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 QUEEN'S MASQUE, 
 
 BY 
 
 THOMAS HEYWOOD. 
 1640. 
 
 EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S., 
 F.S.A. (Scot). 
 
 — »W^ — 
 
 PRIVATELY PRINTED, EDINBURGH. 
 
 1886. 
 
LOVE'S MISTRESS; 
 
 OR 
 
This edition is limited to 27^ small-faper copies, 
 and 7$ large-paper copies. 
 
l5tbliott)eca Curioga. 
 
 QUEEN'S MASQUE, 
 
 BY 
 
 THOMAS HEYWOOD. 
 1640. 
 
 — *>*3^^^^$X« — 
 
 iEHitelr bs 
 
 EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S., 
 
 F.S.A. (Scot). 
 
 — ^>^^^^-<^— 
 
 PRIVATELY PRINTED, EDINBURGH. 
 
 1886. 
 
DRAMMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 The Chorus. 
 
 Apuleius 1 
 
 Midas. I 
 
 Admetus, King of Thessaly. 
 
 Astioche, ^ 
 
 Petrea, V 
 
 Psiche, } 
 
 Menetius, '1 
 
 Zelotes, j 1 
 
 Venus. 
 
 Cupid. 
 
 Pan. 
 
 Apollo. 
 
 Mercury. 
 
 Vulcan. 
 
 Pluto. 
 
 Proserpine. 
 
 Minos. 
 
 Eacus. 
 
 I His three Daughters. 
 
 (Husbands to Petrea and 
 Astioche. 
 
 Rhadamant. 
 
 Charon. 
 
 Cerberus. 
 
 Zephirus. 
 
 Boreas. 
 
 Furies. 
 
 Four Ciclops. 
 
 The Clown. 
 
 Amarillis a she Swain. 
 
 Four Swaines. 
 
TO THE 
 
 RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 EDWARD 
 
 EARL OF DORSET, 
 
 Lord Chamberlain to the Queens Most 
 
 Excellent Majesty, Knight of the Noble 
 
 Order of the Garter, and one of His 
 
 Majesties Most Honorable Privy 
 
 Council. 
 
 Right Honorable, 
 ^T having pleased Her Most Excellent Majesty*' 
 W to grace this (although unworthy) Poem so 
 ^ often with Her Royal presence, I was em- 
 " boldened the rather (though I dare not 
 commend) yet to commit it to your Noble Patron- 
 age, neither are Dramma's of this nature, so 
 despicable, as to be held unworthy the coun- 
 tenance of great men, when there is frequent 
 
 * Henrietta Maria. 
 
6 The Epiitle Bedicalory. 
 
 president that the like have been Dedicated to, 
 and entertained by Emperors, and the most 
 Potent Princes of their times. If your Honour 
 shall daign the acceptance of a plain mans love, 
 and observance in this Presentment, as you grace 
 the Work, so you shall much encourage the 
 Author, who humbly takes his leave of your Lord- 
 ship, with that borrowed from the excellent Poet 
 Nemesianus Engl. I. 
 
 " o Dignus senior quem Carmine Phffibus, 
 
 Pan Calamis, Fidibus, Linus, Modulantibus Orpheus, 
 Concinerent." 
 
 THOMAS HEYWOOD. 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 6^^o 
 
 Generous Reader, 
 
 OR this Dramatick Poem, I need not much 
 Apologie ; It having passed so many Tests 
 :g of Approbation, yet for commendable Cus- 
 <^^ toms sake I follow the tradition of all ov 
 most Authors, who were never deficient in this 
 kinde of complement ; The Argument is taken 
 from Apuleius,* an excellent Morral, if truly 
 understood, and may be called a golden Truth, 
 contained in a leaden fable, which though it be 
 not altogether conspicuous to the vulgar, yet to 
 those of Learning and judgement, no less appre- 
 hended in the Paraphrase, than approved in the 
 Original : of which, if the perusers hereof were all 
 Apuleians, and never a Midas amongst them, I 
 should make no question ; So much for the Sub- 
 
 *In his "Golden Ass," Apuleius introduces the 
 episode of Cupid and Psyche, depicting in an allegory 
 the yearning of the soul for perfection ; this is the 
 " moral " here alluded to. 
 
8 To the Reader. 
 
 ject it self, but for the rare decorements which 
 new apparrell'd it, when it came the second time 
 to the Royal view, (Her Gracious Majesty then 
 entertaining his Highness at Denmark -house, upon 
 his Birth-day) I cannot pretermit to give a due 
 Character to that admirable Artist, Mr Inego 
 Jones, Master-surveyor of the TCings work, &c.. 
 Who to every Act, nay almost to every Sceane, 
 by his excellent Inventions, gave such an extra- 
 ordinary Lustre ; upon every occasion changing 
 the stage, to the admiration of all the Spec- 
 tators : that, as I must ingeniously confess, it 
 was above my apprehension to conceive, so to 
 their scared Majesties, and the rest of the 
 Auditory ; It gave so general a content, that I 
 presume they never parted from any object 
 presented in that kinde, better pleased, or more 
 plenally satisfied : But these I leave to your judge- 
 ments to ghesse at ; the thing it self I propose to 
 your eyes, to censure, which if you judge as 
 favourably as I express it freely, I shall ever 
 remain as heretofore : 
 
 Studious of your best opinions, 
 
 THO. HEYWOOD. 
 
The Prologue to this Play, the first time 
 
 it was Presented on the Stage ; Cupid 
 
 descending in a Cloud, the Speaker. 
 
 ^T was a Custom 'mongst the Romanes, when 
 ^ State-Ladies they invited, or great men, 
 7^ As if their doors were all too base, and vile 
 5 To entertain them ; their large Roofes to 
 
 untile, 
 And their unbonnded welcome more to crown, 
 In Artificial Cloudes to let them down ; 
 Their superstitious Love so far extending. 
 Receiving them as gods from heaven descending. 
 Although we cannot meet you with like state, 
 As entring hither at our publike gate. 
 You are as welcome ; 'Tis Love bids you so : 
 And, as their use was, to their ghests to show 
 Their best, and costliest Jewels (without boast. 
 So Cupid will) what he affecteth most, 
 His sweet and dearest Mistris ; or if ought 
 Were more in valuation, or in thought. 
 That you should see ; She is both fresh and new. 
 Then bid her but as welcome, as I, you. 
 
10 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Her Majesty inviting the King to Denmark 
 House, in the Strand, upon his Birth- 
 day, being November the 19.* 
 
 This Play (bearing from that time) the Title of the 
 Queens Masque, was again presented before 
 Him : Cupid speaking the Prologue. 
 ^HO'S so un-read, doth not of Plato hear, 
 His Annus Magnus, or this Vertent year ; 
 In which the Stars and Planets, Moon, 
 '^^ and Sun, 
 
 Tyr'd with continual labour, having run 
 So many Ages long peregrination. 
 And returnes fresh and new to It's first station. 
 
 This is that year sure ; rather this the day. 
 Able to change -f- November into May: 
 This day's in heaven a Jubylee of Joy, 
 Where Angels sing in quires, Vive la Roy. 
 This is the Royal Birth-day of a King, 
 Then men with Angels lo pcean sing. 
 
 I had almost lost my self, when my intent 
 Was to tell why I come, and from whom sent ; 
 From One, to whom I'm but a shadow, She 
 The very soul of Amabilitee. 
 One, that without my quiver and my bow, 
 
 * Charles I. was born November 19th, 1600. 
 f The text reads charge. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. II 
 
 Commands the hearts and eyes, of high and low, 
 Whose name (Inscribed here) did you but behold, 
 'Twould change the sooty Ink, to liquid Gold 
 Of fulgent beauty ; but so pure a mind. 
 As if tinctur'd from Heaven, and so devin'd. 
 I Love, from Love am sent, Ijut She the right : 
 Then grace (Great King) the Triumphs of Loves 
 night. 
 
 The Epilogue, spoken by Cupid, pointing 
 
 to the several Plannets. 
 
 OW Royal Princes, let me turn to you, 
 
 Daign from Loves mouth, to take this 
 
 Z^ nights adieu : 
 
 ego ^ 
 
 "■^ Think all these Plannets that on earth here 
 
 move, 
 
 (Shadows of those Ccelestial ones above) 
 
 Breath on you their best Influences ; Vulcan he. 
 
 Shall henceforth take charge of your Armory. 
 
 Juno the Marriage Queen, shall bless your bed : 
 
 The Sun shall take the bright beames from his 
 
 head, 
 
 To increase your glories lusture : and the Moon, 
 
 Attend on you, to make your mid-night noon : 
 
 And Mercury shall roam from shore to shore 
 
 Upon your errands, prove your happy ranger, 
 
 Home-bred to spie and foresee forraign danger : 
 
12 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Venus with sweets, and I with Jove will charm 
 
 you; 
 And after all these, Jove with Power shall arm you. 
 I have kept you waking long, good night, 'tis 
 
 late. 
 And many Birth-days may you Celebrate. 
 
 The Prologue to the King and Queen, the 
 
 Second time it was Acted, the same 
 
 Week: 
 
 Spoken by Cupid. 
 ^ES ; sure 'twas here : where some few hours 
 I past, 
 j^ The very time that I descended last ; 
 
 " I, here it was, I know it by one face. 
 To which my Mistris Psiche must give place. 
 A presence ; that from Venus takes all posver, 
 And makes each place she comes in Cupids bower. 
 
 Though in their several spheres, each Planet ride, 
 (With all the gods) to feast me and my bride, 
 With Nectar and Ambrosia, yet, that waste 
 Of godly fare could not my pallat taste: 
 But I must all Cselestial sweet forbear. 
 To re-view earthly Jove, and Juno here. 
 Whom having seen ; Plail to you once again ; 
 Long as the spheres continue, may you Raign 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 1 3 
 
 In Majesty, in power, in issue blest, 
 Be all these with your fortunate yeers increast : 
 Till Cupid (ever yong) with Time grow old. 
 And you, this Iron Age, changing to gold. 
 (Re-pur'd by your two vertues) These ctherial. 
 May change to brighter Chaires in th' Heavens 
 Imperial. 
 
 
sm^^ifi 
 
 «^:«^ 
 
 ■LOVES M'LSTI^IS. 
 
 ACT. I. SCEN. I. 
 
 (Enter Apuleius, with a pair of asse ears in his 
 
 hand. ) 
 
 ^■^OW art thou Apuleius retransform'd? or else 
 ^ra how cam'st thou metamorphis'd first into 
 ^^^ an Asse ? Why to so dull a beast, of slow, 
 
 " and so obtuse a memory? I had a brain 
 aim'd at inscrutable things, beyond the Moon ; 
 what was sublunary, me thought was for my study 
 all too mean : (therefore, I)* therefore was I thus 
 transhap'd ; that knowing man who keeps not in 
 his bounds, but pries into heavens hidden Mysterie, 
 Further than leave, his dulness is increast, 
 Ceaseth to be a man, and so turns beast ; 
 
 And thus I fell, yet by the self same power, 
 that calls all humane wisdomf foolishness, am 
 once more to my pristine shape restor'd ; 
 
 * These words, given in the text, should be omitted. 
 •\ The text reads lohdtmy. 
 
LOVES IIISTRIS. 15 
 
 Onely to show how vain my ambitions were, 
 This folUes crest I still about me bear : 
 
 I fain would know the way to Helicon, 
 Can none here tell me ? Will none silence breake? 
 It seems these sit to hear then, not to speak, 
 
 {Enter Midas.*) 
 
 Here's one I hope can ttU me : Reverend 
 Father, how lies my journey lo the Muses hill ? 
 
 Mi. Follow thy nose. 
 
 Ap. Thou most unreverend groom, (I hope my 
 Asses shape is quite shook off) why in this churlish 
 manner speak'st thou then ? 
 
 Tl/z'. The Muses ? hang the Muses. Ap. Caiis't 
 thou conduct 
 
 My wandring steps to Aganippe spring ? 
 To the Muses Temple I am travelling 
 
 And must to them perform a sacrifice, f 
 
 Mi. An Assehead of thy own, thou must per- 
 form. Ap. If men be grown thus savage ; oh 
 you powers, Remetamorphise me into an asse ; 'tis 
 less inglorious, and less grief to live a beast 
 amongst wilde beasts, then to see man bruite-like 
 to blemish his creation. 
 
 Mi. I tell thee once again, I know no Muses ; 
 
 * For preferring Pan's pipes to Apollo's lyre, the 
 latter god caused Midas to have the ears of an ass. 
 + The text reads sacrific. 
 
I6 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 in) Muses hill, no Aganippes spring ; and which is 
 more, I care for no such toyes. 
 
 Ap. And which is worst, none wise shall care 
 for thee ; 
 
 Oh grief, that silver hairs should crown his head. 
 By whom the Muses are dishonoured. 
 Say Idol, what's thy name ? Mi. What's that 
 to thee ? yet was I sometime King of Phrigia, to 
 whom god Bacchus was beholding once : and 
 therefore bad me ask what I would have, I should 
 be granted ; instantly I begg'd that whatsocre I 
 touch'd might turn to Gold ; at first it pleas'd me ; 
 when I sate to eat, I touch'd the Table, and it 
 straight was gold, the trenchers gold : I call'd for 
 earthen vessels, which by my touch were alcumis'd 
 to gold, all which I hugg'd ; but when I came to 
 carve, even as the dishes, so the meat was gold, 
 the liquid wine, but touch'd, was straight con- 
 geal'd : 
 
 And had not Bacchus freed me from my wish, 
 Amidst my gold I had been starv'd* ere this. 
 
 Af. Dull covetous (ool. Mi. The shame of 
 this made me resigne my state, and where before I 
 was a King of men, to flie the harshnes of fools 
 bitter jeasts, I am this wooU crown, and am King 
 of beasts, and my name's Midas. 
 
 Ap. Then oh King of beasts, 
 
 * The original reads "strav'd." ' 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. !? 
 
 Be this thy curse ; when thy base life's out-worn, 
 
 No sacred Poet name thee but in scorn : 
 
 But wilt thou sit with silence ? Mi. Thou 
 
 prat'st and bablest, what would'st thou have me 
 
 do ? Ap. Seest thou this sphear spangled with all 
 
 these stars, all these Love-arts ; nor shall they 
 
 part from hence with unfeasted cares : my purpose 
 
 was to expose them to the shapes of all those 
 
 asses. 
 
 With whom my lost soul wandred in a mist, 
 
 Knowing of them thou art not counted least. 
 
 But first rie shew a story of mine own of Cupids 
 
 love to Psiche, sit and see't ; I'll make thee then 
 
 ingeniously confess thy treason 'gainst the Muses 
 
 Majesty ; 
 
 Withal, not onely whatsoever's mine, 
 
 But all true Poets raptures are divine. 
 
 Mi. Thou hast prevail'd with me, by Pan I'U 
 stay : 
 
 But take heed Poet that your rimes be sound. 
 Else with thine own asse ears thou shalt be 
 crown'd. 
 
 Ap. We two contend ; Art here, there Ignor- 
 ance : 
 Be you the Judges, we invite you all 
 Unto this banquet Accademicall. ^Exeunt- 
 
 [Recorders. Enter Admetus, Meitetius, Zelotis, 
 Astioche, Petrea, Psiche.) 
 
