The Dramatic Works of Ben Jonson, and Beaumont and Fletcher

THE MAID IN THE MILL:

A COMEDY.

The Commendatory Verses by Gardiner and Hills ascribe this Comedy to Fletcher alone. It was first printed in the folio of 1647. Langbaine says, it was revived by the Company at the Duke's Theatre after the Restoration; but we do not know of any representation of it since that period, or that there ever was any alteration of it.

Enter Lisauro, Terzo, Ismenia, and Aminta.
Lisuuro. ET the coach go round! we'll
walk along these meadows,

And meet at port again. Come, my fair sister,
These cool shades will delight you.

Amin 'Pray be merry:

The birds sing as they meant to entertain you;
Ev'ry thing smiles abroad; methinks the river,
As he steals by, curls up his head, to view you :
Ev'ry thing is in love.

Ism. You'd have it so.

You, that are fair, are easy of belief, cousin;
The theme slides from your tongue-
Amin. I fair? I thank you!
Mine is but shadow when your sun shines by
1sm. No more of this; you know your

worth, Aminta.

Where are we now?

[me.

Amin. Hard by the town, Ismenia
Terzo. Close by the gates.

Ism. 'Tis a fine air.

Lis. A delicate;

The way so sweet and even, that the coach
Would be a tumbling trouble to our pleasures
Methinks I'm very merry.

Ism. I am sad.

[cousin.

Amin. You're ever so when we entreat you,
Ism. I have no reason.
Such a trembling
Over my heart methinks-
[here,
Amin. Sure you are fasting, [mienia?
Or not slept well to-night; some dream, Is-
Ism. My dreams are like my thoughts,
honest and innocent;

Yours are unhappy. Who are these that coast
You told me the walk was private. [us?

Enter Antonio and Martino.
Terzo. 'Tis most commonly.

1 Coast us, &c.] See note 52 on "The Loyal Subject.

abus'd all!

Back, back, I say!

Lis. Go back!

Ant. We are no dogs, sir, To run back on command.

Terzo. We'll make ye run, sir. [ladies, Ant. Having a civil charge of handsome We are your servants! 'Pray ye no quarrel, There's way enough for both. [gentlemen. Lis. We'll make it wider.

Ant. If you will fight, arm'd from this saint, have at ye!

Ism. Oh, me unhappy! Are ye gentlemen, Discreet, and civil, and in open view thus Amin. What will men think of us! Nay, you may kill us. [gentlemen! Mercy o'me! thro' my petticoat? what bloody Ism. Make way thro' me, y'had best, and kill an innocent! [too!

Brother! why, cousin! by this light, I'll die This gentleman is temperate; be you merAlas, the st ords!

Amin. You had best run me thro'!

'Twill be a valiant thrust,

Ism. I faint amongst ye.

[ciful!

Ism. I know not;

But here methinks.

Lis. Unlace her, gentle cousin.

Ism. My heart, my heart! and yet I bless the hurter.

Amin. Is it so dangerous?

Ism. Nay, nay, I faint not.

Amin. Here is no blood that I find; sure 'tis inward.

Ism. Yes, yes, 'tis inward; 'twas a subtle The hurt not to be cur'd, I fear. [weapon; Lis. The coach there!

You had best run me thro' the belly.] So first folio.

3 And most difference.] The variation of orthography was made by Sympson; and though we have admitted it, we are not clear but difference, in the old sense of distinctions, is right.

+ I'm sure their swords were between my legs.] These words are retrieved from the first folio.

Amin. May be a fright.

Ism. Aminta, 'twas a sweet one; And yet a cruel.

Amin. Now I find the wound plain : A wondrous handsome gentleman

Ism. Oh, no deeper!

'Prithee be silent, wench; it may be thy case. Amin. You must be search'd; the wound will rancle, cousin.

And of so sweet a nature

Ism. Dear Aminta,
Make it not sorer!

Amin. And on my life admires you.
Ism. Call the coach, cousin.
Amin. The coach, the coach!

Terzo. 'Tis ready. Bring the coach there!
Lis. Well, my brave enemies, we shall yet
meet ye,

And our old hate shall testify

Terzo. It shall, cousin.

SCENE II.

Enter Antonio and Martino.

[Exeunt.

Ant. Their swords! alas, I weigh 'em not,
dear friend;

The indiscretion of the owners blunts 'em ;
The fury of the house affrights not me,
It spends itself in words. Oh me, Martino!
There was a two-edg'd eye, a lady carried,
A weapon that no valour can avoid,
Nor art, the hand of spirit, put aside.
Oh, friend, it broke out on me, like a bullet
Wrapt in a cloud of fire; that point, Martino,
Dazzled my sense 5, and was too subtle for me;
Shot like a comet in my face, and wounded
(To my eternal ruin) my heart's valour.

