Chapter XVII: Act V: 368

SCENE I.

_Bed-chamber in the palace of_ SYPHAX.

SYPHAX _draws the curtains, and discovers_ ERICTHO
_lying with him_.

_Eri._ Ha! ha! ha!

_Sy._ Light, light!

_Eri._ Ha! ha!

_Sy._ Thou rotten scum of hell!
O my abhorrèd heat! O loath'd delusion!

[_They leap out of the bed_; SYPHAX _takes
him to his sword._

_Eri._ Why! fool of kings, could thy weak soul imagine
That 'tis within the grasp of heaven or hell
To enforce love? Why, know love dotes the fates,
Jove groans beneath his weight: mere[369] ignorant thing,
Know we, Erictho, with a thirsty womb, 10
Have coveted full threescore suns for blood of kings.
We that can make enraged Neptune toss
His huge curl'd locks without one breath of wind;
We that can make heaven slide from Atlas' shoulder;
We, in the pride and height of covetous lust,
Have wish'd with woman's greediness to fill
Our longing arms with Syphax' well-strung limbs:
And dost thou think, if philters or hell-charms
Could have enforced thy use, we would have deigned[370]
Brain sleights? No, no. Now are we full 20
Of our dear wishes. Thy proud heat, well wasted,
Hath made our limbs grow young! Our love, farewell!
Know he that would force love, thus seeks his hell.

[ERICTHO _slips into the ground, as_ SYPHAX
_offers his sword to her_.

_Sy._ Can we yet breathe? Is any plagued like me?
Are we--let's think--O now contempt, my hate
To thee, thy thunder, sulphur, and scorn'd name!
He whose life's loath'd, and he who breathes to curse
His very being,[371] let him thus with me

[SYPHAX _kneels at the altar_.

Fall 'fore an altar, sacred to black powers,
And thus dare heavens! O thou whose blasting flames
Hurl barren droughts upon the patient earth, 31
And thou, gay god of riddles and strange tales,
Hot-brainèd Phoebus, all add if you can
Something unto my misery! if aught
Of plagues lurk in your deep-trench'd brows,
Which yet I know not,--let them fall like bolts,
Which wrathful Jove drives strong into my bosom!
If any chance of war, or news ill-voiced,
Mischief unthought of lurk, come, give't us all,
Heap curse on curse, we can no lower fall! 40

[_Out of the altar the ghost of_ ASDRUBAL _ariseth_.

_Asd._ Lower--lower!

_Sy._ What damn'd air is form'd
Into that shape? Speak, speak, we cannot quake!
Our flesh knows not ignoble tremblings. Speak!
We dare thy terror. Methinks hell and fate
Should dread a soul with woes made desperate.

_Asd._ Know me the spirit of great Asdrubal,
Father to Sophonisba, whose bad heart
Made justly most unfortunate; for know,
I turn'd unfaithful, after that[372] the field
Chanced to our loss, when of thy men there fell 50
Six thousand souls, next fight of Libyans ten.
After which loss we unto Carthage flying,
Th' enragèd people cried their army fell
Through my base treason. Straight my revengeful Furies[373]
Makes them pursue me; I with resolute haste
Made to the grave of all our ancestors,
Where poisoned, hoped my bones should have long rest:
But see, the violent multitude arrives,
Tear down our monument, and me now dead
Deny a grave; hurl us among the rocks 60
To staunch beasts' hunger; therefore thus ungraved
I seek slow rest. Now dost thou know more woes,
And more must feel. Mortals, O fear to slight
Your gods and vows. Jove's arm is of dread might.

_Sy._ Yet speak: shall I o'ercome approaching foes?

_Asd._ Spirits of wrath know nothing but their woes.

[_Exit._

_Enter_ NUNTIUS.

_Nun._ My liege, my liege,
The scouts of Cirta bring intelligence
Of sudden danger; full ten thousand horse,
Fresh and well-rid, strong Massinissa leads, 70
As wings to Roman legions that march swift,
Led by that man of conquest, Scipio.

_Sy._ Scipio?

_Nun._ Direct to Cirta.

[_A march far off is heard._

Hark! their march is heard even to the city.

_Sy._ Help! our guard! my arms!
Bid all our leaders march! beat thick alarms!
I have seen things which thou wouldst quake to hear.
Boldness and strength! the shame of slaves be fear.
Up, heart, hold sword! though waves roll thee on shelf,
Though fortune leave thee, leave not thou thyself! 81

[_Exit, arming._

[368] In old eds. is the direction--"_A Base Lute and a Treble
Violl play for the Act_."