 Ad. You Peers and Daughters to th' Arcadian 
 
18 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 King, we have past the great'st part of our Pil- 
 grimage : listen, oh listen, for these sounds that 
 guild the airs light wings, fanning through all our 
 ears immortal tunes, tell us we are arived at 
 sacred Delphos ; see the burnish'd Spires advance 
 themselves to welcome our approach : the Temple 
 gates stand ope, and that great Deity, whose 
 tongue speaks nothing less than Oracle, attended 
 by his Sibels, daines to appear. 
 (Enter Apollo. ) 
 Mene. Oh teach our knees with a most reverent 
 touch, to kiss this hallowed earth. Zelo. Ladies 
 kneel down. Astio. And sir relate to fair Lato- 
 naes Son, why this religious voyage was attempted. 
 Ad. Daughters I shall : 
 Sacred Apollo, god of Archery, 
 Of Arts, of Physick, and of Poetry : 
 Joves blight hair'd Son, whose yellow tresses shine 
 Like curled flames, hurling a most divine 
 And dazling splendor on these lesser fires, 
 Which from thy guilt beams, when thy Carre 
 
 retires. 
 Kindle those tapers that lend eyes to night ; 
 Oh thou that art the Landlord of all light : 
 Bridegroom to morning, dales eternal King, 
 To whom Nine Muses in a sacred ring. 
 In dances spherical, trip hand in hand. 
 Whilst thy well stringed Harp their feet com- 
 mand ; 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. I9 
 
 Great Delphian Priest, we to adore thy name 
 Have burnt fat thighs of Bulls in hallowed flame, 
 Whose savor wrapt in clouds of smoke and fire. 
 To thy Star spangled pallace durst aspire : 
 Tell us who shall untie the Virgin Zone 
 Of the white handed Psiche, she alone 
 Of three most fair, is most unfortunate. 
 All love, but none her love will celebrate 
 With nuptial rights ; what must of her betide, 
 Dread Phebus tell, to whom shall be bride. 
 
 Ap: Cloath Psiche in a morning weed, then 
 lead and leave her on a hill, when Venus Doves 
 their young ones feed, her husband not of humane 
 race ; but one, whose flaming sight doth kill, and 
 yet wants eyes: his serpents face if she behold, 
 she must see hell, and yet by some notorious deed, 
 obtain a Patent from that place never to die : 
 Psiche farewel. Much joy'd, much griev'd, un- 
 clasp that spell. [Ex. Apollo. 
 Ad. Much griev'd, and yet much joy'd, poor 
 girle, I fear 
 The scale of grief will weigh down that of cheer. 
 Mene. She must see hell, and yet she nere shall 
 die ; 
 True, for hels torments live eternally. 
 
 Asii. But father, no tongue shall her joyes 
 
 express. 
 Pelre. Phebus, thy words leave us all comfort- 
 less. 
 
20 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Psi. I must espouse a serpent, that's my hell. 
 
 Zeh. But since you never shall behold his face, 
 Your torments cannot be too horrible. 
 
 Mene. Is't possible, by deeds impossible 
 To attain the Crown of immortality : 
 It cannot be : thus mocking Phebus leave us, 
 Alwayes in clouds of darkness to deceive us. 
 
 Ad. Stay thy prophane tongue, lest deserved 
 wrath, strick thee with death from his 
 revengeful sphear : 
 Thou must be cloath'd in mourning, so thou art, 
 A mourning habite, and a thought-sick heart : 
 Thou must be left alone on Venus hill : 
 The destinies decree, we must fulfil : 
 Thy husband must want sight, and yet have eyes 
 That flame, and kill ; oh leave these mysteries, 
 Until the gods reveal them, come, let's hence : 
 Changes your Arcadian tunes to Lidian sounds. 
 Sad notes are sweetest, where deep woe con- 
 founds. \Ex omnes. 
 
 [^Recorders. Enter Venus.) 
 
 Ven. Cupid my Son, Where's he ? [within.* 
 
 Cup. Anon forsooth. Venus. Tie gather rods 
 
 of Roses, if you mock me with your anon- 
 
 forsooth : \within. 
 
 * Or, as we should say in modern stage parlance, 
 " in the wings." 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 21 
 
 Cup. Anon-forsooth : Ven. Shall I be thus still 
 vext? still when my blood boyles in the fire of 
 anger, then this ape with purpose frets me. — 
 Boy. 
 
 {Enter Cupid. ) 
 
 Cup. Anon-forsooth : Ven. Will Juno come, 
 or Ceres ? 
 
 Cup. Juno lay lolHng in my Uncles lap. Ven. 
 Which Uncle? 
 
 Cup. Uncle Jove : I laughl out-right to see 
 how (wanton-like) with both her arms, she clung 
 about his neck ; gave him ten kisses, toy'd with 
 his locks, look'd babies in his eyes, and swore she 
 would not watch him when he went among his 
 wenches, if he'd turn away his sawcy page, the 
 smooth-fac'd Ganimed ; the boy by chance upon 
 her fan had spilt a cup of Nectar, oh how Juno 
 swore : 
 
 I told my Aunt I'de give her a new fan, 
 To let loves page be Cupids serving-man. 
 
 Ven. What's this to Venus message, what said 
 Juno? 
 
 Cup. I ask'd her when she'd come, and in good 
 sooth. 
 She answered nothing, but anon forsooth. 
 
 Ven. And where was Ceres, what did she 
 reply ? 
 
 Cup. Ceres was binding garlands for god Pan, 
 of blew-bottles, and yellow pissabeds that grew 
 
22 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 amongst the Wheat, with which she crown'd his 
 forked brows, and weed him with his horn to 
 rouse the skipping Satyrs, to hunt a herd of swine 
 that rooted up her corn : 
 
 I ask'd her when she'd come, and in good sooth, 
 She sent me packing, with anon-forsooth. 
 
 Ven. I sent for Pan, and for Apollo too, what 
 news from them? 
 
 Cup. They said they would be here im- 
 mediately. 
 
 (Enter Pan and Apollo. ) 
 
 Apo. Why in such haste hath Venus sent for 
 us ? Ven. I sent for luno and for Ceres too, 
 but they'll not come. 
 
 Pan. Well, what's the news with you ? Ven. 
 Have you not heard how Venus is contemn'd ? 
 her temples gaz'd at, but not troad upon, her 
 stately hangings, and her pillowes torn : 
 Those rosie garlands that her statues crown'd 
 Are wither'd, or else trampled on the ground. 
 Those troops that flock'd to Paphos to adore me. 
 Shun Paphos now, and scornfully abhore me. 
 
 Pan. That's strange, for all are up to th'ears in 
 love, Boyes without beards get boyes, and Girles 
 bear girles, fine little rattle-pates thus high, 
 Dwaft wives ; If long this hot world stand, 
 We shall have all the earth turn Pygmy-land. 
 
 Ven. All honour Love, but none adore Loves 
 Queen : 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 2$ 
 
 Apol. Thd injury is great, but from whence 
 springs it ? 
 
 Ven. From Psiche daughter to the Arcadian 
 
 King; 
 
 They call her Queen of Love, will know no other, 
 And swear my Son shall kneel and call her 
 mother. 
 
 Cup. But Cupid swears to make the jacks 
 forsworn. 
 
 Apol. Will Citharea swallow this disgrace ? 
 
 Pan. What shall Pan do in this ? Ven. 
 
 Lend me your aids, if you meet Psiche, charge 
 young Mercury to send me to her, or imprison her 
 till you have sent me word. Apol. If this be 
 all, Venus shall have her wish. Pan. Pan by 
 this upright horns and beard doth swear to hunt 
 out Psiche ; but if I do this, what will sweet 
 Venus give me ? Ven. A sweet kiss ; and 
 
 Phebus shall have one, Cupid another, upon con- 
 dition they will right those wrongs which Psiche 
 in her great pride throws on me : draw from thy 
 quiver " dull leaden shaft, and sticke it through 
 her bosome to the heart. 
 
 Make her in love, but let her proud eyes doat 
 on some ill shapen drudge, some ugly fool, do this 
 He weave for thee a Coronet of Roses, mixt with 
 Berenices hair ; and give thee my best Chariot, 
 and my Doves, to hunt with on the earth, or in 
 the air ; wilt thou do this my boy ? Cup. I 
 
24 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 will for-sooth. Ven. Nay do not mock me, 
 
 wilt thou ? Cup. Yes indeed, indeed I will 
 for sooth. Ven. Sweet lad adieu then : 
 
 Apollo, Pan, revenge poor Venus wrongs. 
 Whilst I unyoke my silver coloured team. 
 To wanton on the bosome of yon stream. [Exit. 
 
 Apol. Now she hath call'd me down unto the 
 earth, lie try what pastimes dwell amongst the 
 swains. [JExit. 
 
 Pan. And with my Satires I will have some 
 sport here in the Arcadian valleys. [Exit. 
 
 Cttp. Shall Psiches beautious eyes gaze on base 
 love ? no, let my Mother storm, and chafe and 
 lowre, she shall be none but Cupids Paramour : 
 
 [Enter Zephii'us. 
 
 Ho Zephirus, how now thou puffing slave, 
 
 Art thou grown proud, thou swell'st so ? Gentle 
 
 winde. 
 Clap on thy smoothest feathers, sleekest wings, 
 And mount thee to the top of yonder rocke, there 
 thou shalt finde anon a forlorn maid, convey her 
 gently down unto the vail that borders on my 
 bower : see this perform'd, and I will cloathe thee 
 in a grass-green Robe, spotted with Dasies, Pincks, 
 and Marigolds ; I'le play the thief in Flora's 
 treasury, to make all eyes in love with Zephirus ; 
 Fly hence, do this, and henceforth be thou King 
 Of all the Windes, and father of the Spring. 
 
 \_Exeunt. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 25 
 
 (Enter Admetus, Menetius, Zelotis, Astioche, 
 Petrea, Psiche.) 
 
 Ad. Behold the foot of that unhappy Rock, 
 upon whose frozon top, by Phebus doom, thou 
 must abide thy most sinister hap. 
 
 Astio, Dear sister Psiche. 
 
 Psi. Peace Astioche : Petrea, Father : you 
 should all have mourn'd, when the mad spirits of 
 the multitude kneel'd down, and call'd me Venus ; 
 then have wept, when Cithereas Altars were left 
 bare, and I was call'd a goddess; when these 
 tears, whose reeking makes my Funeral lights 
 burn dim, might have quench'd Venus wrath : 
 but leave me now to fight with death, or meet 
 worse misery. 
 
 Mene. But lurks that serpent in that fatal rock ? 
 Pel. So said Apollo. Zelo. Then Menetius, 
 
 we will conduct fair Psiche to the cave, and rip 
 the monsters entrails with our swords. 
 
 Psi. Forbear all force, I will ascend alone ; 
 Phoebus will be displeas'd : Alone said he, dis- 
 tressed Psiche shall climb up yon hill. Ad. The 
 way is dangerous, thou wilt loose thy self without 
 a guide. Psi. Death must my conduct be, see 
 where the pale hagg stands ; vain world adieu, I 
 am his bride, he waits for none of you. 
 
 \She climbs up the Rock, 
 
 Ad. What pains the poor Girl takes, see how 
 she strives 
 
26 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Against the swelling bosom of the hill. 
 
 Mene. See the kinde brambles, as enamor'd of 
 her, 
 Circle her beauty in her catching arms, 
 Wooing her to come back ; as who should say, 
 Thou runst too fast to death, sweet Psiche stay. 
 Ad. But all in vain, she now hath climb'd the 
 Rock, 
 And wafts her hand, do you the like to her. 
 Whose timeless death prepares my Sepulchre. 
 Petre. Sister with courage meet thy destiny. 
 To morrow, if thou liv'st, wee'l visit thee. 
 
 \Exeunt. 
 {Enter Cupid and Zephirus.^ 
 Cup. Fly Zephirus, on top of yonder mount 
 My fair Love sits ; on thy soft swelling wings 
 
 Let Psiche ride you voyces that attend me, 
 
 \_Ex. Zep. 
 Dance in the air like wantons, to entice 
 My Love to dwell in Cupids Paradice : 
 Musick with ravishing tones inchant her ears ; 
 A banquet there : She that doth Cupid wed, 
 Thus shall she live, and thus be honoured. \Exit. 
 (Enter Zephirus, and takes Psiche from the Rock, 
 and Exit with her in his arms. A Banquet 
 brought in. ) 
 {Enter Zephirus with Psiche, and places her at 
 
 the Banqttet, and Exit. ^ 
 Psi, Where am I now ? For through the cheer- 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 2? 
 
 ful air hither I have been brought, on unseen 
 wings ; What wondrous place is this ? No ser- 
 pent sure lurks in this pleasant bower : my ear 
 drinks sounds of heaven- tun'd Instruments ; I see 
 no creature, and yet me thought soft fingers set 
 me down, and I am forc'd by sweet compulsion, 
 to be the onely guest of A Banquet first plam, and 
 this fair board, which presently set out witi 
 empty, is as soon new all delkates. 
 
 furnished ; I fain would touch these sweets, but 
 fear to taste them. Eccho. Taste them. 2 Taste 
 them. 3 Taste them. 
 
 Psi. What voice is that ? I dare no longer sit. 
 
 Eccho. Sit. 2 Sit. 3 Sit. 
 
 Psi. ^Vho mocks me ? Are you devils, or are 
 you gods ? 
 
 Eccho. Gods. 2 Gods. 3 Gods. 
 
 P%i. The gods will d6 no harm. 
 
 Eccho. No harm. 2 No harm. 3 No harm. 
 
 Psi, Psiche be bold, and taste this heavenly food. 
 
 Eccho. Ha, ha, ha. 2 Ha, ha, ha. 3 Ha, 
 ha, ha. 
 
 Psi. These are no Ecchoes, for they shift their 
 place, nor catch they my last words as Ecchoes do ; 
 for when I would have fed, they mock'd my 
 pride, they laught at my presumption : No, they 
 are Fury-Elves, and will torment me. 
 
 (Enter Zefhirus with drink. ) 
 If thus I talk to them, — Who fills this wine, and 
 
28 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 tempts my eye with it ? as who should say, Drink 
 Psiche. 
 
 Eccho. Drink Psiche. 2 Drink Psiche. 3 
 Drink Psiche. 
 
 Psi. lie taste no drop of this inchanted wine : 
 jain from this Magick circle wonid I rise, yet dare 
 not ; oh let Psiche see your eyes, or rid me hence, 
 and set my fears in peace. 
 
 Eccho. Peace. 2 Peace. 3 Peace. 
 (Enler Lupid.) 
 
 Cup. How lovely is my Psiche ! earth's too base 
 To be possest of her Celestial Form : 
 My mother hates her ; for the gods I fear 
 Would banish her from earth, my Love being 
 
 there ; 
 And therefore shall she live in Cupids Bower, 
 For she deserves to be Loves Paramour : 
 
 how my fair eyes wound me ; by this kiss, and 
 
 this white hand. 
 
 Psi. Oh me ! what voice is this I feel ? beside 
 soft fingers, and a Ring. Cup. Long white 
 
 fingers, soft white hand. 
 Ring and all at thy command. 
 
 Psi. Is this my husband then? Cup. Ho 
 Zephirus, remove hence those Ambrosian dishes 
 straight. \_Zephirus takes off the Banquet. 
 
 Psi. My father much mistook the Oracle ; 
 To this sweet voice, could I enjoy the sight, 
 
 1 should my self then stile Queen of Delight. 
 
LOVF.S MISTRIS. 29 
 
 CuJ>. Pleasure shall be thy Lackey ; wilt thou 
 hunt, 
 Then in an ayery Chariot, drawn by birds, 
 On the windes downy back my Love shall ride ; 
 
 Mild Zephirus shall be thy Waggoner ; who if 
 the heat oflfend, his silver wings shall fan cool air 
 upon thee, yet my Love, if thou commit'st one 
 sin, thou art not mine. 
 
 Psi, Name it, and I'le avoid it for your sake, 
 
 Cup. Thy mourning sisters shortly will return, 
 and seek thee on the rock from whence thou cam'st, 
 But shun their sight and speech ; Psiche do this, 
 Thou rob'st me else of love, thy self of bliss. 
 
 Psi. Not speak nor see my sisters ; oh what 
 pleasure can Psiche take, lock't in a Golden Jayl ? 
 
 Cup. Run not unto thy ruine gentle love ; 
 Yet if thou needs wilt see and speak with them. 
 Command thy servant Zephirus to bring them 
 From top of yonder Rock into this vail ; 
 But if they make inquiry who I am. 
 Fill both their laps with gold, and send them gone, 
 Besides I woe thee by this nuptial kiss, do not 
 
 perswade me to disclose my shape, 
 Attempting that, thou loosest this high state ; 
 I then must leave thee, thou live desolate. 
 
 Psi. In all these things I will obey my love. 
 
