Chapter V: Act IV: Scene I.59

[_Enter_] TELLUS.

_Tellus._ I marvel Corsites giveth me so much liberty,—all the
world knowing his charge to be so high and his nature to be most
strange,—who hath so ill entreated ladies of great honour that he
hath not suffered them to look out (5) of windows, much less to walk
abroad. It may be he is in love with me, for (Endymion, hard-hearted
Endymion, excepted) what is he that is not enamour’d of my beauty?
But what respectest thou the love of all the world? Endymion 10
hates thee. Alas, poor Endymion, my malice hath excepded my love,
and thy faith to Cynthia quenched my affections. Quenched, Tellus?
Nay, kindled them afresh; insomuch that I find scorching flames for
dead embers, (15) and cruel encounters of war in my thoughts instead
of sweet parleys. Ah, that I might once again see Endymion! Accursed
girl, what hope hast thou to see Endymion, on whose head already
are grown gray hairs, and whose life (20) must yield to nature,
before Cynthia end her displeasure. Wicked Dipsas, and most devilish
Tellus, the one for cunning too exquisite, the other for hate too
intolerable! Thou wast commanded to weave the stories and poetries
(25) wherein were showed both examples and punishments of tattling
tongues, and thou hast only embroidered the sweet face of Endymion,
devices of love, melancholy imaginations, and what not, out of thy
work, that thou shouldst (30) study to pick out of thy mind. But here
cometh Corsites. I must seem yielding and stout; full of mildness,
yet tempered with a majesty: for if I be too flexible, I shall give
him more hope than I mean; if too froward, enjoy less liberty 35
than I would. Love him I cannot, and therefore will practise that
which is most contrary[60] to our sex, to dissemble.

_Enter_ CORSITES.

_Cor._ Fair Tellus, I perceive you rise with the lark, and to
yourself sing with the (40) nightingale.

_Tellus._ My lord, I have no playfellow but fancy; being barred of
all company, I must question with myself, and make my thoughts my
friends. 45

_Cor._ I would you would account my thoughts also your friends, for
they be such as are only busied in wondering at your beauty and
wisdom; and some such as have esteemed your fortune too hard; and
divers of that kind (50) that offer to set you free, if you will set
them free.

_Tellus._ There are no colours so contrary as white and black, nor
elements so disagreeing as fire and water, nor anything so opposite
as (55) men’s thoughts and their words.

_Cor._ He that gave Cassandra the gift of prophesying, with the curse
that, spake she never so true, she should never be believed, hath I
think poisoned the fortune of men, (60) that uttering the extremities
of their inward passions are always suspected of outward perjuries.

_Tellus._ Well, Corsites, I will flatter myself and believe you. What
would you do to enjoy (65) my love?

_Cor._ Set all the ladies of the castle free, and make you the
pleasure of my life: more I cannot do, less I will not.

_Tellus._ These be great words, and fit your (70) calling; for
captains must promise things impossible. But will you do one thing
for all?

_Cor._ Anything, sweet Tellus, that am ready for all.

_Tellus._ You know that on the lunary bank (75) sleepeth Endymion.

_Cor._ I know it.

_Tellus._ If you will remove him from that place by force, and convey
him into some obscure cave by policy, I give you here the (80) faith
of an unspotted virgin that you only shall possess me as a lover, and
in spite of malice have me for a wife.

_Cor._ Remove him, Tellus! Yes, Tellus, he shall be removed, and that
so soon as[61] thou (85) shalt as much commend my diligence as my
force. I go.

_Tellus._ Stay, will yourself attempt it?

_Cor._ Ay, Tellus; as I would have none partaker of my sweet love, so
shall none be (90) partners of my labors. But I pray thee go at your
best leisure, for Cynthia beginneth to rise, and if she discover our
love, we both perish, for nothing pleaseth her but the fairness of
virginity. All things must be not only without (95) lust but without
suspicion of lightness.

_Tellus._ I will depart, and go you to Endymion.

_Cor._ I fly, Tellus, being of all men the most fortunate. _Exit._ 100

_Tellus._ Simple Corsites, I have set thee about a task, being but
a man, that the gods themselves cannot perform, for little dost
thou know how heavy his head lies, how hard his fortune; but such
shifts must women have to deceive (105) men, and under colour of
things easy, entreat that which is impossible; otherwise we should
be cumb’red with importunities, oaths, sighs, letters, and all
implements of love, which to one resolved to the contrary are most
loathsome. (110) I will in, and laugh with the other ladies at
Corsites’ sweating. _Exit._

SCENE II.[62]

[_Enter_] SAMIAS _and_ DARES.