[369] "Mere ignorant"--utterly ignorant. Old eds. "_more_
ignorant."

[370] Old eds. "dam'd."

[371] Old eds. "beings."

[372] Old eds. "which."

[373] Old eds. "fury."

SCENE II.

_Neighbourhood of Cirta._

_Enter two Pages, with targets and javelins_; LÆLIUS _and_ JUGURTH,
_with halberds_; SCIPIO _and_ MASSINISSA _armed; cornets
sounding a march_.

_Sci._ Stand!

_Mass._ Give the word--Stand!

_Sci._ Part the file!

_Mass._ Give way!
Scipio, by thy great name, but greater virtue,--
By our eternal love, give me the chance
Of this day's battle! Let not thy envied fame
Vouchsafe t'oppose[374] the Roman legions
Against one weakened Prince of Libya.
This quarrel's mine--mine be the stroke of fight!
Let us and Syphax hurl out well-forced darts
Each unto other's breast. O (what should I say?)
Thou beyond epithet, thou whom proud lords of fortune
May even envy,--alas! my joy's so vast 11
Makes me seem lost,--let us thunder and lightning
Strike from our brave arms! Look, look, seize that hill!
Hark! he comes near. From thence discern us strike
Fire worth Jove; mount up, and not repute
Me very proud, though wondrous resolute.
My cause, my cause is my bold heart'ning odds,
That sevenfold shield; just arms should fright the gods.

_Sci._ Thy words are full of honour; take thy fate.

_Mass._ Which we do scorn to fear, to Scipio state 20
Worthy his heart. Now let the forcèd brass
Sound on!

_Cornets sound a march._ SCIPIO _leads his train up
to the mount_.

Jugurth, clasp sure our casque,
Arm us with care; and Jugurth, if I fall
Through this day's malice or our fathers' sins,
If it in thy sword lie, break up my breast,
And save my heart that never fell nor sued[375]
To aught but Jove and Sophonisba. Sound,
Stern heart'ners unto wounds and blood--sound loud,
For we have namèd Sophonisba!

[_Cornets, a flourish._

So!

[_Cornets, a march far off._

Hark, hark, he comes! stand blood! Now multiply 31
Force more than fury. Sound high, sound high, we strike
For Sophonisba!

_Enter_ SYPHAX, _arm'd, his Pages with shields and darts
before; cornets sounding marches_.

_Sy._ For Sophonisba!

_Mass._ Syphax!

_Sy._ Massinissa!

_Mass._ Betwixt us two,
Let single fight try all.

_Sy._ Well urged.

_Mass._ Well granted.
Of you, my stars, as I am worthy you,
I implore aid; and O, if angels wait
Upon good hearts, my genius be as strong
As I am just.

_Sy._ Kings' glory is their wrong. 40
He that may only do just acts 's a slave.
My god's my arm;[376] my life my heaven; my grave
To me all end.

_Mass._ Give day, gods,--life, not death,--
To him that only fears blaspheming breath.
For Sophonisba!

_Sy._ For Sophonisba!

_Cornets sound a charge._ MASSINISSA _and_ SYPHAX _combat_. SYPHAX
_falls_. MASSINISSA _unclasps_ SYPHAX' _casque, and is_[377]
_about to kill him when_ SYPHAX _speaks_.

_Sy._ Unto thy fortune, not to thee, we yield.

_Mass._ Lives Sophonisba yet unstain'd, speak just--
Yet ours unforced?

_Sy._ Let my heart fall more low
Than is my body, if only to thy glory 50
She lives not yet all thine.

_Mass._ Rise, rise! Cease strife!
Hear a most deep revenge--from us take life!

_Cornets sound a march._ SCIPIO _and_ LÆLIUS _enter_. SCIPIO
_passeth to his throne_. MASSINISSA _presents_ SYPHAX _to_
SCIPIO'S _feet, cornets sounding a flourish_.

To you all power of strength; and next to thee,
Thou spirit of triumph, born for victory,
I heave these hands. March we to Cirta straight,
My Sophonisba with swift haste to win,
In honour and in love all mean is sin.

[_Exeunt_ MASSINISSA _and_ JUGURTH.

