University of Virginia Library

Actus Primus

Scæna Prima.

Enter Vitelli, Lamorall, Anastro.
Vitelli.
Alvarez pardon'd?

Ana.
And return'd.

Lamo.
I saw him land
At St. Lucars, and such a generall welcome
Fame, as harbinger to his brave actions,
Had with the easie people, prepard for him,
As if by his command alone, and fortune
Holland with those low Provinces, that hold out
Against the Arch-Duke, were again compel'd
With their obedience to give up their lives
To be at his devotion.

Vit.
You amaze me,
For though I have heard, that when he fled from Civill
To save his life (then forfeited to Law
For murthering Don Pedro my deer Uncle)
His extreame wants inforc'd him to take pay
In th'Army sat down then before Ostena,
'Twas never yet reported, by whose favour
He durst presunt to entertain a thought
Of comming home with pardon.

Ana.
'Tis our nature
Or not to hear, or not to give beliefe
To what we wish far from our enemies.

Lam.
Sir 'tis most certaine the Infantas letters
Assisted by the Arch Dukes, to King Philip
Have not alone secur'd him from the rigor
Of our Castillian Justice, but return'd him
A free man, and in grace.

Vit.
By what curs'd meanes
Could such a fugitive arise unto
The knowledge of their highnesses? much more
(Though known) to stand but in the least degree
Of favour with them?

Lam.
To give satisfaction
To your demand, though to praise him I hate,
Can yeild me small contentment, I will tell you,
And truly, since should I detract his worth,
'Twould argue want of merit in my self.
Briefly, to passe his tedious pilgrimage
For sixteene years, a banish'd guilty-man,
And to forget the stormes, th'affrights, the horrors
His constancy, not fortune overcame,
I bring him, with his little son, grown man
(Though 'twas said here he took a daughter with him)
To Ostends bloody seige that stage of war
Wherein the flower of many Nations acted,
And the whole Christian world spectators were;
There by his son, or were he by adoption
Or nature his, a brave Scene was presented,
Which I make choyce to speak of, since from that
The good successe of Alvarez, had beginning.

Vil.
So I love vertue in an enemy
That I desire in the relation of
This young mans glorious deed, you'ld keep your self
A friend to truth, and it.

Lam.
Such was my purpose;
The Town being oft assaulted, but in vaine,
To dare the prow'd defendants to a sally,
Weary of ease Don Inigo Peralta
Son to the Generall of our Castile forces
All arm'd, advanc'd within shot of their wals,
From whence the muskateers plaid thick upon him,
Yet he (brave youth) as carelesse of the danger,
As carefull of his honor, drew his sword,
And waving it about his head, as if
He dar'd one spirited like himself, to triall
Of single valor, he made his retreat
With such a slow, and yet majestique pace,
As if he still cald low'd, dare none come on?
When sodainly from a posterne of the town
Two gallant horse-men issued, and o're-took him,
The army looking on, yet not a man
That durst relieve the rash adventurer,
Which Lucio, son to Alvarez then seeing,
As in the vant-guard he sat bravely mounted,
Or were it pity of the youths misfortune,
Care to preserve the honour of his Country,
Or bold desire to get himselfe a name,
He made his brave horse, like a whirle wind bear him,
Among the Combatants: and in a moment
Dischar'd his Petronell, with such sure aime
That of the adverse party from his horse,
One tumbled dead, then wheeling round, and drawing
A faulchion swift as lightning, he came on
Upon the other, and with one strong blow
In view of the amazed Town, and Campe
He strake him dead, and brought Peralta off
With double honour to himselfe.

Vit.
'Twas brave:
But the successe of this?

Lam.
The Campe receiv'd him
With acclamations of joy and welcome,
And for addition to the faire reward
Being a massy chain of gold given to him
By yong Peralta's Father, he was brought
To the Infantas presence kiss'd her hand,
And from that Lady, (greater in her goodnesse
Then her high birth) had this encouragement
Go on youngman; yet not to feed thy valour
With hope of recompence to come, from me,
For present satisfaction of what's past,
Aske any thing that's fit for me to give,
And thee to take, and be assur'd of it.

