The Costlie Whore A Comicall Historie, Acted by the companie of the Revels |
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| 4. | Actus quartus. |
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 | The Costlie Whore |  |
Actus quartus.
Enter Duke, Montano, Valentia, Hatto and Alfred, Drumme, Colours and Souldiers.Duke.
Our anger long agoe, renowned Lords,
Is satisfied in faire Valentias loue.
Behold our proud sonne and these traiterous crew,
That dares confront us in the field of Mars.
Valen.
You haue been too patient, my beloved Lord,
In calming these tumultuous jarring spirits:
Scourge them with steele, and make the proudest know,
Tis more then death to haue their Prince their foe.
Mon.
Bloody constraints beseemes where dutie failes,
And Oratory ceasing, force prevailes.
Hat.
Peace would doe better, so it pleas'd your sonne.
Fred.
In her allurements first begun,
Banish her from the land, and Ile resigne.
Duk.
Learne thine owne dutie traitor, I know mine.
Albert.
Then there's no banishment.
Duk.
None but by death.
Thy head is forfeit for that daring breath.
Alfred.
Submit degenerate and presumptuous Lord.
Albert.
When we are ignorant to weild a sword.
Fred.
Never shall noble knee bend to this ground,
As long as that vile strumpet liveth crownd.
Duk.
I cannot stay to heare my loue deprau'd,
In few words is it peace, or shall we fight,
Till our deepe wounds shall dampe the heavenly light,
Make the ayre purple with the reaking gore.
Fre.
Fight whilst life serues you, we will nere giue ore,
The grasse greene pauement shall be drownd in blood,
And yet Ile wade to kill her in the flood.
Duke.
Alarum Drum, madnesse is on their side,
All vertuous counsell is by them defied.
Death most assur'd to those that loue their shame.
Alarum, fight lustily and driue away the Duke Fredericke pursues Valentia, over the stage, and takes her, a Retreate sounded.
Enter at one doore the Duke, Mon. Hatto, and Alfred with Drums and Colours. Enter at the other doore Fredericke, leading Valentia prisoner, Rinaldo and Alberto with Drum and Colours.
Duke.
Why doe traitors sound retreat so soone?
Fred.
Behold the cause.
Duke.
Valentia prisoner?
Fred.
The firebrand of this tumultuous warre,
The originall from whence your subjects bloud
Flowes in abundance of this spatious play.
Valen.
And what of all this?
Fred.
That thy lifes too meane
To satisfie the unworthiest of the Campe,
For the effusion of a loyall drop.
Duk.
Meanes Fredericke then to kill his fathers heart,
In faire Valentia's death?
Fred.
Not touch your hand, other
Then humble as becomes a sonne:
But shee shall suffer for enchanting you.
Valen.
I am a Dutchesse, set my ransome downe.
Fred.
A Dutchesse! whence proceeds that borowed name?
Of what continuance? scarcely hath the Sunne
Beheld thy pride a day, but doth decline,
Shaming to view a crowned Concubine.
Duke.
In mine owne honour Fredericke,
I command thou set a ransome on Valentia.
Fred.
What honor's that? your Dukedomes interest?
Your princely birth? your honourable fame?
All these are blemisht with a strumpets name.
Be not so cruell to bereaue her life,
'Twill draw upon thee a perpetuall scar:
Thy fathers curse, and a continuall warre.
Duke.
Oh doe not threaten, Fredericke is so mild,
He will not proue such a degenerate child:
I cannot blame him tho' hee rise in armes,
'Twas not in hate to me, but in disdaine,
That I should sell my royaltie so vaine,
But did he know the value of the iem,
Hee would not crase it for a Dyadem:
That shee was common her owne words approue,
But many faults are cover'd where men loue,
As thou respects my blessing and good dayes,
Restore her Fredericke and augment her prayse.
Fred.
Restore her?
Albert.
Never.
Duke.
Albert Thou wert kind and I ne're wrong'd thee,
Doe not change thy minde.
Hat.
You doe abase your honour to intreate.
Duke.
How can I choose my affection is so great.
Alfred.
Your power is strong, the enemy is but weake.
Duke.
In her destruction all my powers will breake,
As thou dost hope of kindnesse in thy choyse,
If ere thou loue, giue eare unto my voice,
Turne not aside thy eye, the feares I feele,
Makes me to bow where tis thy part to kneele:
Loe vassailelike, laying aside command,
I humbly craue this favour at thy hand,
Let me haue my beloved, and take my state,
My life I undervalue to that rate:
Craue any thing that in my power doth lye,
Tis thine, so faire Valentia may not dye.
Fred.
My soule is griev'd, and it appals my blood,
To see my father pusseld in such mood:
Yet shall shee dye, Ile doe as I haue said
With mine hand, Ile chop off the Stumpets head.
