Microcosmus A morall maske, presented vvith generall liking, at the private house in Salisbury Court, and heere set down according to the intention of the authour Thomas Nabbes.

Microcosmus A morall maske, presented vvith generall liking, at the private house in Salisbury Court, and heere set down according to the intention of the authour Thomas Nabbes.

Table of contents

Title page

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To his deare friend the Authour upon his MICROCOSMUS.

To his beloved friend Master Thomas Nabbes.

§

The Persons figur'd.

MICROCOSMVS.

For the first Act.

For the Second Act.

For the third Act.

For the Fourth Act.

For the last Act.

§

§

[Page]

Microcosmus. A MORALL MASKE, PRESENTED VVITH generall liking, at the private house in SALISBURY Court, and heere Set down according to the intention of the Authour THOMAS NABBES.

Debent et prodesse, et delectare Poetae.

LONDON, Printed by RICHARD OULTON for Charles Greene, and are to be sold at the white Lyon in Pauls Church-yard. 1637.

§

§

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TO THE SERVICE AND DELIGHT OF ALL TRVLY NOBLE, GENEROUS AND HONEST SPIRITS,

THE AVTHOVR THOMAS NABBES dedicateth both his LITTLE WORLDS.

To his deare friend the Authour upon his MICROCOSMUS.

[Page]

[Page]

THE knowledge of the little World of old

Liv'd in Philosophers, who barely told

Man 'twas himself. Thy learning and thy wit

By breathing life and action into it

Have made that knowledge full. Here when may see

Presented what they ought, what not to be;

Informe and please themselves, and cry it good.

(The World's not wise oft in such gratitude.)

Were the restraint ta'ne off, our eares and sight

Should fetch new shares of profit and delight

From this thy worke or World, and the supplies

That shall from thy Divine Minerva rise.

And friend I hope the stage age [...] will shine,

In part for mine owne sake as well as thine.

RICH. BROOME.

To his beloved friend Master Thomas Nabbes.

[Page]

SEEING thy Microcosmus, I began

To contemplate the parts that make up Man

A little World. I found each Morall right:

All was instruction mingled with delight.

Nor are thine like those Poets looser rimes

That waite upon the humours of the times:

But thou dost make by thy Poetick rage

A Schoole of Vertue of a common Stage.

Me thinks the ghosts of Stoicks vexe to see

Their doctrine in a Masque unmasqu'd by thee.

Thou makst to be exprest by action more,

Then was contein'd in all their Bookes before.

WILL. CUFAUDE.

§

§

The errours escap't in the Presse are not such, but that the apparent oversight of the Correctour may prevent thy taxing me of ignorance. I therefore have omitted to expresse them.

The Persons figur'd.

[Page]

Nature.
A faire Woman in a white robe wrought with birds, beasts, fruits, flowers, clouds, starres, &c. on her head a wreath of flowers interwoven with starres.

Ianus.
A man with two faces signifying providence, in a yellow robe, wrought with snakes as hee is Deus anni: on his head a crowne. He is Natures husband.

Fire.
A fierce countenanc'd young man, in a flame-colour'd robe, wrought with gleames of fire. His haire red; and on his head a crowne of flames. His creature a Vulcane.

Ayre.
A young man of a variable countenance, in a blue robe, wrought with divers coloured clouds. His haire blue; and on his head a wreath of clouds. His creature a Gyant or Silvane.

Water.
A woman in a Sea-greene robe wrought with waves. Her haire a Sea-greene, and on her head a wreath of seggs bound about with waves. Her creature a Syrene.

Earth.
A young woman of a sad countenance, in a grasse-greene robe, wrought with sundry fruits and flowers. Her haire black, and on her head a chapler of flowers. Her creature a Pigmy.

[Page] Love.
A Cupid in a flame colour'd habite; Bow and quiver, a crowne of flaming hearts, &c.

Physander.
A perfect growne man in a long white robe, and on his head a garland of white Lillies and Roses mixt. His name [...].

Choller.
A Fencer. His clothes red.

Bloud.
A dancer in a watchet colour'd sute.

Phlegme.
A Physitian. An old man, his doublet white and black, trunck hose.

Melancholy.
A Musician. His complexion haire and clothes black: a Lute in his hand. He is likewise an amorist.

Bellamina.
A lovely woman in a long white robe: on her head a wreath of white flowers. She signifies the soule.

Bonus Genius.
An Angel in a like white robe: wings & wreath white.

Malus Genius.
A divell in a black robe: haire, wreath and wings black.

The 5. Senses.

Seeing

a Chambermaid.

Hearing

the usher of the Hall▪

Smelling

a Huntsman or Gardner.

Tasting

a Cooke.

Touching

a Gentleman-usher.

[Page] Sensuality.
A wanton woman richly habited, but lasciviously drest, &c.

Temperance.
A lovely woman of a modest countenance: her garments plaine, but decent, &c.

A Philosopher.

An Eremite.

A Plough man.

A Shepheard.

All properly habited.

3. Furies.
As they are commonly fancied.

Feare.
The cryer of the Court, with a tipstaffe.

Conscience.
The Iudge of the Court.

Hope and despaire.
An advocate and a Lawyer.

The other 3. vertues.
As they are frequently exprest by Painters.

The Heroes.
In bright antique habits, &c.

The Front.
Of a workmanship proper to the fancy of the rest, adorn'd with brasse figures of Angels and Divels, with severall inscriptions: The Title in an Escocheon supported by an Angell and a Divell. Within the arch a continuing perspective of ruines, which is drawne still before the other scenes whilst they are varied.

The Inscriptions.

Hinc gloria.

Appetitus boni.

Hinc poena.

Appetitus mali.

MICROCOSMVS.

[Page]

[Page]

For the first Act.

After a confused noyse and Musicke out of tune, Nature enters as amaz'd at it.

WHat horrour wakes me! and disturbs the peace

I sate inthron'd in? shall dissention ruine

Eternall acts? Hath the great deity

Made me his instrument, and shall my power

Be slighted so by their rebellious difference?

Cease mutiny, or be your owne destructions.

Accurst confusion that neglects the forme

Nature prescribes. I rather would preserve yee:

That in distinguisht order yee might shew

The glory of my worke; each in his spheare

Subscribing to my better government.

But my commands are uselesse. Their deafe wills

Persist to act their owne and my sad ills.

To her Ianus.

Where's my delight I whence is this sad dejection?

How amaz'd Nature stands I Have our imbraces

Brought forth a race of elementall formes

That live in simple bodies, to be made

Pregnant for other births, and will she now

[Page]Neglect their teeming? I would be a Grandfather,

And see my issue multiply.

Nature.

Oh husband!

Our union hath beene vaine; our off-spring proves

A rebell to our peace, and natures lawes.

Light fire descends to earth, beneath whose weight

He grones to be deliver'd, till with struggling

He lifts earth up, in whose repression ayre

Contracts his forces to extinguish fire.

Againe; fire from this mutinous assault

Doubles his strength; when straight ambitious water

Climbing his seate consumes her selfe in flames.

Thus fire, ayre, water, earth, each would be all,

And are made neither; but a confus'd masse,

And indigested Chaos.

Ianus.

Am I Ianus,

(The figure of eternall providence)

And shall this disobedience scape the stroke

Of my sever'st correction? Fire I shall lash you,

And make your nimble pyramides skip upward.

Ile chaine earth to her centre. Ayre had best

Confine himselfe to his three regions,

Or else Ile disinherit him. If water

Exceed her bounds.

To them the foure Elements, with their severall [...], (which Paracelsus calleth homines spirituales) playing on antique instruments out of tune.

Nat.

See; the dissentious come

Maz'd in the errours of their owne confusion:

As if their dissolution should precede

Their yet not perfect being. How my griefes

Presse downe the organes of my utterance,

And choake words in their passage! Speake good Ianus.

Ian.

Yee disobedient children of that love

That joyn'd us to produce yee.

Fire.

Stop good father,

[Page]Our wills are deafe to counsaile.

Ayre.

Or to threats.

Set both your browes with wrinckles, and put on

Th' austerest anger, wee'l be aw'd by none

But our owne wills.

Wat.

Ile quench my brothers flames,

Or burne my selfe into him. My cold moysture

Shall not be ty'd t' embrace as cold a sister,

And not ascend above them.

Earth.

Ile be active

As ayre or fire. Else with my ponderous weight▪

Ile presse their climbing heads beneath my centre;

And by inversion bury them within me,

'Till earthquakes shatter all, and small ruine

Dilate their passage.

Fire.

Are we not one birth?

Why then should there be a precedency,

And not an equall power of all first qualities?

Be not you partiall parents, wee'l obey

The government of nature.

Ayre.

Otherwise

With our owne strength we'l prosecute this warre

'Till ruine stop's it.

Ian.

Stubborne boyes, Ile yoake yee

In such a bondage.

Nat.

Gentle husband try

Perswasions strength: Perhaps 'twill better worke

Vpon the temper of their fiercer nature.

