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This HTML etext of "The Pleasant Comedie of Old Fortunatus" (1600) by Thomas Dekker,
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    Source text:
    Dekker, Thomas. "The Pleasant Comedie of Old Fortunatus."
    Thomas Dekker. Ernest Rhys, Ed.
    London: T. Fisher Unwin, nd c1900. 288-384.

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THE PLEASANT COMEDY OF OLD FORTUNATUS



THE PROLOGUE AT COURT.

                    Enter Two Old Men.

    1st O. Man. Are you then travelling to the temple of Eliza?

    2nd O. Man. Even to her temple are my feeble limbs travelling. Some
call her Pandora: some Gloriana, some Cynthia: some Delphœbe, some
Astræa: all by several names to express several loves: yet all those names
make but one celestial body, as all those loves meet to create but one soul.

    1st O. Man. I am one of her own country, and we adore her by the name
of Eliza.

    2nd O. Man. Blessed name, happy country: your Eliza makes your land
Elysium: but what do you offer?

    1st O. Man. That which all true subjects should: when I was young, an
armed hand; now I am crooked, an upright heart: but what offer you?

    2nd O. Man. That which all strangers do: two eyes struck blind with
admiration: two lips proud to sound her glory: two hands held up full of prayers
and praises: what not, that may express love? what not, that may make her
beloved?

    1st O. Man. How long is't since you last beheld her?

    2nd O. Man. A just year: yet that year hath seemed to me but one day,
because her glory hath been my hourly contemplation, and yet that year hath
seemed to me more than twice seven years, because so long I have been absent
from her. Come therefore, good father, let's go faster, lest we come too late:
for see, the tapers of the night are already lighted, and stand brightly burning
in their starry candle-sticks: see how gloriously the moon shines upon us.

                                       [Both kneel.]

    1st O. Man. Peace, fool: tremble, and kneel: the moon say'st thou?
Our eyes are dazzled by Eliza's beams,
See (if at least thou dare see) where she sits:
This is the great Pantheon of our goddess,
And all those faces which thine eyes thought stars,
Are nymphs attending on her deity.
Prithee begin, for I want power to speak.

    2nd O. Man. No, no, speak thou, I want words to begin.

                                                    [Weeps.

    1st O. Man. Alack, what shall I do? com'st thou with me,
And weep'st now thou behold'st this majesty?

    2nd O. Man. Great landlady of hearts, pardon me.

    1st O. Man. Blame not mine eyes, good father, in these tears.

    2nd O. Man. My pure love shines, as thine doth in thy fears:
I weep for joy to see so many heads
Of prudent ladies, clothed in the livery
Of silver-handed age, for serving you,
Whilst in your eyes youth's glory doth renew:
I weep for joy to see the sun look old,
To see the moon mad at her often change,
To see the stars only by night to shine,
Whilst you are still bright, still one, still divine:
I weep for joy to see the world decay,
Yet see Eliza flourishing like May:
O pardon me your pilgrim, I have measured
Many a mile to find you: and have brought
Old Fortunatus and his family,
With other Cypriots, my poor countrymen,
To pay a whole year's tribute: O vouchsafe,
Dread Queen of Fairies, with your gracious eyes,
T'accept theirs and our humble sacrifice.

    1st O. Man. Now I'll beg for thee too: and yet I need not:
Her sacred hand hath evermore been known,
As soon held out to strangers as her own.

    2nd O. Man. Thou dost encourage me: I'll fetch them in
They have no princely gifts, we are all poor,
Our offerings are true hearts, who can wish more? [Exeunt.


                  PROLOGUE.

OF Love's sweet war our timorous Muse doth sing,
And to the bosom of each gentle dear,
Offers her artless tunes, borne on the wing
Of sacred poesy. A benumbing fear,
That your nice souls, cloyed with delicious sounds,
Will loath her lowly notes, makes her pull in
Her fainting pinions, and her spirit confounds,
Before the weak voice of her song begin.
Yet since within the circle of each eye,
Being like so many suns in his round sphere,
No wrinkle yet is seen, she'll dare to fly,
Borne up with hopes, that as you oft do rear
With your fair hands, those who would else sink down,
So some will deign to smile, where all might frown:
And for this small circumference must stand,
For the imagined surface of much land,
Of many kingdoms, and since many a mile
Should here be measured out, our Muse entreats
Your thoughts to help poor art, and to allow
That I may serve as Chorus to her senses;
She begs your pardon, for she'll send one forth,
Not when the laws of poesy do call,
But as the story needs; your gracious eye
Gives life to Fortunatus' history. [Exit.


     DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

ATHELSTANE, King of England.
The Soldan of Egypt.
The Prince of Cyprus.
CORNWALL , C
CHESTER, English Noble.
LINCOLN, English Noble.
MONTROSE, Scotch Noble.
GALLOWAY, Scotch Noble.
ORLEANS, French Noble.
LONGAVILLE, French Noble
INSULTADO, a Spanish Lord.
FORTUNATUS.
AMPEDO, Son of FORTUNATUS.
ANDELOCIA, Son of FORTUNATUS.
SHADOW, Servant to AMPEDO and ANDELOCIA.
Kings, Nobles, Soldiers, Satyrs, a Carter, a Tailor, a Monk, a Shepherd, Chorus,
Boys and other Attendants.
AGRIPYNE, Daughter of ATHELSTANE.
FORTUNE, Goddess.
Virtue, Goddess.
Vice, Goddess
The Three Destinies.
Nymphs, Ladies, &c.


  SCENE—CYPRUS, BABYLON, and ENGLAND.

           ACT THE FIRST.

         SCENE I.—A Wood in Cyprus.

Enter FORTUNATUS meanly attired; he walks about cracking nuts ere he
speaks.

FORT. So, ho, ho, ho, ho.

    Echo [Within.]. Ho, ho, ho, ho.

    Fort. There, boy.

    Echo. There, boy.

    Fort. An thou bee'st a good fellow, tell me how call'st this wood.

    Echo. This wood.

    Fort. Ay, this wood, and which is my best way out.

    Echo. Best way out.

    Fort. Ha, ha, ha, that's true, my best way out is my best way out, but
how that out will come in, by this maggot I know not. I see by this we are all
worms' meat. Well, I am very poor and very patient; Patience is a virtue: would
I were not virtuous, that's to say, not poor, but full of vice, that's to say,
full of chinks. Ha, ha, so I am, for I am so full of chinks, that a horse with
one eye may look through and through me. I have sighed long, and that makes me
windy; I have fasted long, and that makes me chaste; marry, I have prayed
little, and that makes me I still dance in this conjuring circle; I have
wandered long, and that makes me weary. But for my weariness, anon I'll lie
down, instead of fasting I'll feed upon nuts, and instead of sighing will laugh
and be lean, Sirrah Echo.

    Echo. Sirrah Echo.

    Fort. Here's a nut.

    Echo. Here's a nut.

    Fort. Crack it.

    Echo. Crack it.

    Fort. Hang thyself.

    Echo. Hang thyself.

    Fort. Th'art a knave, a knave.

    Echo. A knave, a knave.

    Fort. Ha, ha, ha, ha!

    Echo. Ha, ha, ha, ha!

    Fort. Why so, two fools laugh at one another, I at my tittle tattle
gammer Echo, and she at me. Shortly there will creep out in print some filthy
book of the old hoary wandering knight, meaning me: would I were that book, for
then I should be sure to creep out from hence. I should be a good soldier, for I
traverse my ground rarely; marry I see neither enemy nor friends, but popinjays,
and squirrels, and apes, and owls, and daws, and wagtails, and the spite is that
none of these grasseaters can speak my language, but this fool that mocks me,
and swears to have the last word, in spite of my teeth, ay, and she shall have
it because she is a woman, which kind of cattle are indeed all echo, nothing but
tongue, and are like the great bell of St. Michael's in Cyprus, that keeps most
rumbling when men would most sleep. Echo, a pox on thee for mocking me.

    Echo. A pox on thee for mocking me.

    Fort. Why so, Snip snap, this war is at an end, but this wilderness is
world without end. To see how travel can transform: my teeth are turned into
nutcrackers, a thousand to one I break out shortly, for I am full of nothing but
waxen kernels, my tongue speaks no language but an almond for a parrot, and
crack me this nut. If I hop three days more up and down this cage of cuckoos'
nests, I shall turn wild man sure, and be hired to throw squibs among the
commonalty upon some terrible day. In the meantime, to tell truth, here will I
lie. Farewell, fool!

    Echo. Farewell, fool.

    Fort. Are not these comfortable words to a wise man? All hail, signor
tree, by your leave I'll sleep under your leaves. I pray bow to me, and I'll
bend to you, for your back and my brows must, I doubt, have a game or two at
noddy ere I wake again: down, great heart, down. Hey, ho, well, well. [He lies
down and sleeps.

Enter a Shepherd, a Carter, a Tailor, and a Monk, all crowned;
a Nymph with a globe, another with FORTUNE'S wheel; then FORTUNE.
After her, four Kings with broken crowns and sceptres, chained in silver
gyves and led by her. The foremost enter singing. FORTUNE takes her chair,
the Kings lying at her feet so that she treads on them as she ascends to her
seat.

                               SONG.

               Fortune smiles, cry holiday,
               Dimples on her cheeks do dwell,
               Fortune frowns, cry welladay,
               Her love is Heaven, her hate is Hell:
               Since Heaven and Hell obey her power.
               Tremble when her eyes do lower,
               Since Heaven and Hell her power obey,
               When she smiles, cry holiday.
                 Holiday with joy we cry
                 And bend, and bend, and merrily
                 Sing hymns to Fortune's deity,
                 Sing hymns to Fortune's deity.
Chorus. Let us sing, merrily, merrily, merrily,
           With our song let Heaven resound,
           Fortune's hands our heads have crowned;
           Let us sing merrily, merrily, merrily.

    1st King. Accursed Queen of chance, what had we done,
Who having sometimes like young Phaeton,
Rid in the burnished chariot of the sun,
And sometimes been thy minions, when thy fingers
Weaved wanton love-nets in our curlèd hair,
And with sweet juggling kisses warmed our cheeks:
Oh how have we offended thy proud eyes,
That thus we should be spurned and trod upon,
Whilst those infected limbs of the
sick world,
Are fixed by thee for stars in that bright sphere,
Wherein our sun-like radiance did appear.

    The Kings. Accursèd Queen of chance, damned sorceress.

    The Others. Most powerful Queen of chance, dread sovereigness.

    Fortune. No more: curse on! your cries to me are music,
And fill the sacred rondure of mine ears
With tunes more sweet than moving of the spheres:
Curse on : on our celestial brows do sit
Unnumbered smiles, which then leap from their throne,
When they see peasants dance and monarchs groan.
Behold you not this globe, this golden bowl,
This toy called world, at our imperial feet?
This world is Fortune's ball, wherewith she sports.
Sometimes I strike it up into the air,
And then create I emperors and kings:
Sometimes I spurn it, at which spurn crawls out
That wild beast Multitude. Curse on, you fools,—
'Tis I that tumble princes from their thrones,
And gild false brows with glittering diadems.
'Tis I that tread on necks of conquerors,
And when, like demi-gods, they have been drawn
In ivory chariots to the capitol,
Circled about with wonder of all eyes,
The shouts of every tongue, love of all hearts,
Being swoll'n with their own greatness, I have pricked
The bladder of their pride, and made them die,
As water-bubbles, without memory.
I thrust base cowards into Honour's chair,
Whilst the true-spirited soldier stands by
Bare-headed, and all bare, whilst at his scars
They scoff, that ne'er durst view the face of wars.
I set an idiot's cap on Virtue's head,
Turn Learning out of doors, clothe Wit in rags,
And paint ten thousand images of loam
In gaudy silken colours. On the backs
Of mules and asses I make asses ride,
Only for sport, to see the apish world
Worship such beasts with sound idolatry.
This Fortune does, and when this is done,
She sits and smiles to hear some curse her name,
And some with adoration crown her fame.