Ana.
Excellent princesse.

Vit.
And stil'd worthily
The heart bloud, nay the soule of Souldiers.
But what was his request?

Lam.
That the repeale
Of Alvarez, makes plaine: he humbly begd
His Fathers pardon, and so movingly
Told the sad story of your uncles death
That the Infanta wept, and instantly
Granting his suit, working the Arch-duke to it,
Their Letters were directed to the King,
With whom they so prevaild, that Alvarez
Was freely pardon'd.

Uit.
'Tis not in the King
To make that good.

Ana.
Not in the King? what subject
Dares contradict his power?

Uit.
In this I dare,
And wil: and not call his prerogative
In question, nor presume to limit it.
I know he is the Master of his Lawes,
And may forgive the forfeits made to them,
But not the injury done to my honour;
And since (forgeting my brave Uncles merits
And many services, under Duke D' Alva)
He suffers him to fall, wrestling from Justice
The powerfull sword, that would revenge his death,
I'le fill with this Astrea's empty hand,
And in my iust wreake, make this arme the Kings,
My deadly hate to Alvarz, and his house,
Which as I grew in years, hath still encreas'd,
As if it cal'd on time to make me man,
Slept while it had no object for her fury
But a weak woman, and her talk'd of Daughter:
But now, since there are quarries, worth her sight
Both in the father, and his hopefull son,
I'le boldly cast her off, and gorge her full
With both their hearts: to further which your friendship,
And oathes will your assistance, let your deedes
Make answer to me; uselesse are all words
Till you have writ performance with your Swords.

Exeunt.

Scæna Secunda.

Enter Bobadilla, and Lucio
Luc.
Go fetch my work: this ruffe was not well starch'd,
So tell the maid, 'thas too much blew in it,
And look you that the Partrich and the Pullen
Have cleane meat, and fresh water, or my Mother
Is like to hear on't.

Bob.

O good Sir Iaques helpe me: was there ever such
an Hermaphrodite heard of? would any wench living,
that should hear and see what I do, be wrought to believe,
that the best of a man lies under this Petticoate,
and that a Cod-peece were far fitter here, then a pind-Placket?

Luc.
You had best talk filthily: do; I have a tongue
To tell my Mother, as well as ears to heare
Your ribaldry.

Bob.

May you have ten womens tongues that way I am
sure: why my yong Mr. or Mistris, Madam, Don or what
you wil, what the devill have you to do with Pullen, or
Partrich? or to sit pricking on a clowt all day? you have a
better needle, I know, and might make better work, if
you had grace to use it.

Luc.

Why, how dare you speak this before me, firha?

Bob.

Nay rather, why dare not you do what I speak?
—though my Lady your mother, for fear of Vitelli and
his faction, hath brought you up like her daughter, and
h'as kept you this 20 year, which is ever since you were
born, a close prisoner within dores, yet since you are a
man, and are as wel provided as other men are, methinks
you should have the same motions of the flesh, as other
Cavaliers of us are inclin'd unto.

Luc.
Indeed you have cause to love those wanton motions,
They having hope you to an excellent whipping,
For doing something, I but put you in mind of it,
With the Indian mayd, the governour sent my mother
From Mexico.

Bob.

Why, I but taught her a Spanish trick in charity,
and holp the King to a subject that may live to take grave
Maurice prisoner, and that was more good to the State,
then a thousand such as you are ever like to do: and
wil tell you, (in a fatherly care of the Infant I speak it)
if he live (as blesse the babe, in passion I remember him)
to your years, shall he spend his time in pinning, painting,
purling, and perfuming as you do? no, he shall to
the wars, use his Spanish Pike, though with the danger
of the lash, as his father has done, and when he is provoked,
as I am now, draw his Toledo desperatly, as—

Luc.
You will not Kill me? oh.