I am your mother; let me reconcile yee:

That in your peace I may preserve the order

Of my intended worke. Should fire forsake

His lofty mansion, and infect his flames

With grosser weight, it would benumbe his activenesse,

And make his motion dull. Were my pure ayre

Pent in his sisters entrailes, her foule veines

Would soone infect him. What creation mean't

In your diversities, your rash ambitions

[Page]Must not pervert. Since providence hath made yee

The meanes for many ends, dispute not them,

Nor your owne thought-defects: each i [...] supply'd

With a perfection, and an equall worth

Distinguisht in proportion; but the excellence

Of your owne attributes cannot appeare,

Whilst you disturbe the distribution

Of them to other formes, which from your mixtures

Must enter different bodies of the first,

Second, third, fourth, fifth composition.

Vapours & exhalations; meteors; vegetables

And minerals; animals, and lastly man,

Homo dicitur [...]; non ab humo, ut alij volunt.

Call'd so from concord▪ for he doth contain

A harmony of parts, and in them figure

His end of being. Let not then your wills

Persist in this rebellious mutiny,

And hinder high intendments. Pray agree,

And leave the reason of such acts to me.

Fire.

Vaine oratory. Think you us so easie

To be o'recome by words! swell high my rage,

And with licentious fury breake the tyes

Of these too weake commands.

Ayre.

Let's on to fight,

Whilst the yet discord of the untun'd spheares

Add's courage, and delights our warlike eares.

The 4. Elements and their creatures dance a confused dance to their owne antique musick [...]: in which they seeme to fight with one another: and so goe forth confusedly.

Nat.

What shall we doe? The universall fabrick

Will be everted, if this war continue:

Let's sue to Love; his power may be prevailing.

To them Love.

Love.

See; Love appeares at thy request.

Thou cause of motion and of rest.

Thou greater powers great substitute,

[Page]Whose will and acts none must dispute.

Thou that form'st the best of things

From thought-impossibles, and brings

Contrary matters to produce

Another difference, then the use

Of a meere quality in one

Can worke unto perfection.

Thou that thy secrets dost unlock

To propagate a lasting stock;

And multiply that th' issue might

Be little lesse then infinite.

Thou mother of all that is found

Within this universall round,

What is thy will with Love?

Nat.

Oh gentle power

Thou that art Natures soule, and the beginning

Of every humane thing: that giv'st them lawes,

And to thy selfe art law. Figure of peace;

That to thy godheads attribute an next

The quiet order of the worlds vast frame

To have its forme and being from thy rule;

Which must be now imperious or its ruine

Will prevent time. The mutinous elements

Have ras'd rebellion, and dis-joynted quite

The order of their fabrick. The pure heavens

(Whose motion should be harmony) rowle crosse,

And bend their Axletree, 'till both the poles

Doe kisse each others ends. Then rectifie

Great Love this dire confusion.

Love.

Straight Ile doe it.

Can Love deny if Nature woo it.

The heavens first in tune Ile set;

And from their musick soone beget

A charme, of power to make light fire

Skip to his spheare, and earth retire

To her parch [...] den. The subtile ayre

Ile calme from mists, and make it faire,

[Page]And water with her curl'd waves sweepe

The bounded channels of the deepe,

That order may succeed, and things

Grow perfect from their lasting springs.

Move right yee spheares in concord sound,

And with your musick fill this round.

Whilst the following song is singing, the first [...] ap [...]eares; being a spheare in which the 4. Elements are figur'd, and about it they sit imbracing one another.

The Song.

Hence confusion and dissention.

Be no more new formes prevention,

Crossing still

A mothers will,

And Natures great intention.

Concord is the soule of being.

Nothing's better than agreeing▪

Chorus.

Then let imbraces crowne this times beginning,

Loves power is winning.

And when he throws the darts that arme his hands,

Who can resist his great commands?

Nat.

Nature must pay Love thanks for this great worke

Of reconciliation. May the peace

Be lasting as your selves, and no ambition

Move a new warre: but from your loving mixtures

New generation follow.

Love.

Spheares againe

Your brazen trebles higher straine.

And lusty moving sounds advance

To make us active whilst we dance.

The dance.

Now to the other work [...]: our art

Shall make all perfect e're we part.

They returne into the Scene, and it closeth.

[Page]

For the Second Act.

Physander led in by Ianus.

Ian.

Come forth thou son of earth, and view the day

That glories in the presence of thy beauty.

Phys.

What am I? My imperfect sence is yet

Vnapprehensive, and the intellect

My mother hath inspir'd, doth not instruct me

To know my selfe.

Ian.

Looke up thou master-peece

Of Natures workemanship, thou little world:

Thou that excel'st in forme, that comprehends

All the perfections which her curious hand

Design'd and finisht: That when other cr [...]atures

Behold the earth, and with dejected eyes

Looke downwards on't, hast an erected figure

To see the starres, and contemplate their beings,

Celestiall causes, and their influence,

Whence great effects ensue: Thou that hast speech

To be thy thoughts interpreter, expect

A farther act of Love to crowne thy life

By joyning thee to an immortall wife.

Exit.

Phys.

Receive my thanks great power. I yet am maz'd,

And wander in a labyrinth of thoughts,

That throng confusedly together, striving

Who should first issue, 'till their multitude

Choakes up the passage. Oh ye powers that made me

To be a King, and to have soveraignty

Annext unto my difference, send me quickly

The glorious guide that may remove this darkn [...]sse.

To him the 4. Complexions.

Phys.

Ha! what are these?

Chol.

You may goe looke. Yet if you aske me mildly, perhaps Ile answer you.

[Page]Blood.

We are sent to be your servants.

Phys.

By whom?

Our parents, the foure Elements.

Phys.

Your names?

Chol.

My name is Choller. I was beg [...]t by Fire on Natures Cooke-maide in the time of a Feastivall. I was dry nursed by a leane Butterwife, and bred up in Mars his Fencing-schoole: where I have learn't a mystery that consists in lying, distance and direction; pase, space and place; Time, motion and action; progression, reversion and trav [...]rsion; blowes, thrusts, falses, doubles, ships and wards; closings, gripes and wrastlings; fights guardant, open, variable and close. Then have wee our stocatas, imbrocatas, mandritas, puintas and puintas reversas; our stramisons, passatas, carricadas, amazzas and incartatas.

Phys.

And what's all this?

Chol.

Termes in our dialect to pusle desperate ignorance.

Phys.

What's yours?

Blood.

My name is Blood. Ayre was my father, and my mother a light-heel'd madame that kept a vaulting-schoole at the signe of Virg [...]. As she was one day practising a high trio [...] she lost her hould, and fell downe into my fathers regions, where had not hee kind man stopt her about tho middle, shee had brake her neck against a rock of Ice that hung beneath her, and Blood had not beene as he is, a Dancer sir.

Phys.

What art skill'd in?

Blood.

Garbes and postures of the body. Here's an honour for a Lord; a back-fall for a Lady, and a high rising is best in an active gallant. But pardonne moy monsier, it doe straine a de back too mush. Here's a traverse for a nimble Lawyer. A hop and skip shall raise the sonne of a Cobler well under-lay'd with pieces to the government of a province, 'till over-much ambitious cutting weares him into his Last. A turne above ground for a Mercuriall pick-pocket, and an easie passage to destruction [Page] for him that danceth after infected wantonnesse▪ Cum multis alijs.

Phys.

And what's your name?

Phle.

Phlegme mine sir. Water was my mother, and she made me a Physician. I was nurst by Apollo [...]s Hearbwife that dwells at the signe of the Crab, and she taught me to goe backwards.

Phys.

And what can you doe?

Phle.

Live by the inspection of excrements, and draw aurum palpabile out of them. Kill any one cum privilegio ar [...]is. I am Venus Midwife, and trusted with many secrets, which I never reveale but to my Apothecary when we meete at Libra to share and settle our correspondence. Your Physician will serve you at your death sir.

Physa.

Now your name?

Melan.

I am called Melancholy. I was begotten on the earth after a great drought in the time of barrenn [...]sse: who breeding me up hardly, enabled me the better for this hungry profession. I would faigne be in love; but having no other mistresse. I am inforc't to love mine owne humour.

Physa.

All these are humours, and must be my servants.

What a vast bounty have the heavens given me?

But I must labour to preserve them regular,

And not exceeding their proportions

Blood skipping about, justles Choller.

Of substance or of quality, for then

They will be masters. Disagreeing!

Chol.

He hath stirr'd me sir, and I will be angry.

Blood.

Then Phlegme must coole you.

Chol.

Phlegme's a foole.

Melan.

Or a Physitian.

Phleg.

Choller, you must be taken downe.

Chol.

Ile soone be up againe. Provoke me no more: I am adust with rage, and will make you an odde number.

Phys.

Come, this agrees not with a servants duty.

You must subscribe to order. Phlegme shall be

[Page]My substitute to moderate these jarrings.

And if hereafter any one transgresse

But in the least dissention that disturbs

The quiet of my state, he shall correct it;

Nor spare himselfe. For in a government

Th' offence is greatest in the instrument

That hath the power to punish; and in lawes

The authors trespasse makes the foulest cause.

