University of Virginia Library

Actus secunda.

Scena prima.

Enter Captain Crack-stone, disguised like a Schoolmaister, in the apparell of Pedante., with a book in his hand.
Crack-stone.
Softe , for it is night, I must not make any noyse I trowe:
Me thinks this apparell makes me learnd, which of all these Starres doo I knowe.
Yonder is the green Dog, and the blew Beare,
Harry Horners Girdle, and the Lyons eare.
Me thinkes I should spowt Lattin before I beware,
Argus mecum insputare?
Cur Canis tollit poplitem,
Cum mingit in parietem?
Alice tittle tattle Mistres Victoriaes Maid:
If I speake like the Schoolmaister, shee will neuer be afraid.
As soon as she opens the doore to let mee in:
With my Ropericall aliquanci I will begin.
Swinum, Velum, Porcum. Graye-goosorum iostibus:
Rentibus dentibus, lofadishibus, come after vs.
Enter Fedele and Pedante.
I haue berayed my selfe I think with speaking so high:
This is Sir Fedele that is so nigh.
Till he be past it were not good for mee to appeere:
Therfore Ile slip into the Temple, and hide me in the Tombe that standeth heere.

Fedele.
Too straunge it is, that when I should reioyce,
A chilling feare dooth flit through euery vaine:
And when I hope to heare Victoriaes voice,
Doubt throwes me downe into dispaire again.
The comfort that she gaue me, was so colde:
That for my life I dare not be too bolde.

Pedante.
Degeneres animos timor arguit, faint hart neuer wun faire Lady they say:
And Amor odit inertes, take that by the way.
Seeing shee appointed this time, forward with a courage, neuer stand you in doubt:
Imagination many times fetcheth wunders about.
Not because it changeth the course of the thing you would finde:
But because it dooth rule and gouern the minde.

Fedele.
I shiuer still, come beare me company,
Untill thou seest mee nearer to the doore:
Thy speech dooth giue me comfort mightily,
And egges me on vnto it more and more.

Pedante.
Andate allegramente, you are right vnder her windowe now:
What shall I doo, will you haue me to leaue you?

Fedele.
Not so, but stay vntill thou seest me in:
To giue the signe I purpose to begin.
Heer let him either taste a Flute or whistle, at the sound wherof: Victoria comes to the windowe, and throwes out a letter,

---

which Fedele taketh vp, and reades it at the lamp which burneth in the Temple.
What meaneth this? a letter: woe is mee,
Where shall I read it? light within the Temple I doo see.

Pedante.
This greeting me thinkes is none of the best:
I see by his countenaunce he likes not the rest.

Fedele.
Ah cruell Dame that can dissemble so,
Dye poore Fedele, life thou must forgoe.

Pedante.
What newes in your letter Sir, tell mee?

Fedele.
Read it thy selfe and see.

Pedante
readeth the Letter

La mia mala fortuna m'ha fatto d'auenire cosa che meglio sarebbe
ch'io non fussi nata, m'incresce non poter attenderui la
promessa, ma piú mi duole, che mi sia tolta la commodita del
vederui, perô se m'amate, non passate mai piú di qua, perche
sarete causa della mia rouina.

Pedante interprets the Letter.
This is strange vpon strange, your dayes are out worne,
“My fortune is such, that it had been better for mee I had neuer been borne.
“I am sory that I can not stand to my woord:
“And more sory, that fortune to mee will not your presence affoord.
“Sith I am rob'd of your company whome moste I desire:
“If you looue mee come no more this way, for breeding my trouble, and kindling of fier.
Heer is a sleeueles aunswer with all my hart,
You haue your errand Sir, now when you wil you may departe.

Fedele.
It cannot bee, but that Victoria hath an other looue:
Therfore I purpose presently, her priuie sleights to prooue.

Pedante.
You are the fearfullest gentleman that euer I knewe:
It is impossible that should be true.
Your owne doubtfulnes tangles you still in the briers,
Did I neuer teach you: That a woman denies that in showe, which in deed shee desires.
Are all those horrible othes which so oft shee hath sworne,
Any likelihode that shee would leaue you forlorne?
Remember her teares and her pitifull lookes:
If shee looue you not still, I dare burne my bookes.

