 | The Faithful Friends |  |
Scena prima
Enter Marius a young Lord returnd from Travel, wt h him Rufinus & Leontius noblemen.Ruf:
You have made a large Relation, but more rare
Of your experienc'd Travels, & I fear
You will depopulate [the] our Court, & Land
Of the most noble Youths, [wh] who being fird
By your rich Benefit, will like Lightning fly
To purchase Fame, & Honour
Leont:
You're full fraught
With many Kingdoms Virtues.
Mar:
Sr you flater now
And do outprize my willing Industry:
Yet without Boast, I've been no Drone, my Lords,
To suck up others Labours; nor, as Many
Of our Nobles do, purchasd new Fashions
With the Loss of Lands; nor spent my five years Travels
To bring home a Spanish Block, or a French Complement.
A German Health, or English tilting Staff:
Nor fidled out my Time in capering, yet these
Nor any other active Exercises,
That can be added to adorn the State
Of a true Gentleman is strange to me
Occasion best will witness. But, my Lords,
I have not yet in the least Syllable
Receiv'd the Knowledge of domestic Things.
What change of state, of Friends, or Enemys
The Custome of the Court; who are in Grace
3
May make me ignorant of due Respect
Deservd by noble Merit; and who is Favourite
To the King—I woud be loath t'appear
Ridiculous in any Errors at first Interview.
Ruf:
You have outstript the Wing of our Desires
We did reserve it with a full Intent
To make a just Return to your Relation.
Mar:
My Thoughts thirst for it.
Ruf:
You knew young Tullius:
Mar:
Servius Tullius Son.
Ruf:
The same.
Mar:
Pray on.
Ruf.
He was a Man you know of no great Birth.
Leont:
A Gentleman, that's all.
Mar:
A King's no more
Ruf.
He is the only Gallant of the Times
The Courts chief School Master in Arts, & Arms.
The chief star that adorns this Hemisphere
Is thrown into his Bosom for his Bride.
Mar:
Her Name Rufinus?
Ruf:
Tis beauteous Philadelph[i]a, the sole Daughter
Of Marcellanus our chief Senator.
Mar:
A lovely Dame, Rome wants her Paralel.
Except my Saint the bright cheekd Lælia.
Ruf:
The Solemn Graces, Hymeneal Sports
And Revellings at this great Nuptial,
Cannot by the Tongue of Wonder be compard.
Millions were lavishd in excessive Sports,
And pybald Pageantry. And then the open Favours
Of the King, cround with the gaping
4
Mar:
When was this, my Lords?
Ruf:
some two days since
The happy Bridegroom, has not yet I'm sure
Pluckt th'Hesperia«n» Fruit; 'twas her Desire
To lye three Nights alone, your Courtlike Way
To make them feed the Freer when they meet.
Pluckt th'Hesperia«n» Fruit; 'twas her Desire
To lye three Nights alone, your Courtlike Way
To make them feed the Freer when they meet.
Mar:
I curse my slow Speed
That made mine Eye a stranger to these Sights
Ruf:
Rather adore that Deity, that detaind you.
Mar:
Do you then malign then his Happyness,
Young Tullius Honours, & my Soveraigns Grace.
Ruf:
Do we; who do's not, & contemn them too, as
Mar:
I do you
Or any that true Worth shal emulate.
I know young Tullius is a noble Youth
Endu'd with Virtues, & Perfections
Fitting to rank with our best Roman Blood.
Ruf: Leont
Ha! ha! ha! ha!
Mar:
Do you laugh?
By all our Gods, Rufinus, Tullius Merits
Deserve those Graces, are bestowd upon him;
Better than any one that envys them.
Ruf:
How Marius.
Mar.
pish 'gainst the winds looke bigg,
Enter Learchus a young Lord.
Learch:
that biggnes
blewe mee hither
Ruff.
in post Learchus
5
Foote had I wings like Perseus and could fly
I weare to slowe pacet to diuulge this newes,
Leon.
What ist ith name of wonder
Lear:
for firme truth,
the Sabines are in Armes, whose stuborne neckes
these many yeares stoopt to the yoake of Roome
now shake theire fetters of, and with sharpe steele
sweare to inlarge theire former priuiledge.
Ruf.
this yr tydings
the expectation takes the strangenes of
it has bin long suspected,
Learch.
ya r too greedie
and glut yo r apetites wt h the first dishe
I haue a feast of newes yet,
Who do yow thinke is chosen generall?
and comaund giuen for a present presse
of our most ablest expert souldiors
ten thowsand horse and twenty thowsand foote
to quell this hott rebellion,
Ruf.
Who but wee,
Learch.
you haue bin.
Ruf.
May be thy selfe Learchus.
Lear:
Noe, noe, noe,
Ruf.
then tis Leontius—
Lear.
yr wider still.
Ruf.
