Sapho and Phao played beefore the Queenes Maiestie on Shroue-tewsday by Her Maiesties children and the boyes of Paules.

Actus primus, Schaena sccunda.

Trachinus, Pandion, Cryticus, Molus.

Trachi.

Pandion, since your comming from the vni∣uersitie to the court, from Athens to Syracusa, how doe you feele your self altered either in humor or opinion?

Pandi.

Altered Trachinus, I say no more, and shame that any should know so much.

Trachi.

Here you see as great vertue, far greater braue ry, the action of that which you cōtemplate▪ Sapho, faire by nature, by birth royall, learned by education by go∣uernment politike, rich by peace: insomuch as it is hard to iudge, whether she be more beautifull or wise, vertu∣ous

or fortunate. Beesides, doe you not looke on faire Ladies in steede of good letters, and behold faire faces in steed of fine phrases: In vniuersities vertues and vi∣ces are but shadowed in colours white and blacke, in courtes shewed to life good and bad. There, times paste are read of in old bookes, times present set downe by new deuises, times to come coniectured at by aime, by prophesie, or chaunce here, are times in perfection, nor by deuise, as fables, but in execution, as trueths. Beleeue me Pandion, in Athens you haue but tombs, we in court the bodies, you the pictures of Venus & the wise God∣desses, we the persons & the vertues. What hath a seh ol∣ler found out by study, that a courtier hath not found out by practise. Simple are you that think to see more at the candle snuffe, then the sunne beams, to saile further in a litle brooke, then in the maine Ocean, to make a greater haruest by gleaning, then reaping. How say you Pandion, is not all this true?

Pandi.

Trachinus, what would you more, all true.

Trach.

Cease then to lead thy life in a study, pinned with a fewe boardes, and endeuour to be a courtier to liue in emboste rouffes.

Pandi.

A labour intollerable for Pandion.

Trach.

Why?

Pandi.

Because it is harder to shape a life to dissem∣ble, then to goe forward with the libertie of trueth.

Trach.

Why do you thinke in court any vse to dis∣semble?

Pandi.

Doe you knowe in court any that meane to liue?

Trach.

You haue no reasō for it, but an old reporte.

Pandi.

Reporte hath not alwaies a blister on her tongue.

Trach.

I, but this is the court of Sapho natures mi∣racle, which resembleth the tree Salurus, whose roote is fastened vpon knotted steele, & in whose top bud leaues of pure gold.

Pandi.

Yet hath Salurus blasts, and water boughes, wormes and Caterpillers.

Trach.

The vertue of the tree is not the cause: but the Easterly wind, which is thought commonly to bring cankers and rottenesse.

Pandi.

Nor the excellencie of Sapho the occasion: but the iniquitie of flatterers, who alwaies whisper in Prin∣ces eares suspition and sowrenesse.

Trach.

Why, then you conclude with me, that Sapho for vertue hath no copartner.

Pandi.

Yea, & with the iudgement of the world, that she is without comparison.

Trach.

We wil thither streight.

Pandi.

I would I might returne streight.

Trach.

Why, there you may liue stil.

Pandi.

But not still.

Trach.

Howe like you the Ladies, are they not passing faire?

Pandi.

Mine eie drinketh neither the colour of wine nor women.

Trach.

Yet am I sure that in iudgemente you are not so seuere, but that you can be content to allowe of bewtie by day or by night.

Pandi.

When I behold bewty before the sunne, his beams dimme bewtie: when by candle, bewty obscures toarch light: so as no time I can iudge, because at anie time I cannot discerne being in the sunne a brightnesse to shadow bewtie, and in bewtie a glistering to extin∣guish light.

Trachi.

Schollerlike said, you flatter that, whiche you seeme to mislike, and to disgrace that, which you moste wonder at. But let vs away.

Pandi.

I follow. And you sir boy goe to Syracusa about by land, where you shall meete my stuffe, pay for the cariage, and conuey it to my lodging.

Trach.

I think all your stuffe are bundles of paper:

but now must you learne to turne your library to a war drope, & see whether your rapier hang better by your side, then the penne did in your eare.

Exeunt.