 | The Ball |  |
Actus Primus.
Enter Sr. Marmaduke Travers, and Mr. Bostocke.Bos.
Whether so fast Sr. Marmaduke, a word.
Mar.
My honorable blood? wod I could stay
To give thee twentie, I am now engag'd
To meete a noble Gentleman.
Bos.
Or rather
A Gentlewoman, let her alone, and goe
With me.
Ma.
Whether.
Bo.
Ile shew thee a Lady of fire.
Ma.
A Lady of the Lake were not so dangerous.
Bo.
I meane a spirit in few words, because
I love thee, Ile be open, I am going
To see my Mistresse.
Ma.
Ile dispence with my
Occasion to see a hansome Lady,
I know you'le chuse a rare one.
Bo.
She is a creature
Worth admiration, such a beauty, wit,
And an estate besides, thou canst not chuse
But know her name, the Lady Lucina.
Ma.
Is she your Mistresse?
Bo.
Mine, whose but mine?
Deserve her?
Ma.
To tell you truth, I was now going thither,
Though I pretended an excuse, and with
A Complement from one that is your rivall.
Bo.
Does she love any body else?
Ma.
I know not,
But shee has halfe a score upon my knowledge
Are sutors for her favour.
Bo.
Name but one,
And if he cannot shew as many coates.
Ma.
He thinkes he has good cards for her, and likes
His game well.
Bo.
Be an understanding Knight,
And take my meaning, if he cannot shew
As much in Heraldry.
Ma.
I doe not know how rich he is in fields,
But he is a gentleman.
Bo.
Is he a branch of the Nobilitie,
How many Lords can he call cozen? else
He must be taught to know he has presum'd
To stand in competition with me.
Ma.
You wonot kill him.
Bo.
You shall pardon me,
I have that within me must not be provok'd,
There be some living now that ha beene kill'd
For lesser matters.
Ma.
Some living that ha beene kill'd!
Bo.
I meane some living that ha seene examples,
Not to confront Nobilitie, and I
Am sensible of my honour.
Ma.
His name is
Sr. Ambrose.
Bo.
Lamount a Knight of yesterday,
And he shall die to morrow, name another.
Ma.
Not so fast Sir, you must take some breath.
Bo.
I care no more for killing halfe a dozen
Knights of the lower house, I meane that are not
To kicke any footeman, and Sr. Ambrose were
Knight of the Sunne, King Oberon should not save him,
Nor his Queene Mab.
Enter Sr. Ambrose Lamount.
Ma.
Vnluckily hees her'e sir.
Bo.
Sr. Ambrose
How does thy Knighthood? ha.
Am.
My Nimph of honour well, I joy to see thee.
Bo.
Sr. Marmaduke tells me thou art sutor to
Lady Lucina.
Am.
I have ambition
To be her servant.
Bos.
Hast, thar't a brave Knight, and I commend
Thy judgement.
Am.
Sr. Marmaduke himselfe leanes that way too.
Bo.
Why didst conceale it, come, the more the merrier,
But I could never see you there.
Ma.
I hope
Sir we may live.
Bo.
Ile tell you Gentlemen,
Cupid has given us all one Livery,
I serve that Lady too, you understand me,
But who shall carry her, the fates determine,
I could be knighted too.
Am.
That would be no addition to
Your blood.
Bo.
I thinke it would not, so my Lord told me,
Thou know'st my Lord, not the Earle, my tother
Cozen, theres a sparke his predecessors
Have match'd into the blood, you understand
He put me upon this Lady, I proclaime
No hopes, pray lets together Gentlemen;
If she be wise, I say no more, shee shanot
Cost me a sigh, nor shall her love engage me
To draw a sword, I ha vow'd that.
Ma.
You did but jest before.
Am.
Twere pitty that one drop
Who knowes but all your cozen Lords may die.
Ma.
As I beleeve them not immortall sir.
Am.
Then you are gulfe of honour swallow all,
May marry some Queene your selfe, and get Princes
To furnish the barren parts of Christendome.
Enter a servant Solomon.
Sol.
Sir Marmaduke in private? my Lady wod
Speake with you.
Am.
Tis her servant, whats the matter?
Bo.
I hope he is not sent for.
Sol.
But come alone, I shall be troubled
With their inquiries, but Ile answer 'em.
Am.
Solomon?
Sol.
My Lady would speake with you sir.
Am.
Mee?
Sol.
Not too loude, I was troubled with Sr. Marmaduke.
