 | The Cunning Lovers |  |
ACT I.
SCENE I.
Enter Verona, Prospero, Montescelso, Cosmo.Ver.
Maturity and age have now at length
Imposed on me a carefull providence
Both for my Dukedoms safety, & the good
Of our most hopefull Son Prince Prospero.
Pros.
My Lord.
Ver.
You grow to ripenesse, and my thoughts are fix'd
To have you troth-plight to some noble wife,
That in my aged yeares I may have comfort
In your faire issue, I would have you marry.
Pros.
Marry my Lord!
Ver.
I, marry Prospero.
I have labour'd with a neighbour Prince, possest
'Twixt thee and her, and 'tis concluded firmly;
Her name Valentia, she his only child,
By which a setled League grows 'twixt our Dukedomes,
And thou by this art the true hopefull Heire
Of both our rich and wealthy Provinces:
Your answer.
Pros.
I am free, my Lord, as th'uncurb'd aire,
That comes not within limit, as the light
That nothing can imprison. Shall I truly
Speake my own thoughts, and not dissemble with you?
I that am free 'mongst men, and uncaptiv'd
To any, save the duty bound to you,
Am loath to make my selfe a womans slave,
Briefely, my Lord, I have no mind to marry.
Ver.
Not marry boy? Oh, knew'st thou what a sweetnesse
And harmonie's in loves blest fellowship
Thou wouldst embrace it gladly; this blest union,
This true-loves knot the Gods themselves do tye,
And none but death dissolves. And what's Virginity?
A something-nothing, singularity
Unsociable, so slightly reckon'd of
That either Sex, but to thy number grown,
Has a desire to leave it; be perswaded boy;
Thou hast beheld the Picture, and it promises
A perfect Lady; hadst thou seen the substance
Thou wouldst condemne the workman for so scanting
Her rare comparelesse beauty. Marriage,
Why 'tis an honour, Emperours, Kings, and Princes,
From the Pallace to the Cottage held it sacred
And in a high religious reverence.
Pros.
Well, my Lord, I will be steer'd by you;
Even through the turbulent Ocean of this life,
Where many dreadfull tempests threaten us,
I shall be swai'd by you, and entertaine
This sweet captivity.
Ver.
Then art thou wise—the news.
Flourish.
Mon.
Embassadours from Mantua crave admittance
Ver.
Admit 'em—
Enter Embassadours.
Lords, your arrivall is in happy season;
The marriage so long treated 'tween the Fathers
Shall by the Children be confirmed at length,
'Tis now on foot.
Em.
Your grace mistakes the tenour,
And the strange purpose our Embasie;
The Prince our Master lets know by us
That your alliance highly he disdaines,
Contemnes your love and neere affinity,
And for just reasons, to himselfe best known,
Desires your opposition; for the marriage
Treated between you, esteemes his Daughter
Much undervalued, and not rated truly
To her best worth.
Ver.
Pause Lord Embassadour,
So high hath thy words incens'd our spleene,
And set so just an edge upon our wrath
That we want patience to bestow an eare
Unto thy harsh conclusion: Tell thy Lord,
We did not so much over-prize his love
As here his hate held in the basest scorne;
Nor can he so much undervalue us
As we his Contracts and Confederacy;
And for thy self-presumptuous Mantuan Lord,
We favour thee to let thee undisgrac'd
Depart our Court, be gone without reply,
Not Matuans, but Mantua we defie.
Emb.
Let me conclude my Message.
Ver.
Convey him hence;
Disdaine our fellowship! Mantua shall know
His state shall lessen whilst our glories grow.
Pros.
I, but, my Lord, I hope the match is not broke off
Betweene me and the faire Valentia.
Ver.
Oh boy, didst thou but know what marriage were,
How full of troubles and contentions,
Thou wouldst forgo it gladly; who that's free
Pro.
But that which hath made in me the deepest impression
Is the rare Picture of the Lady Valentia.
Ver.
