000:01,000['  ]| <A MASK. > 
000:01,000['  ]| <Made at the Request of the late Earl of Rochester,> 
000:01,000['  ]| <for the Tragedy of Valentinian. >
000:01,000['  ]| <The SCENE.  Lucina, Maximus his Wife, sleeping. >
000:01,000['  ]| <Enter Zephyrus and Favonius, ushering in the MOON.>
000:01,001[E  ]| <Zephy.  >Hail sacred Cynthia! mutable, but chaste
000:01,002[E  ]| As the cold Air by which thou art embraced,
000:01,003[E  ]| Changing thy Shape as often as thy Stations
000:01,004[E  ]| With new Disguises and false Assignations;
000:01,005[E  ]| Or hid in an Eclipse's Vizard-Mask,
000:01,006[E  ]| Thou cheatest the Gods in Love's laborious Task.
000:01,007[E  ]| Mother of calmest Thoughts and sacred Dreams,
000:01,008[E  ]| The Earths best neighbour, lending thy kind beams
000:01,009[E  ]| To plants, to beasts to men, to grounds, and streams,
000:01,010[E  ]| Without whose Influence not a Hair grows well,
000:01,011[E  ]| Nor spire of Grass, nor Blood, nor Waves can swell;
000:01,012[E  ]| Parent of temperate Passions still allayed
000:01,013[E  ]| By thy decrease, as by thy fullness made.
000:01,014[F  ]| <Fav.>  Falsely believed Sol's Sister, thou art his Wife
000:01,015[F  ]| Impregnated with fertile Worlds of Life,
000:01,016[F  ]| Breeding or teeming still, and bringst to his Bed
000:01,017[F  ]| A new Face every day, a monthly Maiden-head.
000:01,018[F  ]| Sol that delights in chaste Polygamy,
000:01,019[F  ]| Casts fruitful Beams on Tellus, and on thee.
000:01,020[F  ]| Contented Wives the Earth, and Moon repay
000:01,021[F  ]| Light to each other from their Husband's Ray.
000:01,022[F  ]| Chaste Relict of the Sun!  thou weepst his Fate
000:01,023[F  ]| In dewy Tears, and makst him lie in State:
000:01,024[F  ]| Thy heavenly Hall with Blacks and Lamps adorning
000:01,025[F  ]| Hid at his Resurrection in the Morning,
000:01,026[F  ]| Thy Splendour to thy Husband's Beams resigning,
000:01,027[F  ]| And humbly in his Absence only shining.
000:01,028[F  ]| Proceed, Great Queen, to thy divine Intent,
000:01,029[F  ]| Preserve this Loyal Wife, and Crimes prevent.
000:01,030[F  ]| Sweeping with gentle Gales the Cyprian Coast,
000:01,031[F  ]| I blow some Whispers from the heavenly Host.
000:01,032[F  ]| Hermes and Venus were in Consultation
000:01,033[F  ]| Upon their flight to the All-conquering Nation.
000:01,034[F  ]| 'Tis time some powerful God should mischiefs stay,
000:01,035[F  ]| When Love and Eloquence are on their way.
000:01,036[G  ]| <The Moon.> Now thrice seven times, since my Increase, have I
000:01,037[G  ]| Walked round the sleeping World in watchful Sky,
000:01,038[G  ]| And summoned all my twinkling Spies to know
000:01,039[G  ]| The effects of Passions they impressed below,
000:01,040[G  ]| (Where we sow joys, and griefs, and hopes, and fears,
000:01,041[G  ]| As men sow Herbs and Flowers in their Parterres,
000:01,042[G  ]| For Physic some, some planted for Delight,
000:01,043[G  ]| (And happy those that know to use them right,)
000:01,044[G  ]| But have not found a Mortal so oppressed.
000:01,045[G  ]| Honour pursued, and panting in the Breast
000:01,046[G  ]| Of this bright spotless Dame, now takes some rest.
000:01,047[G  ]| Well done, good Somnus, powerfully repair
000:01,048[G  ]| With thy chaste Opiates that weighty Care,
000:01,049[G  ]| That friendly Foe frail Women cannot spare.
