University of Virginia Library

Scæna Prima.

Arabella sola appears sitting at a table as in her Chamber, &c.
Ar.
Loaden with cares: o'rewhelmed with misfortunes!
Can female shoulders bear my heavie crosses—
I left my native country of Siena.
To find out Marciano here at Florence:
Now have I found him: but O! how, God knowes,
And I too well percieve:—unhumane fates,
Whether, ah! whether will you hurrie me?
No end to your severity:—Ay me!
What have I done? pray let me know my crime:
As yet I plead strong innocence: unlesse
It be a crime to love: pray show my faults,
Or else suspend my paines—
Now (which is sad) I can scarce have repose
For sighs and cares: and when I once awake,
Borasco, therein my true Jaylor, waits me,
With fresh sollicitations:—thus my heart
Is rent in peeces; th'one half sorrow claimes,
The other love—Ay me! what shall I do?

weeps
Enter Strenuo
Str.
Shee's discontent already: but those newes
I bring, will make her sadder: I dare scarce
Declare them, least she swoon—Madam.

Ar.
Welcome, dear Strenuo, pray how does thy Lord?

Str.
Well, Madam,—but e're long, if fates prevent not—

Ar.
How—that again,—me thinks, thou looks not chearfull
As thou were wont,—how does my Lord, I say?

Str.
(If I dare tell you) he's condemn'd to dye.

Ar.
—To dye!—Ay me—be mercifull, and kill me
Good Strenuo, honest friend—prethee dispatch—

Str.
Stay Madam, you are mad—

Ar.
—Condemn'd to dye—
O how my heart strings, by that pin of grief,
As by an unexpert musicians hand,
Who strives to raise his Lute to highest notes,
Tun'd up above the nick begin to crack.

Str.
Forbear, fair, Lady, 'tis no time to weep,
Now wee must do; now wee must muster all
Our wits to plot his escape—

Ar.
As how—Alas fond Strenuo:—escape!
Dream not on that, rather invent some meanes,
How wee may dye together, like true lovers.

Str.
Madam, you wrong your self, I'le undertake.
By your assistance, to effect my purpose.

Ar.
By my assistance, prethee doubt not that,
What will I not do, if I can, to save him?

Str.
Then, Madam, here is aquafortis for you.
Look—this will do it, Lady, this applyed
To th'iron grate o'th window, will consume it
In a short space; then in the silent night
By help of a small rope he may escape.

Ar.
'Tis well, but all depends on th'aquafortis,
I cannot safely carry it to his chamber;
That Cerberus, that ugly cat ey'd Jaylor
Will sure discover me—

Str.
Nay, as for him,
I'le keep the villain tipling all the while
He never shall suspect you; I've provided
A souldiers habit for my Lord, in which garb
The devill himself shall never smell him out.
I'le so disguise him:—go good Madam, go
Tender my love to him, and presse him by
All meanes to use it quickly I'le wait on him
At th'hour appointed—

Ar.
I go, pray heavens, it may succeed.

Str.
Fear not.

Exeunt severally.