University of Virginia Library

Act. 1.

Scen. 1.

Enter Charmia alone.
He's gone this way: why do I follow him,
In whose pursute (alass!) I lose my self?
He is my husbands brother, and so like him
That none could ere distinguish one from tother,
But by their clothes: And is it possible
That I should ever draw him to my bed?
Or is it fit? I will suppress the flames
I cannot quench, untill unseen they'r grown
So hot, that in a moment they consume me—
Enter Jovio.
Did you see my Brother?

Jov.
D'ye think I'm blind, Madam?

Char.
Ile make you so, if you don't answer me.

Jov.
Then you must expect but blind obedience from me:
'Twere a great deal better if you made me dumb,
I should be then an excellent privado
To keep your Ladyships secrets, and deliver my message
By signs; for I know there is not a Court Lady
But can construe this Lords beck, and that Lords nod,
A smile, a wink.

Char.
No more you saucy rascal.

Jov.
A tread upon the foot; you know what that is:
Or wringing the hand hard, or pulling by the sleeve
And going away; you know what follows.

Char.
What follows? can you tell?

Jov.
The party so pull'd, an't please your Ladyship,
I would fain make your honour merry.

Char.
y'ar too saucie.

Jov.
That's because you'r too melancholick, Madam.

Char.
Where did you see my Brother?

Jov.
I'th' Garden.

Char.
Are you sure 'twas he? or was it not my Lord?
Go see and bring me word—'Tis very true
Exit Jovio.
Whoere at first beats down a lawless thought
Is sure to be a conquerour: but who feeds
With slattering excuse his belov'd sin,
Too late shakes off a yoak sticks too fast on.
I will not stay this fellows coming back.
Exit. Char.

Enter Lord Fulvio and Jovio.
Ful.
Where is she now?

Jov.
I left her here: these women
Are never well but when they are a changing;
They'r like the shaddow of a Looking-glass,
Here and there in an instant: they play bo-peep

Ful.
Mock me no more my serious meditations
Must not be interrupted thus by fools.
Exit Fulvio.

Jov.
My Lord calls my Lady fool as well as me:
I did not think there had been fools among the honourable:
I shall hereafter brook the term the better
For company sake: my Lady and I am fellows now;
We ha' both one livery—She's here agen
Enter Charm.
How shall I shift her now that she may'nt see me?

Char.
I see what's good, and yeeld it so to be,
But follow still the worse, as my lust swayes me:
I shall hereafter pitty tender Ladies,
That yeeld being tempted, when I can't prevail
Against my own temptations. All the world
Laments a Fort surpriz'd by forraign foes,
But execrates a City where the enemies
Are thos within it. Sirrah, where's my brother?

Jov.
Forsooth I brought him hither, and you were gone:
You made him be angry with honest Jovio,
Poor honest Jovio, your honours servant:
I hope your Ladyship is sorry for't;
'Tis all I look for, an humble acknowledgement.

Char.
Where is he now?

Jov.
Gone to the Garden agen.

Cha.
Will he come this way?

Jov.
I did not ask him that;
But I know no other way that he can go.

Char.
Sirrah go see, but speak not a word to him.
Exit Jovio.
When I do see him I will speak my mind;
He shall determine or my life or death
By saying I, or no—Must he come this way?

Jov.
Or none at all.

Char.
Will he not stay there still,
Rather than come, so long as I am here?
I warrant you can't tell; you did not ask him?

Jov.
Yes, I did ask him, but I spoke not a word to him;
You charg'd me I should not.

Char.
Away you fool.
Exit Jov.
How boldly I shall speak to him:
I will put off the nearness of a Sister,
And set my self unto a Lovers distance:
Love like the Sun-beams casts the greater heat
When it is more remote, than when more near:
Brothers and Sisters loves freez as they meet
The unlawfulness, like water deads the fire.

Enter Lord Fulvio.
Ful.
Good morrow Sister; would you speak with me?

Char.
Had not your presence struck me dumb, I should.
Ex. Char.

Ful.
Ile do my best to ease her.
He that unaskt helps not in time of need
Offends as much as he whose ayd is crav'd, and yet denies it.

Enter Lord Gratiano, Carolo, and Julietta, Alphonso, Clarinda, and Jovio.
Grat.
Good morrow brother.

Ful.
May the daies genius
Smile upon you—O my dear Clarinda
Rise with thy weight of blessings: What Julietta,
You do out-vie the morning with your blushes,
'Tis time to shake this Maiden modesty off,
And clasp a bedfellow: Is it not girl?

Alph.
My Lord you make her blush the more.

Ful.
Clarinda
Looks as if she were weary of a Maydenhead.