000:01,050[G  ]| Ah lovely Face!  which justly might excuse
000:01,051[G  ]| Thy Prince, if he did beg for a Refuse,
000:01,052[G  ]| And tempt thee to the Glory to deny,
000:01,053[G  ]| For Virtue brighter shines than Sol, or I;
000:01,054[G  ]| But he would uncontrolled do all like us,
000:01,055[G  ]| Poor Titular God, and envies Maximus.
000:01,056[G  ]| Too happy Maximus!  could Fortune stay,
000:01,057[G  ]| And from those dangerous heights not roll away:
000:01,058[G  ]| Great Joys are to be feared for their Allay.
000:01,059[G  ]| But Virtue, Fortune's Queen, preserves entire
000:01,060[G  ]| Eternal Rules; bold mortals that inquire,
000:01,061[G  ]| Curiously stirring up, put out the holy Fire.
000:01,062[G  ]| Safe in those Laws, Lucina, might thou rest
000:01,063[G  ]| With mutual Love, Virtue's best safeguard blest:
000:01,064[G  ]| But Man, that compound Mortal's ne'er secure,
000:01,065[G  ]| Whilst Souls are sleepy, and the Flesh impure.
000:01,000['  ]| (Throws down Lilies )
000:01,066[G  ]| Here, take these Lilies, armed for thy defence 
000:01,067[G  ]| As white and cold as Snow or Innocence
000:01,068[G  ]| Steeped in the Ice-house of the River Styx, 
000:01,069[G  ]| Where Jove drinks Healths to strangers when they mix 
000:01,070[G  ]| With heavenly Beings,and must cease to know 
000:01,071[G  ]| The uneasy Joys of the poor World below. 
000:01,072[G  ]| Sleep on, fair Saint, with heavenly Visions blest,
000:01,073[G  ]| Let no Black Dreams defile thy snowy Breast,
000:01,074[G  ]| Nor Fiends corrupt thee, tho like Angels drest.
000:01,000['  ]| <Exeunt Moon and winds.>
000:01,000['  ]| <Enter Mercury and Venus.>
000:01,075[B  ]| <Mer.>  Has Flesh and Blood need of a Power divine
000:01,076[B  ]| To raise their Sympathy, and make 'em join?
000:01,077[B  ]| Is it not enough to pimp for sacred Jove,
000:01,078[B  ]| But every Prince below must have a Love,
000:01,079[B  ]| Inflexible to all but Bawds above?
000:01,080[A  ]| <Ven..>  You run too fast my Agent, Rome declines,
000:01,081[A  ]| The Eagles mew their wings, which heaven designs
000:01,082[A  ]| Shall further fly.  The Pilot drunk with Love
000:01,083[A  ]| The great Ship runs aground.  Shall mighty Jove
000:01,084[A  ]| Enrich a Prince with all the powerful Charms
000:01,085[A  ]| Of Beauty, Wit, and Virtue, Arts, and Arms?
000:01,086[A  ]| And shall a wretched, half-concocted She
000:01,087[A  ]| Depose a Demy-God, cramp Victory,
000:01,088[A  ]| Rebellious to her Prince, to Jove, and Me?
000:01,089[A  ]| Destroy an Empire for this monstrous Crime
000:01,090[A  ]| 'Gainst Honour, only fit for Plays in Rhyme,
000:01,091[A  ]| Idle Discourse, not Action, that gay Dame
000:01,092[A  ]| For all her shifts of Gaudery, not of Name
000:01,093[A  ]| Or Quality in Heaven above: an odious Broker
000:01,094[A  ]| Betwixt rich Virtues, Daughters of the Gods,
000:01,095[A  ]| And bankrupt Sins the brats of needy Mortals.
000:01,096[A  ]| Dost thou, to assist me, shod with wings repine?
000:01,097[A  ]| Thy Master's Credit lies at stake, not mine.
000:01,098[B  ]| <Me.>  Why, Madam Venus, you can take your sport,
000:01,099[B  ]| Cuckold your Husband, sing, and dance at Court,
000:01,100[B  ]| And like a lazy Lady coach about,
000:01,101[B  ]| Whilst I must trudge my Legs and Feathers out.
