University of Virginia Library

Sc. xviii

Enter galeas solus
hee that can tell mee why I strawe these fflowers
what this branch rosemary shewes or what rue
is prologue too, why this neglected time
I haue made choice of time to spread wt h these
wc h of you can but resolue mee this
knowes more then I my selfe, Ile make it plaine
my mother not soe naturall as noble
graspes at an ayre I not desire to breath in
nor wish to kisse, my lips be blister'd when they «p»
wt h hers I loue not, Ile not abiure the ma[OMITTED]
though, therefore I spred the ground wt h this
sweet tapistry, but the sad end of this enforcd match
is coffin'd here already deare lucresia
if I haue plotted this thy tragedy
oh may one ffatall hearse containe vs both
and these sweet garden dwellers furnish out
our ffunerall Coffins

Enter leonara
Mo:
how now sonne galeas

ga:
beware the ffayrie circle if you touch
the selvadge on't y'are blasted

Mo
what meanes this preparation

ga:
it has a double meaning noble mother
Ile render you the first, these flowers are prepar'd
for the mariage of a gentleman raisd by his ffrendes
into the bossome of such noble kindred
as graspe him wt h vnvalued honors
to this soe well compild history
these are the flourishing exordium
and of my owne composing

Mo
but galeas
what poet is the author of this story
to wc h you make this preface

ga:
a poetesse dere mother tis yor selfe
is not Iouannyes daughter haples lucrece
for bewty term'd the second of that name
but for her vertue to be stil'd the first
cloisterd wt hin a sullen monastery
wherein loues edge and the sparke of bewty both
wilbe eclipsd and bayted, whilst one of yor providing
is with post hast sent for and knowing not
how soone shee will appeare in all her glories
cause shee should not thinke there is not
wondrous expectacon̄ cast on her greatnes
and the mariage pompe not furnish'd out
wt h all additions noblenes can challenge
I haue thought good to make this preparation

Mo:
but galeas I supose, here are herbes ominous rather
and predictions to subsequent disasters

ga:
not soe not soe
heres rosemary though bridegroomes of or pace
for hornes doe title it, and beare these branches
as emblemes of their ffortunes mother know
I not be that way gilty noe
Ile ruffle it like an incorporate May gamist
then heres rue, to witnes I should rue
this houre, this minute should or mr s come
and take vs vnprovided, then heres, time
the hearbe of hearbes by this I morrallize
the prize I make of time not to neglect it
against this great solemnity, last of all
heres grace, wc h should haue bene the first
for mother I'de not haue our mariage
like an oyster feast vnprologu'd, wt hout grace
if I haue said, or if these be prdictions omino[OMITTED]
mother I craue yor pardon
[since Iasperoe's departure hath in her breast]
[roome for all royall vertues]

Ma:
[yet the prince]

du:
[but to name him is more to incense or wrath]
[wee are imou'd and or red actions]
[are all bloud and death]
[and if I succeed]
[by all my hopes and happines thou shalt raigne]
[wc h if I faile I wish the earth may make mee]
[a loathed burden and the glorious sonne]
[a despisd carcase]
[that should]

Mo
but tell mee sonn
art thou resolud to marry vrbins neece
as I propose to thee

ga
shee's noble

Mo:
is/—rich

Mo:
has a large dowry

ga
and faire

Mo
as any

ga:
as lucrece

Mo:
still harping on that string

ga
pray pardon mee, vertuous

Mo
ha

ga:
dee pause at that, looke yee be shee not vertuous
were shee a Constellation Ide not wish her
wt h Ariadnes wealth my bed fellow

Mo
why sonn tis not in a woman of salvacon̄
to sweare anothers vertue

ga:
I beleeue yee, Ide not sweare as the old proverbe is
for my owne

Mo:
mother

ga:
noe by my ffathers soule would I not for I'm sick

[Mo]
of the mother now at this very instant, all my
partes tremble at her very presence

Enter Iacomo
Iac:
madam y'are expected
worthy sir your lady is arriu'd

ga:
shee is not Iacomo the land she walkes in
is an inchaunted Iland hard to touch
but honest faithfull trusty Iacomo
as th'ast bene all thy life continue still
the same in this last voiage, fly from hence
to the next Monastery and bring me hether
my dere lucresia, to question why
were to neglect thy duty for I stand
vpon a minutes point