_Sam._ Will thy master never awake?

_Dar._ No; I think he sleeps for a wager. But how shall we spend the
time? Sir Tophas is so far in love that he pineth in his bed and
cometh not abroad. 5

_Sam._ But here cometh Epi in a pelting chafe.[63]

[_Enter_ EPITON.]

_Epi._ A pox of all false proverbs, and were a proverb a page, I
would have him by the ears!

_Sam._ Why art thou angry?

_Epi._ Why? You know it is said, “The (10) tide tarrieth no man.”

_Sam._ True.

_Epi._ A monstrous lie; for I was tied two hours, and tarried for one
to unloose me.

_Dar._ Alas, poor Epi! 15

_Epi._ Poor! No, no, you base-conceited slaves, I am a most complete
gentleman, although I be in disgrace with Sir Tophas.

_Dar._ Art thou out with him?

_Epi._ Ay, because I cannot get him a lodging (20) with Endymion. He
would fain take a nap for forty or fifty years.

_Dar._ A short sleep, considering our long life.

_Sam._ Is he still in love?

_Epi._ In love? Why he doth nothing but (25) make sonnets.

_Sam._ Canst thou remember any one of his poems?

_Epi._ Ay, this is one:—
The beggar, Love, that knows not where to lodge, 30
At last within my heart, when I slept,
He crept,
I wak’d, and so my fancies began to fodge.[64]

_Sam._ That’s a very long verse.

_Epi._ Why, the other was short. The first (35) is called from the
thumb to the little finger; the second from the little finger to the
elbow; and some he hath made to reach to the crown of his head, and
down again to the sole of his foot. It is set to the tune of the
black (40) Saunce[65]; _ratio est_, because Dipsas is a black saint.

_Dar._ Very wisely. But pray thee, Epi, how art thou complete; and
being from thy master, what occupation wilt thou take? 45

_Epi._ Know,[66] my hearts. I am an absolute _Microcosmus_, a petty
world of myself: my library is my head, for I have no other books but
my brains; my wardrobe on my back, for I have no more apparel than is
on my body; (50) my armory at my fingers’ ends, for I use no other
artillery than my nails; my treasure in my purse. _Sic omnia mea
mecum porto._[67]

_Dar._ Good!

_Epi._ Know,[68] sirs, my palace is pav’d with (55) grass, and tiled
with stars, for _Cœlo tegitur qui non habet urnam_,[69]—he that hath
no house must lie in the yard.

_Sam._ A brave resolution! But how wilt thou spend thy time? 60

_Epi._ Not in any melancholy sort; for mine exercise I will walk
horses.

_Dar._ Too bad!

_Epi._ Why, is it not said, “It is good walking when one hath his
horse in his hand”? 65

_Sam._ Worse and worse! But how wilt thou live?

_Epi._ By angling. Oh, ’tis a stately occupation to stand four hours
in a cold morning, and to have his nose bitten with frost before his
(70) bait be mumbled with a fish.

_Dar._ A rare attempt! But wilt thou never travel?

_Epi._ Yes, in a western barge, when with a good wind and lusty
pugs,[70] one may go ten (75) miles in two days.

_Sam._ Thou art excellent at thy choice. But what pastime wilt thou
use? None?

_Epi._ Yes, the quickest of all.

_Sam._ What, dice? 80

_Epi._ No, when I am in haste, one-and-twenty games at chess, to pass
a few minutes.

_Dar._ A life for a little lord, and full of quickness.

_Epi._ Tush, let me alone! But I must (85) needs see if I can
find where Endymion lieth, and then go to a certain fountain hard
by, where they say faithful lovers shall have all things they will
ask. If I can find out any of these, _Ego et magister meus erimus
in tuto_, I (90) and my master shall be friends. He is resolved to
weep some three or four pailfuls to avoid the rheum of love that
wambleth[71] in his stomach.

_Enter_ [Master Constable _and_ Two] Watch[men].

_Sam._ Shall we never see thy master, Dares?

