 | A VVife for a Moneth |  |
Scæna Prima.
Enter Fryer Marco, and Rugio.Rug.
Have you writ to the Captaine of the Castle?
Mar.
Yes, and charged him
Upon his soules health, that he be not cruell,
Told him Valerio's worth among the people,
And how it must be punisht in posterity,
Though he scape now.
Rug.
But will not he, Fryer Marco, betray this to the King?
Mar.
Though he be stubborne, and of a rugged nature, yet he is honest,
And honours much Valerio.
Rug.
How doe's Alphonso?
For now me thinks my heart is light againe,
And pale feare fled.
Mar.
He is as well as I am;
The Rogue against his will has sav'd his life,
A desperate poyson has re-cur'd the Prince.
Rug.
To me 'tis most miraculous.
Mar.
To me too, till I consider why it should do so,
And now I have found it a most excellent Physick,
It wrought upon the dull cold misty parts,
That clog'd his soule, which was another poyson,
A desperate too, and found such matter there,
And such abundance also to resist it,
And weare away the dangerous heat it brought with it,
The pure blood and the spirits scap'd untainted.
Rug,
'Twas Heavens high hand, none of Sorano's pitty.
Mar.
Most certaine 'twas, had the malitious villaine
Enter Castruchio
Given him a cooling poyson, he had paid him.
Rug.
The Captain of the Castle.
Mar.
O ye are welcome, how doe's your Prisoner?
Cast.
He must go for dead;
But when I do a deed of so much villany,
Ile have my skin pull'd o're mine eares, my Lord,
Enter Alphonso, and Fryers,
Though I am the Kings, I am none of his abuses;
How doe's your Royall Charge? that I might see once.
Mar.
I pray see now, you are a trusty Gentleman.
Alph.
Good Fathers, I thanke Heaven, I feele no sicknesse,
Cast.
He speaks againe.
Alph.
Nothing that barres the free use of my spirit,
Me thinks the ayre's sweet to me, and company
A thing I covet now Castruchio.
Cast.
Sir, he speaks, and knowes, for Heaven sake break my pate Lord,
That I may be sure I sleep not.
Alph.
Thou wert honest.
Ever among the rank of good men counted,
I have been absent long out of the world,
A dreame I have lived, how doe's it looke Castruchio?
What wonders are abroad?
Cast.
I fling off duty to your dead Brother, for he is dead in goodnesse,
And to the living hope of brave Alphonso,
The noble heire of nature, and of honour,
I fasten my Allegeance.
Mar,
Softly Captaine, we dare not trust the ayre with this blest secret,
Good Sir, be close againe, heaven has restor'd ye,
And by miraculous meanes, to your faire health,
And made the instrument your enemies malice,
Which doe's prognosticate your noble fortune;
Let not our carelesse joy lose you againe, Sir,
Help to deliver ye to a further danger,
I pray you passe in, and rest a while forgotten,
For if your brother come to know you are well againe,
And ready to inherit as your right,
Before we have strength enough to assure your life,
What will become of you? and what shall we
Deserve in all opinions that are honest,
For our losse of judgement, care, and loyalty?
Rug.
Deere Sir, passe in, Heaven has begun the worke,
And blest us all, let our indeavours follow,
To preserve this blessing to our timely uses,
And bring it to the noble end we aime at;
Let our cares worke now, and our eyes pick out
An houre to shew ye safely to your Subjects,
A secure houre.
Alph.
I am counsell'd; ye are faithfull.
Cast.
Which houre shall not be long, as we shall handle it.
Once more the tender of my duty.
Alph.
Thank ye.
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Keep you the Monastery.
Rug.
Strong enough Ile warrant ye.
Exeunt.
Enter the Foole, and Podrano.
Pod.
Who are all these that crowde about the Court Foole?
Those strange new faces?
Foole.
