University of Virginia Library

Enter L Anselmus the deposde kinges brother, wt h his Frend Votarius
A florish
Votar.
Praie sir confine yor thoughtes and excuse mee,
my thinckes the deposde kinge yor brothers sorrowe
should finde you busines ynoughe

Ansel.
how Votarius
sorrowe for him? weake ignoraunce talkes not like thee
why he was neuer happier,

Vo.
pray proue that sir

An.
h'as lost the kingdome but his mynde's restorde
wc h is the larger empire? pre thee tell me.
Domynions haue their lymitts, the whole earth
is but a prisoner, nor the sea her Iailor
that wt h a siluer hoope lockes in her bodie
th'eir fellow prisoners, thoe the sea looke bigger
bycause he is in office, and pride swells him:
But the vnbounded kingdome of the mynde
is as vnlymitable as heav'ne, that glorious court of spirrits
[all honest Courtiers ]
Sir if thow lou'st me turne thine ey to me
and looke not after him that needes thee not,
my brothers well attended, peace and pleasure
are neuer from his sighte he has his mistris
she brought those servaunts and bestowde them on him
but whoe bringes myne?

Vota.
had you not both longe since
by a kinde worthy Ladie yor chast wife

Ans.
that's it that I take paines wt h thee, to be sure of
what true reporte can I send to my sowle
of that I know not,—we must only thincke
our ladies are good people, and so liue wt h em,
a fine securitie for them, our owne thoughtes
make the best fooles of vs, next to them our wyues,—
but saie shees all chast, yet, is that her goodnes?
what labour ist for woman to keep constant
thats neuer tride or tempted? whers her fight
the warr's wt hin her brest, her honest anger
against the impudence of flesh and hell,
so let me knowe the ladie of my Rest
or I shall neuer sleep well, giue not me
the thinge that is thought good, but whats approu'd so,
so wisemen choose,—o what a lazie vertue
is chastetie in a woman if no synne
should laye temptation toot, pry thee set to her
and bring my peace alonge wt h thee

Vota.
you put to me
a busines that will doe my wordes more shame
then euer they got honour among weemen,
Lascyvious courtinges among sinfull mistresses
come euer seasonablie, pleaze best,
but let the bouldest Ruffian touch the eare
of modest ladies wt h adulterous sowndes
their verie lookes confound him and force grace
into that cheeke wher impudence setts her seale;
that worke is neuer vndertooke wt h corage
that makes his master blush, how euer Sir
what profit can returne to you by knowinge
that wc h you doe allreadie, wt h more toile,
must a man needes in having a ritch Diamond
put it betweene a hammer and an Anvile
and not beleeving the true worth and valiew
breake it in pieces to finde owt the goodnes
and in the findinge loose it; good sir thinck ont,
Nor does it tast of wit to trye their strengthes
that are created sicklie, nor of manhood
we ought not to put blockes in weemens waies
for some to often fall vpon plaine ground
Let me diswade you sir,

Ans.
haue I a frend?
and has my loue so litle interest in him
that I must trust some straunger wt h my hart
and goe to seeke him owte,

Vota.
nay hark you sir
I am so iealous of yor weaknesses,
that rather then you should lie prostituted
before a straungers tryvmphe, I would venture
a whole howers shamynge for you,

Ans.
be worth thy word then
Enter Wyfe.
yonder she comes,—Ile haue an eare to you both
I loue to haue such thinges at the first hand

Vot.
I'le put him of wt h somwhat, guile in this
falls in wt h honest dealing; O who could moue
Adultery to y'on face, so rude a synne
may not come neer the meeknes of her ey,
my Clients cawse lookes so dishonestlie
ile nere be seene to pleade in't

Wife
what Votarius

Vo.
good morrow vertuous madame

Wife
was my lord
seene lately here?