    Monk. True centre of this wide circumference,
Sacred commandress of the destinies,
Our tongues shall only sound thy excellence.

    The Others. Thy excellence our tongues shall only sound.

    2nd King. Thou painted strumpet, that with honeyed smiles,
Openest the gates of Heaven and criest, "Come in;"
Whose glories being seen, thou with one frown,
In pride, lower than hell tumblest us down.

    The Kings. Ever, for ever, will we ban thy name.

    Fortune. How sweet your howlings relish in mine ears!

                                        [She comes down.

Stand by! now rise,—behold, here lies a wretch,
To vex your souls, this beggar I'll advance
Beyond the sway of thought; take instruments,
And let the raptures of choice harmony,
Thorough the hollow windings of his ear,
Carry their sacred sounds, and wake each
sense,
To stand amazed at our bright eminence.

                         [Music. FORTUNATUS wakes.

    Fort. Oh, how am I transported? Is this earth?
Or blest Elysium?

    Fortune. Fortunatus, rise.

    Fort. Dread goddess, how should such a wretch as I
Be known to such a glorious deity?
Oh pardon me: for to this place I come,
Led by my fate, not folly; in this wood
With weary sorrow have I wanderèd,
And three times seen the sweating sun take rest,
And three times frantic Cynthia naked ride
About the rusty highways of the skies
Stuck full of burning stars, which lent her light
To court her negro paramour grim Night.

    Fortune. This travel now expires: yet from this circle,
Where I and these with fairy troops abide,
Thou canst not stir, unless I be thy guide.
I the world's empress am, Fortune my name,
This hand hath written in thick leaves of steel
An everlasting book of changeless fate,
Showing who's happy, who unfortunate.

    Fort. If every name, dread queen, be there writ down
I am sure mine stands in characters of black;
Though happiness herself lie in my name,
I am Sorrow's heir, and eldest son to Shame.

    The Kings. No, we are sons to Shame, and Sorrow's heirs.

    Fortune. Thou shalt be one of Fortune's minions:
Behold these four chained like Tartarian slaves,
These I created emperors and kings,
And these are now my basest underlings:
This sometimes was a German emperor,
Henry the Fifth, who being first deposed,
Was after thrust into a dungeon,
And thus in silver chains shall rot to death.
This Frederick Barbarossa, Emperor
Of Almaine once: but by Pope Alexander
Now spurned and trod on when he takes his horse,
And in these fetters shall he die his slave.
This wretch once wore the diadem of France,
Lewis the meek, but through his children's pride,
Thus have I caused him to be famishèd.
Here stands the very soul of misery,
Poor Bajazet, old Turkish Emperor,
And once the greatest monarch in the East;
Fortune herself is said to view thy fall,
And grieves to see thee glad to lick up crumbs
At the proud feet of that great Scythian swain,
Fortune's best minion, warlike Tamburlaine:
Yet must thou in a cage of iron be drawn
In triumph at his heels, and there in grief
Dash out they brains.

    4th King. Oh miserable me!

    Fortune. No tears can melt the heart of destiny:
These have I ruined and exalted those.
These hands have conquered Spain, these brows fill up
The golden circle of rich Portugal,—
Viriat a monarch now, but born a shepherd;
This Primislaus, a Bohemian king,
Last day a carter; this monk, Gregory,
Now lifted to the Papal dignity;—
Wretches, why gnaw you not your fingers off,
And tear your tongues out, seeing yourselves trod down,
And this Dutch botcher wearing Munster's crown,
John Leyden, born in Holland poor and base,
Now rich in empery and Fortune's grace?
As these I have advanced, so will I thee.
Six gifts I spend upon mortality,
Wisdom, strength, health, beauty, long life, and riches,
Out of my bounty: one of these is thine,—
Choose then which likes thee best.

    Fort. Oh most divine!
Give me but leave to borrow wonder's eye,
To look amazed at thy bright majesty,
Wisdom, strength, health, beauty, long life, and riches.

    Fortune. Before thy soul at this deep lottery
Draw forth her prize, ordained by destiny,
Know that here's no recanting a first choice.
Choose then discreetly for the laws of Fate,
Being graven in steel, must stand inviolate.

    Fort. Daughters of Jove and the unblemished Night,
Most righteous Parcae, guide my genius right,
Wisdom, strength, health, beauty, long life, and riches.

    Fortune. Stay, Fortunatus, once more hear me speak;
If thou kiss Wisdom's cheek and make her thine,
She'll breathe into thy lips divinity,
And thou like Phæbus shalt speak oracle,
Thy Heaven-inspired soul, on Wisdom's wings,
Shall fly up to the Parliament of Jove,
And read the statutes of eternity,
And see what's past and learn what is to come.
If thou lay claim to strength, armies shall quake
To see thee frown: as kings at mine do lie,
So shall thy feet trample on empery.
Make health thine object, thou shalt be strong proof
'Gainst the deep searching darts of surfeiting,
Be ever merry, ever revelling.
Wish but for beauty, and within thine eyes
Two naked Cupids amorously shall swim,
And on thy cheeks I'll mix such white and red,
That Jove shall turn away young Ganymede,
And with immortal arms shall circle thee.
Are thy desires long life?—thy vital thread
Shall be stretched out, thou shalt behold the change
Of monarchies and see those children die,
Whose great great grandsires now in cradles lie.
If through gold's sacred hunger thou dost pine,
Those gilded wantons which in swarms do run,
To warm their tender bodies in the sun,
Shall stand for number of those golden piles,
Which in rich pride shall swell before thy feet;
As those are, so shall these be infinite.
Awaken then thy soul's best faculties,
And gladly kiss this bounteous hand of Fate,
Which strives to bless thy name of Fortunate.

    The Kings. Old man, take heed, her smiles will murder thee.

    The Others. Old man, she'll crown thee with felicity.

    Fort. Oh, whither am I rapt beyond myself?
More violent conflicts fight in every thought,
Than his whose fatal choice Troy's downfall wrought.
Shall I contract myself to wisdom's love?
Then I lose riches: and a wise man poor,
Is like a sacred book that's never read,—
To himself he lives, and to all else seems dead.
This age thinks better of a gilded fool,
Than of a threadbare saint in wisdom's school.
I will be strong: then I refuse long life,
And though mine arm should conquer twenty worlds,
There's a lean fellow beats all conquerors:
The greatest strength expires with loss of breath;
The mightiest in one minute stoop to death.
Then take long life, or health: should I do so
I might grow ugly, and that tedious scroll
Of months and years, much misery may enroll
Therefore I'll beg for beauty; yet I will not,
That fairest cheek hath oftentimes a soul
Leprous as sin itself; than hell more foul.
The wisdom of this world is idiotism,
Strength a weak reed: health sickness' enemy,
And it at length will have the victory.
Beauty is but a painting, and long life
Is a long journey in December gone,
Tedious and full of tribulation.
Therefore, dread sacred Empress, make me rich,
                                       [Kneels down
My choice is store of gold; the rich are wise.
He that upon his back rich garments wears,
Is wise, though on his head grow Midas' ears.
Gold is the strength, the sinews of the world,
The health, the soul, the beauty most divine,
A mask of gold hides all deformities;
Gold is Heaven's physic, life's restorative,
Oh therefore make me rich: not as the wretch,
That only serves lean banquets to his eye,
Has gold, yet starves: is famished in his store:
No, let me ever spend, be never poor.

    Fortune. Thy latest words confine thy destiny,
Thou shalt spend ever, and be never poor:
For proof receive this purse: with it this virtue
Still when thou thrust thy hand into the same,
Thou shalt draw forth ten pieces of bright gold,
Current in any realm where then thou breathest;
If thou canst dribble out the sea by drops,
Then shalt thou want: but that can ne'er be done,
Nor this grow empty.

    Fort. Thanks, great deity.

    Fortune. The virtue ends when thou and thy sons end.
This path leads thee to Cyprus, get thee hence;
Farewell, vain covetous fool, thou wilt repent,
That for the love of dross thou hast despised
Wisdom's divine embrace, she would have borne thee
On the rich wings of immortality;
But now go dwell with cares and quickly die.

    The Kings. We dwell with cares, yet cannot quickly die. [Exeunt all
singing, except FORTUNATUS.

    Fort. But now go dwell with cares and quickly die? How quickly? if I
die to-morrow, I'll be merry to-day: if next day, I'll be merry to-morrow. Go
dwell with cares? Where dwells Care? Hum ha, in what house dwells Care, that I
may choose an honester neighbour? In princes' courts? No. Among fair ladies?
Neither: there's no care dwells with them, but care how to be most gallant.
Among gallants then? Fie, fie, no! Care is afraid sure of a giltrapier, the
scent of musk is her prison, tobacco chokes her, rich attire presseth her to
death. Princes, fair ladies and gallants, have amongst you then, for this wet-
eyed wench Care dwells with wretches: they are wretches that feel want, I shall
feel none if I be never poor; therefore, Care, I cashier you my company. I
wonder what blind gossip this minx is that is so prodigal; she should be a good
one by her open dealing: her name's Fortune: it's no matter what she is, so she
does as she says. "Thou shalt spend ever, and be never poor." Mass, yet I feel
nothing here to make me rich:—here's no sweet music with her silver sound.
Try deeper: ho God be here: ha, ha, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine and ten, good, just ten. It's gold sure, it's so heavy, try again,
one, two, &c. Good again, just ten, and just ten. Ha, ha, ha, this is rare: a
leather mint, admirable: an Indian mine in a lamb's skin, miraculous! I'll fill
three or four bags full for my sons, but keep this for myself. If that lean
tawny face tobacconist Death, that turns all into smoke, must turn me so quickly
into ashes, yet I will not mourn in ashes, but in music, hey, old lad, be merry.
Here's riches, wisdom, strength, health, beauty, and long life (if I die not
quickly). Sweet purse, I kiss thee; Fortune, I adore thee; Care, I despise thee;
Death, I defy thee. [Exit.

      SCENE II.—Outside the House of FORTUNATUS.

    Enter AMPEDO, SHADOW after him, both sad: then ANDELOCIA.

    Andel. 'Sheart, why how now: two knights of the post?

    Shad. Ay, master, and we are both forsworn, as all such wooden knights
be, for we both took an oath—marry it was not corporal, you may see by our
cheeks, that we would not fast twenty-four hours to amend, and we have tasted no
meat since the clock told two dozen.

    Andel. That lacks not much of twenty-four, but I wonder when that half-
faced moon of thine will be at the full.

    Shad. The next quarter, not this, when the sign is in Taurus.

    Andel. Ho, that's to say, when thou eat'st bull beef.
But, Shadow, what day is to-day?

    Shad. Fasting day.

    Andel. What day was yesterday?

    Shad. Fasting day too.

    Andel. Will to-morrow be so too?

    Shad. Ay, and next day too.

    Andel. That will be rare, you slave:
For a lean diet makes a fat wit.

    Shad. I had rather be a fool and wear a fat pair of cheeks.

    Andel. Now I am prouder of this poverty, which I know is mine own, than
a waiting gentlewoman is of a frizzled groatsworth of hair, that never grew on
her head. Sir Shadow, now we can all three swear like Puritans at one bare word:
this want makes us like good bowlers, we are able to rub out and shift in every
place.