Recorders.

What admiration workes upon my sense!

I hea [...]e and see such objects as would make

Creation doubtfull whether she were perfect

Without these parts. Into what strange delights

I'm hurried on the sudden? ha!

The second Scene is here discover'd, being a perspective of clouds, the inmost glorious, where Bellamina sits betwixt Love and Nature; behind her the Bonus and Malus Genius.

Nat.

Looke hither

Thou comfort of my love that gave thee being

To figure greater power. See, Love hath brought

Thy wish a spouse of's owne immortall race,

Clad in the glory of her innocence.

Doe not defile her, yet shee's virgin white,

And joyn'd unto thee, that thou mayst enjoy

Knowledge and vertue, not thy sensuall pleasures,

For being linckt unto thee she is made

As sensible of thy corrupted passions,

As thou of mortall griefes. Let her direct

Thy powers of appetite. Shee'l shew thee heaven,

And the reward of good; and if thou misse

The path she guides thee in, thou wil [...] enforce her

To share thy ruine, and pervert the ends

Of her eternity. Which if thou tread

By her directions, she communicates,

And makes thee like her selfe. She must be chang'd

According to thy disposition.

[Page]Then let my counsaile be so deepe imprest

The prosecution of't may make thee blest.

Whilst the following song is singing, they descend from the Scene and present Bellamina to Physander.

Love.

Fairest of all earthly things,

Mount thy thoughts upon the wings

Of contemplation, and aspire.

To reach at my supernall fire:

Whose heate shall purge thy spouse and th [...]e

From all dreggs of impurity.

Let no falser love delight

Thy sense deluding appetite

To seeke out other wantons led,

So heaven at length shall crowne thy head.

The Song.

Descend thou fairest of all creatures,

Grac't with all thy heavenly features,

In whom all perfections shin [...];

P [...]r thou art

In every part

Little lesse than divine.

Take thy Bride and enjoy her,

But not with soule desires annoy her:

For she is white

And hath no true delight

But what is given

From the desire of heaven.

Chorus.

Now joyne, and each to other happy prove.

That neither [...]ay

Be led astray

To seeke a stranger love.

[Page]Love and Nature returne to the Scene, and it [...] ▪

Phys.

After [...]y sacrifice of vowes and thankes

Let me imbrace with reverence, Oh my life▪

And better soule: joy hath possession taken

Of all my faculties, and gives a welcome

To these delights.

Bella.

Doe not abuse them then▪

For my pure substance will admit no mixture

With any thing that's earthy, lest it should

Be so defil'd. Together with my selfe

I must bestow on thee two different servants.

The one is like my selfe, all innocence,

The other's clad in an infernall robe

Of malice to us, and will tempt thy frailty

To loose desires, from her black invention

Forging aspersions on me to divert

Thy love: which I so prize, my blisse or ruine

Hath sole dependance on it. If she urge

Those accusations, deafe thy understanding

To her suggestions, and informe thy reason

Onely from th' other, who best knowes my passions,

Powers and habits: thou wast made for me

To be my instrument, and I for thee.

Bella.

And when I doe forsake thee, or infect

My looser thoughts with any other object

Then thy wisht good, may I be made th'example

Of imbecillity; the spoyle of time;

Mockery of fortune; image of inconstancy;

The scale of envie and calamity.

And this faire structure (now by these upheld)

Be buried in it's owne and their lad ruines.

Chol.

I am angry at it. We shall have morall now instead of Martiall discipline. Challenges will bee proclaim'd cowardise: and every white-liver'd silk-skinn'd Lady-courtier will answer a mans anger with, if it were [Page] not for the lawe and conscience. If no body will provoke me, Ile quarrell with my selfe.

Phleg.

Take heed Choller of a halter.

Chol.

Phlegme thou art a Mountebank, and I will make thee quake.

Melan.

Not so hot good Choller. I am partaking, and as discontented at this match as envie can make mee. I could hatch a conspiracy to sever them, should cause posterity attribute all Matchiavillianisme to Melancholy.

Blood.

Blood's prevented, and the expectation of so many children begot on severall mothers that should dote on the quivering of my calves, and the strength of my back is utterly frustrate. No Lady of liberty must admire this passage, or that skipping, 'till her veines swell with my addition. I must no more run here and there to tickle her sense, and fright the g [...]eene-sicknesse from her complexion.

Mela.

Shall it be a plot?

Chol.

Let's kill them presently.

Phleg.

But the meanes?

Blood.

Why, is not Phlegme a Physitian?

Phys.

Come my kind servants, let your active limbs

Move to delight us, whilst the spheares agree

To guide your measures with their harmony.

A dance, wherein the complexions expresse themselves in their differences: the two Genij alwaies opposite in the figure, and the Malus Genius stealing many times to Physander, whispers in his eare.

I am disturb'd within; a new desire

Whet's appetite of pleasure in some change,

Such as may touch the sence without a scruple

Of wedlocks breach. Hence with these lawes of conscience

That would set limits to what's infinite.

Two kisses more will cloy me▪ nought can relish

But variation.

Mal. [...]en.

Hearken then to me.

[Page]Leave this strict Bride that curbs licentious will,

And rayn's it with her temperance. Liberty

Makes delight full and swelling: it must feed

On severall objects, else 'twill glut it selfe

Into a loathing.

Phys.

I applaude thy counsaile,

And am prepar'd to act it.

Bella.

Ha! Physander.

So suddenly forgetfull of thy vowes

Before full consummation of those rites

Crowne Bridegroomes happy?

Bon. Ge.

Be not thus mis-led

By her malicious envie. She but shewes thee

The easie path to ruine, whose broad entrance

Painted with falsest pleasures, ends in a point

Of all the [...]l [...]s attend our misery

Con [...]racted into one. Though vertues way

Be hard and straight to enter, yet the end

Reacheth to heaven, where her faire hand bestowes

Wreath [...]s of bright stars to crowne deserving browes.

Phys.

Whisper that still; each accent's musicall.

The mee [...]e conceit of it makes me immortall.

Henc [...]; [...] converse is hatefull. Ile not tye

Desire to such imbraces. Ile enjoy

A mistresse [...] and sportive; that can vary

All shapes of dallyance, and present delight

Each minute in a severall fashion.

Guide me, Ile follow.

Compl.

And we will attend.

Exeunt.

Bella.

Wretched Bellamina, that in the instant

Of thy expected comfort, shouldst be throwne

Below all misery▪ O that lustfull sense

Should cause divorce betwixt us! I am lost

Almost beyond recovery, since my substance

Must be partaking of his hated ills:

Such is the fate of wedlock. His content

Exit with Bon. Genius.

In false delights, must be my punishment.

[Page]

For the third Act.

Physander richly habited. Malus Genius, the foure Complexions.

Phys.

I'm bravely sitted; these are fitting ornaments.

Come my best prompter, with indeavours wings

Let's cut the ayre, and straine our motion,

'Till we attaine this bowre of Sensuality.

And let the repetition of her praise

Sweeten my painefull longings. My desire

Fee'ls many throes of travaile; 'till deliver'd

Of it's sweet issue.

Mal. Ge.

You must suffer for't.

Pleasures whose meanes are easie, in the end

Doe lose themselves. Things onely are esteem'd

And valu'd by their acquisition.

Should you win her delights without some paines,

They would not relish. Whilst your expectation

Labours with the event, prepare your selfe

To court it bravely. Shee's high-spirited;

And will not stoope to every common bayte

That catcheth easie wantonnesse.

Phys.

What's the best?

Chol.

A rough Souldiers phrase; a strong back, and a brawny limbe: bayte her with these shee'l bite home. If she be coy, kick her in the breech, and cry farewell: after a few dissembling teares shee'l yeeld with the greater appetite. If she refus'd me, I'de kill her.

Blood.

Could you but dance sir, and shew your selfe active before her, 'twere impossible for her to hold out 'till the discovery of one knave 'mongst many officers. Dancing is the most taking: if a man rise well, his Mistresse cannot chuse but fall.

Phleg.

Court her with solid language, and such discourse [Page] as may relish of aged experience. Expresse your thoughts such, and your actions such, as shee may conceive judgement to be intayl'd upon you. If she be vertuous, that winnes upon her soule, and let your Physition alone with her body: If shee bee wanton, Phlegme can administer provocatives.

Melan.

Might I advise you sir, a passion at Courtship were more powerfull. Let a sigh be the period of every amorous sentence. Sing her some pathetick madrigall full of cromatick [...]lats: 'twill sharpen her. I would have all lovers begin and end their prick-song with Lachrym [...], 'till they have wept themselves as dry as I am.

Phys.

The ayre me thinkes begins upon a sudden

To be perfum'd, as if Arabian windes

Scatter'd their spices loosely on the [...]ace

Of some rich ea [...]th, fruitfull with aromates.

Musick breathes forth the soule of harmony.

Musick.

How egerly my senses catch these objects!

To them the 5. Sences.

But what are these?

Mal. Ge.

