 | Imperiale, a tragedie |  |
Scena Quinta.
Iustiniano, Spinola, Imperiale, below, Molosse, Sango, Honoria, Angelica above.Just.
The best Physitians in extremities,
Allow their Patients what they most desire,
Though ne're so seeming hurtfull: when diseases
Exceed their safe and usuall remedies,
They many times are cur'd by contraries:
What should this meane?
Spi.
I must exact your promise.
Iust.
Vpon condition you'l forbeare all out-rage.
Spi.
Set me my bounds, and see if I transgresse.
Iust.
Stand here then, and be silent.
Spi.
Like a Statue.
Mol.
Behold a paire of Brides, their haire displaied,
Muse not to see u'm weep, the cause is light.
Imp.
What is the woe that these strange signs import?
Speake my Honoria, my Angelica.
Hon.
That which no womans tongue is fit t'expresse,
Nor any humane eare fit to receive.
Jmp.
Mine eares may heare what such soft hearts can bear,
I have a breast prepar'd for misery.
Hon.
Behold the Wolves, the Beares, that our sad dreams
Fore-warn'd us of, which you did so despise.
Mol.
You heare how light the cause is, but a dreame.
Hon.
Our wretched story's told and understood,
In the sole repetition of that vision;
The jewels ravish't from our innocent necks.
By cruell force assisting one another,
Wrung from us both.
Ang.
Oh that heavens power had pleas'd,
According to my fervent invocation,
To have transform'd me to some ugly monster,
That horror might have frighted away lust,
Or else converted it to sudden rage,
Whereby my life had ransomed mine honour!
Imp.
Was there none neere to ayde? where was Nugella?
Hon.
Bound, and then strangled, all the rest were forth.
Imp.
What haste a wretched creature makes to heare
His owne dire wretchednesse? but now Molosso,
Since thou hast cloy'd thy furious appetite,
Vnbinde their tender hands, and send them down,
That wee may all condole their heavy fortunes.
Mol.
If my revenge could have bin satisfied
With what's already done, it had done nothing;
No, Beares and Wolves alway persist to death,
And I lament to finde so narrow a Stage
To act my vengeance on, as but two women:
Sango prepare.
San.
Command, and I obey.
Ang.
Then there is hope to finde compassion
In more then Scythian breasts, ther's but that left
To expiate your former cruelty.
Imp.
O spare their lives, and all shall be forgiven!
Mol.
We are too farre embark't to hope or wish
To be forgiven, mischief's upheld by mischiefe.
Imp.
Alas poor soules, what crime have they committed?
Mol.
They are both thine Jmperial, that's their crime,
And 'tis the height of our triumphant glory,
That thou shalt see u'm dye, cast thine eyes up.
Imp.
Villaine, I will not, thus I snatch away
That part of thy revengefull insolence,
puls out his eyes.
So shall the Sun and Moon, heavens rowling eyes,
Drop from their spheres at the worlds generall ruine,
T'avoyd the spectacle, 'tis fit my light
Should be extinguish't with my dearest objects.
What? hast thou so deluded us? thine eares
Enough thou want'st eyes to see, shall hear their groanes.
Hon.
Oh, oh!
Ang.
Oh, oh!
Mol.
I would have labour'd more for this revenge,
Than those that search the bowels of the earth
For Mynes, or dive into the Sea for pearles.
| Imperiale, a tragedie | |