Fedele.
No no, her othes and teares, and lookes, and all thou canst repeat
Were but as shadowes finely cast, to couer her deceit.
But sith I finde her as shee is, I will reuenge the wrong:
Or dye the death in this attempt, because I liue too long.

Pedante.
You are to hasty a Soldier, too the battaile to goe,
If you will be reuenged ere your enemy you knowe.

Fedele.
Mine enemies I purpose straight to try,
Hide thee within some priuie corner heer:
Be dilligent to mark who passeth by,
And if that any other man appeere
Either to enter, or to issue out,
Mark what he is, and put mee out of doubt.

Exit.
Pedante.
Farwell Sir, commit the care to my hande,
As close as I can, in this place I will stand.
Unseen vnto any, yet vewing of all:
A pretty scowte set to take a knaue in a pit-fall.
Yonder come some, whatsoeuer they bee,
Stand close Pedante, that no body see.

Scena secunda.

Enter Medusa, Victoria, and Attilia, disguised like Nunnes, with lighted Tapers in their handes.
Crack-stone liftes vp his head out of the Tombe, and ducks downe againe, speaking this as followeth.
Crack-st.
A rope on these passengers, I am in a miserable plight,
I think I shall not get out of this place this night.

Medusa.
Tis almoste one a clock, the fittest houre to binde the Sprites:
And compas euery thing, that best may further your delights.

Victoria.
Then let vs goe.

Pedante.
O che cricca di vacche? what cattell haue we heare?
Be they women, or deuils in the likenes of women that appeare?

Attilia.
Mistres take heed we be not spide, for that may breed vs harme:

Victoria.
No, no, but like a sorte of Nunnes vnto the Church we swarme.

Medusa.
Enter the Chappell, we will make as though we ment to pray:

Victoria.
Read good Medusa.

Pedante.
Ah miserable Pedante, would I were away,
I quiuer so fast, that I feele no ground:
Tis a company of witches I hould forty pound.

Victoria,
When begin you sweet hart?

Attilia.
Make haste you had need,
The day will approche, and the night gon with speed.

Pedante.
A rope on them all, they goe a catter-walling I trow,
Whome they meane to torment I would gladly knowe.

Medusa.
This water and this oyle I haue, is coniured as you see,
In the name of those Sprites that written on this Image bee.
Now must I write the name of him whom you so much doo loue:
Then binde these sprites, him to the like affection for to moue.
I charge you as you meane to purchase fauour in his sight:
And by the vertue of mine art, tell me his name aright.

Victoria.
Fortunio.

Pedante.
Thats he that dooth my maister Fedele disgrace,
And this is Victoria disguised in place.

Medusa.
Your name vpon the brest, his on the forehead must I write,
Then coniure, now it is the stillest time of all the night.

Victoria.
Doe so.

Medusa.
I coniure thee thou waxen Image heere,
By Venus fruitfull wombe that Cupid bare:
That in Fortunios name thy force appeare,
To comfort fayre Victoria ful of care.
That by the vertue of mine Art thou be:
In this her greef a present remedy:
I coniure thee Fortunio at the length,
By head, eyes, eares, thy liuer and thy hart:
Thy Guttes, thy vaines, flesh, blood, bones, sinewes, strength,
Thy lights, thy lungs, feet, hands, and euery parte.
That presently thy brest be set on fier:
And all thy bowels boyle with hot desire.
Look that by night thou take no quiet rest,
By day thou lothe thy comfortable food:
Let euery ioy be daggers to thy brest,
See, heare, and touch naught that may doo thee good.
Til fancy make thee for a louer meet,
And throw thee down before Victoriaes feet.
Look that she neuer passe out of thy minde,
But paint her heauenly face in euery thought:
Looue her aboue all Creatures of her kinde,
Prosper not, till by thee her ioyes be wrought.
But waste as this melts at the candles flame:
Amen, fiat, fiat, in Cupidoes name.

Victoria.
What haue you doon? and is the Spirit come vp that you do call?