000:01,102[B  ]| My Errands are so quick, my Time so short,
000:01,103[B  ]| That I can get no Wife, nor Mistress for it.
000:01,104[B  ]| There's ne'er a Lawyer, but his venal Tongue
000:01,105[B  ]| Is tipped by me: dark points of right and wrong,
000:01,106[B  ]| Not obvious to all Hearers, I can clear
000:01,107[B  ]| To the doubt-making Judge, tell how, and where
000:01,108[B  ]| The puzzled Audience with Contention spent
000:01,109[B  ]| A Bribe may safely make a President.
000:01,110[B  ]| Never a Tradesman cheats, Sectarist prays,
000:01,111[B  ]| Stationer sells, or Poet steals his Plays,
000:01,112[B  ]| Rhetorical Fool must prate, or be in Print,
000:01,113[B  ]| Insuring Statesman Plot, but Mercury is in it.
000:01,114[A  ]| <Ven.>  I tell thee, Mercury, thy Trade's but small
000:01,115[A  ]| To mine, that does engross and swallow all.
000:01,116[A  ]| Mine's like the Ocean, whence I took my Birth,
000:01,117[A  ]| All streams of Business crowd from churlish Earth,
000:01,118[A  ]| Breaking from Customs bounds and living Graves,
000:01,119[A  ]| Seek Liberty in our ungoverned waves.
000:01,120[A  ]| Vices Cabal each other does supply,
000:01,121[A  ]| Pride Rapine moves, Rapine feeds Luxury;
000:01,122[A  ]| But all their motions tend to amorous Joy:
000:01,123[A  ]| What's more than that, for Mankind is too high.
000:01,124[A  ]| What makes the street-bespattered Lawyer trudge?
000:01,125[A  ]| What oils the turn-stile Conscience of a Judge?
000:01,126[A  ]| They squeeze the juicy Rich, and bruise the Poor,
000:01,127[A  ]| Refunding Fees to their more griping Whore.
000:01,128[A  ]| When Sisters throng into the Meeting-place,
000:01,129[A  ]| I dress up Cupid like a Babe of Grace.
000:01,130[A  ]| The Teacher is to Repetition brought,
000:01,131[A  ]| Swaddled with Neck-cloth, tender, over-wrought,
000:01,132[A  ]| Rubbed, and repaired with Cordials, he becomes
000:01,133[A  ]| A secret Morsel for the hallowed Gums.
000:01,134[A  ]| If Poets write, and Love be not their Text,
000:01,135[A  ]| Nor Women hear them, Fame will leave them next.
000:01,136[A  ]| 'Tis I that do inspire the Sword or Pill,
000:01,137[A  ]| Make Soldiers spare, and make Physicians kill;
000:01,138[A  ]| Repairing Murders still with Propagations;
000:01,139[A  ]| I root out sapless Plants, but people Nations.
000:01,140[A  ]| Beauty's the current Coin that none refuses,
000:01,141[A  ]| The Bribe of Mars, Minerva, and the Muses:
000:01,142[A  ]| Love's grown so general, more Gods should be made
000:01,143[A  ]| To carry on the busy amorous Trade;
000:01,144[A  ]| 'Tis from a liberal Art turned a Disease,
000:01,145[A  ]| Infecting those that have not Strength nor Ease;
000:01,146[A  ]| Each dying Lecher keeps a hungry Female
000:01,147[A  ]| To gaze upon, and handle, like fine knacks,
000:01,148[A  ]| Religious Pictures, pretty Saints in Wax:
000:01,149[A  ]| But Flesh and Blood abhors Idolatry,
000:01,150[A  ]| By Foot-men eased of their Divinity;
000:01,151[A  ]| Nay every Porter keeps a Miss, must wear
000:01,152[A  ]| On her gay Limbs, the Labour of a Year.
000:01,153[A  ]| I am the Mother of Delights, refreshing
000:01,154[A  ]| The weary World with Love, of Pleasures the supreme,
000:01,155[A  ]| 'Cause Nature highest ends to it assigned,
000:01,156[A  ]| All others serve but Man, and this Mankind.
