University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

Enter Mantua, Florence, Ferrara, Iulio, Prospero, and Dutchesse.
Man.
Lady, I understand and good tidings from you.

Dutch.
From me my Lord?

Man.
'Tis all one Madam, you at length are wonne
Unto a second marriage.

Dutch.
Hath Montecelso then told to the Duke
Of my free grant and yeelding to his love?

Man.
Sir, I must have you freely reconcil'd
To the Lord Iulio that hath put upon you
Such slanderous imputations.

Pro.
You my Lord
Can much with me, but were't for the reverence
I owe your Grace my sword had character'd
My wrong upon his body.

Man.
Come, all friends.

Iul.
My Lord, I yeeld my selfe, and here confess
In what high measure I have injur'd you.

Dutch.
That's too much to receive injury and make satisfaction too.

Flo.
He slandered you most vilely.

Fer.
Told the Duke
You were safe lodg'd within Valentia's Tower.

Flo.
Made us to girt the place with the Dukes Guard.

Fer.
And at the high'st of night search all her Lodgings
For you and th'Architector.

Pro.
But who found you?

Flo.
None but two sleeping Ladies, and they fast
Surpriz'd in innocent dreames.

Pro.
Was this wrong
To be endur'd?

Man.
Where the guilt's confest
There pardon is soone purchast.

Iul.
Ile not beleeve
But there's in this some jugling, some strange feat—

Enter Clowne.
Clo.

Roome for a bringer of ill news, for one that brings a
tale will offend all your noses, and a discourse that will distaste
all your eares; who knows this Hat? who knows this Doublet?
who knows this Cloake?

Dutch.
These were Lord Montecelso's; why my heart
Art thou struck cold with feare?

Pro.
These were my friends.

Man.
If I mistake not these belong'd to him
Whom I preferr'd to over-see my works,
What news of him?

Clo.

You that lov'd him, out with your eyes, and wipe your
handkerchers, and as you look upon this Cloake provide for a
shower of raine.

Flo.

Speake, what of him?

Clo.

He is dead, he is fled, he is not wounded, but he is drowned,
he is gone for ever, for he is leapt into the River.

Dutch.

Dead!

Pro.

Drown'd!

Man.

How came he drown'd? speake.

Clo.

Marry with water, belike it got into his mouth and
choak'd him.

Iul.

There's one gone yet.

Man.

I meane discourse the cause that urg'd him to't.

Clo.

As I was walking by the Rivers side, musing and meditating
on some passions incident to men of my complexion, I
spi'd this Gentleman starke staring mad, exclaiming on the
beauty of this faire Dutchess, saying, that he run mad for her
love; but because he would not be false to the Duke his Master,
that put him in trust, he would rather shew himselfe to be no
better than a drown'd Rat than deceive him, and so very courteously

casts away his Hat, very dolefully laies by his Cloake, very
dissolutely hurles off his Doublet, very desperately leaps into
the River, and very dangerously gives up the Ghost.

Pro.
It drives me to amazement,
And I am wrapt in wonder.

Dutch.
Oh my Fate!
I am of all the most unfortunate;
Ile not out-live him.

Man.
Wherefore doth my Dutchesse
Shew in her looks such sad distemperature?

Dutch.
I am lost, there steales a coldnesse through my bloud,
The Icy hand of death plaies on my breasts,
And where it toucheth turneth all to earth,
And I am doom'd—

Iul.
Look to the Lady, see she faints.

Flo.
How cheare you Lady?

Dutch.
Ha, am I call'd againe?
Then like a soule disturb'd in her departure,
And kept from rest and downie quietnesse,
Let me proclaime my anguish.

Fer.
Patience Lady.

Dutch.
Ile not be patient, give me leave to drowne
My soule in brine, and in a floud of teares
Swim to my Love.

Man.
The Dutchess is distracted.

Dutch.
I am so, I am desperate, frantick, mad,
Go call yon Architector from the deeps,
And he shall build a Castle in the aire,
Where we will live together 'midst the Clouds
And laugh at these poore mortals here on earth.

Iul.
The Ladie's mad.

Dutch.
You are deceiv'd, not I;
Cannot a Lady weepe, mourne, or lament,
Or spend a few teares o're a funerall hearse
But you will judge her frantique, pray give leave,
Which of you here can hinder me to weep?
I am a woman.

Clo.
I am a man.

Dutch.
Women command teares,
Then pray let me bestow some on a friend;
If you will dye go hang or drowne your selves,
Ile do the like for you.

Iul.
Yes, not for me.