    Shad. That's not so, we have shifted ourselves in no place this three
months: marry, we rub out in every corner, but here follows no amendment either
of life or of livery.

    Andel. Why, brother Ampedo, art thou not yet tired with riding post?
Come, come, 'light from this loggerheaded jade, and walk afoot, and talk with
your poor friends.

    Shad. Nay, by my troth, he is like me: if his belly be empty, his heart
is full.

    Andel. The famine of gold gnaws his covetous stomach, more than the
want of good victuals: thou hast looked very devilishly ever since the good
angel left thee: come, come, leave this broad-brim fashions; because the world
frowns upon thee, wilt not thou smile upon us?

    Amp. Did but the bitterness of mine own fortunes
Infect my taste, I could paint o'er my cheeks
With ruddy-coloured smiles: 'tis not the want
Of costly diet or desire of gold
Enforces rupture in my wounded breast.
Oh no, our father—if he live—doth lie
Under the iron foot of misery,
And, as a dove gripped in a falcon's claw,
There pant'th for life being most assured of death.
Brother, for him my soul thus languisheth.

    Shad. 'Tis not for my old master that I languish.

    Amp. I am not enamoured of this painted idol,
This strumpet World; for her most beauteous looks
Are poisoned baits, hung upon golden hooks:
When fools do swim in wealth, her Cynthian beams
Will wantonly dance on the silver streams;
But when this squint-eyed age sees Virtue poor,
And by a little spark sits shivering,
Begging at all, relieved at no man's door,
She smiles on her, as the sun shines on fire,
To kill that little heat, and, with her little frown,
Is proud that she can tread poor Virtue down:
Therefore her wrinkled brow makes not mine sour,
Her gifts are toys, and I desire her power.

    Shad. 'Tis not the crab-tree faced World neither that makes mine sour.

    Andel. Her gifts toys! Well, brother Virtue, we have let slip the ripe
plucking of those toys so long, that we flourish like apple-trees in September,
which, having the falling sickness, bear neither fruit nor leaves.

    Shad. Nay, by my troth, master, none flourish in these withering times,
but ancient bearers and trumpeters.

    Andel. Shadow, when thou provest a substance, then the tree of virtue
and honesty, and such fruit of Heaven, shall flourish upon earth.

    Shad. True; or when the sun shines at midnight, or women fly, and yet
they are light enough.

    Andel. 'Twas never merry world with us, since purses and bags were
invented, for now men set lime-twigs to catch wealth: and gold, which riseth
like the sun out of the East Indies, to shine upon every one, is like a cony
taken napping in a pursenet, and suffers his glistering yellow-face deity to be
lapped up in lambskins, as if the innocency of those leather prisons should
dispense with the cheveril consciences of the iron-hearted gaolers.

    Shad. Snudges may well be called gaolers: for if a poor wretch steal
but into a debt of ten pound, they lead him straight to execution.

    Andel. Doth it not vex thee, Shadow, to stalk up and down Cyprus, and
to meet the outside of a man, lapped all in damask, his head and beard as white
as milk, only with conjuring in the snowy circles of the field argent, and his
nose as red as scarlet, only with kissing the ruddy lips of angels, and such an
image to wear on his thumb, three men's livings in the shape of a seal ring,
whilst my brother Virtue here,—

    Shad. And you his brother Vice!

    Andel. Most true, my little lean Iniquity—whilst we three, if we
should starve, cannot borrow five shillings of him neither in word nor deed:
does not this vex thee, Shadow?

    Shad. Not me; it vexes me no more to see such a picture, than to see an
ass laden with riches, because I know when he can bear no longer, he must leave
his burthen to some other beast.

    Andel. Art not thou mad, to see money on goldsmiths' stalls, and none
in our purses?

    Shad. It mads not me, I thank the destinies.

    Andel. By my poverty, and that's but a thread-bare oath, I am more than
mad to see silks and velvets lie crowding together in mercers' shops, as in
prisons, only for fear of the smell of wax—they cannot abide to see a man
made out of wax, for these satin commodities have such smooth consciences that
they'll have no man give his word for them or stand bound for their coming
forth, but vow to lie till they rot in those shop counters, except Monsieur
Money bail them. Shadow, I am out of my little wits to see this.

    Shad. So is not Shadow: I am out of my wits, to see fat gluttons feed
all day long, whilst I that am lean fast every day: I am out of my wits, to see
our Famagosta fools turn half a shop of wares into a suit of gay apparel, only
to make other idiots laugh, and wise men to cry, who's the fool now? I am mad,
to see soldiers beg, and cowards brave: I am mad, to see scholars in the
broker's shop, and dunces in the mercer's: I am mad, to see men that have no
more fashion in them than poor Shadow, yet must leap thrice a day into three
orders of fashions: I am mad, to see many things, but horn-mad, that my mouth
feels nothing.

    Andel. Why now, Shadow, I see thou hast a substance: I am glad to see
thee thus mad.

    Amp. The sons of Fortunatus had not wont
Thus to repine at others' happiness:
But fools have always this loose garment wore,
Being poor themselves, they wish all others poor.
Fie, brother Andelocia, hate this madness,
Turn your eyes inward, and behold your soul,
That wants more than your body; burnish that
With glittering virtue, and make idiots grieve
To see your beauteous mind in wisdom shine,
As you at their rich poverty repine.

               Enter FORTUNATUS, gallant.

    Andel. Peace, good Virtue; Shadow, here comes another shadow.

    Shad. It should be a chameleon: for he is all in colours.

    Amp. Oh, 'tis my father. With these tears of joy,
My love and duty greet your fair return!
A double gladness hath refreshed my soul;
One, that you live, and one, to see your fate
Looks freshly howsoever poor in state.

    Andel. My father Fortunatus, and thus brave?

    Shad. 'Tis no wonder to see a man brave, but a wonder how he comes
brave.

    Fort. Dear Andelocia and son Ampedo,
And my poor servant Shadow, plume your spirits
With light-winged mirth; for Fortunatus' hand
Can now pour golden showers into their laps
That sometimes scorned him for his want of gold.
Boys, I am rich, and you shall ne'er be poor;
Wear gold, spend gold, we all in gold will feed,
Now is your father Fortunate indeed.

    Andel. Father, be not angry, if I set open the windows of my mind: I
doubt for all your bragging, you'll prove like most of our gallants in
Famagosta, that have a rich outside and a beggarly inside, and like mules wear
gay trappings, and good velvet foot-cloths on their backs, yet champ on the iron
bit of penury—I mean, want coin. You gild our ears with a talk of gold, but
I pray dazzle our eyes with the majesty of it.

    Fort. First will I wake your senses with the sound
Of gold's sweet music: tell me what you hear?

    Amp. Believe me, sir, I hear not any thing.

    Andel. Ha, ha, ha. 'Sheart, I thought as much; if I hear any jingling,
but of the purse strings that go flip flap, flip flap, flip flap, would I were
turned into a flip-flap, and sold to the butchers!

    Fort. Shadow, I'll try thine ears; hark, dost rattle?

    Shad. Yes, like three blue beans in a blue bladder, rattle bladder,
rattle: your purse is like my belly, th' one's without money, th' other without
meat.

    Fort. Bid your eyes blame the error of your ears:
You misbelieving pagans, see, here's gold—
Ten golden pieces: take them, Ampedo.
Hold, Andelocia, here are ten for thee.

    Amp. Shadow, there's one for thee, provide thee food.

    Fort. Stay, boy: hold, Shadow, here are ten for thee.

    Shad. Ten, master? then defiance to fortune, and a fig for famine.

    Fort. Now tell me, wags, hath my purse gold or no?

    Andel. We the wags have gold, father; but I think there's not one angel
more wagging in this sacred temple. Why, this is rare: Shadow, five will serve
thy turn, give me th' other five.

    Shad. Nay, soft, master, liberality died long ago. I see some rich
beggars are never well, but when they be craving: my ten ducats are like my ten
fingers, they will not jeopard a joint for you. I am yours, and these are mine;
if I part from them, I shall never have part of them.

    Amp. Father, if Heaven have blest you once again,
Let not an open hand disperse that store,
Which gone, life's gone; for all tread down the poor.

    Fort. Peace, Ampedo, talk not of poverty.
Disdain, my boys, to kiss the tawny cheeks
Of lean necessity: make not inquiry
How I came rich; I am rich, let that suffice.
There are four leathern bags trussed full of gold:
Those spent, I'll fill you more. Go, lads, be gallant:
Shine in the streets of Cyprus like two stars,
And make them bow their knees that once did spurn you;
For, to effect such wonders, gold can turn you.
Brave it in Famagosta, or elsewhere;
I'll travel to the Turkish Emperor,
And then I'll revel it with Prester John,
Or banquet with great Cham of Tartary,
And try what frolic court the Soldan keeps.
I'll leave you presently. Tear off these rags;
Glitter, my boys, like angels, that the world
May, whilst our life in pleasure's circle roams,
Wonder at Fortunatus and his sons.

    Andel. Come, Shadow, now we'll feast it royally.

    Shad. Do, master, but take heed of beggary.

                                                   [Exeunt.

         SCENE III.—A Wood in Cyprus.

Music sounds. Enter VICE with a gilded face, and horns on her head; her
garments long, painted before with silver half-moons, increasing by little and
little till they come to the full; while in the midst of them is written in
capital letters, "Crescit Eundo." Behina her garments are painted with
fools' faces and heads; and in the midst is written, "Ha, Ha, He." She, and
others wearing gilded vizards and attired like devils, bring out a fair tree of
gold with apples on it.

    After her comes VIRTUE, with a coxcomb on her head, and her attire all
in white before; about the middle is written "Sibi sapit." Her attire behind
is painted with crowns and laurel garlands, stuck full of stars held by hands
thrust out of bright clouds, and among them is written, "Dominabitur astris."
She and other nymphs, all in white with coxcombs on their heads, bring a tree
with green and withered leaves mingled together, and with little fruit on it.

    After her comes FORTUNE, with two Nymphs, one bearing her wheel,
another her globe.

    And last, the Priest.

    Fortune. You ministers of Virtue, Vice, and Fortune,
Tear off this upper garment of the earth,
And in her naked bosom stick these trees.

    Virtue. How many kingdoms have I measured,
Only to find a climate, apt to cherish
These withering branches? But no ground can prove
So happy; ay me, none do Virtue love.
I'll try this soil; if here I likewise fade,
To Heaven I'll fly, from whence I took my birth,
And tell the Gods, I am banished from the earth.

    Vice. Virtue, I am sworn thy foe: if there thou plant,
Here, opposite to thine, my tree shall flourish,
And as the running wood-bine spreads her arms,
To choke thy withering boughs in their embrace,
I'll drive thee from this world: were Virtue fled,
Vice as an angel should be honourèd.

    Fortune. Servants of this bright devil and that poor saint,
Apply your task whilst you are labouring:
To make your pains seem short our priest shall sing.

       [Whilst the Priest sings, the rest set the trees into the earth.

                           SONG.

      Virtue's branches wither, Virtue pines,
        O pity, pity, and alack the time,
      Vice doth flourish, Vice in glory shines,
        Her gilded boughs above the cedar climb.
      Vice hath golden cheeks, O pity, pity,
        She in every land doth monarchize.
      Virtue is exiled from every city,
        Virtue is a fool, Vice only wise.
      O pity, pity, Virtue weeping dies.
        Vice laughs to see her faint,—alack the time.
      This sinks; with painted wings the other flies:
        Alack that best should fall, and bad should climb.
        O pity, pity, pity, mourn, not sing,
        Vice is a saint, Virtue an underling.
        Vice doth flourish, Vice in glory shines,
        Virtue's branches wither, Virtue pines.