_Sci._ As we are Rome's great general, thus we press
Thy captive neck. But as still Scipio,
And sensible of just humanity, 60
We weep thy bondage. Speak, thou ill-chanced man,
What spirit took thee when thou wert our friend
(Thy right hand given both to gods and us,
With such most passionate vows and solemn faith),
Thou fled'st with such most foul disloyalty
To now weak Carthage? strengthening their bad arms,
Who lately scorn'd thee with all loath'd abuse,
Who never entertain for love but use?

_Sy._ Scipio, my fortune is captived, not I,
Therefore I'll speak bold truth; nor once mistrust 70
What I shall say, for now, being wholly yours,
I must not feign. Sophonisba, 'twas she,
'Twas Sophonisba that solicited
My forced revolt; 'twas her resistless suit,
Her love to her dear Carthage, 'ticed me break
All faith with men; 'twas she made Syphax false;
She that loves Carthage with such violence,
And hath such moving graces to allure,
That she will turn a man that once hath sworn
Himself on's father's bones her Carthage foe, 80
To be that city's champion and high friend.
Her hymeneal torch burnt down my house;
Then was I captived, when her wanton arms
Threw[378] moving clasps about my neck. O charms,
Able to turn even Fate! But this, in my true grief,
Is some just joy, that my love-sotted foe
Shall seize that plague; that Massinissa's breast
Her hands shall arm, and that ere long you'll try
She can force him your foe as well as I.

_Sci._ Lælius, Lælius, take a choice troop of horse, 90
And spur to Cirta. To Massinissa thus:
Syphax' palace, crown's spoil, city's sack,
Be free to him. But if our new-leagued[379] friend
Possess that woman of so moving art,
Charge him with no less weight than his dear vow,
Our love, all faith, that he resign her thee;
As he shall answer Rome, will him[380] give up
A Roman prisoner to the Senate's doom:
She is a Carthaginian. Now our law's[381]--
Wise men prevent not actions, but ever cause. 100

_Sy._ Good Malice, so, as liberty so dear,
Prove my revenge. What I cannot possess
Another shall not--that's some happiness.

[_Exeunt, cornets flourishing._

[374] Ed. 1. "t'appose."

[375] Ed. 1. "that neuer fell nor's adue."

[376] So Mezentius in the _Æneid_, x. 772:--"Dextra mihi deus."

[377] Old eds. "_and as ready to kill him, speaks_ SYPHAX."

[378] Ed. 1. "Threw mouing claspt."--Ed. 2. "There mouing
claspt."

[379] Old eds. "new laugh'd."

[380] "Will him," &c.,--order him to give up. Ed. 2. "will give
him up."

[381] Perhaps we should read--
"She is a Carthaginian, 'neath our laws.
Wise men," &c.

SCENE III.

_Cirta._

_Cornets afar off sounding a charge. A soldier wounded at one door.
Enter at the other_ SOPHONISBA, _two Pages before her with
lights, two women bearing up her train_.

_Sol._ Princess, O fly! Syphax hath lost the day,
And captived lies. The Roman legions
Have seiz'd the town, and with inveterate hate
Make slaves, or murder all. Fire and steel,
Fury and night, hold all. Fair Queen, O fly!
We bleed for Carthage, all for[382] Carthage die!

[_Exit._

_Cornets sounding a march. Enter Pages with javelins and targets._
MASSINISSA _and_ JUGURTH; MASSINISSA'S _beaver shut_.

_Mass._ March to the palace.

_So._ Whate'er man thou art,
Of Libya thy fair arms speak, give heart
To amazed weakness; hear her, that for long time
Hath seen no wishèd light. Sophonisba, 10
A name for misery much known, 'tis she
Entreats of thy graced sword this only boon:--
Let me not kneel to Rome; for though no cause
Of mine deserves their hate, though Massinissa
Be ours to heart, yet Roman generals
Make proud their triumphs with whatever captives.
O 'tis a nation which from soul I fear,
As one well knowing the much-grounded hate
They bear to Asdrubal and Carthage blood;
Therefore with tears that wash thy feet, with hands 20
Unused to beg, I clasp thy manly knees:
O save me from their fetters and contempt,
Their proud insults and more than insolence!
Or, if it rest not in thy grace of breath
To grant such freedom, give me long-wish'd death;
For 'tis not now loath'd life that we do crave,--
Only an unshamed death and silent grave,
We will now deign to bend for.

