University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Enter Monsieur and Tamira.
Mons.
Madam, regard your own Good, if not mine:
You do not know what you may be by me; perhaps I shortly
May have the Power to advance, or pull down any.

Tam.
That's not my Study, one way I'm sure
You shall not pull down me. My Husband's Height
Is Crown to all my Hopes; and his retiring
To any mean State shall be my Preferment;
My Honour's in my own Hands, spight of Kings.

Mons.
Honour, what's that? Your second Maidenhead?
Thus all your plaguy Sex will cry when courted
By one you do not fancy; but if you like
Your Addressor, Your Husband is your necessary Tool,
Your Fop, to own Brats which worse Fops beget,
And wears more Horns than are in Arden Forest.

Tam.
Does this Talk suit a Prince?

Mons.
Do not I know, Madam,
You live in Court here by your own Election,
Frequenting all our Publick Sports and Revels,
All the most youthful Companies of Men?
And wherefore do you this? to please your Husband?
'Tis gross and fulsom: If your Husbands Pleasure
Be all your Object, and you aim at Honour,
In living close to him; get you from Court,
You may have him at home.
Speak plain, and say, I do not like you, Sir,
You're an ill-favour'd Fellow in my Eye,
And I am answered.

Tam.
Then I pray be answered;
For to be plain, I do not like your Highness
In that way you like.

Mons.
'Sdeath! Hell and Furies! could I you please your Eye,
You wou'd like me as well e're you would lose me:
Honour! and Husband! Now by yon bright Planet,
All Hell has not the Mischief of one Woman.

Tam.
Now by this Light, my Lord, I'le tell the King
Your vile and most ungenerous Proceedings;
A Lady cannot breath Court-Air, and live
As she was born, and with that sort of Pleasure
That fits her state, but she must be defamed
With an infamous Lord's Detraction. Who's there?
Come Diligence; what? you're at your Book,
When Men are at your Mistress. Have I taught you
Enter Charlotte.
Any such Waiting-womans Quality?

Mons.
Has your Lady taught you to know Men from Men,
To squint upon the happy one in Favour,
And turn the Fool that's slighted out of Doors?
And d'ye forget? For that's I know your Lesson,
And so farewel good Husband.

[Exit.
Tam.
Farewel wicked Prince, and yet I scarce can call him so,
For in my Conscience he is in the right;
And when a Womans Heart is once possess'd,
Nothing so nauseous as a Second Lover.
Enter Montsurry.
My Husband here! If he stays I'm undone.

Mont.
How does my Love? Was not the Monsieur here?

Tam.
Yes, to rare purpose,
And your Cause is as good to seek him too,
And haunt his Company.

Mont.
Why? What's the matter?

Tam.
Matter of Death, were I Wife to some Men;
I cannot live in Quiet in my House
For Importunities, almost to Rapes
Offer'd me by him.

Mont.
Prithee bear with him;
Thou knowest he is unmarried, and a Courtier,
Ay, and a Prince.
Be merry then my Life, and laugh at him;
I know my Presence is so dear to thee,
That other Men appear worse than they are:
Yet I must beg thy Pardon for this Night,
Thou know'st how far I am engag'd to th'King,
Besides my Promise.

Tam.
I am so sensible of it,
That, my Lord, you shall not stay one minute longer.

Mont.
I fear thou wilt be Melancholy.

Tam.
No, not much:
Be sure you come I'th'Morning.

Mont.
With the Rising Sun
I'le visit thy more comfortable Beauty;
In the mean time Farewel my Love.

[Exit.
Tam.
Adieu, dear Husband.
Oh that all Wives, betray'd to this curst Yoke,
And forc'd to draw with one they cannot love,
Cou'd see this parting 'twixt my Lord and me,
And learn the subtile Art of wise Dissembling,
Of which I now pretend to be Arts Mistress,
And best know how to bear the Clog of Wedlock.
Get you to Bed. This coming Night
[To Char.
I'le trouble none of your Services: Make sure
The Doors, and call your other Fellows to their Rest.

Char.
Yes, Madam; yet I will watch too,
[Aside
To know why you watch; perhaps I may discover
Something, and deserve another Purse
Like that the Monsieur gave me last.

