Phantaste.

AMO. It shall be my pride, fair lady, to attempt all that is in my
power. But here is an instrument that alone is able to infuse soul
into the most melancholic and dull-disposed creature upon earth.
O, let me kiss thy fair knees. Beauteous ears attend it.

HED. Will you have "the Kiss" Honour?

PHI. Ay, good Ambition.

HEDON SINGS.

O, that joy so soon should waste!
Or so sweet a bliss
As a kiss
Might not for ever last!
So sugar'd, so melting, so soft, so delicious,
The dew that lies on roses,
When the morn herself discloses,
Is not so precious.
O rather than I would it smother,
Were I to taste such another;
It should be my wishing
That I might die with kissing.

HED. I made this ditty, and the note to it, upon a kiss that my
Honour gave me; how like you it, sir?

AMO. A pretty air; in general, I like it well: but in particular,
your long die-note did arride me most, but it was somewhat too
long. I can show one almost of the same nature, but much before
it, and not so long, in a composition of mine own. I think I have
both the note and ditty about me.

HED. Pray you, sir, see.

AMO. Yes, there is the note; and all the parts, if I misthink not.
I will read the ditty to your beauties here; but first I am to
make you familiar with the occasion, which presents itself thus.
Upon a time, going to take my leave of the emperor, and kiss his
great hands, there being then present the kings of France and
Arragon, the dukes of Savoy, Florence, Orleans, Bourbon, Brunswick,
the Landgrave, Count Palatine; all which had severally feasted me;
besides infinite more of inferior persons, as counts and others: it
was my chance (the emperor detained by some exorbitant affair) to
wait him the fifth part of an hour, or much near it. In which
time, retiring myself into a bay-window, the beauteous lady
Annabel, niece to the empress, and sister to the king of Arragon,
who having never before eyed me, but only heard the common report
of my virtue, learning, and travel, fell into that extremity of
passion for my love, that she there immediately swooned:
physicians were sent for, she had to her chamber, so to her bed;
where, languishing some few days, after many times calling upon me,
with my name in her lips, she expired. As that (I must mourningly
say) is the only faul