Servants to Sensuality

That waite her will, and with a diligence

Becomming duty doe prepare her pleasures.

The'r sent to entertaine you.

Phys.

What their names,

And offices?

Seeing.

Seeing mine sir. I am my Ladies Chambermaide, and the daughter of a Glasse-maker. A piece of brittle ware, and apt to be crack't. I have beene often cemented together, but could never hold above a moneth. Through me sir you may see my Ladies secrets, and mine owne are at your service when you shall command their revelation.

Hear.

My name's Hearing. I am usher of the Hall, and the trumpet that proclaimes dinner ready with, Gentlemen, and Yeomen. When my Lady removes to [Page] her City privacy (for shee keepes open house in the Country) I am the foreman at her Gate, with an instrument of correction for the offensive beggers. If you love noyse sir, my wife and my selfe are at your service.

Phys.

Pray sir your name?

Smel.

Mine is Smelling. I am my Ladies Huntsman, and keepe some lesser beagles for her chamber-use to excuse the freenesse of her necessities eruptions. I play the Gardner likewise, and attend her alwaies when shee goes to pluck a Rose. My Mistresse Cloaca had a very stinking breath, before Misackmos perfum'd her, and she is now growne lesse common, then when her imperfections lay open. When you will use me sir, you shall alwaies have me under your nose.

Phys.

And what's yours?

Taste.

Tasting mine sir. I am my Ladies Cooke, and King of the Kitchin: where I rule the roast; command imperiously, and am a very tyrant in my office. My Subjects being all Souldiers are d [...]ily encounter'd by most fierce stomacks, and never return'd but maym'd and dismember'd. Brawne, Beefe, and Porke are alwaies muster'd in the van, and bring up Veale, Mutton, Minc'tpye, Goose, Turkie, Duck, and so forth. I have a sort of cowardly Custards, borne in the City, but bred up at Court, that quake for feare: yet are as valiant in suffering as the rest, and are all overcome even by the women with much noise. I then send forth a fresh supply of Rabits, Pheasant, Kid, Partridge, Quaile, Larke, Plover, Tele, Tarts, &c. With a French troope of Pulpatoones, Mackaroones, Kickshawes, grand and excellent. The battaile ended, I survey the field; and those whom I find untoucht, I place in garrison in my larder: the rest endure a new and fierce assault by the valiant Servingmen. I then repairs my broken army; see their overthrow at supper; drinke my selfe drunke; goe to bed, and my that dayes fury's over. Ile bee your servant sir in spight of your teeth.

[Page]Phys.

Now yours?

Touch.

Touching mine. I am my Ladies Gentleman-usher, and kill Spiders for her Monkey. I am alwaies her foreman in publike, [...]nd sometimes in private: which makes way for mee to her favour in reversion, if shee survive two or three defective husbands, and her yet uncloy'd appetite can pretend an expectation of issue. Meane time a hand [...]ull of [...]ringoes and a little tickling w [...]ds me and the waiting women in her closet with more vowes and protestations then a wanting gallant makes when he borrowes mony. Wee will conduct my Lady to her Bowre, where shee prepares to entertaine you.

Exit.

Phys.

Me thinkes I am transform'd into a happinesse

Cannot be figur▪d. It before enjoying

The expectation can beget such blisse,

What will possession?

Phleg.

Shall I question you sir Cooke?

Taste.

Qu [...]stionlesse a Cooke can answer a Physition.

Phleg.

What Physicall observations have you in your sawces, and condiments? Shall I instruct you?

Taste.

I thanke you sir. My method is to dresse Phesant, Partridge and Coney for Lords, but their Ladies many times make the sawce. The waiting women are fed with Wagtailes. I prepare tongues for Lawyers: most commonly Woodcocks for Aldermens Heires, and Puddings for costive Citizens; whose wives must have flesh of a Court-dressing, or their bellies will never bee full. Your projectors feed upon Calves-braines, and your students upon innocent Mutton.

Chol.

I hope sir our after familiarity will bee the often taking downe of Chollers stomack. Wee should agree well; we both love fire.

Tast.

And Choller shall not want his Brawne whilst Cookery and Winter feasts last. I must in and looke to my roste, of which at dinner you shall most plentifully taste.

Exit.

[Page]Phys.

I am enflam'd. My appetite begins

To burne with hot desires; and if protraction

Delay their satisfying, they'l consume

Themselves and me.

Mal. G.

She comes: these sounds forerunne her.

During the following Song, the third Scene is discover'd, being a pleasant arbour, with perspectives behind it, of a magnifique building: in the midst thereof Sensuality sits.

The Song.

Flow [...]low delight,

And pleasures swell to height.

Drowne every eye with joyfull teares.

And fill the eares

With sounds harmonious as the spheares.

Let every sense be ravisht quite

With a large fulnesse of delight.

Chorus.

Ioyne all yee instruments of pleasure;

And from th' abundance of your treasure

Chuse out one t'enrich this bowre,

And make the Mistresse of this paramour.

Phys.

Elysium sure is here, and that eternity

I lately dream't of.

Sens.

Let mine eyes first gaze

Vpon his figure. 'Tis a heavenly creature,

And worthy my embraces, I have yet

Converst with earthy shapes, the baser issue

Of that grosse element, but here's a forme

Mingled with fire, that moves the soule of sense,

And kindles passion in me. What was she

Durst ayme to prepossesse her selfe of him

My mouth can onely challenge? Welcome sir.

If my expressions suit not entertainment

[Page]Of such a guest, creation must be blam'd

That gave none other; for what ere in nature

Is found that can affect you, here 'tis stor'd;

And shall be a [...]l exhausted to declare

How much I love you.

Phys.

You in throne me Lady

In happinesse, above the difference

Of that may b [...]th can boast. You make me perfect:

And every touch of this delicious hand,

Ch [...]k [...], lip immortallize me.

Sens.

O'pe my treasury,

And let it waste to emptinesse. Wilt please

Thine eyes? Wee'l mount a Chariot made of diamonds,

Who [...]e lights reflexion shall create a day

In the C [...]mmerian valleis. From some height

We will survey the earth, and where weake beames

Cannot extend themselves, wee'l have an optick

Shall show us in an instant all the hemispheare.

Wee'l see the faire Arcadian Virgins hunt

In their Parthenian groves. Wee'l count the beasts

Lurke in Hucanias dens; number the pines

That crowne Lycaus.

Phys.

You are the onely object

Mine eyes would gaze at.

Sens.

Would thine cares be blest

With pleasing sounds? The ayery Choristers

Shall straine their throats by art, and harmony

Call downe the spheares to make her consort up.

Phys.

Your words are onely musick.

Sens.

For thy smell

Saba shall be translated where thou go'st,

And strew thy path with spices. Panthers skins

Shall be thy couch, and amber pave the floore

Where thy foot treads.

This breath's perfume enough

To create a Phoenix,

Wouldst delight thy taste?

[Page]Then Samlan Peacocks, and Ambracian Kidd [...],

Henns of Numidia, Phesants, Phenicopters,

Ta [...]tel [...]an Lamprayes; Eels of Benacus,

Cockles of Luc [...]ne; Eleusinian Plaise

Shall fill thy dish, and thousand changes more

To wh [...]t new appetite. Shalt drink no wine

But what [...]al [...]r [...]us or Calabrian Aulon

Y [...]eld from their grapes.

Phys

This kisse is more then Nectar.

Sens.

Shalt sleep upon a bed of purest down,

Driven from white necks of Caysters Swans,

And Peneus par [...]owes. With Assyrian silkes

[...] cloath [...]hy body.

Phys.

But this touch is softer.

You [...]avish me with jo [...]es beyond expression.

Chol.

Why, this is rare. I am not angry.

Blood

I am very joyfull: this tickles me.

Phle.

And mak's me young.

Mel.

And me merry.

Tast.

Now my [...]icen [...]iate murderer, what say you to a dish of gluttony will bread the gout in a Lord before a begger can break his fast with it? Are not we cookes good instruments? who together with an Hospitall of sinne cause diseases faster then you can cure them?

Sens.

A livelyer musick, come sweet heart wee'l dance.

A familiar Countrey dance.

How doth my sweetheart like it?

I doe not with an O [...]conomick strictnesse

Observe my servants, and direct their actions:

Pleasure is free.

To them Bellanima in mourning, Bon. Gen.

But what sad object's this?

Bella.

I come to snatch a Husband from thine armes

Lascivious strumpet; thou whose looser eyes

Bewitcht his ill affection, and entice

[Page]His thoughts with wanton appetite of sense,

From my chast love. Doth not Physander see

Ruine hid under every bayt of pleasure;

She lays to catch him?

Sens.

Laugh at her sweet heart,

Thou art secure in the [...]e embraces.

Bella.

Do not

Afflict me thus. Those false dissembling kisses

Wound me to death. Return unto my bosome,

That never shall be warm with others touch.

Shee's common, and will mixe her lustfull blood

Even with beasts.

Sens.

Tis but her envy to me.

Bella.

