Of all beauty, in their names,
Were content to have their flames
Hid in lasting night, ere I
Should for them untimely die.
I, on t'other side as glad
That I such advantage had,
To assure them mine, engaged
Willingly myself, and waged
With the Monster, that if I
Did her riddle not untie,
I would freely give my life
To redeem them and the strife.
Sphynx. Have you said, sir? will you try,
Now, your known dexterity?
You presume upon your arts,
Of tying, and untying hearts;
And it makes you confident:
But, anon, you will repent.
Love. No, Sphynx, I do not presume;
But some little heart assume
From my judges here, that sit
As they would not lose Love yet.
Sphynx. You are pleasant, sir, 'tis good.
Love. Love does often change his mood.
Sphynx. I shall make you sad agen.
Love. I shall be the sorrier, then.
Sphynx. Come, sir, lend it your best ear.
Love. I begin t' have half a fear.
Sphynx. First, Cupid, you must cast about
To find a world the world without,
Wherein what's done, the eye doth do;
And is the light and treasure too.
This eye still moves, and still is fix'd,
And in the pow'rs thereof are mix'd
Two contraries; which time, till now,
Nor fate knew where to join, or how.
Yet, if you
hit the right upon,
You must resolve these, all, by one. Love. Sphynx, you are too quick of tongue : Say't again, and take me along.' Sphynx. I say; you first must cast about
To find a world the world without.
Love. I say, that is already done,
And is the new world in the moon.
Sphynx. Cupid, you do cast too far;
This world is nearer by a star:
So much light I'll give you to't.
Love. Without a glass? well, I shall do't.
Your world's a lady, then; each creature
Human, is a world in feature,
Sphynx. Yes, but find out
A world you must, the world without.
Love. Why, if her servant be not here,
She doth a single world appear
Without her world.
Sphynx. Well you shall run!
Love. Nay, Sphynx, thus far is well begun.
Sphynx. Wherein what's done, the eye doth do,
And is the light and treasure too.
Love. That's clear as light; for wherein lies
A lady's power but in her eyes?
And not alone her grace and power,
But oftentimes, her wealth and dower.
Sphynx. I spake but of an eye, not eyes.
Love. A one-eyed mistress that unties.
Sphynx. This eye still moves, and still is fix'd.
1 And take me along.] Go no faster than I can go with you. i. e. Let me understand you. The phrase, which is sufficiently common, is found in the Little French Lawyer; and is thus explained by the unfortunate editor. "Take me with you, i. e. You must consider!" "The expression (he adds, with his usual simplicity) frequently occurs, not always with this exact meaning in old plays." Beaumont and Fletcher, vol. v. p. 212. Right;-not always, Mr. Weber, and you do well to put the reader on his guard.
Love. A rolling eye, that native there,
Yet throws her glances every where;
And, being but single, fain would do
The offices, and arts of two.
Sphynx. And in the powers thereof are mix'd
Two contraries.
Love. That's smiles and tears,
Or fire and frost; for either bears
Resemblance apt.
Sphynx. Which time, till now,
Nor fate knew where to join, or how.-
How now, Cupid! at a stay?
Not another word, to say?
Do you find by this, how long
You have been at fault, and wrong?
Love. Sphynx, it is your pride to vex
Whom you deal with, and perplex
Things most easy: Ignorance
Thinks she doth herself advance;
If of problems clear, she make
Riddles, and the sense forsake,
Which came gentle from the Muses,
Till her uttering, it abuses.
Sphynx. Nay, your railing will not save you,
Cupid, I of right must have you.
Come my fruitful issue forth,
Dance, and shew a gladness, worth
Such a captive, as is Love,
And your mother's triumph prove.
Here the FOLLIES, which were twelve SHE-FOOLS, enter and dance.
Sphynx. Now, go take him up, and bear him
To the cliff, where I will tear him
• This shews, that Love's expositions are not always serious, till it be divinely instructed; and that sometimes it may be in the
Piece-meal, and give each a part
Of his raw and bleeding heart.
Love. Ladies, have your looks no power
To help Love at such an hour?
Will you lose him thus ?
Think, what will become of you.
Who shall praise you, who admire?
Who shall whisper by the fire
As you stand, soft tales? who bring you
Pretty news, in rhymes who sing you ?
Who shall bathe him in the streams
Of your blood, and send you dreams
Of delight?
Sphynx. Away, go bear him
Hence, they shall no longer hear him.
Here the Muses priests, in number twelve, advance
to his rescue, and sing this SONG to a measure.2
Gentle Love, be not dismay'd.
See the Muses pure, and holy,
By their priests have sent thee aid
Against this brood of Folly.
It is true, that Sphynx their dame
Had the sense first from the Muses
Which in uttering she doth lame,
Perplexeth, and abuses.
But they bid that thou should'st look
In the brightest face here shining,
And the same, as would a book,
Shall help thee in divining.
danger of ignorance and folly, who are the mother and issue: for no folly but is born of ignorance.
2 To a measure,] i. e. to a grave and stately dance.
d Here is understood the power of Wisdom in the Muses ministers; by which name all that have the spirit of prophecy, are styled, and such they are that need to encounter Ignorance and Folly: and are ever ready to assist Love in any action of honour and virtue, and inspire him with their own soul.
Love. 'Tis done! 'tis done! I've found it out-
Britain's the world the world without.
The king's the eye, as we do call
The sun the eye of this great all.
And is the light and treasure too;
For 'tis his wisdom all doth do.
Which still is fixed in his breast,
Yet still doth move to guide the rest.
The contraries which time till now
Nor fate knew where to join, or how,
Are Majesty and Love; which there,
And no where else, have their true sphere.
Now, Sphynx, I've hit the right upon,
And do resolve these all by one:
That is, that you meant ALBION.
Priests. 'Tis true in him, and in no other,
Love, thou art clear absolved.
Vanish, Follies, with your mother,
The riddle is resolved.
Sphynx must fly, when Phoebus shines,
And to aid of Love inclines.
[Sphynx retires with the Follies.
Love. Appear then, you my brighter charge,
And to light yourselves enlarge,
To behold that glorious star,
For whose love you came so far,
While the monster with her elves,
Do precipitate themselves.
Here the Graces enter, and sing this SONG, crowning CUPID.
3 Nor fate knew where to join, or how,
Are Majesty and Love.] The thought taken from Ovid:
Non bene conveniunt, nec in una sede morantur
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