 | The Fatal Marriage |  |
Sc. i
Enter Lodwick prince of Plazenza, & galeasPr:
Sr methinkes I much grieue for yor sake
that the auncient romaine triumphes are now left of
that such as haue brauely deseru'd of their country
should not at their returnes in triumphant chariottes
enter the Citty, since by your vallour or country
is not onely free'd from ffeare, but dignified by ffame.
Ga:
oh sir you speake mee much aboue my merrit
Pr:
to doe that sir
were to study wordes and neglect the matter
to pursue the shadowe, and neglect the substance
but let this be yor honor sir, the world will freely speake «yo»
thoe wee should be silent
ga:
the victories were heavens the indevors mine
wc h, if it bee but gratefull to the [people] prince
and modestly entertain'd of the people
my paines are sufficiently rewarded
pr:
but pray sir resolue mee
of what condicōn was that proud insulteing duke
of parma that by you had soe sodaine and fearefull
an overthrowe
ga:
hee was a man much giuen to mellancholly
of leaden spirit and of dull aspect
who finding in his owne breast nothing good
thought all men evill, of such iealousy
that whom hee knew had but the power to offend
his priudice made guilty of offence
3
did leaue of to bee noble, neuer building
but vpon others ruins, in whom suspition
still bredd Cruelty, and vigor new suspition
one whose ffavor s none could attaine
but by being misserable for whom he rais'd
he raign'd, nere making but whom he meant to spoyle
that hated others and could not loue his owne
to fforraine princes a burden, & to his owne dominions
noe better then a tyrant
pr:
you haue giuen him sir
a wondrous free and true description
for not contented, to bee bounded in
his owne free limites, his vsurping powers
incroich vpon or Confines,
ga:
but that title
he then pretended he hath since renounc'd
4
those paces, wc h hee of late soe proudly trodd
wt hin or confines, hee has measur'd back
wt h runaway and most disgracefull steps
and hee that fac'd and outfacd at the first
after some few houres fight gaue vs the fight
returning vanquish'd wee victorious
thankes to the god of battle
pr
ffor wc h service sir the duke shall owe you gratefull
honors, and his subiectes much applause
ga:
vnto the prince it was my loyaltie
and to them my loue
pr:
best attend him hee's now vpon his entrance
and proffer to the duke yor victories
Enter Duke, laura, Martiall Iaspero, attendantes:.
Du:
noble galeas, since by thy vallor
or enemies are subdew'd and wee at rest
let vs embrace thee as the chiefe support
of this or crowne and countries dignity
ga:
this staffe the ensigne of my late com̄aund
that arm'd mee wt h the power of generall
and giuen mee by yor owne authority
the warres being done I here surrender vp
and my selfe prostrate as a private man
now ffellow subiect vnto these yor lordes
my power resign'd I'm yor vassaile still
all attributes sett of.
du:
thou hast demean'd thee like a noble souldier
and a valliaunt subiect tis contention in vs
5
the first askes ffavors, the last rewardes
both wc h thou shalt pertake in eminence
wee need not now stand to relate the mannor
of yor braue Conquest since the ffame thereof
flew all the way before you to the court
nor to what strict compulsiue articles
thou hast inioin'd the publick enemy
all wc h wee know, and shall remember them
as purchast by thy sword
pr
and warlicke sir
if euer he should dare to reattaine
these his disseuer'd fforces, my selfe in person
would be yor pupill in these schoole of armes
ga
o let plazenzae's hope liue to succeed
his royall ffather and com̄aund or liues
to all such desperate hazardes princes they
are borne to com̄aund, wee subiectes to obey
du:
but let not vs detaine you worthy souldier
from vissiting yor many noble ffriendes
especially yor mother to whose yeares
this victory and yor renowne will add
manie a ffaire season, you were euer hers
in loue, but now in admiration
6
ga.