Let not her Syrene charms bewitch thee thu [...]

Vnto a shipwrack. Every smile of hers

Shadow's a rock to split thee: in my armes

Shalt sleep as safe as if the clowdes did guard thee.

Am I not fayre? Shoot not mine eyes a fire

As liv [...]ly? grow not colours on my cheekes,

Brighter then those that paynt her rottennesse▪

And will Physander leave me? Did I not

Forsake th'etheriall Palace of my father,

To be thine onely? and a whore to rivall me!

Oh misery!

Phys.

Th' art barren of those pleasures

I here enjoy.

Bella.

What pleasures? guilded ones,

To mock thy sense▪ their inside's bitternesse.

Return, with me shalt find delights,

As far exceeding these as the great day Starr

His pale cheek't sister, or nightes lesser beautyes.

A thousand wing'd intelligences dayly

Shall be thy ministers, and from all parts

Informe thee of the Worlds new accidents.

Shalt from their scanning frame by my advice,

Rules of prevention▪ shalt command all arts▪

As hand-mayds; Shalt converse with Heaven and Angels;

[Page]And after all Ile bring thee to Elysium.

Cold there compells no use of rugged furrs,

Nor makes the mountaines barren. Ther's no dog

To rage and scortch the harvest labourer▪

Whilst the lascivious Landlord wastes th'increase

In prodigall contrivements, how t' allay

The furious heat with artificiall snowes,

And drinks his wine in ice. Spring's alwayes there,

And paynts the valleys: whilst a temperate ayre

Sweeps their embroydred face with his curs'd gales,

And breaths perfumes, no Persian aromates:

Pontick Amomus, or Indian balsame

Can imitate. There night doth never spread

Her [...]bon wings; but daylight's alwayes there,

And one blest [...]eason crownes th' eternall yeare.

Phys.

He heare no more: nor can I be so credulous

Having possession, to expect such fables.

Here I am fixt.

Bella.

And I made miserable.

Sens.

Let's in to feast, and revell; and at night

Shalt be possest of a more full delight.

Exeunt.

Bel.

Thus doth chast wedlock suffer. Heavenly servant

Whisper some powerfull counsaile in his eare,

That may reclayme him. If it works, return,

And bring me comfort, who 'till then must mourn.

Exeunt severally.

For the Fourth Act.

Tasting, the 4. Complexions drunck, each having a bottle of Wine in his hand.

Tast.

The other health my boyes.

Phle.

No more health if you love me.

Tast.

Indeed health agrees not with your profession.

Coll.

But we will have more health, and lesse health; or I will make a close stoole pan of your Physitians noddle.

[Page]Tast.

Good brother Choller he pacified.

Choll.

I will not be pacified. He that deny's health let him think himself dead e're he pronounce it. Choller's drye.

Mela.

So is Melancholy.

Blood.

Blood would be heated better.

Phle.

And Phlegme moistned.

Choll.

Blood's a skip-jack, and I will make him caper.

Tast.

Nay brother Choller, thou art so crosse.

Mela.

And will she not return? then may the Sun

Stable his horses ever, and no day

Gu [...]ld the black ayre with light. If in mine eye

Sh [...]e be not plac't, what object can del [...]ght it?

Tast

Excellent amorist. He [...]e's to thee Melancholy.

Mela.

What do I see? [...]lush gray-ey'd morne, and spread

Thy purple shame upon the mountain topps:

O [...] pale thy self with envie, since here com's

A brighter Venus, then the dull-eyd [...]arre,

That lights thee up

Tast.

Very fine Law now: Melancholy hath been some neglected Courtier: hee's perfect in she-flattery. If he mistake me for the idoll of his passion, Ile abuse him.

Mela.

Oh let me kisse those payre of red twinn'd cherries.

That do disti [...]l Nepen [...]he.

Tast.

[...] and spare not.

Bite not the cherry stones and eate, I care not.

Mel.

Oh turn not from me [...] let me smell the gumms,

Which thy rich breath creates.

Tast.

As for my gumms you 'l find

Sweeter here. I have no rotten teeth behind.

Blood.

This leg's not right.

Tast.

I know it. 'Tis my left.

Blood.

Carry your toes wider.

Tast.

Take beed that I fo [...]te not you.

Blood.

Now do your cinque passe cleanly.

Tast.

My cinque passe cleanly! A cooke defyes it.

[Page]Chol.

You lye too open. Guard your selfe better, or I shall bang your coate.

Phle.

'Tis a dangerous w [...]ren. Here's an hypostas [...]s argues a very bad stomack.

Tast.

Some Souldier perhaps that want's his Pay.

Phleg.

This sediment b [...]tokens a great swel [...]ing in the belly.

Tast.

'Tis some Chamber-maide sick of a Midwifes timpany.

Phleg.

'Twere good she chang'd ayre. Remove her into the Countrey, and if she fall agen into the greene-sicknesse▪ she knows the [...]. This water argues a great heart-burning.

Tast.

'Tis a Lovers that: or some misers that dranke small beere in the Dog-dayes at his own charges.

Phleg.

The owner of this hath an impostume in his head, and it is neere breaking.

Tast.

Perhaps 'tis a Fencers, or some Shopkeepers, whose wife sells underhand by retayle.

Phleg.

Let him compound for his light wife, and he may b [...] cu [...]'d without the charity of an Hospitall.

To th [...]m Physander sick.

Phys.

How on a sudden my delights are clowded?

As when a surfeit makes the pleasant dish

That caus'd it more dist [...]stefull then th'offence

Of any bitter potion. My dull'd senses

Relish no objects. Colours doe not take

My filmed eyes. Mine eares are deafe to sounds,

Though by a Ch [...]rus of those lovely maides

Which [...]ove begot on faire Mu [...]m [...]sy [...]

Sung to Apollo's harpe.

Tast.

Is it thereabouts? Ile play the state knave, and informe presently.

Exit.

Phys.

Sicknesse begins

To make this [...] m [...]n [...]ion. Feavers burne it,

And shake the weak foundation: then a cold

[Page]Chills it agen, as if a thousand Winters

Contracted into one scatter'd their snow

With Northerne blasts, and froze the very centre.

Palseys dis-joynt the fabrick: loosen all

The house-supporters, and at length they fall.

Helpe me good servants.

Phleg▪

We cannot helpe our selves.

Chol▪

Let's kill him, or hee'l kill us.

Melan.

Phlegme doe thou choake him.

Bloud.

Ile empty his veines.

Chol.

Ile doe it. Bloud's not worthy the imployment.

Bloud.

Worthier then Choller.

Chol.

Thou ly'st in thy throat.

Bloud.

Thou hast inflam'd me.

They fall together by the [...]ares, and Physander weakly endeavouring to part them, is himselfe hurt, and they flegh.

Phys.

Hold I command yee: How dare yee insult

Vpon my weaknesse thus? Oh I am wounded.

Perfidious villaines, was this trechery

Your duties act? What fury prompted yee

To such inhuman [...] violence? Will no hand

Of art or heaven supply me with a balme!

Then I must die, and bury all my glories

E're they are fully gaz'd at. Why did nature

Produce me for her darling; and not arme

My passive body with a proofe 'gainst thunder?

To him Sensuality, the 5. Senses.

Oh thou in whose embraces I have slept

And dream't of heaven, when my waking sense

Possest delights in thee, I seem'd to ride

Commanding pleasure as if she had been

My captive, and her spoyles enrich't the triumph;

Helpe now to save me: or with wonted kisses

Make me to lose the sense of this great paine

[Page]My bleeding wounds inflict. Let me expire

Within thy bosome, and I shall forget

That death hath any horrour.

Sens.

This Physander!

I know him not. The bloudy spectacle

Is too offensive: Would it were remov'd.

Tast.

Please you, Ile carry the Calfe into my Slaughterhouse. But I feare hee'l hardly be drest for your Ladyships too [...]h: he hath bled too much to be sweet flesh.

Phys.

Not know me Lady! how am I transform'd!

The sand of many minutes hath not fall'n

From times gray glasse, since you vouchsaf't to call me

Lord of your selfe and pleasures.

Sens.

Let me have

Another sweet heart [...] one whose lustie heat

May warm my bosome. Gather all the flowers

Tempe is paynted with, and strew his way.

Translate my Bower to Turias rosie bankes,

There, with a Chorus of sweet nightingales

Make it continuall Spring. If the Sunnes rayes

Offend his tender skin, and make it sweat,

Fan him with silken wings of mildest ayre;

Breath'd by Etesian windes. The briskest Nectar

Shall be his drink, and all th' Ambrosian cates,

Art can devise for wanton appetite.

Furnish his banquet. As his senses tire,

Varye the object. Let delights be linck't,

So in a circled chayne no end we see,

Pleasure is onely my eternity.

Exeunt▪

Tast.

Sick Sir farewell. By that time you are dead▪

Will have made you a cawdle.

Exit.

I sure have dream't; all past was but illusion.

Hould out ye bloodlesse Organes untill I

Have rayl'd upon this strumpet, then I'le dye.

To him the two Genij severally.