 Ctip. Then Psiche, in thine unseen husbands 
 hand, 
 
30 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Clasp thy white fingers ; I'le now crown thy bed 
 With the sweet spoiles of thy lost Maiden-head. 
 
 [Exeunl. 
 (Enter ApuUius and Midas. ) 
 
 Mi. Hand off, let go my sheep hook, I'le not 
 stay, 
 I'le hang my self, e're I'le see out thy Play : 
 Call you this Poetry ? Ap. If this displease thee 
 Midas, then I'le shew thee e're I proceed with 
 Cupid and his love, what kinde of people I com- 
 merst withal in my transhape. 
 
 Mi. That's when thou wert an Ass. Ap. 
 The very same. 
 
 Mi. Yes, that I fain would see. 
 
 Ap. Sit then and view thine own infirmity. 
 (A dance. Enter a proud ass with Ears. ) 
 
 Mi. What fellow's that ? 
 
 Ap. A self-willed insolent fool, who spights at 
 those above him, and those beneath despiseth, 
 and his equals jests* upon ; rich in his own conceit, 
 in judgement poor. 
 
 Still carping, the' a coxcomb, and may pass. 
 As these days go, for a proud arogant Ass. 
 (Dance. Enter a Prodigal Ass. ) 
 
 Mid. I, this I like ; What fellowes that ? 
 
 Ad. A fellow he, who riots that, which most 
 penuriously his father hoorded, in drabs, drink 
 
 * The text reads " jets.'' 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 3I 
 
 and play, wearing fantastick habits, and gav 
 clothes. 
 
 Till he hath quite exhausted all his gold, 
 And for a prodigal Ass may be inroul'd. 
 (Dance. Enter a Drunken Ass.') 
 
 Mi. This gives me good content what's he ? 
 
 Ap. A pot-companion, brother to the glass. 
 That roars in's cups, indeed a drunken Ass. 
 (Dance. Enter ati Usurer^ 
 
 Mi. He looks like a good fellow Now that 
 
 gray beard ? 
 
 Ap. One that doth pinch his belly in his life, 
 and starve his own guts to make others feed ; 
 Patcheth his own clothes to make others proud, 
 And for a covetous Ass may be allow'd. 
 
 (Dance. A young Geittlewoman. ) 
 
 Mi. But so did never Midas — Now that Minks. 
 
 Ap. Her mothers darling she, born to good 
 means ; in love with all she sees, yet truly, none ; 
 who then great Heires are proffered, trifles them ; 
 And in the end, when with none else she can, 
 She marries with her fathers Serving-man : 
 And that is a right she-Ass. 
 
 [Dance. An ignorant Ass.) 
 
 A/i. What Reverend person's that of all the 
 other? I like him best. Ap. That Midas, is thy 
 brother, a piece of moving earth, illiterate, dull ; 
 who having in himself naught commendable. 
 
32 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 envies what's good in others ; and yet dare in his 
 
 own impudence, with arts compare : 
 
 A bloclf, a stone, yet learning he'I revile. 
 
 And a dull ignorant Ass we will him stile. 
 
 Mi. But Where's your Poet Ass amongst all 
 these ? 
 
 Ap. There's no such creature. \^Dance and Exit. 
 
 Mi. Then what call'st thou those that let not 
 men lie quiet in their graves, but haunt their 
 Ghosts with ballats and bal'd rimes ? Do they 
 not teach the very fiends in hell speak in blank 
 verse ; do we not daily see every dull-witted Ass 
 spit Poetry ? And for thy Scene, thou bring'st 
 here on the Stage, a young green-sickness baggage 
 to run after a little ape-fac'd boy thou tearm'st a 
 god ; Is not this most absurd ! Ap. Mis-under- 
 standing fool, thus much conceive, Pische is 
 Anima, Psiche is the Soul, the soul a Virgin, longs 
 to be a bride, the soul's Immortal, whom then can 
 she wooe but Heaven ? Whom wed but Immor- 
 tality : 
 
 Oh blame not Psiche then, if mad with rage. 
 She longs for this so divine marriage. 
 
 Mid. But tell me then, why should Apollo say, 
 all love her, and yet none will marry her. 
 
 Ap. All love fair Psiche, all cast amorous eyes 
 on the soules beauty, but who is't will wed her ? 
 None with the soul will lead so strict a life. 
 As heaven enjoynes with such a blessed wife. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 33 
 
 Mi. Thou promp'st my understanding pretty 
 well ; but why should Venus been Queen of Love, 
 with her Son Cupid to enamour her on some base 
 groom mis-shapen, and deformed ? 
 
 Ap. By Venus here, is meant untemperate 
 lust : lust wooes her Son Desire, to inflame the 
 soul with some base groom, that's to some ugly 
 sin ; Desire is good and ill ; the evil sweares to 
 obey his mother Venus, and vex Psiche : but 
 Cupid representing true desire doats on the souls 
 sweet beauty, sends his servant Zephirus ; In 
 whom. Celestial pleasure's meant. 
 To entice his Love, the Soul to his chaste bed, 
 Giving her heaven for her lost maiden-head. 
 
 Mi, Onely one Riddle more, and I have done ; 
 why did the poor girle Psiche take such pain? 
 What scrambling shift she made to climb the 
 mountain, and crawl through brakes and briers to 
 get a husband. 
 
 Ap. This shewes how many strong adversities, 
 Crosses pricks, thornes and stings of conscience, 
 would throw the ambitious soul affecting heaven, 
 into dispair and fainting diffidences. 
 Which Psiche must pass through ; the soul must fly. 
 Through thousand lets, to seek eternity. 
 
 Mi. Thou hast made this somewhat plain. 
 
 Ap. Kinde Gentleman, 
 Winke at our strife, you may in pardoning this. 
 Count this our talk a meer Parentesis. \_Exeunt. 
 
34 LOVSS telSTRIS. 
 
 w 
 
 ACT. II. SCEN. I. 
 (Enter Psiche, Astioche, and Petrea.) 
 
 Psi. ■^•^^ELCOME dear sisters; with the breath 
 of Love, poor Psiche gives kind 
 welcome to you both : oh tell me 
 ''^ then by what auspicious guide, you 
 came conducted to this sacred place? Asli. 
 Sister you shall : when many a weary step had 
 brought us to the top of yonder Rock, mild 
 Zephirus embrac'd us in his arms, and in a cloud 
 of rich and strong perfume, brought's unto the 
 skirts of this green mead. 
 
 Psi. And happily arriv'd ; Nature and Art have 
 strove to make this dale their treasury ; windes 
 fly on Psiches errand ; shapes unseen are my 
 attendants, and to make me sport, will dance like 
 nimble Ecchoes In the air, and mock me. 
 
 Eccho. Mock me. 2 Mock me. 3 Mock me. 
 
 Psi. Sisters, how like you this ? 
 
 Ec. This, ha, ha, ha. 2. This, ha, ha, ha. 
 3. This, ha, ha, ha. 
 
 Petre. They mock us, they will do no harm to 
 us? 
 
 Psi. Oh no. 
 
 Eccho. No. 2. No. 3. No. 
 
 Psi. Bablers, be silent. 
 
 Eccho. Silent. 2. Silent. 3. Silent. 
 
LOVES MI5TRIS. 35 
 
 Psi. Or else I'le punish you ; and let me hear 
 
 some Musick Loud And still. 
 
 [Loud Mttsick, and still Musick. 
 Tell me, how like you this? Asi. It flies the 
 reach of Admiration. Fetr. But let us see the 
 shapes of them that play, what are they, speak ? 
 Or what's your husband's name ? 
 Let's know our brother, that we may relate 
 To the King our father your high honour'd state. 
 
 Psi. My husband, sister, is now rid from home. 
 
 Ast. Why, say he be, I hope you know his 
 name ; we'l ransack all the Pallace but we'l finde 
 him : is your sweet-heart so proud, he'l not be 
 seen ? Fetr. Where is he Psiche ? 
 
 Psi. Trust me, he's from home. jlst. Let's 
 see his Picture then? Psi. 'Las I have none. 
 Peir. Describe his person. 
 
 Psi. I must shift them hence, my tongue will 
 else breed my confusion. Ast. Nay sister, 
 
 when ? Pelr. When sister will it be ? Psi. 
 How should I give him shape I never saw ? He's 
 a fair lovely youth, upon each cheek, smiles lie in 
 cheerful dimples ; on his brow sits Love and 
 Majesty in glorious pride ; His eyes such beauty 
 in their circles hold, that walking in the night, I 
 have thought them Stars ; long flaxen curled 
 tresses crown his head. Come, come, you shall 
 not be enamored on my fair husband ; this for all 
 suffice, he's yong and rich. 
 
36 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Asli. Oh how my blood doth rise, in envy of her 
 high felicity ; speak, what's his name ? 
 
 Psi. Home, home ; more musick there, I must 
 to rest : 
 
 (Recorders. Enter Zephirus loith bags. ) 
 
 Ho Zephirus, come forth, and bring me brim 
 full bags of gold : 
 
 Hold up your laps, tho' them you cannot see 
 That bring this gold, this larges take from me ; 
 Adieu, adieu : my duty to the King, 
 I needs must stop mine eares when Syrens sing. 
 
 Petr. Astioche. Asti. Petrea, oh, I am mad to 
 note her pride ; her husband is no serpent as 'twas 
 said, and false Apollo sung ; he is some god, and 
 this his Temple, for no mortal hand hath laid 
 these Christial pavements, cloath'd these meads in 
 never-fading liveries of green ; Flora you see 
 cloathes all the ground with flowers. Flora is 
 Psiches hand-maid ; Zephirus is but her foot-boy, 
 lackeys at her beck. 
 
 Petr. Yet she's our sister, and it doth me good 
 To see rich worth in any of our blood. 
 
 Asti. Thou art a fool Petrea, for I hate 
 That any's fortune should transcend my state ; 
 She sends us hence in scorn, but we'l return, 
 And never cease, till by some treachery. 
 Her pride we make a slave to misery. \Exeunt. 
 (Enter Admelus, Menetius, and Zelotis. ) 
 
 Mtne, Patience great sir, you have not lost them 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 37 
 
 all, doubtless the two last live. Ztlo. Sir, 
 
 though they be your daughters, th'are our wives, 
 and we are in no such despair of them. 
 
 Ad. Admit you were one for Astioche, and that 
 another for Petrea wept. 
 
 You two, but for two wives shed husbands teares ; 
 For you and them, I sorrow all : your feares 
 Divided betwixt you ; on me alone. 
 Lies like a mountain, and thus casteth down 
 Admetus wretched body, with his crown ; 
 They followed Psiche and her destiny. 
 Hath given them death, us living misery. 
 (Enter Evemore. )* 
 
 Eve. Rise Royal sir, your Daughters are 
 return'd. 
 
 Ad. Oh where, which way ; are my two daugh- 
 ters come ? 
 
 Eve. Yes sir, and both their laps are fiU'd with 
 gold. 
 
 (Enter Astioche and Petrea. ) 
 
 Ad. Welcome to both in one ; oh can you tell 
 what fate your sister hath ? Both. Psiche is 
 well. 
 
 Ad. So among mortals it is often sed,-|- 
 Children and friends are well, when they are dead 
 
 Astio. But Psiche lives, and on her breath 
 attends delights that far surmount all earthly joy : 
 
 * Not named amongst the characters of the play. 
 
38 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Musicke, sweet voyces, and Ambrosian fare, 
 Windes, and the light-wing'd creatures of the 
 
 ayre : 
 Cleer chanell'd Rivers, springs, and flowery 
 
 meads, 
 Are proud when Psiche wantons on their streams, 
 When Psiche on their rich Imbroidery treads, 
 When Psiche guilds their Christal with her beams : 
 We have but seen our sister, and behold 
 She sends us with our laps full brimm'd with 
 gold. 
 
 jidm. Oh, you amaze me Daughters. Petr. 
 Let joy banish amazement from your kingly 
 thoughts, Psiche is wedded to some Deity, and 
 prayes withal our quick return again. 
 
 M. , We grant it ; we with you and these, will go 
 To Psiches bowre ; desire inflames my minde. 
 To sit on the bright wings of that blest winde. 
 
 Astio. Oh but the god that governs Psiches 
 thoughts : for sure he is Immortal, charg'd my 
 sister to talk with none but us. 
 
 Petr, Yet by the magicke of our tongues we' 
 try 
 If we can win you so much liberty. 
 
 Ad. Go my Astioche, but come again 
 To comfort him that must thy want complain ; 
 Go with my love Petrea, but return 
 With winged speed, whilst we your absence 
 mourn : 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 39 
 
 Go with my blessings, blest those sisters be, 
 That live like you in bonds of unity : 
 Give Pische this, give her this thou Petrea, 
 
 [Kisseth them. 
 Tell her she is my self, my souls Idea. 
 And say, while she is spotless, lovely white. 
 She shall be my sole comfort, my delight : 
 So part with my best wishes. \Exeunt. 
 
 {Enter Cloiun, with three or four Swains.) 
 Clo. And what might you call that young gentle- 
 man, that rules and raigns, revels and roars in 
 these walks of Arcadia, that makes you borrow 
 sheeps eyes from your flockes, and leaves you no 
 more brains in your heads than in your sheep 
 hooks ? what might you call that gallant ? 
 
 I Swa. Whom do you mean, him whom god 
 Pan so honours, the Fawnes fear, and Satyrs 
 shake to see ? Clo. Ille ipse, the same ; I 
 
 desire no more than this sheep hook in my hand 
 to encounter with that swash buckler. 2 Swa. 
 
 It is the god of Love, they call him Cupid. 
 Clow. Cupid Coxcombe : your Satyrs are all sots, 
 your Fawnes fools, and your Pan a pitiful poor 
 fellow ; had I their horns (as I know not what I 
 may have in time) I would so gore him ; and 
 what weapons doth he use ? 
 
 3 Swa. They say Bow and Arrowes. Clo. 
 
 Bow and Birdbolts doth he not ; and how lies he? 
 
40 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Where's his guard ? what's his play ? Can any of 
 you all give me his true title ? 
 
 1 Siva. Not I, 'tis far beyond me. Clo. Then 
 hearken oh you hoyds, and listen oh you Illiter- 
 ates, whil'st I give you his stile in Folio : He is 
 King of cares, cogitations, and coxcombes, Vice- 
 roy of vows and vanities, Prince of passions, prate- 
 apaces, and pickled lovers ; Duke of disasters, dis- 
 semblers, and drown'd eyes ; Marquess of melan- 
 cholly, and mad folkes, grand Signior of griefs, 
 and groans ; Lord of lamentations, Heroe of hie- 
 hoes, Admiral of aymecs, and Monsieur of 
 mutton-lac'd. 
 
 2 Swa. Here's a stile I shall never be able to 
 get over. 
 
 Clo. And who do you think maintains this prin- 
 cox in his Ponficalibus ? 3 Swa. Nay, it 
 
 exceeds my capacity. 
 
 Clo. A company of pitiful fellows call'd Poets ; 
 did you never hear of one Homer, and of the 
 Tale of Troy, and of a ten years siege, and many 
 such trifles. 2. Swa. Yes, and many things 
 concerning them. Clow. But hear me, oh you 
 miss of mis-understanding ; this Troy was a Vil- 
 lage of some twenty houses, and Priam, as silly a 
 fellow as I am, onely loving to play the good 
 fellow, he had a great many bowsing lads, whom 
 he called sons. 
 
 3 Swa. As we have here in Arcadia. 
 
LOVES MiSTRlS. 4I 
 
 Clow, Just the same ; ty this Troy rkhe a small 
 Brook, that one might stride over, on the other 
 side dwelt Menelaus, a Farmer, who had a light 
 wench to his wife call'd Ilellon, that kept his 
 sheep, whom Paris, one of Priams mad lads, seeing 
 and liking, tieth over the brook, and lieth with 
 her in despight of her husbands teeth : for which 
 wrong, he sends for one Agamemnon his brother, 
 that was then high Constable of the hundred, and 
 complains to him : he sends to one Ulisses, a fair 
 spoken fellow, and Town clarke, and to diver's 
 others, amongst whom was one stout fellow called 
 Ajax, a Butcher, who upon a Holy-day brings a 
 pair of cudgels, and layes them down in the 
 midst, where the two Hundreds were then met, 
 which Hector a Baker, another bold lad of the 
 other side seeing, steps forth, and takes them up ; 
 these two had a bout or two for a broken pate ; 
 And here was all the circumstance of the Trojan 
 Wars. 
 