Mart. Methinks she was no such piece.
Ant. Blaspheme not, sir!

She is so far beyond weak commendation,
That hupudence will blush to think ill of her.
Mart. I see it not, and yet I had both eyes

open,

And I could judge; I know there is no beauty 'Till our eyes give it 'em, and make 'em band

some:

What's red and white, unless we do allow 'em? A green face else; and methinks such another

Ant. Peace, thou lewd heretick! thou judge of beauties?

Thou hast an excellent sense for a sign-post, friend.

Didst thou not sec, (I'll swear thou art stone

blind else,

As blind as Ignorance)when she appear'd first, Aurora breaking in the East? and thro' her face,

(Asif the Hours and Graces had strew'd roses) A blush of wonder flying? when she was frighted

At our uncivil swords, didst thou not mark
How far beyond the purity of snow
The soft wind drives, whiteness of innocence,
Or any thing that bears celestial paleness,
Sh' appear'd o' th' sudden? Didst thou not
see her tears

When she entreated? Oh, thou reprobate! Didst thou not see those orient tears flow'd from her,

The little worlds of love? A set, Martino, Of such sanctified beads, and a holy heart to I could live ever a religious hermit. [love, Mart. I do believe a little; and yet, meShe was o' th' lowest stature. [thinks,

Ant. A rich diamond,

Set neat and deap! Nature's chief art, Martino, Is to reserve her models curious,

Not cumbersome and great; and such an one, For fear she should exceed upon her matter, Has she fram'd this. Oh, 'tis a spark of beauty!

And where they appear so excellent in little, They will but fame in great 7; extention spoils "ein.

Martino, learn this; the narrower that our eyes Keep way unto our object, still the sweeter That comes unto us: Great bodies are like countries, ['em. Discovering still, toil and no pleasure finds Mart. A rare cosmographer for a small island!

Now I believe she's handsome.

Ant. Believe heartily ;

Let thy belief, tho' long a-coming, save thee. Murt. She was, certain, fair.

Ant. But hark you, friend. Martino! Do not believe yourself too far before me; For then you may wrong me, sir.

Mart. Who bid you teach me? [tonio? D'you shew me meat, and stitch my lips, AnIs that fair play?

Ant. Now if thou shouldst abuse meAnd yet I know thee for an arrant wencher, A most immod'rate thing; thou canst not love

5 Dazzled my sense.] Seward thinks it would be keeping closer to the metaphor to read, baffled my fence;' but the old reading carries on the metaphor best. Dazzled is much most applicable to the point of a two-edged eye, which he immediately after compares to a

comet.

Dost thou not see (I'll swear thou art soon blind else).] Amended in 1750.

7 They will but flame in great.] If this be genuine, flame, when applied to beauty, must be a term of contempt, whereas it is, I believe, universally applied to it as a term of excel lence. I verily think the original was, not flume, and then the reason that follows is just, ⚫ because extention spoils 'em.' Seward,

Mart. Why are you jealous then?
As far as I conceive, she hates our whole
Ant. Yet, good Martino- [house.

Mart. Come, come; I've mercy on you:
You shall enjoy her in your dream, Antonio,
And I'll not hinder. Tho', now I persuade
myself-

Enter Aminta with a letter.

Ant. Sit with persuasion down, and you deal honestly;

I will look better on her.

Mart. Stay; who's this, friend?

Ant. Is't not the other gentlewoman?
Mart. Yes. A letter!

[tonio,

From her we saw; from that same miracle!
I know her name now. Read but these three
lines;
[holy.
Read with devotion, friend! the lines are
Mart. [reading.] I dare not chide you

in my letter, sir; [me Twill be too gentle: If you please to look In the West-street, and find a fair stone window

"Carv'd with white Cupids, there I'll enter[Ismenia."

tain you:

"Night and discretion guide you. Call me Ant. Give't me again! Come, come; fly, fly! I'm all fire!

Mart. There may be danger.

Aut. So there is to drink,
When men are thirsty; to eat hastily,
When we are hungry; so there is in sleep,
friend,

Obstructions then may rise and smother us;
We may die laughing-choak'd; e'en at devo-
An apoplexy, or a sudden palsy, [tions,
May strike us down.