Who else is fit to beart and wee put by
Lear.
Who but the Warlike Tullius
Ruf.
That milke sop,
sure the Kinge
will make an Idoll of him
Lear.
Who should comaund but he that awes Comaund
Tullius is generall and wt h greatest pompe
is coming this way, [the king leaneing thus
vpon his shoulder] eying as the passe
6
how the relish his election.
Ruf.
[but rawly without salt]
[the haue a fresh Souldier to theire generall.]
Mar.
Yr bitternes makes the di«s»gestion harsh,
in my conceite he that indeauors well,
in my conceite he that indeauors well,
[tho he come short of him that hath performed]
[somthing worth praise, deserues far more comends]
[then those that boast theire Actions, it takes of]
[the lustre that belongs toote, pardon mee]
[if I make question of yo r loyalties]
[that dare disparrage thus my soueraigns choyce]
[of his respected subiect, it infers,]
[a doubt made of his wisdome, why should wee]
[tax the prerogatiue pleasures of our Prince]
[whome he shall grace, or where bestowe his fauors]
[that Law's allowed to euery priuate man,]
[then to confine or disallowe a king]
[were most inurious and preposterous,.]
[for as [OMITTED] as their gods]
[there subiect to their passions as theire men]
[Alexander the great had his Ephestion]
[Phillip of Spaine his Lerma, not to offend.]
[I could produce from Courts that I haue seene]
[more royall presidents, but ile not giue]
[such satisfaction to detractiue toungs]
[that publish such fowle noyse gainst aman]
[I know for truly Vertuous.]
[somthing worth praise, deserues far more comends]
[then those that boast theire Actions, it takes of]
[the lustre that belongs toote, pardon mee]
[if I make question of yo r loyalties]
[that dare disparrage thus my soueraigns choyce]
[of his respected subiect, it infers,]
[a doubt made of his wisdome, why should wee]
[tax the prerogatiue pleasures of our Prince]
[whome he shall grace, or where bestowe his fauors]
[that Law's allowed to euery priuate man,]
[then to confine or disallowe a king]
[were most inurious and preposterous,.]
[for as [OMITTED] as their gods]
[there subiect to their passions as theire men]
[Alexander the great had his Ephestion]
[Phillip of Spaine his Lerma, not to offend.]
[I could produce from Courts that I haue seene]
[more royall presidents, but ile not giue]
[such satisfaction to detractiue toungs]
[that publish such fowle noyse gainst aman]
[I know for truly Vertuous.]
omn.es.
[ha, ha, ha,]
7
[Whats hee that]
[that takes vpon him thus to contradict]
[what wee shall please to Censure;]
Ruf.
[tis young Marius,]
[he that was seuered from faire Lelia,]
[old Tullius daughter.]
Learch.
[Las poore louer the fe these are frantick fitts]
[he adores Tullius for his sisters sake]
Ruf.
Now the great generall comes
Leon:
how feirce he lookes,
Enter Marcellus a Captaine leading Drum and Cullors, Titus Martius the Kinge Tullius, Armanus freind to Tullius, and Souldiers
Mar:
The blessings of the Gods be multiplied
to ad encrease of glorie and renowne
to Titus Martius my dread Soueraigne,
and to the Generall fame and Victorie
King
Thy last faire wish begets a double thanks
Rise Marius: thy vertue [«s»] was the harbinger to prepare
a welcome to thy Country, but to vs,
that exild thee from Roome and from thy blis
Rise Marius: thy vertue [«s»] was the harbinger to prepare
a welcome to thy Country, but to vs,
that exild thee from Roome and from thy blis
the beautious Lelia our Command shall crowne
yr loues wt h a rich dowrie she is thyne
yr loues wt h a rich dowrie she is thyne
Mar
a bountie Sr I prize aboue my life
all ioyes reward you noble Tullius
Tull
Welcome as what I long for Victorie
Arm.
With like Armes I embrace yow
omnes.
So do all.
Ruff.
ther'es a young demie God too, wt h what grace
the King doth entertayne him
Learch.
Oh my lord
must he not be allied to Tullius
8
I cry you mercy I had forgot that
Leon.
Foote weere not minded heere, these [b] dunghill cocks
flutter theire fethers so before his eyes
he dos or will not see vs
Ruff.
tis no matter let em vse theire wings
wee shall sit heauily vpon there skirts fort
King
Weele leaue our Tullius now and back to Court
tyme must allowe some howers for a kinde leaue
twixt you and yr [kind] faire bride, weele not be by
to see so sad a parting.
Tull.
Royal Sir:
here ere the thought of danger may begett
some sorrow for my absence, being diuorct
ere Hymens rights are fully finished
Yet when her loue shall looke vpon the cause
commands my seruice and this three fold grace
conferd on mee by you, she will with smiles turne from mee
her cheefe care is of my honor, not my dalliance,
King
thou deifiest her wt h this character
yet shee deserues a larger: farewell Marcus
Mars guide thy marches; peace thy foote steps home
Tull.