Kill her my Lord, or let me haue the honour.
Duke.
Tigers would saue her, if they lookt upon her,
Shee is so beautifull, so heavenly bright,
That shee would make them loue her for the sight,
Thou art more rude then such if thou proceede,
In the execution of so vilde a deede:
Remember one thing, I did never loue,
Till thou my Frederick broughtst that fatall Gloue:
That and the Owners name thou didst descry,
Onely for that cause let not my loue dye.
Fred.
O gods!
Duke.
Cannot my kneeling serue, my teares prevaile,
When all helpes faile mee, yet this will not faile:
Proffer thy weapon to her beauteous side,
And with her heart, my heart I will divide:
Intreaty Ile urge none more then are past:
And either now relent or heres my last.
Fred.
Stay, if I should relent; will you agree,
To signe our generall pardon presently?
Duke.
By heaven I doe, I freely pardon all,
And a reward I giue in generall.
Fred.
Then take her, you deserue her were shee better,
Making your Crowne and life to be her Debter.
Duke.
Welcome a thousand times, welcome sweete wife:
Never more deare then now, I haue sould thy life.
Valen.
This more then kindnesse I turne backe to you,
Doubling my chast vow to bee ever true.
Fred.
Then here the warres end, are our fightings marde:
Yet by your leaue Ile stand upon my Guard.
Duke.
Take any course you please, Citie, or Towne,
My royall word Ile keepe by this my Crowne.
Fred.
Then thus Ile take my leaue.
Duke.
Since we must part,
Farewell my Sonne, all farewell with my heart.
Exeunt Fred. and his.
Mon.
Twas well my Lord, 'twas a good policie,
To be thus overrulde by a proud Sonne.
Duke.
Why thinke you he intends some treachery?
Mon.
Why not, and did release Valentia.
To blind your eyes; hee that could be so proud,
To rise in armes against his naturall Father,
Hath courage to doe more when he sees time.
Duke.
But I haue pardon'd that offence by oath.
Mon.
It were uo periury to make him know,
Hee is your Sonne, and sonnes a dutie owe:
This sequestration will in time aspire,
Vnto a flame shall set your Realme on fire:
Warre when a Subiect hath the meanes of will,
'Tis not enough to say he has no will.
For will is alter'd by the place and time,
And hee that's once up, knowes the way to clime:
I speake perchance like a prophetique foole,
But these are wise can counsaile, with your bride
Wisedome adviseth timely to provide.
Duke.
What thinkes my loue of Frederickes reconcilement?
Valen.
That he has spirit enough to be a traytor:
But I am beholding to him for a life,
And he may brag he gaue your grace a wife:
A good old man, he could not choose but feele,
For shame some small remorse, to see you kneele,
Pray God he gaue me not into your hand,
That he might be the ruine of your land.
Duke.
Thinkes my loue so? but brothers what's your censure?
Hat.
I am no Polititian.
Alfred.
Neither I.
Wee are both content to liue quietly.
Duke.
Hee may be a villaine tho' he be my Sonne.
Mon.
Why not, and worke your ruine like a foe;
Had he meant well, why did he leaue you so?
Your noble heart was free from all deceipt,
But hee's retirde to doe some dangerous feate,
They haue some plot in hand and they will do't.
Duke.
What course is readiest to prevent such mischiefe?
Mon.
Plucke up the fulsome thistle in the prime;
Young trees bend lightly but grow strong in time:
Were I the worthiest to advise your honour,
You should pursue him with your spredding bands,
Swifter in march then is the lightning flame,
And take him tardy whilst his plots are tame;
Now to charge on his army questionlesse,
Would driue them all into a great distresse,
If not confound them, having tane your Sonne,
You may be as kind, and doe as hee hath done:
So shall he know himselfe, and be lesse proud.
Valen.
The counsailes good.
Duke.
And it shall be allowed.
You that doe loue me, see the host prepar'd,
To scare those traytors that our liues haue scarde:
Our armie's many, but their power is free;
Besides they are traytors, all with us are true:
Sound Drums and trumpets, make the world rebound,
Hearten our friends, and all our foes confound.
Alarum.
Exeunt.
Enter Montano with two or three Souldiers. Vandarmas. leading Fredericke bound.
Fred.
Base cowards, traytors, how am I surprizde
With these bonds? I am a Prince by birth,
And princely spirits disdaine such clogs of earth;
Let goe you slaues.
Mon.
First know your fathers pleasure.
Fred.
You are too bold.
Mon.
But you shall keepe a measure.
Fred.
Thou blood of common Concubines must I,
Be bound by thee, and heire of Saxony?
It is our pleasure.
