University of Virginia Library

Act. 2.

Scæn. 1.

Enter Dutchess and Celia.
Dutch.
Seek out the lightest colours can be got;
The youthful'st dressings; Tauny is too sad.
I am not thirty yet, I have wronged my time,
To go so long in black, like a Petitioner.
See that the Powder that I use about me,
Be rich in Cassia.

Cel.
Here's a sudden change.

Dutch.
Oh I'm undone in Faith: Stay, art thou certain
Lactantio, Nephew to the Cardinal,
Was present in the late entertainment of the General?

Cel.
Upon my reputation with your Excellence,
These eyes beheld him: He came foremost, Madam,
'Twas he in black and yellow.

Dutch.
Nay, 'tis no matter, either for himself
Or for the affectation of his colours,
So you be sure he was there.

Cel.
As sure as sight
Can discern man from man, Madam.

Exit.
Dutch.
It suffices.
Oh an ill cause had need of many helps,
Much art, and many friends, I, and those mighty,
Or else it sets in shame. A Faith once lost,
Requires great cunning, er't be entertain'd
Into the Brest of a belief again.
There's no condition so unfortunate,
Poor, miserable, to any Creature given,
As hers that breaks in vow, she breaks with Heaven:

Enter Lord Cardinal.
L. Card.
Increase of health, and a redoubled courage
To Chasteties great Soldier: what so sad Madam?
The memorie of her seven yeares deceased Lord
Springs yet into her eyes, as fresh and full
As at the seaventh houre after his departure:
What a perpetual Fountain is her vertue?
Too much to afflict your self with ancient sorrow
Is not so strictly for your strength requird:
Your vow is charge enough, beleive me 'tis Madam,
You need no waightier task.

Dutch.
Religious Sir,
You heard the last words of my dying Lord.

L. Card.
Which I shall nev'r forget.

Dutch.
May I entreat
Your goodness but to speake'em over to me
As neere as memory can befriend your utterance,
That I may think a while I stand in presence
Of my departing Husband.

L. Card.
What's your meaning?
In this most vertuous Madam?

Dutch.
'Tis a curtesie
I stand in need of Sir, at this time specially,
Urge it no further yet; as it proves to me,
You shall hear from me, onely I desire it
Effectually from you Sir, that's my request.

L. Card.
I wonder, yet I'll spare to question farther.
You shall have your desire.

Dutch.
I thank you Sir.
A blessing come along with't.

L. Card.
You see my Lords, what all Earths glory is
Rightly defin'd in me, uncertain breath;
A dream of threescore years to the long sleeper,
To most not half the time. Beware Ambition,
Heaven is not reach'd with Pride, but with submission.
And you Lord Cardinal labor to perfect
Good purposes begun, be what you seem,
Stedfast, and uncorrupt, your actions noble,
Your goodness simple, without gain or art,
And not in vesture hollier then in heart.
But 'tis a pain, more then the pangs of death,
To think that we must part, Fellows of life.
Thou richness of my joys, kinde and deer Princess.
Death had no sting, but for our separation,
T'would come more calm then an ev'nings peace,
That brings on rest to labors: Thou art so precious,
I should depart in everlasting envy
Unto the man, that ever should enjoy thee:
Oh a new torment strikes his force into me,
When I but think on't, I am rack'd and torn,
Pity me in thy vertues.

Dutch.
My lov'd Lord,
Let you confirm'd opinion of my life,
My love, my faithful love, seal an assurance
Of quiet to your spirit, that no forgetfulness
Can cast a sleep so deadly on my Sences,
To draw my affections to a second liking.

L. Card.
'T'as ever been the promise, and the spring
Of my great love to thee. For once to marry
Is honorable in woman, and her ignorance
Stands for a vertue, coming new and fresh;
But second marriage shews desires in flesh:
Thence lust, and heat, and common custom grows,
But she's part Virgin, who but one man knows.
I here expect a work of thy great Faith,
At my last parting, I can crave no more,
And with thy vow, I rest my self for ever,
My soul and it shall flie to Heaven together:
Seal to my spirit, that quiet satisfaction,
And I go hence in Peace.

Dutch.
Then here I vow, never.

L. Card.
Why Madam?

Dutch.
I can go no further.

L. Card.
What have you forgot your vow?

Dutch.
I have, too certainly.

L. Card.
Your vow? that cannot be; it follows now,
Just where I left.

Dutch.
My frailty gets before it,
Nothing prevails but ill.

L. Card.
What ail you Madam?

Dutch.
Sir, I'm in love.