 I Swa. To see what these Poets can do. 
 
 Clow. But listen to them and they will fill your 
 heads with a thousand fooleries ; observe one 
 thing, there's none of you all sooner in love, but 
 he is troubled with their itch, for he will be in his 
 Amorets, and his Canzonets, his Pastorals, and his 
 Madrigals, to his Phillis, and his Amorillis. 
 
 I Swa. Oh beautious Amorillis. Clo^v. And 
 
42 LOTES MISTRIS. 
 
 what's Amorillis, think'st thou ? I Swa. A fair 
 and lovely creature ? 
 
 C/ow. He shew thee the contrary by her own 
 name, Amor is love, illis is ill, is ill, cannot be 
 good ; Er^o Amorillis is starke naught ; let one or 
 two examples serve for more, there's one of our 
 fairest Nimphes called Susanna ; what is Susanna, 
 but Sus, and anna, which is in plain Arcadia, Nan 
 is a Sow. 
 
 2 Swa. Well, you have taught us more than 
 ever I understood before, concerning Poetry. 
 
 Clow. Come to me but one hour in a morning, 
 and He read deeper Philosophy to you ; good 
 morrow Neighbours, Poets, quotha ; What's 
 TiiuU tu patule, but Titles and Pages : What's 
 Propria que maribtu, but a proper man loves 
 Mary bons, Feminino generi tribiunter, but the 
 Feminine Gender is troublesome, what's Ovid, 
 but quasi, avoid ; now should I be in love, with 
 whom? with Doll, what's that but Dole and 
 lamentation, with Jugg, what's she, but sister to a 
 black -pot, or what's Pegg, good for nothing but 
 to drive into poste ; no Cupid, 1 defie thee and 
 all thy genealogy. 
 
 {Enter Cupid.) 
 
 Cup. What's he that so prophanes our Deity ? 
 and scorns that power which all the gods adore ; 
 to whom Jove sometimes bend, and Neptune 
 kneels, Mars homageth, and Phebus will submit. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 43 
 
 Slie Mercury obey, and Vulcan bow too ; and all 
 rural gods and goddesses, Saytirs and Nimphs 
 allow their soveraign : he shall not scape un- 
 punished. Clow. If I could but find one of these 
 fantastical Poets, or light upon that little god their 
 Patron, I would so tickle them. Cup. This 
 
 hobinal, this rusticke, this base clown ; I find him 
 of a dull and brain less eye, such as I know a 
 golden-headed shaft will never enter, of a skin so 
 thick, as pointed silver hath no power to pierce : 
 for such gross fools, I have a bolt in store, which 
 though it cannot wound, shall give a blow, to 
 startle all within him. [Shools. 
 
 Clow. Oh me, hey-hoe. 
 
 Cup. Lie there base Midas bastard that refuses. 
 
 All honour'd love, and rail 'st against the Muses. 
 
 [ExU. 
 
 Clo. Oh coward, whatsoere thou art, to come 
 behind a man and strike him before, for I saw no 
 
 body to shoot, and never give a man warning 
 
 oh coward ; I am paid, I am pepper'd ; the case 
 is alter'd, for any one may ghesse by the hugeness 
 of the blow, that I am mightily in love ; ay me 
 that any wench were here, whose name is Ayme ; 
 now could I be in love with any madge, though 
 she were an Howlet, or with any maid, though 
 she look't like a Malkin ; Oh Poetry, I find that 
 I am poyson'd with thee ton, for me thinks I 
 
44 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 could say my prayers in blanck verse, nay let me 
 see, I think I could rime for a need : 
 
 Cupid. I yield since so I know thy will is, 
 
 And He go seek me out some Amarillis. 
 
 \Exit. 
 (Enter Psiche alone. ) 
 
 Psiche. There's at this time a combat in my 
 soul, whether to trust my well-known sisters 
 better, or my unseen husband, I have asked, 
 demanded, and enquired of all my tr"iin, this 
 airy-train that hourly waits on me, yet none of 
 them will tell me what he is. 
 
 (Enter Cupid.) 
 
 Besides, this solitude to be alone, begins to 
 grow most tedious, and my fears do every way 
 distract me. Cup. Why how now Psiche ? 
 
 Psi. Oh let Mercies eyes shine on my fault. 
 
 Cup. Are these thy heaven-bound vows ? are 
 all thy protestations guilded ayr ? hast thou no 
 more regard to my command, or thine own safety? 
 
 Psi. Dear love pardon me. 
 
 Cup. Once more I do, and still must pardon 
 thee. 
 And thou must still offend, still torture me : 
 
 Yet once again He try thy constancy : thy sisters 
 are at hand. 
 
 Psi. But gentle love, shall I not speak to them ? 
 
 Cup. Yes, but I wooe thee 
 To send them quickly hence, or they'll undo thee : 
 
l.OVES MIS1RIS. 45 
 
 They now are at the Rock, bid the cool winde 
 To please thee, bring them to the place assign'd. 
 
 [Exil. 
 
 (Enter Zephirus with the two Sisters.) 
 Psi. Ho Zephirus, tell me the cause of your so 
 
 quick return ? 
 
 jlstio. Psiche we come in danger ol our lives, 
 
 to save our sister from ensuing harm. Psi. What 
 
 harm? what danger? 
 
 ^sti. Danger eminent, once you refused our 
 counsel, and deny'd lo let us know your husband 
 or his name. Petr. Come let's see him. 
 
 Psi. Oh, what shall I do ? Petr. Escape the 
 danger you are fain into. Psi. You cannot see 
 him. .<^j/z. Give us then his shape ? Psi, 'His 
 shape, why he's a man whose snowy head bowes 
 on his bosome, through the weight of age. Asti. 
 That cannot be ; you said he was a youth of 
 comely stature, with long flaxen hair. Psi. I'm 
 entrap'd. Asti. Speak, did you ever see your 
 husband ? Psi. Why do you ask ? pray trouble 
 me no more : leave me, and I will fill your laps 
 with gold. Asti. Once thy gold tempted us to 
 leave this place, and to betray thy life to misery, 
 it shall not now, did not Apollo doom thy fatal 
 marriage to some hideous beast? how just is 
 Phebus in his auguries ? last night when we went 
 hence laden with gold, 
 
46. LOVES MISXRIS. 
 
 We spide a serpent gliding on the mead . , , ■ 
 WIjo at the sight of us, writhing his head, 
 
 Proudly into the ayr, first hist at heaven, be- 
 cause it did not shade him from our eyes. Psi. 
 How did that serpent vanish from your sight? 
 
 y^sH. ■ In at these gates he rowld, Psiche be 
 wise, For tho awhile he dally with thy beauty,' 
 dulling thy taste with sweets, thy eyes with 
 shews, thy ears with musicic, and sweets lullabies, 
 he will in time devour thee. 
 
 Psi. Miserable wretch, how shall I flye the 
 fate that foUowes me ? whose help shall I invoke ? 
 Petr. Tell nje the truth, and we'l devise some 
 means to succour thee. 
 
 Psi. You are my sisters, I confess to you, I 
 never saw his face, know not his shape, yet have- 
 I touch'd his eyes, and felt his hands. Oft have I 
 kist his cheeks, more oft his lips j . 
 Eyes, hands, lips, cheeks, and face so.charm'd my- 
 
 touch. 
 That I have sworn, save his, there were none 
 
 such ; 
 yet your strange-story makes me to suspect that 
 he's some serpent, for he tels me still, to see his 
 glorious shape will ruin me ; besides he bids me 
 shun your company, else you will breed my 
 sorrow ; this is that which troubles me. 
 
 Asii. Hear thee my counsel ; Instantly provide 
 a keen-edg'd Raysor, and a burning Lamp; at 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 4/ 
 
 night, when sleep sits on his monstrous eyes, steal 
 from his speckled side, step to your light, and 
 Without fear behold his horrid shape, and with 
 the Raysor cut his skaly throat ; 
 And so by death gain life, and he being dead, 
 Psiche shall to some King be married. 
 
 Pelr. How doth our sister relish this devise ? 
 Psi. I do embrace your counsel, and this night He 
 put the same in execution, 
 Come, you have made (me) resolute and bold. 
 And now receive your laps o're-swell'd with gold. 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 Asti. Swell in thy pride, until thou brealc'st thy 
 heart. 
 Yet come, we'l take her larges e're we part. \Exit, 
 {Enter Midas and Apuleius. ) 
 
 Mi. Poet, no more, I have enough of Psiche ; 
 her sisters and the serpent, all of them most 
 villanous lies, He prove it ; and unless to please 
 my self, and keep mine eyes from sleep, thou'lt 
 let me shew thee some of our fine sport, such as 
 we use here in Arcadia, I will endure no longer. 
 Ap. Well, I am pleas'd. 
 
 Mi. He shew thee in a Dance. 
 
 Ap. Art sometimes must give way to ignorance. 
 A DANCE. 
 [Enter Van, Clown, Swains, and Cotintry wenches ; 
 They dance, and Exit. ) 
 
 Mi. Was not this sport indeed? Ap. My 
 
48 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 modesty gives thee no reprehension, for I am well 
 pleased with your pastoral mirth ; but as thou 
 had'st a power over mine eyes, to sit it out with 
 patience; so lend, me thy attentive ears. Mi. 
 First clear thy absurdities, nay, gross ones too ; 
 her Psiche lyes abominably, and sales she has two 
 husbands, the one young, the other old : how canst 
 thou answer this ? Ap, Though thy vain doubts 
 be most familiar to these Judicious hearers, well 
 experienced as well in matters moral as divine ; 
 to thee He make it plain. Mi. I prethee do. 
 Ap. Did Psiche lye to say she had two loves? 
 how like art thou to Psiche, she to thee. 
 
 Mi. To me, I scorn her likeness. Ap. In 
 this point thou art, for rather than thy sisters 
 shall grow angry, to make earths drossie pleasures 
 stay for thee, thou wilt exclaim with Psiche, 
 Cupids young ; the joyes of heaven are all too 
 young, too little to be believ'd, or look'd at, if 
 that fail, thou with the soul wilt say, my love is 
 old, Divine delights are crooked like old age, 
 Who will not vow, speak, nay swear any thing. 
 To have their vain delights serv'd like a King. 
 
 Mi. 'Tis pretty, but your Ecchoes pleas'd me 
 best : oh if a man had seen them. Ap. With 
 a mortal eye none can, in them is hid this mystery, 
 Cselestial raptures, that to allure the sight, are seen 
 no more then voices being on high, subject unto 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 49 
 
 no weak and fleshly eye. Mi. But why did 
 Cupid hide himself from Psiche ? 
 
 Ap. Oh who dares pry into those mysteries, 
 that heaven would have conceal'd, for this she's 
 charg'd not to see Cupid's face, to shun her sisters. 
 Mi. Those gadding girles, what didst thou mean 
 by them ? 
 
 Ap. The restless sins that travel night and day. 
 Envying her bliss, the sweet soul to betray. 
 
 Mi. Well, by this little I conceive the rest, 
 I care not greatly if I stay it out, 
 But if not lik't. He either sleep or flout. 
 
 Ap. So will not these I hope, before they view 
 What horrid dangers Cupid's bride pursue. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 ACT III. SCENE I. 
 (Enter Psiche in night-attire, with a Lamp and 
 a Rayzor, ) 
 Psi. *A*IMES eldest daughter Night, Mother 
 '§« of Ease, thou gentle Nurse, that with 
 ^L sweet Lullabies, Care-waking hearts 
 " to gentle slumber charm'st ; thou 
 smooth-cheek't negro night, the black-ey'd Queen, 
 that rid'st about the world on the soft backs of 
 downy Ravens sleek and sable plumes, and from 
 thy chariot silent darkness flings ; in which man, 
 beast, and birds inveloped, takes their repose and 
 
50 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 rest ; Psiche intreats thee no jar nor sound betray 
 her bold attempt : Cufid discovered, sleeping 
 
 Soft silken vail that curtains m a bed. 
 
 in my doubt, 
 Give way to these white hands, these jealous eyes. 
 Sharp knife prepar'd for a red sacrifice ; 
 Bright Lamp conduct me to my love or hate, 
 Make me this night blest or unfortunate : 
 Wonderous amazement ! what do I behold ? 
 A Bow and Quiver, these shafts tip'd with gold, 
 With silver this, this sluggish arrows head. 
 Is like my heart, compos'd of lead. 
 Such weapons Cithareas Son doth bear, 
 Psiche were happy if this Cupid were ; 
 Malicious sisters, I your envy see. 
 This is no serpent, but a Deity : 
 What pretty loves, like silken slumbers lie, 
 Closing the covers of each Christal eye ; 
 Hence thou prepared instrument of death, 
 Whilst Psiche sucks new life from his sweet 
 
 breath : 
 Churle Beauty, beauteous Niggard, thus He chide, 
 Why didst thou from mine eyes this glory hide ? 
 Ah me, thou envious light, what hast thou done ? 
 
 Cuf. Immortal Powers, oh succor Venus Son ; 
 what hellish hag hath dropt this scalding oyl on 
 Loves Celestial shape ? 
 
 PH. 'Twas Psiches hand. Cup. How durst 
 thou violate my dread command? Venus my 
 
LOVRS MISTRIS. 5 J 
 
 mother, bid me make thee doat on some base 
 groom ; and I left her and heaven, and with mine 
 own dart wounded my own brest ; for all these 
 favors, wouldst thou murder me ? 
 
 Psi. Let my weak sex plead for my great 
 offence. 
 
 Cup. No, for thy sake, this plague pursue thy 
 sex ; You shall have appetites, and hot desires, 
 which though supply'd, shall nere be satisfied : 
 You shall be still rebellious, like the Sea, and like 
 the windes inconstant ; things forbid you most 
 shall covet, loath what you should like ; 
 You shall be wise in wishes, but enjoying, 
 Shall venture Heavens loss for a little toying. 
 Ho Zephirus. [Etiter Zephirtts. 
 
 Psi. What will my dear Love do ? 
 
 Cup. Hence, touch me not, lie be no more thy 
 Love : 
 
 Discharge my servants from this fairy vail. 
 Resign thy Office to the boysterous North, 
 Bid Famine ride upon his frozen wings, 
 Till they be blasted with his poisonous breath : 
 Musick, he turn'd to horror, smiles to tears, 
 Pleasures to shrieks, felicity to fears. 
 
 Psi. Why do you plague the place for my 
 offence ? 
 
 Cup. Why for thy sisters sake soughtst thou my 
 hate? 
 
52 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 But I will be reveng'd on them and thee, 
 On them for thy sake, and thy self for me. 
 
 Psi. For pity hear poor Psiche. C«/. No, 
 away, 
 
 Psi. I have no way but yours ; which way you 
 flie, 
 lie hang upon your wings, or fall and die. 
 
 Cup. Soon shalt thou leave thy hold ; run 
 Zephirus. [A storm. Enter Boreas, 
 
 Fetch Boreas Art thou come my Aquilon ? 
 
 Boreas, I charge thee by Orithias love, 
 
 Lay waste and barren this fair flowry grove, 
 
 And make this Paradise a den of snakes ; 
 
 For I will have it uglier then hell. 
 
 And none but ghastly scritch-owls here shall 
 
 dwell ; 
 Breath winters storms upon the blushing cheeks 
 Of beauteous Psiche ; with thy boysterous breath. 
 Rend off her Silks, and clothe her in torn rags ; 
 Hang on her loath'd locks base deformity. 
 And bear her to her father, leave her there. 
 Barren of comfort, great with childe of fear ; 
 Psiche fare well, whilst thou with woes art 
 
 crown'd, 
 I must go gather helps to cure my wound. [Exit. 
 