Iac:
I'm gone sir

Exit
ga:
wilt please you madam to comend my service
to that bright lady and wt hall to excuse
my absence for a while I protest
souldiers are not extemporall Courtiers
I'de n«o»t come as a man vnfurnishd
either of phrase or gesture

Mo:
well sonn take yor owne time
Ile for this once speake all delaies
but bee not absent long

Exit
ga
if I outstrip my time here yee shall find mee
here here lucretia, shall I liue bossom'd wt h another feen[OMITTED]
to bee for euer wt h her curses blasted
defend it heauen what shall I then resolue
to sacrifice my owne bloud on the altar
of loyaltie and truth and leaue lucretia
a willow wearing and disconsolate virgin
the mockerie of ladies the court scoffe
perhaps in this disgrace the lustfull prey
of some orehott Ittallian somewhat lies here
yet an embrion wc h must come to forme
by her approach.

Enter lucrece Iacomo
Iac:
here's yor lucretia sir

ga:
welcome, o welcome Iacomo yor absence, but stay

lu:
how ist wt h you

ga:
well exceeding well.

lu:
pray look vp then

ga:
soe I will, oh—

lu:
whence came that sound of horror from yor heart
if soe it did Ile fetch the like from mine
why looke yee soe distracted

ga:
I who I y'are deceiu'd, see you these bed of fflowers
they are of my providing

lu:
to what purpose

ga
the ground thou seest thus mantled serues
either for a ffunerall or bridall.
a bridall is at hand lucresia
what wouldst thou giue or spend, what wouldst thou loos[OMITTED]
rather then see me thy betrothed ffrend
enforc'd to giue this hand already thine
vnto a second mr s

lu:
I had rather loose this hand

ga
I know thou hadst wt h mee thoult not dissemble

lu:
neuer o neuer life and all fly from mee
ere I behold that minute galeas
heat to the sun is not more firmely wedded
then is my heart to thee

ga:
accursed then be that malignant heart
that plottes our separacon, mother a tigresse
lucrece twenty minutes may depriue vs
the ffame of Constant louers, [then if thou'lt wed]
briefely thus, my mother would inforce and has prpar'd
another match, shee's here in the next roome
I want time to tell it a pox of such post hast
the earle of orbins neece would loues ffire
had melted and consum'd her to a Negro
or browne tartar, ere my mother sent
to treat a Mariage

Enter Iacomo.
Iac:
sir yor mother expectes yee

ga:
I come, I ly Ile neuer come to her
and leaue my lucrece

Iac:
my lord

ga:
desist thy ill tim'd language speake not that killing
embassage to intreate my ffaith to vrbins neece
were euer to steale a soule once deifide
and place it mongst the ffuries

Iac:
my lord

ga:
ha, Iacomo I'm bound for trauell

Iac:
how for trauell

ga:
yes Iacomo,
the euelasting pilgrimage of men
and I must force thy attendance Iacomo
then prthee this accept
for thy last voiage to the Monastery

Iac:
oh my lord, a little warning would haue done well
before soe long a voiage, it had bene manhood
if you had led the way

ga:
let it suffice Ile follow, nou lucrece if thoult
wedd thy bloud to mine thou art a second lucrece
for constancy and vertue, shee of Rome
was forcd from her loues ffaith and soe polluted
forc'd hast thou bene from mee, and yet maist liue
if liue thou wilt to be polluted soe
but if thou doest, shame and my curse liue wt h thee
for thus Ile seat my ffaith

lu:
and thus I mine galeas strike
effeminate ffeare at sight of death to shrike
is quite exild and euery veine swolne full
of an heroicke spirrit

ga:
saist thou soe
art thou provided, that propitious ffate
that seated loue betwixt vs hath decreed
a correspondency in death strike feareles, loue
and let vs set a period to or woe
by falling wt h our servant Iacomo.

lu:
thus then

ga:
and thus

lu:
wee die
to consecrate a tombe to constancy
and I that lucrece wt h my latest breath
vtter this Maxime, true loue outlastes death

ga:
yet this weele add vnto the mouth of ffame
a lucrece lou'd and di'de to proue the same/.