_Mass._ Rarity!

[MASSINISSA _disarms his head_.

By thee and this right hand, thou shalt live free!

_So._ We cannot now be wretched.

_Mass._ Stay the sword! 30
Let slaughter cease; sounds soft as Leda's breast

[_Soft music._

Slide through all ears. This night be love's high feast.

_So._ O'erwhelm me not with sweets; let me not drink
Till my breast burst, O Jove, thy nectar-skink.[383]

[_She sinks into_ MASSINISSA'S _arms_.

_Mass._ She is o'ercome with joy!

_So._ Help--help to bar[384]
Some happiness, ye powers! I have joy to spare,
Enough to make a god! O Massinissa!

_Mass._ Peace!
A silent thinking makes full joys increase!

_Enter_ LÆLIUS.

_Læ._ Massinissa!

_Mass._ Lælius!

_Læ._ Thine ear.

_Mass._ Stand off.

_Læ._ From Scipio thus: by thy late vow of faith, 40
And mutual league of endless amity,
As thou respects his virtue, or Rome's force,
Deliver Sophonisba to our hand.

_Mass._ Sophonisba?

_Læ._ Sophonisba.

_So._ My lord
Looks pale, and from his half-burst eyes a flame
Of deep disquiet breaks. The gods turn false
My sad presage!

_Mass._ Sophonisba?

_Læ._ Even she.

_Mass._ She kill'd not Scipio's father, nor his uncle,
Great Cneius.

_Læ._ Carthage did!

_Mass._ To her what's Carthage?

_Læ._ Know 'twas her father Asdrubal strook[385] off 50
His father's head. Give place to faith and fate!

_Mass._ 'Tis cross to honour.

_Læ._ But 'tis just to state.
So speaketh Scipio. Do not thou detain
A Roman prisoner, due to this great triumph,
As thou shalt answer Rome and him.

_Mass._ Lælius,
We now are in Rome's power. Lælius,
View Massinissa do a loathèd act,
Most sinking from that state his heart did keep.
Look, Lælius, look, see Massinissa weep!
Know I have made a vow, more dear to me 60
Than my soul's endless being, she shall rest
Free from Rome's bondage!

_Læ._ But dost thou forget
Thy vow, yet fresh, thus breath'd: _When I desist
To be commanded by thy virtue, Scipio,
Or fall from friend of Rome, revenging gods,
Afflict me with your torture!_

_Mass._ Lælius, enough.

_Læ._ Salute the Roman, tell him we will act
What shall amaze him.

_Læ._ Wilt thou yield her then?

_Mass._ She shall arrive there straight.

_Læ._ Best fate of men
To thee.

_Mass._ And Scipio.--Have I lived, O heavens, 70

[_Exit_ LÆLIUS _with pages._

To be enforcedly perfidious?

_So._ What unjust grief afflicts my worthy lord?

_Mass._ Thank me, ye gods, with much beholdingness;
For mark, I do not curse you.

_So._ Tell me, sweet,
The cause of thy much anguish.

_Mass._ Ha, the cause?
Let's see: wreathe back thine arms, bend down thy neck,
Practise base prayers, make fit thyself for bondage.

_So._ Bondage!

_Mass._ Bondage--Roman bondage!

_So._ No, no!

_Mass._ How then have I vow'd well to Scipio?

_So._ How then to Sophonisba?

_Mass._ Right, which way? 80
Run mad!--impossible!--distraction!

_So._ Dear lord, thy patience; let it maze all power,
And list to her in whose sole heart it rests
To keep thy faith upright.

_Mass._ Wilt thou be slaved?

_So._ No, free.

_Mass._ How then keep I my faith?

_So._ My death
Gives help to all. From Rome so rest we free;
So brought to Scipio, faith is kept in thee.

_Mass._ Thou darest not die--some wine!--thou darest not die!

_Enter a Page with a bowl of wine._

_So._ How near was I unto the curse of man. Joy!
How like was I yet once to have been glad! 90
He that ne'er laugh'd may with a constant face
Contemn Jove's frown: happiness makes us base.

[_She takes the bowl, into which_ MASSINISSA _puts poison_.

Behold me, Massinissa, like thyself,
A king and soldier; and I prithee keep
My last command.

_Mass._ Speak, sweet.

