Volume I Part 124 (1/2)

_War._ Noo, Sirs, yar Dance? [They fling Cus.h.i.+ons at one another, and grin. Musick plays.] --Marry, Sirs, an this be yar dancing, tol dance and ne'er stir Stap, the Diel lead the Donce for _Archibald_.

[When they have flung Cus.h.i.+ons thus a while to the Musick time, they beat each other from the Table, one by one, and fall into a G.o.dly Dance; after a while, _Wariston_ rises, and dances ridiculously a while amongst them; then to the Time of the Tune, they take out the rest, as at the Cus.h.i.+on-Dance, or in that nature. _Wariston_ being the last taken in, leads the rest.

--Haud, Minstrels, haud; Bread a gued. I's fatch ad Ladies in-- lead away, Minstrels, tol my Lady's Apartment.

[Musick playing before all.

[Exeunt dancing.

SCENE IV. _Flat._

Enter _Page_.

_Page._ _c.o.c.k_, Here must I wait, to give my Lady notice when my Lord approaches;-- The fine Gentleman that is alone with her, gave me these two fine Pieces of Gold, and bad me buy a Sword to fight for the King withal; and I'm resolv'd to lay it all out in a Sword, not a penny in Nickers, and fight for the Heroicks as long as I have a Limb, if they be all such fine Men as this within. But hark, sure I hear some coming.-- [Exit.

[Flat Scene draws off, discovers L. _Lam._ on a Couch, with _Loveless_, tying a rich Diamond-Bracelet about his Arm: a Table behind with Lights, on which a Velvet Cus.h.i.+on, with a Crown and Scepter cover'd.

_Lov._ This Present's too magnificent: such Bracelets young Monarchs shou'd put on.

_L. Lam._ Persons like me, when they make Presents, Sir, must do it for their Glory, not considering the Merit of the Wearer: yet this, my charming _Loveless_, comes short of what I ought to pay thy Worth; comes short too of my Love.

_Lov._ You bless me, Madam--

_L. Lam._ This the great Monarch of the World once ty'd about my Arm, and bad me wear it, till some greater Man shou'd chance to win my Heart; Thou art that Man whom Love has rais'd above him; Whom every Grace and every Charm thou hast Conspire to make thee mightier to my Soul; And _Oliver_, ill.u.s.trious _Oliver_, Was yet far short of thee.

_Lov._ He was the Monarch then whose Spoils I triumph in.

_L. Lam._ They were design'd too for Trophies to the young and gay.

Ah, _Loveless_! that I cou'd reward thy Youth With something that might make thee more than Man, As well as to give the best of Women to thee-- [Rises, takes him by the Hand, leads him to the Table. He starts.

--Behold this gay, this wondrous glorious thing.

_Lov._ Hah-- a Crown-- and Scepter!

Have I been all this while So near the sacred Relicks of my King; And found no awful Motion in my Blood, Nothing that mov'd sacred Devotion in me? [Kneels.

--Hail sacred Emblem of great Majesty, Thou that hast circled more Divinity Than the great Zodiack that surrounds the World.

I ne'er was blest with sight of thee till now, But in much reverenc'd Pictures-- [Rises and bows.

_L. Lam._ Is't not a lovely thing?

_Lov._ There's such Divinity i' th' very Form on't, Had I been conscious I'd been near the Temple, Where this bright Relick of the glorious Martyr Had been enshrin'd, 't had spoil'd my soft Devotion.

--'Tis Sacrilege to dally where it is; A rude, a saucy Treason to approach it With an unbended Knee: for Heav'ns sake, Madam, Let us not be profane in our Delights, Either withdraw, or hide that glorious Object.

_L. Lam._ Thou art a Fool, the very sight of this-- Raises my Pleasure higher: Methinks I give a Queen into thy Arms, And where I love I cannot give enough; [Softly.

--Wou'd I cou'd set it on thy Head for ever, 'Twou'd not become my simple Lord The thousandth part so well.

[Goes to put it on his Head, he puts it back.

_Lov._ Forbear, and do not play with holy things; Let us retire, and love as Mortals shou'd, Not imitate the G.o.ds, and spoil our Joys.

_L. Lam._ Lovely, and unambitious!