewels, for good pawn, he'll And will be ready to supply occasions; If not, he locks his ears up, and grows stupid. From him, I went to Vanity, whom I found Attended by an endless troop of tailors, Mercers, embroiderers, feather-makers, fumers, All occupations opening like a mart, That serve to rig the body out with bravery; And thro' the room new fashions flew, like flies, In thousand gaudy shapes; Pride waiting on her, And busily surveying all the breaches Time and decaying Nature had wrought in her, Which still with art she piec'd again and strengthen'd: [head-tires, I told your wants; she shew'd me gowns and Embroider'd waistcoats, sinocks seam'd thro' with cut-works, [paintings, Scarfs, mantles, petticoats, muffs, powders, Dogs, monkies, parrots, which all seem'd to shew me The way her money went. From her to PleaI took my journey. [sure Anth. And what says our best mistress? Desire. She danc'd me out this answer presently: [ready. Revels and masques had drawn her dry alI met old Time too, mowing mankind down, Who says you are too hot, and he must purge you. Anth. A cold quietus! Miserable creatures, Born to support and beautify your master, The god-like Man, set here to do me service, The children of my will, why, or how dare ye, Created to my use alone, disgrace me? Beasts have more courtesy; they live about Fishes, and plants, and all where life inhabits, None feel my wants? not one befriend me45? Delight. Fail? he'll sell himself, But found him in a young lord's ear so busy, 4 Business of all sides and of all sorts.] Mr. Sympson thinks the common expression was the original here, Business of all size and of all sorts, or else of all sizes. But I can by no means admit either into the text, for the old reading 45 are crept closely: None feel my aunts, not one mend with me. Or all sides, is Desire. None, sir?] The next line shews evidently that all the points here were wrong. The last line of Anthropos's speech should be disjoined from the foregoing, and be a question which Desire should answer, but these were not the worst of the mistake in this passage, for what is not one mend with me? One might force a sort of sense out of it, but 'tis much more probable that it is a mistake of the press, and that we should read either, or, not one friend with me? --not one befriend me? The former is nearest the trace of the letters, but the latter gives a more easy sense. Seward. Catching Catching the vain mind of the man: I pulind, [him; But still he hung like bird-lime; spoke unto His answer still was, 'By the lord, sweet lord,' AndBy my soul, thou master-piece of honour!' [your flood's gone, Nothing could stave him off: he has heard And on decaying things he seldom smiles, sir. Anth. Then here I break up state, and free my followers, Putting my fortune now to Time and Justice: Go seek new masters now; for Anthropos, Neglected by his friends, must seek new fortunes. Desire, to Avarice I here commend thee, Where thou may'st live at full bent of thy wishes. And, Vain-Delight, thou feeder of my follies, With light Fantastickness be thou in favour! To leave thee, Bounty, my most worthy servant, Troubles me more than my own misery; But we must part: go plant thyself, my best friend, In honourable hearts that truly know thee, And there live ever like thyself, a virtue! But leave this place, and seek the country; For Law and Lust, like fire, lick all up here. Now none but Poverty must follow me, Despis'd patch'd Poverty; and we twoinarried, Will seek Simplicity, Content, and Peace out, Enter Poverty. And live with them in exile. How uncall'd on My true friend comes! Pov. Here hold thee, Anthropos! Thou art almost arriv'd at rest 46: put this on, A penitential robe, to purge thy pleasures; Off with that vanity! Anth. Here, Vain-Delight, And, with this, all my part to thee again Pov. Take this staff now, And be more constant to your steps hereafter! summer Take life and heat, buzzing about his blossoms! When growing full, ye turn to caterpillars, Gnawing the root that gave you life. Fly, shadows! [Exeunt Desire and Delight. Now to Content I'll give thee, Anthropos, To Rest and Peace: no Vanity dwells there, Desire, nor Pleasure, to delude thy mind more; No flattery's smooth-fil'd tongue shall poison thee. Anth. Oh, Jupiter, if I have ever offer'd Upon thy burning altars but one sacrifice Thou and thy fair-ey'd Juno smil'd upon; If ever, to thine honour, bounteous feasts, Where all thy statues sweat with wine and incense, Have by the son of Earth been celebrated; Hear me (the child of Shame now) hear, thou helper, [justice, And take my wrongs into thy hands, thou Done by unmindful man, unmerciful, Against his master done, against thy order; And raise again, thou father of all honour, The poor, despis'd, but yet thy noblest creature! Raise from his ruins once more this sunk cedar, Jup. Ho! Mercury, my winged son! Jup. Whose powerful prayers were those Arm'd in such spells of pity now47? [thropos; Of the scorn'd son of Earth, the god-like AnHe that has swell'd your sacred fires with incense, [perish: And pil'd upon your altars thousand heifers; He shall find golden Plutus, god of riches, carries: [Jupiter and Mercury ascend again. Musick. Enter Plutus, with a troop of Indians singing and dancing wildly about him, and bowing to him; which ended, enter Time. Time. Rise, and away! 'tis Jove's command. [das, Ye have some fool to furnish now; some MiThat to no purpose I must choak with riches. Who must I go to? Time. To the son of Earth; He wants the god of wealth. Plutus. Let him want still! 