 | 'Tis Pitty Shee's a Whore |  |
Fryar.
Dispute no more in this, for know (young man)
These are no Schoole-points; nice Philosophy
May tolerate vnlikely arguments,
But Heauen admits no jest; wits that presum'd
On wit too much, by striuing how to proue
There was no God; with foolish grounds of Art,
Discouer'd first the neerest way to Hell;
And fild the world with deuelish Atheisme:
Such questions youth are fond; For better 'tis,
To blesse the Sunne, then reason why it shines;
Yet hee thou talk'st of, is aboue the Sun,
No more; I may not heare it.
Gio.
Gentle Father,
To you I haue vnclasp't my burthened soule,
Empty'd the store-house of my thoughts and heart,
Made my selfe poore of secrets; haue not left
Another word vntold, which hath not spoke
All what I euer durst, or thinke, or know;
And yet is here the comfort I shall haue,
Must I not doe, what all men else may, loue?
Fry.
Yes. you may loue faire sonne.
Gio.
Must I not praise
That beauty, which if fram'd a new, the gods
Would make a god of, if they had it there;
And kneele to it, as I doe kneele to them?
Why foolish mad-man?
Gio.
Shall a peeuish sound,
A customary forme, from man to man,
Of brother and of sister, be a barre
Twixt my perpetuall happinesse and mee?
Say that we had one father, say one wombe,
(Curse to my ioyes) gaue both vs life, and birth;
Are wee not therefore each to other bound
So much the more by Nature; by the the links
Of blood, of reason; Nay if you will hau't,
Euen of Religion, to be euer one,
One soule, one flesh, one loue, one heart, one All?
Fry.
Haue done vnhappy youth, for thou art lost.
Gio.
Shall then, (for that I am her brother borne)
My ioyes be euer banisht from her bed?
No Father; in your eyes I see the change.
Of pitty and compassion: from your age
As from a sacred Oracle distills
The life of Counsell: tell mee holy man,
What Cure shall giue me ease in these extreames.
Fry.
Repentance (sonne) and sorrow for this sinne:
For thou hast mou'd a Maiesty aboue
With thy vn-raunged (almost) Blasphemy.
Gio.
O doe not speake of that (deare Confessor)
Fry,
Art thou (my sonne) that miracle of Wit,
Who once within these three Moneths wert esteem'd
A wonder of thine age, throughout Bononia?
How did the Vniuersity applaud
Thy Gouerment, Behauiour, Learning, Speech,
Sweetnesse, and all that could make vp a man?
I was proud of my Tutellage, and chose
Rather to leaue my Bookes, then part with thee,
I did so: but the fruites of all my hopes
Are lost in thee, as thou art in thy selfe.
O Giouanni: hast thou left the Schooles
Of Knowledge, to conuerse with Lust and Death?
(For Death waites on thy Lust) looke through the world,
More glorious, then this Idoll thou ador'st:
Leaue her, and take thy choyce, 'tis much lesse sinne,
Though in such games as those, they lose that winne.
Gio.
It were more ease to stop the Ocean
From floates and ebbs, then to disswade my vower.
Fry.
Then I haue done, and in thy wilfull flames
Already see thy ruine; Heauen is iust,
Yet heare my counsell.
Gio.
As a voyce of life.
Fry.
Hye to thy Fathers house, there locke thee fast
Alone within thy Chamber, then fall downe
On both thy knees, and grouell on the ground:
Cry to thy heart, wash euery word thou vtter'st
In teares, (and if't bee possible) of blood:
Begge Heauen to cleanse the leprosie of Lust
That rots thy Soule, acknowledge what thou art,
A wretch, a worme, a nothing: weepe, sigh, pray
Three times a day, and three times euery night:
For seuen dayes space doe this, then if thou find'st
No change in thy desires, returne to me:
I'le thinke on remedy, pray for thy selfe
At home, whil'st I pray for thee here—away,
My blessing with thee, wee haue neede to pray.
Gio.
All this I'le doe, to free mee from the rod
Of vengeance, else I'le sweare, my Fate's my God.
Exeunt.
Enter Grimaldi and Vasques ready to fight.
Vas.
Come sir, stand to your tackling, if you proue Crauen,
I'le make you run quickly.
Gri.
Thou art no equall match for mee.
Vas.