I noe lesse long
to be blest by her chast vertuous hand
whose I'm still in all obedience
du:
o shee's a noble Matron, and has bin
a faire Courtpatterne to or younger dames
weele now detaine yee noe longer from yt blessing
I know shee's bigg wt hall and longes to see't discharg'd
vpon yor ffortunate head
ga:
yor highnes ffavor I take it faire advantage
exit
du:
that wee should proue thus fortunate abroad
and soe distrest at home end fforreine broiles
to nurse domestick discordes to make conquest
vpo a ffierce and open ffoe, and be subdew'd
amongst or ffrendes at home
amongst or subiectes find pure loyalty
and treason midst or children, or martiall
Ma:
sir
du:
the prince fforbeare till wee call,
but be not out of hearing, for anon
wee shall haue occasions for you
pr:
sir I shall not
now shall wee haue some tedious buisines or other
the cause I hartely suspect I neuer could endure
these ffatherly instructions, they are as hard to mee
as when I was a scholler first in the lame hetroclites
or when my Tutor first enterd' mee into possum
Exit prince
du:
Iaspero & Laura take you the other part of the chamber
7
willingly,
I haue suspition wee are both betraid
or loue is come to knowledge
Ia:
say it bee
letes professe an equall constancy
t'will orecome ffeare and dangers
du:
Martiall, I nere found thee falce
in many yeares that I haue tride thy ffaith
shouldst thou now faile mee all that former good
were in this one blemish'd, and or ffavors
all turn'd to thy disgraces
Ma:
I wonder sir, & it much troubles mee
that my knowne loyalty wc h in my age
I chiefely thought to haue crown'd should now
come in suspence, sir I should be sorry
to merrit these suspitions
du:
I more sorry, if that one ill should shipwrack
all the good wc h wee haue soe oft tasted
Ma:
these doubtes my liege
affright mee more then danger it selfe can
I'm noe way guilty there fore cannot ffeare
good sir be open brested
du:
thou shouldst loue mee
Ma:
should any man doubt it saue yor selfe
I would not leaue one drop of loyall bloud
in these shrunck veines till I had made him know
the falcenes of his error, royall sir
you deale not wt h mee as my ffaith deserues
I take it most vnkindly
8
nay spare those teares good man I doe beleeue thee
Ma:
should you not
Ide forsweare ffood and shelter keepe noe more
then what nature lent mee thates my nakednes
but I would cleere yor ffeares.
du:
thou hast confirm'd mee, and now Ile doubt noe longer
tell mee then, if any passage of affection
betwixt thy sonne and that incontinent girle
be knowne to thee
Ma:
I smother it
I made a breaker of fforbidden lawes
I winck at such ambitions
du:
nay nay haue patience
Ma:
did I but know the boy lodg'd such a thought
I'de let it out at a wide gaping wound
made wt h my sword, Ile to him hee shall know't
my alleageaunce shalbe found
du:
then on that alleageaunce
wc h thou soe much dost labor to confirme
and wee giue credit too, cease thy passions
Ma:
my duty swaies mee, and I'm charm'd to silence
but if hee
du:
shall I prevaile or noe
Ma:
my liege I haue done
du:
Laura
9
my roiall ffather
du:
methinkes faire daughter, you are chaung'd of late
and that fresh bloud was wont to grace yor cheekes
is gone I know not wc h way
La:
sir my glasse informes mee noe such matter
du:
those glasses flatter yee worse then Courtiers
come I see't how saist thou Martiall
are not those fresh roses late chaung'd into faint palenes
view her well
Ma:
shee lookes something bleake my lord
du:
obserue thy sonn is not hee alter'd too
his lookes distracted, nay his very fface
shewes a perplext mind like one late falne in loue
Ia:
in loue my lord
du:
in loue
Ma:
wc h if I knew
du:
haue patience, wee intend 'em all the good
that man can doe, daughter I see yare growne
to mature ripenes, and like a provident ffather
knowing the weakenes incident to children
I would prevent all danger and provide
a husband for yor liking
La:
a husband sir
du:
a man I make noe question