Pedante.
The greatest Feend of hell come and take you all.

Medusa.
With oyle of Uirgin waxe I thee annointe,
And signe, and marke thee with the holy Crosse:
In Venus name, I water euery ioynt.
That looue by thee may neuer suffer losse.

Victoria.
Now haue you doon?

Medusa.
It must be prickt, and set in greater heat:
Then the Spirits bound, before it doo the feat.

Attilia.
Make haste.

Medusa.
I Coniure you yee Sprites, whose names are on this Image writ:
And now rehearse you one by one, in order as you sit.
Nettabor, Temapttor, Vigilator, Somniator, Astarot, Berliche,
Buffon, Amachon, Suchon, Sustani, Asmodeus.

Pedante.
Ottomanus, Sophye, Turke, and the great Cham:
Robin goodfellowe, Hobgoblin, the deuill and his dam.
O vi possono portar in precipitio.

Medusa.
I coniure you, you foule infernall knot of baser Sprites,
By the moste Mighty power and force of that great God of looue:
Bothe by the Bowe and dreadfull dint of all his feathered Flights,
And by his wingges, and by the smoake of loouers scalding sighes.
And by the smart and sorowe, that this troubled dame dooth prooue:
By all the Planets that our hartes, to hate or liking mooue.
By the desires of her that hath Victoria vnto name:
By Venus Fillet, and the goulden pleasures of her game.
Breake loose I say, and trudge with hasty foot out of your denne,
Hunt and pursue, besturre your selues to seek Fortunio out:
Forsake with speed the stincking fogge of that your vgly fenne,
Possesse, and chace him, see that you returne no more again,
Till you haoue brught him down and humbled him, if he be stout,
Driue him with your tormenting gnawe, the Citie round about.
Goe make his bed of Thistles, and his seat of pricking thorne:
Untill you bring him hether vnto her that is forlorne.

Victoria.
Haue you doon Medusa?

Medusa.
Now must I stick a needle in his hart,
And prick him with the point, before we parte.

Attilia.
I pray you prick him well.

Medusa.
If that I strike the needle through, the gentleman will dye:

Victoria.
Then spare him good Medusa, touch him tenderly.

Heer they throw their candles into the Tombe where Crack-stone lyeth.
Medusa.
Now haue I doon, follow and throw your Tapers out of hand,
Into this Tombe that as you see, hard by vs heer dooth stand:
Set fier vnto their feet, and toast the corses of the dead,
That long haue slept within this place since they were buried.

Victoria.
But will this make him come, and then submit him selfe to mee?

Medusa.
Mistres it wil, and you th'euent therof shall shortly see:

Crack-stone riseth out of the Tombe with one candel in his mouth, and in eche hand one. The women and Pedante fly, crying the deuil the deuil. The women let fall the Image, and Crack-stone taketh it vp.
Crack-stone.
All is mine, ho, ho. ho. All is mine,
Diuils were smocks, in this latter time.
Such sights, as among the bones of the dead in this Tombe I haue seen:
Would haue made any man but my selfe,
out of his wittes to haue been.
Good Lord: once me thought I saw my Grandam trot round about
me in her gray peticote and her red cap,
Neuer since I was borne, was I taken in such a trap.
Another time me thought I saw the soules,
of all them that died for loue,
Cry out vpon Lady Uengeance, one that was such a fair
woman as nothing could moue.
Little Cuprit him selfe in the bottome of hell:
Curst fayer Lady Pilcher, for burning his skin with a Lamprell.
This coniugation put me in a terrible feare,
If it had continued longer, Termagant, Rawhead, Roste-meat, and
Eatbread, and all the armies of Deuils had been heer.
Whats this? somwhat I perceaue they haue let fall for haste,
An Image in waxe very pretely caste.
Fortunio is written in the forhead of the same,
And iumpe vpon his belly Victoriaes name.
This falleth out very well for me,
I'le sende this to Fedele that he and Fortunio the same may se.
This will make them to hate her wonderfully,
Then shall I haue her in spight of the pye.
What haue we here? a needle in his heart,
And names of Augrem writte round about it with Margaris arte.
Nettabor, Temptator, Vigilator, and Buffon.
They come, they come, they come, tis time to be gone.