000:01,157[B  ]| <Mer.>  Weak is the power of Wit's affected noise
000:01,158[B  ]| To the dumb Rhetoric of charming Eyes.
000:01,159[B  ]| Goddess you've conquered, and it is your Part
000:01,160[B  ]| Both to subdue and mollify her Heart:
000:01,161[B  ]| I've tipped his Tongue with all the charms of Wit,
000:01,162[B  ]| Would melt a Rock, debauch an Anchorite,
000:01,163[B  ]| Calm a tempestuous Sea, tempt a fixed Star
000:01,164[B  ]| From Heaven, or make a Tiger lye in his Lap;
000:01,165[B  ]| Make Cynthia turn a Whore, or thee a Nun:
000:01,166[B  ]| Yet all these words, like ruffling winds, make her
000:01,167[B  ]| Sit safer in white Robes of Innocence,
000:01,168[B  ]| Wrapping them close about her:
000:01,169[B  ]| Try if thy sultry amorous Heats can make
000:01,170[B  ]| Her throw them off.
000:01,171[A  ]| <Ven.>  Oh!  I have fired her Blood, and filled her Mind
000:01,172[A  ]| With the Idea's of all brave mankind;
000:01,173[A  ]| To which her Husband seems a Crest-fallen monster,
000:01,174[A  ]| Put Stars into the Emperor's Eyes, soft heavenly motions
000:01,175[A  ]| Into his Limbs, gentle surprising Vigour,
000:01,176[A  ]| Which with its smooth and regular Approaches
000:01,177[A  ]| Would make defenceless a rude Amazon,
000:01,178[A  ]| Or steal into the Trenches of a Vestal.
000:01,179[A  ]| 'Tis true I never called my Son, too sure
000:01,180[A  ]| Kings, without Cupid's Aid, might Love procure.
000:01,181[B  ]| <Mer.>  Then call him strait, and let him arm his Bow,
000:01,182[B  ]| Pierce and repierce the Adamantine Foe
000:01,183[B  ]| With his new Darts whet on Jove's Thunder-bolt,
000:01,184[B  ]| Feathered with Sparrows wings, shafted with Myrtle
000:01,185[B  ]| Steeped in the Blood of Goats, and Lovers tears:
000:01,186[B  ]| Barbed with the Iron of Nets which Vulcan threw
000:01,187[B  ]| On Mars and thee, when Gods were called to view,
000:01,188[B  ]| Sharp as the Tongue of a forsaken Scold.
000:01,189[A  ]| <Ven.>  Cupid, come down, our Deities controlled,
000:01,190[A  ]| And bring the Quiver Jove with Kisses gave thee
000:01,191[A  ]| For's New-years-gift, then see who dares out-brave thee.
000:01,000['  ]| (Cupid descends and shoots; the Arrow breaks.)
000:01,192[B  ]| <Mer.>  If gentle heavenly Gods cannot reclaim
000:01,193[B  ]| The haggard heart of an ill-mannered Dame,
000:01,194[B  ]| Let's ask Advice of Hell's great Lords, to tame
000:01,195[B  ]| The only Woman of this awkward frame.
000:01,196[A  ]| <Ven.>  Rise Pluto, rise, with all the infernal Powers,
000:01,197[A  ]| Proud Mortals learn new Laws, and scoff at ours:
000:01,198[A  ]| The Honour of the Gods is now engaged;
000:01,199[A  ]| Ne'er Woman was so cool, nor Goddess so enraged.
000:01,000['  ]| (Pluto rises with his Infernal Train.)
000:01,200[C  ]| <Plut.>  What trifling's this!  so many Gods combined
000:01,201[C  ]| Against a thoughtless, custom-ridden Female,
000:01,202[C  ]| Much weaker than the He presumptuous Wight,
000:01,203[C  ]| Who only 'cause he prates, and walks upright,
000:01,204[C  ]| Values himself above other Animals,
000:01,205[C  ]| Weaker than Beasts in pleasures and in sense,
000:01,206[C  ]| Weaker in Prudence and his own Defence:
000:01,207[C  ]| A god-like Victory, a most celestial Prize,
000:01,208[C  ]| To make a Female take her wished-for Joys.