 Psi, With woes indeed ; those wretches live in 
 woe. 
 Whom love forsakes, and Psiche must do so. 
 
 [Exeunt with a great storm. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 53 
 
 (Enter Clown, Amarillis, and Swains. ) 
 
 Clown. Do you hear the News, you annimals ? 
 
 I Swa. Is it worth the hearing ? 
 
 Clown. A question well askt, for it is musical 
 news, and therefore worth your ears i Apollo 
 being call'd by Venus from heaven, hath ever 
 since kept Admetus his sheep, with whom Pan 
 meeting, they fell into contention, whether his 
 Pipe, or Apollo's Harp could yield the better 
 Musick, and which withal could sing the best ; 
 come then my sweet Amarillis, and take thy place 
 amongst the rest, for this is the day of the trial, 
 and amongst others, I heard my father Midas say, 
 that all other business set apart, he would be at it; 
 but there is one mischief late happened, 
 
 I Swain. What's that I prethee ? 
 
 Clown. Pan hath got a cold, is hoarse, and hath 
 lost his voice, and therefore hath chose me to sing 
 in his place ; and Phcebus, because he will take 
 no advantage, hath pick'd out one of his Pages to 
 do the like for him ; therefore come, make a lane, 
 for by this time they are upon their entrance. 
 
 I Stua. But is it possible, that Pans Pipe dare 
 contend with Apollo's Harp ? Clown. Yes 
 
 that it is possible, blinde harper, and that my 
 winde-pipe shall prove : Make room, and get you 
 all out of the lists save I, that am to be one of the 
 Combatants. 
 
54 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 [A Flourish. Enter Apollo, Pan, Admetus, 
 Petrea, Astioche, their two husbands, and Midas.") 
 
 Pan. Who shall be Judge ? Apo. Admetus. 
 
 Ad. Sacred Apollo, great Pan pardon me ; it is 
 a cunning much beyond my skill : therefore I 
 humbly crave to be excus'd. 
 
 Apol, Admetus, for thy hospitality, Phcebus 
 will be thy friend, and give thee leave in this to 
 use thy pleasure. 
 
 Pan. What thinkes Phcebus of Midas, once of 
 men, now King of beasts. Apol. No better 
 man, so please him undertake it. 
 
 Mi. Yes Phoebus, Midas will, and though poor 
 Marsias, 
 
 For striving with thee had his skin puU'd ofif, 
 Yet have we Swaines, and some too not farre off, 
 I could have said, some neer to me in blood, can 
 tickle you for a tone. Clo. Meaning me, and I 
 will set out a throat. 
 
 Apol. Is this thy Champion ? Pan. Yes, and 
 who's for thee ? 
 
 Apo. One of my minutes, hours, days, weeks, 
 or moneths, or years, or seasons, that still wait on 
 us, and have done ever since the first of time ; 
 not one can come amiss. 
 
 Mi. Who shall begin ? Ad. Most voices. 
 
 All. Apollo, Apollo. Clo. No matter though 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. $$ 
 
 his Champion begin, let me alone to come up with 
 the Catastrophie. 
 All. Silence, silence. 
 
 SONG. 
 Phoebus unto thee we sing, 
 Oh thou great Idalian King, 
 Thou the god of Physick art, 
 Of Poetry, and Archery ; 
 We sing unto thee with a heart. 
 Devoted to thy deity : 
 AU bright glory crown thy head. 
 Thou Soveraign of all Piety, 
 Whose golden beames and rayes are shed 
 As well upon the poor as rich. 
 For thou alike regardest each ; 
 Phosbus unto thee we sing, 
 Oh thou great Idalian King. 
 
 I marry this was somewhat to th' purpose ; I 
 must needs say 'twas pretty, but god Pan, now 
 let us hear your Champion ? 
 
 Pan. Come, stand forth ? 
 
 SONG. 
 Clo-M, Thou that art call'd the bright Hiperion, 
 
 Wert thou more strong than Spanish Gerion. 
 That had three heads upon one man. 
 Compare not with our great god Pan. 
 
56 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 They call thee Son of bright Latona, 
 But girt thee in thy torrid zona, 
 Sweat, baste and broyl, as best thou can, 
 Thou art not like our Dripping Pan. 
 
 What cares he for the great god Neptune, 
 With all the broath that he is kept in ; 
 Vulcan or Jove, he scornes to bow to, 
 To Hermes, or the infernal Pluto. 
 
 Then thou that art the heavens bright eye. 
 Or burn, or scorch, or boyl, or fry, 
 Be thou a god, or be thou man, 
 Thou art not like our frying Pan. 
 
 They call thee Phcebus, god of day, 
 
 Years, moneths, weeks, hours, of March 
 
 and May ; 
 Bring up thy army in the van, 
 We'l meet thee with our Pudding Pan. 
 
 Thy self in thy bright Chariot settle. 
 With Skillet arm'd. Brass-pot or Kettle 
 With lugg, Black-pot, with Glass or Can, 
 No talking to our Warming Pan. 
 
 Thou hast thy beames, thy browes to deck. 
 Thou hast thy Daphne at thy beck ; 
 Pan hath his horns, Sirnix, and Phillis 
 And I Pans Swain, my Amariliis. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. S7 
 
 Ad. You Midas have heard both ; these onely 
 wait your just and upright sentence. Mi. Is 
 rhoebus pleased ? 
 
 Ap. Pleased. Mi. And is Pan content. 
 
 Pan. Content. Clow. Now if my father can 
 
 but censure as well as I sing, the town's ours. 
 Mi. Yes Son, I can, and that most learnedly : 
 
 Thy Harp to Pans Pipe, yeeld god Phoebus, 
 For 'tis not now as in Diebus 
 mis. Pan all the year we follow, 
 But semel in anno ridet Apollo, 
 Thy quirester cannot come neer 
 The voice of this our Chanticleer, 
 Then leave off these thy burning rayes, 
 And give to Pan the prick and praise, 
 Thy colour change, look pale and wan. 
 In honour of the great god Pan. 
 
 All. A sentence, a sentence, a Pan, a Pan. 
 
 Apol. Henceforth be all your rural musick such, 
 made out of Tinkers, Pans, and Kettle-drums; 
 and never henceforth may your fields be grac'd 
 with the sweet musick of ApoUos lyre : Midas for 
 thee, may thy ears longer grow, as shorter still 
 thy judgement, dulness, and dotage, be onely 
 govern'd with those reverend hairs ; let all Uke 
 thee, that as they grow in time, decay in know- 
 ledge, have that old man's curse, to be twice 
 children : for thy squeaking son, may all thy 
 
S8 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 state thou leav'st him at thy death, be to sing 
 Ballads through Arcadia, and them to the like 
 tunes ; farewel Admetus, my musick lies un- 
 question'd, what's amiss is not in us, but in their 
 ignorance ; 
 
 Thus undisparadg'd, Phoebus leaves the place, 
 And with them to succession, my disgrace. 
 
 \_Exit. 
 
 Ad, Phoebus is gone displeas'd. Pan. Still 
 may he be so. 
 
 Mi. Midas I'me sure has judg'd with equity. 
 (A Storm. Enter Psiche and Boreas. ) 
 
 Clo. But see Father, see god Pan, if in revenge, 
 he hath not sent a blustering wind to blow us all 
 hence ; 'tis Boreas, 'tis Boreas. 
 
 Pan. Come Midas, come Swaines, till this 
 storm be past, let us away to shelter. \Exeunt. 
 
 Psi. Where art thou Psiche, how art thou 
 deform'd ? What air affords thee breath ? What 
 men be these ? Where shall I hide me ? let no 
 humane eye behold me thus disfigured, and 
 asham'd. 
 
 My Father, Brothers, and my Sisters too. 
 That wrought my fall, what shall poor Psiche do ? 
 
 Ad, What bare anatomy of grief is this, 
 That glads mine ears with sound of Psiches name ? 
 
 Psi. 'Tis her own tongue, the herald of her 
 shame ; 
 Father Admetus, Sisters pity me. Ad. Thou 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 59 
 
 art no childe of mine. Asti. Spurn her away, 
 'Tis some infectious strumpet, and her breath 
 Will blast her cheeks ; her sight is worse than 
 death, 
 
 Psi. I did not use you thus, nor spurn you back, 
 when on the nimble wings of Zephirus, you were 
 transported into Cupids vail ; 
 Your entertainment then deserv'd more right, 
 Then like a dog, thus spurn me from your sight ; 
 Sisters, Petr. Out hagg, we scorn thy sister-hood, 
 
 Psi. You scorn me too ; nay then at last I see, 
 pride will not look on base deformity : Father 
 Admetus, pitty wretched Psiche. [Kneels. 
 
 Ad. Out impudence ; if once again thy tongue 
 mangle the reputation of mv girl, I'le have it 
 straight torn out, hence with th' Imposter. 
 
 Psi. Us'd like a dog, and by a fathers doom, 
 dragg'd from his presence, how am I transform'd? 
 He try my brothers next, upon my knees. 
 
 Zel. Depart the place, for me, I know thee not. 
 
 Psi. Oh me, how quickly wretches are forgot? 
 
 Me. Wretched, away, 
 
 Psi. Away, all cry away, 
 Baseness and pride in one place cannot stay : 
 Astioche, kinde sister, for old loves, resolve my 
 father that I am his childe ; put him in mind ol 
 Phebus oracle, and leaving me upon the barren 
 Rock ; Remember how you came unto my bower, 
 and how my servants fiU'd your laps with gold ; 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 and last remember how by your advice, I made 
 attempt to strike my husband dead, as he was 
 sleeping, do you know me now ? Thence grew 
 my misery. Asli. Yes fool, and my great heart 
 joys in thy fall : and father, now I better survey 
 her, my mind gives me this is Psiche. 
 
 Peir, I am of her thought too, and yet much 
 wonder, how such a beauty should be so deform'd. 
 Ad. None shall perswade me to't ; she's none of 
 mine that tells me I have any part in her. 
 ( Recorders. Cupid descends. ) 
 
 Cup. Admetus stay, chide thy conceit, it ofters 
 wrong unto thy daughter Psiche. Psi. Oh what 
 heavenly tongue will once vouchsafe to sound poor 
 Psiches name torn with disgrace, doubly expos'd 
 to shame. Cup. Psiche, his tongue, whose charge 
 hadst thou obey'd, thy prosperous state had not 
 been so betray'd ; nor hadst thou bin a subject to 
 that shame which now attends thee. 
 
 Psi. Cupid, my dear Lord pardon my guilt, 
 have pity on my sorrow. Cup. I cannot, no I 
 dare not, heaven, and earth, the destinies, and all 
 th' Immortal powers, have with the iron pen of 
 Fate, writ down thy certain pain ; did I not give 
 thee charge, to taste the pleasures of Immortal 
 love, but not to wade too deep in mystery ? Could 
 not my heavenly company suffice to cheer the soul ? 
 But thou with earthly eyes 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 6l 
 
 Must see my face ; and view my real beauty, 
 Against my charge, thy love, and humane duty. 
 
 Psi. I do intreat. Cup. Arise, kneel not to 
 me ; but thank thy sisters, they apparrel'd thee 
 In that distractful state ; Psiche fare well, 
 rie mourn in heaven, to see thy paines in hell. 
 
 \Cupid ascends. 
 
 Ad. Poor miserable child ; instead of tears my 
 heart weeps blood ; I am confounded quite : I 
 have three daughters, thou of all the rest, had'st 
 in my true conceptions greatest share, for which, 
 I call'd thee Psiche, that's the soul, for as my soul 
 I lov'd thee ; now I abjure all interest in thy birth ; 
 hence from my Court. My hand shall nere lay 
 blessing on thy head. 
 
 Nor my tongue grace thee with a daughters name, 
 Thou art not mine, but the base birth of shame. 
 
 Psi. Oh whether shall a wretch convert her eyes, 
 When her own father shall her tears despise? 
 (Enter Mercury.^ 
 
 Mer. Attend Arcadians, the Proclamation of 
 the Paphian Queen. Ad. When Hermes speakes, 
 we are bound to all attendance. Mer. Oh yes, If 
 any can bring Psiche unto Venus 
 
 Asti. Psiche, whom you are sent to seek, stands 
 there. 
 
 Mer. Then here ends Mercuries Commission : 
 Psiche, in Venus name, I do arrest thee, for wrongs 
 to her and Cupid. Psi. I obey your high arrest. 
 
62 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 and with an humble suit, prostrate my self to 
 Citherias wrath; where's angry Venus? Mer. 
 Frantick in this grove, mourning Adonis death, — 
 and here she comes. 
 
 (Enter Venus.) 
 
 Ven. Accursed bow, why didst thou not defend 
 him? He shall not die, Adonis still shall live; 
 Apollo, gentle Phoebus mount thy Chariot, and in 
 his cold brest breathe celestial fire, for all earths 
 simples cannot cure his wound ; or if he must 
 expire, command the Muses to give my Love 
 immortal memory : Hast thou found Psiche ? oh 
 that in this rage, I could but now forget her. 
 
 Mer. See where she stands. 
 With down-cast eyes, and weak up-heaved hands. 
 
 Ven. Just of my height, state, and proportion ; 
 and were her pristine beauty lent her back, might 
 in the jabbles judgement rival me : Strumpet, 
 profaner of our sacred Rights, how hast thou 
 wrong'd me, and abus'd my son? by aiming at my 
 honor and his life. Psi. Dread Paphian Queen, 
 for lovely Cupids sake, and this rich burthen in 
 my wretched womb, pity poor Psiche. 
 
 Ven. Hast thou plaid the strumpet. 
 And for thy sins sake, must I pardon thee ? 
 No, that alone hath made me merciless. 
 
 [ Venus beats her. 
 
 Psi. Help me dear father, sisters. Mercury. 
 
LOVES MISTRrS. 63 
 
 Ad. I dare not speak for thee. Asti. Nor I. 
 Petr. Nor I. 
 
 Psi. Poor Psiche, born unto adversity. Mer. 
 Be not so bitter Madam, for his sake by whom 
 you are made a Grandam, 
 
 Ven. I prove a Grandam to a strumpets brat ? 
 Go Mercury, and from some Garner fetch five 
 measures of five several sorts of grain ; dispatch 
 it Hermes. Mer. What will Venus do ? 
 
 Ven. Thou shalt know better when thou back 
 return'st. [^Exit Mercury. 
 
 You are young Venus, and the Queen of Love, 
 that had th'ambition to be Cupids wife, and marry 
 with a god ; Ho Boreas, since Mercury is slack in 
 his return, wind her enticing locks about thy arm, 
 and tossing her loose carcase in the air, sling it 
 into the bosom of some storm, and grind her 
 bones to powder in the fall. 
 
 Psi. Pity me Venus, father plead for me. 
 (Enter Mercury with Grain. ) 
 
 Ven. 'Tis well done Hermes, hast thou brought 
 the Grain? 
 
 Mer. I have. Ven. Then minion here's your 
 task, 
 Look on all these ; see, thus I mingle them. 
 
 Psi. And what must miserable Psiche do ? 
 
 Ven. To several heaps with thine own hands 
 divide each several seed ere the Sun kiss the West 
 
64 LOVES MISTSIS. 
 
 Or look for death ; go, and when that is done, 
 He ride to Paphos and enlarge my son. 
 Whom yet I keep close prisoner in my closet. 
 
 \_Exit. 
 
 Ad, Psiche adieu, none can reverse thy doom. 
 AsH. Not I. 
 
 Mene. Nor we. {Exit all but Mer. and Psiche. 
 
 Psi. I wish the earth my tomb. 
 
 Mer. Take patience Psiche, and be comforted. 
 
 Psi. Comfort, alas what comfort can she finde, 
 Whose father and dear friends prove so unkinde ? 
 
 Mer. For Cupids sake, who for thy love now 
 wears a pair of golden shackles on his heels : This 
 Mercury will do, flie hence to Paphos, and fetch 
 him from his late imprisonment, then tell him of 
 his Mothers tyranny. 
 