Run away.

Sena tertia.

Enter victoria and Attilia.
Victoria.
In such a feare at rising of the spirites wee all were cast,
That being scarde, we lost our way and Image too at last.
I maruell where Medusa is?

Attilia.
Shee tooke her to her heeles,
And time I trowe, for all ye world me thought did rūne on wheeles.

Victoria.
Sith this enchanting takes no place, go seeke Fortunio streighte,
And tell him that to speake with him his pleasure I do wayte.
A worde or two will serue my turne, goe seeke him out of hand,

Attilia.
Where shall I seeke him? for I knowe not where his house doth stand.

Victoria.
By ye Piazza, there I am sure yt thou shalt see him walke,
Spending the time with one or other of his friends in talke.

Attilia.
I goe.

Exit.

Sena quarta.

Enter Fedele whispering with Pedante.
Victoria.
I was so troubled in my minde, with fright of sudden feare,
That yet I feele my sinewes shake, and tremble euery where.
Alas looke where Fedele comes, I cannot scape vnseene,
He is importunate, I knowe not how to ridde me of him cleene.

Fedele.
Ah cursed dames, their loue is like a flame,
Quiuering in th'Ayre betweene too blastes of wynde,
Borne here and there, by either of the same.
Yet properly to none of both enclinde.
Hate and disdaine is painted in their eyes,
Deceit and treason in their bosome lies.
Their promises are made of brittle glasse,
Grounde with a fillop to the finest dust,
Their thoughtes as streaming riuers swiftly passe.
Their wordes are oyle, and yet they gather rust.
Their vertues mount like billowes to the skyes,
And vanish straight out of the gazers eyes.
True are they neuer founde but in vntrueth,
Constant in naught, but in inconstancie,
The common foes of weale, and fluddes of rueth.
Deuouring cankers of mans libertie.
Here doth the staine of modestie abide:
And shrowdingly desires her selfe to hide.
But get thee streight to Sir Fortunio.
Will him to come and speake a word with me,
Haste and poste haste with speede see that thou goe,
That he this treacherie may quickely see.
Meane while on her whose face beginnes to glow:
The burden of my brest I meane to throw.

Pedante.
Then take you this Image of waxe that you see,
Crackstone the Captaine deliuered it to mee.
Being his turne as he said for to watch this night,
And breaking vp sentinel when it began to be light.
This Image he tould me in the streete he founde,
Lying harde by the chappell vpon the grounde.
This is the same that was made to inchante Fortunio,
Beholde it and see whether I say trueth or no.

Fedele.
He plowghes the seas, and fishes in the lande,
And loseth all the labour of them both,
He fondly reares his fortresse on the sande.
That buildes his trust vpon a womans troth.
But get thee hence about thy businesse,
That I may talke with this my good mistresse.

Pedante.
A Dio.

Exit.
Victoria.
Well met good Sir Fedele, whats the cause
Of these your troubled lookes that I beholde,
What rain is threatned by these stormy flawes:
Which by your gate, and gesture you vnfolde?
Is looue the spark that kindels all this fier:
Or doo you lack the fruit of your desire?

Fedele.
The cause that sets my gestures out of frame,
Is in your selfe if you doo search the same.

Victoria.
And why good Sir?

Fedele.
What make you heer so early in the street?

Victoria.
My longing thoughts did prophesie, that heer I should you meet.

Fedele.
Not mee but Sir Fortunio: you know this I am suer:
Shew her the Image.
And what by magick you haue doon, his fauour to procure.
I neuer thought so fayre a dame, had been so foule within,
But sith continued seruice, had no force thy grace to win:
Be suer vnthankful wretch, periur'd and moste disloyall dame:
I will not rest, before I bee reuenged of the same.
This to Fortunio presently I purpose shall be shown:
And open brute of thy reproche, throughout the Citie blown.
All that in Naples dwell this day, shall wunder at this deed,
And euery wounding tung shall make thine honor now to bleed.
My selfe will help to teare the hart, out of thy body quick,
And giue thy crimson coulered blood, vnto the dogs to lick.
So liuely wil I blaze thee out, to euery gazers eye:
That though thy carcas rot and waste, thy shame shall neuer dye.
As busy will I bee to plague thee more then is exprest:
As thou wast cunning to deceiue the man that lou'd thee best.