Indeed I neuer went to the warres to bring home newes,
nor cannot play the Mountibanke for a meales meate, and sweare
I got my wounds in the field: see you these gray haires, they'le
not flinch for a bloody nose, wilt thou to this geere?
Gri.
Why slaue, think'st thou I'le ballance my reputation
Vas.
Scold like a Cot-queane (that's your Profession) thou poore
shaddow of a Souldier, I will make thee know, my Maister keepes
Seruants, thy betters in quality and performance; Com'st thou to
fight or prate?
Gri.
Neither with thee,
I am a Romane, and a Gentleman, one that haue got
Mine honour with expence of blood.
Vas.
You are a lying Coward, and a foole, fight, or by these Hilts
I'le kill thee.—braue my Lord,—you'le fight.
Gri.
Prouoake me not, for if thou dost—
They fight, Grimal. hath the worst.
Vas.
Haue at you.
Enter Florio, Donado, Soranzo.
Flo.
What meaned these sudden broyles so neare my dores?
Haue you not other places, but my house
To vent the spleene of your disordered bloods?
Must I be haunted still with such vnrest,
As not to eate, or sleepe in peace at home?
Is this your loue Grimaldi? Fie, t'is naught.
Do.
And Vasques. I may tell thee 'tis not well
To broach these quarrels, you are euer forward
In seconding contentions.
Enter aboue Annabella and Putana.
Flo.
What's the ground?
Sor.
That with your patience Signiors, I'le resolue:
This Gentleman, whom fame reports a souldier,
(For else I know not) riuals mee in loue
To Signior Florio's Daughter; to whose eares
He still preferrs his suite to my disgrace,
Thinking the way to recommend himselfe,
Is to disparage me in his report:
But know Grimaldi, though (may be) thou art
My equall in thy blood, yet this bewrayes
A lownesse in thy minde; which wer't thou Noble
Thou would'st as much disdaine, as I doe thee
For this vnworthinesse; and on this ground
I will'd my Seruant to correct this tongue,
Vas.
And had your suddane comming prevented vs, I had let
my Gentleman blood vnder the gilles; I should haue worm'd
you Sir, for running madde.
Gri.
Ile be reueng'd Soranzo.
Vas
On a dish of warme-broth to stay your stomack, doe
honest Innocence, doe; spone-meat is a wholesomer dyet then
a spannish blade.
Gri.
remember this.
Sor.
I feare thee not Grimaldi.
Ex. Gri:
Flo.
My Lord Soranzo, this is strange to me,
Why you should storme, hauing my word engag'd:
Owing her heart, what neede you doubt her eare?
Loosers may talke by law of any game.
Vas.
Yet the villaine of words, signior Florio may be such,
As would make any vnspleen'd Doue, Chollerick,
Blame not my Lord in this.
Flo.
Be you more silent,
I would not for my wealth, my daughters loue
Should cause the spilling of one drop of blood.
Vasques put vp, let's end this fray in wine.
Exeunt.
Putana
How like you this child? here's threatning challenging,
quarrelling, and fighting, on euery side, and all is for your
sake; you had neede looke to your selfe (Chardge) you'le be
stolne away sleeping else shortly.
Annabella:
But (Tutresse) such a life, giues no content
To me, my thoughts are fixt on other ends;
Would you would leaue me.
Put.
Leaue you? no maruaile else; leaue me, no leauing (Chardge)
This is loue outright, Indeede I blame you not, you haue
Choyce fit for the best Lady in Italy.
Anna.
Pray doe not talke so much.
Put.
Take the worst with the best, there's Grimaldi the
souldier a very well-timbred fellow: they say he is a Roman,
Nephew to the Duke Mount Ferratto, they say he did good service
in the warrs against the Millanoys, but faith (Chardge) I doe
not like him, and be for nothing, but for being a souldier; one amongst
pryuie mayme or other, that marres their standing vpright, I like
him the worse, hee crinckles so much in the hams; though hee
might serue, if their were no more men, yet hee's not the man I
would choose.
Anna.
Fye how thou prat'st.
Put.
As I am a very woman, I like Signiour Soranzo, well;
hee is wise, and what is more, rich; and what is more then that,
kind, and what is more then all this, a Noble-man; such a one were
I the faire Annabella, my selfe, I would wish and pray for: then
hee is bountifull; besides hee is handsome, and, by my troth, I
thinke wholsome: (and that's newes in a gallant of three and
twenty.) liberall that I know: louing, that you know; and a man
sure, else hee could neuer ha' purchast such a good name, with
Hippolita the lustie Widdow in her husbands life time: And
t'were but for that report (sweet heart) would a were thine:
Commend a man for his qualities, but take a husband as he is a
plaine-sufficient, naked man: such a one is for your bed, and such
a one is Signior Soranzo my life for't.