you oft haue dream't of, noble and valiant
such and soe great hath bin thy loyalty
and service to the state, that I would gladly
10
and of many hopefull partes
Ia:
yor highnes is still royall
du:
Iaspero looke on that lady well is shee not fayre
the brightest starr in Court
Ia:
incomperable
du:
obserue him lady, and wt h a iudging eie,
is not young Iaspero the martialls sonne
one of our primest gallantes and indeed
the very fflower in Court
La:
sir not to dissemble I still esteem'd him soe
du:
thow pleasest vs to be thus plaine
couldst thou not loue him derely, nay dost thou
not already and thou hir
Ia:
shee's a lady I haue still admir'd
but dare not say I loue
du:
soe, you loue then but dare not say soe
you affect him too, nay speake wt hout evasion
La:
sir I doe
du:
confest on both sides
Ma:
why what intendes your grace
to giue my sonne in mariage to yor daughter
a match I neuer dream't of
du:
know my spleene I can noe longer hide
what you thus ioyne, behold I thus devide
Ma:
ha how whates that
du:
strumpet
Ma:
traytor
du:
base degenerate
Ma:
disloyall to thy liege
11
falce to thy bloud
[Ma]
[—/ aspiring boy]
du:
Ile find yee out a husband
Ma:
thou shalt haue a wife
du
Ile marry thee to some strong Cittadell where thou shalt
liue in durance
du:
exlent Mynion
Ma:
pretious knaue indeed
du:
what are yee both mute
whose tongues soe late were ready to confesse
yor most apparent treasons, can yee speake
the language of thy knee
Ia:
yor ∥don sir
La:
pardon dread liege and ffather
du:
vpstart wretch
how darst thou gaze the bright sunn in the fface
wt hout an Eagles eyes
Ma:
princes t'was ill done
and nothing like a lady of yor bloud
to traine my sonn to this
du:
thy life's forfeit
and were it not for the loue I beare thy ffather
I now should take thy head
12
had I the power the duke yor ffather hath
I should doe more then chide, vngentle lady
thus to seeke the ruin of my howse
du
Martiall to councell what shall wee doe in this
Ma:
my lord confine her close, Ile mewe him vp
looke you to hir Ile haue a care of him
du:
wee are resolu'd to take a milder course
and first by ffaire meanes, both inioy
yor wonted liberty but condicōnally
if euer you be knowne to enterchaunge
the least discourse to parley by yor letters
by yor owne tongues or mouthes of others
wee confine yee both in to perpetuall durance
Ma
a mild doome
and gentler farr then my badd sonn deserues
du:
Lord martiall bee't yor charge
wt h a strict and carefull eye to obserue
their lookes and gestures, and to keepe 'em still
from any private meetinges tis a charge
wee onely impose on you
Ma
wc h if I fayle in brand mee wt h name of traytor
du
but this is or least care, the greater lies
vpon or haire brain'd sonne, call in the prince
if euer ffather were vnfortunate
in his hop'd issue tis plazenzae's duke
Enter prince & Clowne
Ma
the prince attendes yor pleasure
13
the woodman and his daughter
wee gaue in charge they shoulbe both at hand
Ma:
they are my lord
du:
Lodwicke n
pr:
my lord
du
a fforrester to haue free partenership
in this or Crowne and state, shame yee not
sirra come hether you
Cl:
alla, Comaundo vostro siniora
du.
you wait vpon the prince my sonn
Cl:
yor grace saies true
tis ffitter I should wait vpon him then hee
vpon mee, but if it please yor grace to alter
the property I shalbe soone perswaded
du:
resolue mee sirra, but truely on thy life
when was the prince last at the woodmans howse
Cl.
not to bee soe briefe as to dissemble wt h yor
grace, let mee see, not since yesterday
du:
not since, as if his absence thence one day
were not wt hout an accent to bee spoke, not since
Cl:
noe sir not since
pr:
pray sir if of mee you speake
14
of thee, & thy ignoble base designes
and what I shame to publish to the world
Ile talke wt h you in private
pr:
at yor pleasure
Laura & Iaspero sigh
Ma:
ha what was that, Ile tell the duke
La:
tell him of whatt, I hope an orecharg'd heart
may sight before it breake
and noe offence vnto the duke or you
Ma.
