University of Virginia Library

Scena tertia.

Enter Barbarino, Machavil, Mattemoros, and Officers leading Trappolin after them.
Barb.
This man, Lord Machavil, is one of those
That doth in Florence nourish vice, he is
A pander, one that if he sees a stranger,
Straight makes acquaintance with him, for what end
Your self may guess; so he may gain thereby
He would betray our daughters, lead our sons
To Brothels, vicious and full of rottenness.

Trap.

I wonder how the Divel he came to know
any thing that I did.

Barb.
This writing yesternight was presented to me:
Here you may see what enormities he is guilty of.

Trap.

His Lordship would shew himself a great hater
of bawdery.

Mach.
Tis good we did examine him.

Mat.
And there is not such a coward in Tuscany;
He's able to corrupt an army.

Trap.

Seignior Captain, never fear it, for I nere
mean to come into one.

Barb.

Bring him before us.

Trap.

Ah that I durst tell my Lords Excellence why

he deals thus with me, tis for a wench, and yet
how eager he is against bawdery.

Offic.
Forward Trappolin, go before their Excellencies.

Barb.
Sirra, this paper doth not onely shew
You are a rogue, your looks declare you one,
Thou hast as ill a face as ere I saw.

Trap.
And yet Flametta think'st as good as his,
I did not lie and if I said a better.

Mac.

Ere we come to his pandarisme, I'le examine
him about other matters;

Sir do you never use to carry pistols about you?

Trap.
Sometimes and please your Excellence I do.

Bar.
Write down that Notarie.

Trap.

What does your Lordship mean, I did not
steal them.

Mac.

I know well enough what I do; sirra, you
went to shoot some body.

Trap.

Beseech your Honour to take me along with
you, I meant money.

Mach.

That's vain, then Notarie tear it out.

Barb.

Do you nere carry other armes neither?

Trap.

Many times my Lord.

Barb.

Notarie down with it, he shall be talk'd with
for that.

Trap.

Your Honour is deceiv'd agen, I mean onely
armes upon seales, or scutchions from the Heralds.

Mac.

This is nothing Notarie, tear it out.

Barb.

A pimp I'me sure he is.

Mac.

Do you never carry no Love Letters, as from
a Gentleman to a Lady, or a Gentlewoman to a
Cavalier, or so?

Trap.

O very oft my Lord.

Barb.

Do you so indeed? Notarie write it down.

Trap.

Your Honour must understand me, Letters of
Love, of friendship, as when a Lady writes unto
her brother at Siena, a wife to her husband at
Pisa, a son to his mother at such a place, a father
to his daughter married at such a town, I am often
hired, and carry them to the Post.

Mac.
Notarie, you must tear out this too.

Barb.
But sirra, to come nearer to the matter,
Do you not keep intelligence with Whores?
Have you nere plaid the Ruffian? by your means
Hath no man been provided of a lodging?

Trap.

This I have no excuse for, the whole city
knowes me a pimp.

Aside.

And that it is very nigh my living.

Mac.

What say you sirra?

Trap.

My Lords, I am but a poor fellow, and must
live.

Barb.

By Bawdery?

Trap.

Tis but a friends part.

Mac.

A wicked ones, Notarie down with this at
large.

Trap.

Alas my Lord, what hurt is it, if I help a Gentleman
to a sound wench, where is there any
fault? good your Honours, consider me, think not
I am a man alone in this business, that many
others live by it as well as I.

Bar.
What an impudency is this?
Not onely to do ill, but to defend it,
Is a transgression exceeds forgiveness.

Trap.

Good my Lord take pity on me, wel a day
what should I do!
I have not onely done a favour in it for my self, but
also a courtesie for many a Gentleman.

Mach.

Do not teare out that, Notarie.

Trap.

Beseech your Honours let him tear't out.

Barb.

What shall we do with this villain?

Mac.

Why let's hang him and ther's an end of
him.

Trap.

That's true I faith, consider my Lords, that
never man was put to death for such a matter, but
rather that they have been beloved, and well paid
by noble men and cavalieres.

Mach.

Had we not best to condemn him to the
Gallies? or lets banish hm.

Barb.

I that's the best.

Trap.

Beseech your Honours pity me.

Mac.

After to morrow, Trappolin, if thou be'st seen
in Florence thou shalt die, be hang'd; we banish
thee for term of life, therefore prepare against to
morrow to be gone.

Trap.

Pray your Honours.

Bar.

Notarie, write down he's banish't.

Mac.

You rogue, it is irrevocable, and therefore
make you ready.

Trap.

I think I am the first man that ever was banish't
for such a matter; were all of my profession in

the City served so, I think we should make an Army
Royal of us.

Barb.
This matter is concluded, Trappolin;
Go seek your fortune. My Lord Machavil;
We may depart.

