University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

Enter Caldroon, followed by Angelo, and Medina thrusts him by and enters.
Med.
Stand by Sir, methinks your well pace't,
Greatness might move a little.

Cald.
For whom?

Med.
For me, thou ill-drest Puppet of Authority;
Thou Stalking Property, that walk'st on Screws,
Which but laid by, thy Honour is unjoynted,
And grows as bedrid as the Impotent.

Cald.
You shall be answer'd.

Med.
Thou must exhal'd from Dunghills,
Whose thick Breath poysons the purer ayre
It mingles with.

Cald.
You are very bold.

Med.
I will be bolder, and knock your Greatness,
Without you study quickly a set-form
To aske forgiveness in.

Cald.
My honour can defend it self
From worse opposers.

(Drawes.
Med.
Ile mince your Honour,
And send your Lowsie Family the shares
Of your divided Greatness.

(Drawes.
Enter Alcara and Bruchero.
Alca.
Hold, this place is not for Quarrels.

Med.
Nor for wrongs.

Alca.
How was't?

Med.
Let me speak, that dare tell truth.

Cald.
When I Relate the manner, it shall be
To those that have the Power to punish.

Med.
Let me goe.
There's nothing that has a Lawful birth,
That can endure this mongrel Greatness.

Enter the Duke of Lerma, leading Maria Veil'd, with Attendants.
Ler.
What Hurry's here?

Cald.
I know not, the Duke Medina thinks
His Greatness, Entitles him to Injure
Any one.

Ler.
Ile blow him and his storms quickly away.

Med.
Is your Breath so powerful, that it can
Puffe men off like tops of Thistles.

Ler.
I cannot now spare so much time
As to lose any on your Braules,
Caldroon, I have Employment for you.

Exeunt Lerma, Maria, and Caldroon.
Med.
And for that piece of
Nightworke too I take it.

Alca.
Pray peace my Lord.

Med.
Let me go, I will but ask him
A Civil Question.

Alca.
What is't?

Med.
Whether great men, and fathers too
Are not the best and closest Bawdes.

Alca.
Fye, fye, Consider who they are.

Med.
'Tis that consider'd doubles every wrong:
Had I been sindg'd with Lightning, I had stood
With all my wrongs husht as unwindy night;
But to be scorcht thus by a Candles Snuffe,
A thing that only Blazes in expiring,
And which must die in its own noisomness:
Makes my Impatience swell above the bankes
Of common temper.

Alca.
You must restrain this fury, whose effect
Turnes to your own destruction.

Enter the King, with a few.
Med.
What's this?

Alca.
The King.

Med.
I will speak.

Alca.
Take heed good my Lord.

King.
Which way went Lerma?

Med.
Headlong Sir, and 'twill be dangerous
To follow him.

King.
What's this?

Med.
I was your Souldier once Sir,
And had Commission to destroy your Enemies;
And I have done it with my Swords as boldly
As I will now attempt it with my Tongue:
And 'tis against a greater Enemy
Then ever fortune brought me to oppose
In all your Battels.

King.
VVhat enemy is this?

Med.
So great a one, that he is now become
More terror to your Souldiers, then those Armies
They alwayes met, with noble hopes of conquest.
Here victory is lost already: for Lerma
Has took you captive.

King.
'Tis boldness, and not duty, to question
Princes favours.

Med.
But not to beg 'em Sir, no more then 'tis
To pray, That Heav'n wou'd turne a vengeance from us,
Threatning in Lerma's power: Do not forget
Great Sir, the last desires your father made,
And force him to call louder from his grave.
Turne, mighty Sir, your lookes the other way,
And see your widdow'd People want their King,
Drooping like dayes unlook'd on by the Sun.
Your Councel wither'd more with care then Age,
Grown as much strangers to your great Affaires
As unto Lerma's pleasure.

Alca.
Excellent! 'tis nobly honest.

King.
Must Princes favours then be limited,
Or Judg'd by common Breaths?
'Tis restless Envy, that urges Mutinies
Shelter'd under Duty.

(Exit.
Med.
So the lesson is learn't perfect.
Oh Impudence! to make the Majesty of Kings
The pawn of all their villanies.

Alca.
Brave Lord, though I grieve to see you prest
Thus into needless dangers; yet I must
Joy, that our Country can yet boast such worth.

Med.
O my Lord, so wretched are we growing,
I tremble to out-live our happiness:
Those that wou'd alwayes live among Diseases,
Venters for life more then I do for death.

Alca.
Nay, my brave Lord,
You shall see all your friends dare share
With equal Courage the worst fate;
For wisely to go back is now too late.
My Jellousies are just, lend me your aide,
And we may dive into the heart of all.

Med.
And into his that wrought these mischiefes too,
In greater privacy I'le utter more;
Let us be firme, and like a mighty weight,
Sinking our selves, press others to their fate.

(Exeunt.