This knot of spiders will be soon dissolved,
And all their webs swept out of Cynthia's court,
When once her glorious deity appears,

And but presents itself in her full light:
'Till when, go in, and spend your hours with us,
Your honour'd friends, Timè and Phronesis,
In contemplation of our goddess' name.
Think on some sweet and choice invention now,
Worthy her serious and illustrious eyes,
That from the merit of it we may take
Desired occasion to prefer your worth,
And make your service known to Cynthia.
It is the pride of Arete to grace

Her studious lovers; and, in scorn of time,
Envy, and ignorance, to lift their state
Above a vulgar height. True happiness
Consists not in the multitude of friends,

But in the worth and choice. Nor would I have
Virtue a popular regard pursue:

Let them be good that love me, though but few. Cri. I kiss thy hands, divinest Arete,

And vow myself to thee, and Cynthia. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Another Apartment in the same.

Enter AMORPHUS, followed by Asorus and his Tailor.

Amo. A little more forward: so, sir. Now go in, discloak yourself, and come forth. [Exit Asotus.] Tailor bestow thy absence upon us; and be not prodigal of this secret, but to a dear [Exit Tailor.

customer.

Re-enter ASOTUS.

'Tis well enter'd, sir. Stay, you come on too fast; your pace is too impetuous. Imagine this to be the palace of your pleasure, or place where your lady is pleased to be seen. First, you present yourself, thus: and spying her, you fall off, and walk some two turns; in which time, it is to be supposed, your passion hath sufficiently whited your face, then, stifling a sigh or two, and closing your lips, with a trembling boldness, and bold terror, you advance yourself forward. Prove thus much, I pray you.

Aso. Yes, sir;-pray Jove I can light on it! Here, I come in, you say, and present myself? Amo. Good.

Aso. And then I spy her, and walk off?
Amo. Very good.

Aso. Now, sir, I stifle, and advance forward?
Amo. Trembling.

Aso. Yes, sir, trembling: I shall do it better when I come to it. And what must I speak now?

Amo. Marry, you shall say; Dear Beauty, or sweet Honour, (or by what other title you please to remember her,) methinks you are melancholy. This is, if she be alone now, and discompanied. Aso. Well, sir, I'll enter again; her title shall be, My dear Lindabrides.

Amo. Lindabrides!

Aso. Ay, sir the emperor Alicandroe's daughter,

My dear Lindabrides.] This fair creature, who should have been married to the Donzel del Phebo, is often mentioned by our old writers. So Rowley: "Lindabrides! slid, I have read of her in the Mirror of Knighthood," &c. Match at Midnight. From her celebrity, she became, with them, a common name for a mistress.

and the prince Meridian's sister, in the Knight of the Sun; she should have been married to him, but that the princess Claridiana

Amo. O, you betray your reading.

Aso. Nay, sir, I have read history, I am a little humanitian. Interrupt me not, good sir. My dear Lindabrides,-my dear Lindabrides,-my dear Lindabrides, methinks you are melancholy.

Amo. Ay, and take her by the rosy-finger'd

hand.

Aso. Must I so: O!-My dear Lindabrides, methinks you are melancholy.

Amo. Or thus, sir. All variety of divine pleasures, choice sports, sweet music, rich fare, brave attire, soft beds, and silken thoughts, attend this dear beauty.

Aso. Believe me, that's pretty. All variety of divine pleasures, choice sports, sweet music, rich fare, brave attire, soft beds, and silken thoughts, attend this dear beauty.

Amo. And then, offering to kiss her hand, if she shall coily recoil, and signify your repulse; you are to re-enforce yourself with,

More than most fair lady,

Let not the rigour3 of your just disdain
Thus coarsly censure of your servant's zeal.

And withal, protest her to be the only and absolute unparallel'd creature you do adore, and admire, and respect, and reverence, in this court, corner of the world, or kingdom.

Aso. This is hard, by my faith. I'll begin it all again.

Amo. Do so, and I will act it for your lady.

3 Let not, &c.] These verses are probably what Jonson, just below, calls "play-particles." The prose was undoubtedly borrowed from the absurd and fustian courtship of the times, which was a corruption of the Euphues and Arcadia.

Aso. Will you vouchsafe, sir? All variety of divine pleasures, choice sports, sweet music, rich fare, brave attire, soft beds, and silken thoughts, attend this dear beauty.

Amo. So, sir, pray you away.

Aso. More than most fair lady,

Let not the rigour of your just disdain
Thus coarsely censure of your servant's zeal;
I protest you are the only, and absolute, unap-
parell'd-

Amo. Unparallel'd.

Aso. Unparallel'd creature, I do adore, and admire, and respect, and reverence, in this court, corner of the world, or kingdom.

Amo. This is, if she abide you. But now, put the case she should be passant when you enter, as thus you are to frame your gait thereafter, and call upon her, lady, nymph, sweet refuge, star of our court. Then, if she be guardant, here; you are to come on, and, laterally disposing yourself, swear by her blushing and well-coloured cheek, the bright dye of her hair, her ivory teeth, (though they be ebony,) or some such white and innocent oath, to induce you. If regardant, then maintain your station, brisk and irpe, shew the supple motion of your pliant body, but in chief of your knee, and hand, which cannot but arride her proud humour exceedingly.

Aso. I conceive you, sir, I shall perform all these things in good time, I doubt not, they do so hit me.

Amo. Well, sir, I am your lady; make use of any of these beginnings, or some other out of your own invention; and prove how you can hold up, and follow it. Say, say.

· brisk and irpe.] See the Pa'inode.

Aso. Yes, sir. My dear Lindabrides.

Amo. No, you affect that Lindabrides too much; and let me tell you it is not so courtly. Your pedants should provide you some parcels of French, or some pretty commodity of Italian, to commence with, if you would be exotic and exquisite.

Aso. Yes, sir, he was at my lodging t'other morning, I gave him a doublet.

Amo. Double your benevolence, and give him the hose too; clothe you his body, he will help to apparel your mind. But now, see what your proper genius can perform alone, without adjection of any other Minerva.

Aso. I comprehend you, sir.

Amo. I do stand you, sir: fall back to your first place. Good, passing well; very properly pursued.

Aso. Beautiful, ambiguous, and sufficient lady, what! are you all alone?

Amo. We would be, sir, if you would leave us. Aso. I am at your beauty's appointment, bright angel; but

Amo. What but?

Aso. No harm, more than most fair feature.
Amo. That touch relish'd well.

Aso. But, I protest

Amo. And why should you protest?

Aso. For good will, dear esteem'd madam, and I

hope your ladyship will so conceive of it : And will, in time, return from your disdain, And rue the suff'rance of our friendly pain. Amo. O, that piece was excellent! If you could pick out more of these play-particles, and, as occasion shall salute you, embroider or damask

5 Your pedant,] See p. 255, and the Poetaster.