Victoria.
I think you are disposed to iest, and make some triall heere,
How trimly you can tread aloft to thunder in mine eare.
For when I slide into my selfe, and there examine well,
What I haue doon, I finde I neuer from Fedele fell.
And yet I see your hart still workes, by which I doo suspect,
Some Sicophants would make you, your Victoria to reiect.
But pacience is a vertue, as the woorthiest wits doo say,
My loue to you, deserues not that you vttred heer this day.

Fedele.
Yes that, and more, in thee's no trueth, loue, faith, nor loyaltye,
But lies, dessembling, falshood, hate, sin, shame, and sorcery.
Bestur thy selfe, enchaunt, and coniure now and doo thy woorst,
The day thow knewst vs both, shall shortly be by thee accurst.

Victoria.
I am not priuy vnto this, nor know Fortunio.
Ah poore Victoria thou art caught, alas what shall I doo?
Now counsaile me Attilia, Attilia, is not heer:
Where be my gallants now, will not Crack-stone appeare?
Now is the time for thee Crack-stone my hart to gaine,
Oh saue my life, and him dispatch that dooth mine honor staine.
Doo this and then I wll be thine, and listen to thy sute,
But til that I may speak with him, tis best that I be mute.
Farwell Sir, be not rash, but Iudge, I cannot answere much:
More you shall know when time hath tried, my truth by perfect tuch. A Dio.

Exit.
Fedele.
A diauolo.
As I haue known thee, so shall Sir Fortunio know thee straight,
For whome I sent, and heer he comes, whose comming I doo wait.

Scena quinta.

Enter Fortunio with Pedante.
Pedante.
Est mora damnosa, pray let vs away,
For yonder my Maister your comming dooth stay.

Fortunio.
Sir Fedele God saue you.

Fedele.
And you Sir Fortunio,
I was so bolde to charge my man, vnto your house to goe.
Matters of waight I haue to you, of freendship to imparte:

Fortunio.
My leasure serues, and I will stand, to heer withall my hart.

Fedele.
Not so, but sith it asketh time, if you will take the pain,
To walke with mee vnto my house, there wil I tell you plain.
Both what I saw and heard of late, which toucheth you so neer:
That you will giue mee thanks I know, when you the matter heer

Fortunio.
Goe when you please Il'e beare you company,

Fedele.
Pedante you may walke abroad, till Dinner draweth ny.

Exeunt Fedele & Fortunio arme in arme.
Pedante.
With a good wil Sir, thats the thing I desire,
But if I meet not Attilia, the fat is in the fier.
For my Maisters sake, I began to loue her in iest,
And may chaunce to swallow a Gudgion in earnest.
For loue is a Fox, he beginneth at first by dalliance and play:
Then encreaseth his gettings euery day.
Enter Attilia.
Oh deus adiunxit nostris sua numina votis.
Beholde I beseech you my delicate Mistris.
Somewhat hanges in the winde, that makes her to lower,
What ayle you sweete hearte why looke you so sower?

Attilia.
My mistresse weepes.

Pedante.
Heighe ho, whats the cause?

Attilia.
She bade me seeke a friend of hers, with whom I can not meete,

Pedante.
Apply warme clothes to her stomacke, and looke that she take no colde of her feete.

Attilia.
Are you a Phisition?

Pedante.
I forsooth for a woman.

Attilia.
So me thought by the talke, that before you did moue,
I pray Sir, what was it you sayde of loue.

Pedante.
Est Deus in nobis agitante calescimus illo.
I dare not tell you the meaning, lest I make your cheekes gloe.
But if it be true that the Poet doeth sing,
He is not a man that feeles not loues sting.
I will be in loue as soone as I can,
Because I would haue euery body count me a man.