Mar.
This is good newes.
Bo.
I doe not like this whispering,
Sol.
Forget not the time, and to come alone.
Am.
This is excellent.
Bo.
Solomon, dost not know me?
Sol.
My businesse is to you sir, these
Kept me off, my Lady Lucina
Has a great minde to speake with you,
Little doe these imagine how she honours me.
Bo.
If I faile, may the Surgeon
When he opens the next veine, let out all my honorable blood,
There's for thy paines, what thou shalt be hereafter
Time shall declare, but this must be conceal'd.
Exit.
Am.
You looke pleasant.
Ma.
No, no I have no cause, you smile Sr. Ambrose.
Am.
Who I? the Coronell.
Enter the Coronell.
Ma.
But of our file, another of her suitors.
Am.
Noble Coronell.
Co.
My honored Knights, and men of lustie kindred.
Bo.
Good morrow.
Morrow to all Gentlemen, Ile tell you
Who is return'd?
Am.
From whence.
Co.
A friend of ours that went to travell.
Ma.
Who, who?
Co.
I saw him within these three minuts, and know not how I
Lost him agen, he's not farre off, dee keepe a Catalogue
Of your debts.
Bo.
What debts?
Co.
Such dulnesse in your memory, there was
About sixe moneths ago a Gentleman
That was perswaded to sell all his land,
And to put the money out most wisely,
To have for one at his returne from Venice,
The shotten Herring, is hard by.
Am.
Jacke Freshwater, Ile not see him yet.
Bo.
Must we pay him?
Co.
It will be for your honour, marry wee
Without much staine, may happily compound,
And pay him nothing.
Enter Freshwater, and Mounsieur Le Friske.
Here comes the thing
With what formalitie he treades, and talkes,
And manageth a toothpicke like a Statesman.
Am.
How hee's transform'd?
Ma.
Is not his soule Italian?
Bo.
Ile not bid him welcome home.
Am.
Nor I.
Ma.
Whats the tother Rat thats with him?
Co.
Dee not know him, tis the Court dancing Weesill.
Ma.
A Dancer, and so gay.
Co.
A meere French footeman Sir, does he not looke
Like a thing come off oth' Saltsellar.
Ma.
A Dancer?
I would allow him gay about the legges,
But why his body should exceede decorum,
Is a sinne oth' state.
Fre.
Thats all,
Marry that very morning I left Venice,
I had intelligence of a new device.
Mon.
For the dance Mounsieur.
Fre.
Si Signior, I know not
What countryman invented, but they say
There be Chopinoes made with such rare art,
That worne by a Lady when she meanes to dance,
Shall with their very motion sound forth musicke,
And by a secret sympathy with their tread
Strike any tune that without other instrument,
Their feete both dance and play.
Mon.
Your lodging Mounsieur,
That when I have leasure I may dare
Present an humble servitor.
Fre.
I do ly
At the signe of Dona Margaretta de Pia
In the Strand.
Gud.
At the Magget a Pie in the Strand sir.
Mon.
At de Magdepie boon adieu serviteur.
Exit.
Am.
He wonot know us.
Gud.
Dee see those Gentlemen.
Fre.
Thou Platalone be silent.
Co.
Ile speake to him,
Yare welcome home sir.
Fre.
Signior.
Exit.
Co.
He wonot know me, this is excellent,
He shall be acquainted better, ere I part
With any sommes.
Am.
Next time weele not know him.
Bo.
Would all my creditors had this blessed ignorance.
Ma.
Now Coronell I'le take my leave.
Bo.
I am enga'd too.
Exeunt.
Co.
Well.
Bo.
I shall meete you anon,
I am to waite upon a cosin of mine.
Co.
A Countesse.
Bo.
My Lord?
Enter Lord Rainebow and Barker.
Cosin.
Bo.
Your Lordship honours me in this acknowledgement.
Lo.
Coronell.
Bo.
Dee not know me sir?
Ba.
Yare not a proclamation that every man is bound to take notice on,
And I cannot tell who you are by instinct.
Lo.
A kinsman of mine Franke?
Co.
Good morrow to your Lordship.
Lo.
Coronell? your humble servant, harke you Franke.
Bo.
You are acquainted with my Lord then,
Is he not a compleate Gentleman? his family
Came in with the Conqueror.
Co.
You had not else beene kinne to him.
Bo.
A poore slip, a syens from that honourable tree.
Co.