Enter Duke and Valen.
Valen.
Haue you caught him so?
Now shall you waite the mercy we will shew:
I was too base to be your fathers wife.
Duke.
But he shall sue to thee to saue his life.
Fred.
Periurde, ungratefull, unnaturall,
Is this the Pardon given in generall.
Duke.
Wee'l talke of that hereafter, make him fast.
Valen.
Helpe Uandermas, our selfe will ayding be,
To keepe in awe such senselesse trechery.
Duke.
My helpe and all to prison there till death,
Remaine in duresse.
Fred.
Rather stop my breath,
Strangle me with these cords, prison to me
Is twenty deaths, I will haue liberty:
Now as you are a father be more kind,
You did not find me in so sterne a mind:
And you forgetfull of the life I sav'd:
Shall a Dukes Sonne by treason thus be slau'd?
If you suspect my loue, grant me the fight,
I dare in single combate any knight,
Any adventurer, any pandorus hinde,
To proue my faith of an unfained mind.
Duke.
Away with him.
Fred.
I see my death's set downe,
And some adulterous heire must weare that Crowne:
To intreate a Rodophe, I had rather dye,
Then haue my life lodg'd in such infamy:
If all my fortunes on her words depend,
Let her say kill me, and so make an end.
Duke.
Why stay you?
Vander.
Good my Lord.
Fred.
Peace untaught Groome:
My heart's so great that Ide forerun my doome:
There's no release meant, you haue vowed I see,
To dam your soules by wilfull periury.
To die is naturall, 'tis a death I owe,
And I will pay it with a minde as free,
As I enioyed in my best libertie.
But this assure your selfe, when all is done,
They'l kill the father, that will kill the sonne.
Exit.
Duke.
What's to be done now?
Mon.
Seale unto his death;
Your warrant nere the sooner takes effect:
'Twill be a meanes to make him penitent,
And pardon's meet for such as doe repent.
Seeing his fault, hee'l taste your mercie best,
When now he proudly thinkes he is opprest.
Duke.
A Warrant shall be sign'd, and unto thee
I doe commend it: deale not partially,
If he be sorry, and in true remorse
Cancell the Writ, else let it haue full force.
Had I ten sonnes, as I haue onely this,
They should all die ere thou depriv'd of blisse:
So great is my affection, my faire wife,
That to saue thine Ide frankly giue my life.
Come, weele about it strait, all time seemes long,
Where thou hast found flight cause to feare my wrong.
Valen.
That writ Ile take, and a conclusion trie,
If he can loue he liues, if hate me, die.
For howsoere I seeme to scorne the man,
Hee's somewhat deare in my affection.
Here comes your brothers.
Enter Alfred and Hatto.
Alfred.
May it please your grace,
By chance entring into Saint Maries Church
This morne by breake of day, I espied
That that I know will vexe your Excellence:
Your daughter Euphrata is married
To the ambitious beggar Constantine.
Duk.
My daughter married my Chamber-squire!
Your Excellence did banish me the land,
Because I did suspect her with that fellow.
Duke.
He shall be tortur'd with th'extreamest plague
For his presumption—Haue you brought them,
That I may kill them with a killing looke.
Hat.
Without direction we haue ventured to lay upon them
Your strict command, and they attend.
Duke.
Bring the presumptuous.
Enter Constantine and Euphrata, Otho following in disguise.
Euphr.
Forward Constantine, our Rites are done,
Thou art my husband: doe not feare his eye,
The worst it can import is but to die.
Duke.
Base and degenerate.
Euphr.
He is a Gentleman,
'Twas base in you to wed a Curtizan.
Mon.
Her brothers spirit right, bold and audacious.
Euph.
Then I am no bastard, wherefore should I feare,
The knot is sacred, and I hold it deare.
I am wedded unto vertue, not to will,
Such blessed unions never bring forth ill.
If I offend in disobedience,
Iudge of the power of loue by your offence.
Father, you haue no reason for this ire,
Frowne whilst you kill us, desire is desire.
Duke.
A Curtezan? hath that ambitious boy
Taught you such Rethoricke? you shall taste like joy.
I will not reason with you, words are vaine,
The fault is best discerned in the paine.
Your hastie marriage hath writ downe his death,
And thy proud words shall seale it with thy breath.
By what is dearest to mee, here I sweare,
Both of your heads shall grace a fatall beere:
Take them to prison, Ile not heare a word,
This is the mercie that we will afford,
Since they are growne so proud, next morne begun,
Con.
Short and sweet, Euphrata, the doome is faire,
We shall be soone in heaven, there ends my care.
I scorne entreatie, and my deare I know,
All such slavery thou hatest so.
'Twill be a famous deed for this good man
To kill all's children for a Curtezan.
