 | Revenge For Honour |  |
Scena Secunda.
Enter Selinthus, Gaselles, Osman, and Souldiers.Sel.
No quarrelling good Couzens, lest it be
with the glass, 'cause 'tis not of size sufficient
to give you a magnificent draught. You will
have fighting work enough when you're i'th'wars,
do not fall out among your selves.
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Not pledg
my peerlesse Mistresse health? Souldier, thou'rt mortall,
if thou refuse it.
Gas.
Come, come, he shall pledg it,
and 'twere a Tun. Why, w'are all as dull
as dormise in our liquor: Here's a health
to the Prince Abilqualit.
Soul.
Let go round:
I'ld drink't, were it an Ocean of warm bloud
flowing from th'enemie. Pray, good my Lord
what news is stirring?
Sel.
It should seem, Souldier,
thou canst not read; otherwise the learn'd Pamphlets
that flie about the streets, would satisfie
thy curiositie with news; they'r true ones,
full of discreet intelligence.
Os.
Cosens, shal's have a Song? here is a Souldier
in's time hath sung a dirge unto the foe
oft in the field.
Soul.
Captain, I have a new one,
the Souldiers Joy 'tis call'd.
Sel.
That is an harlot.
Prethee be musicall, and let us taste
the sweetnesse of thy voice.
A Song.
Gas.
Whist, give attention.
Soul.
How does your Lordship like it?
Sel.
Very well.
And so here's to thee. There's no drum beats yet,
and 'tis cleer day; some hour hence 'twill be
Enter Abr. Mes.
time to break up the Watch. Ha! young Lord Abrahen,
and trim Mesithes with him! what the divel
does he make up so early? He has been
a bat-fowling all night after those Birds,
those Ladie-birds term'd wagtails; what strange business
can he have here, tro?
Abr.
'Twas wel done, Mesithes!
and trust me, I shal find an apt reward,
both for thy care and cunning. Prethee hast
to Lord Simanthes, and deliver this
note to him with best diligence, my dear Eunuch;
thou'rt halfe the soul of Abrahen:
Mes.
I was borne
to be intituled your most humble vassal;
I'll hast to the Lord Simanthes.
Exit.
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How he cringes!
These youths that want the instruments of Manhood,
are very supple in the hams.
Abr.
Good-morrow
to noble Lord Selinthus: what companions
have you got here thus early?
Sel.
Blades of metal,
tall men of war, and't please your Grace, of my
own blood and family, men who gather'd
a sallad on the enemies ground, and eaten it
in bold defiance of him;
and not a Souldier here but's an Achylles,
valiant as stoutest Mirmidon.
Abr.
And they
never had juster cause to show their valor;
the Prince my dearest brother, their Lord General's
became a forfeit to the stern laws rigour;
and 'tis imagin'd, our impartial father,
wil sentence him to lose his eyes.
Gas.
Marry heaven
defend, for what, and't like your Grace!
Abr.
For a fact
which the severe law punishes with loss
of natures precious lights; my tears wil scarce
permit me utter't: for a rape committed
on the fair wife of Mura.
Os.
Was it for nothing else, and please your Grace?
ere he shal lose an eie for such a trifle,
or have a haire diminish'd, we wil
lose our heads; what, hood wink men like sullen hawks
for doing deeds of nature! I'me asham'd
the law is such an Ass.
Sel.
Some Eunuch Judg,
that could not be acquainted with the sweets
due to concupiscencial parts, invented
this law, I'll be hang'd else. 's Life, a Prince,
and such a hopeful one, to lose his eyes,
for satisfying the hunger of the stomack
beneath the wast, is crueltie prodigious,
not to be suffer'd in a common-wealth
of ought but geldings.
Abr.
'Tis vain to sooth
our hopes with these delusions, he wil suffer
less he be reskued. I would have you therfore
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my much lamented brother, to attend
without least tumult 'bout the Court, and if
there be necessity of your ayd, I'le give you
notice when to imploy it.
Sel.
Sweet Prince, wee'l swim
in blood to do thee or thy brother service.
Each man provide their weapons.
Abr.
You will win
my brothers love for ever, nay my father,
though hee'l seem angry to behold his justice
deluded, afterwards when his rage is past,
will thank you for your loyalties: Pray be there
with all speed possible, by this my brothers
commanded 'fore my father, I'le go learn
the truth, and give you notice: pray be secret
and firm to your resolves.
Exit.
Sel.
For him that flinches
in such a cause, I'le have no more mercy
on him. Heres Tarifa
Enter Tarifa and Mura.
the Princes sometimes Tutor, Mura with him
a walking towards the Court, let's take no notice
of them, lest they discover our intentions
by our grim looks. March fair and softly Couzens,
wee'l be at Court before them.
Tar.
You will not do this, Mura!
Mu.
How Tarifa?
will you defend him in an act so impious?
Is't fit the drum should cease his surly language,
when the bold Souldiers marches, or that I
should passe o're this affront in quiet silence,
which Gods and men invoke to speedy vengeance?
which I will have, or manhood shall be tame
as Cowardice.
Tar.
It was a deed so barbarous,
that truth it self blushes as well as justice
to hear it mention'd: but consider Mura,
he is our Prince, the Empires hope, and pillar
of great Almanzors age How far a publick
regard should be prefer'd before your private
desire of vengeance! which if you do purchace
from our impartial Emperors equity,
his loss of sight, and so of the succession,
will not restore Caropia to the honor
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I rather should lament the Princes folly
than plead in his behalf.
Mur.
'Tis but vain,
there is your warrant, as you are high Marshal,
to summon him to make his speedy appearance
'fore the Tribunall of Almanzor;
so pray you execute your office.
Exit.
Tar.
How one vice
can like a small cloud when't breaks forth in showers,
black the whole heaven of vertues! O my Lord,
Enter Abilqualit, Muts, whispring, seem to make protestations. Exeunt.
that face of yours which once with Angell brightnesse
cheer'd my faint sight, like a grim apparition
frights it with ghastly terror: you have done
a deed that startles vertue till it shakes
as it got a palsie. I'me commanded
to summon you before your father, and
hope you'l obey his mandate.
Abil.
Willingly,
what's my offence, Tarifa?
Tar.
Would you knew not,
I did presage your too unruly passions
would hurry you to some disast'rons act,
but ne're imagin'd you'd have been so lost
to masculine honor, to commit a rape
on that unhappy object of your love,
whom now y'ave made the spoil of your foul lust,
the much wrong'd wife of Mura.
Abil.
Why, do's Mura charge me with his Caropia's rape?
Tar.
This warrant sent by your angry father, testifies
he means to appeach you of it.
Abil.
'Tis my fortune, all natural motions when they
approach their end, hast to draw to't with accustom'd
swiftnesse. Rivers with greedier speed run neere
their out-falls, than at their springs. But I'me resolv'd,
let what happen that will, I'le stand it, and defend
Carpoia's honor, though mine own I ruin;
Who dares not dye to justifie his love,
deserves not to enjoy her. Come, Tarifa,
what e're befall, I'me resolute. He dies
glorious, that falls loves innocent sacrifice.
Exeunt.
| Revenge For Honour | |