Bob.
I knew this would silence him: how he hids his eys?
If he were a wench now, as he seems, what an advantage
Had I, drawing two Toledos, when one can do this?
But oh me, my Lady: I must put up: young Master
I did but jest: O custom, what ha'st thou made of him?

Enter Eugenia, and Servants.
Eug.
For bringing this, be still my friend; no more
A servant to me.

Bob.
What's the matter?

Eug.
Here,
Even here where I am happy to receive
Assurance of my Alvarez returne,
I wil kneell down: and may those holy thoughts
That now possesse me wholy, make this place
a Temple to me, where I may give thanks
For this unhop'd for blessing Heavens Kind hand
Hath pour'd upon me.

Luc.
Let my duty Madam
Presume, if you have cause of joy, to entreat
I may share in it.

Bob.
'Tis well, he has forgot how I frighted him yet.

Eug.
Thou shalt: but first kneel with me Lucio,
No more Posthumina now, thou hast a Father,
A Father living to take off that name,
Which my too credulous fears, that he was dead,
Bestow'd upon thee: thou shalt see him Lucio,
And make him young again, by seeing thee,
Who only hadst a being in my Womb
When he went from me, Lucio: O my joyes,
So far transport me, that I must forget
The ornaments of Matrons, modesty,
And grave behaviour; but let all forgive me
If in th'expression of my soules best comfort
Though old, I do a while forget mine age,
And play the wanton in the entertinement
Of those delights I have so long despair'd of.

Luc.
Shall I then see my Father?

Eug.
This houre Lucio;
Which reckon the begining of thy life
I mean that life, in which thou shalt appeare
To be such as I brought thee forth: a man,
This womanish disguise, in which I have
So long conceal'd thee, thou shalt now cast off,
And change those qualities thou didst learn from me,
For masculine virtues, for which seek no tutor,
But let thy fathers actions be thy precepts;
And for thee Zancho, now expect reward
For thy true service.

Bob.

Shall I? you hear fellow Stephano, learne to know
me more respectively; how do'st thou think I shall become
the Stewards chaire ha? will not these slender
hanches show well with a chaine, and a gold night-Cap
after supper when I take the accompts?

Eug.
Haste, and take down those blacks, with which my chamber
Hath like the widow, her sad Mistris, mourn'd,
And hang up for it, the rich Persian arras,
Us'd on my wedding night: for this to me
Shall be a second marriage: send for Musique,
And will the 'cooks to use their best of cunning
To please the palat.

Bob.

Will your Ladiship have a Potato-pie, tis a good
stirring dish for an old Lady, after a long Lent.

Eug.

Be gon I say: why sir, you can go faster?

Bob.

I could Madam: but I am now to practise the
Stewards pace, that's the reward I look for: every man
must fashion his gate, according to his calling: you
fellow Stephano, may walk faster, to overtake preferment:
so, usher me.

Luc.
Pray Madam, let the wascoat I last wrought
Be made up for my Father: I wil have
A cap and boote-hose sutable to it.

Eug.
Of that
Wee'l think hereafter Lucio: our thoughts now
Must have no object, but thy Fathers welcome,
To which thy helfe—

Luc.
With humble gladnesse Madam.

Exeunt

Scæna Tertia.

Enter Alvarez, Clara.
Alv.
Where lost we Syavedra?

Cla.
He was met
Entring the City by some Gentlemen
Kinsmen, as he said of his own, with whom
For complement sake (for so I think he term'd it)
He was compel'd to stay: though I much wonder
A man that knowes to do, and has done well
In the head of his troop, when the bold foe charg'd home,
Can learn so sodainly to abuse his time
In apish entertainment: for my part
(By all the glorious rewards of war)
I had rather meet ten enemies in the field
All sworn to fetch my head, then be brought on
To change an houres discourse with one of these
Smooth City fools, or rissen Cavaliers,
Then only Gallans, as they wisely think,
To get a Jewell, or a wanton Kisse
From a Court-lip, though painted.