    Fortune. Flourish or wither, Fortune cares not which,
In either's fall or height our eminence
Shines equal to the sun: the Queen of chance
Both virtuous souls and vicious doth advance.
These shadows of yourselves shall, like yourselves,
Strive to make men enamoured of their beauties;
This grove shall be our temple, and henceforth
Be consecrated to our deities.

    Virtue. How few will come and kneel at Virtue's shrine?

    Vice. This contents Virtue, that she is called divine.

    Fortune. Poor Virtue, Fortune grieves to see thy looks
Want cunning to entice: why hang these leaves,
As loose as autumn's hair which every wind
In mockery blows from his rotten brows?
Why like a drunkard art thou pointed at?
Why is this motley-scorn set on thy head?
Why stands thy court wide open, but none in it?
Why are the crystal pavements of thy temple,
Not worn, not trod upon? All is for this,
Because thy pride is to wear base attire,
Because thine eyes flame not with amorous fire.

    Virtue. Virtue is fairest in a poor array.

    Fortune. Poor fool, 'tis not this badge of purity,
Nor Sibi sapit, painted on thy breast,
Allures mortality to seek thy love.
No: now the great wheel of thy globe hath run,
And met this first point of creation.
On crutches went this world but yesterday,
Now it lies bed-rid, and is grown so old,
That it's grown young; for 'tis a child again,
A childish soul it hath, 'tis a mere fool:
And fools and children are well pleased with toys.
So must this world, with shows it must be pleased,
Then, Virtue, buy a golden face like Vice,
And hang thy bosom full of silver moons,
To tell the credulous world, As those increase,
As the bright moon swells in her pearlèd sphere,
So wealth and pleasures them to Heaven shall rear.

    Virtue. Virtue abhors to wear a borrowed face.

    Vice. Why hast thou borrowed, then, that idiot's hood?

    Virtue. Fools placed it on my head that knew me not,
And I am proud to wear the scorn of fools.

    Fortune. Mourn in that pride and die, all the world hates thee.

    Virtue. Not all, I'll wander once more through the world:
Wisdom I know hath with her blessèd wings
Fled to some bosom: if I meet that breast,
There I'll erect my temple, and there rest.
Fortune nor Vice shall then e'er have the power
By their loose eyes to entice my paramour.
Then will I cast off this deformity,
And shine in glory, and triumph to see
You conquered at my feet, that tread on me.

    Fortune. Virtue begins to quarrel: Vice, farewell.

    Vice. Stay, Fortune, whilst within this grove we dwell,
If my angelical and saint-like form
Can win some amorous fool to wanton here,
And taste the fruit of this alluring tree,
Thus shall his saucy brows adornèd be,
To make us laugh. [Makes horns.

    Fortune. It will be rare: adieu.

    Virtue. Foul, hell-bred fiend, Virtue shall strive with you,
If any be enamoured of thine eyes,
Their love must needs beget deformities.
Men are transformed to beasts, feasting with sin;
But if in spite of thee their souls I win,
To taste this fruit, though thou disguise their head,
Their shapes shall be re-metamorphosèd.

    Vice. I dare thee do thy worst.

    Virtue. My best I'll try.

    Fort. Fortune shall judge who wins the sovereignty.

                                                [Exeunt.

             ACT THE SECOND.

                 Enter Chorus.

CHORUS. The world to the circumference of Heaven
Is as a small point in geometry,
Whose greatness is so little, that a less
Cannot be made: into that narrow room,
Your quick imaginations we must charm,
To turn that world: and turned, again to part it
Into large kingdoms, and within one moment
To carry Fortunatus on the wings
Of active thought, many a thousand miles.
Suppose then, since you last beheld him here,
That you have sailed with him upon the seas,
And leapt with him upon the Asian shores,
Been feasted with him in the Tartar's palace,
And all the courts of each barbarian king:
From whence being called by some unlucky star,—
For happiness never continues long,
Help me to bring him back to Arragon,
Where for his pride—riches make all men proud—
On slight quarrel, by a covetous Earl,
Fortune's dear minion is imprisonèd.
There think you see him sit with folded arms,
Tears dropping down his cheeks, his white hairs torn,
His legs in rusty fetters, and his tongue
Bitterly cursing that his squint-eyed soul
Did not make choice of wisdom's sacred love.
Fortune, to triumph in inconstancy,
From prison bails him: liberty is wild,
For being set free, he like a lusty eagle
Cut with his vent'rous feathers through the sky,
And 'lights not till he find the Turkish court.
Thither transport your eyes, and there behold him,
Revelling with the Emperor of the East,
From whence through fear, for safeguard of his life,
Flying into the arms of ugly Night,
Suppose you see him brought to Babylon;
And that the sun clothed all in fire hath rid
One quarter of his hot celestial way
With the bright morning, and that in this instant,
He and the Soldan meet, but what they say,
Listen you—the talk of kings none dare bewray. [Exit.

        SCENE I.—The Court at Babylon.

Enter the SOLDAN, Noblemen, and FORTUNATUS.

SOLD. Art thou that Fortunatus, whose great name,
Being carried in the chariot of the winds,
Hast filled the courts of all our Asian kings
With love and envy, whose dear presence ties
The eyes of admiration to thine eyes?
Art thou that Jove that in a shower of gold
Appeared'st before the Turkish Emperor?

    Fort. I am that Fortunatus, mighty Soldan.

    Sold. Where is that purse which threw abroad such treasure?

    Fort. I gave it to the Turkish Soliman,
A second I bestowed on Prester John,
A third the great Tartarian Cham received:
For with these monarchs have I banqueted,
And rid with them in triumph through their courts,
In crystal chariots drawn by unicorns.
England, France, Spain, and wealthy Belgia,
And all the rest of Europe's blessed daughters,
Have made my covetous eye rich in th' embrace
Of their celestial beauties; now I come
To see the glory of fair Babylon.
Is Fortunatus welcome to the Soldan?
For I am like the sun, if Jove once chide,
My gilded brows from amorous Heaven I hide.

    Sold. Most welcome, and most happy are mine arms
In circling such an earthly deity;
But will not Fortunatus make me blessed
By sight of such a purse?

    Fort. Ere I depart,
The Soldan shall receive one at my hands:
For I must spend some time in framing it,
And then some time to breathe that virtuous spirit
Into the heart thereof, all which is done
By a most sacred inspiration.

    Sold. Welcome, most welcome to the Soldan's court;
Stay here and be the King of Babylon:
Stay here, I will more amaze thine eyes
With wondrous sights, than can all Asia.
Behold you town, there stands mine armoury,
In which are corselets forged of beaten gold,
To arm ten hundred thousand fighting men,
Whose glittering squadrons when the sun beholds,
They seem like to ten hundred thousand Joves,
When Jove on the proud back of thunder rides,
Trapped all in lightning flames: there can I show thee
The ball of gold that set all Troy on fire;
There shalt thou see the scarf of Cupid's mother
Snatched from the soft moist ivory of her arm,
To wrap about Adonis' wounded thigh;
There shalt thou see a wheel of Titan's care,
Which dropped from Heaven when Phaeton fired the world:
I'll give thee, if thou wilt, two silver doves
Composed by magic to divide the air,
Who, as they fly, shall clap their silver wings,
And give strange music to the elements;
I'll give thee else the fan of Proserpine,
Which in reward for a sweet Thracian song,
The black-browed Empress threw to Orpheus,
Being come to fetch Eurydice from hell.

    Fort. Hath ever mortal eye beheld these wonders?

    Sold. Thine shall behold them, and make choice of any,
So thou wilt give the Soldan such a purse.

    Fort. By Fortune's blessèd hand, who christened me,
The mighty Soldan shall have such a purse,
Provided I may see these priceless wonders.

    Sold. Leave us alone: [Exeunt Nobles.]
never was mortal ear
Acquainted with the virtue of a jewel,
Which now I'll show, out-valuing all the rest.

    Fort. It is impossible.

    Sold. Behold this casket, [Draws a curtain.
Fettered in golden chains, the lock pure gold,
The key of solid gold, which myself keep,
And here's the treasure that's contained in it.

                                      [Takes out the hat.

    Fort. A coarse felt hat? is this the precious jewel?

    Sold. I'll not exchange this for ten diadems.
On pain of death, none listen to our talk.

    Fort. What needs this solemn conjuration!

    Sold. O, yes, for none shall understand the worth
Of this inestimable ornament,
But you: and yet not you, but that you swear
By her white hand, that lent you such a name,
To leave a wondrous purse in Babylon.

    Fort. What I have sworn, I will not violate,
But now uncover the virtues of this hat.

    Sold. I think none listen; if they do, they die.

    Fort. None listen: tell, what needs this jealousy?

    Sold. You see 'tis poor in show; did I want jewels,
Gold could beget them, but the wide world's wealth
Buys not this hat: this clapped upon my head,
I, only with a wish, am through the air
Transported in a moment over seas
And over lands to any secret place;
By this I steal to every prince's court,
And hear their private counsels and prevent
All dangers which to Babylon are meant;
By help of this I oft see armies join,
Though when the dreadful Alvarado sounds,
I am distant from the place a thousand leagues.
Oh, had I such a purse and such a hat,
The Soldan were, of all, most fortunate.

    Fort. Oh, had I such a hat, then were I brave.
Where's he that made it?

    Sold. Dead, and the whole world
Yields not a workman that can frame the like.

    Fort. No, does't? By what trick shall I make this mine? [Aside.
Methinks, methinks, when you are borne o'er seas,
And over lands, the heaviness thereof
Should weigh you down, drown you, or break your neck.

    Sold. No, 'tis more light than any hat beside:
Your hand shall peise it.

    Fort. Oh, 'tis wondrous heavy.

    Sold. Fie, y'are deceived: try it upon your head.

    Fort. Would I were now in Cyprus with my sons.

                                               [Exit.

    Sold. Stay! Fortunatus, stay! I am undone.
Treason, lords, treason, get me wings, I'll fly
After this damnèd traitor through the air.

                   Re-enter Nobles.

    Nobles. Who wrongs the mighty King of Babylon?

    Sold. This Fortunatus, this fiend, wrongs your king.

    Nobles. Lock the court gates, where is the devil hid?

    Sold. No gates, no grates of iron imprison him,
Like a magician breaks he through the clouds,
Bearing my soul with him, for that jewel gone,
I am dead, and all is dross in Babylon.
Fly after him!—'tis vain: on the wind's wings,
He'll ride through all the courts of earthly kings.

    Nobles. What is the jewel that your grace hath lost?

    Sold. He dies that troubles me: call me not king;
For I'll consume my life in sorrowing. [Exeunt.

    SCENE II.—Outside the House of FORTUNATUS.

      Enter ANDELOCIA, very gallant, and SHADOW.

    Andel. Shadow? what have I lost to-day at dice?

    Shad. More than you will win again in a month.

    Andel. Why, sir, how much comes it to?

    Shad. It comes to nothing, sir, for you have lost your wits; and when a
man's wits are lost, the man is like twenty pounds' worth of tobacco, which
mounts into th' air, and proves nothing but one thing.

    Andel. And what thing is that, you ass?

    Shad. Marry, sir, that he is an ass that melts so much money in smoke.

    Andel. 'Twere a charitable deed to hang thee a smoking.

    Shad. I should never make good bacon, because I am not fat.

    Andel. I'll be sworn thy wit is lean.

    Shad. It's happy I have a lean wit: but, master, you have none; for
when your money tripped away, that went after it, and ever since you have been
mad. Here comes your brother.

               Enter AMPEDO.

Borrow a dram of him, if his be not mouldy: for men's wits in these days are
like the cuckoo, bald once a year, and that makes motley so dear, and fools so
good cheap.