000:01,209[C  ]| The under-shrubs of Men give Women odds;
000:01,210[C  ]| Are these Proceedings fit for Kings or Gods?
000:01,211[A  ]| <Ven.>  If Beauty, Wit, and Greatness she despise,
000:01,212[A  ]| What more alluring Baits canst thou devise?
000:01,213[C  ]| <Plut.>  Must those be courted that are made to yield
000:01,214[C  ]| Who parleys with a Foe that wants a Shield?
000:01,215[C  ]| Or asks men leave to do them Courtesies?
000:01,216[C  ]| Clients sometimes must force the gaped-for Fees.
000:01,217[C  ]| What faintly offered, scarce deserves the Thanks
000:01,218[C  ]| Of the Receiver: Gratitude to excite,
000:01,219[C  ]| Press Bounties home, and make men feel their weight.
000:01,220[C  ]| Women were made on purpose to be ravished,
000:01,221[C  ]| Nature had armed them else, nor left unguarded
000:01,222[C  ]| The Avenues of Love:
000:01,223[C  ]| Honour commands an open Citadel,
000:01,224[C  ]| The Traitor makes a show, but can't, nor won't repel.
000:01,225[C  ]| Who would stand knocking at an unlocked Gate?
000:01,226[C  ]| Or, who in's Porch can hope to save his Plate?
000:01,227[C  ]| For shame dispatch, and disabuse the Prince,
000:01,228[C  ]| Give him his Play-thing, he'll be quiet straight.
000:01,229[C  ]| The Empire will grow strong, and Armies fight,
000:01,230[C  ]| And more Souls tumble to eternal night;
000:01,231[C  ]| Ambition damns more Mortals, than Delight.
000:01,232[B  ]| <Mer.>  Spoke like great Pluto, Venus, don't repine
000:01,233[B  ]| To lose the Glory, getting your Design.
000:01,234[B  ]| The matter lies not what, but how to have;
000:01,235[B  ]| What more can Mankind give, or Woman crave?
000:01,236[B  ]| None e'er was ravished, but with close consent;
000:01,237[B  ]| Shame makes them sometimes quarrel, ne'er repent.
000:01,238[B  ]| Was e'er ambitious man forced to a Crown,
000:01,239[B  ]| Hunger compelled to feed?  Are wearied men
000:01,240[B  ]| Said to be robbed of Burdens?  Do I force
000:01,241[B  ]| The falling fruit that drops into my hand?
000:01,242[A  ]| <Ven.>  Oh senseless Males!  must Women lose the Pride
000:01,243[A  ]| Of Courtship, self-reflexion, Joys beside
000:01,244[A  ]| Of Dalliance, and the yielding Arts of Love,
000:01,245[A  ]| Embraced by all, whom their Attractions move?
000:01,246[A  ]| Must that rough Sex our tender Breasts invade,
000:01,247[A  ]| Without the fawning, and the endearing Trade,
000:01,248[A  ]| The esteem, the Tenderness, the Adoration,
000:01,249[A  ]| And take the sacred prize without Gradation
000:01,250[A  ]| And due Respect?  I hate so hard a shift.
000:01,251[B  ]| <Mer.>  Bartering makes Love a Bargain, Rape a gift,
000:01,252[B  ]| Plainly consenting Women buy delight,
000:01,253[B  ]| Part with their Pride, to please their Appetite:
000:01,254[B  ]| A bold Invasion does loathed Debt prevent,
000:01,255[B  ]| Love's sweeter when 'tis given than when 'tis lent.
000:01,256[C  ]| <Plu.>  Well urged, right Apprehensive Lord of the upper house:
000:01,257[C  ]| Love is the Sauce, but Lust's the wholesome Meat
000:01,258[C  ]| Which nicest Stomachs ne'er refuse to eat.
000:01,259[C  ]| Proud Beggars ne'er confess their wants, tho asked,
000:01,260[C  ]| 'Tis decent Charity to steal into
000:01,261[C  ]| Their hands an Alms.  If heavenly Arrows fail,
000:01,262[C  ]| The Darts of Flesh must the proud Flesh assail;
000:01,263[C  ]| Which cure by Sympathy the hardest heart,
000:01,264[C  ]| Like Pelia's Spear, both wound and heal the smart.