_Dar._ Yes; let us go now, for to-morrow (95) Cynthia will be there.

_Epi._ I will go with you;—but how shall we see for the Watch?

_Sam._ Tush, let me alone! I’ll begin to them. Masters, God speed
you. 100

_1 Watch._ Sir boy, we are all sped already.

_Epi._ [_Aside._] So methinks, for they smell all of drink, like a
beggar’s beard.

_Dar._ But I pray, sirs, may we see Endymion? 105

_2 Watch._ No, we are commanded in Cynthia’s name, that no man shall
see him.

_Sam._ No man! Why, we are but boys.

_1 Watch._ Mass, neighbours, he says true, for if I swear I will
never drink my liquor by (110) the quart, and yet call for two pints,
I think with a safe conscience I may carouse both.

_Dar._ Pithily, and to the purpose.

_2 Watch._ Tush, tush, neighbours, take me with you.[72] 115

_Sam._ [_Aside._] This will grow hot.

_Dar._ [_Aside._] Let them alone.

_2 Watch._ If I say to my wife, “Wife, I will have no raisins in
my pudding,” she puts in currants; small raisins are raisins, and
boys (120) are men: even as my wife should have put no raisins in my
pudding, so shall there no boys see Endymion.

_Dar._ Learnedly.

_Epi._ Let Master Constable speak; I think (125) he is the wisest
among you.

_Master Constable._ You know, neighbours, ’tis an old said saw,
“Children and fools speak true.”

_All._ True. 130

_Mast. Const._ Well, there you see the men be the fools, because it
is provided from the children.

_Dar._ Good.

_Mast. Const._ Then, say I, neighbours, that (135) children must not
see Endymion, because children and fools speak true.

_Epi._ O wicked application!

_Sam._ Scurvily brought about!

_1 Watch._ Nay, he says true, and therefore (140) till Cynthia have
been here, he shall not be uncovered. Therefore, away!

_Dar._ [_Aside to Sam. and Epi._] A watch, quoth you! A man may watch
seven years for a wise word, and yet go without it. Their wits 145
are all as rusty as their bills.—But come on, Master Constable,
shall we have a song before we go?

_Mast. Const._ With all my heart.

THE SECOND SONG[73]

_Watch._ Stand! Who goes there? 150
We charge you appear
’Fore our constable here,
In the name of the Man in the Moon.
To us billmen relate
Why you stagger so late, 155
And how you come drunk so soon.

_Pages._ What are ye, scabs?

_Watch._ The Watch;
This the Constable.

_Pages._ A patch.[74]

_Const._ Knock ’em down unless they all stand
If any run away, 160
’Tis the old watchman’s play.
To reach him a bill of his hand.

_Pages._ O gentlemen, hold.
Your gowns freeze with cold,
And your rotten teeth dance in your head; 165

_Epi._ Wine, nothing shall cost ye;

_Sam._ Nor huge fires to roast ye.

_Dares._ Then soberly let us be led.

_Const._ Come, my brown bills, we’ll roar,[75]
Bounce loud at tavern door. 170

_Omnes._ And i’ th’ morning steal all to bed.
_Exeunt._

SCENE III.[76]

CORSITES _solus_. [ENDYMION _lies asleep on the lunary bank_.]

_Corsites._ I am come in sight of the lunary bank. Without doubt
Tellus doteth upon me, and cunningly, that I might not perceive her
love, she hath set me to a task that is done before it is begun.
Endymion, you must change (5) your pillow, and if you be not weary
of sleep, I will carry you where at ease you shall sleep your fill.
It were good that without more ceremonies I took him, lest being
espied, I be entrapt, and so incur the displeasure of Cynthia, who
(10) commonly setteth watch that Endymion have no wrong. [_He tries
to lift Endymion._] What now, is your mastership so heavy, or are
you nail’d to the ground? Not stir one whit! Then use all thy force,
though he feel it and wake. (15) What, stone-still? Turn’d, I think,
to earth with lying so long on the earth. Didst not thou, Corsites,
before Cynthia, pull up a tree that forty years was fast’ned with
roots and wreathed in knots to the ground? Didst not (20) thou, with
main force, pull open the iron gates which no ram or engine could
move? Have my weak thoughts made brawn-fallen my strong arms, or is
it the nature of love, or the quintessence of the mind, to breed
numbness or (25) litherness,[77] or I know not what languishing in
my joints and sinews, being but the base strings of my body? Or doth
the remembrance of Tellus so refine my spirits into a matter so
subtle and divine that the other fleshy parts (30) cannot work whilst
they muse? Rest thyself, rest thyself; nay, rend thyself in pieces,
Corsites, and strive, in spite of love, fortune, and nature, to
lift up this dulled body, heavier than dead and more senseless than
death. 35
_Enter_ Fairies.
But what are these so fair fiends that cause my hairs to stand
upright and spirits to fall down? Hags,—out alas, nymphs, I crave
pardon. Ay me, out! what do I hear!

