John Fletcher - The Maids Tragedy

Hold back thy hours dark night, till we have done,
The day will come too soon;
Young Maids will curse thee if thou steal'st away,
And leav'st their blushes open to the day.
Stay, stay, and hide the blushes of the Bride.
Stay gentle night, and with thy darkness cover
The kisses of her Lover.
Stay, and confound her tears, and her shrill cryings,
Her weak denials, vows, and often dyings;
Stay and hide all, but help not though she
call .

Nep . Great Queen of us and Heaven,
Hear what I bring to make this hour a full one,
If not her measure.

Cinth . Speak Seas King.

Nep . Thy tunes my Amphitrite joyes to have,
When they will dance upon the rising wave,
And court me as the sails, my Trytons play
Musick to lead a storm, I'le lead the way.

_To bed, to bed; come Hymen, lead the Bride,
And lay her by her Husbands side:
Bring in the Virgins every one
That grieve to lie alone:
That they may kiss while they may say, a maid,
To morrow 'twill be other, kist and said:
Hesperus be long a shining,
Whilst these Lovers are a twining_.

Eol . Ho! Neptune!

Nept . Eolus!

Eol . The Seas go hie,
Boreas hath rais'd a storm; go and applie
Thy trident, else I prophesie, ere day
Many a tall ship will be cast away:
Descend with all the Gods, and all their power to
strike a cal[m].

Cin . A thanks to every one, and to gratulate
So great a service done at my desire,
Ye shall have many floods fuller and higher
Than you have wisht for; no Ebb shall dare
To let the day see where your dwellings are:
Now back unto your Government in haste,
Lest your proud charge should swell above the waste,
And win upon the Island.

Nep . We obey.

Cinth . Hold up thy head dead night; seest thou not day?
The East begins to lighten, I must down
And give my brother place.

Nigh . Oh! I could frown
To see the day, the day that flings his light
Upon my Kingdoms, and contemns old Night;
Let him go on and flame, I hope to see
Another wild-fire in his Axletree;
And all false drencht; but I forgot, speak Queen.
The day grows on I must no more be seen.

Cin . Heave up thy drowsie head agen, and see
A greater light, a greater Majestie,
Between our sect and us; whip up thy team;
The day breaks here, and you some flashing stream
Shot from the South; say, which way wilt thou go?

Nigh . I'le vanish into mists. [ Exeunt .

Cin . I into day. [Finis Mask .

King . Take lights there Ladies, get the Bride to bed;
We will not see you laid, good night Amintor,
We'l ease you of that tedious ceremony;
Were it [my] case, I should think time run slow.
If thou beest noble, youth, get me a boy,
That may defend my Kingdom from my foes.

Amin . All happiness to you.

King . Good night Melantius . [ Exeunt .

Dul . Madam, shall we undress you for this fight?
The Wars are nak'd that you must make to night.

Evad . You are very merry Dula .

Dul . I should be far merrier Madam, if it were with me as it is with you.

Eva . Why how now wench?

Dul . Come Ladies will you help?

Eva . I am soon undone.

Dul . And as soon done: Good store of Cloaths will trouble you at both.

Evad . Art thou drunk Dula ?

Dul . Why here's none but we.

Evad . Thou think'st belike, there is no modesty When we are alone.

Dul . I by my troth you hit my thoughts aright.

Evad . You prick me Lady.

Dul . 'Tis against my will,
Anon you must endure more, and lie still.
You're best to practise.

Evad . Sure this wench is mad.

Dul . No faith, this is a trick that I have had Since I was fourteen.

Evad . 'Tis high time to leave it.

Dul . Nay, now I'le keep it till the trick leave me;
A dozen wanton words put in your head,
Will make you lively in your Husbands bed.

Evad . Nay faith, then take it.

Dul . Take it Madam, where? We all I hope will take it that are here.

Evad . Nay then I'le give you o're.

Dul . So will I make
The ablest man in Rhodes , or his heart to ake.

Evad . Wilt take my place to night?

Dul . I'le hold your Cards against any two I know.

Evad . What wilt thou do?

Dul . Madam, we'l do't, and make'm leave play too.

Evad . Aspatia , take her part.

Dul . I will refuse it.
She will pluck down a side, she does not use it.

Evad . Why, do.

Dul . You will find the play
Quickly, because your head lies well that way.

Evad . I thank thee Dula , would thou could'st instill
Some of thy mirth into Aspatia :
Nothing but sad thoughts in her breast do dwell,
Methinks a mean betwixt you would do well.

Dul . She is in love, hang me if I were so,
But I could run my Country, I love too
To do those things that people in love do.

Asp . It were a timeless smile should prove my cheek,
It were a fitter hour for me to laugh,
When at the Altar the Religious Priest
Were pacifying the offended powers
With sacrifice, than now, this should have been
My night, and all your hands have been imployed
In giving me a spotless offering
To young Amintors bed, as we are now
For you: pardon Evadne , would my worth
Were great as yours, or that the King, or he,
Or both thought so, perhaps he found me worthless,
But till he did so, in these ears of mine,
(These credulous ears) he pour'd the sweetest words
That Art or Love could frame; if he were false,
Pardon it heaven, and if I did want
Vertue, you safely may forgive that too,
For I have left none that I had from you.