Exeunt.
Matte.
Thou man of durt, hadst thou a Souldier been,
This banishment had never been pronounc'd.

Trap.

But Sir Captain, I fear I should have been kil'd,
which is worse.

Matte.
If for thy Country, t'had been a noble death.

Trap.
I had rather live Cap. then die nobly.

Matte.
Thou man compos'd of sand, in vain I spend
My breath to talk with such a slave as thou;
Go and be hang'd, for so thou do dost deserve,
And might I judge thee, it should be thy end.

Exit.
Trap.

Thou brazen-headed Coxcomb, may'st thou go
to the divel with a Drum before thee; I had as leeve
be banish't out of my Country and walk in peace,
as be out on't in the wars.

Enter Horatio.
Brunetto, O Brunetto, I must leave thee, I must be gone
Man to morrow, farewell Florence.

Hora.
Why, whats the matter Trappolin?

Trap.

Why, I have banish't the Lord Barberino, and
the Lord Machavil.

Hora.

How! you banish't them?

Trap.

They have banished me, or I them, 'tis all one,
I must be gone, and the divel a bit a mony I have:
shall I help thee to a Wench Brunetto? Or if thou

hast no mind to one, know'st thou any body that
has? I'de fain be earning a little mony.

Hora.
I wish thee well, live honest Trappolin,
And so thou shalt be sure to prosper better;
This Ring I give thee, sell it, and the mony
Spend to maintain thee.

Trap.
Honest Brunetto, faith
An ere I can I will require thee fully;
Farewell, I must also take my leave
Of my Flametta, we shall cry together
Like unto School Boys that are to be whipt.

Exit.
Hora.
Alas poor simple Trappolin, I pity
Thy fortune, yet 'tis better far then mine;
Of all mankind I am most miserable,
And lead a life would make a soul prove mortal,
Yet do I not repine: Most dear Prudentia,
I never can endure enough for thee,
So that at last I may attain my wishes:
There's not a grief mankind did ever suffer,
Nor pain, I would not pass to make thee mine;
Thou art the Centre of my wishes, all
Horatio's thoughts upon thy beauty fall.

Enter Prudentia.
Prud.
O Heavens, be merciful, and if I tell
Him I am his, let him say he is mine;
I have a fire within my breast must out,
Longer I cannot hide it, if he now
Do's not wooe me, I shall solicite him.
How sad a pace he walks? how melancholy
Do's he look? Love compels us unto things
In others we would scorn; I'le speak unto him,
Because I fear he dares not unto me.
Brunetto.

Hora.
Divinest Lady.

Prud.
I thought a Gentleman (for so I guess you)
Could have endured affliction better far,
That in the wars durst venter so his person.

Hora.
Most Excellent Princess, many thousand men
Can suffer well the dangers of a battel,
But there are few or none at all that can
Bear out the passions of a mind afflicted.

Prud.
Then you are discontent: Alas, you long for
Your liberty, and (truth) I cannot blame you.

Hora.
Then should I hate my self, being a slave to one
Whom I desire evermore to serve.
Ye that command the destinies of men,
Now let me die, and if I shall not prosper:
Know, Noblest Lady, that the prisoner
That speaks unto you is a Prince by birth;
I am Horatio, second son unto
The Duke of Savoy, and the Piemondt Prince;
At Mantoa the fame of your perfections
Captiv'd my soul, and when that I was took,
I did account my self a happy man,
Being to go where you did live; I know,
Most dearest Princess, that I am unworthy
So great a happiness as is your love;
Yet if you deny me, witness heaven,
I never will return unto Turin,
But here die languishing for your refusal.
The Duke my father soon would pay my ransom,
But thraldom for your sake I have esteemed
Above liberty and pleasures of a Court.

Prud.
My thanks, most gracious heavens—Brunetto is
A Prince, most worthy brave Horatio,
I scorn to dally with my happiness,
Like some that love to counterfeit their joys;
Know I do love thee dear as my own soul,
And that if thou hadst now been silent, I
My heart unto thee had disclosed, live happy,
And if it in my power lies thou shalt.

Hora.
Doubt, fear, despaire be gone, I am a man
That envy not the blessed lives of Kings;
Now she hath dain'd to say these happy words,
I care not though all mankind threaten me.
Most excellent and mercifullest Lady,
Y'ave raised me to a joy beyond my thoughts,
May all the Gods require you for this goodness,
And I wear out my life to do you service.

Prud.
My dear Horatio enough, I doubt not
Thy affections equal unto mine; we will
Love while we live, and may we dye forgotten
When we do cease to love, say I not well?

Hora.
Admired Princess, you out-speak me much,
But never shall out-love me.

Prud.
Heavens be kind,
And make us in two bodyes have one mind.

Exeunt.