_So._ Dear, do not weep.
And now with undismay'd resolve behold,
To save you--you (for honour and just faith
Are most true gods, which we should much adore),
With even disdainful vigour I give up
An abhorr'd life. You have been good to me, 100

[_She drinks._

And I do thank thee, heaven! O my stars,
I bless your goodness, that with breast unstain'd,
Faith pure, a virgin wife, tried to my glory,
I die, of female faith the long-lived story;
Secure from bondage and all servile harms,
But more--most happy in my husband's arms.

[_She sinks._

_Ju._ Massinissa, Massinissa!

_Mass._ Covetous,
Fame-greedy lady, could no scope of glory,
No reasonable proportion of goodness,
Fill thy great breast, but thou must prove immense 110
Incomprehence in virtue! What, wouldst thou
Not only be admired, but even adored?
O glory ripe for heaven! Sirs, help, help, help!
Let us to Scipio with what speed you can;
For piety make haste, whilst yet we are man.

[_Exeunt, bearing_ SOPHONISBA _in a chair_.

[382] Ed. 1. "of."

[383] So ed. 2.--Ed. 1. "O Ioue thy Nectar, thinke."
("Nectar-skink"--draught of nectar.)

[384] Old eds. "beare," but the sense clearly requires "bar"
(pronounced "bear" to rhyme with "spare"). We have twice had the
word "bar" spelt "beare" earlier in the present play.

[385] Ed. 2. "struck."

SCENE IV.

_Neighbourhood of Cirta._

_Cornets a march. Enter_ SCIPIO _in full state, triumphal ornaments
carried before him, and_ SYPHAX _bound; at the other door_,
LÆLIUS.

_Sci._ What answers Massinissa? Will he send
That Sophonisba of so moving tongue?[386]

_Læ._ Full of dismay'd unsteadiness he stood,
His right hand lock'd in hers, which hand he gave
As pledge for Rome she[387] ever should live free.
But when I enter'd and well urged this vow
And thy command, his great heart sunk with shame,
His eyes lost spirit, and his heat of life
Sank from his face, as one that stood benumb'd,
All mazed, t'effect impossibilities; 10
For either unto her or Scipio
He must break vow. Long time he toss'd his thoughts;
And as you see a snow-ball being roll'd,
At first a handful, yet, long bowl'd about,
Insensibly acquires a mighty globe,--
So his cold grief through agitation grows,
And more he thinks, the more of grief he knows.
At last he seem'd to yield her.

_Sy._ Mark, Scipio!
Trust him that breaks a vow?

_Sci._ How then trust thee? 19

_Sy._ O, misdoubt him not, when he's thy slave like me.

_Enter_ MASSINISSA, _all in black_.

_Mass._ Scipio!

_Sci._ Massinissa!

_Mass._ General!

_Sci._ King!

_Mass._ Lives there no mercy for one soul of Carthage,
But must see baseness?

_Sci._ Wouldst thou joy thy peace,
Deliver Sophonisba straight and cease;
Do not grasp that which is too hot to hold.
We grace thy grief, and hold it with soft sense;
Enjoy good courage, but 'void insolence.
I tell thee Rome and Scipio deign to bear
So low a breast as for her say--we fear.

_Mass._ Do not, do not; let not the fright of nations 30
Know so vile terms. She rests at thy dispose.

_Sy._ To my soul['s] joy. Shall Sophonisba then
With me go bound, and wait on Scipio's wheel?
When th' whole world's giddy, one man cannot reel.

_Mass._ Starve thy lean hopes; and, Romans, now behold
A sight would sad the gods, make Phoebus cold.

_Organ and recorders play to a single voice. Enter in the meantime
the mournful solemnity of_ MASSINISSA'S _presenting_ SOPHONISBA'S
_body_.

Look, Scipio, see what hard shift we make
To keep our vows. Here, take, I yield her thee;
And Sophonisba, I keep vow, thou'rt still free.

_Sy._ Burst, my vex'd heart: the torture that most racks 40
An enemy is his foe's royal acts.

_Sci._ The glory of thy virtue live for ever;
Brave hearts may be obscured, but extinct never.

[SCIPIO _adorns_ MASSINISSA.

Take from the general of Rome this crown,
This robe of triumph, and this conquest's wreath,
This sceptre and this hand; for ever breathe
Rome's very minion. Live worth thy fame,
As far from faintings as from now base name.

