A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 18

PHILOLOGUS.

Let go my hands at liberty: a.s.sistance I crave none.

O, that I had a sword awhile! I should soon eased be.

AMBO.

Alas! dear father, what do you?

EUSEBIUS.

His will we may now see.

[_Exeunt_ Philologus, Gisbertus, Paphinitius.

THEOLOGUS.

O glorious G.o.d, how wonderful those judgments are of thine: Thou dost behold the secret heart; nought doth thy eyes beguile.

O, what occasion is us given to fear thy might divine, And from our hearts to hate and loathe iniquities so vile, Lest for the same thou in thy wrath dost grace from us exile.

The outward man doth thee not please, nor yet the mind alone, But thou requirest both of us, or else regardest none.

EUSEBIUS.

Here may the worldlings have a gla.s.s, their states for to behold, And learn in time for to escape the judgments of the Lord; Whilst they by flattering of themselves, of faith both dead and cold, Do sell their souls to wickedness, of all good men abhorr'd: But G.o.dliness doth not depend in knowing of the word; But in fulfilling of the same, as in this man we see, Who though he did to others preach, his life did not agree.

THEOLOGUS.

Again, Philologus witnesseth which is the truth of Christ, For that consenting to the Pope he did the Lord abjure, Whereby he teach the wavering faith on which side to persist: And those which have the truth of G.o.d, that still they may endure.

The tyrants which delight in blood he likewise doth a.s.sure, In whose affairs they spend their time--but let us homeward go.

EUSEBIUS.

I am content that after meat we may resort him to.

[_Exeunt_ THEOLOGUS _and_ EUSEBIUS.

ACT VI. SCENE LAST.

NUNTIUS.

O joyful news which I report, and bring into your ears!

Philologus, that would have hanged himself with cord, Is now converted unto G.o.d with many bitter tears: By G.o.dly counsel he was won, all praise be to the Lord.

His errors all he did renounce, his blasphemies he abhorr'd, And being converted left his life, exhorting foe and friend, That do profess the faith of Christ, to be constant to the end.

Full thirty weeks in woful wise afflicted he had been, All which long time he took no food, but forc'd against his will Even with a spoon to pour some broth his teeth between: And though they sought by force this wise to feed him still, He always strove with all his might the same on ground to spill; So that no sustenance he receiv'd, no sleep could he attain, And now the Lord in mercy great hath eas'd him of his pain.

THE RARE TRIUMPHS OF LOVE AND FORTUNE.

EDITION.

_The Rare Triumphes of Love and Fortune, Plaide before the Queenes most excellent Maiestie: wherin are manye fine Conceites with great delight.

At London, Printed by E.A. for Edward White, and are to be solde at the little North doore of S. Paules Church at the signe of the Gunne_. 1589.

4. Black letter.

THE RARE TRIUMPHS OF LOVE AND FORTUNE.

THE FIRST ACT.

_Enter_ MERCURY: _then riseth a Fury: then enter the a.s.sembly of the G.o.ds_, JUPITER _with_ JUNO, APOLLO _with_ MINERVA, MARS _and_ SATURN, _after_ VULCAN _with_ VENUS: _the Fury sets debate amongst them, and after_ JUPITER speaks as followeth_.

JUPITER.

Ye G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses, whence springs this strife of late?

Who are the authors of this mutiny?

Or whence hath sprung this civil discord here.

Which on the sudden struck us in this fear?

If G.o.ds that reign in skies do fall at war, No marvel, then, though mortal men do jar.

But now I see the cause: thou Fury fell, Bred in the dungeon of the deepest h.e.l.l, Who causeth thee to show thyself in light?

And what thy message is, I charge thee tell upright?

TISIPHONE.

O Jupiter, thou dreadful king of G.o.ds, and men the father high, To whose command the heavens, the earth, and lowest h.e.l.l obey, Tisiphone, the daughter of eternal night, Bred in the bottom of the deepest pit of h.e.l.l, Brought up in blood, and cherish'd with scrawling snakes, Tormenting therewithal the d.a.m.ned souls of them Here upon earth, that careless live of thy commandment; I am the same-- I am the same whom both my loathsome sisters hate, Whom h.e.l.l itself complains to keep within her race, Whom every fearful soul detesteth with a curse, Whom earth and seas defy, heavens loathing to behold; I am the same-- I am the same sent from thy brother Pluto now, Thy brother Pluto, king of h.e.l.l and golden mines; Sent unto thee and these thy fellow-G.o.ds I am, From him to thee, from him by me, to tell thee to thy face He hath been lately rubb'd, and touch'd perhaps too near; Which he ne can or will put up without revenge, If thou or any G.o.d the quarrel dare defend.

And this it is-- Thy daughter Venus, thy proud daughter Venus here, Blabs it abroad, and beareth all the world in hand,[62]

She must be thought the only G.o.ddess in the world, Exalting and suppressing whom she likes best, Defacing altogether Lady Fortune's grace; Breaking her altars[63] down, dishonouring her name, Whose government thyself, thyself dost know.

How say'st thou? dost thou not?-- Her father, therefore, thy brother Pluto, sends By me, the messenger of discord and debate, Commanding or desiring--choose thou whether of both-- Her honour still entire[64] she may maintain; Else on thy daughter Venus, that lascivious dame, Himself will wreak his high despite on her.

JUPITER.

Depart, foul fiend, unto thy loathsome cell, Where thou lamenting makes continual moan!

Go tell my brother, were it not for him, Thou shouldst have rued thy bold presumption.

Say thou thy message hath been largely heard, And bid him send his daughter Fortune, now, Whilst we are here, the matter may have end.

Despatch.

TISIPHONE.

I go-- Give place, thou air; open, thou earth; gape, hollow h.e.l.l, below; And unto all that live and breathe I wish a world of woe.

[_Exit_ TISIPHONE.

JUPITER.

Ye powers divine, be reconcil'd again; Depart from discord and extreme debate: Within your b.r.e.a.s.t.s let love and peace remain, A perfect pattern of your heavenly state, Whilome ago[65] to h.e.l.l condemning hate.

Thus, when the higher powers is in one,[66]

Men upon earth will fly contention.

MERCURY.

Great G.o.d and father mine, your care and fear Of us, and eke of all the world beside, That restless rolls in his continual sphere, Whereby all things in perfect course abide, As one arrays[67] another forth to slide: And this example may prevail for all, To work our wills according to your call.

And I dare say, presuming on the rest, The poison of this rancour is suppress'd.