Alv.
My Love Clara
(For Lucio is a name thou must forget
With Lucios bold behaviour) though thy breeding
I'the camp may plead something in the excuse
Of thy rough manners, custome having chang'd,
Though not thy Sex, the softnesse of thy nature,
And fortune (then a cruell stepdame to thee)
Impos'd upon thy tender sweetnesse, burthens
Of hunder, cold, wounds, want, such as would crack
The sinewes of a man, not borne a Souldier:
Yet now she smiles, and like a naturall mother
Looks gently on thee, Clara, entertaine
Her proffer'd bounties with a willing bosome;
Thou shalt no more have need to use thy sword;
Thy beauty (which even Belgia hath not alter'd)
Shall be a stronger guard, to keep my Clara,
Then that has bin, (though never us'd but nobly)
And know thus much.

Cla.
Sir, I know only that
It stands not with my duty to gaine-say you,
In any thing: I must, and will put on
What fashion you think best: though I could wish
I were what I appeare.

Alv.
Endeavour rather
Musick.
To be what you are, Clara, entring here
As you were borne, a woman.

Enter Eugnia, Lucio, Servants.
Eug.
Let choice Musick
In the best voyce that ere touch'd humane eare,
For joy hath tide my tongue up, speak your welcome.

Alv.
My soule, (for thou giv'st new life to my spirit)
Myriads of joyes, though short in number of
Thy vertues, fall on thee; Oh my Eugenia,
Th'assurance, that I do embrace thee, makes
My twenty years of sorrow but a dreame,
And by the Nectar, which I take from these,
I feele my age restor'd, and like old Æson
Grow young againe.

Eug.
My Lord, long wish'd for welcome,
Tis a sweet briefnesse, yet in that short word
All pleasures which I may call mine, begin,
And may they long increase, before they finde
A second period: let mine eyes now surfet
On this so wish'd for object, and my lips
Yet modestly pay back the parting kisse
You trusted with them, when you fled from Civill
With little Clara my sweet daughter: lives she?
Yet I coul'd chide my selfe, having you here
For being so coveteous of all joyes at once,
'T enquire for her, you being alone, to me
My Clara, Lucio, my Lord, my selfe,
Nay more then all the world.

Alv.
As you, to me are.

Eug.
Sit down, and let me feed upon the story
Of your past dangers, now you are here in safety
It will give rellish, and fresh appetite
To my delights, if such delights can cloy me.
Yet do not Alvarez, let me first yeild you
Accompt of my life in your absence, and
Make you acquainted how I have preserv'd
The Jewell left lock'd up in my womb,
When you, in being forc'd to leave your country,
Suffer'd a civill death.

within Clashing swords.
Alv.
Doe my Eugenia,
Tis that I most desire to heare,

Eug.
Then know

Sayavedra within.
Alv.
What voyce is that?
If you are noble Enemies,
Vitelli within.
Oppresse me not with odds, but kill me fairely,
Stand off, I am too many of my selfe.

Enter Bobadilla.
Bob.

Murther, murther murther, your friend my Lord,
Don Syavedra is set upon in the Streets, by your enemies
Vitelli, and his Faction: I am almost kill'd with looking
on them.

Alv.

Ile free him, or fall with him: draw thy sword
And follow me.

Cla.
Fortune I give thee thankes
For this occasion once more to use it.

Bob.
Nay, hold not me Madam; if I doe any hurt, hang me.

Exit.
Luc.
Oh I am dead with feare! let's flye into
Your Closet, Mother.

Eug.
No houre of my life
Secure of danger? heav'n be mercifull,
Or now at once dispatch me.

Enter Vitelli, pursued by Alvarez, & Sayavedra, Clara beating of Anastro.
Cla.
Follow him
Leave me to keepe these off.

Alv.
Assault my friend
So neere by house?

Vit.
Nor in it will spare thee,
Though 'twere a Temple: & Ile mak it one,
I being the Priest, and thou the sacrifice,
Ile offer to my uncle.