I liue but for yr safety
King.
ours in thyne.
omnes
ha, ha, ha,
Exit King Rufinus & Leon
Marius staies Tullius
Mar.
Could you dispence sr, with yor high affaires
ide gladly borrowe some short conference
Tull
Ile lend it sr most willing, I wish tyme
would engage me for the like curtesie
Mar.
Ile not be tedious, trust mee.
Tull.
Worthy freind,
[To Armanus.
take off the [greife] edge of Philadelphas greefe
for this short seperation, be you the first
that shall acquaint her with my great Comānd
it will abate some of the bitternes
for this short seperation, be you the first
9
it will abate some of the bitternes
and mitigate her passions ere wee meete
to make our parting sweeter,
to make our parting sweeter,
Arm:
freind I shall, and wt h perswasiue speech
arme her wt h patience, to beate back sad thoughts
and hudwinke danger wt h yor honors vaile
Tull.
I knowe you neede no Tutor, Ile exchange
some words wt h Marius whose aproach I pray
youde certify my bride before [you] wee come
for I entend to bring him,
Arm
Yr best pleasure
Tull
you shall not want vs long,
Arm:
weele all attend yee,—
Exeunt omnes. manet Tull & Mar.
Mar.
Now let mee freely fold thee,
noble Lord, all barrs that stood betwixt vs
are remoued, great Mat i s Frowne, our fathers enmity
caused by the antipothy of honors stem
wc h yr deserts haue leueld, there sterne hate
that striued to contradict our plighted faiths
wc h long ere this had linckt a brother,
I hope is reconciled, good blesse mee then,
to heare of my deare Lelia, is she well
hath not my discontynuance, and harsh threats
of both our parents forct her timerous sex
to shunn my wisht imbraces, and giue vpp
her hart and hand, vnto some resident suter
my Soules [w]rackt, till you dissolue my feares./
Tull
and mine, till you resolue me to what end
you aske these friuilous questions, good my lord
now is no time to dwell on circumstance
and I am somthing wonderd you should make
10
hauing the Cabinet in yr custodie
that dos containe the Iewell tis a prize
weart the richest in loues lottery
wonne from a woman sr, remember yt
yet such a spotles worth fame crownes yow with
I do not feare the preseruation ont
but tis yr owne howsoeuer, lasting ioy
now make mee happie to pertake her welfare
how does my Sister,
Mar
ha,
Tull.
you haue made a sadd old man, the king's entreats
perswaids of freinds, bussines of state, my honors,
marriage rights, nor ought that can be named
since Lelia's losse, can moue him from the place
in wc h he liues, a retired life and much disconsolate
Mar.
I dare not vnderstand you. Lelia lost
Tull.
to all, but you, Why do you dally thus
trifling with thatt, is now so pretious
if you will glad an aged fathers hart
wt h sight of his sole daughter questionles
the ioy will seale yr pardon, yr not the first
has stolne a handsome Lady, good Marius do not linger
Mar:
hold for heauens sake
you haue condembe me of a fact, wc h I of force
must dy, because not guilty oft
heare mee deare Tullius, witnes all our Gods
if euer since the time of our diuorce
signed by our fathers hate, and kings comand
when I set forth to trauill, I ere sawe
or heard of my sweete Lelia,
11
languish in torments vnexpressable
Tull.
in this beleife I'me wretched, would you had sir
till now her loss was nothing, since yt tyme
that an ill twisted fate deuided yow
my Sister neare was seene, all Roome conceiud
and did not spare to speake it for yr sake,
all comforts else she banisht,
Mar.
and from mee
all other ioyes for euer
Tull
from my breast
shee has forct millions of contented thoughts
and plact cold cakes of sorrowe, Worthy Sir
lett my example mitigate yr greife
and smother it a while, our better stars
may worke more faire effects, and she be found
when rumor shall report yr safe returne,
this newes would soone shorten my fathers daies
for he is fixt vpont shee fled with you
weare Roome in peace, or my Comaund tane of
ide take a pilgrimage in search of her
tho I left ioyes aboue Elizium,
Mar.
You speake beyond a brother, loving Tullius,
Tull.
for my sake then conceale her losse a While
least it should raise a censure of dispaire,
Mar.
Dispaire,
death durst not teint a goodnes with such Sinne
that thought shall near afflict mee for her losse
the Key of Silence heare shall lock it vpp
close from the World and you,
I would not haue a partner in my woe
for that like her solye belongs to mee,
12
to range the world in madnes, ile cast of
all showe of discontent, and with my Sword
assist you in this hott hostilitie
Tull.
Yr Companys a second life to mee.
Exeunt.
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