How my distraction swells my tongue with curses?

[Page]That I could shoot the poyson of a [...]asiliske

From my inflam'd eyes▪ or infect the ayre

With my last breath to kill her.

Mal. G.

Ha, ha, he.

Phys.

Who's that can laugh at mis [...]y?

Mal G.

'Tis!

That triumph in thy ruine. I contriv'd [...]t,

And caus'd divorce betwixt thee and thy wife:

Whom now! will torment.

Exit.

Phys.

That wound is deeper

Then all the [...]est Calling to mind my ills,

That left a chast wi [...]e for the loose embraces

O [...]n [...]ualitie, a paynted whore,

[...] with beasts. D [...]ath hold thy ashye hand,

Till [...] concil'd to my Bellanima,

Then st [...]i [...]e and spare not.

Bon G.

Fix [...] in that resolution,

Ile bring her to thee.

Exit.

Phys.

That's my good Genius.

The horrours of a thousand nights made black

With pitchye tempests, and the Moones defect,

When [...]hee's affrighted with the howlings of

C [...]otonean Wolves, and groanes of dying Mandrakes

Gather'd for charm [...] ▪ the S [...]hritch [...]owles fatall dirge▪

And Ghosts disturb'd by fury [...]s from their p [...]ace.

Are all within me.

To him Bellanima, Bonus Genius.

[...]on. G.

Wounded by the hands

Of hi [...] d [...]stemper'd servants that are fled.

Bella.

Looke up Physander, I am come to help thee,

N [...]t to afflict: I share thy su [...]erings.

There's not an anguish but it is inflicted

As equally on me. Why would Physander

Cut wedlocks Gordian, and with looser eyes

Doate on a common wanton▪ what is pleasure

More then a lustfull motion in the sense?

[Page]The prosecution full of anxious feares▪

The end Repentance. Though content be call'd

The soule of action, and licentious man

Propounds it as the reason of his life;

Yet if intemperate appetite pursue it,

The pure end's lost, and ruine must attend it.

But I would comfort thee. Doe but expresse

A detestation of thy former follies,

We will be reunited, and enjoy

Eternall pleasures.

Phys.

Can Bellanima

Forgive the injuries that I have done her?

Shee's milder then thou Love, or pitties self.

Let me be banish't ever to converse

With Monsters in a desart▪ 'tis a punishment

Too little. Let me be confin'd to dwell

On the North pole, where a continuall Winter

May bleake me to a statue; or inhabit

The Acherusian fenns, whose noysome ayre

May choake my nostrells with their poysonous fumes,

Yet linger death unto a thousand ages.

Bella.

Wee'l live Physander, and enjoy each other

In new delights: thou shalt be cur'd by Temperance.

Shee's the Physitian that doth moderate

Desire with reason, bridling appetite.

Here the fourth Scene is suddainly discover'd, being a Rock, with a spring of water issuing out of it. At the foot thereof a cave; where Temperance sits betwixt a Philosopher, an Hermite, a Ploughman and a Shepheard. Behind the Rocke a Lantskip [...].

Yonder's her Cave, whose plaine, yet decent roofe

Shines not with ivory or plates of gold.

No Tyrian purples cover her low couch▪

Nor are the carv'd supporters artists worke

Bought at the wealth of provinces; she feeds not

On costly viands, in her gluttony,

[Page]Wasting the spoyles of conquests: from a rock

That weeps a running christall she doth fill

Her shell cup, and drinks sparingly.

Phys.

Shee cannot

Heale my affliction; mercyes selfe denyes

A time and meanes, and onely black despayre

Whispers th'approach of death.

Bon. G.

Remove that sinne,

And hope with sorrow. Greatest faults are small,

When that alone may make amends for all.

Phys.

Might I yet live to practice my resolve

Of reformation, sooner should the day

Leave to distinguish night; the Sunne should choake

His breathlesse horses in the western mayne,

And rise no more, the gray morn ushering in

His light approach, then my relapse from thee,

And goodnesse cause new miseryes. Direct me,

Yet heavenly ministers; informe my knowledge

In the strict course that may preserve me happy,

Whilst yet my sighes suck in th'unwilling ayre,

That swells my wasted lunges. Though not in life,

In death Ile be Bellanima's.

Bella.

Physander,

Expire not yet: thy wounds are not so mortall.

Helpe me to beare him yonder; gently rayse

His weakned body. What can we not endure,

When paynes are lessen'd by the hope of cure?

Temp.

What wretched piece of miserable riot

Is this that needs the ayde of Temperance▪

What caus'd his sicknesse?

Bella.

Liberty in ills

To please his senses, which have surfeited

With an excesse: and if your art supply no [...],

Death will divorce us. Pitty then sweet Lady,

And from your treasure of instructions

Prescribe a powerfull medicine that may quicken

His cold defects, which more and more increase,

[Page]Less'ning his weakned powers. To a chast wife

Preserve (now 'tis reform'd) her husbands life.

Temp.

Let the earth be his bed; this rock his pillow;

His curteines heaven; the murmur of this water

Instead of musick charm him into sleepe.

And for the cates which gluttony invents

To make it call'd an art, confected juice

Of Pontick nuts, and Idumean palmes

Candy'd with Ebosian sugar; lampreyes guts

Fetcht from Carpathian straights, and such like wantonnesse,

Let him eat sparingly of what the earth

Produceth freely▪ or is where 'tis barren

Enforc't by industrye. Then poure this balsome

Into his wounds, and whil'st his senses rest

Free from their passive working, and endure

Partiall privation of their meanes and objects,

His slumbers shall present what mor's requir'd

To make him sound.

Bella.

My endlesse thanks great power,

Mother of other vertues. Whilst he sleepes,

My cares shall watch him. Oh thou death like god,

That chayn'st the senses captive, and do'st rayse

Dreames out of humours, whose illusive shadowes,

Oft work on fancy to beget beliefe

Of prophecies, let no black horrours mixe

Their frightfull presence, but with gentle showes,

(Yet such as are instructive) sweetly worke

Vpon what wakes within whilst th'other cease;

Then sleepes the figure of eternall peace.

They daunce every one in a proper garbe, shewing their respect to Temperance, whilst Physander sleepes betwix [...] Bellanima and Bonus Genius, that seeme to dresse his wounds.

Phys.

I feele quick sence return, and every Organe

Is active to performe its proper office:

I am not hurt. What miracle hath Heaven

[Page]Wrought on me?

Bella.

Next to Heaven, the thanks are due

To this thy lifes restorer. She hath precepts,

By which thou mayst preserve it to a length,

And end it happie.

Temp.

What thy dreames presented,

Put straight in act, and with a constancie

Persever in't. Rewards will onely crowne

The end of a well prosecuted good.

Philosophie; religious solitude

And labour waite on Temperance: in these

Desire is bounded; they instruct the mindes

And bodies actions. 'Tis lascivious ease

That gives the first beginning to all ills.

The thoughts being busied on good objects, sinne

Can never find a way to enter in.

Phys.

Let me digest my joyes; I onely now

Begin to live: the former was not perfect.

Bella

Wee'l shortly to my father, who with joy

Will entertaine us.

Tempe.

I will meet ye there;

Where ye shall be invested by the hands

Of Iustice, Prudence, Fortitude and me

In the bright robes of immortalitie.

Phys.

My heart's too narrow to conteine the joyes

This reconciliation fills it with.

Chayne me agen to misery, and make me

Wretched beyond despayre when next I fall.

Let this my resolution be enroll'd

Amongst eternall acts not to be cancell'd.

Then man is happy, and his blisse is full

When hee's directed by his better soule.

Exeunt.

Temperance with the rest of hers being return'd into the Scene, it closeth.

[Page]

For the last Act.

Malus Genius as discontented.

Mal. G.

It must not be; his glory is my shame.

Mischiefe attempted if it want successe,

Is the contrivers punishment. As darts

Shot at resisting walls, in their returne

May light on him that did direct them. Malice

Suggests a new attempt. Ile practise all

That hell can teach me, but Ile work his fall.

To the Malus Gen. Sensuality, the five Senses in torne and beggerlike habits.

Who's here?

Sens.

Into what misery hath riot

Brought my decayed state? Whilst I had the meanes

To purchase pleasures, all delights were sold me.

Those gone, necessity and lust then made me

A mercenary prostitute, and since

By the gradation of a wanton life,

I'm fall'n to this. Want and a loathsome sicknesse

Make me reflect; nor can I but accuse my self

At Conscience barre, but not with penitence;

That's still in opposition with my will,

Now custome hath confirm'd me in all ill.

Exeunt.

Mal. G.

T' accuse Physander, thither will I goe,

And if all fayle try what despaire can doe.

To the Mal. Gen. Physander, Bellanima in their first habits with Bookes in their hands, Bonus Genius, the foure Complexions.

Hee's here.

Phys.

I shall not need your diligence.

Your trecherie (although forgiven) hath made me

Watchfull upon ye. I have gotten now

[Page]A carefull guide to manage my affayres.

