 | VVomen pleas'd |  |
Scæna Quinta.
Enter Duchesse, Lords, Silvio prisoner, Belvidere, Bartello, Rodope, Clerke, Counsellours, Attendants.Du.
Read the Edict last made,
Keepe silence there.
Clerk.
If any man of what condition soever, and a subject,
after the publishing of this Edict, shall without speciall
Licence from the great Duchesse, attempt or buy, offer, or
make an attempt, to solicite the love of the Princesse Belvidere,
the person so offending shall forfeit his life.
Counsellour.
The reason why my Royall Mistris here
In her last Treaty with Siennas Duke,
Promis'd her beauteous Daughter there in marriage,
The Duke of Millaine, rivall in this fortune,
Un-nobly sought by practise to betray her;
Which found, and cross'd, the Cittadell receiv'd her
There to secure her Mothers word; the last cause
So many Gentlemen of late enamour'd
On this most beauteous Princesse, and not brooking
One more then other, to deserve a favour,
Blood has been spilt, many brave spirits lost,
And more unlesse she had been kept close from their violence
Had like to have followed: therefore for due prevention
Of all such hazards and unnoble actions,
This last Edict was publish'd, which thou Silvio
Like a false man, a bad man, and a Traitor
Hast rent a peeces, and contemn'd; for which cause
Thou standest a guilty man here now.
Ent. Claudio.
Clark.
Speak Silvio,
What canst thou say to avoyd the hand of Justice?
Sil.
Nothing, but I confesse, submit, & lay my head to it.
Bel.
Have ye no eyes my Lords, no understandings?
The Gentleman will cast himselfe away,
Cast himselfe wilfully: are you, or you guilty?
No more is he, no more taint sticks upon him:
I drew him thether, 'twas my way betray'd him,
I got the entrance kept, I entertain'd him,
I hid the danger from him, forced him to me,
Poore gentle soule, he's in no part transgressing,
I wrot unto him.
Sil.
Do not wrong that honour,
Cast not upon that purenesse these aspersions,
By Heaven it was my love, my violence,
My life must answer it: I broke in to her,
Tempted the Law, sollicited unjustly.
Bel.
As there is truth in Heaven I was the first cause,
How could this man have come to me, left naked
Without my counsell and provision?
What hower could he finde out to passe the Watchs,
But I must make it sure first? Reverend Judges,
Be not abus'd, nor let an innocent life lye
Upon your shaking Conscience; I did it,
My love the maine wheele that set him a going:
His motion but compell'd.
Sil.
Can ye beleeve this,
And know with what a modesty and whitenesse
Her life was ever ranck'd? Can you beleeve this
And see me here before ye young, and wilfull?
Apt to what danger Love dares thrust me on,
And where Law stops my way, apt to contemne it?
If I were bashfull, old, or dull, and sleepy
In Loves allarmes, a woman might awake me,
Direct, and clew me out the way to happinesse:
But I like fire, kindled with that bright beauty,
Catch hold of all occasions, and run through 'em.
Bel.
I charge ye as your honest soules will answer it.
Sil.
I charge ye, as you are the friends to vertue,
That has no patterne living but this Lady.
Bel.
Let not his blood—
Sil.
Let not her wilfulnesse—
For then you act a scene Hell will rejoyce at.
Bel.
He is cleare.
Sil.
She is as white in this as infants.
Cla.
The god of Love protect your cause, and help ye,
Two nobler peeces of affection
These eyes ne're look'd on, if such goodnesse perish,
Let never true hearts meet againe, but break.
Exit.
1 Lord.
A strange example of strong love, a rare one.
2 Lord.
Madam, we know not what to say to think on.
Duch.
I must confesse it strikes me tender too,
Searches my Mothers heart: you found 'em there?
Bar.
Yes certaine Madam.
Duch.
And so linked together?
Bar.
As they had been one peece of Alablaster.
Duch.
Nothing dishonourable?
Sil.
So let my soule have happinesse,
As that thought yet durst never seeke this bosome.
Duch.
What shall I do? 'has broke my Law, abus'd me,
Faine would I know the truth, either confesse it,
And let me understand the maine offender,
Or both shall feele the torture.
Sil.
Are ye a Mother?
The Mother of so sweet a Rose as this is?
So pure a Flower? and dare ye lose that nature?
Dare ye take to your selfe so great a wickednesse,
(O holy Heaven) of thinking what may ruine
This goodly building? this temple where the gods dwell?
Give me a thousand tortures, I deserve 'em,
And shew me death in all the shapes imagin'd.
Bel.
No death but I will answer it, meet it, seeke it;
No torture but ile laugh upon't, and kisse it.
1 Lord.
This is no way.
2 Lord.
They say no more for certaine
Then their strong hearts will suffer.
Duch.
I have bethought me;
No Lords, although I have a Childe offending,
Nature dares not forget she is a Childe still;
Till now I never look'd on love imperious:
I have bethought me of a way to breake ye,
To separate, though not your loves your bodies:
Silvio attend, ile be your Judge my selfe now,
The sentence of your death (because my Daughter
Will beare an equall part in your afflictions)
I take away and pardon: this remaines then
An easie, and a gentle punishment,
And this shall be fulfill'd: because unnobly
You have sought the love, and marriage of a Princesse,
The absolute and sole Heire of this Dukedome,
By that meanes as we must imagine strongly,
To plant your selfe into this Rule hereafter,
We here pronounce ye a man banish'd from us.
Sil.
For ever banish'd Lady?
Duch.
Yet more mercy,
But for a yeare: and then againe in this place
To make your full appearance: yet more pitty,
If in that time you can absolve a question,
Writ down within this scrowle, absolve it rightly,
31
If not, you loose your head.
Sil.
I take this honour,
And humbly kisse those Royall hands.
Duch.
Receive it: Bartello, to your old guard take the Princesse,
And so the Court break up.
Sil.
Farewell to all,
And to that spotlesse heart my endlesse service.
Exit.
1. Lord.
What will this prove?
2. Lord.
Ile tell you a yeare hence, Sir.
Exeunt.
| VVomen pleas'd | |