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  FRANCIS BEAUMONT
    Born 1584
    Died 1616

  JOHN FLETCHER
    Born 1579
    Died 1625



  _BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER_

  THE MAD LOVER
  THE LOYAL SUBJECT
  RULE A WIFE, AND HAVE A WIFE
  THE LAWS OF CANDY
  THE FALSE ONE
  THE LITTLE FRENCH LAWYER


  THE TEXT EDITED BY
  A. R. WALLER, M.A.


  CAMBRIDGE:
  at the University Press
  1906



  CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE,
  C. F. CLAY, MANAGER.
  London: FETTER LANE, E.C.
  Glasgow: 50, WELLINGTON STREET.
  Leipzig: F. A. BROCKHAUS.
  New York: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.
  Bombay and Calcutta: MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD.

  [_All Rights reserved._]




  THE
  MAD LOVER,
  A
  TRAGI-COMEDY.


  Persons Represented in the Play.

    Astorax,       _King of_ Paphos.
    Memnon,        _the General and the Mad Lover_.
    Polydor,       _Brother to_ Memnon, _beloved of_ Calis.
    Eumenes,  }    _two eminent Souldiers._
    Polybius, }
    Chilax,        _an old merry Souldier_.
    Syphax,        _a Souldier in love with the Princess_.
    Stremon,       _a Souldier that can sing_.
    Demagoras,     _Servant to the General_.
    _Chirurgion_.
    _Fool_.
    _Page_.
    _Courtiers_.

    _WOMEN._

    Calis, _Sister to the King, and Mistris to_ Memnon.
    Cleanthe _Sister to_ Syphax.
    Lucippe, _one of the Princesses Women_.
    _Priest of_ Venus, _an old wanton_.
    _A Nun._
    Cloe, _a Camp Baggage_.


  _The Scene_ Paphos.

    The principal Actors were,

    _Richard Burbadge._
    _Robert Benfeild._
    _Nathanael Feild._
    _Henry Condel._
    _John Lowin._
    _William Eglestone._
    _Richard Sharpe._




_Actus primus. Scena prima._


        _Flourish._ _Enter_ Astorax _King of_ Paphos, _his Sister_
        Calis, _Train_, _and_ Cleanthe, Lucippe _Gentlewomen, at
        one door; at the other_ Eumenes _a Souldier_.

  _Eume._ Health to my Soveraign.

  _King._ _Eumenes_, welcome:
  Welcome to _Paphos_, Souldier, to our love,
  And that fair health ye wish us, through the Camp
  May it disperse it self, and make all happy;
  How does the General, the valiant _Memnon_,
  And how his Wars, _Eumenes_?

  _Eume._ The Gods have giv'n you (Royal Sir) a Souldier,
  Better ne're sought a danger, more approv'd
  In way of War, more master of his fortunes,
  Expert in leading 'em; in doing valiant,
  In following all his deeds to Victories,
  And holding fortune certain there.

  _King._ O Souldier,
  Thou speak'st a man indeed; a Generals General,
  A soul conceiv'd a Souldier.

  _Eumen._ Ten set Battels
  Against the strong usurper _Diocles_
  (Whom long experience had begot a Leader,
  Ambition rais'd too mighty) hath your _Memnon_
  Won, and won gloriously, distrest and shook him
  Even from the head of all his hopes to nothing:
  In three, he beat the Thunder-bolt his Brother,
  Forc'd him to wall himself up: there not safe,
  Shook him with warlike Engins like an Earthquake,
  Till like a Snail he left his shell and crawl'd
  By night and hideous darkness to destruction:
  Disarm'd for ever rising more: Twelve Castles,
  Some thought impregnable; Towns twice as many;
  Countries that like the wind knew no command
  But savage wildness, hath this General
  With loss of blood and youth, through Storms and Tempests
  Call'd to your fair obedience.

  _King._ O my Souldier
  That thou wert now within my arms; what drums               { _Drums
  Are those that beat _Eumenes_?                              { within._

  _Eumen._ His, my Soveraign;
  Himself i'th' head of conquest drawing home,
  An old man now to offer up his glories,
  And endless conquest at your shrine.

  _King._ Goe all,
  And entertain him with all Ceremonie,
  We'l keep him now a Courtier.

  _Eumen._ Sir, a strange one,
  Pray God his language bear it; by my life, Sir
  He knows no complement, nor curious casting
  Of words into fit places e're he speak 'em,
  He can say fight well fellow, and I'le thank thee:
  He that must eat, must fight; bring up the rear there,
  Or charge that wing of horse home.                        [_Flourish._

  _King._ Goe too, goe too.

        _Enter_ Memnon, _and a train of Courtiers, and Souldiers,
        two Captains_, Chilax.

  Valiant and wise are twins Sir: welcom, welcom,
  Welcom my fortunate and famous General,
  High in thy Princes favour, as in fame,
  Welcom to Peace, and _Paphos_.

  _Mem._ Thank your Grace,
  And would to God my dull tongue had that sweetness
  To thank you as I should; but pardon me,
  My sword and I speak roughly Sir: your battels
  I dare well say, I have fought well; for I bring ye
  That lazie end you wish for Peace, so fully,
  That no more name of war is: who now thinks
  Sooner or safer these might have been ended,
  Begin 'em if he dare again; I'le thank him.
  Souldier and Souldiers Mate these twenty five years,
  At length your General, (as one whose merit
  Durst look upon no less,) I have waded through
  Dangers would damp these soft souls, but to hear of.
  The maidenheads of thousand lives hang here Sir,
  Since which time Prince, I know no Court but Marshal,
  No oylie language, but the shock of Arms,
  No dalliance but with death; No lofty measures
  But weary and sad marches, cold and hunger,
  Larums at midnight Valours self would shake at,
  Yet I ne're shrunk: Balls of consuming Wildfire,
  That lickt men up like lightning, have I laught at,
  And tost 'em back again like childrens trifles.
  Upon the edges of my Enemies swords
  I have marcht like whirle-winds, fury at this hand waiting,
  Death at my right; Fortune my forlorn hope,
  When I have grapled with destruction,
  And tug'd with pale fac'd Ruine, Night and Mischief,
  Frighted to see a new day break in bloud;
  And every where I conquer'd; and for you Sir,
  Mothers have wanted wombs to make me famous,
  And blown ambition, dangers; Those that griev'd ye,
  I have taken order for i'th' earth: those fools
  That shall hereafter--

  _King._ No more wars my Souldier:             { _K. takes_ Mem. _aside
  We must now treat of peace Sir.               { and talks with him_.

  _Clean._ How he talks,
  How gloriously.

  _Cal._ A goodly timber'd fellow,
  Valiant no doubt.

  _Cle._ If valour dwell in vaunting;
  In what a phrase he speaks, as if his actions
  Could be set off in nothing but a noise;
  Sure h'as a drum in's mouth.

  _Cal._ I wonder wenches
  How he would speak to us.

  _Clean._ Nothing but Larum,
  Tell us whose throat he cut, shew us his sword,
  And bless it for sure biting.

  _Lucippe._ And 't like your Grace,
  I do not think he knows us what we are,
  Or to what end; for I have heard his followers
  Affirm he never saw a woman that exceeded
  A Sutlers wife yet, or in execution
  Old bedrid Beldames without teeth or tongues,
  That would not flie his furie? how he looks.

  _Clea._ This way devoutly.

  _Cal._ Sure his Lordship's viewing
  Our Fortifications.

  _Lucip._ If he mount at me,
  I may chance choak his Battery.

  _Cal._ Still his eye
  Keeps quarter this way: _Venus_ grant his valour
  Be