000:01,265[B  ]| <Mer. to Ven.>  Fair scornful Dame, great Casuist in Love,
000:01,266[B  ]| Raising the price of Lust to enslave Mankind,
000:01,267[B  ]| Playing the Whore with Grandeur and Discretion;
000:01,268[B  ]| Love is a cheat to engross in private hands
000:01,269[B  ]| The staple trade of Lust, meant for the public.
000:01,270[B  ]| What you deny is more Mankind's than yours,
000:01,271[B  ]| A Right no Vestal e'er can give away,
000:01,272[B  ]| A Right inherent, not to be refused
000:01,273[B  ]| Nor limited, 'cause relative to all;
000:01,274[B  ]| No more than Palates kept from various Tastes,
000:01,275[B  ]| Iron to one Load-stone, Amber to one Straw.
000:01,276[B  ]| If I have Title to a common Ground,
000:01,277[B  ]| Tho 'tis enclosed within another's Bound,
000:01,278[B  ]| All Laws allow free way to fetch my Shares:
000:01,279[B  ]| But these are double-faced terrestrial Cares;
000:01,280[B  ]| Where right and wrong lye mixed like Earth and Water,
000:01,281[B  ]| Or Fire and Air, none can divide 'em clearly;
000:01,282[B  ]| Such Rubs stop not the Gods.  'Tis writ above,
000:01,283[B  ]| Great Valentinian shall enjoy his Love!
000:01,284[A  ]| <Ven.>  Well, if I must obey, I'll ne'er assist
000:01,285[A  ]| Such lewd base Acts, nor lend a simpering smile,
000:01,286[A  ]| But when 'tis done, I'll help to reconcile.
000:01,287[C  ]| <Plu.>  We knew you would be there.  Come then, I'll call
000:01,288[C  ]| My Satyrs to prepare the willing Fall,
000:01,289[C  ]| And in soft Dreams preach Honour's Funeral.
000:01,000['  ]| (Enter Satyrs, and Dance.)
000:01,000['  ]| <Additional lines in MS version:>
000:01,290[X  ]| Beauty thou woundst thy self from thy own store
000:01,291[X  ]| For none can give what they had not before,
000:01,292[X  ]| Cause of the Passions which to thee aspire
000:01,293[X  ]| Kindling at first then smothering desire.
000:01,000['  ]| <***>
000:01,294[X  ]| Gods justly part the dose of good and ill:
000:01,295[X  ]| None can complain that any's happy still,
000:01,296[X  ]| And none desire continuance of an ill.
000:01,297[X  ]| Nature triumphs in a bright sparkling mind;
000:01,298[X  ]| The Body acts not what the Soul designed
000:01,299[X  ]| Or Virtues Baggage Riches lag behind.
000:01,300[X  ]| What unseen griefs doe agitate a Throne!
000:01,301[X  ]| Love makes the ragged laugh the splendid Reptile groan,
000:01,302[X  ]| Happy in others thoughts unhappy in his own.
000:01,000['  ]| <***>
000:01,303[X  ]| Must Gods be called to urge to th' natural Feat,
000:01,304[X  ]| Wee must have shortly Gods to make 'em Eat.
000:01,000['  ]| <***>
000:01,305[X  ]| Born for the Sceptre of the universe
000:01,306[X  ]| And all those gifts on mankind to disperse,
000:01,307[X  ]| With Reigning mysteries his mind Inspire
000:01,308[X  ]| And build so faire a house for her to fire
000:01,000['  ]| <***>
000:01,309[X  ]| Our joys despised and by the faire forsaken
000:01,000['  ]| <***>
000:01,310[X  ]| The Thunderer's Arrow broke: just heaven what odds
000:01,311[X  ]| For earth born man against the Power of Gods
000:01,000['  ]| <***>
000:01,312[X  ]| Least Mortal scorn your Heavenly Influence
000:01,000['  ]| <***>
000:01,313[A  ]| <Ven.> I am o'erpowered and weakly now resist
000:01,000['  ]| <THIS IS THE END>