[_The Fairies dance, and with a song pinch him, and he falleth asleep. They kiss Endymion and depart._

THE THIRD SONG[78] BY FAIRIES

_Omnes._ Pinch him, pinch him, black and blue, 40
Saucy mortals must not view
What the Queen of Stars is doing,
Nor pry into our fairy wooing.

_1 Fairy._ Pinch him blue,

_2 Fairy._ And pinch him black; 45

_3 Fairy._ Let him not lack
Sharp nails to pinch him blue and red,
Till sleep has rock’d his addle head.

_4 Fairy._ For the trespass he hath done,
Spots o’er all his flesh shall run. 50
Kiss Endymion, kiss his eyes,
Then to our midnight heidegyes.[79] _Exeunt_ [Fairies].

[_Enter, at the side of the stage[80] opposite_ CORSITES,] CYNTHIA, FLOSCULA, SEMELE, PANELION, ZONTES, PYTHAGORAS, _and_ GYPTES. [CORSITES _sleeps still._]

_Cynth._ You see, Pythagoras, what ridiculous opinions you hold, and
I doubt not but you are now of another mind. 55

_Pythag._ Madam, I plainly perceive that the perfection of your
brightness hath pierced through the thickness that covered my mind;
insomuch that I am no less glad to be reformed than ashamed to
remember my (60) grossness.

_Gyptes._ They are thrice fortunate that live in your palace where
truth is not in colours but life, virtues not in imagination but
execution.

_Cynth._ I have always studied to have rather (65) living virtues
than painted gods, the body of truth than the tomb. But let us walk
to Endymion; it may be it lieth in your arts to deliver him; as for
Eumenides, I fear he is dead. 70

_Pythag._ I have alleged all the natural reasons I can for such a
long sleep.

_Gyptes._ I can do nothing till I see him.

_Cynth._ Come, Floscula; I am sure you are glad that you shall behold
Endymion. 75

_Flosc._ I were blessed, if I might have him recovered.

_Cynth._ Are you in love with his person?

_Flosc._ No, but with his virtue.

_Cynth._ What say you, Semele? 80

_Sem._ Madam, I dare say nothing for fear I offend.

_Cynth._ Belike you cannot speak except you be spiteful; but as good
be silent as saucy. Panelion, what punishment were fit for 85
Semele, in whose speech and thoughts is only contempt and sourness?

_Panel._ I love not, madam, to give any judgment; yet, sith Your
Highness commandeth, I think to commit her tongue close prisoner 90
to her mouth.

_Cynth._ Agreed. Semele, if thou speak this twelvemonth, thou shalt
forfeit thy tongue. Behold Endymion![81] Alas, poor gentleman,
hast thou spent thy youth in sleep, that once (95) vowed all to
my service! Hollow eyes, gray hairs, wrinkled cheeks, and decayed
limbs! Is it destiny or deceit that hath brought this to pass? If the
first, who could prevent thy wretched stars? If the latter, I would I
(100) might know thy cruel enemy. I favoured thee, Endymion, for thy
honour, thy virtues, thy affections; but to bring thy thoughts within
the compass of thy fortunes, I have seemed strange, that I might have
thee staid; and (105) now are thy days ended before my favour begin.
But whom have we here? Is it not Corsites?

_Zon._ It is, but more like a leopard than a man.

_Cynth._ Awake him. [_Zontes wakens Corsites._] How now, Corsites,
what make you here? (110) How came you deformed? Look on thy hands,
and then thou seest the picture of thy face.

_Cors._ Miserable wretch, and accursed! How am I deluded! Madam, I
ask pardon for my offence, and you see my fortune deserveth pity. 115

_Cynth._ Speak on; thy offence cannot deserve greater punishment:
but see thou rehearse the truth, else shalt thou not find me as thou
wishest me.