The Painter flattered her, in having her
Thou hast a painted Mistris, of her selfe
The Lady is mishapen and deformed.
Pros.
Nay, take me with you, my Lord,
I have beheld her Picture, and it promises
A perfect Lady; had I seen the substance
I should condemne the workman for so scanting
Her rare comparelesse beauty; these were your own words,
My Lord, or I much misunderstood them.
Mon.
They were indeed, my Lord, I am witnesse to them.
Pro.
Well since your Grace has no purpose to have me marry,
Shall I have your best furtherance to travell?
Ver.
Yes, any thing to weare out the remembrance
Of Mantuas Daughter.
Mont.
Another boone, my Lord.
Ver.
What's that Coz?
Mont.
That I may be his Partner in his travell, his associate
To beare him company, nothing else my Lord.
Ver.
Have your desires.
Pros.
I embrace your fellowship,
Ile travell, but whither? to have a sight of the faire Valentia,
There shall be the period of my Voyage;
What though her Father and mine be opposites, she and I
May happily agree well enough when we meet together.
Mont.
My Lord, what limit shall we have to play the wandring
Knights in? Or how long shall it be ere we set forward
on our Journey? We were best go well provided, for we must
see Spaine, France, and England ere we returne.
Ver.
Some ten daies hence you shall set forward,
Your stay hath a yeares limit.
Pros.
Then come, faire Coz, we must provide our selves;
Her Picture's lovely, and it much contents,
And I must see the face that it presents.
Exeunt.
Ver.
Your youths cannot outstrip my gravity,
I have you boyes, and aime at your intents;
To some close practice to deceive my age,
But I shall wind them both, Cosmo.
Cos.
My Lord.
Ver.
The mannage of our State we leave to thee,
Whom we know wise and gravely provident;
Our purpose is to chase these travellers,
Whose voyage we mistrust.
Coz.
'Tis dangerous
Unto your noble person, full of hazard
And doubtfull perill.
Ver.
I am confident,
Disswade me not, for my intent is fixt;
In some suspectlesse shape Ile after them,
And sound the inmost of their thoughts, yet passe unknown;
Cosmo regard your charge whilst I provide
Flourish.
To find that craft they with such cunning hide.
Exeunt.
Enter Mantua, Embassadours, and Clowne.
Man.
You have breath'd defiance then.
Emb.
I have my Lord.
Man.
And how did he receive it?
Emb.
With such scorne
And proud contempt, that with far greater spleene
He threatned us than we could menace him.
Man.
No matter, this late difference pleaseth us,
You have demean'd your selfe even to our wish,
Now leave us to our private meditations.
Exeunt. Em.
Come hither Sirra, I repose in thee
Much trust and much assured confidence,
I have brought thee up of a youth boy, I have.
Clo.
You have if it shall please your Grace.
Man.
Thy Father was a good old servitour,
I lov'd him well, I did, indeed I did,
Beleeve it, for I did so.
Clo.
I beleeve your Lordship without swearing.
Man.
Thou knowst my Daughter should have been affied
I know thou knowst it.
Clow.
I have had, if it please your Grace, such an inckling,
Man.
But a difference since
Hath falne betwixt us, nay, in such a manner
That by our Leagers we have threatned war,
And war is like to ensue to come to thee.
Clo.
If it shall please your honour, Ile save you that labour
and come to you.
Man.
Conceive me, I will come to that concerns thee,
Thou knowst how deerly I affect my Daughter,
I, and how deerely I affect my Gold,
Speake, did I ever yet part with one peece
To guerdon thee, a signe I lov'd it well.
Clo.
No, never, if it shall please your honour, Ile do you
right in that, you ever lov'd me too well to give me any thing,
I have ever heard you reported for as covetous and niggardly a
noble Gentleman as ever bore sway here, you are one of the
most closse-fisted Carpenters that ever bare rule in Mantua.
Man.