 That done, we two will teach thee, without pain. 
 In several heaps how to divide this Grain. 
 
 \Exeunt. 
 (Enter Midas and Apuleius.) 
 
 Mi. And where have I been thinkst thou 
 Apuleius, didst thou not miss me ? Af. Yes, I 
 did not sleep as thou didst in thy judgement. 
 Mi. Then I perceive, thou knowst how I main- 
 tain'd our rural musick, preferring it before 
 ApoUos Harp. 
 
 Ap. Yes, and by that infer, thou art all earthly, 
 nothing celestial in thee. Mi. All's one for that; 
 Now for your moral. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. €5 
 
 Ap. Wilt thou stay it out? Mi. No, 'tis too 
 dull, unless thou'lt quicken tne with some conceit: 
 thy Psiches sadness hath made me so heavy, that 
 Morpheus steals upon me. 
 
 Ap. What wouldst thou see? Mi. Thy little 
 Cupid I like pretty well, and would see something 
 else what he can do, more then belongs to Psiche. 
 
 Ap. Well, to keep thee awake, lie shew thee 
 now Loves Contrarieties, which was more than my 
 promise. 
 
 A DANCE. 
 
 (Enter a King and a Beggar, a Young man and 
 an Old man, a Lean man, a Fat woman. 
 Dance and Exit. ) 
 
 Mi. I marry, this was somewhat like indeed : 
 here's yong and old, here's fat and lean, the beggar 
 and the King : Love hath power over all. But to 
 your moral now : why comes your Psiche with a 
 sharp Raysor, and a burning Lamp, to murther 
 Cupid ; then he awakes and chases, and flings the 
 house out at windows, was't not so ? 
 
 Ap. He tell thee : she charm'd by her sisters 
 tongues, thinks her fair Love a serpent, and grown 
 mad, would murther Cupid, tare even Jove from 
 heaven ; yet note the greatness of Celestial mercy ! 
 one glimpse, one lamp, one spark, one divine 
 thought, plucks back her arm, and more inflames 
 hei brest with amorous raptures, but because poor 
 
f06 LOVES MISTKIS. 
 
 so'uljfShe'aim'd to search fotbidden -mySteriegj her 
 ^yes-are blastedi Cupid.' loaths her sight, he leaves 
 her vr^f and his blfessed. Bower : i . : 
 Is rent in pieces ; For Heaven seems to fall, 
 When lour pfior sotils turn diabolical. ^ v. 
 
 ^' iHfi. For thkt 'twixt Pan, and PhoebuS,?! know 
 Wst, for I waS'there an Umpire. But resolve me, 
 whyleft he'Psiohe when! she lost hi& love*, yet 
 '.mottrn'dwhen she wasileft of all her friends? , r- 
 
 Ap. All bid the wretched soul run to despair, • 
 When leprous sin defpr-ms hei: ; but even then, 
 When the gods hate her, when she's scorn'd of 
 * '■''' men,' "" •' ' "'■ ,-' ' " ' ■-"''' ' 
 
 Cupid hangs in the ayrjhis divihe eyes 
 Shed tears for her, comforts het miseries. 
 , Mi, Yet he forsook her too. . .,...< , • 
 
 Ap. Till Psiche be made fair,, and Apgel-white, 
 She's not to stand in Cupids glorious sighti. 
 
 Mi, Well, I , am answer'd. Ap, For , thy 
 part Midas, 
 
 Laugh, sleep, or flout, nay snarl, and cavel too, 
 Which none of these here met I hope will do. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
w 
 
 LOVES MISTRIS. 67 
 
 ACT IV. SCENE I. 
 (Enler Vulcan.) 
 Vul. •^•^■(^Ithin hercj ho Pirackmon, when yoi) 
 knave ? take in Adonis quiver, ^n<J 
 his bow, and h^ng them up in 
 ''^ Venus armory by Mars his gantlet, 
 and Achilles sword : ha, ha, ha, I laugh untill my 
 sides be sore, for joy that my yviyes dandipra^ 
 is dead, and now my Ciclops lay't on lustily ; 
 there's half a hundred thunder-bplts bespoke, 
 which argues that the world is full of sin : Neptune 
 hath broke his Mace, and Junos Coach must be 
 new mended, and the hind-most wheels must have 
 two spoaks set in ; Phoebus fore-horse must have 
 two new shqoes, calk'd, and one remove ; 
 Pans Sheep-hook must be men led .shortly too, 
 Plie it of all hands, we have much to do. 
 
 (l. Ciclop from tvithin.) 
 
 a. Master, here's one of Ceres husbarid-merf 
 would have a Plough-share, and a Sythe neW 
 ground, Vul. New ground, new halter'd, he 
 shall stay his turn ; we shall deceive' the gods and 
 goddesses, for a plow-jogging hinde. 2. Ci. 
 Here's Mercury to have his Caducfes mended. 
 Vul. He shall stay. 
 
 3. Ct. Here's Ganimed, to have his masters 
 hunting-nagg new shod ; and Mars his lackie, with 
 a broken gorget. 
 
68 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 4. a. And here's a clown for hob nailes. 
 
 Vul. Here's the devil and all ; what would they 
 have me do ? I toyl and moyl worse than a mill- 
 horse, scarce have kept a. minute this fortnight, 
 and odde days ; I have not time to sit and eat ; 
 But I'le give over all, and live upon my wife as 
 others do ; they say she hath good talkings ; e're 
 rie endure it, I will do any thing ; when I was 
 made a Smith, would I had been a Bearward. 
 
 4. a. What shall we do first ? 
 
 Vul. Why first go hang your selves : I keep a 
 dozen Journeymen at least, besides my Ciclops and 
 my Prentises, yet 'twill not fadge : I think my 
 little boy Cupid must blow the bellowes, and my 
 Wife Venus must leave her trade, and turn she- 
 smith, yet 't would scarce quit the cost ; she'd 
 spend me more in Nectar and sweet-balls to 
 scowre her cheeks, smudg'd and besmear'd with 
 cole-dust and with smoak, but soft, what shackled 
 run-away is this ? 
 
 {£ti/er Cupid in Fetters.) 
 
 Why how now Cupid ? 
 
 Cup, Crawling softly to you. 
 
 You are my dad, and I am come to see you. 
 
 Vul. How came you out of credit with your 
 Mother ? 
 
 Cup. Ask me how I crept into credit rather, 
 For do you see sir ; thus the matter stands, 
 I am indebted, and thus enter'd bands 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 69 
 
 To be forth-comming. Vul. Y'ate a yong 
 
 whore master ; about your wench, I have heard 
 all; but where's your mother now? Cup. 
 
 Binding up Mirtles for Adonis Tombe, whom she 
 hath now turn'd to a Hiacinth? Val. And 
 what's become of Psiche, where is she ? Cup. 
 I parted but even now with Mercury, who told me 
 that my mother had enjoyn'd her to part five 
 measures of commixed grain into five heaps, which 
 seem'd impossible; but he and I sent forth the 
 toyling Ants, who like so many earnest labourers, 
 did it with ease, for they were numberless : then 
 with his cunning, having pick'd the lock of Venus 
 Closet door, he set me free, and I am come dear 
 father, to intreat, to file off these my bolts, 
 Vul. Cupid I dare not, Venus gave me charge, 
 not to take off thy shackles. Cup. Father, sweet 
 Hony-sugar-candy dad, indeed, indeed you shall. 
 
 Vul. This cologuing wagg will not be answered; 
 come, set up your leg ; Venus will sole me by the 
 ears for this. 
 
 Cup. No, no, I warrant you. 
 
 (Enter Psiche with, a Violl. ) 
 
 Vul. So now 'tis done, th'art free, but who 
 
 comes here ? she's angry sure, for see how big she 
 
 looks : what a great breadth she bears ; me-thinks 
 
 a woman becomes no ornaments she wears, so 
 
 well 
 
 As a great belly, therefore 'tis much pity, 
 
70 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 aphej should' want thmg§, tg m^ke theift Iqok sp 
 ,-;' ,-')pretty.', •,•,'; , "'■ : ■, / ■ ■ '■ - 
 
 ,.;/!«■.: Unhappy Psiche, Venus most obdurcj and 
 jievef, satiate with roy. endless cares, when by the 
 hefps of ^Uy: labouring Ants; I had ended the fest 
 task,iber fccuelty binds me to worse disaster.. 
 ,. Cupi Once my love, hadst thou been true to 
 •Cupid, riot the least of. all -these evilsiad assaulted 
 thee, and till my mothers anger be appeas'd, I 
 dare do nothing : yet for our first loves sake make 
 me acquainted with thy second task, and as I niay, 
 be sure lie. further it. 
 
 • Psi. Let my lips kiss this earth whereon you 
 tread, in low submission, for her late injunction, 
 transcends all humane possibility, this Viol I must 
 fillat that spring-head, from Whence Cocitas flows, 
 that fearful stream, which feeds the River Stix. ■ ' 
 
 Cup.-^e, advis'd by me, not far from Tcnerus, 
 whose barren top is crown'd with clouds of smoak 
 there lies a mead, ore-grown with Osiers,-Bryars, 
 and Sicamors, in this Joves Eagle, (on whose 
 duskie wings Ganimed flew to heaven) obscures 
 himself from Jealous Junoes wrath ; enquire him 
 out, 
 
 Tell him thy grief, and that thou cam'st from me, 
 From this hard task he will deliver thee. 
 
 Psi. Thanks glorious Deity, upon my knees, 
 prest down with this rich burthen of thy love, I beg 
 that you will mediate 'twixt my errours, and your 
 
LOVES Mis-rsis; fi 
 
 stern mothers wrath. '' Ci(j>. Well get thee'gofiei 
 'tis I will front her indignation. [£^tl Psiche, 
 
 (Enter Pan and Venus, ii. ' ' ' 
 ,'■./■-;■ '• vjk ^ '■■-,■ ' ■.,...,', 
 
 ;;■ /"aw.jjThis way he ran with shackles on, hi? 
 heels, and said he would to Vulcan : oh but see 
 wjiere ^e stands cogging with him. ,_ ^,„^ ^,^. 
 2'-Ve.n. Nov/ yoanin away, you disobedient, thqii 
 unhappy wagg, where be the golden fetters I left 
 yojS'bound'in? .. ,;i;v. . '•,y^ an'! c? -..j Am;' 
 
 Cup. -Trae for my good behaviour, but you sed 
 My bands are catifcelt'd, and yoiir son set free. : :; 
 
 Veit. He whip you fot't, with nettles steept in 
 wine. - •^-'"-■^Ss 'i:i-- •■' ..E-?,^iy.;_„,; 
 
 Cup. So you'l nettle mej and I must smart for't ; 
 but when your own flames burn, and you desire 
 with him, or him", to- glut your appetite, then 
 gentle Cupid,' then, hiy pretty son, my love, my 
 dear, my darling, and what? not, till you have had 
 your will. " ■' * '■ '' •'■■> 
 
 '■' K«»v With his flittering tongue^ he still prevent 
 my anger: but for thee, as crooked is thy manners 
 as thy shape ; I tliought, great fool, you durst not 
 harbor him. ''- 
 
 '"" Vul. No more I did, sweet wife. ■"'"■'■ ' -'''i'' 
 
 Cttp. Sweet mother Queen, busse my Wack dad, 
 for all that he hath done, - ' ' 
 Was love to yon, and kindness to your son. ■ : 
 
 Vul. Speak for me Pan,'as ere thou hop'st to 
 
72 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 have thy broken hook well mended. Pan. When, 
 
 wn'st tell ? 
 
 I tell thee, I must first have besides that, 
 
 A douzen of brand-ing irons to marke my flocke, 
 
 (the time draws near, sheep-shearing is at hand) 
 
 besides, two of my Satyrs falling out about a 
 
 Lamb, one of them burst his horn, it must be 
 
 tip'd too ; thou art well acquainted with tipping 
 
 horns. 
 
 Vul. Ha horns, with horns, how's that. Fan. 
 Nay ask your Wife, I cannot speak for horns, but 
 still you take the last word to yourself, 
 For Venus makes, and Vulcan wears. 
 And Vulcan takes, and Venus bears. 
 
 Vul. Vulcan wear horns? Ven. No sweet- 
 heart you mistake, 
 
 Pan is the forked god, with horns was born. 
 And ever since, his tongue runs of the horn. 
 
 Pan. Speak, shall I have my Sheep-hook, and 
 those Irons ? 
 
 Vul. Yes Pan, you shall, but yet those horns 
 have struck deep to my heart. 
 
 Pan. Take heed they grow not upward to your 
 head, 
 And tipping horns, your brows wears horns 
 indeed, 
 
 {Enter Psiche.') 
 
 But who comes here? Vulcan is this your 
 wench ? Th'adst best look to him Venus. Psi. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 73 
 
 Like your obedient servant, that laies down her 
 life and labour at her Mistris feet, so comes poor 
 Psiche, held between the arms of fear and duty ; 
 fear dishartning me, would pluck me back, but 
 duty being more strong, bids me go forward, 
 bending my weak knee before the Shrine of 
 sacred Majesty ; 
 
 Accept my service, who to gain your grace, 
 Would yield my self to a shie deaths imbrace. 
 
 Ven. Is this that water of th'Infernal lake? 
 
 Psi. This is that water whose infectious torrent 
 Runs from Cocitus, into Flegiton, 
 Infernal Stix, and the black Acheron, 
 dear goddess. Ven. Art thou not a fawning * coun- 
 terfeit ? first I imploy'd thee to divide my grain, a 
 task impossible for mortal hands, this second is 
 more hard, and yet 'tis done ; 
 Thou work'st by sorcery, but no damn'd spell 
 Shall keep me from my wrath, thy soul from hell. 
 
 Vul. Venus, sweet mouse, nay prethee do not 
 chide, forgive, as I forgive thee. Ven. Polt-foot, 
 peace. 
 
 Cup. Sweet mother, let your ire be mollified. 
 Since for her fault she hath endur'd this pain, 
 Banish all hate, and make her blest again. 
 
 Ven. Again I charge thee not to speak for her : 
 once more I'le try thee further, since, my heart is 
 
 * The text has " fawing." 
 
74 LOVES MISTRIS, 
 
 wedded tp suph hellish sorceryj hye to Proserpina, 
 the black-brpw'd Queen, lie send thee on my 
 embassieto hell, tell her that sickness, with her 
 ashy hand, hath swept away the beauty from my 
 cheekSj and I desire her send me some of hers ; 
 fetch me a box of beauty then from hell. 
 That's thy last labour, urge not a reply, 
 Do my command and" Uve, refuse and die. ' 
 
 Cup. For my sake, my best Mother, pitty her. 
 J^f«. For thee I hate her, and for her hate thee. 
 Pan. Nay, gentle Venus, be more merciful, for 
 her great-bellies sake. , i 
 
 fi«. For that alone. 
 He hate you all, till she be fled and gone. 
 
 PH. Then go I must, and going Here return ; 
 Oh Cupid my inconstancy to thee, 
 Is cause of this my endless misery. 
 ' Cup. Withdraw thee Psiche, till the rest be 
 gone, and He speak with thee. - \Exit Psiche. 
 (Enter Mercury. '\ • -'«'-'' 
 
 Mer. Venus, Vulcan, Cupid, and god Pan, ' 
 I summon you to appear at Ceres plain. 
 To entertain the fair Proserpina. 
 For whom I now am sent ; I must to hell 
 About Joves embassie, Venus farewel. {Exit. 
 
 Fen. Hermes farewel, we'l meet at Ceres plen- 
 teous Court ; come Cupid, follow me. ' Pan. 
 Vulcan cannot go. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 75 
 
 , . Kr«. Yes, but 'tis best to keep behind a shreiy. 
 
 Pan. Then put her in before, on Venus, go. - 
 [Exit all but Cup.. 
 
 Cup. Psiche approach, but do not come too nea;, 
 That prjde thou hast already bought too dear. 
 (Enter Psiche,) 
 
 Psi. Oh pity Psiche, she is sent to hell. 
 