Clar.
The truth ne'r makes me blush.

Alph.
But when you lye
With a man (I mean at first) I fear you'l blush.

Clar.
It may be for a farewel; or suppose
I blush i'th dark, if I but keep my own counsel—
I'de not care if this were my wedding day,
Protracted marriages make Hymen lean.

Jul.
Well I am not of your mind.

Clar.
But very near it:
You would be married to morrow: but don't mistake me,
Though I'm a wag, I'm none of those needy girls
That takes their pay before the pay-day comes.
Marry when the bond bears date, 'tis good to keep touch
For fear of forfeiture.

Car.
Well little wild Oats.

Grat.
Me-thinks, Alphonso, it is very strange
We ne'r can hear of our much injur'd Cousen,
Your noble Father.

Alph.
In a whole ten years exile,
I ne'r could know where once he doth reside.

Ful.
'Tis very strange, but what got Frederigo?
A rare reward of treachery and slander:
For when his stratagems were all unmask'd,
His rankling spleen, like a recoyling peece,
Hurt him as much as him he aim'd to kill:
And all the benefit he gain'd, was this,
He was banisht last o'th two: Lord Celio
Did only chalk the way out to his view,
That he might learn to follow him.

Grat.
Let's in; if you see Lurco, Jovio, send him to me.

Exeunt.
Jov.
Ile go seek him out.

Exit.
Enter Lurco alone.
Lur.
No; Politians must walk in clouds,
So that the Eagles eyes can't pry into them.
The Fencer that hath once receiv'd a foyl
Learns to play warily and close, so I
Here for five yeares and upwards I have been
Subject to scorns and taunts, nay blows and kicks,
So that I am fill'd with malice, spleen, and gall,
And now's the time to vent it; ne'r till now:
Hence from my breast pale fear; thou fatning hate
Ripen the plot of an Italian pate.

Enter Jovio.
Jov.
Lurco, my Lord sends all about for you.

Lur.
I'm going in.

Exit.
Jov.
Would I had some of this fellows wit in me,
Enter Charm.
And a great deal of his honesty. My Lady.
Ile slip behind the hangings:
Sfoot she looks like a gamester that had lost all.

Char.
Suppose he should consent, yet how can I
Wrong my good Lord, or if I wrong him, think
A husbands searching eye wo'nt find it out?
Or say he don't, yet may a stander by
See more then he that playes: some in the world
May know of it, and tell him what foul play
Was us'd, though they don't do't till the games done.

Jov.
How shall I get away now, and she not see me?

Char.
But say the world be blinded,
Yet will not he be blind that shakes the world;
Yet say he should, yet O! the present tortures of the soul,
The aspine trembling of the toyled heart,
The mind full fraught with sin, that ever fears
Its self, and its own shaddow: some gross crimes
From outward shame and sufferings free have been,
None ever scap'd the Hangman that's within.

Jov.
Did your Ladyship call?

Char.
What? are you eeves dropping?
Sirrah get you hence: can I be private no where?

Jov.
Well, well, there have been Ladies in this world
That when they have been private, if a servant,
A man, a handsom man, as sure I'm one,
Had come to 'em, they would ha' bid him stay,
Nor get him gone; but now the case is altered.

Exit.
Enter Lord Fulvio.
Ful.
She's here, and like a marble Niobe
Distill'd to tears.

Char.
I am a heavy stone
Roll'd up a hill by a weak child: I move
A little up, and tumble back agen.
I fain would take good counsel, but I cannot:
Like as a Mariner that hoyses sayles
Both against wind and stream, tugs at the oare
To drive him further from his journeys end,
I both encrease my journey and my labour.

Ful.
Ile speak to her.

Cha.
I must not stay to hear him.

Exit
Ful.
How like a shadow she does fly my coming,
And follows my departure. She returns.

Enter Charm.
Char.
Now I'm resolv'd; take courage now my heart,
And do what I command: be my word fearless:
He that begs timerously begs a denyal.
One step more do's it. I would speak with you:
But 'tis no matter now, let it alone.

Offers to be gone.
Ful.
Good sister stay, the place is free from company.

Char.
My lips deny a passage to my words:
There's a strong power that would release my tongue,
A stronger keep it in;
Witness ye Gods that what I would—

Ful.
Would you speak any thing you cannot utter?

Cha.
Small griefs have tongues, great ones are ever dumb.

Ful.
Sister, make me the treasurer of your griefs.

Char.
The name of Sister is too high a stile;
An humble epithite befits our suit;
Call me your friend or servant, servant rather;
For Ile do any thing you shall command me.