Vota.
hee's newlie walkt forth Ladie

Wife
how was he attended

Vo
faith I thincke wt h none madame

Wife
that sorrow for the kinge his brothers fortune
prevailes to much wt h him, and leades him straunglie
from Companie and delight,

Vot.
how shees beguilde in him
thers no such naturall touch, search all his bosome./
That griefes to bould wt h him indeed sweet madame
and drawes him from the pleasure of his tyme,
but tis a busines of affection
that must be donne—we owe a pittie madame
to all mens miserie, but espetiallie
to those afflictions that claime kinred of vs
weere forcst to feele em, all compassion ells
is but a worke of charitie, this of nature
and ties our pittie in a bond of blood,

Wife
yet sir ther is a date set to all sorrowes,
nothing is euerlasting in this worlde
yor councell will prevaile, perswade him good sir
to fall into lifes happines agen
and leaue the desolat path, I want his company,
he walkes at midnight in thick shadie woodes
wher scarce the moone is starlight, I haue watcht him
in syluer nightes when all the earth was drest
vp like a virgin in white Inocent beames,
stood in my window cold and thinly cladd
t'obserue him throughe the bowntie of the moone
that liberallie bestowde her graces on me,
and when the morninge dew began to fall
then was my tyme to weep; has lost his kindnes
forgot the waie of wedlock, and become
a straunger to the ioyes and rites of loue,
hees not so good as a lord ought to be
pray tell him so from me sir—
Exit Wife

Vot.
that will I madame,
Now must I dress a straunge dish for his humour;

Ans.
call you this courtinge, life not one word nere it
ther was no sillable but was twelue score of,
my faith hot Temptation, Womans chastetie
in such a conflict, had great need of one
to keep the bridge, t'was daungerous for the tyme;
why what fantastick faith's are in these daies
made wt hout substance; whome should a man trust
in matters about loue

Vot.
masse here he comes too,

Ansel.
how now Votarius whats the newes for vs

Vot.
you set me to a taske sir, that will finde
ten ages work enoughe, and then vnfynisht,
bring synne befor her, why it standes more quaking
then if a Iudge should frowne ont, three such fitts
would shake it into goodnes, and quite beggar
the vnder kingdome,—not the arte of man
woman or devill—

Ans.
o peace man, prythe peace—

Vot
can make her fit for lust,

Ansel.
yet agen sir?
wher liues that mistris of thine, Votarius
that taught thee to dissemble, I'de faine lerne
she makes good schollers

Votar.
how my L:

Ans.
thow art the sonne of fallshood, pre thee leaue me
how trulie constant, charitable and helpfull
is woman vnto woman in affaires
that touch affection and the peace of spirrit,
but man to man how crooked and vnkinde?
I thanck my iealowsie I heard thee all
for I heard nothing, now thow'rt sure I did

Vota.
now by this light then wipe but of this score
since y'are so bent, and if I euer run
in debt agen to fallshood and dissemblaunce
for wante of better meanes, teare the remembraunce of me
from yor best thoughtes,

An.
for thy vowes sake, I pardon thee
thy othe is now sufficient watch it self
ouer thy Actions, I discharge my iealowsie
I ha no more vse for't now to giue thee waie,
Ile haue an abscence made purposelie for thee
and presentlie take horse, ile leaue behinde me
an oportunitie that shall feare no startinge
let but thy paines deserue it

Votar.
I am bound toot

Ans.
for a small tyme farwell then, harke thee—

Votar.
o good sir.
it will do wondrous well;—what a wilde seed
Exit Ansel:
suspition sowes in him, and takes small ground for't,
how happie were this l: if he would leaue
to tempt his fate and be resolud he were so,
he would be but too ritch, man has some enēmy still yt keepes him back
in all his fortunes, and his mynde is his,
and thats a mightie adversarie, I had rather
haue twenty kinges my enemies then that [port] part,
for let me be at warr wt h earth and hell
so that be frendes wt h me,—I ha sworne to make
a triall of her faithe, I must put on
Enter Wife
a [Courtiers] BRAZEN face and doo't, myne owne will shame me

Wife
this is most straunge of all how one distraction
secondes another?