_Mass._ Thou whom, like sparkling steel, the strokes of chance
Made hard and firm, and, like[388] wild-fire turn'd, 50
The more cold fate, the more thy virtue burn'd,
And in whole seas of miseries didst flame;
On thee, loved creature of a deathless fame,

[MASSINISSA _adorns_ SOPHONISBA.

Rest all my honour! O thou for whom I drink
So deep of grief, that he must only think,
Not dare to speak, that would express my woe;
Small rivers murmur, deep gulfs silent flow.
My grief is here,[389] not here: heave gently then,
Women's right wonder, and just shame of men.

[_Exeunt all but_ MASSINISSA.

_Cornets a short flourish._

[386] Ed. 2. "tongues."

[387] Ed. 1. "he."

[388] Ed. 2. "like to wild fire." (As the line stands, "firm" is
equivalent to a dissyllable.)

[389] _i.e._, in my heart, not my eyes.

EPILOGUS.

_Mass._ And[390] now
With lighter passion, though with most just fear,
I change my person, and do hither bear
Another's voice, who with a phrase as weak
As his deserts, now will'd me (thus form'd[391]) speak:
If words well sensed, best suiting subject grave,
Noble true story, may once boldly crave
Acceptance gracious; if he whose fires
Envy not others, nor himself admires;
If scenes exempt from ribaldry or rage 10
Of taxings indiscreet, may please the stage;--
If such may hope applause, he not commands,
Yet craves as due the justice of your hands.
But freely he protests, howe'er it is--
Or well, or ill, or much, not much amiss--
With constant modesty he does submit
To all, save those that have more tongue than wit.[392]

[390] "And now ... fear." Printed as one line in ed. 1. Ed. 2.
reads, "And now with lighter passion, though just feare."

[391] So ed. 1.--Ed. 2. "will'd me for him speake."

[392] In ed. 1. is added the following note:--"After all, let me
intreat my Reader not to taxe me for the fashion of the Entrances
and Musique of this tragedy, for know it is printed only as it
was presented by youths, and after the fashion of the private
stage. Nor let some easily amended errors in the Printing afflict
thee, since thy owne discourse will easily set vpright any such
vneuennes."

WHAT YOU WILL.

_What Yov Will. By Iohn Marston. Imprinted at London by G. Eld, for Thomas Thorppe._ 1607. 4to.

STORY OF THE PLAY.

Albano, a rich Venetian merchant, is reported to have been drowned at sea; whereupon his wife, Celia, is beset with suitors, and her choice falls upon a French knight, Laverdure. Jacomo, a disappointed suitor, plots with Albano's brothers, Andrea and Randolfo, to disturb the match, and for this purpose they disguise Francisco, a perfumer, in the habiliments of Albano; but the plot is detected by Laverdure's page, Bidet, who communicates the discovery to his master. The true Albano now arrives upon the scene, and encountering Laverdure, is accosted as Francisco, and is told that the plot has been discovered. Laverdure leaves him in a distraction of rage and amazement, which is not lessened when Jacomo and his own brothers approach and congratulate him on his powers of deception. A meeting between Albano and the disguised Francisco presently ensues. While Celia is entertaining her friends, Albano and Francisco clamour for admittance. Laverdure had told Celia (and the news had been spread abroad) that he intended to disguise a fiddler in the likeness of Albano as a foil to the disguised perfumer. When Albano and Francisco appear, Celia imagines that one is the fiddler and the other the perfumer. The true Albano and the counterfeit Albano, after engaging in a lively skirmish, declare that they will appeal to the Duke. When they retire Laverdure protests that he knows nothing of the new claimant, but his words are disregarded. The rivals appeal to the Duke, and the mystery is quickly solved when Albano, taking Celia aside, shows her a secret mark on his person, and reminds her of words that he had spoken on a certain memorable occasion.

INDUCTION.

_Before the music sounds for the Act, enter_ ATTICUS, DORICUS, _and_
PHILOMUSE; _they sit a good while on the stage before the candles
are lighted, talking together, and on sudden_ DORICUS _speaks_.

_Enter Tireman with lights._

_Dor._ O fie, some lights! Sirs, fie! let there be no
deeds of darkness done among us. Ay,--so, so, prithee,
Tireman, set Signior Snuff a-fire: he's a choleric gentleman;
he will take pepper in the nose[393] instantly; fear
not. 'Fore heaven, I wonder they tolerate him so near
the stage.