Retire. I do embrace thy fellowship

Prudence, thou vertue of the mind, by which

We do consult of all that's good or evill

Conducing to felicity. Direct

My thoughts and actions by the rule of reason.

Teach me contempt of all inferiour vanities.

Pride in a marble portall guilded ore;

Assyrian carpets▪ chayres of ivory;

The luxurie of a stupendious house;

Garments perfum'd; gemmes valew'd not for use

But needlesse ornament; a sumptuous table,

And all the baytes of sense. A vulgar eye

Sees not the danger which beneath them lye.

Bella.

Shee's a majestick ruler, and commands

Even with the terrour of her awfull brow.

As in a throng sedition being rays'd,

Th' ignoble multitude inflam'd with madnesse,

Firebrands and stones fly; fury shews them weapons:

'Till spying some grave man honour'd for wisdome,

They straight are silent, and erect their eares,

Whilst he with his sage counsayle doth asswage

Their minds disorder, and appease their rage.

So Prudence, when rebellious appetites

Have rays'd temptations, with their batteryes

Assaulting reason, she doth interpose,

And keep it safe. Th'attemps of sense are weake,

If their vaine forces wisdome deigne to breake.

Phys.

Temperance, to thee I owe my after life;

Thou that command'st o're pleasures, hating some,

When thou dispens'st with others; still directing

All to a sound meane: under thy low roofe

Ile eate and sleepe, whilst grave Philosophy

Instructs my soule in Iustice. What is she?

Bella.

A habit of the mind by which just things

Perfect their working. Man's the best of creatures

Enjoying Law and Iustice; but the worst

[Page]If separated from them. 'Tis establisht

By feare of Law, and by Religion;

Distributes due to all.

Phys.

That is reward

To vrt [...]ue, and to vice it's punishment.

The thought of it hath horrour in't. I fell

From height of goodnesse in forsaking thee,

And must be punisht. Why is it delayd?

Inflict it straight; protraction makes it greater.

Bella.

Physander is forgiv'n. Reflect not back

On thy past errours, but with sorrowes eyes,

That may be guides to the prevention

Of after ills.

Phys.

Distract me not with comforts.

If justice hath no other instrument.

I must and will be just unto my selfe.

When I have felt a torment that doth equall

Th' offence for which I suffer it, 'twill confirme me,

Bellanima is satisfi'd.

Bella.

She is,

And can expect no greater. Think on Fortitude.

Be not dejected by a feare that's grounded

On such a weake foundation. Tis not th'appetite

Of things that carry horrour makes men valiant;

But patient bearing of afflictions

That are necessited.

Phys.

Can Fortitude

Be without Iustice? Iustice without Fortitude

Is perfect in it self. When I am just,

Valour is usefull.

Bella.

It begins to worke;

Ile prosecute the rest. What he intends

For good, shall be inverted to my ends.

Exit.

Phys.

Dis [...]wade me not Bellanima, I cannot

Think the dimensions of thy goodnesse such,

That it may be extended to remit

So great an ill without it's satisfaction.

[Page]Then will I challenge thy forgivenesse due

When I have suffer'd punishment; I dare not

Owe all unto thy gentlenesse.

Bella.

Resist

This black temptation: thy ill Genius whisper'd it.

Phys.

'Tis taught m [...] here; iustice instructs me in't.

Y [...]t when I feele the lashes of their snakes

Hells judges doe employ: when vultures gnaw

My growing liver, and the restlesse wheele

Hu [...]ryes my rackt limbes, (for these torments are

Lesse then my fault deserves,) Ile laugh at all,

And with a scorn provoke the executioners

'Till they are tir'd; and whilst they take in breath,

Contrive some yet unhear'd of. Fortitude

Shall teach me to beare all, (their end being justice)

With more delight, then when I did enjoy

Pleasures with Sensualitie.

Bon. G.

Ile try him.

Hells malice sometimes doth pretend that good

Which Heaven instructs, to make distinguishable

Their severall acts. But like a ball that bounds

According to the force with which 'twas throwne:

So in afflictions violence he that's wise,

The more hee's cast down will the higher rise.

Exit.

Bella.

Presume not yet Physander: thou art weake.

Feare, so Pusillanimous, is better

Then daring confidence.

Phys.

I will encounter

With a whole hoast of deaths, though each were arm'd

In all th'artillery that ever conquer'd

Mortality; meete thunder if but warn'd

That it is comming, and be fixt unmov'd

T'embrace the subtile fire, though one step

Might guard me in a grove of Magick Bayes

Wall'd with Hien [...]s skinnes. The apprehension

Of horrour shall not fright me, though presented

In the most hideous shape conceit can paynt.

[Page] To them three Furies.

What apparition's this? or are ye Furies

Sent to torment me? Speake, and satisfie

My growing feares, which like an earthquake, when

Pent ayre dilates it self with violence

Doe shake my trembling heart.

1. Fur.

We are the daughters

Of night and Acheron; our number three,

Answering those three affects that beare then headlong

Into all wickednesse. These knotted snakes

Shall sting thy bosome, and infect thy blood

With burning rage, untill it hurrie thee

Vnto some desperate act, and on thy self

Thou be thine own revenger.

Bella.

Now Physander,

Where is this boasted valour? Feare's exprest

Even in thy silence. Te [...]rour of an ill

In sometimes greater in the expectation,

Then th'ill it self: yet where true fortitude

Guard's the mind with resolves, 'tis lessen'd by it,

When it increaseth bouldnesse. Chance may cleare

Many of punishment, but none of feare.

Thou art not well instructed: go with me,

Ile teach thee how to shun them.

Exeunt.

2. Fur.

Hath he scap't us?

And left my vipers hissing for their prey,

Which should have been his heart? Then they must feed

Vpon mine own.

To them Malus Genius.

Mal. G.

Now my copartners

In this black fellowship, is it successefull?

3. Fur.

No; reason guards him; frustrates our designe.

And we must back to be our own tormentors.

Exeunt Fu.

Ma. G.

Will nothing prosper! Lend me Erinnis adders,

That from their poyson my infected envie

May swell untill it breake, venting a sea

Of mischiefe to o'rewhelme him. One birth more

[Page]My malice labours with. If that miscarry▪

Ile in content of heaven that gu [...]rds his bride

Eate mine owne heart, and ne're be satisfi'd.

To the Mal. Gen. Feare.

The Iudge is entring.

Feare.

Make way there for my Lord Conscience: he is up [...]n comming, and I was afrayd the cushions had not been handsomely layd for his case. Long causes many times require a nap. How I tremble to think of a long sitting before dinner; it makes feare have but a cold stomack. Blesse me▪ who's this? one of the divells she lawyers? Her case must needs have a black boxe.

Mal. G.

I come t'accuse Physander. Why dost quake so?

Feare.

You never knew feare without an ague.

Ma, G.

Feare often cur's it.

Feare.

In the countrey where wise physitians practise.

Ma. G.

Is the court ready to sit?

Feare.

Instantly. But pray' how long have you beene a sollicitrix?

Ma. G.

Never before.

Feare.

I fear'd as much, when you aske an officer so many idle questions without some feeling.

Ma. G.

What officer art?

Feare.

No worse th [...]n the mouth of the court, that re [...]eves all in with, O yes.

To them Conscience, Hope, Despaire, Sensuality, the five Senses.

You see the power of that word;

They are here. Stand by there.

Hope.

Hope must be [...]till an advocate.

Consc.

'Tis well.

Despaire's a subtile pleader, and employ'd

Onely by hell.

Desp.

Be wing'd, and fetch him hither:

Let me alone; Ile have a plea shall shake

His courage.

Exit Mal. Gen.

[Page]Consc.

Feare call a court.

Feare.

O yes, ô yes, ô yes: All wicked mortalls that have any businesse in the court of Conscience, let them come and accuse themselves, if they have so little wit▪ and they shall be judg'd by the proverb.

Con.

List to my charge. Conscience the judge of actions

Is neither power, nor habit, but an act;

To wit an application of that knowledge

That sh [...]wes the difference. Its Synteresis,

Or purer part, is th' instigation

Of will to good and honest things, and seates

The mind in a [...]ich throne of endlesse quiet;

When being clog'd with guilt of many ills,

Those leaden waight expresse it as it mounts,

And sink it into horrour. Conscience stain'd

Is like a fretting ulcer, that co [...]rod's

The part [...]t hath infected, and though cur'd

It leaves a sca [...]re. So heale a wounded Conscience:

Repentance stayes as the vestigium,

Or marke imprest, by which the past disease

Is found to have been. There's no punishment

Like that, to beare the witnesse in ones brest

Of perpetrated evills, when the mind

Beat's it with silent stripes; guilty of blame.

But being unstain'd it laughs at lying fame.

Feare.

Silence in the court, and hearken to the charge: it may indoctrinate ye for Iustices, if there be not too much of Conscience in it.

Consc.

