_Kin._ Am I confounded twice? Blasted with wonder.
|2390| _Ter._ O delude we not, Thou art too true to liue agen, too faire To be my Cælestine, too constant farre To be a woman.
_Cæl._ Not to be thy wife, |2395| But first I pleade my duetie, and salute The world agen.
_Sir quin._ My King, my Sonne, know all, I am an Actor in this misterie, And beare the chiefest part. The Father I, |2400| Twas I that ministred to her chaste bloud, A true somniferous potion, which did steale Her thoughts to sleepe, and flattered her with death: I cal’d it a quick poison’d drug, to trie The Bride-groomes loue, and the Brides constancie. |2405| He in the passion of his loue did fight, A combat with affection; so did both, She for the poison stroue, he for his oath: Thus like a happie Father, I haue won, A constant Daughter, and a louing Sonne.
|2410| _Kin._ Mirrour of Maidens, wonder of thy name, I giue thee that art giuen, pure, chaste, the same Heere Wat: I would not part (for the worlds pride) So true a Bride-groome, and so chaste a Bride.
_Cri._ My Leige, to wed a Comicall euent, |2415| To presupposed tragicke Argument: Vouchsafe to exercise your eyes, and see A humorous dreadfull Poet take degree.
_Kin._ Dreadfull in his proportion or his pen?
_Cris._ In both, he calles himselfe the whip of men.
|2420| _Kin._ If a cleare merrit stand vpon his praise, Reach him a Poets Crowne (the honour’d Bayes) But if he claime it, wanting right thereto, (As many bastard Sonnes of Poesie doe) Race downe his vsurpation to the ground. |2425| _True Poets are with Arte and Nature Crown’d._ But in what molde so ere this man bee cast; We make him thine Crispinus, wit and iudgement, Shine in thy numbers, and thy soule I know, Will not goe arm’d in passion gainst thy foe: |2430| Therefore be thou our selfe; whilst our selfe sit, But as spectator of this Sceane of wit.
_Cri._ Thankes royall Lord, for these high honors done, To me vnworthie, my mindes brightest fires Shall all consume them selues, in purest flame, |2435| On the Alter of your deare eternall name.
_Kin._ Not vnder vs, but next vs take thy Seate, »_Artes nourished by Kings make Kings more great_, Vse thy Authority.
_Cris._ Demetrius. |2440| Call in that _selfe-creating Horace_, bring Him and his _shaddow_ foorth.