_Phi._ Faith, Doricus, thy brain boils; keel[394] it, keel it,
or all the fat's in the fire; in the name of Phoebus, what
merry genius haunts thee to-day? Thy lips play with
feathers. 10

_Dor._ Troth, they should pick straws before they should
be idle.

_Atti._ But why--but why dost thou wonder they dare
suffer Snuff so near the stage?

_Dor._ O, well recall'd; marry, Sir Signior Snuff, Monsieur
Mew, and Cavaliero Blirt, are three of the most-to-be-fear'd
auditors that ever----

_Phi._ Pish! for shame! stint thy idle chat.

_Dor._ Nay, dream whatsoe'er your fantasy swims on,
Philomuse; I protest, in the love you have procured me
to bear your friend the author, I am vehemently fearful
this threefold halter of contempt that chokes the breath
of wit, these aforesaid _tria sunt omnia_, knights of the
mew,[395] will sit heavy on the skirts of his scenes, if---- 24

_Phi._ If what? Believe it, Doricus, his spirit
Is higher blooded than to quake and pant
At the report of Scoff's artillery.
Shall he be crest-fall'n, if some looser brain,
In flux of wit uncivilly befilth
His slight composures? Shall his bosom faint, 30
If drunken Censure belch out sour breath
From Hatred's surfeit on his labour's front?
Nay, say some half a dozen rancorous breasts
Should plant themselves on purpose to discharge
Imposthum'd malice on his latest scene,
Shall his resolve be struck through with the blirt
Of a goose-breath? What imperfect-born,
What short-liv'd meteor, what cold-hearted snow
Would melt in dolour, cloud his mudded eyes,
Sink down his jaws, if that some juiceless husk, 40
Some boundless ignorance, should on sudden shoot
His gross-knobb'd burbolt[396] with--"That's not so good;
Mew, blirt, ha, ha, light chaffy stuff!"
Why, gentle spirits, what loose-waving vane,
What anything, would thus be screw'd about
With each slight touch of odd phantasmatas?
No, let the feeble palsey'd lamer joints
Lean on opinion's crutches; let the----

_Dor._ Nay, nay, nay.
Heaven's my hope, I cannot smooth this strain; 50
Wit's death, I cannot. What a leprous humour
Breaks from rank swelling of these bubbling wits?
Now out upon't, I wonder what tight brain,
Wrung in this custom to maintain contempt
'Gainst common censure;[397] to give stiff counter-buffs,
To crack rude scorn even on the very face
Of better audience. Slight, is't not odious?
Why, hark you, honest, honest Philomuse
(You that endeavour to endear our thoughts
To the composer's spirit), hold this firm: 60
Music and poetry were first approved
By common sense; and that which pleasèd most,
Held most allowèd pass: know,[398] rules of art
Were shaped to pleasure, not pleasure to your rules;
Think you, if that his scenes took stamp in mint
Of three or four deem'd most judicious,
It must enforce the world to current them,
That you must spit defiance on dislike?
Now, as I love the light, were I to pass
Through public verdict, I should fear my form, 70
Lest ought I offer'd were unsquared or warp'd.
The more we know, the more we want:
What Bayard[399] bolder than the ignorant?
Believe me, Philomuse, i'faith thou must,
The best, best seal of wit is wit's distrust.

_Phi._ Nay, gentle Doricus.

_Dor._ I'll hear no more of him; nay, and your friend
the author, the composer, the _What You Will_, seems so
fair in his own glass, so straight in his own measure,
that he talks once of squinting critics, drunken censure,
splay-footed opinion, juiceless husks, I ha' done with
him, I ha' done with him. 82

_Phi._ Pew, nay then----

_Dor._ As if any such unsanctified stuff could find a
being 'mong these ingenuous breasts.

_Atti._ Come, let pass, let pass; let's see what stuff
must clothe our ears. What's the play's name?

_Phi._ _What You Will._

_Dor._ Is't comedy, tragedy, pastoral, moral, nocturnal,
or history? 90

_Phi._ Faith, perfectly neither, but even _What You Will_,--a
slight toy, lightly composed, too swiftly finish'd, ill
plotted, worse written, I fear me worst acted, and indeed
_What You Will_.

_Dor._ Why, I like this vein well now.