They are Suitors Coxcombe,
Dainty fine Suitors to the widow Lady,
Thou hadst best make one of 'em, thou wilt be hang'd as handsomly
At the Moneths end, and with as much joy follow'd,
And 'twere to morrow; as many mourning bawds for thee,
And holy Nuns, whose vestall fire ne're vanishes,
In sackcloth smocks, as if thou wert Heire apparent
To all the impious Suburbs, and the sink-holes.
Pod.
Out you base rogue.
Foole.
Why dost abuse thy selfe,
Thou art to blame, I take thee for a Gentleman,
But why doe's not thy Lord and Master marry her?
Pod.
Why, she is his sister.
Foole.
'Tis the better Foole,
He may make bold with his owne flesh and blood,
For a my conscience there's none else will trust him,
Then he may pleasure the King at a dead pinch too,
Without a Mephestophilus, such as thou art,
And ingrosse the royall disease like a true Subject.
Pod.
Thou wilt be whipt.
Foole.
I am sure thou wilt be hangd,
I have lost a Ducket else, which I would be loath to venter
Without certainty. They appeare.
Pod.
Why these are rascals.
Foole.
They were meant to be so, doo's thy Master deserve better kinred?
Pod.
Ther's an old Lawyer,
Trim'd up like a Gally Foist, what would he do with her?
Foole.
As Userers do with their Gold, he would looke on her,
And read her over once a day, like a hard report,
Feed his dull eye, and keepe his fingers itching;
For any thing else, she may appeale to a Parliament,
Sub Pæna's and Post Kaes have spoil'd his Codpeece;
There's a Physitian too, older then he,
And Gallen Gallenatius, but he has lost his spurres,
He would be nibling too.
Pod.
I marked the man, if he be a man.
Foole.
Has much a do to be so,
Searecloths and Sirrops glew him close together,
He would fall a peeces else; mending of she patients,
And then trying whether they be right or no,
In his owne person, there's the honest care an't,
Has mollifi'd the man; if he do marry her,
And come but to warme him well at Cupids bonfire,
He will bulge so subtilly and suddenly,
You may snatch him up by parcels, like a Sea Rack:
Will your Worship go, and looke upon the rest, Sir?
And heare what they can say for themselves.
Pod.
I'le follow thee.
Exeunt.
Enter Camillo, Menallo, Cleanthes, Castruchio.
Cam.
You tell us wonders.
Cast.
But I tell you truths, they are both well.
Men.
Why are not we in Armes then?
And all the Island given to know—
Cast.
Discreetly and privately it must be done, 'twill misse else,
And prove our ruines; most of the noble Citizens
Know it by me, and stay the houre to attend it,
Prepare your hearts and friends, let their's be right too,
And keepe about the King to avoid suspition;
Enter Frederick and Sorano.
When you shall heare the Castle Bell, take courage,
And stand like men, away, the King is comming.
Exeunt Lords.
Fre.
Now Captain, what have you done with your Prisoner?
Cast.
He is dead, Sir, and his body flung i'th Sea,
To feed the fishes, 'twas your will, I take it,
I did it from a strong Commission,
And stood not to capitulate.
Fred.
'Tis well done,
And I shall love you for your faith. What anger
Or sorrow did he utter at his end?
Castr.
Faith little, Sir, that I gave any eare to,
He would have spoke, but I had no Commission
To argue with him, so I flung him off;
His Lady would have seene, but I lockt her up,
For feare her womans teares should hinder us.
Fred.
'Twas trusty still. I wonder, my Sorano,
We heare not from the Monastery; I believe
They gave it not, or else it wrought not fully.
Cast.
Did you name the Monastery?
Fred.
Yes, I did Captaine.
Cast.
I saw the Fryer this morning, and Lord Rugio,
Bitterly weeping, and wringing of their hands,
And all the holy men hung downe their heads.
Sora.
'Tis done, Ile warrant ye.
Cast.
I asked the reason.
Fred.
What answer hadst thou?
Cast.
This in few words, Sir,
Your Brothers dead, this morning he deceased,
I was your servant, and I wept not, Sir,
I knew 'twas for your good.