Dutch.
Why should I weepe for thee if thou didst so,
Or thee, or thee, or any dotard here,
Yet if you please you may go try for me,
Ile clap at that well-acted Tragedy.

Exit.
Clo.
Oh save the woman, save the woman.

Man.
Follow her Iulio, see her well attended;
Sure she is Planet-struck, or some ill star
Hath in her bosome wrought this mutinous war.

Iul.
Ile see well to her safety.

Man.
Oh my Dutchesse!

Pro.
These are but womens passions,
And like a tempest, the more violent 'tis
'Twill be the sooner blown o'r.

Man.
So I hope.

Pro.
Feare not my Lord, perhaps she counterfeits
To know how you affect her, if in this
You will compassionate with her, and partake
In this supposed frenzie.

Man.
'Tis like so,
For if a man may trust a sleeping woman,
She loves me 'bove the world.

Pro.
My Lord I know it.

Man.
Nay, I know it too, Ile never else trust dreames.

Pro.
But leaving this, I have a sute unto your Grace.

Man.
Speake and prevaile deare friend.

Pro.
There is a Spanish Lady my first Love,
Who hearing of my residence with you,
Is travell'd thence to meet me in your Court,
I have notice that she shortly will arive;
My purpose is to feast her in my Lodging
So lately built, next to your Daughters Tower,
Where if it please you with these Lords to grace us,
And taste a homely banquet, I shall say
To you I am engaged every way.

Man.
I will not faile thee, nor shall these our friends,
Wee'l grace the Spanish Lady with our presence.

Clo.
I have a sute to your Grace.

Man.
Thy business Groome?

Clo.

That for the good news I have brought you I may have
some guerdon, some remuneration, as they say.

Man.
This thy reward be since by thy occasion
My Dutchess of her best wits is depriv'd,
Wander for ever like a banish'd Caine,
Till of her sence she be possest againe
Dare not so neare our Court. Come Lords, let's in
To cheere her sorrows, and her fate lament,
But to the man that can her frenzie cure
We here proclaime what e're he can demand,
If in the compasse of our populous Land.

Ex.
Clo.

Banish, what's that? can any man tell me what it means?
let me see; Banish'd sure is some strange language, and for any
thing I know the meaning of it may be, give him a hundred
Crowns, or give him two hundred Crowns; and banish'd the
Court may be come to the Court and there you shall receive
them; the Duke was not wont to give me such hard words; if
he had call'd me Rogue or Rascall, I had understood him, I had
had him to a haire, but the word banish'd doth a little stick in my
stomack; Banish'd! I will go seek out some wise man or other
to tell me what the the word meanes, and what sum of money I
may demand of the Dukes Treasurer; Banish'd—

Enter Montecelso.
Mon.

Save you sir.

Clo.

And you my friend, what are you?

Mon.

Sir I professe my selfe to be a wise man.

Clo.

Then you are the man that I desire to meet, for I was
seeking a wise man to tell me the meaning of a strange word.

Mon.
Unfold thy mind; I shall resolve thee truly
Lye it within the power of humane skill.

Clo.

Thus Stands the case: The Duke entertain'd a fellow to
looke to his buildings, and this fellow drown'd himselfe, it was
my fate to bring the news to the Court, which when the young

Dutchess heard, she grew presently as mad as a march Hare;
now demanding reward for my news, the Duke out of his
bounty said, he would banish me the Court; now I would faine
know what sum of money the word banish'd signifies.

Mon.
It signifies, that if thou dar'st presume
To come within the Court gate, thou incur'st
The Dukes displeasure, it is present death.

Clo.
You will not buy my reward sir, will you?

Mon.
Not I.

Clo.
Then I see thou art a wise man.

Mon.
But is the Dutchess frantique?

Clo.
Ile assure you she's a mad wench.

Mon.
And how did the Duke take it?

Clo.

Oh very discontentedly: and he hath proclaim'd to him
that can cure her of her frenzy to have the next thing he shall
aske without exception.

Mon.
But art thou sure 'tis true?

Clo.
I assure you my friend as true as I am banish'd.

Mon.
That cure Ile undertake, and so prevaile,
That I presume my cunning shall not faile.

Clo.

Now sir I have resolv'd you of all these doubts, can you
tell me how I shall bestow my selfe now I am banish'd?

Mon.
I can, I am a stranger in this City,
And I professe darke arts, Physick, and Negromancy,
And for a need can conjure; but direct me
Where I may lodge and freely use my Art,
Ile entertaine thee and supply thy wants
With all things needfull.

Clo.