[Exit.
Tam.
Oh that as yet my Heart and Inclinations
All tend to Vertue, I could sway my Passion,
And look on D'Amboise with Indifferent Eyes;
But 'tis too late I fear; Love's powerful Influence
Has crowded every Corner in my Breast,
And there's no Room for Decency or Reason:
He comes, he comes—
How shall I look on him, how shall I live,
And not consume in blushes, if there be
In Nature, such a thing as Modesty?

[Exit.
Enter D'Amboise, Teresia from the Vault.
D'Ambois.
Is this the Antichamber?

Teres.
'Tis next her Bed-Chamber: What? you would be there,
Would you?

D'Ambois.
Ay, ay, Mother, the closer the Devotion the better, you know;
Go, go, prithee give her Notice.

Teres.
Heark! D'ye hear nothing!

D'Ambois.
No, no.

Teres.
The Cats are howling and scratching one another;
There's no good near hand, when such unsanctified
Noises are abroad.

D'Ambois.
Let 'em scratch and be damn'd: Prithee be gon.

Teres.
Well, if I am not preferr'd after this, there's no
Gratitude in being, that I'm sure of:

[Exit.
D'Ambois.
Now all the Peaceful Regents of the Night,
Silently gliding Exhalations,
Languishing Winds and murmuring Falls of Waters,
Sadness of Heart and Ominous secureness,
Inchantments, dead Sleeps, all the Friends of Rest
That ever workt upon the Life of Man,
Assist me now, and this Charm'd Hour,
Fix like the Center, make the violent Wheels
Of time and fortune stand, and great existence
(The Makers Treasure,) now not seem to be,
To all but my approaching love and me.

Enter Tamira and Teresia.
Tam.
O I must see him, tho each step he takes
Goes to my Heart.

D'Ambois.
Madam upon my Knees I wait your doom.

Tam.
O rise, Sir rise, why would you come thus late?
Tho I did send to you to prevent a danger,
Why would you take me at my word, and at
A time for Visits so unfit? how durst you
Enter here?

D'Ambois.
Where is the harm sweet, since your Honour is secure.

Tam.
How are you sure of that? what tho my Husband
Lye forth to Night, and all our Female Servants
Fast bound in Sleep, yet there's one that wakes above,
Whose Eye no Sleep can bind; he sees
Through Walls and Doors, nay even our Thoughts.

D'Amboise.
He sees in pity then, and not in Anger:
Besides, what can he see, but a wrong'd wretch'd Lover,
Taxing his dearest Mistress with foul Perjury,
And breach of holy Vows?

Tam.
O do not break my Heart with talking so,
You know I was betrayed.

D'Amboise.
Then I know too,
You should, if you could pity, do me Justice.

Tam.
Alas, how is it possible? I am now anothers.

D'Amboise.
By Stealth, by Rapine, Irreligious Force;
For sure I am, your Will was not consenting;
And to that Will, should joyn this beauteous Body
Which once I durst call mine. O by the Gods
Here do I clasp thee with a Lovers right,
And on thy Breast, the Altar of my Vows,
The sweet undoer of a Faithful heart,
Swear by the sacred influence about thee,
Never to sever or unloose my hold
Till I have Comfort from thee.

Tam.
Let go Rash Man, and since you will persist,
Tell me the Story of your Griefs within;
For once I'le hear it; but if you grow bold,
Never expect to see my Face again.

[Exit.
Teres.
What, I warrant you have angred her now.

D'Ambois.
No, no, shee'l return presently; I must get this
Old Gibcat out of the way. Prithee dear
[Aside.
Mother, look to the Vault Door; I think I heard
A Noise. I must follow her, she has promis'd
To speak to Monsieur to beg my Pardon of the King
About the Duel; and you know I must not neglect it.
Have but a little patience, I'le be with you presently.

Teres.
Patience, ah Son, Son, here will be fine work;
Well, go too, Remember, d'ye hear.

D'Amboise.
Why canst thou think I'le forget thee? Go, go
Prithee make haste into the Vault. So, so,
And now I'le bring new Forces to the Siege.
Ne're let the Heroe doubt the Fort to win,
That Storms without, and Love betrays within.

[Exit.