L. Card.
Oh all you powers of Chastity,
Look to this woman, let her not faint now
For honor of your selves: If she be lost,
I know not where to seek my hope in woman.
Madam, Oh Madam.

Dutch.
My desires are sickned
Beyond recovery of good counsel Sir.

L. Card.
What mischeif ow'd a malice to the Sex,
To work this spightful ill; better the man
Had never known Creation, then to live
Th'unlucky ruine of so fair a Temple;
Yet think upon your vow, revive in Faith,
Those are eternal things. What are all pleasures,
Flatteries of men, and Follies upon Earth
To your most excellent goodness? Oh she's dead,
Stark cold to any vertuous claim within her.
What now is heat, is sins. Have I approved
Your constancy for this, call'd your Faith noble,
Writ volumes of your victories and vertues?
I have undone my judgment, lost my praises,
Blemish'd the truth of my opinion.
Give me the man, that I may pour him out
To all contempt and curses.

Dutch.
The mans innocent,
Full of desert and grace, his name Lactantio.

L. Card.
How?

Dutch.
Your Nephew.

L. Card.
My Nephew!

Dutch.
Beshrew the sight of him; he lives not Sir,
That could have conquer'd me, himself excepted.

L. Card.
He that I lov'd so dearly, does he wear
Such killing poyson in his eye to sanctity?
He has undone himself for ever by't,
Has lost a friend of me, and a more sure one.
Farewel all natural pitty, though my affection
Could hardly spare him from my sight an hour,
I'll lose him now eternally, and strive
To live withont him; he shall straight to Rome.

Dutch.
Not if you love my health, or life, my Lord.

L. Card.
This day he shall set forth:

Dutch.
Dispatch me rather.

L. Card.
I'll send him far enough.

Dutch.
Send me to death first.

L. Card.
No Basilisk that strikes dead pure affection
With venemous eye, lives under my protection.

Exit.
Dutch.
Now my conditions worse then ev'r 'twas yet,
My cunning takes not with him: Has broke through
The Net, that with all art was set for him,
And left the snarer here herself intangled
With her own toils. Oh what are we poor souls,
When our dissembling fails us? Surely Creatures
As full of want, as any Nation can be
That scarce have food to keep bare life about 'em:
Had this but took effect, what a fair way
Had I made for my love to th'General,
And cut of all suspect, all reprehension?
My hopes are kill'd i'th'blossom.

Exit.

Scæn. 3.

Enter L. Cardinal.
L. Card.
Let me think upon't,
Set holy anger by a while, there's time
Allow'd for natural argument: 'Tis she
That loves my Nephew, she that loves, loves first;
What cause have I to lay a blame on him then?
He's in no fault in this; say 'twas his fortune
At the free entertainment of the General,
'Mongst others the deserts and hopes of Milan,
To come into her sight, where's th'offence yet?
What sin was that in him? man's sight and presence
Are free to publick view: She might as well
Have fixed her hearts love then upon some other,
I would t'had lighted any where but there,
Yet I may erre to wish't, since it appears
The hand of Heaven, that onely pickt him out
To reward vertue in him by this Fortune,
And through affection I'm half conquer'd now,
I love his good, as dearly as her vow,
Yet there my credit lives in works and praises:
I never found a harder fight within me,
Since zeal first taught me war, say I should labor
To quench this love, and so quench life and all;
As by all likelihood it would prove her death:
For it must needs be granted, she affects him
As dearly, as the power of love can force,
Since her vow aws her not, that was her Saint.
What right could that be to Religion
To be her end, and disposes my Kinsman;
No I will bear in pity to her heart,
The rest commend to Fortune, and my Art.

Exit.

Scæn. 4.

Enter Father, Governor, Aurelia, and Andrugio disguised.
Gover.
I like him passing well.

Fath.
He's a tall fellow.

Andr.
A couple of tall wits: I have seen some service Sir.

Gover.
Nay so it seems by thy discourse good-fellow.

Andr.
Good-fellow, calls me theif familiarly:
I could shew many marks of resolution,
But modesty could wish'em rather hidden:
I fetcht home three and twenty wounds together
In one set battel, where I was defeated
At the same time of the third part of my Nose,
But meeting with a skilful Surgeon;
Took order for my snuffling.

Gover.
And a Nose
Well heal'd, is counted a good cure in these days,
It saves many a mans honesty, which else
Is quickly drawn into suspition.
This night shall bring you acquainted with your charge;
In the mean time you and your valors welcome.
Would we had more store of you, although they come
With fewer marks about 'em.