To keep my Daughter that she marry not,
By which I likewise may reserve her dower,
I have devis'd this opposition
'Tweene Valentia and Prince Prospero;
More Sutors are now resident in Court,
But to prevent them Ile devise a Tower
In which to shut my Daughter so impregnable
And full of dores, of which Ile keep the keyes,
That she in vaine shall strive to issue out,
Or they to enter in; this strong foundation
Is laid already, workmen are employ'd,
And all things promise prosperous successe;
In this employment thou shalt have a charge,
An overseers place, because I know thee
Simple but sure of faith: wee'l trust thy reach,
As far from craft as cunning, truly honest
Because not over wise.
Clo.
I must entreate your Lordship I may have a paire of
Chopeens, or some high Cork'd shooes, or else I shall never
Ladder, I warrant you I will oversee your workmen.
Man.
No more, there shall be order from our Treasury
To furnish this rich building—
Enter Florence, Ferrara, Julio, Valentia, and Dutchesse.
Welcome Lords.
Fer.
Our welcome would shew better,
If we could heare it from the Ladies.
Flo.
They come well that speed well, if we could find our
selves well sped, then we should not doubt to presume we were
well-come.
Man.
Lord Julio, are the toyles prepar'd and set
for our appointed game?
Iul.
They are my Lord.
Man.
Then Princes we devote this day to pastime
And chasing of the Stag, these beauteous Ladies,
That must this day take leave of liberty,
Shall in our sport associate us; Valentia,
And you most beauteous, and my dearest Love,
I here protest my selfe your Guardian,
Hoping to see you, ere two months expire,
The Mantuan Dutchesse.
Dutch.
I hope no such matter; but my Lord,
Am I your Deare, as you proclaime me?
Man.
My dearest Deare.
Dutch.
Then being in the chase I shall feare in the hunting
To come neare you.
Man.
Your reason Sweet.
Dutch.
Lest being your Deare you should strike me.
Man.
Still is this Lady crosse to my designes,
But time may worke her; Daughter, mount your Steed,
And Lords to horse, the morning grows upon us,
And steales towards midst of day.
Val.
We but attend
Your Highnesse company.
Flo.
Lady, this day I will not start from your side
You'l be worse to me than a stitch then.
Fer.
Nor will I leave you Lady,
Dutch.
And yet you shall have free leave to leave me when
you please.
Man.
We trifle houres, sound out your bugles sh[illeg.]
And the thick aire with pleasing ecchoes fill.
Exeunt.
Iul.
To ring thy knell, for this day thou art doom'd
To perish by the hand of Iulio—
Hornes.
The Mantuan Prince
Is now upon the Chace, I heare the cry,
But ere the stagg fall the proud Duke must dye.
Exit.
Enter Prospero, and Montecelso.
Pros.
Harke what a shrill applause doth welcome us
Unto the Mantuan Confines.
Mon.
It seemes the Duke or some of his traine
Are in the Forrest chacing some game;
Nay, it must needs be so of necessity, they would not else make
This noyse unlesse they were all horne-mad.
Pros.
If I should come a wooing, noble Coz,
I should presage the Musick of these hornes
Might, to my future match, prove ominous;
But now let's mixe our selves amidst the Traine,
And see what faire adventure may befall us.
Mon.
Sever our selves, it may be that sweet face
Your Father prais'd may meet us in the Chace.
Pros.
I like well this division, come let's part,
And let's be henceforth strangers, thus condition'd,
The first that can prefer himselfe, or service
Unto the Duke, or gaine his soveraigne grace
Shall for his friend provide some eminent place.
Mon.
I am pleas'd my Lord, then come let's mount a way,
Horns.
The morning's old, and we shall lose much day.
Exeunt.
Enter Iulio with a Disguize.
Iul.
With these Italian tricks villaines oft maske
Their grim bloud-thirsty fronts, and when they purpose
To act some horrid murder, if prevented,
Thus passe unknown, these bought I of a Jew,
A fellow that professeth villaine;
Or light on from his Traine, but thus, 'tis done,
The Dukedome seiz'd, and faire Valentia wonne;
Auspicious hell I thanke thee, thou art still
True to black deeds, and friend to such as kill—
Enter Mantua.