He is the Ladies Idoll, they ha not leasure
To say their prayers for him, a great advancer
Of the new Ball.
Bo.
Nay hee's right, right as my legge Coronell.
Co.
But tother Gentleman you doe not know his inside.
Bo.
I ha seene him, he lookes philosophicall.
Co.
Who! hee's the wit, whom your Nobilitie
Are much oblig'd to for his company,
He has a railing genious, and they cherish it,
Fling dirt in every face when hee's ith' humour,
And they must laugh, and thanke him, he is dead else.
Bo.
Will the Lords suffer him.
Co.
Or lose their mirth, hee's knowne in every science,
And can abuse em all, some ha suppos'd
He has a worme ins braine, which at some time
Oth' Moone doth ravish him into perfect madnesse,
And then he prophesies, and will depose
The Empeorr, and set up Bethalem Gabre.
Bo.
Hee's dead, I hope he wonot conjure for him.
Co.
His father shanot scape him nor his ghost,
Nor heaven, nor hell, his jest must ha free passage,
Hee's gone, and I lose time to talke on him,
Farewell,
Your Countesse
Farewell Coronell.
Exeunt.
Enter Lady Rosomond, and Lady Honoria.
Ros.
Why doe you so commend him?
Hon.
Does he not
Deserve it? name a gentleman in the Kingdome,
So affable, so moving in his language,
So pleasant, witty, indeede every thing
A Lady can desire.
Ros.
Sure thou dost love him,
Ile tell his Lordshippe when I see him agen,
How zealous you are in his commendation.
Hon.
If I be not mistaken, I have heard
Your tongue reach higher in his praises Madam,
How ere you now seeme cold, but if you tell him
My opinion, as you shall doe him no pleasure,
You can doe me no injury, I know
His Lordship has the constitution
Of other Courtiers, they can endure
To be commended.
Ros.
But I prethee tell me,
Is not love whence this proceeds, I have
I must confesse discourst of his good parts,
Desir'd his company.
Ho.
And had it?
Ros.
Yes, and had it.
Ho.
All night.
Ros.
You are not I hope jealous,
If I should say all night I neede not blush,
It was but at a Ball, but what of this?
Ho.
Ene what you will
Ros.
I hope you ha no patent
To dance alone with him, if he ha priviledge
To kisse another Lady, she may say
He does salute her, and returne a cursie
To shew her breeding, but Ile now be playner,
Although you love this Lord, it may possible
He may dispose his thoughts another way,
Ho.
He may so.
Who can helpe it, he has eyes
To looke on more than one, and understand
Perhaps to guide, and place his love upon
The most deserving object.
Ho.
Most deserving,
This language is not levill with that friendship,
You have profest, this touches a comparison.
Ros.
Why doe you thinke all excellence is throng'd
Within your beauty.
Ho.
You are angry Lady,
How much does this concerne you to be thus
Officious in his cause, if you be not
Engag'd by more than ordinary affection,
I must interpret this no kinde respect
To me.
Ros.
Angry, ha, ha.
Ho.
You then transgresse against civilitie.
Ros.
Good Madam why? because,
I thinke, and tell you that another Lady
May be as hansome in some mans opinion,
Admit I lov'd him too, may not I hold
Proportion with you, on some entreaty.
Enter Lord.
Lor.
They're loude, Ile not be seene yet.
Ros.
What is it that exalts you above all
Comparison? my father was as good
A gentleman, and my mother has as great
A spirit.
Ho.
Then you love him too.
Ros.
Twill appeare
No greater miracle in me I take it,
Yet difference will be, perhaps I may
Affect him with a better consequence.
Ho.
Your consequence perhaps may be denied too,
Why there are no such wonders in your eye
Which other composition doe not boast of,
My Lord no doubt hath in his travells clapt
As modest cheekes, and kist as melting lippes.
And yet mine are not pale.
Ho.
It may be they blush for the teeth behinde them.
Ro.
I have read
No sonnets on the sweetnesse of your breath.
Ho.
Tis not perfum'd.
Ro.
But I have heard of your tongue exalted much,
Highly commended.
Ho.
Not above your forehead,
When you have brush'd away the hairie pentchrush,
And made it visible.
Lo.
Ile now interrupt 'em,
Theyle fall by the eares else presently.
Ho.
My Lord.
Lo.
What in contention Ladies?
Ro.
Oh my Lord you'r welcome.
Lo.
Expresse it in discoverie of that
Made you so earnest, I am confident
You were not practising a Dialogue
To entertaine me.