    Andel. Brother, all hail.

    Shad. There's a rattling salutation.

    Andel. You must lend me some more money. Nay, never look so strange, an
you will come off, so; if you will bar me from square play, do. Come, come, when
the old traveller my father comes home, like a young ape, full of fantastic
tricks, or a painted parrot stuck full of outlandish feathers, he'll lead the
world in a string, and then like a hot shot I'll charge and discharge all.

    Shad. I would be loth, master, to see that day: for he leads the world
in a string that goes to hanging.

    Andel. Take heed I turn not that head into the world, and lead you so.
Brother wilt be? Ha' ye any ends of gold or silver?

    Amp. Thus wanton revelling breeds beggary.
Brother, 'twere better that you still lived poor.
Want would make wisdom rich: but when your coffers
Swell to the brim, then riot sets up sails,
And like a desperate unskilled mariner
Drives your unsteady fortunes on the point
Of wreck inevitable. Of all the wealth
Left by our father, when he left us last,
This little is unspent, and this being wasted,
Your riot ends; therefore consume it all.
I'll live; or dying, find some burial.

    Andel. Thanks for my crowns. Shadow, I am villainous hungry, to hear
one of the seven wise masters talk thus emptily.

    Shad. I am a villain, master, if I am not hungry.

    Andel. Because I'll save this gold sirrah Shadow, we'll feed ourselves
with paradoxes.

    Shad. Oh rare: what meat's that?

    Andel. Meat, you gull: 'tis no meat: a dish of paradoxes is a feast of
strange opinion, 'tis an ordinary that our greatest gallants haunt nowadays,
because they would be held for statesmen.

    Shad. I shall never fill my belly with opinions.

    Andel. In despite of sway-bellies, gluttons, and sweet mouthed
epicures, I'll have thee maintain a paradox in commendations of hunger.

    Shad. I shall never have the stomach to do't.

    Andel. See'st thou this crusado? do it, and turn this into a feast.

    Shad. Covetousness and lechery are two devils, they'll tempt a man to
wade through deep matters: I'll do't though good cheer conspire my death, for
speaking treason against her.

    Andel. Fall to it then with a full mouth.

    Shad. Oh famine, inspire me with thy miserable reasons.
I begin, master.

    Amp. O miserable invocation.

    Andel. Silence!

    Shad. There's no man but loves one of these three beasts, a horse, a
hound, or a whore; the horse by his goodwill has his head ever in the manger;
the whore with your ill will has her hand ever in your purse; and a hungry dog
eats dirty puddings.

    Andel. This is profound, forward: the conclusion of this now.

    Shad. The conclusion is plain: for since all men love one of these
three monsters, being such terrible eaters, therefore all men love hunger.

    Amp. A very lean argument.

    Shad. I can make it no fatter.

    Andel. Proceed, good Shadow; this fats me.

    Shad. Hunger is made of gunpowder.

    Andel. Give fire to that opinion.

    Shad. Stand by, lest it blow you up. Hunger is made of gunpowder, or
gunpowder of hunger, for they both eat through stone walls; hunger is a
grindstone, it sharpens wit; hunger is fuller of love than Cupid, for it makes a
man eat himself; hunger was the first that ever opened a cook-shop, cooks the
first that ever made sauce, sauce being liquorish, licks up good meat; good meat
preserves life: hunger therefore preserves life.

    Amp. By my consent thou shouldst still live by hunger.

    Shad. Not so, hunger makes no man mortal: hunger is an excellent
physician, for he dares kill any body. Hunger is one of the seven liberal
sciences.

    Andel. Oh learned! Which of the seven?

    Shad. Music, for she'll make a man leap at a crust; but as few care for
her six sisters, so none love to dance after her pipe. Hunger, master, is hungry
and covetous; therefore the crusado.

    Andel. But hast thou no sharper reasons than this?

    Shad. Yes, one: the dagger of Cyprus had never stabbed out such six
penny pipes, but for hunger.

    Andel. Why, you dolt, these pipes are but in their minority.

    Shad. My belly and my purse have been twenty times at dagger's drawing,
with parting the little urchins.

                 Enter FORTUNATUS.

    Amp. Peace, idiot, peace, my father is returned.

    Fort. Touch me not, boys, I am nothing but air; let none speak to me,
till you have marked me well.

    Shad. (Chalking FORTUNATUS' back.) Now speak your mind.

    Amp. Villain, why hast thou chalked my father's back?

    Shad. Only to mark him, and to try what colour air is of.

    Fort. Regard him not, Ampedo: Andelocia, Shadow, view me, am I as you
are, or am I transformed?

    Andel. I thought travel would turn my father madman or fool.

    Amp. How should you be transformed? I see no change.

    Shad. If your wits be not planet stricken, if your brains lie in their
right place, you are well enough; for your body is little mended by your
fetching vagaries.

    Andel. Methinks, father, you look as you did, only your face is more
withered.

    Fort. That's not my fault; age is like love, it cannot be hid.

    Shad. Or like gunpowder a-fire, or like a fool, or like a young novice
new come to his lands: for all these will show of what house they come. Now,
sir, you may amplify.

    Fort. Shadow, turn thy tongue to a shadow, be silent! Boys, be proud,
your father hath the whole world in this compass, I am all felicity, up to the
brims. In a minute am I come from Babylon, I have been this half-hour in
Famagosta.

    Andel. How? in a minute, father? Ha, ha, I see travellers must lie.

    Shad. 'Tis their destiny: the Fates do so conspire.

    Fort. I have cut through the air like a falcon; I would have it seem
strange to you.

    Shad. So it does, sir.

    Fort. But 'tis true: I would not have you believe it neither.

    Shad. No more we do not, sir.

    Fort. But 'tis miraculous and true. Desire to see you, brought me to
Cyprus. I'll leave you more gold, and go visit more countries.

    Shad. Leave us gold enough, and we'll make all countries come visit us.

    Amp. The frosty hand of age now nips your blood,
And strews her snowy flowers upon your head,
And gives you warning that within few years,
Death needs must marry you: those short-lived minutes,
That dribble out your life, must needs be spent
In peace, not travel: rest in Cyprus then.
Could you survey ten worlds, yet you must die;
And bitter is the sweet that's reaped thereby.

    Andel. Faith, father, what pleasure have you met by walking your
stations?

    Fort. What pleasure, boy? I have revelled with kings, danced with
queens, dallied with ladies, worn strange attires, seen fantasticos, conversed
with humorists, been ravished with divine raptures of Doric, Lydian and Phrygian
harmonies. I have spent the day in triumphs, and the night in banqueting.

    Andel. Oh rare: this was heavenly.

    Shad. Methinks 'twas horrible.

    Andel. He that would not be an Arabian phœnix to burn in these
sweet fires, let him live like an owl for the world to wonder at.

    Amp. Why, brother, are not all these vanities?

    Fort. Vanities? Ampedo, thy soul is made of lead, too dull, too
ponderous to mount up to the incomprehensible glory that travel lifts men to.

    Shad. My old master's soul is cork and feathers, and being so light
doth easily mount up.

    Andel. Sweeten mine ears, good father, with some more.

    Fort. When in the warmth of mine own country's arms
We yawned like sluggards, when this small horizon
Imprisoned up my body, then mine eyes
Worshipped these clouds as brightest; but, my boys,
The glist'ring beams which do abroad appear
In other heavens,—fire is not half so clear.

    Shad. Why, sir, are there other heavens in other countries?

    Andel. Peace; interrupt him not upon thy life.

    Fort. For still in all the regions I have seen,
I scorned to crowd among the muddy throng
Of the rank multitude, whose thickened breath,
Like to condensèd fogs, do choke that beauty,
Which else would dwell in every kingdom's cheek.
No, I still boldly stept into their courts,
For there to live 'tis rare, O 'tis divine;
There shall you see faces angelical,
There shall you see troops of chaste goddesses,
Whose star-like eyes have power, might they still shine,
To make night day, and day more crystalline.
Near these you shall behold great heroes,
White-headed counsellors and jovial spirits,
Standing like fiery cherubims to guard
The monarch, who in god-like glory sits
In midst of these, as if this deity
Had with a look created a new world,
The standers by being the fair workmanship.

    Andel. Oh how my soul is rapt to a third heaven.
I'll travel sure, and live with none but kings.

    Shad. Then Shadow must die among knaves; and yet why so? In a bunch of
cards, knaves wait upon the kings.

    Andel. When I turn king, then shalt thou wait on me.

    Shad. Well, there's nothing impossible: a dog has his day, and so have
you.

    Amp. But tell me, father, have you in all courts
Beheld such glory, so majestical
In all perfection, no way blemishèd?

    Fort. In some courts shall you see ambition
Sit piercing Dedalus' old waxen wings,
But being clapped on, and they about to fly,
Even when their hopes are busied in the clouds,
They melt against the sun of majesty,
And down they tumble to destruction:
For since the Heaven's strong arms teach kings to stand,
Angels are placed about their glorious throne,
To guard it from the strokes of trait'rous hands.
By travel, boys, I have seen all these things.
Fantastic compliment stalks up and down,
Tricked in outlandish feathers, all his words,
His looks, his oaths, are all ridiculous,
All apish, childish, and Italianate.

Enter FORTUNE in the background: after her The Three Destinies,
working.

    Shad. I know a medicine for that malady.

    Fort. By travel, boys, I have seen all these things.

    Andel. And these are sights for none but gods and kings.

    Shad. Yes, and for Christian creatures, if they be not blind.

    Fort. In these two hands do I grip all the world.
This leather purse, and this bald woollen hat
Make me a monarch. Here's my crown and sceptre!
In progress will I now go through the world.
I'll crack your shoulders, boys, with bags of gold
Ere I depart; on Fortune's wings I ride,
And now sit in the height of human pride.

    Fortune. (Coming forward.) Now, fool, thou liest; where thy proud
feet do tread,
These shall throw down thy cold and breathless head.

    Fort. O sacred deity, what sin is done,
That Death's iron fist should wrestle with thy son?

                                               [All kneel.

    Fortune. Thou art no son of Fortune, but her slave:
Thy cedar hath aspired to his full height.
Thy sun-like glory hath advanced herself
Into the top of pride's meridian,
And down amain it comes. From beggary
I plumed thee like an ostrich, like that ostrich
Thou hast eaten metals, and abused my gifts,
Hast played the ruffian, wasted that in riots
Which as a blessing I bestowed on thee.

    Fort. Forgive me, I will be more provident.

    Fortune. No, endless follies follow endless wealth.
Thou hadst thy fancy, I must have thy fate,
Which is, to die when th'art most fortunate.
This inky thread, thy ugly sins have spun,
Black lite, black death; faster! that it were done.

    Fort. Oh, let me live, but till I can redeem.

    Fortune. The Destinies deny thee longer life.

    Fort. I am but now lifted to happiness.

    Fortune. And now I take most pride to cast thee down.
Hadst thou chosen wisdom, this black had been white,
And Death's stern brow could not thy soul affright.

    Fort. Take this again! (Offering the purse.) Give wisdom to my
sons.

    Fortune. No, fool, 'tis now too late: as death strikes thee,
So shall their ends sudden and wretched be.
Jove's daughters—righteous Destinies—make haste!
His life hath wasteful been, and let it waste.

          [Exeunt FORTUNE and The Three Destinies.

    Andel. Why the pox dost thou sweat so?

    Shad. For anger to see any of God's creatures have such filthy faces as
these sempsters had that went hence.

    Andel. Sempsters? why, you ass, they are Destinies.

    Shad. Indeed, if it be one's destiny to have a filthy face, I know no
remedy but to go masked and cry "Woe worth the Fates."