Votar.
whats the newes sweet madame

Wif
has tooke his horse, but left his leaue vntaken
what should I thinck on't sir did euer lord
depart so rudelie from his ladies presence

Votar.
did he forget yor lipp

Wife
he forgott all
that Noblenes remembers,

Votar.
I'me ashamde on him
Let me help (madame) to repaire his manners
and mend that vnkinde fault

Wife
Sir, pray forbeare
you forget worse then hee,

Vatar
So vertue saue me
I haue enoughe allready

Wife
Tis himself
must make amendes (good sir) for his owne faultes

Votar.
I woold heed doot then, and nere troble me in't,
but madame you perceiue he takes the course
to be farr of from that, hee's rod from home
but, his vnkindnes stayes, and keepes wt h you,
let whose will pleaze his wife, he rides his horse,
thats all the care he takes, I pittie you madame
y'aue an vnpleasing lord, would twere not so
I should reioice wt h you,
you'r younger, the very Springes vpon you now
the Roses on yor cheekes are but new blowne,
take you together y'are a pleasaunt garden
wher all the sweetnes of mans comfort breathes,
but what is it to be a worke of beautie
and want the heart that should delight in you,
you still retaine yor goodnes in yor selues
but then you loose yor glorie, wc h is all,
the grace of euery benifit is the vse
and ist not pittie you should want yor grace?
looke you like one whose lord should walke in groues
about the peace of midnight Alas madame
tis to me wondrous how you should spare the daie
from amorous clips, much less the generall season
when all the worldes a gamster,
that face deserues a frend of heart and spirrit
discourse, and motion, indeed such a one
that should obserue you (madam) wt hout ceasinge,
and not a wearie lord.

Wife
Sure I was married sir,
in a deere yeare of loue; when scarcetie
and famyn of affection vext poore ladies
wc h makes my heart so needy,—it nere knew
plenty of comfort yet;

Votar.
why thats yor follie
to keep yor mynde so myserably madame,
[o you that can be hard to yor owne heart,]
chaunge into better tymes, ile lead you to em,
what bountie shall yor frend expect for his,
o you that can be hard to yor owne heart
how would you vse yor frends, if I thought kindlie
id'e be the man my self should serue yor pleasure

Wife
how sir

Votar.
Nay and nere misse you too, I'de not come sneakinge
like a Reteyner once a week or soe
to showe my self before you for my liuery,
ide follow busines like a howshold servaunt
carry my worke before me and dispatche
before my lord be vp, and make no wordes on't
the signe of a good servaunt,—

Wife
tis not frendly donne sir
to take a ladie at advauntage thus
set all her wronges before her, and then tempt her

Votar.
[heart,] I growe fond my self twas well she wakt me
before the dead sleep of Adultery tooke me
twas stealing on me, vp you honest thoughtes
and keep watch for yor master, I must hence,
I do not like my health, t'as a straung rellish
pray heav'ne I pluckt myne eyes back tyme enoughe,
Ile neuer see her more, I praisde the garden
but litle thought a bed of snakes laye hidd in't

Wife
I know not how I am? ile call my woman—
staye, for I feare thow'rt to farr gon already.

Votar.
I'le see her but once more, doe thy worst, loue
thow art too yong, fond boy, to master me—
I come to tell you madame and that plainlie
ile see yor face no more, tak'te how you pleaze

Wife
you will not offer violence to me sir
in my lords abscence; what does that touch you
if I want comforte?

Vota
will you take yor answer

Wif
it is not honest in you to tempt woman,
when her distresses takes awaie her strengthe,
how is she able to withstand her enemye

Votar.
I would faine leaue yor sight and I could possible

Wife
what ist to you (good sir) if I be pleazd
to weep my self awaie? and run thus violently
into the armes of death, and kisse distruction
does this concerne you now

Votar.
I marry does it
what serue these armes for, but to pluck you back
these lipps but to prevent all other tasters,
and keep that Cup of Nectar for them selues;
[heart] Ime beguilde agen, forgiue me heavne
my lipps haue bin naught wt h her, [sin's meer witchcraft,]
[break all the engines of, lifes frame in pieces,]
I wilbe master once, and whip the boye
home to his mothers lap, face, far thee well—/
Exit Votarius

Wife.
Votarius? Sir? my ffrend thanckes heavne, hees gon,
and he shall neuer com̄e so neer agen,
ile haue my frailtie watcht euer,—henceforward
ile no more trust it single, it betrayes me
Enter Leonela.
into the handes of Folly whers my woman
my trustie Leonella.