Anna.
Sure the woman tooke her mornings Draught to soone.
Enter Bergetto and Poggio.
Put.
But looke (sweet heart,) looke what thinge comes now:
Here's another of your cyphers to fill vp the number:
Oh braue old Ape in a silken Coate, obserue.
Ber.
Did'st thou thinke Poggio, that I would spoyle my
New cloathes, and leaue my dinner to fight.
Pog.
No Sir, I did not take you for so arrant a babie.
Ber.
I am wyser then so: for I hope Poggio, thou
Neuer heard'st of an elder brother, that was a Coxcomb,
Did'st Poggio?
Pog.
Neuer indeede Sir, as long as they had either land or
mony left them to inherit.
Ber.
Is it possible Poggio? oh monstruous! why Ile vndertake,
with a handfull of siluer, to buy a headfull of wit at any
tyme, but sirrah, I haue another purchase in hand, I shall haue
the wench myne vnckle sayes, I will but wash my face, and
shift socks, and then haue at her yfaith—
Pog.
Sir I haue seene an Asse, and a Mule trot the Spannish
pauin with a better grace, I know not how often.
Exeunt
Anna.
This Ideot haunts me too.
Put.
I, I, he needes no discription, the rich Magnifico, that is
below with your Father (Chardge) Signior Donado his Vnckle;
for that he meanes to make this his Cozen a golden calfe, thinkes
that you wil be a right Isralite, and fall downe to him presently:
but I hope I haue tuterd you better: they say a fooles bable is a
Ladies play fellow: yet you hauing wealth enough, you neede not
cast vpon the dearth of flesh at any rate: hang him Innocent.
Enter Giouanni.
Anna.
But see Putana, see: what blessed shape
Of some cælestiall Creature now appeares?
What man is hee, that with such sad aspect
Walkes carelesse of himselfe?
Put.
Where?
Anna.
Looke below.
Put,
Oh, 'tis your brother sweet—
Anna.
Ha!
Put.
'Tis your brother.
Anna,
Sure 'tis not hee, this is some woefull thinge
Wrapt vp in griefe, some shaddow of a man.
Alas hee beats his brest, and wipes his eyes
Drown'd all in teares: me thinkes I heare him sigh.
Lets downe; Putana, and pertake the cause,
I know my Brother in the Loue he beares me,
Will not denye me partage in his sadnesse,
My soule is full of heauinesse and feare.
Exit.
Gio.
Lost, I am lost: my fates haue doom'd my death:
The more I striue, I loue, the more I loue,
The lesse I hope: I see my ruine, certaine.
What Iudgement, or endeuors could apply
To my incurable and restlesse wounds,
I throughly haue examin'd, but in vaine:
O that it were not in Religion sinne,
I haue euen wearied heauen with prayers, dryed vp
The spring of my continuall teares, euen steru'd
My veines with dayly fasts: what wit or Art
Could Counsaile, I haue practiz'd; but alas
I find all these but dreames, and old mens tales
To flight vnsteedy youth; I'me still the same,
Or I must speake, or burst; tis not I know,
My lust; but tis my fare that leads me on.
Keepe feare and low faint hearted shame with slaues,
Ile tell her, that I loue her, though my heart
Were rated at the price of that attempt.
Oh me! she comes.
Enter Anna and Putana.
Anna.
Brother.
Gio.
If such a thing
As Courage dwell in men, (yee heauenly powers)
Now double all that vertue in my tongue.
Anna.
Why Brother, will you not speake to me?
Gio.
Yes; how d'ee Sister?
Anna.
Howsoeuer I am, me thinks you are not well.
Put.
Blesse vs why are you so sad Sir.
Gio.
Let me intreat you leaue vs awhile, Putana,
Sister, I would be pryuate with you.
Anna.
With-drawe Putana.
Put.
I will,
If this were any other Company for her, I should thinke my absence
an office of some credit, but I will leaue them together.
Gio.
Come Sister lend your hand, let's walke together.
I hope you neede not blush to walke with mee,
Here's none but you and I.
Anna.
How's this?
Gio.
