University of Virginia Library

Scæn 3.

Hoboys.
Enter in great state the Duke and Brancha, richly attir'd, with Lords, Cardinals, Ladies, and other Attendants, they pass solemnly over: Enter L Cardinal in a rage, seeming to break off the Ceremony.
L. Card.
Cease, cease; Religious Honors done to sin,
Disparage Vertues reverence, and will pull
Heavens thunder upon Florence; holy Ceremonies
Were made for sacred uses, not for sinful.
Are these the fruits of your Repentance Brother?
Better it had been you had never sorrow'd,
Then to abuse the benefit, and return
To worse then where sin left you.
Vow'd you then never to keep Strumpet more,
And are you now so swift in your desires,
To knit your honors, and your life fast to her!
Is not sin sure enough to wretched man,
But he must bind himself in chains to't? Worse!
Must marriage, that immaculate robe of honor,
That renders Vertue glorious, fair, and fruitful
To her great Master, be now made the Garment
Of Leprousie and Foulness? is this Penitence
To sanctifie hot Lust? what is it otherways
Then worship done to Devils? is this the best
Amends that sin can make after her riots?
As if a Drunkard, to appease Heavens wrath,
Should offer up his surfeit for a Sacrifice:
If that be comly, then Lust's offerings are
On Wedlocks sacred Altar.

Duke.
Here y'are bitter
Without cause Brother: what I vow'd I keep,
As safe as you your Conscience, and this needs not;
I taste more wrath in't, then I do Religion;
And envy more then goodness; the path now
I tread, is honest, leads to lawful love,
Which vertue in her strictness would not check:
I vow'd no more to keep a sensual woman:
'Tis done, I mean to make a lawful wife of her.

L. Card.
He that taught you that craft,
Call him not Master long, he will undo you.
Grow not too cunning for your soul good Brother,
Is it enough to use adulterous thefts,
And then take sanctuary in marriage?
I grant, so long as an offender keeps
Close in a priviledged Temple, his life's safe;
But if he ever venture to come out,
And so be taken, then he surely dies for't:
So now y'are safe; but when you leave this body,
Mans onely priviledg'd Temple upon Earth,
In which the guilty soul takes sanctuary,
Then you'll perceive what wrongs chaste vows endure,
When Lust usurps the Bed that should be pure.

Bran.
Sir, I have read you over all this while
In silence, and I finde great knowledge in you,
And severe learning, yet 'mongst all your vertues
I see not charity written, which some call
The first-born of Religion, and I wonder
I cannot see't in yours. Believe it Sir,
There is no vertue can be sooner miss'd,
Or later welcom'd; it begins the rest,
And sets 'em all in order; Heaven and Angels
Take great delight in a converted sinner.
Why should you then a Servant and Professor,
Differ so much from them? If ev'ry woman
That commits evil, should be therefore kept
Back in desires of goodness, how should vertue
Be known and honor'd? From a man that's blinde,
To take a burning Taper, 'tis no wrong,
He never misses it: But to take light
From one that see's, that's injury and spight.
Pray whether is Religion better serv'd,
When lives that are licentious are made honest,
Then when they still run through a sinful blood.
'Tis nothing Vertues Temples to deface;
But build the ruines, there's a work of Grace.

Duke.
I kiss thee for that spirit; thou hast prais'd thy wit
A modest way: On, on there.

Hoboys.
L. Card.
Lust is bold,
And will have veng'ance speak, er't be controld.

Exeunt.