 | The Humorous Lieutenant |  |
Scæn. 2.
Ent. Demetr. Leon. Lieut. Gent. Sold. & Host.Dem.
Hether doe you say she is come?
Host.
Yes sir, I am sure on't:
For whilst I waited on ye, putting my wife in trust,
I know not by what meanes, but the King found her,
And hether she was brought; how, or to what end.
Dem.
My father found her?
Host.
So my wife informes me.
Dem.
Leontius, pray draw off the souldiers,
I would a while be private.
Leon.
Fall off Gentlemen,
The Prince would be alone.
Ex. Leo. & Sol.
Dem.
Is he so cunning?
There is some tricke in this, and you must know it,
And be an agent too: which if it prove so—
Host.
Pull me to pieces sir?
Dem.
My father found her?
My father brought her hither? went she willingly?
Host.
My wife sayes full of doubts.
Dem.
I cannot blame her
No more: there's no trust, no faith in mankinde.
Enter Antigonus, Menippus, Leontius, & Soldiers.
Ant.
Keep her up close, he must not come to see her:
You are welcome nobly now, welcome home gentlemen;
You have done a courteous service on the Enemie;
Has tyed his faith for ever, you shall find it;
Ye are not now in's debt Son: still your sad looks:
Leontius, what's the matter?
Leo.
Truth sir, I know not,
We have been merry since we went.
Lieu.
I feele it.
Ant.
Come, what's the matter now? do you want money?
Sure he has heard o'th' wench.
Dem.
Is that a want sir?
I would faine speake to your Grace.
Ant.
You may doe freely.
Dem.
And not deserve your anger?
Ant.
That ye may too.
Dem.
There was a gentle woman, and somtimes my prisoner,
Which I thought well of sir: your Grace conceives me.
Ant.
I doe indeed, and with much grief conceive ye;
With full as much griefe as your mother bare me:
There was such a woman: would I might as well say,
There was no such Demetrius.
Dem.
She was vertuous,
And therefore not unfit my youth to love her:
She was as faire—
Ant.
Her beauty I'le proclaime too,
To be as rich as ever raigned in woman;
But how she made that good, the Devill knowes.
Dem.
She was—O heaven!
Ant.
The hell to all thy glories,
Swallowed thy youth, made ship wrack of thine honor:
She was a devill.
Dem.
Ye are my father sir.
Ant.
And since ye take a pride to shew your follies,
I'le muster 'em, and all the world shall view 'em.
Leo.
What heate is this? the Kings eyes speak his anger?
Ant.
Thou hast abus'd thy youth, drawn to thy fellowship
Instead of arts and armes, a womans kisses,
The subtilties, and soft heates of a harlot.
Dem.
Good sir, mistake her not.
Ant.
A Witch, a Sorcerer:
I tell thee but the truth; and heare Demetrius,
Which has so dealt upon thy bloud with charmes,
Devillish and darke; so lockt up all thy vertues;
138
In heaven, that any tongue but his durst say this;
That any heart durst harbor it: Dread Father,
If for the innocent the gods allow us
To bend our knees—
Ant.
Away, thou art bewitched still;
Though she be dead, her power still lives upon thee.
Dem.
Dead? O sacred sir: dead did you say?
Ant.
She is dead foole.
Dem.
It is not possible: be not so angry,
Say she is falne under your sad displeasure,
Or any thing but dead, say she is banished,
Invent a crime, and doe beleeve it sir.
Ant.
Dead by the Law: we found her hell, and her,
I meane her charmes and spels, for which she perish'd;
And she confest she drew thee to thy ruine,
And purpos'd it, purpos'd my Empires overthrow.
Dem.
But is she dead? was there no pity sir?
If her youth err'd, was there no mercy shewne her?
Did ye looke on her face, when ye condemn'd her?
Ant.
I look'd into her heart, and there she was hideous.
Dem.
Can she be dead? can vertue fall untimely?
Ant.
She is dead, deservingly she died.
Dem.
I have done then.
O matchlesse sweetnes, whether art thou vanished?