    Amp. Why droops my father? these are only shadows,
Raised by the malice of some enemy,
To fright your life, o'er which they have no power.

    Shad. Shadows? I defy their kindred.

    Fort. O Ampedo, I faint; help me, my sons.

    Andel. Shadow, I pray thee run and call more help.

    Shad. If that desperate Don Dego Death hath ta'en up the cudgels once,
here's never a fencer in Cyprus dare take my old master's part.

    Andel. Run, villain, call more help.

    Shad. Bid him thank the Destinies for this. [Exit.

    Fort. Let me shrink down, and die between your arms,
Help comes in vain. No hand can conquer fate,
This instant is the last of my life's date.
This goddess, if at least she be a goddess,
Names herself Fortune: wand'ring in a wood,
Half famished, her I met. I have, quoth she,
Six gifts to spend upon mortality,
Wisdom, strength, health, beauty, long life and riches.
Out of my bounty one of these is thine.

    Amp. What benefit did from your
choice arise?

    Fort. Listen, my sons! in this small compass lies
Infinite treasure: this she gave to me,
And gave to this, this virtue, Take, quoth she,
So often as from hence thou draw'st thy hand,
Ten golden pieces of that kingdom's coin,
Where'er thou liv'st; which plenteous sure shall last,
After thy death, till thy sons' lives do waste.

    Andel. Father, your choice was rare, the gift divine.

    Fort. It had been so, if riches had been mine.

    Amp. But hath this golden virtue never failed?

    Fort. Never.

    Andel. O admirable: here's a fire
Hath power to thaw the very heart of death,
And give stones life; by this most sacred breath,
See brother, here's all India in my hand.

    Fort. Inherit you, my sons, that golden land.
This hat I brought away from Babylon,
I robbed the Soldan of it, 'tis a prize
Worth twenty empires in this jewel lies.

    Andel. How, father? jewel? call you this a jewel? it's coarse wool, a
bald fashion, and greasy to the brim; I have bought a better felt for a French
crown forty times: of what virtuous block is this hat, I pray?

    Fort. Set it upon thy head, and wish a wish,
Thou in the moment, on the wind's swift wings,
Shalt be transported into any place.

    Andel. A wishing hat, and a golden mine?

    Fort. O Andelocia, Ampedo, now Death
Sounds his third summons, I must hence! These jewels
To both I do bequeath; divide them not,
But use them equally: never bewray
What virtues are in them; for if you do,
Much shame, much grief, much danger follows you.
Peruse this book; farewell! behold in me
The rotten strength of proud mortality. [Dies.

    Amp. His soul is wandering to the Elysian shades.

    Andel. The flower that's fresh at noon, at sunset fades.

    Brother, close you down his eyes, because you were his eldest; and with
them close up your tears, whilst I as all younger brothers do, shift for myself:
let us mourn, because he's dead, but mourn the less, because he cannot revive.
The honour we can do him, is to bury him royally; let's about it then, for I'll
not melt myself to death with scalding sighs, nor drop my soul out at mine eyes,
were my father an emperor.

    Amp. Hence, hence, thou stop'st the tide of my true tears.
True grief is dumb, though it hath open ears.

    Andel. Yet God send my grief a tongue, that I may have good utterance
for it: sob on, brother mine, whilst you sigh there, I'll sit and read what
story my father has written here.

         [They both fall asleep: FORTUNE and a company of Satyrs
enter with music, and playing about FORTUNATUS' body, take it away.
Afterwards SHADOW enters running.

    Shad. I can get none, I can find none: where are you, master? Have I
ta'en you napping? and you too? I see sorrow's eye-lids are made of a dormouse
skin, they seldom open, or of a miser's purse, that's always shut. So ho,
master.

    Andel. Shadow, why how now? what's the matter?

    Shad. I can get none, sir, 'tis impossible.

    Amp. What is impossible? what canst not get?

    Shad. No help for my old master.

    Andel. Hast thou been all this while calling for help?

    Shad. Yes, sir: he scorned all Famagosta when he was in his huffing,
and now he lies puffing for wind, they say they scorn him.

    Amp. The poison of their scorn infects not him;
He wants no help. See where he breathless lies:
Brother, to what place have you borne his body?

    Andel. I bear it? I touched it not.

    Amp. Nor I: a leaden slumber pressed mine eyes.

    Shad. Whether it were lead or latten that hasped down those winking
casements, I know not, but I found you both snorting.

    Amp. And in that sleep, methought, I heard the tunes
Of sullen passions apt for funerals,
And saw my father's lifeless body borne
By Satyrs: O I fear that deity
Hath stolen him hence!—that snudge, his destiny.

    Andel. I fear he's risen again; didst not thou meet him?

    Shad. I, sir? do you think this white and red durst have kissed my
sweet cheeks, if they had seen a ghost? But, master, if the Destinies, or
Fortune, or the Fates, or the Fairies have stolen him, never indict them for the
felony: for by this means the charges of a tomb is saved, and you being his
heirs, may do as many rich executors do, put that money in your purses, and give
out that he died a beggar.

    Andel. Away, you rogue, my father die a beggar!
I'll build a tomb for him of massy gold.

    Shad. Methinks, master, it were better to let the memory of him shine
in his own virtues, if he had any, than in alabaster.

    Andel. I shall mangle that alabaster face, you whoreson virtuous vice.

    Shad. He has a marble heart, that can mangle a face of alabaster.

    Andel. Brother, come, come, mourn not; our father is but stepped to
agree with Charon for his boat hire to Elysium. See, here's a story of all his
travels; this book shall come out with a new addition: I'll tread after my
father's steps; I'll go measure the world, therefore let's share these jewels,
take this, or this!

    Amp. Will you then violate our father's will?

    Andel. A Puritan!—keep a dead man's will? Indeed in the old time,
when men were buried in soft churchyards, that their ghosts might rise, it was
good: but, brother, now they are imprisoned in strong brick and marble, they are
fast. Fear not: away, away, these are fooleries, gulleries, trumperies; here's
this or this, or I am gone with both!

    Amp. Do you as you please, the sin shall not be mine. Fools call those
things profane that are divine.

    Andel. Are you content to wear the jewels by turns? I'll have the purse
for a year, you the hat, and as much gold as you'll ask; and when my pursership
ends, I'll resign, and cap you.

    Amp. I am content to bear all discontents. [Exit.

    Andel. I should serve this bearing ass rarely now, if I should load him,
but I will not. Though conscience be like physic, seldom used, for so it does
least hurt, yet I'll take a dram of it. This for him, and some gold: this for
me; for having this mint about me, I shall want no wishing cap. Gold is an
eagle, that can fly to any place, and, like death, that dares enter all places.
Shadow, wilt thou travel with me?

    Shad. I shall never fadge with the humour because I cannot lie.

    Andel. Thou dolt, we'll visit all the kings' courts in the world.

    Shad. So we may, and return dolts home, but what shall we learn by
travel?

    Andel. Fashions.

    Shad. That's a beastly disease: methinks it's better staying in your
own country.

    Andel. How? In mine own country—like a cage-bird, and see nothing?

    Shad. Nothing? yes, you may see things enough, for what can you see
abroad that is not at home? The same sun calls you up in the morning, and the
same man in the moon lights you to bed at night; our fields are as green as
theirs in summer, and their frosts will nip us more in winter: our birds sing as
sweetly and our women are as fair: in other countries you shall have one drink
to you; whilst you kiss your hand, and duck, he'll poison you: I confess you
shall meet more fools, and asses, and knaves abroad than at home. Yet God be
thanked we have pretty store of all. But for punks, we put them down.

    Andel. Prepare thy spirits, for thou shalt go with me.
To England shall our stars direct our course;
Thither the Prince of Cyprus, our king's son,
Is gone to see the lovely Agripyne.
Shadow, we'll gaze upon that English dame,
And try what virtue gold has to inflame.
First to my brother, then away let's fly;
Shadow must be a courtier ere he die. [Exit.

    Shad. If I must, the Fates shall be served: I have seen many clowns
courtiers, then why not Shadow? Fortune, I am for thee. [Exit.

            ACT THE THIRD.

  SCENE I.—London. The Court of ATHELSTANE

Enter ORLEANS melancholy, GALLOWAY with him; a Boy after them with
a lute.

ORLE. Begone: leave that with me, and leave me to myself; if the king ask for
me, swear to him I am sick, and thou shalt not lie; pray thee leave me.

    Boy. I am gone, sir. [Exit.

    Orle. This music makes me but more out of tune.
O, Agripyne.

    Gall. Gentle friend, no more.
Thou sayest love is a madness, hate it then,
Even for the name's sake.

    Orle. O, I love that madness,
Even for the name's sake.

    Gall. Let me tame this frenzy,
By telling thee thou art a prisoner here,
By telling thee she's daughter to a king,
By telling thee the King of Cyprus' son
Shines like a sun, between her looks and thine,
Whilst thou seem'st but a star to Agripyne:
He loves her.

    Orle. If he do: why so do I.

    Gall. Love is ambitious, and loves majesty.

    Orle. Dear friend, thou art deceived, love's voice doth sing
As sweetly in a beggar as a king.

    Gall. Dear friend, thou art deceived: O bid thy soul
Lift up her intellectual eyes to Heaven,
And in this ample book of wonders read,
Of what celestial mould, what sacred essence,
Herself is formed, the search whereof will drive
Sounds musical among the jarring spirits,
And in sweet tune set that which none inherits.

    Orle. I'll gaze on Heaven if Agripyne be there:
If not: fa, la, la, sol, la, &c.

    Gall. O, call this madness in; see, from the windows
Of every eye derision thrusts out cheeks,
Wrinkled with idiot laughter; every finger
Is like a dart shot from the hand of scorn,
By which thy name is hurt, thine honour torn.

    Orle. Laugh they at me, sweet Galloway?

    Gall. Even at thee.

    Orle. Ha, ha, I laugh at them, are not they mad
That let my true true sorrow make them glad?
I dance and sing only to anger grief,
That in that anger, he might smite life down
With his iron fist. Good heart, it seemeth then,
They laugh to see grief kill me: O, fond men,
You laugh at others' tears; when others smile,
You tear yourselves in pieces: vile, vile, vile!
Ha, ha, when I behold a swarm of fools,
Crowding together to be counted wise,
I laugh because sweet Agripyne's not there,
But weep because she is not anywhere,
And weep because whether she be or not,
My love was ever, and is still, forgot: forgot, forgot, forgot.

    Gall. Draw back this stream, why should my Orleans mourn?

    Orle. Look yonder, Galloway, dost thou see that sun
Nay, good friend, stare upon it, mark it well,
Ere he be two hours older, all that glory
Is banished Heaven, and then for grief this sky,
That's now so jocund, will mourn all in black,
And shall not Orleans mourn? Alack, alack!
O what a savage tyranny it were
T'enforce care laugh, and woe not shed a tear!
Dead is my love, I am buried in her scorn,
That is my sunset, and shall I not mourn?
Yes, by my troth I will.

    Gall. Dear friend, forbear,
Beauty, like sorrow, dwelleth everywhere.
Rase out this strong idea of her face,
As fair as hers shineth in any place.

    Orle. Thou art a traitor to that white and red,
Which, sitting on her cheeks, being Cupid's throne,
Is my heart's sovereign: O, when she is dead,
This wonder, beauty, shall be found in none.
Now Agripyne's not mine, I vow to be
In love with nothing but deformity.
O fair Deformity, I muse all eyes
Are not enamoured of thee: thou didst never
Murder men's hearts, or let them pine like wax,
Melting against the sun of destiny;
Thou art a faithful nurse to chastity;
Thy beauty is not like to Agripyne's,
For cares, and age, and sickness hers deface,
But thine's eternal. O Deformity,
Thy fairness is not like to Agripyne's,
For dead, her beauty will no beauty have,
But thy face looks most lovely in the grave.