Leo.
call you madam?

Wif
call I? I want attendaunce wher are you?

Leo.
neuer farr from you Madam

Wif
pray be neerer
or ther is some that will, and thanck you too,
nay perhaps bribe you to be abscent from me

Leo.
how Madame?

Wife
is that straunge to a ladies woman
ther are such thinges ith world, many such buyers
and sellers of a womans name and honour
thoe you be young in bribes, and neuer came
to the flesh-market yet,—beshrew yor harte
for keeping so long from me

Leo.
what aile you madame?

Wife
Somewhat Comaundes me, and takes all the power,
of my self from me

Leo
what should that be Ladye?

Wife.
when did you see Votarius

Leo.
is that next
nay then I haue yor ladishyp in the winde
I sawe him lately madame

Wife
whome didst see?

Leo.
Votarius?

Wife
what haue I to doe wt h him
more then another man saye he be faire
and has partes proper both of mynd and bodie
you praise him but in vaine, in telling me so,

Leo.
yee madame are you pratling in yor sleep,
tis well my l and you lie in two bedds

Wife
I was nere so ill, I, thanck you Leonela
my necligent woman, here you showde yor service

Leo
[life] haue I power or meanes to stop a sluce
at a hie water, what would sh'av me do in't?

Wife
I charge thee while thow liu'ste wt h me, henceforward
vse not an howers abscence from my sight.—/

Exit lady.
Leo.
by my faith Madam you shall pardon me
I haue a loue of myne owne to looke to
Enter Bellarius Mufled in his clocke.
and he must haue his breakfast; pist Ballarius

Bel.
Leonela

Leo.
come forthe, and showe yor selfe a gentleman
allthoughe most comonlie they hide their heades
as you doe ther me thinckes —And why a taffety mufler
showe yor face, man, I'me not ashamde on you

Bel.
I feare the servauntes

Leo.
and they feare their mistres, and nere thinck on you
thei'r thoughtes are vpon dynner, and great dishes,
if one thinge hap, Impossible to faile to
(I can see so farr in't) you shall walk boldlie sir
and openlie in view throughe euerie Roome
about the howse, and let the prowdest meet thee;
I charge you giue no waye to em

Bel.
how thow talkst

Leo.
I can avoide the foole, and giue you reason for't

Bel.
tis more then I should doe, if I askt more on thee,—
I pre thee tell me how?

Leo.
wt h eaze yfaith sir,
my ladies heart is wondrous busy sir
abowt the entertaynemt of a frend too,
and she and I must beare wt h one another
or we shall make but a mad howse betwixt vs

Bel.
I'me bould to throw my cloke of at this newes
wc h I nere durst before, and kisse thee freelier
what is he sirrah?

Leo.
faith an indifferent fellow
wt h good long leggs,—a neere frend of my lords

Bel.
a neere frend of my ladies, you would saie,—
his name I pre thee—

Leo.
one Votarius sir.

Bel.
what saiest thow

Leo
he walkes vnder the same title

Bel
the only enem̄ye that my life can showe me

Leo.
yor enemye let my splene then alone wt h him,—
staye you yor anger ile confound him for you

Bel.
as how I pree thee,—

Leo.
ile prevent his Venery
he shall nere lie wt h my ladie,—

Bel.
troth I thanck you
life thats the waye to saue him, art thow madd
wheras the other way he confoundes him self
and lies more naked to revendge and mischief

Leo
then let him lie wt h her, and the devill goe wt h him
he shall haue all my furtheraunce,

Bel.
why now you praye hartelie, and speake to purpose.—

Exiunt