Attilia.
I heard a tale of Florio, not scarse three or foure dayes paste,
And Biancofiore whose sweete loue was hony to my taste.

Pedante.
Is loue so delitious,

Attilia.
It is, I assure ye,

Pedante.
Then I am in loue,

Attilia.
With whome I pray thee.

Pedante.
With thee my delight,

Attlia.
I am sorie, you take not your marke aright.
Stande backe Pedante thou presumste, I am not as you deeme,
So quickly wonne, my name and honour lightly to esteeme.

Pedante.
Discourtesie killes me.

Proffer to embrace her.
Attilia.
Away when I bid yee.

Pedante.
Ah,

Here let him counterfaite the passion of loue by lookes and iesture.
Attilia.
Shewe all the passions that you can, yet will not I be wonne,
To serue you as a friend of mine to one of late hath done.
For louing one, as might be you, order to him she gaue,
In beggers weede to come to the doore, an almes of her to craue.
And so he did, she let him in, but what was his rewarde,
I cannot tell, hearing the tale I did not it regarde.
I gesse they drunke a posset when her mistresse was a sleepe,
Come not you so to me, our doores I purpose fast to keepe.

Pedante.
Dauus sum non Aedipus, in parables now she begins to flow,
I may chance to trye whether I shalbe welcome or no.
Farewell mistresse Attilia, I am to proude my selfe vnto begging to frame,

Exit.
Attilia.
So continue leste at laste you repent the same.
Now he is gone, Crackstone the captaine I must finde,
And to bring him to my mistresse straight to vnderstād her minde.
Long hath he sued to be her slaue, now must he shew the same,
And set himselfe against Fedele to remoue her shame.
Enter Crack-st
Good lucke, he comes.

Crack-st.
Nay looke for no more Lattin now my gowne is gone,
My learning with my reparrell goes off and on.
I would I could meete with master Pedayntrye,
To knowe what his maister saith to the chauntrye.
I beleeue it is as heauy as lead to reieste,
And therefore while time serues me to take the same I were best.
Nowe will I to winne mistresse Victoria take some payne,
While she is quite out of fauour with them twayne.
Yonders her mayde, I'le salute her by and bye,
Mistresse alice title tatle, well met of mine honestie.
How doeth your mistresse.

Attilia.
As well as she may,
And very desirous to speake with you to day.

Crack-st.
What would she?

Attilia.
I knowe not.

Crack-st
Doe you speake as you thinke?

Attilia.
I haue no cause Sir from the trueth to shrinke.

Crack-st
I knowe not what I should say, for she doeth me iniurie,
That regardeth no more my seruice and brauerie.

Attilia.
Oh say not so Sir:

Crack-
Why am I not braue?

Attilia.
Yes indeed, and a propperer man she can neuer haue.

Crack-st.
I will not sticke for her sake to pull Iuniper and all the gods frō the skye,
If I may see that my portnance doth please her eye.
Euery woman that on earth at this day doth liue,
Is more beholding to me, then to her parents that life vnto her did giue.

Attilia.
Why Sir?

Crack-st
They gaue them life that passeth away,
And I giue them ioyes that neuer decay.

Attilia.
How proue you that?

Crack-st.
I am so terrebinthinall and play such reakes when I come to the feeld:
That mine enemies choose rather to murder them selues then to yeeld.
Wherby their Damned soules haue so pestered all hell:
That ther's no roome left for women to dwell.
Thus being thrust out of the place that is theirs by right:
They are constraind into heauen to take their flight.

Attilia.
I confes that this benefit is so great,
That my tung is not able your praise to repeat.

Crack-st.
Besides that, I haue as good luck as any man of my sise,
To finde fauour and freendship in Gentlewomens eyes.
I thank them they flout me to my face, when no other they mock,
This was my fathers craft, for he euer made my Mother to wrap mee in her smocke.
Giue me good luck and throw mee into the Seas,
Where women take a pitch, it is easy to please.

Attilia.
Truth Sir, but will you goe too my Mistres with mee,

Crack-st.
With an almond hart my girle I wil follow thee.

Exeunt.
The second Act beeing ended, the Consorte soundeth again.