Hope is in opposition with despaire;

And like a zealous advocate [...]'th' cause

Of his afflicted clyent, labours still

To overthrow the fallacies and quirkes

Despayre is nimble in; whil'st feare with trembling

Expects the trialls issue. By these three

M [...]ns acts inform'd of, scann'd and canvas'd be,

At length by Conscience censur'd, thy are sent

To have reward, or suffer punishment.

Feare.

Hem. Now enter that woman.

[Page]Consc.

What are you?

Sens.

A desperate piece of neglected mortality, that have been a Lady of pleasure, and kep [...] an open house where Lords tooke me up at high rates, 'till my bare commons would no longer serve their high feeding.

Feare.

And the Geese that gras'd on it would alwayes be ever roasted.

Sens.

I thence fell to inferiour customers, and doated most on the junior actors, to the danger of cracking many a voyce. Night-walking then supply'd me, whil'st I had any thing to pleasure a constable, or relieve the mortified watch with a snatch and away. But now I am not worth the reversion of an almes-basket: and those which heretofore would hire me to sinne, doe now deny me the benefit of a Spittle. I have not strength to climbe and hang my selfe; and having been so light all my life time 'tis impossible I should be drown'd.

Hope.

Hope yet with griefe, and mend.

Sensu.

My mending must be miraculous. Were it in art to repayre this rotten carcase, and in my stock of credit with the broker enough to case it, I might hope for as golden dayes and coaching agen. But now welcome a cart or a Shrove-tuesdayes tragedy. Despaire tells me there is a fire in hell, and why should I, that have converst with heates all my life time, feare it!

Feare.

Stand by there. What are you?

Seeing.

My Ladyes ape, that imitated all her fashions; falling as she did, and running the same course of folly: the difference onely, that what was hers first was mine in reversion; except her gentleman usher. Hell I feare not, for I have prevented leading apes. Besides the whips of furies are not halfe so terrible as a blew coate, and the shreeks of tormented ghosts nothing to the noyse of hemphammers.

Consc.

Proceed quickly with the rest.

Feare.

I would excuse my selfe; but I despaire of being heard, now my Lady's decayd and housekeeping broke up. I feare nothing so much as to be torne in [Page] pieces by the revengefull beggars.

Smell.

That punishment must I share. For I was an honest huntsman, and provided buriall for many a scavingers horse in my dogs bellies; but finding it troublesome and unsavou [...]y, tooke an easier course, and converted the remaines of dinner and supper that should have fed the poore, into my dogs breakfast. For which I expect to be pursu'd by the common hunt, till I come to hell; and there the qu [...]st will be so hot, I shall not possibly scape it.

Feare.

Thou seem'st to have been a good fellow: shall I speake a word in thy behalfe?

Tast.

No: Fear's an ill orator; hee'l be out. I have been the most notorious theef, that ever rob'd by privilege of his office. I have converted more butter into kitchin-stuffe, then would have victualled a flemish garrison. I have cheated butchers; gone on their scores, and payd them with hornes: helping to undo my Lady with the greatnesse of mine own credit. I have coney-catcht many a poulterers wife, and she hath pluckt my feathers: what I got by the back I spent on the belly. But now short commons serve, licking my fingers and the halfe-cold dripping pan. Since my Ladyes decay I am degraded from a cooke, and I feare the divell himself will entertaine me but for one of his black guard; and he shall be sure to have his roast burnt.

Desp.

Stand by. You shall be sentenc'd presently.

Touch.

I was a spruce observer of formality; wore good cloathes at the second hand, and payd for them quarterly. Together with my Ladyes my fortune [...]ell, and of her gentleman usher I became her applesquire, to hold the doore, and keepe centinell at taverns. I can play the Bravo where my affronting is upon sure advantage▪ otherwise I can be kick't with as much patience, as a hungry fidler, when he expects the reversion of a gallants oysters. I may yet be serviceable to the Su [...]ubi in hell, but other preferment I despaire of.

Consc.

Custome in ill [...] that doe affect the sense

Makes reason uselesse, when it should direct

[Page]The ills reforming. Men habituate

In any evill, 'tis their greatest curse,

Advise doth seldome mend, but makes them worse.

To them Malus Genius, Physander, Bellanima, Bonus Genius.

Mal. G.

He's come Now use your utmost skill in plea,

For feare our cause miscarry.

Consc.

Who is this?

Desp

Her's his accuser that prefers th'indictment.

Consc.

Let it be read.

Feare.

Stand out Physander.

Desp.

Thou ar [...] in [...]icted [...]y the name of Physander Lord of Microcosmus, for that being wedded to the faire and chast Bel [...]a [...]ma, daughter and heire of immortall Love, thou hast u [...]ustly forsaken her, and been guilty of incontinence with a common whore, Sensuality.

Phys.

'Tis not deny'd, no [...] needs it other witnesse;

I beare it in my Conscience. Yet reverend judge,

Sorrow for ills past doth restore frayle man

To his first innocence. What mine hath beene,

My earth bed wet with nightly teares can witnesse,

And sighes, have made the trembling ayre retire,

Vnwilling to be lodg'd in a sad brest

Already fill'd with zeale. If a perseverance

Sprung from a constant resolution,

And joynd unto this sorrow may prevayle

To th' expiation of my former guilt,

I hope forgivenesse.

Desp.

But despaire me thinks

Should fright that hope with apprehension

Of what eternall justice will inflict:

And feare of deserv'd punishment should make thee

Tremble with horrour.

Hope.

'Tis not so false orator,

Necessity may be a powerfull strengthening

Of humane frailtie: and as it acut's

Sloth often into Diligence, Despaire

[Page]May be Hopes cause. The temple-robber to appease

Th' offended god head to the Altar flies;

Nor shames to beg his pardon with drown'd eyes.

Let thy resolves be firme.

Phys.

As fates decrees

Enroll'd in steele. Nor will I be secure

In any confidence of mine own strength:

For such security is oft the mother

Of negligence, and that th'occasion

Of unremedied ru [...]e. From instructions

Found here, we will consult our after-safetyes.

And in all courses of my following life,

I will be guyded by my heavenly wife.

Consc.

Ile then pronounce ye happy. Man's a ship

Laden with riches. Tempests rage, and hell

Sends pirates out to rob him; heavens eye guards him;

His soule's the pilot, who through various seas

Of time and fortune brings him to the port

Of endlesse quiet. Now dismisse the court.

Exeunt.

Mal. G.

My malice burst me. I have toyl'd in vaine:

And mine own torment is my onely gaine.

Exit.

Sens.

[...]e with thee to that place where horrors fright

The guilty conscience with eternall night.

Exit.

Bon. G.

N [...]w freely passe unto the blest abodes,

Where those heroes that do merit it

In life, are crown'd with glory, and enjoy

Pleasures beyond all comprehension.

Bella.

All lets are now remov'd; hells malice falls

Beneath our conquest, and Loves palace gates

Ope'to receive our tryumph.

Here the last Scene is discover'd, being a glorious throne: at the top whereof Love sits betwixt [...]ustice, Temperance, Prudence and Fortitude, holding two crownes of starres: at the foote upon c [...]rtaine degrees sit divers gloriously habited and alike as Elysij incolae; who whil'st Love and the Vertues lead Physander and Bellanima to the throne, place themselves in a figure for the dance.

[Page]

The Song.

Welcome, welcome happy payre

To those abodes, where spicie ayre

Breaths perfumes, and every sense

Doth find his objects excellence·

Where's no heate, nor cold extreme;

No winters ice, nor summers scorching beame.

Where's no sun, yet never night.

Day alwayes springing from eternall light.

Chorus.

All mortall sufferings layd aside

Here in endlesse blisse abide.

Love.

Welcome to Love my now lov'd heyre,

Elysium's thine; ascend my chayre.

For following Sensuality

I thought to disinherit thee.

But being new reform'd in life,

And reunited to thy wife,

Mine onely daughter, fate allow's

That Love with stars should crown your brows.

Ioyne ye that were his guides to this:

Thus I inthrone ye both. Now kisse,

Whil'st you in active measures move,

Led on to endlesse joyes by Love.

The [...] ended, they returne to their first order, whil'st Love speakes the Epilogue: which done, he is receiv'd into the Scene, and it closeth.

The End.

Information about this book

Title statement

Microcosmus A morall maske, presented vvith generall liking, at the private house in Salisbury Court, and heere set down according to the intention of the authour Thomas Nabbes.

Nabbes, Thomas, 1605?-1645?

Edition statement

1637

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-05 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A07975

ID [STC]

STC 18342

ID [STC]

ESTC S113064

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99848305

ID [PROQUEST]

99848305

ID [VID]

13390

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A07975)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 13390)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1179:11)

Source

— Microcosmus A morall maske, presented vvith generall liking, at the private house in Salisbury Court, and heere set down according to the intention of the authour Thomas Nabbes., Nabbes, Thomas, 1605?-1645?.

Extent

[56] p.

Printed by Richard Oulton for Charles Greene, and are to be sold at the white Lyon in Pauls Church-yard,. London :: 1637.. (Mostly in verse.) (Signatures: A-G⁴.) (The first leaf is blank.) (Reproduction of the original in the Library of Congress.)

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