      Enter the PRINCE OF CYPRUS and AGRIPYNE.

    Gall. See where they come together, hand in hand.

    Orel. O watch, sweet Galloway, when their hands do part,
Between them shalt thou find my murdered heart.

    Cypr. By this then it seems a thing impossible, to know when an English
lady loves truly.

    Agrip. Not so, for when her soul steals into her heart, and her heart
leaps up to her eyes, and her eyes drop into her hands, then if she say, Here's
my hand! she's your own,—else never.

    Cyp. Here's a pair of your prisoners, let's try their opinion.

    Agrip. My kind prisoners, well encountered; the Prince of Cyprus here
and myself have been wrangling about a question of love: my lord of Orleans, you
look lean, and likest a lover—Whether is it more torment to love a lady and
never enjoy her, or always to enjoy a lady whom you cannot choose but hate?

    Orle. To hold her ever in mine arms whom I loath in my heart, were some
plague, yet the punishment were no more than to be enjoined to keep poison in my
hand, yet never to taste it.

    Agrip. But say you should be compelled to swallow the poison?

    Orle. Then a speedy death would end a speeding misery. But to love a
lady and never enjoy her, oh it is not death, but worse than damnation; 'tis
hell, 'tis______

    Agrip. No more, no more, good Orleans; nay then, I see my prisoner is
in love too.

    Cypr. Methinks, soldiers cannot fall into the fashion of love.

    Agrip. Methinks a soldier is the most faithful lover of all men else;
for his affection stands not upon compliment. His wooing is plain home-spun
stuff; there's no outlandish thread in it, no rhetoric. A soldier casts no
figures to get his mistress' heart; his love is like his valour in the field,
when he pays downright blows.

    Gall. True, madam, but would you receive such payment?

    Agrip. No, but I mean, I love a soldier best for his plain dealing.

    Cypr. That's as good as the first.

    Agrip. Be it so, that goodness I like: for what lady can abide to love
a spruce silken-face courtier, that stands every morning two or three hours
learning how to look by his glass, how to speak by his glass, how to sigh by his
glass, how to court his mistress by his glass? I would wish him no other plague,
but to have a mistress as brittle as glass.

    Gall. And that were as bad as the horn plague.

    Cypr. Are any lovers possessed with this madness?

    Agrip. What madmen are not possessed with this love? Yet by my troth,
we poor women do but smile in our sleeves to see all this foppery: yet we all
desire to see our lovers attired gallantly, to hear them sing sweetly, to behold
them dance comely and such like. But this apish monkey fashion of effeminate
niceness, out upon it! Oh, I hate it worse than to be counted a scold.

    Cypr. Indeed, men are most regarded, when they least regard themselves.

    Gall. And women most honoured, when they show most mercy to their
lovers.

    Orle. But is't not a miserable tyranny, to see a lady triumph in the
passions of a soul languishing through her cruelty?

    Cypr. Methinks it is.

    Gall. Methinks 'tis more than tyranny.

    Agrip. So think not I; for as there is no reason to hate any that love
us, so it were madness to love all that do not hate us; women are created
beautiful, only because men should woo them; for 'twere miserable tyranny to
enjoin poor women to woo men: I would not hear of a woman in love, for my
father's kingdom.

    Cypr. I never heard of any woman that hated love.

    Agrip. Nor I: but we had all rather die than confess we love; our glory
is to hear men sigh whilst we smile, to kill them with a frowm, to strike them
dead with a sharp eye, to make you this day wear a feather, and tomorrow a sick
nightcap. Oh, why this is rare, there's a certain deity in this, when a lady by
the magic of her looks, can turn a man into twenty shapes.

    Orle. Sweet friend, she speaks this but to torture me.

    Gall. I'll teach thee how to plague her: love her not.

    Agrip. Poor Orleans, how lamentably he looks: if he stay, he'll make me
surely love him for pure pity. I must send him hence, for of all sorts of love,
I hate the French; I pray thee, sweet prisoner, entreat Lord Longaville to come
to me presently.

    Orle. I will, and esteem myself more than happy, that you will employ
me. [Exit.

    Agrip. Watch him, watch him for God's sake, if he sigh not or look not
back.

    Cypr. He does both: but what mystery lies in this?

    Agrip. Nay, no mystery, 'tis as plain as Cupid's forehead: why this is
as it should be.—"And esteem myself more than happy, that you will employ
me." My French prisoner is in love over head and ears.

    Cypr. It's wonder how he 'scapes drowning.

    Gall. With whom, think you?

    Agrip. With his keeper, for a good wager: Ah, how glad is he to obey!
And how proud am I to command in this empire of affection! Over him and such
spongy-livered youths, that lie soaking in love, I triumph more with mine eye,
than ever he did over a soldier with his sword. Is't not a gallant victory for
me to subdue my father's enemy with a look? Prince of Cyprus, you were best take
heed, how you encounter an English lady.

    Cypr. God bless me from loving any of you, if all be so cruel.

    Agrip. God bless me from suffering you to love me, if you be not so
formable.

    Cypr. Will you command me any service, as you have done Orleans?

    Agrip. No other service but this, that, as Orleans, you love me, for no
other reason, but that I may torment you.

    Cypr. I will: conditionally, that in all company I may call you my
tormentor.

    Agrip. You shall: conditionally, that you never beg for mercy. Come, my
Lord of Galloway.

    Gall. Come, sweet madam.

              [Exeunt all except the PRINCE OF CYPRUS.

    Cypr. The ruby-coloured portals of her speech
Were closed by mercy: but upon her eye,
Attired in frowns, sat murdering cruelty.

            Re-enter AGRIPYNE and listens.

She's angry, that I durst so high aspire.
O, she disdains that any stranger's breast
should be a temple for her deity:
She's full of beauty, full of bitterness.
Till now, I did not dally with love's fire:
And when I thought to try his flames indeed,
I burnt me even to cinders. O, my stars,
Why from my native shore did your beams guide me,
To make me dote on her that doth deride me?

          [AGRIPYNE kneels: CYPRUS walks musing.

    Agrip. Hold him in this mind, sweet Cupid, I conjure thee. O, what music
these hey-hos make! I was about to cast my little self into a great love trance
for him, fearing his heart had been flint: but since I see 'tis pure virgin wax,
he shall melt his bellyful: for now I know how to temper him.

                  [Exit; as she departs CYPRUS spies her.

    Cypr. Never beg mercy? yet be my tormentor.
I hope she heard me not: doubtless she did,
And now will she insult upon my passions,
And vex my constant love with mockeries.
Nay, then I'll be mine own physician,
And outface love, and make her think that I
Mourned thus, because I saw her standing by.
What news, my Lord of Cornwall?

                      Enter CORNWALL.

    Cornw. This fair prince,
One of your countrymen, is come to court,
A lusty gallant brave, in Cyprus' isle,
With fifty bard horses prancing at his heels,
Backed by as many strong-limbed Cypriots,
All whom he keeps in pay: whose offered service,
Our king with arms of gladness hath embraced.

    Cypr. Born in the isle of Cyprus? what's his name?

    Cornw. His servants call him Fortunatus' son.

    Cypr. Rich Fortunatus' son? Is he arrived?

    Enter LONGAVILLE, GALLOWAY, and CHESTER with jewels.

    Longa. This he bestowed on me.

    Chest. And this on me.

    Gall. And this his bounteous hand enforced me take.

    Longa. I prize this jewel at a hundred marks,
Yet would he needs bestow this gift on me.

    Cypr. My lords, whose hand hath been thus prodigal?

    Gall. Your countryman, my lord, a Cypriot.

    Longa. The gallant sure is all compact of gold,
To every lady hath he given rich jewels,
And sent to every servant in the court
Twenty fair English angels.

    Cypr. This is rare.

                     Enter LINCOLN.

    Linc. My lords, prepare yourselves for revelling,
'Tis the king's pleasure that this day be spent
In royal pastimes, that this golden lord,
For so all that behold him, christen him,
May taste the pleasures of our English court.
Here comes the gallant, shining like the sun.

                                       [Trumpets sound.

Enter ATHELSTANE, ANDELOCIA, AGRIPYNE, ORLEANS, Ladies, and other
Attendants, also INSULTADO. Music sounds within.

    Andel. For these your royal favours done to me,
Being a poor stranger, my best powers shall prove,
By acts of worth, the soundness of my love.

    Athelst. Herein your love shall best set out itself,
By staying with us: if our English isle
Hold any object welcome to your eyes,
Do but make choice, and claim it as your prize.

                [The KING and CYPRUS confer aside.

    Andel. I thank your grace: would he durst keep his word,
I know what I would claim. Tush, man, be bold,
Were she a saint, she may be won with gold.

    Cypr. 'Tis strange, I must confess, but in this pride,
His father Fortunatus, if he live,
consumes his life in Cyprus: still he spends,
And still his coffers with abundance swell,
But how he gets these riches none can tell.

               [The KING and AGRIPYNE confer aside.

    Athelst. Hold him in talk: come hither, Agripyne.

    Cypr. But what enticed young Andelocia's soul
To wander hither?

    Andel. That which did allure
My sovereign's son, the wonder of the place.

    Agrip. This curious heap of wonders, which an Empress
Gave him, he gave me, and by Venus' hand,
The warlike Amorato needs would swear,
He left his country Cyprus for my love.

    Athelst. If by the sovereign magic of thine eye,
Thou canst enchant his looks to keep the circles
Of thy fair cheeks, be bold to try their charms,
Feed him with hopes, and find the royal vein,
That leads this Cypriot to his golden mine.
Here's music spent in vain, lords, fall to dancing.

    Cypr. My fair tormentor, will you lend a hand?

    Agrip. I'll try this stranger's cunning in a dance.

    Andel. My cunning is but small, yet who'll not prove

To shame himself for such a lady's love?

    Orle. These Cypriots are the devils that torture me.
he courts her, and she smiles, but I am born
To be her beauty's slave, and her love's scorn.

    Andel. I shall never have the face to ask the question twice.

    Agrip. What's the reason? Cowardliness or pride?

    Andel. Neither: but 'tis the fashion of us Cypriots, both men and
women, to yield at first assault, and we expect others should do the like.

    Agrip. It's a sign, that either your women are very black, and are glad
to be sped, or your men very fond, and will take no denial.

    Andel. Indeed our ladies are not so fair as you.

    Agrip. But
your men more venturous at a breach than you, or else they are all dastardly
soldiers.

    Andel. He that fights under these sweet colours, and yet turns coward,
let him be shot to death with the terrible arrows of fair ladies' eyes.

    Athelst. Nay, Insultado, you must not deny us.

    Insultad. Mi corazon es muy pesado, mi anima muy atormentada. No por los
Cielos: El pie de Español no hace musica en tierra ingles.

    Cypr. Sweet Insultado, let us see you dance.
I have heard the Spanish dance is full of state.

    Insultad. Verdad, señor: la danza española es muy alta,
    Majestica, y para monarcas: vuestra Inglesa,
    Baja, fantastica, y muy humilde.

    Agrip. Doth my Spanish prisoner deny to dance? He has sworn to me by the
cross of his pure Toledo, to be my servant: by that oath, my Castilian prisoner,
I conjure you to show your cunning; though all your body be not free, I am sure
your heels are at liberty.

    Insultad. Nolo quiero contra deseo; vuestro ojo hace conquista á su
prisionero: Oyerer la a pavan española; sea vuestra musica y gravidad, y
majestad: Paje, daime tabacco, toma my capa, y my espada. Mas alta, mas alta:
Desviaios, desviaios, compañeros, mas alta, mas alta.