Fred.
It shall be for thine too,
Captaine, indeed it shall. O my Sorano,
Now we shall live.
Sor.
I, now there's none to trouble ye.
Fred.
Captaine, bring out the woman, and give way
To any Suitor that shall come to marry her,
Of what degree soever.
Cast.
It shall be done, Sir.
Exit Cap.
Fre.
O let me have a lusty Banquet after it,
Enter Evanthe, Camillo, Cleanthes, Menallo, Foole, Castruchio.
I will be high and merry.
Sor.
There be some Lords
That I could counsell ye to fling from Court, Sir,
They pry into our actions, they are such
The foolish people call their Countries honours,
Honest brave things, and stile them with such Titles;
As if they were the patternes of the Kingdome,
Which makes them proud, and prone to looke into us,
And talk at randome of our actions,
They should be your lovers of your commands;
And followers of your will; bridles and curbs
To the hard headed Commons that maligne us,
They come here to do honour to my sister,
To laugh at your severity, and fright us;
If they had power, what would these men do?
Do you heare, Sir, how privily they whisper?
Fred.
I shall silence 'em,
And to their shames within this weeke Sorano;
In the meane time have patience.
Sor.
How they jeere, and looke upon me as I were a Monster?
And talk and jeere, How I shall pull your plumes, Lords
How I shall humble ye within these two daies,
Your great names, nor your Country cannot save ye.
Fred.
Let in the Suitors. Yet submit, Ile pardon ye,
You are halfe undone already, do not winde
My anger to that height, it may consume ye.
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And utterly destroy thee, faire Evanthe: yet I have mercy.
Evan.
Use it to your bawds,
To me use cruelty, it best becomes ye,
And shewes more Kingly: I contemne your mercy,
It is a cozening, and a bawdy mercy;
Can any thing be hoped for, to relieve me?
Or is it fit? I thank you for a pitty, when you have kill'd my Lord.
Fred.
Who will have her?
Evan.
My teares are gone,
My teares of love to my deere Valerio,
But I have fill'd mine eyes againe with anger;
O were it but so powerfull to consume ye,
My tongue with curses I have arm'd against ye,
With Maiden curses, that Heaven crownes with horrors,
My heart set round with hate against thy tyranny;
O would my hands could hold the fire of Heaven,
Wrapt in the thunder that the Gods revenge with,
That like sterne Justice I might fling it on thee;
Thou art a King of Monsters, not of men,
And shortly thou wilt turne this Land to Devills.
Fred.
Ile make you one first, and a wretched Devill,
Come, who will have her?
Law.
I an't like your Majesty, I am a Lawyer,
I can make her a Joynter of any mans Land in Naples,
And she shall keepe it too, I have a trick for it.
Foole.
Canst thou make her a Joynter of thine honesty?
Or thy ability, thou lewd abridgement?
Those are non-suted and flung o're the barre.
Physitian.
An't please your Majesty to give me leave,
I dare accept her; and though old I seeme, Lady,
Like Eason, by my art I can renew youth and ability.
Foole.
In a powdring Tub
Stew thy selfe tender againe, like a Cock Chicken,
The broth may be good, but the flesh is not fit for doggs sure;
Capt.
Lady, take me, and Ile maintaine thine honour,
I am a poore Captaine, as poore people call me,
Very poore people, for my Souldiers
They are quartered in the outsides of the City,
Men of ability, to make good a high way;
We have but two grand Enemies that oppose us,
The Don Gout, and the Gallowes.
Foole.
I believe ye, and both these you will binde her for a Joynter;
Now Signior firke.
Cut-purse.
Madam, take me and be wise,
I am rich and nimble, and those are rare in one man,
Every mans pocket is my Treasury,
And no man weares a Sute but fits me neatly;
Clothes you shall have, and weare the purest Linnen,
I have a tribute out of every Shop, Lady,
Meat you shall eat, I have my Caters out too,
The best and lustiest, and drinke good Wine, good Lady,
Good quickening Wine, Wine that will make you caper,
And at the worst—
Foole.
