Classic Poem

Priscilla, Meanwell.

Pris. Pray y' entertain your self a while, untill
I give my Mistris notice of your presence.
I'd leave a book with you, but that I see
You are a Gentleman: perhaps you'l find
Some pretty stories in the hangings there.
Mean. Thank you sweet-heart.
Prisc. (A very proper man)
If't lye in me to doe you any pleasure,
Pray you Sir use me, you shall find me ready.
Me. I make no doubt of that: these Implements,
These chamber Properties are such ripe things,
They'l fall with the least touch. From twelve to twenty
They thinke that others are to sue to them;
When once they've past these limits, they make bold
I cannot say to wooe, that's somthing modest,
But aske downright themselves.
Jan. Leave us Priscilla ,
And wait without a while.
Mean. Faire Mistres pardon
The boldnesse of a stranger, who uncivilly
Thus interrupts your better thoughts.
Jan. May I
Demand your businesse.
Mean. Under favour thus.
Not to use farther circumstance faire Virgin,
(And yet lesse faire cause Virgin) you are one
That are the thought, the care, the aime, the strife,
I should not erre if I should say the madnesse
Of all young men; all sighs, all folded Armes,
All o'r-cast looks, all broken sleeps are ow'd
Only to you.
Jan. I'm sorry I should be
A trouble unto any: if I could
Afford the remedy as well as now
I doe your grief, assure your selfe that cure
Shall be the birth of my next Action.
Mean. That cure is my request. If that this were
Mine own sute, I had us'd no circumstance.
Young Master Credulous a proper man
(For sure he shall be rich) one whom the whole
List of our City-Virgins dote on — — you
Conceive the rest I know.
Jan. Alas, what ailes him?
I'l not be slack to doe him any good.
Mean. 'Tis in your power. He is very much
If you will know't — — But sure you will not grant
If I should tell you — —
Jan. If you thus presume
That I am hard, you only aske denyall:
Your expectation's cross'd except you faile.
Mean. If you will know it then, he is in love.
Jan. I pitty him indeed poore heart: with whom?
Mean. Even with your beautious self.
Jan. 'Tis not well done
To scoffe one ne'r did injure you.
Mean. I vow
By all that's good, by your faire selfe, I am
As tender of you as that blest one is
Who e'r he be that loves you most. If I
In any case abuse you, let me be
More miserable than Little-worth .
Jan. Is he become expression? is his Fate
The period of ill wishes? sure he never
Deserv'd so ill from you.
Mean. I don't reflect
Upon his ruin'd Fortunes, but your coldnesse.
And sure I may call him unhappy, whom
You doe neglect.
Jan. That man, where ere he be,
Is happier than your selfe; and were he here,
You should see him receiv'd and your self scorn'd.
Mean. I doe not thinke so Lady; sure you would
Make more of me than so. I'l bring the man.
And so confute you.
Jan. It may be I might
Love you the better somthing for that Office,
If he might enter here.
Mean. Nay I could tell
Y'had cast him off: alas you need not hide it,
I have it from himselfe.
Jan. Doth he think so?
Could I but see him — —
Mean. If his sight can bring
But the least joy unto you (as perhaps:
You'l take some pleasure in his misery)
You shall enjoy it.
Jan. I doe feare you promise
Only to raise my hopes a while, and then
To triumph in their Ruine.
Mean. That you may
See how my breast and tongue agree, I'l leave
This Ring with you till I return again.
Jan. My Littleworth ! foole that I was: could I
Not all this while perceive 'twas thee? why didst thou
Deferre my joy thus long by suffering me
To stand i'th' Cloud?
Mean. Alas! I ghess'd I'd been
Infectious to thee now; that thou wouldst look
On a disease more mildly than on me:
For Poverty is counted a contagion.
Jan. I call this kisse to witnesse (which I wish
If I prove false may be the last to me
Which friends pay dying friends) I ne'r will be
Others than thine.
Mean. I like the vow so well,
That the same way I'l seale my promise too.
If I prove not as thou (that is most constant)
May this kisse be, that I may wish it worse
Than that which is due to departing souls,
The last that I shall take from thee. I am
Sent here, but yet unknown to them that send me,
To be anothers Spokes-man. The man is
That foolish Son of Mr Credulous :
Thou must pretend some liking; 'twas thy Father
Granted me this accesse to win thee for him;
Be thou no way averse. 'T shall be my care
So to bring things about, that thou shalt be
Mine by consent in spight of misery.
Jan. Be secret, and Love prosper thy design.
Mean. Happy that man that meets such faithfulnesse.
I did not think it had been in the Sex.
I know not now what's misery. Peace: my Fair
Is hallowing the Lute with her blest touch.

A Song within.

Come, o come, I brook no stay:
He doth not love that can delay — —
See how the stealing Night
Hath blotted out the Light,
And Tapers do supply the Day.

To be chaste is to be old,
And that foolish Girle that's cold
Is fourscore at fifteen:
Desires do write us green,
And looser flames our youth unfold.

Mean. 'T cannot be her, her voice was ne'r prophan'd
With such immodest numbers.

See the first Taper's almost gone,
Thy flame like that will straight be none;
And I as it expire
Not able to hold fire.
She loseth time that lies alone.

Mean. 'Tis the breath
Of something troubled with Virginity.

O let us cherish these Powr's
Whiles we yet may call them ours:
Then we best spend our time,
When no dull zealous Chime,
But sprightfull kisses strike the Hours.

Mean. What dost thou mean?
Pris. Only to please you Sir.
Mean. Sweetest of things was't thou? I faith I guess'd
'Twould be no others melody but yours.
There have been many of your sex much given
Unto this kind of musick.
Pris. Sappho was
Excellent at it: but Amphion he
He was the man that out-did all; 'tis said
Of him, that he could draw stones with the sound
Of his sweet strings. I'd willingly arrive
At some perfection in the Quality.
Mean. I do acknowledge your desires most prone.
This for your trouble.
Pri. I am not mercenary,
Your acceptation is reward enough.
Mean. You have it then.
Pris. Beauty go with you Sir.