46 Thou art almost arm'd at rest.] Amended by Sympson. 47 Arm'd in such spells of pity.] The spells were undoubtedly those of piety, which might awake pity in Jupiter, but could not for that reason be called the spells of pity. Seward. We see no reason for variation, For fear a greater anger light upon thee. Plutus. I do obey then: but will change my figure; friends! For when I willingly befriend a creature, Goodly and full of glory I shew to him; But when I am compell'd, old and decrepid, I halt and hang upon my staff. Farewell, I will not be long from ye: all my servants I leave among ye still, and my chief riches. [Exeunt Indians, with a dance. Oh, Time, what innocence dwells here, what goodness! [hug me. They know me not, nor hurt me not, yet Away! I'll follow thee: but not too fast, Time! [Exeunt Plutus und Time. Enter Anthropos, Honesty, Simplicity, Humility, and Poverty. Humil. Man, be not sad; neither let this divorce From Mundus, and his many ways of pleasure, Afflict thy spirits! which consider'd rightly, With inward eyes, makes thee arrive at happy. Pov. For now what danger or deceit can reach thee? What matter left for Craft or Covetize To plot against thee? what Desire to burn thee? [thee! Hon. Oh, son of Earth, let Honesty possess Be as thou wast intended, like thy Maker; See thro' those gaudy shadows, that like dreams [goodness, Have dwelt upon thee long; call up thy Thy mind and man within thee, that lie shipwreck'd; [fections, And then how thin and vain these fond afHow lame this worldly love, how lump-like, And ill-digested, all these vanities [raw, Will shew, let Reason tell thee! Simpl. Crown thy mind 48 [suff'ring, With that above the world's wealth, joyful And truly be the master of thyself, Which is the noblest empire! and there stand 48 Crown thy mind The thing thou wert ordain'd, and set to govern! Pov. Come, let us sing the world's shame ; hear us, Anthropos! Song: And then enter Time and Plutus. [Exeunt all but Pov. Time. Get thou too after, Thou needy bare companion! go for ever, For ever, I conjure thee. Make no answer! [Exit Pov. Anth. What mak'st thou here, Time? thou that to this minute Never stood still by nie? Time. I've brought thee succour; And now, catch hold, I'm thine: the god of riches (Compell'd by him that saw thy miseries, Industry and the Arts discovered. Thou friend of life! and next to thee, rise, But first conduct this mortal to the rock. [They curry Anthropos to a rock, and fall a-digging. What see'st thou now? [Plutus strikes the rock, and flumes fly out. Anth. A glorious mine of metal. Oh, Jupiter, my thanks! Plutus. To me a little. Anth. And to the god of wealth, my sacrifice! Plutus. Nay, then I am rewarded. Take heed now, son, You are afloat again, lest Mundus catch you! [lies buried, From whence I came, where my main wealth And these must with me. Take that book and mattock 49, And, by those, know to live again! [Exeunt Plutus, Industry, Labour, &c. Anth. I shall do. With that above the world's wealth, joyful suff”ring.] I read i. e. with that which is above the world's wealth, joyful suffering. It might be still better With what's above the world's wealth, but the other expression is very frequent with our authors. The old text is best, and most poetical. Seward. 49 Take that book and mattock.] Mr. Sympson would read hook and mattock, as the two emblems of industry; but knowledge and virtue being as necessary to Anthropos as industry, I understand book as an emblem of them. Seward. 1 1 Enter Enter Fame, sounding. Fame. Thro' all the world the fortune of great Anthropos Be known and wonder'd at; his riches envied, As far as sun or time is; his power fear'd too! Exeunt. [Musick. Enter Delight, Pleasure, Craft, Lucre, Vanity, &c. dancing (and masqued) towards the rock, offering service to Anthropos. Mercury from above. Musick heard. One half of a cloud drawn, singers are discovered; then the other half drawn. Jupiter seen in glory. Merc. Take heed, weak man! those are Trust 'em no more: kneel, and give thanks to Jup. Unmask, ye gilded poisons!Now look upon 'em, son of Earth, and shame 'em; Now see the faces of thy evil angels; Lead 'em to Time, and let 'em fill his triumph! Their memories be here forgot for ever. Anth. Oh, just, great god! how many lives of service, What ages only given to thine honour, What infinities of vows and holy prayers Can pay my thanks ? Jup. Rise up! and, to assure thee That never more thou shalt feel want; strike Mercury, Strike him; and by that stroke he shall for ever Live in that rock of gold, and still enjoy it. Be't done, I say! Now sing in honour of him. [Song. Enter the Triumph. First, the Musicians: then Vain-Delight, Pleasure, Craft, Lucre, Vanity, and other of the vices: then a chariot with the person of Time sitting in it, drawn by four persons, representing Hours, singing. [Exeunt. Flourish. Eman. By this we note, sweetheart, in kings and princes, A weakness, even in spite of all their wisdoms, Prevail above our reasons to undo us: The gods are merciful, and lend their hands. [Flourish. Exeunt. EPILOGUE. Now as the husbandman,whose costs and pain, The harvest of our labours: for we know You are our spring; and when you smile we grow. Nor charge nor pain shall bind us from your pleasures, So you but lend your hands to fill our measures! London: Printed by B. M'Millan, Bow Street, Covent Garden. END OF THE THIRD VOLUME. |