Faith I meane no harme.
Anna.
Harme?
Gio.
No good faith; how ist with'ee?
Anna.
I trust hee be not franticke—
Gio.
Trust me but I am sicke, I feare so sick,
'Twill cost my life.
Anna.
Mercy forbid it: 'tis not so I hope.
Gio.
I thinke you loue me Sister.
Anna.
Yes you know, I doe.
Gio.
I know't indeed—y'are very faire.
Anna.
Nay then I see you haue a merry sicknesse.
Gio.
That's as it proues: they Poets faigne (I read)
That Iuno for her forehead did exceede
All other goddesses: but I durst sweare,
Your forehead exceeds hers, as hers did theirs.
Anna.
Troth this is pretty.
Gio.
Such a paire of starres
As are thine eyes, would (like Promethean fire.)
(If gently glaun'st) giue life to senselesse stones.
Anna.
Fie vpon'ee,
Gio.
The Lilly and the Rose most sweetly strainge,
Vpon your dimpled Cheekes doe striue for change.
Such lippes would tempt a Saint; such hands as those
Would make an Anchoret Lasciuious.
Anna.
D'ee mock mee, or flatter mee,
Gio.
If you would see a beauty more exact
Then Art can counter fit, or nature frame,
Looke in your glasse, and there behold your owne.
Anna.
O you are a trime youth.
Gio.
Here.
Offers his Dagger to her.
Anna.
What to doe.
Gio.
And here's my breast, strick home.
Rip vp my bosome, there thou shalt behold
A heart, in which is writ the truth I speake.
Why stand'ee?
Anna.
Are you earnest?
Gio.
Yes most earnest.
You cannot loue?
Anna.
Whom?
Gio.
Me, my tortur'd soule
Hath felt affliction in the heate of Death.
O Annabella I am quite vndone,
Of thy immortall beauty hath vntun'd
All harmony both of my rest and life,
Why d'ee not strike?
Anna.
Forbid it my iust feares,
If this be true, 'twere fitter I were dead.
Gio.
True Annabella; 'tis no time to iest,
I haue too long supprest the hidden flames
That almost haue consum'd me; I haue spent
Many a silent night in sighes and groanes,
Ran ouer all my thoughts, despis'd my Fate,
Reason'd against the reasons of my loue,
Done all that smooth'd-cheeke Vertue could aduise,
But found all bootelesse; 'tis my destiny,
That you must eyther loue, or I must dye.
Anna.
Comes this in sadnesse from you?
Gio,
Let some mischiefe
Befall me soone, if I dissemble ought.
Anna.
You are my brother Giouanni.
Gio.
You,
My Sister Annabella; I know this:
And could afford you instance why to loue
So much the more for this; to which intent
Wise Nature first in your Creationment
To make you mine: else 't had beene sinne and foule,
To share one beauty to a double soule.
Neerenesse in birth or blood, doth but perswade
A neerer neerenesse in affection.
I haue askt Counsell of the holy Church,
Who tells mee I may loue you, and 'tis iust,
That since I may, I should; and will, yee will:
Must I now liue, or dye?
Anna.
Liue, thou hast wonne
The field, and neuer fought; what thou hast vrg'd,
My captiue heart had long agoe resolu'd.
I blush to tell thee, (but I'le tell thee now)
For euery sigh that thou hast spent for me,
And not so much for that I lou'd, as that
I durst not say I lou'd; uor scarcely thinke it.
Gio.
Let not this Musicke be a dreame (yee gods)
For pittie's-sake I begge 'ee.
Anna.
On my knees,
She kneeles.
Brother, euen by our Mothers dust, I charge you,
Doe not betray mee to your mirth or hate,
Loue mee, or kill me Brother.
Gio.
On my knees,
He kneeles.
Sister, euen by my Mothers dust I charge you,
Doe not betray mee to your mirth or hate,
Loue mee, or kill mee Sister.
Anna.
You meane good sooth then?
Gio.
In good troth I doe,
And so doe you I hope: say, I'm in earnest:
Anna.
I'le swear't and I.
Gio.
And I, and by this kisse,
Kisses her.
(Once more, yet once more, now let's rise, by this)
I would not change this minute for Elyzium,
What must we now doe?
Anna.
What you will.
Gio.
Come then,
After so many teares as wee haue wept,
Let's learne to court in smiles. to kisse and sleepe.
Exeunt.