It is but capring short, Sir,
You seldome stay for Agues or for Surfets,
A shaking fit of a whip sometimes o're takes ye,
Marry you dye most commonly of chokings,
Obstructions of the halter are your ends ever;
Pray leave your horne and your knife for her to live on.
Evan.
Poore wretched people, why do you wrong your selves?
Though I fear'd death, I should fear you ten times more,
You are every one a new death, and an odious,
The earth will purifie corrupted bodies,
You'le make us worse, and stinke eternally.
Go home, go home, and get good Nerces for you,
Dreame not of wives.
Fred.
You shall have one of 'em, if they dare venter for ye.
Evan.
They are dead already,
Crawling diseases that must creep into
The next grave they finde open, are these fit husbands
For her you have loved Sir, though you hate me now,
And hate me mortally, as I hate you,
Your noblenesse in that you have done otherwise,
And named Evanthe once as your poore Mistris,
Might offer worthier choice.
Fred.
Speake, who dare take her for one moneth, and then dye?
Phi.
Dye Sir?
Fred.
I, dye Sir, that's the condition.
Phi.
One moneth is too little
For me to repent in for my former pleasure,
To go still on, unlesse I were sure she would kill me,
And kill me delicately before my day,
Make it up a yeare, for by that time I must dye,
My body will hold out no longer.
Fred.
No Sir, it must be but a moneth.
Lawy.
Then farewell Madam,
This is like to be great yeare of dissention
Among good people, and I dare not lose it,
There will be money got.
Capt.
Blesse your good Ladiship, there's nothing in the grave but bones and ashes,
In Tavernes there's good wine, and excellent wenches,
And Surgeons while we live.
Cutp.
Adieu sweet Lady,
Lay me when I am dead neare a rich Alderman,
I cannot pick his Purse, no, ile no dying,
Though I steale Linnen, ile not steale my shrowde yet.
All.
Send ye a happy march.
Exeunt.
Foole.
And you all halters, you have deserved 'em richly
These do all Villanies, an mischiefes of all sorts, yet those they feare not
To flinch where a faire wench is at the stake.
Evan.
Come, your sentence, let me dye, you see Sir,
None of your valiant men dare venture on me,
A moneth's a dangerous thing.
Enter Valerio disguis'd.
Fred.
Away with her, let her dye instantly.
Evan.
Will you then be willing
To dye at the time prefixt, that I must know too,
And know it beyond doubt.
Fred.
What if I did wench?
Evan.
On that condition if I had it certaine,
I would be your any thing, and you should injoy me,
How ever in my nature I abhor you,
Yet as I live I would be obedient to you;
But when your time came how I should rejoyce,
How then I should bestir my selfe to thanke ye
To see your throat cut, how my heart would leap Sir,
I would dye with you, but first I would so torter ye,
And cow you in your end, so dispise you,
For a weak and wretched coward, you must end sure;
Still make ye feare, and shake, dispised, still laugh at ye.
Fred.
Away with her, let her dye instantly.
Cam.
Stay, there's another, and a Gentleman,
His habit shewes no lesse, may be his businesse
Is for this Ladies love.
Fred.
Say why ye come Sir, and what you are.
Val.
I am discended nobly, a Prince by birth, and by my trade a Souldier,
A Princes fellow, Abidig brought me forth,
My Parents Duke Agenor, and faire Egla,
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My businesse hither to renew my love
With a young noble spirit, call'd Valerio;
Our first acquiantance was at Sea, in fight
Against a Turkish man of War, a stout one,
Where Lyon-like I saw him shew his valour,
And as he had been made of compleat vertue,
Spirit, and sire, no dreggs of dull earth in him.
Evan.
Thou art a brave Gentleman, and bravely speakest him.
Val.