Fath.
So wish I Sir.

Exeunt Father and Governor.
Andr.
I was about to call her; and she stays
Of her own gift, as if she knew my minde;
Certain she knows me not, not possible.

Aur.
What if I left my token, and my Letter
With this strange fellow, so to be convey'd
Without suspition to Lactantio's servant:
Not so, I'll trust no fresh-man with such secrets;
His ignorance may mistake, and giv't to one
That may belong to th'General; for I know
He sets some spies about me, but all he gets
Shall not be worth his pains. I would Lactantio
Would seek some means to free me from this place,
'Tis prisonment enough to be a Maid;
But to be mew'd up too, that case is hard,
As if a Toy were kept, by a double guard.

Andr.
Away she steals again, not minding me.
'Twas not at me she offer'd: Hark you Gentlewoman.

Aur.
With me Sir?

Andr.
I could call you by your name;
But Gentle's the best attribute to woman.

Aur.
Andrugio, Oh as welcome to my Lips,
As morning Dew to Roses: My first love.

Andr.
Why have you more then?

Aur.
What a word was there?
More then thy self, what woman could desire
If reason had a part of her Creation?
For loving you, you see Sir I'm a prisoner;
There's all the cause they have against me Sir.
A happy persecution, I so count on't,
If any thing be done to me for your sake,
'Tis pleasing to me.

Andr.
Are you not abus'd,
Either through force, or by your own consent;
Hold you your honor perfect and unstain'd;
Are you the same still, that at my departure,
My honest thoughts maintain'd you to my heart?

Aur.
The same most just.

Andr.
Swear 't.

Aur.
By my hope of fruitfulness,
Love, and agreement, the three joys of marriage.

Andr.
I am confirm'd, and in requital on't,
Ere long expect your freedom.

Aur.
Oh you flatter me,
It is a wrong to make a wretch too happy,
So suddenly upon affliction.
Beshrew me, if I be not sick upon't;
'Tis like a surfeit after a great feast.
My freedom said you?

Andr.
Do'st o'rcome you so?

Aur.
Temptation never overcame a sinner
More pleasingly, then this sweet news my heart.
Here's secret joy can witness, I am proud on't.

Andr.
Violence I will not use, I come a friend,
'Twere madness to force that, which wit can end:

Aur.
Most vertuously deliver'd:

Andr.
Thou art in raptures:

Aur.
My love, my love.

Andr.
Most vertuously deliver'd,
Spoke like the sister of a Puritan Midwife:
Will you embrace the means that I have thought on,
With all the speed you can?

Aur.
Sir any thing.
You cannot name't too dangerous, or too homely.

Andr.
Fie, you over-act your happiness,
You drive slight things to wonders.

Aur.
Blame me not Sir,
You know not my affection:

Andr.
Will you hear me,
There are a sect of pilfring juggling people,
The vulgar tongue call Gipseys.

Aur.
True, the same Sir.
I saw the like this morning: Say no more Sir;
I apprehend you fully:

Andr.
What, you do not?

Aur.
No: Hark you Sir.

Andr.
Now by this light 'tis true:
Sure if you prove as quick as your conceit,
You'll be an exc'lent breeder.

Aur.
I should do reason by the Mothers side Sir,
If Fortune do her part, in a good Getter.

Andr.
That's not to do now (sweet) the man stands near thee.

Aur.
Long may he stand most fortunately Sir,
Whom her kinde goodness has appointed for me.

Andr.
A while I'll take my leave to avoid suspition:

Aur.
I do commend your course; good Sir forget me not.

Andr.
All comforts sooner.

Aur.
Liberty is sweet, Sir.

Andr.
I know there's nothing sweeter, next to love,
But health it self, which is the Prince of life.

Aur.
Your knowledge raise you Sir.

Andr.
Farewel till evening.
Exit Andrugio.

Aur.
And after that, farewel sweet Sir for ever.
A good kinde Gentleman to serve our turn with,
But not for lasting: I have chose a Stuff
Will wear out two of him, and one finer too:
I like not him that has two Mistresses;
War, and his sweet-heart, he can ne'r please both:
And War's a soaker, she's no friend to us,
Turns a man home sometimes to his Mistress,
Some forty ounces poorer then he went.
All his discourse out of the Book of Surgery,
Seer-cloth, and Salve, and lies you, all in Tents,
Like your Camp-Victlers: Out upon't, I smile
To think how I have fitted him with an office;
His love takes pains to bring our loves together,
Much like your man that labors to get treasure,
To keep his wife high for anothers pleasure.

Exit.