 Cup. It is the sound of hell wakes pities eye, 
 Else I had left thee to more misery ; 
 my loves not done, though thou art quite undone, 
 unless I arm thee 'gainst the darts of death, which 
 hfeli aimes at thee. 
 
 Psi. Let thy sacred breath 
 
 C«/. Wound me no more with words, for they 
 but grieve me ; 
 Now marke what on thy Journy must relieve thee.: 
 first, hye thee to the banks of Acheron, thou can'st 
 not miss the way, 1tis broad and worn with tramp- 
 ling of ten thousand passengers, there shalt thou 
 find hells churlish Ferry-man, his name is Charon, 
 there's to pay his hire. 
 Take heed thou lose it not, for doing so, 
 He'l beat, and leave thee on the shore of woe ; 
 Being ferried over, thou shalt spie hell gates. 
 Thou need'st not knocke, they are open night and 
 
 day. 
 Give Cerberus a sop, and pass away. 
 
 Psi. And what's that Cerberus? Cup. Porter 
 of hell, who must at thy return be brib'd again ; 
 
76 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 my great desire to help thee, hinders thee, I 
 should have told thee when in Charons barge, 
 thou art wafting ore the dreadful waves of Stix, 
 an aged man, with a pale countenance, his name's 
 Oblivion, swimming in the flood, will heave his 
 wither'd arms and cry help, help, save me from 
 drowning ; stretch not forth thy hand. 
 For if thou dost, thou nere returns! to shore, 
 Thou wilt forget my love, see me no more. 
 
 Psi. He stop my ears against Oblivions cry. 
 Cup. Being landed, thou shalt see old wrinkled 
 haggs spinning black threds, whilst folly reels 
 them up ; he will let fall his reel, and pray thee 
 reach it, but stoop not ; they will likewise beckon 
 thee 
 
 To sit down by them ; but to spin a thred. 
 Take heed, doing so, from me thou art banished. 
 
 Psi. He shun their baits. CuJ>. Being enter'd 
 Plutoes Court, they all will tice thee with a thou- 
 sand trains, shun all, and neither sit nor eat with 
 them, onely deliver what thou art enjoyn'd, receive 
 the box of beauty, and be gone. 
 Which still keep shut, let not thy daring eye 
 Behold the wealth that in the box doth lie. 
 
 Psi. Dread Cupid Cup. Now farewel, 
 
 hadst thou but obey'd me, 
 
 Thy face had still been lovely, and mine eye 
 
 Doated on thee with heavenly Jealousie. [Exeunt. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 7? 
 
 [Enter Clown and Swains.) 
 
 1 Swa. And what dost thou think . of Cupid 
 now? 
 
 C/ow. Do not think I am so stupid, 
 But to think well of great god Cupid. 
 
 2 Swa. And what of Poets ? C/ow. As Poets, 
 as of Potentates, for since I plaid the last prize 
 against Phoebus, in which I may say of my self, 
 vmi, vidi, vici, I have been so troubled with a 
 Poetical itch, that I can scratch you out Rimes, 
 and Ballats, Songs, and Sonnets, Oades and 
 Madrigals, till they bleed again. 
 
 1 Swa. Then thou art reconcil'd to Homer. 
 Clow. Homer was honourable, Hesiod Heroical, 
 
 Virgil a Vicegerent, Naso notorious. Martial a 
 Provost, Juvinal a Jovial lad, and Persius a Para- 
 mount ; what do I think of Poetry, of which my 
 self am a profest member. 
 
 2 Swa. And may be very well spar'd, and yet 
 the body never the worse, but thou mayst see 
 what becomes of railing against Cupid, what 
 a sweet Mistris he hath put upon thee ? Clo. 
 Who, my Amarillis ? I Swa. Yes, the veriest 
 dowdy in all Arcadia even Mopsa compar'd with 
 her, shews like a Madam ; first she's old 
 
 Clo. It was very well said, to say first, because 
 she was before us, and for old, is not age reverend ? 
 and therefore in mine eyes she's honourable. 
 
 I. Swa. And wrinkled. 
 
78 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Clo. Is'tnot the fashion; do not pur Gentle 
 wear their hair crisped, the Nimphs their gowns 
 pleated, and the Fawns their stockings, for the 
 more grace, wrinkled ; doth not the earth shew 
 well when 'tis plowed, and the Land best when it 
 lyes in furrows? 
 
 1 Swat Besides, she hath an horribly long nose. 
 
 Cla. That's to defend her lips, but thou sinner 
 to sence, and renegade to reason, do'st thou blame 
 length in any thing ? do'st thou not wish thy life 
 long, and know'st thou not that truth comes out 
 at length; WTien all our joyes are gone and -past, 
 doth not Long look'd for, come at last? If any 
 of our Nimphs be wrong'd, will she not say, 'tis 
 Long of me, 'tis Long of thee, or Long of him ; 
 If they buy any comodity by the yard, do they not 
 wish it long; your advocate wishes to have a Law- 
 suit hang Long ; And the poor client, be his cloak 
 never so short, and thread-bare, yet would be glad* 
 to wear it longer. 
 
 No married man, but doth his wife much wrong,' 
 Thb' he himself be short, to have nothing long. 
 
 2 Swa, The short and the long on't is, she's an 
 ugly creature, make of her what thou can'st. Clo. 
 Make of her what I can ; oh that all, or any of 
 you could like me, look upon her with the eye of 
 
 * The text has "gald," 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 79 
 
 poetry, I would then let you know .what I have 
 made of her. i Swa, Prethee let's hear't. 
 
 ,C/(7, Then Iktea hither, oh you Imps, of Igno- 
 rance ; 
 
 Oh tell me, have you ever seen. 
 Since you were bom unto this day 
 Which is long since a wit so green, 
 And cover'd with a head so gray ? 
 To praise her still my muses will is. 
 Although therein I have no cunning, 
 yet is the nose of Amarillis 
 Like to a cock, long, and still running. 
 Her eyes though dimme, do seem cleer, 
 And they of Rheume can well dispose, 
 The one doth blinke, the other blear, 
 In Pearl-drops striving with her Nose. 
 Her breasts are like two beds of bliss. 
 Or rather like two lean-Cowes udders 
 Which shews that she no change-ling is ; 
 Because they say, such were her mothers. 
 Those few teeth left her in her head 
 Now stand like hedg-stakes in her gums 
 Full of white DandrifF is her head. 
 She puts the Cobler down for thums. 
 Her sides being long, her belly lanke. 
 And of her leggs what should I say. 
 But that she feels well in the flanke. 
 And both her feet, themselves display. 
 
8o VOVSS MISTMS. 
 
 I Swa. All the Homers in Asia conld never hare 
 come so neer the business. 
 
 Ch. From head to foot, for her stature and 
 yeers, pattern her in all Arcadia ; say she be a 
 foul beast in your eyes, yet she is my Syren ; * and 
 shewing foul to others, and fair to me, I shall live 
 the happier, and she the honester, but I have a 
 remedy against all this, in spight of Cupid. 
 
 2. Swa. What's that ? 
 
 CU. I hear Psiche his Mistris, is sent to hell 
 for a box of beauty, 'tis but way-laying of her, 
 and taking it from her, then Amarillis shall com- 
 pare with any other she that dare. (Exeunt. 
 (Enter Midas and Apuleius.") 
 
 Mi. This last I lik't, and had it all been such, 
 onely a meer discourse 'twixt Swaines and Clowns, 
 it then had pleas'd me ; now some quaint device, 
 some kick-shaw or other to keep me waking. 
 
 Ap. Then by the leave of'these spectators here, 
 I'le suite me to thy low capacity ; 
 Of Vulcans Ciclops He so much intreat. 
 That thou shalt see them on their Anvile beat ; 
 'Tis musick fitting thee, for who but knowes. 
 The vulgar are best pleas'd with noyse and showes? 
 A Dance of Vulcan attd his Ciclops. 
 
 Mi. Well, this I like : now let me know the 
 cream of this conceit ; why grain? why measures ? 
 
 * The text reads " Hyren." 
 
LOVES MrSTRIS, 8t 
 
 why the number five? Your moral sir foi that. 
 Ap. number five, our Sences doth include, those 
 several grains our several sorts of sins, which like 
 those seeds, to count, are infinite ; and so commixt, 
 that to distinguish them, it much transcends 
 humane capacitie. 
 
 Mid, And then those AntS, what didst thou 
 mean by them ? 
 
 Ap. By those are meant our recolections, and 
 Laborinths, still busied in the search of what hath 
 past, and were it possible, by drawing them into 
 their former heaps, to pay to each, indebted 
 penitence ; but all in vain, for this can never bee 
 without true Love, guided by Mercury : 
 But for my Sceane, how do'st thou relish that ? 
 
 Mid. As ribble, rabble, and I know not what ; 
 A Viol must be fiU'd with stigian drops, and that 
 an Eagle must Psiche fetch ; and all this, to what 
 purpose ? 
 
 Apu. What to thee, and such like drones, seems 
 to bee most absur'd, is to the wise, perspicuous 
 and most plain ; When Psiche hath transgressed, 
 and her offence (almost past pardon) merits Cupids 
 wrath, then woes like waves, follow each others 
 neck, then must she fetch a glass of stigian water, 
 a Viol fiU'd with true repentant tears. 
 And that she cannot fill, nor fetch from thence, 
 But by the Eagles help. Heavens providence. 
 
 Mid, But for her voyage into Hell ; can'st make 
 
82 LOVES MISTRI3. 
 
 mee believe, that once there, she can come from 
 thence ? 
 
 Ap. Can'st thou be silent, and but apprehend 
 thou now behold'st her sit in Charons boat? 
 Oblivion reaching up his wretched hands, to crave 
 her help, and then by folly wooed, next by the 
 Idle sisters ; these things past, entring Hell gates, 
 whither thy imagination may bring her, howsoever 
 Gentlemen, I hope you will that better understand; 
 Wee'l but affright her with Hells Court, and then. 
 On your wing'd thoughts bring her to earth agen. 
 
 {^Exeunt. 
 
 ACT V. SCENE I. 
 
 {Enter Pluto, Froserpint, Minos, Eacus, Rhada- 
 mant, Charon, Cerberus and Mercury. ) 
 
 Plu, A*AIR Mayas Son, declare your embassie? 
 «T Mer, Wheat-crowned Ceres, harvest 
 ^ Soveraign, and mother to the fair 
 ""•i Proserpine, sends greeting to her 
 Son, hells awful King, letting him know, this day 
 Latonas Son enters the first house of his Zodiac, 
 and with his guilt beames welcomes in the Spring; 
 this day the Virgins of Sicilia, old wives, young 
 Children, Souldiers, Citizens, Princes and Pre- 
 lates, on Cissephus banks, are gathered in well- 
 order'd multitudes, dancing in Chorusses, singing 
 
I.OVF.S MISTRIS. 83 
 
 mirthfull layes, such as lambe Megamiraes maid 
 sung, when she mourn'd her Daughters ravish- 
 ment : this day hath Ceres call'd a Sessions, where 
 Proserpine must be ; but e're she leave the black 
 Imperial Throne of this low world, Psiche the 
 Daughter to th' Arcadian King, must do a message 
 to her Deity. P}0. We know th' intent of that 
 great influence, with all the purpose of the Paphian 
 Queen, she means proud Psiche never shall return, 
 and we will keep her ; Charon fetch her o'er. 
 
 Cha. Shee's come already. Mino. Then 
 
 conduct her in. 
 
 Cha. Hell's full enough of shrewes ; if she be 
 fair, 
 I know she's curst, pray let her tarry there, 
 A curst queanes tongue, the very feinds still fear. 
 
 Plu. Fetch her I say, Venus shall be reveng'd. 
 
 Eac. Go Charon, wait upon him Cerberus. 
 
 Mino. If she perform the customs of our Court, 
 being sent on message from supernal powers, we 
 can then with no justice keep her here. Rha. 
 
 True Minos, 'tis the law of hell and Fate ; yet 
 Cerberus and Charon, get you gone, till Psiche 
 that hells king, and Proserpine with Minos 
 bench'd, Eachus and Radamant upon their 
 black tribunals, sends for her ; 
 You Furies with your envious eyes attend. 
 Lest Psiche 'gainst our customes shall offend. 
 
 Cha. Come Cerberus, come hags, fetch Psiche 
 
84 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 in. Cer. Yes, and for all her stains and 
 
 leprosie, methinks I now could eat her. \Exit. 
 
 Mer. Psiche is well instructed Rhadamant, her 
 husband Cupid gave her certain rules, for her 
 uncertain journey. 
 
 (Enter Charon, Cerberus, and Psiche. ) 
 All. Here she comes. Cer. My sop, hast thou 
 thy naulum Ferry-man ? Cha. I have. Flu. 
 Psiche stand forth, nay poor soul, tremble not. 
 Minos. How came this woman over Acheron ? 
 Reach'd she not hand to help Oblivion ? 
 
 Cha. No, yet the wretch made a pitious cry, 
 Yet she look'd on him with a scornful eye. 
 
 Eac. How did she pass the hags, that spun the 
 threds of Idle-folly, in the path of hell ? Cha. 
 
 They all desir'd her help, she deny'd to set a 
 finger unto follies thred. Flu. She hath done 
 
 well, why kneel'st thou on the ground ? Psi. I 
 kneel to Proserpine, for I am sent by sacred Venus 
 or a box of beauty. Fro. Fair Psiche, you 
 
 shall have what you desire. 
 Rise up, sit down by us, 'tis much unfit. 
 The wife of Cupid on the ground should sit. 
 
 Fsi. Psiche is Cupids out-cast, and his scorn, 
 And therefore sits thus low, and thus forlorn. 
 
 Plu. Oh thou belov'd of Love, be not so sad ; 
 furnish a Banquet, let our cousen taste the 
 delicates that grow in these dark groves. Pros. 
 Art thou not faint ? \A Banquet set forth. 
 
LOVES MISTKIS. 85 
 
 Psi. Yes, wonderous faint and weary, faint 
 through the want of food, with toyle of my un- 
 number'd steps, faint through the terror that on 
 each side, affrights me, faint and weary with bear- 
 ing this poor burthen in my womb ; 
 Cupid, thy words are true, thou didst foretel, 
 My pride on earth, should woric my plagues in 
 hell. 
 Flu. Refresh thy self then, taste our delicates. 
 Psi. I dare not touch them. Rha. Thou 
 hast a sop, eat that. 
 
 Psi. It is not mine, it is your Porters fee. 
 Car. Give it me then. Psi. Anon I will, at 
 my return from hence ; In the mean time, sacred 
 Prosperpina, by all the teares your grieved mother 
 shed, when you were stole from Pismaes fiowry 
 bank, let Psiche be dispatched to Cipria, 
 Lest the incensed goddess do some wrong 
 To her poor servant, if she stay too long. 
 
 Plu. Will she not sit ? Scornes she to take our 
 food ? Give her some wine. Cha. Here girl, 
 drink to hells King. 
 
 Psi. Give me cold water from the murmuring 
 spring? 
 
 Plu. I am soul-vext, that any mortal eye should 
 see our Customs, and return alive, to blab them to 
 the wide ear of the world : But Proserpine, having 
 perform'd all rights, we must not here detain her ; 
 send her hence. 
 
86 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Pros. My envy equals yours, but all in vain ; 
 Psiche receive this Box from Proserpine, wherein 
 Celestial beauty is inclos'd, but on thy life, dare 
 not to look into't, as thou respectst thy safety. 
 
 Psi. I receive it, and humbly begging to dread 
 Plutoes Queen, intreat to be dismiss'd this fearful 
 Court. 
 
 Plu. Charon, convey her back. Cha. My 
 
 Ferry-money. 
 
 Cer. My sop. Psi. Both's here. 
 
 [Exit Cha. and Cer. ivith Psicht. 
 
 Plu, Psiche is worthy to be Cupids wife, and 
 Proserpine, remember her to Venus, make inter- 
 cession that the Queen of Love no longer prove 
 th' ungentle step-mother. 
 