Ful.
Dear Sister what's the matter?

Char.
Call me not Sister.
The fire of love burns in my raging breast,
Runs through my veins like as the nimble flame
Licks up the stubble on the parched plains.

Ful.
I do beleeve you love my brother dearly.

Cha.
But dearlier you: start you from those that love you?

Ful.
Your love is a far greater sin than hate.

Char.
Perhaps you'l think I'm mad: Indeed I am so,
Or I should ne'r be thus: and yet me-thinks
I weep as if I had the use of reason.
I that with glowing ears and blushing cheeks,
Have heard the vulgar say, that's Lady Charmia,
The virtuous and chast Charmia, that's she:
Proud to maintain what prodigally they speak,
Have shone a bright star in the orb of honour,
But now am faln thus low: this day must end
My grief and life.

Ful.
Oh I could hate all women,
And I am sorry that I have a daughter
I needs must love: what? weepest thou crocodile?
In these thy tears thou givest sufficient proof
That one may weep for sin, yet not repent.
Jove either make her innocent like me
Or blast her e'r she prove superlative bad,
Or strike me least I be so bad so bad as she.
Do, weep in jest: yet tell me what false Cupid
Has wounded you.

Char.
Your Taylor, for I know not
Ought else beside the neatness of your habit
That makes me love you more then my own husband.
Two firm impressions made upon the wax
By the same seal, are not more like each other
Than you two are.

Ful.
I see a Sun of virtue
Break through a cloud of vice, which I adore,
And to my power will cherish: but can it be
That not some lovely stranger, nor some Noble
Of our own land; thats not ally'd in blood,
At least in further distance than my self,
Could e'r affect you? no man but a brother?
Tell me has not not my brother Gratiano
A hand in this plot?

Char.
Now by my hopes
Of your assistance, all that I demand
Is reallity not fiction. You my husbands brother
Must satisfie my will for one short moment
Must stain your brothers nuptial bed for ever.

Ful.
Let me instruct you: help your self a little,
And stop this planet raging in your blood,
Desire of health is one part of the cure,
Doe you not think it will torment your conscience
After 'tis done?

Char.
I know it is too certain.

Ful.
Suppose you had a mind to tast of poyson,
For which there were no remedy, no cure,
But that the bodies ruin must ensue,
Would you not bridle your unruly appetite?

Char.
I would.

Ful.
And could you have so great a care
Over your body, and will you take a poyson
That will for evermore torment your soul?
Nay, as if you were too too mean a sacrifice
For hell your self alone, you draw another,
Another must fall with you, and he such an one
Whose very person makes a great sin double.
Go prostitute your self in midst of Millain,
'Till Hecatombs of lustful Satyrs fall
Each day to hell, and I the ring-leader,
Next to your self. Pluto will hug you for't.

Char.
My noble mind has not yet lost all shame:
I will desist: my love that will not serve me
As a true subject, Ile conquer as an enemy.

Ful.
Spoke nobly like your self. Now I shall love you.

Char.
O fame, I will not adde another spot
To thy pure robe, Ile keep my ermine honour
Pure and a live in death, and with my end
Ile end my sin and shame, like Charicles,
Who living to a hundred years of age
Free from the least disease, fearing a sickness,
To kill it, kill'd himself, and made his death
The period of his health, and so will I:
A virtuous death prevents a vitious life.

Ful.
O stay, I hold thee now worthy of life,
In that thou think'st thy self worthy of death.
Look cheerly on me, Sister, I'de not lose
So many virtues in thee for one vice,
And that but once committed. Come, Ile kiss you,
Love, live, and lye with you: when next my brother
Goes out of town I will perform your will:
Better I do it then another man.
Come wipe your eyes; conceive but how I love you,
When I will wrong so near and dear a friend
To pleasure you: Let not the time seem long,
My Brother staies for me in Pales wood
To chase a Deer this morn; one kiss and part.
Exit Fulvio

Char.
Farewel, next hour you see me, I shall look
Smooth as a Bride that marries where she loves.
Exit Charm.

Enter Alphonso.
Alph.
Divine Clarinda! for thou art no less:
Whose very name inspires my feeble tongue:
If there be any mortal deities,
Enter Julietta.
Thou canst not be the least.

Jul.
What alone, Alphonso?

Alph.
He cannot be alone that has your company,
Nor needs he more or better that enjoyes you.
Please you to walk with me, though I confess
My self unworthy of so sweet a mate.

Jul.
You mean Clarinda, I'm Julietta, Sir,
Ne'r knew I pride, nor ne'r had cause to be so:
I ne'r disdain'd the meanest company.

