Played before the Queen's Maieftie at Greenwich on Candlemas Day at night, by the Children of Paulus AT LONDON, Printed by I. Charleswood, for the widow Broome. 1591
Dramatis Personae:
Endymion, a handsome young man, who is in love with Cynthia
Samias, his page
Eumenides, a friend of Endymion
Dares, his page
Cynthia, the beautiful young immortal Moon-Queen, who loved Endymion
Floscula, her maidservant and Tellus's friend
Ladies-in-waiting at Cynthia's Royal Court
Tellus, the Earth goddess spurned by Endymion but loved by Corsites
Semele, a shrewish maiden who once loved By Eumenides
Attendants at Cynthia's Royal Court
Pythagoras, a Greek philosopher
Gyptes, an Egyptian soothsayer
Lords at Cynthia's Royal Court
Panelion, Zontes
Sir Tophas, a braggart
Epiton, his page
Dipsas, an aged sorceress
Bagoa, a young sorceress, a assistant to Dipsas
Geron, a wise old man, the estranged husband of Dipsas
Servant girls
Scintilla, Favilla} Cynthia's royal handmaidens-in-waiting
Three ladies and an ancient man, in a dumb show
Corsites, a captain of the Moon-Queen Cynthia's bodyguards, in love with Tellus
The Two Watchmen and a Constable
The Four Fairies
Scene: At or near the Royal Court of Cynthia
[The date alluded to on the title page (above) is Friday, February 2nd, 1588 A.D.]
Most high and happy princess, we must tell you a tale of the Man in the Moon, which if it seem ridiculous for the method, or superfluous for the matter, or for the means incredible, for three faults we can make but one excuse: it is a tale of the Man in the Moon.
It was forbidden in old time to dispute of chimaera, because it was a fiction. We hope in our times none will apply pastimes, because they are fancies; for there liveth none under the sun that knows what to make of the Man in the Moon. We present neither comedy, nor tragedy, nor story, nor anything, but ... that whosoever heareth may say this: 'Why, here is a tale of the Man in the Moon'.
ENDYMION: I find, Eumenides, in all things both variety to content and satiety to glut, saving only in my affections, which are so stayed, and withal so stately, that I can neither satisfy my heart with love nor mine eyes with wonder. My thoughts, Eumenides, are stitched to the stars, which being as high as I can see, thou may'st imagine how much higher they are than I can reach.
EUMENIDES: If you be enamored of anything above the moon, your thoughts are ridiculous; for that the things immortal are not subject to affections. If allured or enchanted with these transitory things under the moon, you show yourself senseless to attribute such lofty titles to such low trifles.
ENDYMION: My love is placed neither under the moon nor above.
EUMENIDES: I hope you be not sotted upon the Man in the Moon.
ENDYMION: No, but settled either to die or possess the moon herself.
EUMENIDES: Is Endymion mad, or do I mistake? Do you love the moon, Endymion?
ENDYMION: Eumenides, the moon.
EUMENIDES: There was never any so peevish to imagine the moon either capable of affection or shape of a mistress; for as impossible it is to make love fit to her humor, which no man knoweth, as a coat to her form, which continueth not in one bigness whilst she is measuring. Cease off, Endymion, to feed so much upon fancies. That melancholy blood must be purged which draweth you to a dotage no less miserable than monstrous.
ENDYMION: My thoughts have no veins, and yet, unless they be let blood, I shall perish.
EUMENIDES: But they have vanities which, being reformed, you may be restored.