A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 19

VULCAN.

How ye agree, my masters, I cannot tell; [_To Venus_.] But, were we a-bed, we two could agree well.

JUPITER.

Gramercy, Mercury; I know thy will Is ever prest to further my desire: In sign whereof, to quiet all things well, And to suppress betimes the secret fire, That I perceive would break and mount up higher: This to prevent, content ye here to stay, To mark awhile what for themselves they say.

And, Venus, here I charge thee on my grace, Not that I found thee heretofore untrue, But for thine adversary is not yet in place, Thou tell uprightly whence your quarrel grew; What words betwixt you thereof did ensue.

Say, lovely daughter; tell us flat thy mind: They shall be blamed on whom the fault we find.

VENUS.

O thou, that governest everything, that G.o.ds and men attempt, And with thy fearful thunderbolt their doings dost prevent, What hath thy daughter so deserved? what doth she, silly dame, Before ye thus to be abused with undeserved blame?

Surely, but that my[68] duty commands me now to speak, For such a trifling cause this way my wrath I would not wreak.

But she--no marvel though she seek my seat thus to stain, When otherways she cannot tell advantage how to gain.

But thence this hot despite: _Hinc illae lacrimae_, Because, I say, she could not prove herself of power with me.

For, all you G.o.dheads know, she pains but such as pleasure knew: She never grieves the groaning mind, where gladness never grew.

She never overthrows but at the top of joy; For they that never tasted bliss mislike not their annoy.

But I torment the mind that never felt relief; I plague the wretch that never thought on comfort in his grief, That never had the hope of any happy chance, That never once so much as deem'd I would his state advance.

Think, then, which of us both are of the greater power: Once in his life, or not at all, to grant a light'ning hour?

I need not stand to make rehearsal here at all, For G.o.ds and ghosts, yea, men and beasts, unto my power are thrall.

I dare appeal to you, if I should look awry-- Say, father, with your leave, in heaven who dares my word deny?

And if I please to smile, who will not laugh outright?

Whereby my great omnipotence is known to every wight.

I make the n.o.ble love the b.a.s.t.a.r.d in degree; I tame and temper all the tongues that rail and scoff at me.

What bird, what beast, what worm, but feeleth my delight?

What lives or draweth breath, but[69] I can pleasure or despite?

Yet divers things there be that Fortune cannot tame; As are the riches of the mind, or else an honest name, Or a contented heart, still free from Fortune's power: But such as climb, before they crawl, must drink the sweet with sour.

Thyself, O Jupiter, didst grant sometimes to me, Of all things here beneath the moon I should the ruler be: Thou say'st I did deserve the honour of that praise; Thyself didst once devise whereby my glory first to raise.

Is this my sovereignty? is this so glorious?

Is this becoming thy renown, to quit thy daughter thus?

JUPITER.

Fear not, fair Venus, neither be dismay'd; Repose thee on the warrant of my word.

What I have promis'd, doubt not to be performed; The spareless destinies my will afford: Let this defend thee, like a trusty sword.

But Lady Fortune cometh, now I see.

Welcome, fair dame; what is thy will with me?

[_Enter_ FORTUNE.]

FORTUNE.

Ye sacred powers divine, how should I now begin, Or which way should I couch my words, your favours for to win?

I may pour out my plaint, but thou may'st it redress.

My father humbly prayeth you to give me leave to speak, And pardon him that in his wrath he did your quietness break.

I cannot but confess, dread G.o.ds, I am not she, That seeks with Venus to compare in her supremacy.

I am not of that power, yet am I of some might, Which she (usurping) challengeth to keep me from my right.

I grant she may do much with her alluring smiles, But soon your G.o.dheads can perceive her words be full of wiles.

What be the tragedies, the terrors, that she makes?

Let's see the mighty monarchs, the kingdoms that she shakes.

Poor soul, she soundly lives with wanton sug'red joys, Triumphing in her own delight upon her foolish toys.

Sometimes she flattereth it in pleasure mix'd with pain, Like to a fair suns.h.i.+ne day overcast with clouds of rain.

But should I reckon up what things I can confound, What is it then, or what hath been, or shall for aye be found?

Is not the wonder of the world a work that soon decays?

Therefore, ye see all earthly things are wearing out always; As brittle as the gla.s.s, unconstant like the mind, As fickle as the whirling wheel, as wavering as the wind.

Lo, such I am that overthrows the highest-reared tower, That changeth and supplanteth[70] realms in twinkling of an hour, And send them hasty smart whom I devise to spoil, Not threat'ning or forewarning them, but at a smile.

Where joy doth most abound, there I do sorrow place, And them I chiefly persecute that pleasure did embrace.

What greater grief can fall to man in all his life, Than after sweet to taste the sour, in peace to be at strife?

It is a biting thought that fretteth on the heart, To say, the time was when I joy'd, though now oppress'd with smart.

If ever mighty king did 'scape untouch'd of me, If ever year, or month, or day, or if an hour might be, Wherein I have not us'd to practise some exchange, Perhaps for this authority I might be thought to range Too far beyond my right; but even the very stars, The heavens, the planets, and the seas, bear witness of my scars.

VENUS.

No more of that, good dame; you run too far at roam: I'll take the pains to keep you short, and call you nearer home.

I pray you, what's your might, when all are well belov'd?

FORTUNE.

The sweetest lovers in distress the sharper storms have prov'd.

VENUS.

Perhaps for want of wealth; but if their riches slack?

FORTUNE.

They are the very instrument, whereby I work their woe.

VENUS.

What, if their friends abound, then can they never lack?

FORTUNE.

The dearest friends are scattered, when Fortune turns her toe.

VENUS.

If they be n.o.ble born, or of a princely blood?

FORTUNE.

When Fortune frowns, that may procure more harm than do them good.

VENUS.

But wise men evermore upon a rock are set.

FORTUNE.

Yet can they not escape a scourge, for Fortune hath a net.

JUPITER.

I will not in, till things be well discern'd: Affection shall not mar a lawful cause.

By examples this may best be learn'd, In elder ages led within your laws.

Therefore, a while hereof I mean to pause; And bring in, Mercury, in open view The ghosts of them that Love and Fortune slew.

MERCURY.

Thy word my will-- Thou triple-headed Cerberus, give place; And I command thee, Charon, with thy ferryboat Transport the souls of such as may report Fortune and Love, and not in open sort.

Let them appear to us in silent show, To manifest a truth that we must know.

[_Strikes with his rod three times_.

VULCAN.

Are ye mad, my masters? what a stir have we here.