 Mer. Pluto, when Psiche hath perform'd her 
 task, my sister will no doubt be reconcil'd ; Cupid 
 presented a petition to Jove, and all the Senate of 
 the gods, to take from her, her base deformity, the 
 gods agreed, and Venus too was pleas'd, at her 
 return from hell it should be done. 
 
 Plu. Here Hermes, take my Queen Proserpina, 
 return her when the sister of the Sun hath six 
 times compassed her silver sphere ; Commend me 
 to my mother, great Jove's wife, my sister Pallas, 
 and to all the gods : 
 
 So farewel Plutoes joy, all hell shall mourn 
 With hideous cryes till my fair Love return. 
 
 \_Exeunt. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 87 
 
 {Hideous Musick. — Enter Cupid.) 
 Cup. Many a long look have my watchful eyes, 
 Sent out to meet with Psiche, here she comes, 
 
 \Enter Psiche. 
 And in her hand the box, Cupid stand close. 
 And over-hear the sum of her discourse. 
 [Enter Clown.) 
 
 Clo. This is she, I know her by her marter'd 
 face ; Venus did well to send her for beauty, for 
 poor soul she hath need on't, I have dogg'd her, to 
 see if I could find her at any advantage, to steal 
 away her box ; I have already got Love from 
 Cupid, I have got Poetry from Apollo, and if I 
 could now get Beauty from Psiche, Phaon the fair 
 Ferry-man, was never so famous in Sicillia, as I 
 Coridon shall be in Arcadia. 
 
 Psi. You trayterous thoughts, no more assault 
 me thus, my lovely Cupid charg'd me not to see 
 what Proserpine sent Venus in this box, the like 
 command did hells Queen lay on me, oh heaven, 
 yet I shall die except I do 't. 
 
 Cup. I Psiche, what still in your longing vain ? 
 
 Clo. That's it, nay I shall know't, if I see't again. 
 
 Psi. It's beauty Psiche, and Celestial, 
 And thou art ugly, this will make thee shine. 
 And change this earthly form to shape divine ; 
 Open it boldly, but I shall offend : 
 Why say I do, 'tis but the breach of duty. 
 And who'll not venture to get heavenly beauty? 
 
88 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Rich beauty, ever fresh, never decaying^, 
 Which lies entombed in this heavenly shrine ; 
 Nor in this bold attempt think me profane, 
 Striving thus sported, to be free from stain. 
 (She opens the Box, and falls asleep.) 
 
 Clo. Nay I thought I should take you napping, 
 And thou shall go with me ; for 'tis my duty. 
 My Mistress being a blowse to find her beauty. 
 {Cupid charms him asleep^ 
 
 Cup. To make thee lovely in thy Mistriss eyes. 
 Make use of that, and boast of thy rich prize. 
 
 {Cupid lays a counterfJt Box by him.) 
 But foolish Girl, alas why blame I thee, when all 
 thy Sex is guilty of like pride, and ever was? but 
 Where's this beauty now? turn'd into slumbers, 
 and like watery pearles of honey-tasting dew 
 hangs on these lids : she wakes again, I have swept 
 off the slumber 
 
 That hung so heavy nn these spotted covers, 
 Which once clos'd in, the light of all true Lovers. 
 
 Psi. Where am I now ? Dread Cupid pardon 
 me. 
 
 Cup. Come rise, and wipe away these fruitless 
 tears ; 
 Take up the box, and hie thee to my Mother. 
 
 Psi. Shee'l kill me for the beauty I have lost. 
 
 Cup. Tush fool, I gather'd it from thy clos'd 
 eyes. 
 Where in the shape of slumber it did rest ; 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. B9 
 
 Be comforted, Cupids white hand shall clear 
 
 This black deformity, and thou shalt ride 
 
 In Venus Chariot, and be deifi'd ; 
 
 I thought to chide too bad, but 't will not be, 
 
 True Love can but a while look bitterly. 
 
 Awake thou too, the treasure there inclos'd. 
 
 Rifle at will, but see it well dispos'd. [Exit. 
 
 Clmv- Where am I ? nay, where is she ? I no 
 sooner cast mine eye upon the box, to say here 'tis, 
 but I w.as asleep before a man could say, what's this, 
 what's this said I : 
 
 Rejoyce all mortals that wear smocks, 
 For I have found rich beauties box : 
 I was before but a man made, but I am now a very 
 made man ; and when 'tis known that I am possess'd 
 of this rich treasure, both Young and Old, Short 
 and Tall, Tag and Rag, Witch and Hag, Crone and 
 Beldam, who though they come abroad but seldom 
 will crawl upon Crutches to finde out me ; But 
 come as many as will, and as fast as can, by their 
 favors, my Amarallis shall be first serv'd ; and not 
 first neither, am I in possession my self, and shall 
 not I be the white boy of Arcadia? Adonis is 
 dead, and shall not I be Venus sweet-heart ? 
 Come Box of Beauty, and for white The hx is 
 
 and red, full of ugly 
 
 Put down Jove's Page, the smooth- painting. 
 
 fac'd Ganimed ; 
 
go LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Dawb on, dawb on, as thick as thou canst Uy on. 
 Till thou exceed the ierry-man call'd Fhaon ; 
 Cupid compar'd with me shall be a toy, 
 And look but like the sign of the Black Boy ; 
 My face shall shine just as my hand disposes. 
 In one cheek He paint Lillies, in t'other Roses, 
 Till all that this my visage gaze upon. 
 Say, there, there goes the fair-fac'd Coridon. 
 (Enter Swains.) 
 
 1 Siua. Where is Coridon, Hymen stays, and 
 Amarillis attends, the Bride is ready, but no 
 Bridegroom to be found ? 
 
 Clo. I do not think the Clowns will know me 
 when they see me, Colin, Dickon, Hobinnl, and 
 how is't? how is't? 
 
 2 Swa. Ha, ha, ha, very scurvily methinks, is 
 this Coridon ? 
 
 Clo. Nay, if my face in Swains breed such delight. 
 What will the Nimphs do when they come in sight ? 
 
 2 Swa. O monstrous Coridon ! how camst thou 
 thus chang'd ? 
 
 Clo. Chang'd, I hope so ; I have not travell'd 
 thus far for nothing : speak you mortals, doth not 
 my brow relent ? shines not my nose, springs not 
 here a Lilly, there a Rose ? 2 Swa. A Rose, a 
 Lilly? a blew-bottle, and a canker-flower, what is 
 that upon thy face ? Clo. Beauty boys, beauty. 
 2 Swa. Beauty dost call it, I prithee from whence 
 came it ? Clo. Marry from hell. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 9 1 
 
 2 Swa. From hell, I believe it, for it hath made 
 thee look like a devil already, 
 
 Clo, Go shear your sheep, make money of your 
 wooll. 
 Sell all your Lambs, and make your purses full, 
 And then, if on the price we can agree, 
 He fit you all, and make you look like me. 
 
 2 Swa. Like thee, I'd rather see thee hang'd ; 
 dost thou think we mean to wear Vizors. Clo. 
 This 'tis to be meer mortals, and have no addition 
 of learning or travel ; their dull eyes cannot judge 
 of Celestial beauty ; but where's my Amarillis, 
 and the god of marriage Hymen? i Swa. 
 They both stay for thee in Venus temple, but I 
 hope thou'lt not be married to her in this pickle ? 
 
 Clo. Will I not, yes, and dazel all their eyes 
 that shall look on me, especially my Amarillis, 
 And she must needs have some part of my theft. 
 All is not gone, something for her is left : 
 Lead on, lead on, this day you shall be my men. 
 And thus in pomp will we go meet with Hymen : 
 And Dickon, if anon thou wilt be sinful, 
 To drink with me, I will give thee thy skinful : 
 If there be any here, I speak it out of duty. 
 Desire any complexion from my Box of Beauty, 
 This night I am busie, let him come to morrow, 
 They shall have store, if they will buy or borrow. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
92 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 (Enter Phoebus, Pan, Vulcan, Venus, Admetus, 
 Astioche, Petrea, Meiietius, and Zelotes. ) 
 
 Ven. By this I know that Minks is come from 
 hell, and here she harbors ; but Arcadian King 
 Deliver her, or by our dreadful frown, 
 lie spoil thy Courts, and cast thy temples down ; 
 Conceal her longer, not the god intreats shall guard 
 her from the death my rage intends. Ad. Dread 
 Queen of Paphos, she remains not here, nor think 
 that I abet her, though my childe, against your 
 wrath, or power : Nay, did she sojourn in any 
 place where I have free command, I'd cause her 
 to be fetcht thence instantly, and as your slave 
 and vassal, tender her. Ven. If she be safe 
 return'd from Proserpine, she must be pardon'd, 
 and become divine ; but to conceal her being, and 
 keep back the present scent, keeps but her future 
 wrack. Apol. If ever in fair Venus I had power, 
 or grac'd her summer pastimes with my beams, at 
 length with a commiserating eye, look on dis- 
 tressed Psiche. Vul. Do good wife. 
 Use her with all the favour thou canst think, 
 Connive at her, as I at thy faults wink. 
 
 Pan. And Pan protests by Cannaes nut brown 
 hair, the fairest Nimph since Sirnix, I ere saw : 
 Be friends with her, my Satyrs all shall play, 
 And I with them make this a holiday, 
 
 (Enter Mercury and Proserpine.) 
 
 Mer. To all these gods, to Venus and this train. 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 93 
 
 Health from (he Son of Saturn and Queen Ceres. 
 Ven. Welcome, what would the messenger of Jove 
 to us, or these? Mer. Pan, Vulcan, and your 
 self, with Phoebus, and the great Arcadian King, 
 must be this day at Ceres Sowing-feast, unto which 
 Annual meeting, see fair Proserpine is come from 
 Pluto's Court. Ven. Welcome fair Queen. 
 
 Apol. Welcome fair sister from the vaults below, 
 we two are Twins, of fair Latona born, and were 
 together nurst in Delos He : you guide the night, 
 as I direct the day, darkness and light betwixt us 
 we divide, nor square, but in our mutual Orbs 
 agree, unless you move just 'twixt the earth and 
 me, for then you eclipse my lustre. Vul. Cousin 
 Queen, I am even moon sick, and half merry mad, 
 for joy of thy arrival. Pan. By our crests we 
 should be Cousins, for we both are horn'd, and 
 Vulcan of our kin too ; but sweet goddess, now I 
 bethink me of th' Arcadian Nimphs, I am bound 
 to thee for many a pretty sight, and much good 
 sport I have had by thy moon-light. Pros. To 
 give you meeting, I am come from hell. Ven. 
 Saw you not Psiche there? Pios. Loves queen 
 I did, hither she comes with Cupid hand in hand. 
 Her leprousie, through labour, is made clear. 
 And beauteous in your eyes she'll now appear. 
 (Enter Cupid and Psiche.) 
 Cup. Celestial Sea-born Queen, I here present 
 you my Psiche who hath satisfied your will : 
 
94 I-OVES MISTRIS. 
 
 Deliver her, fair Love, from Proserpine, the Box 
 of Beauty, endless and divine. Psi. Guided by 
 Love, Lord of my life and hope, I come undaunted 
 to your gracious sight, hoping my sufferance hath 
 out-worn his wrath. 
 
 Ven. She hath scap'd hell, and now the task is 
 done, and I still crost by a disobedient son ; but 
 tell how this Leoper came thus fair ? 
 
 Gup. At my intreat it was, 'mongst all the gjds 
 I claim'd her for my Wife, who taking a joynt 
 pity of her wrongs, gave their consent, and then 
 great Jove himself call'd for a Cup of Immortality, 
 drank part to her, and Fsiche quafft the rest, at 
 which, deformity forsook her quite, 
 And she made fair, and then proclaim'd my Bride, 
 Jove vowing she should now be deili'd. 
 
 yen. I see I cannot conquer destiny, 
 By Fate she first was thine, I give her thee. 
 
 Mer. Now Psiche, you must see your sisters 
 judged, unstaid Petrea, and unkind Astioche, 
 Admetus, you must be their sentencer. 
 
 Asti. Husband, your knees. Petr. My dear 
 Lord plead for us. 
 
 Asti. Will neither, yet Father. Ad. Wretches 
 peace, Psiche by you was torne from her delight, 
 and rudely rent from Cupids Paradice ; 'twas you 
 that robb'd her of a father's love, by your allure- 
 ments she was sent to hell, and had not divine 
 aid fecur'd her thence, poor soul for ever sh'had 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 95 
 
 been there detain'd for which, to endless durance 
 
 I adjure you ; 
 
 For merits silver gates are alwaies barr'd 
 
 To hearts impenitent and wilfull hard. 
 
 Fsi. Have pity on them Father, gentle husband, 
 remember not their fraud in tempting me : you 
 gods and goddesses with Psiche joyn, to beg their 
 pardons, all you Arcadians kneel : 
 For had they not my happiness envy'd. 
 My love and patience had not so been try'd. 
 
 All. We all will mediate for them. Ad. Then 
 Daughters, give your sister Psiche thanks, 
 And to her vertues be a servant still, 
 AVhich makes atonement for your ill. 
 
 Both. We'l henceforth be her hand-maids. 
 
 Ven. They shall attend her unto plenties bower, 
 where Ceres, Queen of fertility, invites us with the 
 other gods to feast. Mer. There Jove and 
 
 Phoebus shall lead Cupid's Queen, to the bright 
 pallace of Eternity : Bacchus shall give wine, and 
 Ganimed shall crown our full cups with the grapes 
 pure blood ; Ceres shall yield us all earths deli- 
 cates. 
 
 The Graces shall bring balm, the Muses sing. 
 In Cupids honour, loves Immortal King. 
 
 ful. Vulcan will dance, and sing, and skip, 
 and quaff, 
 And with his smoaky jests make Cupid laugh. 
 
 Cup. Such as love me, make me their pre- 
 
96 LOVES MISTRIS. 
 
 sident, see, thus I take fair Psiche by the hand, 
 Mercury do you the like to Proserpine, my mother 
 Venus cannot want a mate ; in honour of our 
 marriage, match your selves, and with a measure 
 gracft our nuptials, but such as do not love to be 
 in motion, 
 
 View as spectators, how our joy appears, 
 Dancing to the sweet musick of the sphears. 
 (A Dance of Cupid, Psiche, the gods and goddesses. ) 
 
 Afol. Now circle Psiche in a Fairy ring, whilest 
 I and Venus grace her with this Crown ; this done, 
 to feast with Ceres and the gods. 
 And next unto the palace of the Sun, 
 To end those sacred Rites we have begun. 
 (Enter Midas and Apitleius.) 
 
 Mi. Is this your moral? This your Poetry? 
 what hast thou done ? what spoke, what pre- 
 sented, which I with all these cannot justly taxe? 
 Ap. Yes, all like thee th'obtuse and stupid minds, 
 but there's an understanding that hath depth 
 Beyond thy shallow non-sence ; there's a wit, 
 A brain which thou want'st, I to that submit. 
 
 Mi. And even in that thou fool'st thy self: 
 
 Cup. Nay then, I by the favour of these Gentle- 
 men, 
 Will arbitrate this strife ; one seeks to advance 
 His Art, the other stands for ignorance ; 
 Both hope, and both shall have their merits full. 
 Here's meed for either, both the apt, and dull, 
 
LOVES MISTRIS. 97 
 
 Pleas'd or displeas'd, this censure I allow ; 
 Keep thou the Asses ears, the Lawrell thou : 
 If you, judicious, this my doom commend, 
 Psiche by you shall doubly Crown'd ascend ; 
 And then this Legacy I leave behind. 
 Where ere you love, prove of one faith, one mind : 
 The Spring comes on, and Cupid doth divine, 
 Each shall enjoy his best lov'd Valentine, 
 Which when you have, may you like us agree. 
 And at your best retirements think on me.* 
 
 * This is an exact reprint of the rare edition of 1640. 
 The only alterations ventured on are those noticed at 
 the foot of the pages, and a slight difference in the 
 arrangement of the lines of pages 84, 89, 91, 92, 94, 
 95, and 96, which in the original are crowded together 
 in order to get the play into seven sheets. 
 
 ffliiis. 
 
 Printed by E. &= G. Goldsmid, Edinburgh.