 | The Antipodes |  |
Scene 2.
Letoy, and Diana.Dia.
My Lord, your strength and violence prevaile not.
There is a Providence above my vertue,
That guards me from the fury of your lust.
Let.
Yet, yet, I prethee yield. Is it my person
That thou despisest? See, here's wealthy treasure,
a table set forth, covered with treasure.
Jewells, that Cleopatra would have left
Her Marcus for.
Dia.
My Lord tis possible,
That she who leaves a husband, may be bought
Out of a second friendship.
Let.
Had stout Tarquin
Made such an offer, he had done no Rape,
For Lucrece had consented, sav'd her owne,
And all those lives that followed in her cause.
Dia.
Yet then she had beene a loser.
Let.
Wouldst have gold?
Mammon, nor Pluto's selfe should over-bid me,
For il'd give all. First, let me raine a showre,
To out-vie that which overwhelmed Danaë;
And after that another; a full river
Shall from my chests perpetually flow
Into thy store.
Dia.
I have not much lov'd wealth,
But have not loath'd the sight of it, till now,
That you have soyld it with that foule opinion
Of being the price of vertue. Though the Metall
Be pure, and innocent in it selfe; such use
Of it is odious, indeed damnable,
Pitty it should be so abus'd. It beares
A stampe upon't, which but to clip is treason.
Tis ill us'd there, where Law the life controules;
Worse, where tis made a salary for soules.
Let.
Deny'st thou wealth? wilt thou have pleasure then
Given, and ta'ne freely, without all condition?
Ile give thee such, as shall (if not exceed)
Be at the least, comparative with those,
Which Iupiter got the Demy-gods with; and
Juno was mad she mist.
Dia.
My Lord, you may
Glose o're and gild the vice, which you call pleasure,
With god-like attributes; when it is, at best
A sensuality, so farre below
Dishonourable, that it is meere beastly;
Which reason ought to abhorre; and I detest it,
More than your former hated offers.
Let.
Lastly.
Wilt thou have honour! Ile come closer to thee;
(For now the Flames of Love grow higher in me,
And I must perish in them, or enjoy thee)
Suppose I finde by Power, or Law, or both,
A meanes to make thee mine, by freeing
Thee from thy present husband.
Dia.
Hold, stay there.
Now should I utter volumes of perswasions;
Lay the whole world of Riches, pleasures, honours,
Before me in full grant, that one, last word
Husband, and from your owne mouth spoke, confutes
And vilifies even all. The very name
Of husband, rightly weigh'd, and well remembred,
Without more Law or discipline, is enough.
To governe woman-kinde in due obedience;
Master all loose affections, and remove
Those Idolls, which too much, too many love;
And you have set before me, to beguile
Me of the faith I owe him. But, remember
You grant I have a husband; urge no more,
I seek his love. Tis fit he loves no whore.
This is not yet the way. You have seene Lady,
My ardent love, which you doe seeme to slight,
Though to my death, pretending zeale to your husband.
My person, nor my proffers are so despicable,
But that they might (had I not vow'd affection
Intirely to your selfe) have met with th'embraces
Of greater persons, no lesse faire, that can
Too, (if they please) put on Formality,
And talke in as divine a straine, as you.
This is not earnest, make my word but good,
Now with a smile, ile give thee a thousand pound.
Looke o' my face—Come—prithee looke and laugh not—
Yes, laugh, and dar'st—Dimple this cheek a little;
Ile nip it else.
Dia.
I pray forbeare my Lord:
I'me past a childe, and will be made no wanton.
Let.
How can this be? so young? so vigorous?
And so devoted to an old mans bed!
Dia.
That is already answerd. He's my husband.
You are old too my Lord.
Let.
Yes, but of better metall:
A jealous old man too, whose disposition
Of injury to beauty, and young blood,
Cannot but kindle fire of just revenge
In you, if you be woman, to requite
With your owne pleasure his unnaturall spight.
You cannot be worse to him than he thinkes you,
Considering all the open scornes and jeeres
You cast upon him, to a flat defiance;
Then the affronts I gave, to choake his anger:
And lastly your stolne absence from his chamber:
All which confirmes (we have as good as told him)
That he's a Cuckold, yet you trifle time,
As 'twere not worth the doing.
Dia.
Are you a Lord?
Dare you boast honor, and be so ignoble?
Did not you warrant me upon that pawne
(Which can take up no mony) your blanck honour,
That you would cure his jealousie, which affects him
Like a sharpe sore, if I to ripen it
Onely in shew of disobedience, which
You wonne me to, upon your protestation,
To render me unstain'd to his opinion,
And quit me of his jealousie for ever.
Let.
No: not unstain'd by your leave, if you call
Unchastity a staine. But for his yellows,
Let me but lye with you, and let him know it,
His jealousie is gone, all doubts are clear'd,
And for his love and good opinion,
He shall not dare deny't. Come; be wise,
And this is all: all is as good as done
To him already: let't be so with us;
And trust to me, my power, and your owne,
To make all good with him—If not: Now marke,
To be reveng'd for my lost hopes (which yet
I pray thee save) Ile put thee in his hands,
Now in his heat of fury; and not spare
To boast thou art my Prostitute; and thrust yee
Out of my gates, to try't out by your selves.
Dia.
this you may doe, and yet be still a Lord;
This can I beare, and still be the same woman!
I am not troubled now, your wooing oratory,
Your violent hands (made stronger by your lust)
Your tempting gifts, and larger promises
Of honor and advancements were all frivolous;
But this last way of threats, ridiculous,
To a safe minde, that beares no guilty grudge:
My peace dwells here, while yonder sits my judge.
And in that faith ile dye.
Let.
She is invicible!
Come ile relate you to your husband.
| The Antipodes | |