The Vessell dancing under him for joy,
And the rough whisling winds becalm'd to view him;
I saw the childe of honour, for he was young,
Deale such an Almes amongst the spightfull pagans,
His towring sword flew like an eager Falcon,
And round about his reach invade the Turks,
He had intrencht himselfe in his dead quarryes;
The silver Cressents on the tops they carried
Shranke in their heads to see his rage so bloody,
And from his fury suffered sad ecclipses;
The game of death was never plaid more nobly,
The meager theefe grew wanton in his mishchiefes,
And his shrunke hollow eyes smil'd on his ruines.
Evan.
Heaven keepe this Gentleman from being a Suitor,
For I shall ne're deny him, he's so noble.
Val.
But what can last long? strength and spirit wasted,
And fresh supplies flew on upon this Gentleman,
Breathlesse and weary with oppression,
And almost kill'd with killing, 'twas my chance
In a tall Ship I had to view the fight;
I set into him, entertain'd the Turke.
And for an houre gave him so hot a breakfast,
He clapt all linnen up he had to save him,
And like a Lovers thought he fled our fury;
There first I saw the man I lov'd, Valerio,
There was acquainted, there my soul grew to him,
And his to me, we were the twins of friendship.
Eva.
Fortune protect this man, or I shall ruine him.
Val.
I made this voyage to behold my friend,
To warme my love a new at his affection;
But since I landed, I have heard his fate:
My Fathers had not been to me more cruell,
I have lamented too, and yet I keepe
The treasure of a few teares for you Lady,
For by description you were his Evanthe.
Evan.
Can he weep that's a stranger to my story?
And I stand still and looke on? Sir, I thank ye;
If noble spirits after their departure,
Can know, and wish, certaine his soule gives thanks too;
There are your teares againe, and when yours faile Sir,
Pray ye call to me, I have some store to lende ye. Your name?
Val.
Urbino.
Evan.
That, I may remember,
That little time I have to live, your friendships,
My tongue shall study both.
Fred.
Do you come hither, only to tell this story Prince Urbino?
Val.
My businesse now is, Sir, to wooe this Lady.
Evan.
Blessing defend ye; Do you know the danger?
Val.
Yes, and I feare it not, danger's my play-fellow,
Since I was man 'thas been my best companion,
I know your doome, 'tis for a Moneth you give her,
And then his life you take that marries her.
Fred.
'Tis true, nor can your being borne a Prince,
If you accept the offer, free you from it.
Val.
I not desire it, I have cast the worst,
And even that worst to me is many blessings;
I lov'd my friend, not measur'd out by time,
Nor hired by circumstance of place and honour,
But for his wealthy selfe and worth I lov'd him,
His minde and noble mold he ever mov'd in,
And woe his friend because she was worthy of him,
The only relick that he left behinde, Sir;
To give his ashes honour, Lady take me,
And in me keepe Valerio's love alive still,
When I am gone, take those that shall succeed me,
Heaven must want light, before you want a husband,
To raise up Heires of love and noble memory,
To your unfortunate—
Evan.
Am I still hated? hast thou no end, O fate, of my affliction?
Was I ordained to be a common Murdresse?
And of the best men too? Good Sir.
Val.
Peace Sweet, looke on my hand.
Evan.
I do accept the Gentleman, I faint with joy.
Fred.
I stop it, none shall have her, convey this stranger hence.
Val.
I am no stranger.—Harke to the bell, that rings,
Harke, harke, proud Frederick, that was King of mischief.
Harke, thou abhorred man, dost thou heare thy sentence?
Doe's not this bell ring in thine eares thy ruine?
Fred.
What bell is this?
Cam.
The Castle bell: Stand sure Sir, and move not, if you do you perish.
Men.
It rings your knell; Alphonso, King Alphonso.
All.
Alphonso, King Alphonso.
Fred.
I am betraid, lock fast the Palace.
Cam.
We have all the keyes, Sir.
And no doore here shall shut without our Licence.
Cle.
Do you shake now Lord Sorano? no new trick?
Nor speedy poyson to prevent this businesse?
No bawdy meditation now to fly to?