Alv.
Haste thou to him,
And say I sent thee:

Cla.
'Twas put bravely by,
And that: and yet comes on, and boldly rare,
In the warres, where emulation and example
Joyn to encrease the courage, and make lesse
The danger; valour, and true resolution
Never appear'd so lovely: brave againe:
Sure he is more then man, and if he fall;
The best of vertue, fortitude would dye with him:
And can I suffer it? forgive me duty,
So I love valour, as I will protect it
Against my Father, and redeeme it, though
'Tis forfeited by one I hate.

Vit.
Come on,
All is not lost yet: You shall buy me deerer
Before you have me: keep off.

Cla.
Feare me not,
Thy worth has tooke me Prisoner, and my sword
For this time knowes thee onely for a friend,
And to all else I turne the point of it.

Say.
Defend your Fathers Enemy?

Alv.
Art thou mad?

Cla.
Are you men rather? shall that valour, which
Begot you lawfull honour in the warres,
Prove now the parent of an infamous Bastard
So foule, yet so long liv'd, as murther will
Be to your shames? have each of you, alone
With your own dangers onely, purchas'd glory
From multitudes of Enemies, not allowing
Those neerest to you, to have part in it,
And doe you now joyn, and lend mortall helpe
Against a single opposite? hath the mercy
Of the great King, but newly wash'd away
The blood, that with the forfeit of your life
Cleav'd to your name, and family like an ulcer,
In this againe to set a deeper dye
Upon your infamy? you'll say he is your foe,
And by his rashnesse call'd on his own ruine;
Remember yet, he was first wrong'd, and honour
Spur'd him to what he did, and next the place
Where now he is, your house, which by the lawes
Of hospitable duty should protect him;
Have you been twenty yeeres a stranger to it,
To make your entrance now in blood? or think, you
Your country-man, a true born Spaniard, will be
An offring fit, to please the genius of it?
No, in this i'le presume to teach my Father,
And this first Act of disobedience shall
Confirme I am most dutifull.

Alv.
I am pleas'd
With what I dare not give allowance to;
Unnaturall wretch, what wilt thou doe?

Cla.
Set free
A noble Enemy: come not on, by—
You passe to him, through me: the way is open:
Farwell: when next I meet you, doe not look for
A friend, but a vow'd foe; I see you worthy,
And therefore now preserve you, for the honour
Of my sword onely:

Vit.
Were this man a friend,
How would he win me, that being my vow'd foe
Deserves so well? I thanke you for my life;
But how I shall deserve it, give me leave
Hereafter to consider.

Exit.
Alv.
Quit thy feare,
All danger is blown over: I have Letters
To the Governour, in the Kings name, to secure us,
From such attempts hereafter: yet we need not
That have such strong guards of our own, dread others;
And to encrease thy comfort, know, this young man
Whom with such fervent earnestnesse you eye,
Is not what he appeares, but such a one
As thou with joy wilt blesse, thy daughter Clara.

Eug.
A thousand blessings in that word.

Alv.
The reason
Why I have bred her up thus, at more leisure
I will impart unto you: wonder not
At what you have seen her doe, it being the least
Of many great and valiant undertakings
She hath made good with honour.

Eug.
Ile returne
The joy I have in her, with one as great
To you my Alvarez: you, in a man
Have given to me a daughter: in a woman,
I give to you a Sonne: this was the pledge
You left here with me, whom I have brought up
Different from what he was, as you did Clara,
And with the like successe; as she appeares
Alter'd by custome, more then woman, he
Transform'd by his soft life, is lesse then man.

Alv.
Fortune, in this gives ample satisfaction
For all our sorrowes past.

Luc.
My deerest Sister.

Cla.
Kinde brother.

Alv.
Now our mutuall care must be
Imploy'd to help wrong'd nature, to recover
Her right in either of them, lost by custome:
To you I give my Clara, and receive
My Lucio to my charge: and we'll contend
With loving industry, who soonest can
Turne this man woman or this woman, man.

Exeunt.