O thou faire soule of all thy sex, what Paradise
Hast thou inrich'd and blest? I am your sonne sir,
And to all you shall command stand most obedient,
Only a little time I must intreat you
To study to forget her; 'twill not be long sir,
Nor I long after it: art thou dead Celia,
Dead my poor wench? my joy, pluckt green with violence:
O faire sweet floure, farwell: Come, thou destroyer,
Sorrow, thou melter of the soule, dwell with me;
Dwell with me solitarie thoughts, teares, cryings,
Nothing that loves the day, love me, or seeke me,
Nothing that loves his owne life haunt about me:
And Love, I charge thee, never charme mine eies more,
Nor ne're betray a beauty to my curses:
For I shall curse all now hate all, forsweare all,
And all the brood of fruitfull nature vex at,
For she is gon that was all, and I nothing—
Ex. & Gen.
Ant.
This opinion must be maintained.
Men.
It shall be sir.
Ant.
Let him goe: I can at mine owne pleasure
Draw him to'th' right againe: wait you instructions,
And see the souldier paid, Leontius:
Once more ye are welcome home all.
All.
Health to your Majestie.—
Exit Antig. &c.
Leo.
Thou wentst along the journy, how canst thou tell?
Host.
I did, but I am sure 'tis so: had I staid behind,
I thinke this had not proved.
Leo.
A wench the reason?
Lev.
Who's that talks of a wench there?
Leo.
All this discontent
About a wench.
Lieu.
Where is this wench, good Colonell?
Leo.
Prethee hold thy peace: who cals thee to counsell?
Lieu.
Why, if there be a wench—
Leo.
'Tis fit thou know her:
Enter 2 Gen.
That I'le say for thee, and as fit thou art for her,
Let her be mewed or stopt: how is it Gentlemen?
1. G.
Hee's wondrous discontent, hee'l speak to no man.
2. G.
Has taken his chamber close, admits no entrance;
Teares in his eyes, and crying out.
Host.
'Tis so sir,
And now I wish my selfe half hang'd ere I went this journey.
Leo.
What is this woman?
Lieu.
I.
Host.
I cannot tell ye,
But hansome as heaven.
Lieu.
She is not so high I hope sir.
Leo.
Where is she?
Lieu.
I, that would be knowne.
Leo.
Why sirrah.
Host.
I cannot show ye neither;
The King has now dispos'd of her.
Leo.
There lyes the matter:
Will he admit none to come to comfort him?
1. Gen.
Not any neare, nor let 'em knock their hearts out,
Will never speake.
Lieu.
'Tis the best way if he have her;
For look you, a man would be loath to be disturb'd in's pastime;
'Tis every good mans case.
Leo.
'Tis all thy living,
We must not suffer this, we dare not suffer it:
For when these tender soules meet deep afflictions,
They are not strong enough to struggle with 'em,
But drop away as snow does, from a mountaine,
And in the torrent of their owne sighs sinke themselves:
I will, and must speake to him.
Lieu.
So must I too:
He promised me a charge.
Leo.
Of what? of children
Upon my conscience, thou hast a double companie,
And all of thine owne begetting alreadie.
Lieu.
Thats all one,
I'le raise 'em to a Regiment, and there command 'em,
When they turne disobedient, unbeget 'em:
Knock 'em o'th' head, and put in new.
Leo.
A rare way;
But for all this, thou art not valiant enough
To dare to see the Prince now?
Lieu.
Do ye thinke he's angry?
1 Gent.
Extreamely vext.
2 Gen.
To the endangering of any man comes neare him.
1 Gent.
Yet, if thou couldst but win him out,
VVhat ere thy suite were.
Beleeve it granted presently.
Leo.
Yet thou must thinke though,
That in the doing he may breake upon ye,
And—
Lieu.
If he do not kill me.
Leo.
There's the question.
Lieu.
For halfe a dozen hurts?
Leo.
Art thou so valiant?
Lieu.
Not absolutely so neither: no it cannot be,
I want my impostumes, and my things about me,
Yet I'le make danger, Collonel.
Leo.
'Twill be rare sport,
How ere it take; give me thy hand; if thou dost this,
I'le raise thee up a horse troope, take my word for't.
Lieu.
What may be done by humane man?
Leo.
Lets goe then.
1. Gen.
Away before the coole: he wil revenge els.
Ex.
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