As bountifull as wise; I am for you sir so you will teach
me wit; I have seen the Duke and his Court, but never to my
knowledge saw a wise-man afore, you are the first of the name
that ever I look'd on; but if it be nothing but a Lodging you
want, trust to me, I can furnish you with that at an houres
warning.

Mon.
Direct me to the place.

Clo.
That I will sir as well as I can,
Be you the wise Master, Ile be the wise man.

Mon.
Attend me then, her choice love I have found,
I made the hurt, and I can cure the wound.

Exeunt.
Enter Mantua, Florence, Ferrara, and Iulio.
Man.
Her fits encrease then dayly.

Iul.
They still grow,
Sometimes her eyes with salt teares over-flow;
She fills the house with Musique, and then wrings
Her Ivory hands, she dolefully laments,
At once expressing thousand discontents.

Man.
Proclaime to him that can her frenzy cure
The next thing he can aske.

Iul.
I shall my Lord.

Flo.

My Lord leave these discontents to some further leasure,
we are now at the strange Knights Lodging to give entertainment
to the Spanish Lady.

Fer.

True, we are his invited guests, and it is not fit that our
grievances should any way appeare to a stranger.

Man.
You counsell well, behold this is his Lodging—
And here's the Knight himselfe.

Enter Prospero.
Pro.
Welcome my Lord to a poore strangers Lodging,
My beautious Lady and my Love's arriv'd,
Whose grace I first wonne in a Turnament,
Bearing the prize from many Knights of Spaine;
Please you to grace me at a solemne feast
Which I prepar'd this day to welcome her,
You shall do much honour.

Man.
Knight I will,
And for thy sake respect her to her worth;
How dost thou like thy Lodging built so neare
This Castle where Valentia lies inclos'd?

Pro.
My Lord, 'tis well for prospect and for aire,
Hoboys
Wil't please you enter Lords, where be my servants.

Ex.
A Banquet.
Enter Mantua, Florence, Ferrara, Iulio, Prospero.
Man.
Is this the place?

Pro.
It is my Lord; but I must crave your pardon,
We want that order, and that entertainment,
That observation and decorum now
That 'longs to your estate and soveraignty,
Yet our good thoughts above our power are large
And full of zeale.

Man.
Come, th'art at too much charge.

Pro.
May it please your Highnesse to possesse your seat,
Homely your Viands, but your welcome's great.

Flo.
But where's the Lady?
She should be Mistris of the feast to day—

Enter Valentia like a Spanish Lady.
Fer.
She is not far, see yonder where she comes.

Man.
My Daughter.

Flo.
'Tis Valentia.

Iul.
Sure 'tis Valentia in this strange disguise.
Or can you once againe deceive my eyes?

Man.
My Daughter on my life, her eye, her brow,
Her every part; ha, are my eyes my own?
Here hang my keyes, the doores fast barr'd and lock'd;
Nor is she subtile spirit, compos'd aire,
To creep though key-holes, or to crawle through chinkes;
Tush, tush, one Lady may be like another,
And my suspect is causelesse.

Pro.
Let me entreat you
To take your seat, My Ladie's but a stranger,
And unacquainted with th'Italian guise.

Iul.
Observe her well my Lords.

Flo.
She hath her blush.

Fer.
Her lip, her front.

Iu.
The right trick of her eye.

Man.
But is it she, is't possible the Knight
Would be so bold, she so audacious?
It cannot be; come, now I take my place.

Pro.
In this your Highnesse doth your servant grace.

Val.

Echa nos de beuer dios benediga toda la Compania seias
& bien venido.

Man.
What saies the Lady?

Pro.
She cals for wine and bids you welcome all.

Man.
The very touch and accent of her tongue.

Val.
Signeur yo beuo au de buen coracon.

Man.
Her meaning.

Pro.
She drinks to you with a good heart.

Man.
Tell her I pledge gladly.

Iul.
Doubtlesse 'tis she, can it be otherwise?

Flo.
Why spend we time in cups and banquets here,
When faire Valentia must be needs transform'd
Unto this stranger-Lady.

Fer.
Still the more
That I observe her I am more confirm'd.

Iul.
'Tis she, some devill or witch else.

Man.
When face, and tongue, and each thing proves her mine,
Why should I doubt to challenge her? Ile suddenly
Call on her name, and if she answer to't
Dobtlesse 'tis she, Valentia—no.

Pro.
What meanes your Lordship?

Man.
Nothing, nay nothing; see the very Ring
Upon her finger, I can sit no longer;
My Lords, I must entreat your patience,
I have dropt a Jewell as I came along,
And must find it or it will go wrong.