Man.
My horse hath fail'd me, and I forc'd on foot
To lag behind, my Traine have left me all,
Led by the musick of so faire a Cry,
Ju.
To find a place where thou maiest fitly dye.
Man.
Who named death to me?
Iul.
One whose powerfull hand
Shall guide thy Dukedome, Daughter, and thy Land,
And at one blow gaine all—
Enter Prospero.
Pro.
And we so nigh,
The slave that threatned death himselfe shall dye.
Iul.
Prevented.
Exit.
Pro.
Courage, my Lord, the traiterous groome is fled,
And you ingirt with safety.
Man.
Noble stranger,
The life thou hast given me shall be ever thine,
And thanke the stars that brought thee to my rescue,
They ow'd thee a great fortune, thou hast sav'd
The Mantuan Duke from death.
Pro.
Are you my Lord,
The noble Mantuan Prince? what Traitours hand
Durst threat your life?
Man.
I know not, gentle sir,
But for your selfe thus much presume from me,
You shall be ever ours, to none more deare,
By whom I am freed from treason, death and feare.
Enter Iulio, Florence, Ferrara, Valentia, Dutchesse, and Montecelso.
Iul.
This way, my Lords, I saw the Duke in perill;
An ugly slave, his face much Vizard-like,
Fled through the Forest, I pursu'd the Traitour
Whilest I had breath, but feare and guilt of conscience
Gave his speed wings; but see my Lord's in safety,
Whose welfare I salute thus on my knee,
Glad in my soule that he from death is free.
Val.
My Father threatned I blest be that faire hand
That wrought his safety.
Man.
Thanke this Gentleman,
This noble youth, 'tis he by whom I live,
Never so neare my death, never so neare it,
So mortall men are still when least they feare it.
Val.
Oh do but tell me, thrice renowned sir,
How I may shew me thankfull to your love,
Whose noble hand preserv'd my fathers life.
Pro.
Madam, your grace, your favour and good thoughts
Are gifts above my merit.
Flo.
Stranger, thou hast wonne the opinion and suffrage of
the whole Court, and bound the Prince of Florence to be thy
gratefull debtor.
Fer.
We made hast
To the Dukes rescue, but it was thy fate
Our valours to prevent, we came too late.
Dutch.
Yet did Lord Iulio, with what speed he might, haste
us to this great danger.
Iul.
'Twas my duty
And service to my Lord, whom thus to see
Secur'd from death glads, almost frantiques me;
Legs for my life I thanke, and thou my braine
For making up this broken slaw againe.
Man.
We thanke you Iulio, chiefely you faire stranger,
Whom for your service we will raise in Court,
And breast next our most deare Valentia;
But she is for the Tower bar'd with twelve doores,
And this the last day of her liberty,
That's our next businesse; once more welcome sir,
Attend on us to Court, our happy fate
Hath given me safety, and advanc'd thy state.
Exeunt.
Oh faire Valentia!
Mon.
My Lord, if you had been born lesse than a Prince, yet
you have wrought your selfe into grace.
Pro.
Here set a period to our travels, make a full point here.
Mon.
And that, my Lord, is the full end of a sentence; but
shall we give over travell till we have seen something worth
seeing.
Pro.
Worth seeing sai'st thou? what's Valentia?
Travell from Pole to Pole, stand at the Center
And progresse round about the spatious signes,
Or, were it possible, sit with the Sun
In his high noon-tide glory, and from thence
Survey the Kingdomes of this lower world,
Thou canst not find her match, Apollo's haire
Is dull to hers, her fingers, hand, eye, front.
Mon.