Fred.
Treason, Treason, Treason.
Cam.
Yes, we heare ye,
Enter Alphonso, Rugio, Marco, Castruchio, Queene, with Guard.
And we have found the Traytor in your shape, Sir,
Wee'l keep him fast too.
Fred.
recover'd! then I am gone,
The Sun of all my pompe is set and vanisht.
Alp.
Have you not forgot this face of mine, King Frederick?
Brother I am come to see you, and have brought
A Banquet to be merry with your Grace;
I pray sit downe, I do beseech your Majesty
And eat, eat freely, Sir, why do you start?
Have you no stomack to the meat I bring you?
Dare you not taste? have ye no Antidotes?
You need not feare; Sorano's a good Apothecary,
Me thinks you looke not well, some fresh wine for him,
Some of the same he sent me by Sorano;
I thank you for't, it sav'd my life, I am bound to ye,
But how 'twill worke on you—I hope your Lordship
Will pledge him too, me thinks you looke but scurvily,
And would be put into a better colour,
But I have a canded Toad for your good Lordship.
Sor.
Would I had any thing that would dispatch me,
So it were downe, and I out of this feare once.
Fred.
Sir, Thus low as my duty now compells me,
I do confesse my unbounded sinnes, my errours,
And feele within my soule the smarts already;
Hide not the noble nature of a brother,
The pitty of a friend, from my afflictions;
Let me a while lament my misery,
And cast the load off of my wantonnesse,
Before I finde your fury, then strike home,
I do deserve the deepest blow of Justice,
And then how willingly, O death, Ile meet thee.
Alp.
Rise, Madam, those sweet tears are potent speakers,
And brother live, but in the Monastery,
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Ile teach you to be good against your will brother,
Your tongue has done much harme, that must be dumbe now;
The daily pilgrimage to my fathers Tombe,
Teares, sighs, and groanes, you shall weare out your daies with,
And true ones too, you shall performe deare brother;
Your diet shall be slender to inforce these; to light a pennance, Sir.
Fred.
I do confesse it.
Alph.
Sorano you shall—
Sor.
How he studies for it,
Hanging's the least part of my pennance certaine.
Evanthe kneeles.
Alph.
What Lady's that that kneeles?
Cast.
The chaste Evanthe.
Alph.
Sweet, your petition?
Evan.
'Tis for this bad man, Sir,
Abominable bad, but yet my brother.
Alph.
The bad man shall attend as bad a Master,
And both shall be confin'd within the Monastery;
His ranke flesh shall be pull'd with daily fasting,
But once a week he shall smell meat, he will surfet else,
And his immodest minde compell'd to prayer;
On the bare bords he shall lye, to remember
The wantonnesse he did commit in beds;
And drinke faire water, that will ne're inflame him;
He sav'd my life, though he purpos'd to destroy me,
For which Ile save his, though I make it miserable:
Madam, at Court I shall desire your company,
You are wise and vertuous, when you please to visit
My brother Frederick, you shall have our Licence,
My deere best friend, Valerio.
Val.
Save Alphonso.
Omn.
Long live Alphonso, King of us, and Naples.
Alph.
Is this the Lady that the wonder goes on?
Honour'd sweet maid, here take her my Valerio,
The King now gives her, she is thine owne without feare:
Brother, have you so much provision that is good?
Not season'd by Sorano and his Cooks?
That we may venture on with honest safety,
We and our friends?
Fred.
All that I have is yours, Sir.
Alph.
Come then, let's in, and end this Nuptiall,
Then to our Coronation with all speed:
My vertuous maid, this day Ile be your Bride-man,
And see you bedded to your owne desires too;
Beshrew me Lords, who is not merry hates me,
Onely Sorano shall not beare my cup:
Come, now forget old paines and injuries,
As I must do, and drowne all in faire healths;
That Kingdom's blessed, where the King begins
His true love first, for there all loves are twins.
Exeunt Omnes,
| A VVife for a Moneth | |