now I remember mee sighing was not in my charge
well yee may sigh on
La:
why soe sir
Ma:
well then
pr:
yt I loue her dearely sir Ile not deny't
nor were't princely in mee to staine my mouth
wt h any base vntruth, but whereas you vpbraid her
wt h the name of strumpet or temptresse vnto lust
therein wt h pardon sir you blott a cleere
and spottles innocent
du:
soe let yt innocent abide vnstain'd
to him whose birth and ffortunes sutes wt h hers
but thou that art a prince of such great bloud
of soe hie ffortunes that maist com̄aund
the bossome of the royallst heire in Ittally
weele deale mildly wt h you pray walke
La: & Iaspero make signes
Ma
madam I saw and Ile tell
15
tell what I pray
can yee call this a meeting or a glaunce
was this a cast o'th eye good busy body
you stirr beyond yor limmit
Ma:
why what dee call it then
La:
sir t'was a leere
search yor comission pray and see if there
the duke gaue charge for leering
Ma:
mas now I remember mee leering was
not in my charge
La:
I hope then wee may leere or bellies full
and not offend at all
Ma
you may, leere on,
Cl:
dee heare you nice peasant, the duke will neuer
be angry wt h the musick, as long as they haue
the cunning to play leero ffashion
du:
one word more and wee haue done
call in the woodman and the maid
Ma
I shall my lord, but i'th meane time pry you
a little into my charge
du:
I warrant thee
Ma
one question my Liege before I goe
may I suffer them to sigh and leere one at another
du:
o—by noe meanes
16
princesse & primcock henceforth noe sigh
nor leering
Cl:
they may wink one at another
du
oh prince that you should mixe yor royalty
wt h pessantes bloud, why you should rather
add vnto yor royalty, o bee not then the
meanes to ruin it wee hope will e swayd
Enter woodman, his daughter
woo:
[Maid.]
heaven blesse yor highnes
Maid
and strengthen yor estate and dignity
wt h all the royall honor s ffate can yeild
du.
then be not thou the meanes to eclipse those honors
for whose increase you pray, ffrend wee should
question you whether yor knowledge haue giuen
free consent to the suspected meeting of the prince
and this your daughter
Woo:
I disclaim't my liege
onely I must confes her suitors vissit her
but to what end I know not.
du:
henceforth take notice on't
and hinder all free recourse of free recourse
if thou canst not doot complaine to vs
and deale wt h vs as iustly
as wee wt h thee doe mildly
Woo
hence forth prince I make my selfe ingag'd in't
du
ffor you faire virgin
wee will not stand to ripp vp what hath past
17
from hence forth wee devide you yor next meeting
incurres or high displeasure death to thee
and disgrace to him
Maid
my royall prince I neither dare prsume
to excuse my selfe nor to accuse the prince
yet dare protest even from my very heart
I neuer thought of him but honorable
nor hee of mee but chast but since yor highnes
hath divorc'd vs wt h soe strict a charge
Ile study to obserue it
du:
soe doing expect preferment from vs
find a husband fitting thy estate
and clayme a dowre from vs
pr
the best in plazenza or Ile want my will
du:
sirra you, if the prince yor mr send you to the
lodge at any time wt h letters tokens or giftes
bring them to mee and Ile reward thee for't
elce punish thee severely
Cl:
a pretty trick ifaith, my mr sendes mee wt h
letters to one and hee would haue mee carry
'em to another, if my mr send after his
18
health hee was at the making thereof to him
as if I could not distinguish a young maid from
an old man, yes when can you tell
du:
sirra haue a care, Martiall you know yor charge
Iaspero yours, and Laura yours, lodwick tis in
yor free elect, or to be raisd or ruin'd, make vs still
a ffather or a publick enemy, looke to't all, if
ere yee make a tempest of this callme, the
deluge will confoundes yee, thinke vpon't
or peace domestick thus at home concluded
pastimes and sportes be mong'st or teares intruded
| The Fatal Marriage | |