Take me with you my Lord: This marvellous thing
you call her beauty, is it ought but ordinary flesh and bloud? Are
those gold wiry haires with which Apollo might go string his
Harpe, are they ought but the plaine haires of her head? Her
Ivory palme, that doth in touching melt, embroidered with blew
artires, is it ought but a Ladies hand and fingers? And this
strange thing, this wonder of the world, whose peere cannot
be found betweene the Poles, are not all these nine wonders in
one, she that was here even now, the Dukes Daughter Valentia?
Pro.
Oh my deare Montecelso, this I know,
But such an admiration hath surpriz'd
The freedome of my senses, that it robs me
Of my true judgement.
Mon.
Be advis'd by me: you love this Lady, but so strict is
like to be her imprisonment, that you may as easily pass by the
gates that Cerberus keeps, as through the doores of this Castle;
you are already in favour with the Duke, do but preferre me to
be overseer of the worke, if I do not worke it so that I will
bring you to oversee her, turne me out of my office as one not
worthy the name of an Architecture.
Pro.
I shall commend thee for a man well skill'd
In such great structures, it may be the Duke
Mon.
And if I do not make him dote as much on you for your
valour, as you make him enamour'd on me for my skill in building,
may this Tower turne to the Tower of Babel, and make a
second confusion betweene us, there remaines for you nothing
but this, to winne the favour of the Lady; and for your accesse
to her, if I do not teach you to counterfeit all the Dukes keyes,
turne by all the wards of his locks & lay open all the Jurie of his
twelve doores that he hath pannell'd against your entrance, report
me to be no man of my trade? Away my Lord, leave this
melancholly, walke by her window, and cast sheeps eyes that
way towards her Chamber, let me alone to stand Centinell and
watch if the Duke come.
Exeunt.
Enter Clowne, a Smith, a Mason, a Bricklayer, a Carpenter.
Clo.
Come on my masters, the Duke has appointed me to
be Overseer of his workes, the building of this Tower is put
to my indiscretion; therefore come every one of you, and from
me take your directions; what are you?
Ma.
I am a free Mason, and expert in squaring stone.
Clo.
A good proper square fellow, if your trade be in stone,
I make no question but you will worke hard.
Ma.
I warrant you sir Ile do my endeavour; will you give
us directions?
Clo.
First you must make a faire large post at the entrie.
Ma.
I warrant you Ile make a large porch that any Lady shall
go in and out at pleasure.
Clo.
To see how you mistake; you must make it that no body
can go in and out at pleasure but only my Ladie, it must be
too wide for any that's lesse than shee, and too strait for any
thats greater than she, you conceive me.
Oh sir, 'tis not possible.
Clo.
Tell not me of possible, such directions I had, and such
an one I must have made: Then must I have faire bay windows
that must alwaies stand open and give no light, that they that
stand without and looke in may see no body within, and she
that stands within and looks out may see no body without; the
where she must neither see nor be seen.
Ma.
Then none must offer to looke out from the inside, nor
in from the outside, else 'tis not within the compasse of workmanship.
Clo.
Tell not me of workmanship, such windows I must have
made: Now Carpenter for you, you must make the doores of
that fashion that women may go in but men may not, and they
must be of such wood as will not let a Lover come neare it, for
my Lord will have no Lovers come neare his Castle.
Car.
Then you must have some body to keep them out; here
are wise directions!
Clo.
For you goodman Padlock, you must hammer out your
Locks and Keyes with such Art, that if the Duke, or any from
him, offer to open, the Key may turne at pleasure, but if any Lover
or suspitious person come to enter, Non sum, non possum, non
Licet esse Domi.
Smi.
That's as much as to say, they must have no entrance
there.
Clo.
Smith, you have hit the naile on the head; What's your
place?
Brick.
I have the charge of the brick-worke, and must build
the Chimnies if you would give me directions.
Clo.
Marry will I sir, you must have a speciall regard in your
Chimneys that they cast heat, though there be no fire in them,
and the Kitchin Chimney especially must every meale yeeld rost
meat without sending to market, and so to worke for a spurt,
and after merrily to dinner.
Omnes.
A good motion.
Exeunt.
| The Cunning Lovers | |