_Cors._ Madam, as it is no offence to be in (120) love, being a man
mortal, so I hope can it be no shame to tell with whom, my lady being
heavenly. Your Majesty committed to my charge fair Tellus, whose
beauty in the same moment took my heart captive that I undertook
to carry (125) her body prisoner. Since that time have I found
such combats in my thoughts between love and duty, reverence and
affection, that I could neither endure the conflict, nor hope for the
conquest. 130

_Cynth._ In love? A thing far unfitting the name of a captain, and
(as I thought) the tough and unsmoothed nature of Corsites. But forth!

_Cors._ Feeling this continual war, I thought (135) rather by parley
to yield than by certain danger to perish. I unfolded to Tellus the
depth of my affections, and framed my tongue to utter a sweet tale
of love, that was wont to sound nothing but threats of war. She, too
fair to be (140) true and too false for one so fair, after a nice
denial, practised a notable deceit, commanding me to remove Endymion
from this cabin, and carry him to some dark cave; which I, seeking to
accomplish, found impossible; and so by (145) fairies or fiends have
been thus handled.

_Cynth._ How say you, my lords, is not Tellus always practising of
some deceits? In sooth, Corsites, thy face is now too foul for a
lover, and thine heart too fond for a soldier. You (150) see when
warriors become wantons how their manners alter with their faces. Is
it not a shame, Corsites, that having lived so long in Mars his camp,
thou shouldst now be rocked in Venus’s cradle? Dost thou wear Cupid’s
(155) quiver at thy girdle and make lances of looks? Well, Corsites,
rouse thyself and be as thou hast been; and let Tellus, who is made
all of love, melt herself in her own looseness.

_Cors._ Madam, I doubt not but to recover (160) my former state, for
Tellus’s beauty never wrought such love in my mind as now her deceit
hath despite; and yet to be revenged of a woman were a thing than
love itself more womanish.

_Gyptes._ These spots, gentleman, are to be (165) worn out, if you
rub them over with this lunary; so that in place where you received
this maim you shall find a medicine.

_Cors._ I thank you for that. The gods bless me from love and these
pretty ladies that (170) haunt this green.

_Flosc._ Corsites, I would Tellus saw your amiable face. [SEMELE
_laughs._]

_Zont._ How spitefully Semele laugheth, that dare not speak. 175

_Cynth._ Could you not stir Endymion with that doubled strength of
yours?

_Cors._ Not so much as his finger with all my force.

_Cynth._ Pythagoras and Gyptes, what (180) think you of Endymion?
What reason is to be given, what remedy?

_Pyth._ Madam, it is impossible to yield reason for things that
happen not in compass of nature. It is most certain that some strange
enchantment (185) hath bound all his senses.

_Cynth._ What say you, Gyptes?

_Gyptes._ With Pythagoras, that it is enchantment, and that so
strange that no art can undo it, for that heaviness argueth a malice
unremovable (190) in the enchantress, and that no power can end it,
till she die that did it, or the heavens show some means more than
miraculous.

_Flosc._ O Endymion, could spite itself devise a mischief so
monstrous as to make thee dead (195) with life, and living, being
altogether dead? Where others number their years, their hours, their
minutes, and step to age by stairs, thou only hast thy years and
times in a cluster, being old before thou rememb’rest thou wast
young. 200

_Cynth._ No more, Floscula; pity doth him no good: I would anything
else might; and I vow by the unspotted honour of a lady he should not
miss it. But is this all, Gyptes, that is to be done? 205

_Gyptes._ All as yet. It may be that either the enchantress shall die
or else be discovered; if either happen, I will then practise the
utmost of my art. In the mean season, about this grove would I have a
watch, and the first living (210) thing that toucheth Endymion to be
taken.

_Cynth._ Corsites, what say you, will you undertake this?

_Cors._ Good madam, pardon me! I was overtaken[82] too late. I should
rather break into (215) the midst of a main battle than again fall
into the hands of those fair babies.

_Cynth._ Well, I will provide others. Pythagoras and Gyptes, you
shall yet remain in my court, till I hear what may be done in this
(220) matter.

_Pyth._ We attend.

_Cynth._ Let us go in. _Exeunt._