Iul.
A Jewell lost.

Flo.
Let's help his Grace to seek it.

Pro.
Pray do my Lords.

Fer.
Some Torches there.

Pro.
Lights for the Lords, 'twas dropt sure by the way,
Help him to seeke it.

Iul.
Look well there in the Rushes.

Exeunt.
Pro.
Haste through the private doore, off with that habit;
If this passe currant we are past all feare,
Your Father's gone in post, why do you stay?

Val.
I have the odds, for mine's the nearer way;
Farewell sweet Prospero.

Exit.
Pro.
Seek till your eyes be blind,
You shall lose her though you the Jewell find;
How Fortune smiles upon our cunning shifts,
They are busie all at worke, the Duke himselfe
Is like a Jaylor gingling of his keyes,
Which serves her as a watch-word to uncase;
If now our plot prove, there depends on this
All our succeeding hopes, and future blisse—
Ent. Val, above.
Valentia, Valentia.

Val.
Here my Lord.

Pro.
What, at your book already?

Val.
Yes sir, to pray
After these tempests for a calmer day.

Pro.
The Duke's at hand, and seeking how to crosse
Our loves hath all his Lords left at a losse—

Enter Man.
Man.
Body of me she's here; foole that I am
Her loyalty to mistrust, or his good thoughts,
She being chaste, he honest; how now Lady,
What at your booke so close?

Val.
Books are Companions
To them who are compell'd to single lives.

Man.
Thou art ranke 'mongst Virgins.

Val.
Virgins would be wives—Why come you sir?

Man.
Only my girle to see
How well thou farest, thou one day shalt be free;
Farewell, in this my jealousie appeares,
And this one feare begets a thousand feares.

Exit.
Val.
Not without cause, good Father, knew you all;
But I must down the next way through the wall.

Exit.
Enter Prospero.
Pro.
By this she's comming, be thou first faire love,
Or else our stratagem is quite o'rthrown,
But if't take place, Valentia is mine own;
How will the Duke look when he finds her here,
And in his heart condemne his needlesse feare!
He hath not wit to trace us in our drifts,
True love is cunning and hath thousand shifts—
Enter Val.
Valentia.

Val.
Prince Prospero.

Pro.
And in your habit too, all succeeds happily.

Val.
Harke, harke, my Father is at hand my Lord,
Ile keepe my place as if I had not mov'd,
Who ever ventur'd fairer where they lov'd—

Enter Mantua.
Pro.
How now my Lord, what is the Jewell found?

Man.
'Twas never lost, I left it in my Closset,
Where it was safe, 'twas but my jealous feare
And blind mistake, but now those doubts are past,
For where I found it I have lock'd it fast.

Pro.
May it please your Grace to sit—

Enter Florence, Ferrara, Iulio.
Flo.
I have look'd my eyes almost blind,
And yet I can no Jewell find.

Fer.

Sure if it had been a Diamond, or any stone that had
had either lustre or quicknesse, I should have seen it sparkle.

Pro.
Lords, you may spare your paines,
The Jewel's found.

Man.
Lords, seat your selves, and grace this strangers banquet,
And speake what news is in the City rifest,
For you frequent it most.

Iul.
They say, my Lord, there is a Negromancer,
One of rare art and cunning, that can truly
Tell of things lost, one that hath Ephemerides
At his fingers ends; no frenzy, feaver, sickness,
But he hath Cordials for, so his large bils,
Pasted on every post, speak in his praise.

Man.
And where resides he?

Iul.
Here in the City Mantua.

Flo.
Some Mountebanke fellow.

Iul.
It should not seem so,
For he hath much resort, and every month
Proclaimes his skill.

Pro.
I will make triall of him,
To know if my love-sute shall well succeed.

Fer.
Ile try his cunning.

Flo.
Ile be his Client.

Iul.
So will I,
And in my deepe affaires his best skill try.

Man.
Ile prove him in the beautious Dutchess cure,
In which if he prevaile his paines shall be
Paid from the best of all his Treasury;
We sit too long, stranger, we praise thy bounty,
And if in any sute thou wilt use our love,
Suppose it, crav'd, granted.

Pro.
I shall find time my Lord.

Man.
I cannot be at rest
Till I have once more search'd her private Chamber to assure me
Of these doubts; stranger farewell,
Only my keyes can these sad doubts expell.

Exit.
Pro.
Haste, haste to meet your Father in the Tower.
Shortly will come the long expected houre.

Exit.