                                              [He dances.

    Athelst. Thanks, Insultado.

    Cypr. 'Tis most excellent.

    Agrip. The Spaniard's dance is as his deeds be, full of pride.

    Athelst. The day grows old, and what remains unspent,
Shall be consumed in banquets. Agripyne,
Leave us a while, if Andelocia please,
Go bear our beauteous daughter company.

    And. Fortune, I thank thee: now thou smil'st on me.

            [Exeunt AGRIPYNE, ANDELOCIA, and Ladies.

    Athelst. This Cypriot bears a gallant princely mind.
My lord, of what birth is your countryman?
Think not, sweet prince, that I propound this question,
To wrong you in your love to Agripyne:
Our favours grace him to another end.
Nor let the wings of your affection droop,
Because she seems to shun love's gentle lure.
Believe it on our word, her beauty's prize
Only shall yield a conquest to your eyes.
But tell me what's this Fortunatus' son?

    Cypr. Of honourable blood, and more renowned
In foreign kingdoms, whither his proud spirit,
Plumed with ambitious feathers, carries him,
Than in his native country; but last day
The father and the sons were, through their riots,
Poor and disdained of all, but now they glister
More bright than Midas: if some damnèd fiend
Fed not his bags, this golden pride would end.

    Athelst. His pride we'll somewhat tame, and curb the head
Of his rebellious prodigality:
He hath invited us, and all our peers,
To feast with him to-morrow; his provision,
I understand, may entertain three kings.
But Lincoln, let our subjects secretly
Be charged on pain of life that not a man
Sell any kind of fuel to his servants.

    Cypr. This policy shall clip his golden wings,
And teach his pride what 'tis to strive with kings.

    Athelst. Withdraw awhile:

                         [Exeunt all except ATHELSTANE.
None filled his hands with gold, for we set spies,
To watch who fed his prodigality:
He hung the marble bosom of our court,
As thick with glist'ring spangles of pure gold,
As e'er the spring hath stuck the earth with flowers.
Unless he melt himself to liquid gold,
Or be some god, some devil, or can transport
A mint about him, by enchanted power,
He cannot rain such showers. With his own hands
He threw more wealth about in every street,
Than could be thrust into a chariot.
He's a magician sure, and to some fiend,
His soul by infernal covenants has he sold,
Always to swim up to the chin in gold.
Be what he can be, if those doting fires,
Wherein he burns for Agripyne's love,
Want power to melt from him this endless mine,
Then like a slave we'll chain him in our tower,
Where tortures shall compel his sweating hands
To cast rich heaps into our treasury. [Exit.

            SCENE II.—The same.

Music sounding still; a curtain being drawn, ANDELOCIA is discovered
sleeping in AGRIPYNE'S lap; she has his purse, and she and another lady tie
another like it in its place, and then rise from him. Enter ATHELSTANE.

    Agrip. I have found the sacred spring that never ebbs. Leave us:
[Exit Lady.] But I'll not show't your majesty
Till you have sworn by England's royal crown, To let me keep it.

    Athelst. By my crown I swear,
None but fair Agripyne the gem shall wear.

    Agrip. Then is this mine: see, father, here's the fire
Whose gilded beams still burn, this is the sun
That ever shines, the tree that never dies,
Here grows the Garden of Hesperides;
The outside mocks you, makes you think 'tis poor,
But entering it, you find eternal store.

    Athelst. Art sure of this? How didst thou drive it out?

    Agrip. Fear no his waking yet, I made him drink
That soporiferous juice which was composed
To make the queen, my mother, relish sleep,
When her last sickness summoned her to Heaven.
He sleeps profoundly: when his amorous eyes
Had singed their wings in Cupid's wanton flames,
I set him all on fire, and promised love,
In pride whereof, he drew me forth this purse,
And swore, by this he multiplied his gold.
I tried and found it true: and secretly
Commanded music with her silver tongue,
To chime soft lullabies into his soul,
And whilst my fingers wantoned with his hair,
T'entice the sleepy juice to charm his eyes,
In all points was there made a purse, like his,
Which counterfeit is hung in place of this.

    Athelst. More than a second kingdom hast thou won.
Leave him, that when he wakes he may suspect,
Some else has robbed him; come, dear Agripyne,
If this strange purse his sacred virtues hold,
We'll circle England with a wall of gold. [Exeunt.

Music still: Enter SHADOW very gallant, reading a bill, with empty bags in
his hand, singing.

    Shad. These English occupiers are mad Trojans: let a man pay them never
so much, they'll give him nothing but the bag. Since my master created me
steward over his fifty men, and his one-and-fifty horse, I have rid over much
business, yet never was galled, I thank the destinies. Music? O delicate warble:
O these courtiers are most sweet triumphant creatures! Seignior, sir, monsieur,
sweet seignior: this is the language of the accomplishment. O delicious strings;
these heavenly wire-drawers have stretched my master even out at length: yet at
length he must wake. Master?

    Andel. Wake me not yet, my gentle Agripyne.

    Shad. One word, sir, for the billets, and I vanish.

    Andel. There's Heaven in these times: throw the musicians
A bounteous largesse of three hundred angels.

                                [ANDELOCIA starts up.

    Shad. Why, sir, I have but ten pounds left.

    Andel. Ha, Shadow? where's the Princess Agripyne?

    Shad. I am not Apollo, I cannot reveal.

    Andel. Was not the princess here, when thou cam'st in?

    Shad. Here was no princess but my princely self.

    Andel. In faith?

    Shad. No, in faith, sir.

    Andel. Where are you hid? where stand you wantoning? Not here? gone,
i'faith? have you given me the slip? Well, 'tis but an amorous trick, and so I
embrace it: my horse, Shadow, how fares my horse?

    Shad. Upon the best oats my under-steward can buy.

    Andel. I mean, are they lusty, sprightly, gallant, wanton, fiery?

    Shad. They are as all horses are, caterpillars to the commonwealth,
they are ever munching: but, sir, for these billets, and these fagots and
bavins?

    Andel. 'Sheart, what billets, what fagots? dost make me a woodmonger?

    Shad. No, sweet seignior, but you have bid the king and his peers to
dinner, and he has commanded that no woodmonger sell you a stick of wood, and
that no collier shall cozn you of your measure, but must tie up the mouth of
their sacks, lest their coals kindle your choler.

    Andel. Is't possible? is't true, or hast thou learnt of the English
gallants to gull?

    Shad. He's a gull that would be taught by such gulls.

    Andel. Not a stick of wood? Some child of envy has buzzed this
stratagem into the king's ear, of purpose to disgrace me. I have invited his
majesty, and though it cost me a million, I'll feast him. Shadow, thou shalt
hire a hundred or two of carts, with them post to all the grocers in London, buy
up all the cinnamon, cloves, nutmegs, liquorice and all other spices, that have
any strong heart, and with them make fires to prepare our cookery.
Ere Fortunatus' son look red with shame,
He'll dress a king's feast in spicèd flame.

    Shad. This device, sir, will be somewhat akin to Lady Pride, 'twill ask
cost.

    Andel. Fetch twenty porters, I'll lade all with gold.

    Shad. First, master, fill these bags.

    Andel. Come then, hold up. How now? tricks, new crotchets, Madame
Fortune? Dry as an eel-skin? Shadow, take thou my gold out.

    Shad. Why, sir, here's none in.

    Andel, Ha, let me see: O here's a bastard cheek,
I see now 'tis not mine; 'tis counterfeit,
'Tis so! Slave, thou hast robbed thy master.

    Shad. Not of a penny, I have been as true a steward—

    Andel. Vengeance on thee and on thy stewardship!
Yet wherefore curse I thee? thy leaden soul
Had never power to mount up to the knowledge
Of the rich mystery closed in my purse.
Oh no, I'll curse myself, mine eyes I'll curse,
They have betrayed me; I will curse my tongue,
That hath betrayed me; I'll curse Agripyne,
She hath betrayed me. Sirens, cease to sing,
Your charms have ta'en effect, for now I see,
All your enchantments were, to cozen me. [Music ceases.

    Shad. What shall I do with this ten pound, sir?

    Andel. Go buy with it a chain and hang thyself.
Now think I on my father's prophecy.
Tell none, quoth he, the virtue, if you do,
Much shame, much grief, much danger follows you.
With tears I credit his divinity.
O fingers, were you upright justices,
You would tear out mine eyes! had not they gazed
On the frail colour of a painted cheek,
None had betrayed me: henceforth I'll defy
All beauty, and will call a lovely eye,
A sun whose scorching beams burn up our joys,
Or turn them black like Ethiopians.
O women, wherefore are you born men's woe,
Why are your faces framed angelical?
Your hearts of sponges, soft and smooth in show,
But touched, with poison they do overflow.
Had sacred wisdom been my father's fate,
He had died happy, I lived fortunate.
Shadow, bear this to beauteous Agripyne,
With it this message, tell her, I'll reprove
Her covetous sin the less, because for gold,
I see that most men's souls too cheap are sold.

    Shad. Shall I buy these spices to-day or to-morrow?

    Andel. To-morrow? ay, to-morrow thou shalt buy them.
To-morrow tell the princess I will love her,
To-morrow tell the king I'll banquet him,
To-morrow, Shadow, will I give thee gold;
To-morrow pride goes bare and lust a-cold.
To-morrow will the rich man feed the poor,
And vice to-morrow virtue will adore.
To-morrow beggars shall be crownèd kings,
This no-time, morrow's-time, no sweetness sings:
I pray thee hence; bear that to Agripyne.

    Shad. I'll go hence, because you send me; but I'll go weeping hence,
for grief that I must turn villain as many do, and leave you when you are up to
the ears in adversity.

                                                   [Exit.

    Andel. She hath robbed me, and now I'll play the thief,
Ay, steal from hence to Cyprus, for black shame
Here, through my riots, brands my lofty name.
I'll sell this pride for help to bear me thither,
So pride and beggary shall walk together.
This world is but a school of villany,
Therefore I'll rob my brother, not of gold,
Nor of his virtues, virtue none will steal—
But, if I can, I'll steal his wishing hat,
And with that, wandering round about the world,
I'll search all corners to find Misery,
And where she dwells, I'll dwell, languish and die. [Exit.

           ACT THE FOURTH.

CHORUS. Gentles, if e'er you have beheld the passions,
The combats of his soul, who being a king,
By some usurping hand hath been deposed
From all his royalties: even such a soul,
Such eyes, such heart swol'n big with sighs and tears,
The star-crossed son of Fortunatus wears.
His thoughts crowned him a monarch in the morn,
Yet now he's bandied by the seas in scorn
From wave to wave: his golden treasure's spoil
Makes him in desperate language to entreat
The winds to spend their fury on his life:
But they, being mild in tyranny, or scorning
To triumph in a wretch's funeral,
Toss him to Cyprus. Oh, what treachery
Cannot this serpent gold entice us to?
He robs his brother of the Soldan's prize,
And having got his wish, the wishing hat,
He does not, as he vowed, seek misery,
But hopes by that to win his purse again,
And in that hope from Cyprus is he fled.
If your swift thoughts clap on their wonted wings,
In Genoa may you take this fugitive,
Where having cozened many jewellers,
To England back he comes; step but to court,
And there disguised you find him bargaining
For jewels with the beauteous Agripyne,
Who wearing at her side the virtuous purse,
He clasps her in his arms, and as a raven,
Griping the tender-hearted nightingale,
So flies he with her, wishing in the air
To be transported to some wilderness:
Imagine this the place; see, here they come!