Mart. May-be, a train to catch you.
Ant. Then I am caught; and let Love
answer for't!

'Tis not my folly, but his infamy;
And if he be ador'd, and dare do vile things-
Mart. Well, I will go.

Ant. She is a lady, sir,

A maid, I think, and where that holy spell
Is flung about me, I ne'er fear a villainy.
'Tis almost night; away, friend!

Mart. I am ready:

I think I know the house too.
Ant. Then we're happy.

SCENE III.

Enter Ismenia and Aminta.

Ism. Did you meet him?
Amin. Yes.

[Excunt.

Ism. And did you give my letter?
Amin. To what end went I
Ism. Are you sure 'twas he?
Was it that gentleman?

Amin. D' you think I was blind?

I went to seek no carrier, nor no midwife.
Ism. What kind of man was he? Thou

mayst be deceiv'd, friend.

Amin. A man with a nose on's face; I
think he had eyes too;

And hands, for sure he took it.
Ism. What an answer!

Amin. What questions are these to one
that's hot and troubled! [cousin,
Do you think me a babe? Am I not able,
At my years and discretion, to deliver
A letter handsomely? is that such a hard
thing?

Why every wafer-woman will undertake it :
A sempster's girl, or a tailor's wife, won't

miss it:

A Puritan hostess, cousin, would scorn these
My legs are weary.
[questions.

Ism. I'll make 'em well again.
Amin. Are they at supper?
Ism. Yes, and I'm not well,

fish.
Nor desire no company. Look out! 'tis dark-
Amin. I see nothing yet. Assure yourself,
Ismenia,

If he be a man, he will not miss.

Isin. It may be he is modest,

And that may pull him back from seeing me;
Or has made some wild construction of my
I blush to think what I writ. [easiness:

may die laughing, choak'd e'en at devotions:
An apoplexy, &c.] Corrected by Stward.

It may be they.

Amin. They are they. Get you up,
And like a load-star draw him9!

Ism. I'm shame-fac'd! [Exeunt Ladies.
Ant. This is the street.

Mart. I'm looking for the house.
Close, close, 'pray you close!-Here.
Ant. No; this is a merchant's;

I know the man well.

Murt. And this a pothecary's: I've lain
here many times,

For a looseness in my hilts.
Ant. Have you not past it?
Mart. No, sure:

[yet.

There is no house of mark that we have scap'd Ant. What place is this?

Murt. Speak softer! 'may be spies. If any, this; a goodly window too, [dark; Carv'd fair above that I perceive. 'Tis But she has such a lustre

Enter Ismenia and Aminta above, with a taper.

Ant. Yes, Martino;

So radiant she appears

Mart. Else we may miss, sir.

The night grows vengeance black: 'Pray

Heav'n she shine clear!

Hark, hark! a window, and a candle too? Ant. Step close. 'Tis she! I see the cloud disperse ;

And now the beauteous planet

Mart. Ha! 'tis indeed.

Now, by the soul of love, a divine creature!
Ism. Sir, sir!

Ant. Most blessed lady!
Ism. 'Pray you stand out.

Amin. You need not fear; there's nobody
now stirring.

Mart. Beyond his commendation I am Infinite strangely taken.

[taken,

Amin. I love that gentleman; Methinks he has a dainty nimble body:

I love him heartily.

Ism. 'Tis the right gentleman; But what to say to him?-Sir

Ism. Are you betroth'd?

Ant. No, neither.

Ism. Indeed, fair sir?

Ant. Indeed, fair sweet, I am not.

Most beauteous virgin, I am free as you are. Ism. That may be, sir; then you are miseFor I am bound. [rable, Aut. Happy the bonds that hold you! Or do you put them on yourself for pleasure? Sure they be sweeter far than liberty: There is no blessedness but in such bondage. Give me that freedom, madam, I beseech you, (Since you have question'd me so cunningly) To ask you whom you're bound to; he must be certain [beauty:

More than human, that bounds in such a Happy that happy chain! such links are heav'nly.

Ism. 'Pray you don't mock me, sir.
Ant. 'Pray you, lady, tell me.

Ism. Will you believe? and will you keep
it to you?

And not scorn what I speak?

Ant. I dare not, madam;

An oracle, what you say I dare swear to. Ism. I'll set the candie by, for I shall blush

Ismenia

Ism. Yes, now I perceive you love me; You've learu'd my name.

Ant. Hear but some vows I make to you; Hear but the protestations of a true love.

9 And like a land-star.] Amended in 1750. 10 Curv'd far aboce.] Varied in 1750.

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