Ho.
Yet it did concerne you.
Ro.
Do not you blush, fie Madam.
Lo.
Nay and you come to blush once, and fie Madam,
Ile know the secret, by this kisse I will,
And this.
Ho.
You were kis'd first discover now
At your discretion.
Ro.
My Lord we were in jest.
Ho.
It might ha turn'd to earnest, if your Lordship
Had not interpos'd.
Lo.
Come out with it.
Ro.
We had a difference.
Lo.
Well said.
Ro.
About a man ith' world, you are best name him.
Ho.
You have the better gift at telling secrets.
Lo.
Yet agen, come Ile helpe it out, there is
A gentleman ith' world, some call a Lord.
Ro.
Did your Lordship over-heare us?
Lo.
Nay, nay, you must stand too't,
Love, it will appeare no greater miracle
In you I take it, one no doubt that hath
Travel'd, and clapt as modest cheekes, and kis'd
As melting lippes, thus farre ime right, but what
Name this most happy man doth answer too,
Is not within my circle.
Ho.
Yet you know him.
Ro.
Not to retaine your Lordship ith' darke,
Confident you'le not accuse my modesty
For giving you a truth, you shall not travell
Beyond your selfe to find his name, but doe not
Triumph my Lord.
Lo.
Am I so fortunate,
Then love I doe forgive thee, and will cherish
The flame I did suspect would ruine me,
You two divide my love, onely you two,
Be gentle in your Empire heavenly Ladies,
No enemy abroad can threaten you,
Be carefull then, that you maintaine at home
No civill warres.
Ho.
How dee meane my Lord?
Lo.
You are pleas'd to smile upon me gentle Lady,
And I have tooke it in my heart more than
Imaginary blessings with what pleasure
Could I behold this beautie, and consume
My understanding to know nothing else,
My memory to preserve no other figure.
Ro.
My Lord, I am not worth your flatterie.
Lo.
I flatter you? Uenus her selfe be judge,
To whom you are so like in all thats faire,
Twere sinne but to be modest.
Ro.
How my Lord?
Lo.
Do not mistake me, twere
A sinne but to be modest in your praises,
Heres a hand, nature shew me such another,
A brow, a cheeke, a lip, and every thing,
Happy am I that Cupids blinde.
Why happy?
Lo.
If he could see, he would forsake his Mistresse
To be my rivall, and for thy embraces
Be banish'd heaven.
Ho.
My Lord Ile take my leave.
Lo.
If you did know how great a part of me,
Will whither in your absence, you would have
More charitie, one accent of unkinde
Language from you, doth wound me more than all
The mallice of my destinies, oh deare Madam,
You say you'le take your leave of your poore servant;
Say rather, you will dwell for ever here,
And let me stay and gaze upon
Your heavenly forme.
Ho.
I can be patient
To heare your Lordship mocke me, these are but
A course reward for my good thoughts.
Lo.
This tis to use plaine dealing, and betray the inside
Of our hearts to women, did you thinke well of me
So late, and am I forfeited already,
Am I a Christian?
Ho.
Yes I hope my Lord.
Lo.
Make me not miserable then, deare Madam,
With your suspition, I dissemble with you,
But you know too well what command your beauty
Has upon me.
Ho.
Give me leave
My Lord to wonder you can love me,
With such a flame you have exprest yet shee,
Your mistresse?
Lo.
You are both my Mistresses.
Ro.
I like not this so well.
Lo.
There is no way but one to make me happy.
Ho.
I wish my Lord I had the art to effect
What you desire.
Ro.
Or I.
Lo.
It is within
Your powers.
Speake it my Lord.
Lo.
Since it is so
That Ime not able to determine which
My heart, so equall unto both, would chuse,
My suite is to your vertues, to agree
Betweene your selves, whose creature I shall be,
You can judge better of your worths than I,
My allegiance shall be ready if you can
Conclude which shall ha the supremacie;
Take pitty on your servant gentle Ladies,
And reconcile a heart too much divided.
So with the promise of my obedience
To her that shall be fairest, wisest, sweetest
Of you two, when I next present a lover,
I take distracted leave.
Exit.
Ho.
Why, this is worse than all the rest.
Ro.
Hee's gone,
And has referr'd himselfe to us.
Ho.
This will
Aske counsell.
Ro.
And sometime I would be loth
To yeeld.
Ho.
And I, Cupid instruct us both.
Exeunt.
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