_Atti._ Come, we strain the spectators' patience in
delaying their expected delights. Let's place ourselves
within the curtains, for good faith the stage is so very
little, we shall wrong the general eye else very much.

_Phi._ If you'll stay but a little, I'll accompany you; I
have engaged myself to the author to give a kind of inductive
speech to his comedy. 102

_Atti._ Away! you neglect yourself, a gentleman----

_Phi._ Tut, I have vow'd it; I am double charged; go
off as 'twill, I'll set fire to it.

_Dor._ I'll not stand it; may chance recoil, and be not
stuffed with saltpetre: well, mark the report; mark the
report.

_Phi._ Nay, prithee stay; 'slid the female presence, the
Genteletza, the women will put me out. 110

_Dor._ And they strive to put thee out, do thou endeavour
to put them.

_Atti._ In good faith, if they put thee out of countenance,
put them out of patience, and hew their ears with hacking
imperfect utterance.

_Dor._ Go, stand to it; show thyself a tall man of thy
tongue; make an honest leg; put off thy cap with discreet
carriage: and so we leave thee to the kind gentlemen
and most respected auditors.

[_Exeunt, all but_ PHILOMUSE.

[393] "_Se courroucer._ To fret, fume, chafe, be angrie, _take_
pet, or _pepper in the nose_."--_Cotgrave._

[394] See note, vol. i. p. 77.

[395] Cat-calls.--See Middleton, iv. 9.

[396] A short blunt arrow, for killing birds without piercing
them.

[397] Judgment.--Marston is here plainly referring to the
truculent attitude assumed by Ben Jonson towards the audience.

[398] Old eds. "not."

[399] "As bold as blind bayard" was a proverb (as old as Chaucer)
applied to those who do not look before they leap. In R. B.'s
_Appius and Virginia_, 1575, we have:--"As bold as blind bayard,
as wise as a woodcock." _Bayard_ was the name for a bay-horse.

PROLOGUS.

Nor labours he the favour of the rude,
Nor offers sops unto the Stygian dog,
To force a silence in his viperous tongues;
Nor cares he to insinuate the grace
Of loath'd detraction, nor pursues the love
Of the nice critics of this squeamish age;
Nor strives he to bear up with every sail
Of floating censure; nor once dreads or cares
What envious hand his guiltless muse hath struck;
Sweet breath from tainted stomachs who can suck?
But to the fair proportion'd loves of wit, 11
To the just scale of even, paizèd[400] thoughts;
To those that know the pangs of bringing forth
A perfect feature; to their gentle minds,
That can as soon slight of as find a blemish;
To those, as humbly low as to their feet,
I am obliged to bend--to those his muse
Makes solemn honour for their wish'd delight.
He vows industrious sweat shall pale his cheek,
But he'll gloss up sleek objects for their eyes; 20
For those he is asham'd his best's too bad.
A silly subject, too too[401] simply clad,
Is all his present, all his ready pay
For many debts. Give further day.[402]
I'll give a proverb,--Sufferance giveth ease:
So you may once be paid, we once may please.

[_Exit._

[400] Balanced.--Perhaps we should read "even-paizèd."

[401] Sometimes written "too-too" (a strengthened form of _too_),
but quite as often printed as two separate words. I have followed
the old copies.

[402] "Give further day" = allow the day of payment to be
deferred. Cf. Middleton, ii. 337.

_DRAMATIS PERSONÆ._

_Duke of Venice._
ALBANO, _a merchant_.
JACOMO, _in love with_ CELIA.
ANDREA, }
RANDOLFO, } _brothers to_ ALBANO.
QUADRATUS.
LAVERDURE, _a Frenchman_.
LAMPATHO DORIA.
SIMPLICIUS FABER.
FRANCISCO, _a perfumer_.
PHILUS, _page to_ JACOMO.
BIDET, _page to_ LAVERDURE.
SLIP, _page to_ ALBANO.
HOLOFERNES PIPPO, _page to_ SIMPLICIUS.
_A Schoolmaster._
BATTUS, }
NOUS, } _schoolboys_.
NATHANIEL, }
SLIP, }
NOOSE, }
TRIP, } _pages_.
DOIT, }

CELIA, _wife to_ ALBANO.
MALETZA, _sister to_ CELIA.
LYZABETTA.
LUCIA, _waiting-woman to_ CELIA.

THE SCENE--VENICE.

WHAT YOU WILL.