The Maids Tragedy Part 3

_Cinth_. Doth this majestick show Give thee no knowledge yet?

_Nep_. Yes, now I see.

Something intended _(Cinthia)_ worthy thee; Go on, I'le be a helper.

_Cinth_. Hie thee then, And charge the wind flie from his Rockie Den.

Let loose thy subjects, only _Boreas_ Too foul for our intention as he was; Still keep him fast chain'd; we must have none here But vernal blasts, and gentle winds appear, Such as blow flowers, and through the glad Boughs sing Many soft welcomes to the l.u.s.ty spring.

These are our musick: next, thy watry race Bring on in couples; we are pleas'd to grace This n.o.ble night, each in their richest things Your own deeps or the broken vessel brings; Be prodigal, and I shall be as kind, And s.h.i.+ne at full upon you.

_Nep_. Ho the wind Commanding _Eolus!_

[Enter Eolus out of a Rock.

_Eol_. Great _Neptune!_

_Nep_. He.

_Eol_. What is thy will?

_Nep_. We do command thee free _Favonius_ and thy milder winds to wait Upon our _Cinthia_, but tye _Boreas_ straight; He's too rebellious.

_Eol_. I shall do it.

_Nep_. Do, great master of the flood, and all below, Thy full command has taken.

_Eol_. Ho! the main; _Neptune_.

_Nep_. Here.

_Eol_. _Boreas_ has broke his chain, And struggling with the rest, has got away.

_Nep_. Let him alone, I'le take him up at sea; He will not long be thence; go once again And call out of the bottoms of the Main, Blew _Proteus_, and the rest; charge them put on Their greatest pearls, and the most sparkling stone The bearing Rock breeds, till this night is done By me a solemn honour to the Moon; Flie like a full sail.

_Eol_. I am gone.

_Cin_. Dark night, Strike a full silence, do a thorow right To this great _Chorus_, that our Musick may Touch high as heaven, and make the East break day At mid-[n]ight.

[_Musick_.

SONG.

Cinthia _to thy power, and them we obey.

Joy to this great company, and no day Come to steal this night away, Till the rites of love are ended, And the l.u.s.ty Bridegroom say, Welcome light of all befriended.

Pace out you watry powers below, let your feet Like the Gallies when they row, even beat_.

_Let your unknown measures set To the still winds, tell to all That G.o.ds are come immortal great, To honour this great Nuptial_.

The Measure. Second Song.

_Hold back thy hours dark night, till we have done, The day will come too soon; Young Maids will curse thee if thou steal'st away, And leav'st their blushes open to the day.

Stay, stay, and hide the blushes of the Bride.

Stay gentle night, and with thy darkness cover The kisses of her Lover.

Stay, and confound her tears, and her shrill cryings, Her weak denials, vows, and often dyings; Stay and hide all, but help not though she call_.

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

_Cinth_. Speak Seas King.

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

Song. Measure.

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

_Eol_. Ho! _Neptune!_

_Nept_. _Eolus!_

_Eol_. The Seas go hie, _Boreas_ hath rais'd a storm; go and applie Thy trident, else I prophesie, ere day Many a tall s.h.i.+p will be cast away: Descend with all the G.o.ds, and all their power to strike a cal[m].

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

_Nep_. We obey.

[_Neptune descends, and the Sea-G.o.ds_.

_Cinth_. Hold up thy head dead night; seest thou not day?

The East begins to lighten, I must down And give my brother place.

_Nigh_. Oh! I could frown To see the day, the day that flings his light Upon my Kingdoms, and contemns old Night; Let him go on and flame, I hope to see Another wild-fire in his Axletree; And all false drencht; but I forgot, speak Queen.

The day grows on I must no more be seen.

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

_Nigh_. I'le vanish into mists.

[_Exeunt_.

_Cin_. I into day. _[Finis Mask_.

_King_. Take lights there Ladies, get the Bride to bed; We will not see you laid, good night _Amintor,_ We'l ease you of that tedious ceremony; Were it [my] case, I should think time run slow.

If thou beest n.o.ble, youth, get me a boy, That may defend my Kingdom from my foes.

_Amin_. All happiness to you.

_King_. Good night _Melantius_.

[_Exeunt_.

_Actus Secundus_.