Enter Florio and Donado.
Flo.
Signior Donado, you haue sayd enough,
I vnderstand you, but would haue you know,
I will not force my Daughter 'gainst her will.
You see I haue but two, a Sonne and Her;
And hee is so deuoted to his Booke,
As I must tell you true, I doubt his health:
Should he miscarry, all my hopes rely
Vpon my Girle; as for worldly Fortune,
I am I thanke my Starres, blest with enough:
My Care is how to match her to her liking,
I would not haue her marry Wealth, but Loue,
And if she like your Nephew, let him haue her,
Do.
Sir you say well,
Like a true father, and for my part, I
If the young folkes can like, (twixt you and me)
Will promise to assure my Nephew presently,
Three thousand Florrens yeerely during life,
And after I am dead, my whole estate.
Flo.
'Tis a faire proffer sir, meane time your Nephew
Shall haue free passage to commence his suite;
If hee can thriue, hee shall haue my consent,
So for this time I'le leaue you Signior.
Exit.
Do.
Well,
Here's hope yet, if my Nephew would haue wit,
But hee is such another Dunce, I feare
Hee'le neuer winne the Wench; when I was young
I could haue done't yfaith, and so shall hee
If hee will learne of mee; and in good time
Hee comes himselfe.
Enter Bergetto and Poggio.
Pog.
How now Bergetto, whether away so fast?
Ber.
Oh Vnkle, I haue heard the strangest newes that euer
came out of the Mynt, haue I not Poggio?
Pog.
Yes indeede Sir.
Do.
What newes Bergetto?
Ber.
Why looke yee Vnkle? my Barber told me iust now
that there is a fellow come to Towne, who vndertakes to make
a Mill goe without the mortall helpe of any water or winde,
onely with Sand-bags: and this fellow hath a strange Horse, a
most excellent beast, I'le assure you Vnkle, (my Barber sayes)
whose head to the wonder of all Christian people, stands iust behind
where his tayle is, is't not true Poggio?
Pog.
So the Barber swore forsooth.
Do.
And you are running hither?
Ber.
I forsooth Vnkle.
Do.
Wilt thou be a Foole stil? come sir, you shall not goe,
you haue more mind of a Puppet-play, then on the businesse I
told y'ee: why thou great Baby, wu't neuer haue wit, wu't
make thy selfe a May-game to all the world?
Pog.
Answere for your selfe Maister.
Why Vnkle, shu'd I sit at home still, and not goe abroad
to see fashions like other gallants?
Do.
To see hobby-horses: what wise talke I pray had you
with Annabella, when you were at Signior Florio's house?
Ber.
Oh the wench: vds sa'me, Vnkle; I tickled her with a
rare speech, that I made her almost burst her belly with laughing.
Do.
Nay I thinke so, and what speech was't?
Ber.
What did I say Poggio?
Pog.
Forsooth my Maister said, that hee loued her almost aswell
as hee loued Parmasent, and swore (I'le be sworne for him)
that shee wanted but such a Nose as his was, to be as pretty a
young woeman, as any was in Parma.
Do.
Oh grose!
Ber.
Nay Vnkle, then shee ask't mee, whether my Father had
any more children then my selfe: and I sayd no, 'twere better
hee should haue had his braynes knockt out first.
Do.
This is intolerable.
Ber.
Then sayd shee, will Signior Donado your Vnkle leaue
you all his wealth?
Do.
Ha! that was good, did she harpe vpon that string?
Ber.
Did she harpe vpon that string, I that she did: I answered,
leaue me all his wealth? why woeman, hee hath no other
wit, if hee had, he should heare on't to his euerlasting glory and
confusion: I know (quoth I) I am his white boy, and will not
reguld; and with that she fell into a great smile, and went away.
Nay I did fit her.
Do.
Ah sirrah, then I see there is no changing of nature,
Well Bergetto, I feare thou wilt be a very Asse still.
Ber.
I should be sorry for the Vnkle.
Do.
Come, come you home with me, since you are no better
a speaker, I'le haue you write to her after some courtly manner,
and inclose some rich Iewell in the Letter.
Ber.
I marry, that will be excellent.
Do.
Peace innocent,
Once in my time I'le set my wits to schoole,
If all faile, 'tis but the fortune of a foole.
Ber.
Poggio, 'twill doe Poggio.
Exeunt.
| 'Tis Pitty Shee's a Whore | |