Enter Lurco.
Lur.
He's here, here's more work for me.

Alph.
Y'ar melancholick, Madam.

Jul.
Blame my nature.

Alph.
You want a little of Clarinda's mirth:
Come, shall I make you merry?

Lur.
Very good.

Alph.
Mingle some smiles with Juno's Majesty.

Lur.
I will fetch some body to mingle something:
Won't one content you? now with a simple slyness
Which shall be construed for pure honesty,
Ile make a chaos of their truest order.
Exit Lurco.

Jul.
Mirth is meer folly to my heart me-thinks.

Alph.
O but a day is coming that will change you;
This Virgin modesty will be out of date
Enter Carolo, Lurco & Clarinda
When you are made a wife.

Car.
Whither dost draw
Us? canst thou not speak?

Lurco points.
Lur.
I wish I had no tongue to speak,
Nor hand to make a sign with.

Car.
Ha! so familiar.

Lur.
I, would you have thought it?
How we may be deceiv'd by men: Look there,
Laugh? I bar whispering.

Alph.
What not one smile yet?
Are you so pray, in Carolo's company?

Car.
How like you this? could he find no man else
To wrong but me? perhaps he do'st to try
How great an enemy a friend can be
Where love's abus'd: I fear me the experiment
Will prove most tragical.

Lur.
The poyson works,
And he begins to swel: I wonder he
Can have the heart to do't.

Clar.
Why, what hurt's in this?
Do you the like to me. Ile let 'em alone,
I know Alphonso's honest.

Alph.
You know I love you,
And will do ever.

Car.
When your heart bleeds for this
Ile tell you then you lye.

Lur.
That's the best time indeed,
Then show him all the horror of his fact:
Yet that's not the best way, now I do think on't:
'Tis barbarous to shed mans blood, but you see and hear
This is his baseness.

Car.
O thou art honest, Lurco.

Clar.
I cannot hear a lawless sillable.

Alph.
When hand in hand my love and I shall sit,
Embraces her.
And feed upon each others looks.

Car.
O villain.

Alph.
And you shall bind your dear love in these ivory chains.

Lur.
Do you see that?

Car.
What?

Lur.
That you must gaze about:
You did not see him kiss her.

Car.
Did he kiss her?

Lur.
I, and if she had not been honester then he,
He would—

Car.
What?

Lur.
Nay pardon me,
I would he peaceable: I won't swear he did any thing,
Therefore I pray ground nothing upon my words;
But I must confess he kist her: 'Twas more
Then he needed ha' done, or perhaps should ha' done.

Car.
The next he kisses shall be his death.

Cla.
Come Carolo
Exe. manet Alph. Juliet.
Lets go in; I heard their talk, 'tis very honest.

Jul.
This walking in the cold has made me sick,
Shall we walk in Alphonso?

Alph.
O my wrongs!
(draws his sword.
Come back agen, or—

Jul.
What d'e mean Alphonso?

Alph.
I thank you Madam that you wakned me.

Jul.
Were you asleeep?

Alph.
Yes, and I saw a vision,
A very strange one: me-thought a loving neighbour
As I esteem'd him, having stoln a Lamb of mine,
By the assistance of another knave,
Spying me in the field, fled back again,
And took my Lamb along with them; with that
Me-thought I drew my sword.

Jul.
Nay did you draw it?

Alph.
Then my imagination wrought more strongly
Then at other times: pray leave me here a little,
I shall recover straight, then Ile attend you.

Jul.
Heaven make your storm a calm.

Alph.
Heaven hear your praier.
O heavens! I am abus'd, my cosen Carolo,
Exit Jul.
And my Clarinda (if I may call her mine
Or him my cosen) walking towards us,
No sooner spy'd us but fled back again:
'Tis true Julietta saw 'em not, but I did:
Why did they fly from us, we did not fly
From them: O now I know the reason on't;
They had a guilty conscience, that was it:
For then they'l fear the shaking of a leaf,
The wagging of a straw, as much as if
They had unawares trod barefoot on a snake.
Why should my cosen Carolo wrong me?
I nere wrong'd him; but why doe I ask why?
They do not deal with reason that do wrong:
He that intends to draw a crooked line
Needs not a straight rule. O but my Clarinda!
My, thats a sillable too much, dash't out,
It spoyles the sence, and makes her a peculiar
That is grown common: Let it be the Clarinda,
Or any ones Clarinda: had she been mine,
She would have come to me. I fear, I fear,
Cross dealing from my Cosen: Let it rest:
If he prove false, as now he did seem guilty,
I can but whistle for revenge, and have it.
Vengeance hath wings where baseness is swift footed.

Exit.