TWO

NOBLE

KINSMEN:

Presented at the Blackfriers by the Kings Maiefties fervants, with great applause:

Printed at London by Tho. Cotes, for Iohn Waterfon: and are to be fold at the figne of the Crowne

in Pauls Church-yard. 163 4.

Florish.

N

PROLOGVE.

Ew Playes, and Maydenheads, are neare a kin,
Much follow'd both, for both much mony g'yn,
If they fiand found, and well: And a good Play
(Whofe modeft Sceanes blush on his marriage day,
And Shake to loofe his honour) is like hir
That after holy Tye, and first nights flir
Yet fill is Modeftie, and ftill retaines

More of the maid to fight, than Husbands paines;
We pray our Play may be fo; For I am fure
It has a noble Breeder, and a pure,

A learned, and a Poet never went

More famous yet twixt Po and filver Trent
Chaucer (of all admir'd) the Story gives,
There confiant to Eternity it lives;
If we let fall the Noblenesse of this,

And the first found this child heare, be a hiffe,
How will it shake the bones of that good man,
And make him cry from under ground, O fan
From me the witles chaffe of fuch a wrighter (lighter
That blaftes my Bayes, and my fam'd workes makes
Then Robin Hood? This is the feare we bring;
For to fay Truth, it were an endlese thing,
And too ambitious to afpire to him;
Weake as we are, and almoft breathleffe Swim
In this deepe water. Do but you hold out
Your helping hands, and we shall take about,
And fomething doe to fave us: You shall heare
Sceanes though below his Art, may yet appeare
Worth two houres travell. To his bones fweet fleepe:
Content to you. If this play doe not keepe,
A little dull time from us, we perceave
Our lofes fall fo thicke, we must needs leave.

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Florish.

[1. 1]

THE TWO NOBLE

Kinsmen.

Actus Primus.

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Enter Hymen with a Torch burning: a Boy, in a white Robe before finging, and firewing Flowres: After Hymen, a Nimph, encompaft in her Treffes, bearing a wheaten Garland. Then Thefeus betweene two other Nimphs with wheaten Chaplets on their heades. Then Hipolita the Bride, lead by Thefeus, and another holding a Garland over her head (her Treffes likewife hanging.) After her Emilia holding up her Traine.

The Song,

Ofes their fharpe Spines being gon,
Not royall in their fmels alone,

But in their hew.

Maiden Pinckes, of odour faint,
Daxies fmel-leffe, yet moft quaint
And Sweet Time true.

Prim-rofe first borne, child of Ver, 8 Merry Spring times Herbinger, With her bels dimme.

Oxlips, in their Cradles growing, Mary-golds, on death beds blowing, 12 Larkef-heeles trymme.

Mufike.

All

Enter 3. Queenes in Blacke, with vailes flaind, with imperiall Crownes. The 1. Queene fals downe at the foote of Thefeus; The 2. fals downe at the foote of Hypolita. The 3. before Emilia.

1. Qu. For pitties fake and true gentilities, Heare, and respect me.

2. Qu. For your Mothers fake,

And as you with your womb may

Heare and respect me,

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thrive with faire ones,

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3. Qu. Now for the love of him whom Iove hath markd The honour of your Bed, and for the fake

Of cleere virginity, be Advocate

For us, and our diftreffes: This good deede

Shall raze you out o'th Booke of Trefpaffes
All you are fet downe there.

Thefeus. Sad Lady rife.

Hypol. Stand up.

Emil. No knees to me.

Does bind me to her.

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What woman I may steed that is distrest,

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Thef. What's your requeft? Deliver you for all.

I. Qu. We are 3. Queenes, whofe Soveraignes fel before

The wrath of cruell Creon; who endured

The Beakes of Ravens, Tallents of the Kights,

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And