Euph.
Wilt thou die with me?
Const.
Would I liue in heaven?
Thou art now too high for me, death makes us even.
Eup.
Looke to your dukedome, those that hast our fall,
Haue by their avarice almost hurried all.
There's a whole Register of the poores crie,
Whilst they are reading them, imbrace and die.
Flings downe her lap full of Petitions.
Duke.
Beare them away.
Exeunt Euph. and Constant.
And now let's reade these Writes.
What's here? complaints against my worthy brothers,
For corne transported, Copper money stampt,
Our subjects goods ceaz'd, and I know not what.
A plague upon this busie-headed rabble,
We will haue tortures made to awe the slaues,
Peace makes them ever proud, and malapert.
They'l be an Overseer of the State.
Valen.
And plead reformation to depose you.
Duk.
True my faire Dutchesse, but Ile cut them short.
Rule still deare brothers: take these to the fire,
Let me reade somewhat that augments desire,
Authors and golden Poems full of loue,
Such the Petitions are that I approue:
So I may liue in quiet with my wife,
Let fathers, mothers, children, all lose life,
If thou haue issue, in despight of fate,
They shall succeed in our Imperiall state.
Come sweet to dauncing, then to sport and play,
Till we haue ruled all our life away.
Exeunt.
Otho.
O pittifull condition of a Realme,
Where the chiefe ruler is ore-rul'd by pleasure,
Seeing my friend surpriz'd in this disguise,
I followed him to meete the consequence:
And to my griefe I see his marriage rites
Will cut him short of all this earths delights.
What's that to mee, when Constantine is dead,
I have some hope to attaine her Nuptiall bed.
But shee is doom'd as well as hee to die,
Can the Duke act his daughters Tragedie.
It is impossible, he will relent,
And Ile perswade her freely to repent.
Yet 'tis most likelie that he will agree
He is so farre spent in vild tyrannie.
The commons hate him for the wrong he hath done,
(By his brothers meanes) the Nobles for his sonne.
Famine spreads through the land, the people die,
Yet he lives senselesse of their miserie.
Never were subiects more mislead by any,
Nor ever Soveraigne hated by so many.
But Constantine, to thee I cast an eye,
Shall all our friendship end in enmitie?
Shall I that ever held thee as my life,
Hasten thy death, that I may get thy wife,
Or love or friendship, whether shall exceed,
Ile explaine your vertue in this following deed.
Exit.
Enter Ualentia, Montano and Uandermas.
Va.
Have you the instruments I gave in charge?
Uand,
Wee have.
Val.
And resolution fitting for the purpose?
Mon.
All things are ready with our faithfull hearts.
Val.
And she that undertakes so great an act,
As I intend, had need of faithfull hearts,
This is the prison, and the jaylor comes
In happy time, where's trayterous Frederick?
Jaylor.
What is your highnesse pleasure with the Prince?
Val.
Looke there if you can reade?
Iai.
O heavenly God, what doe I read, a warrant for his death?
Valen.
Resigne your keyes, goe weepe a dirge or twaine,
But make no clamour with your lamentation.
Iay.
I dare not prophesie what my soule feares.
Yet Ile lament his tragedie in teares.
Exit.
Ualen.
Oft have I seene a Nobleman arraign'd,
By mighty Lords the pillars of the land,
Some of which number his inclined friends,
Have wept, yet past the verdict of his death,
So fares it with the Prince, were I his jaylor,
And so affected unto Fredericks life,
The fearefull'st tyrant, nor the cruelst plagues,
That ever lighted on tormented soules,
Should make me yeeld my prisoner to their hands.
Mon.
Madam, he knowes his dutie and performes it,
Ualen.
Setting aside all dutie, I would die,
Ere like a woman weepe a tragedie.
Tis basenesse, cowardize, dutie? ô slave,
Had I a friend, I'de dye in my friends grave.
But it sorts well for us, Hindes will be Hindes,
And the Ambitious tread upon such mindes,
Waite whilest I call you in the jaylors house.
Mon.
We will.
Exeunt Uan. and Mon.
Enter Fred.
Valen.
My Lord, Prince Fredericke.
Fred.
Wofull Fredericke,
Were a beseeming Epitaph for me,
The other tastes of too much soveraigntie.
What, is it you? the glory of the stewes.
Valen.
Thy mother Fredericke.
Fred.
I detest that name,
My mother was a Dutches of true fame,
And now I think upon her when she died,
I was ordain'd to be indignified,
To the destruction of his loving sonne.
Oh she was vertuous, trulie naturall,
But this step-divell doth promise our fall.
Val.
Why doest thou raile on me? I am come
To set thee free from all imprisonment.
Fred.
By what true supersedeas, but by death,
If it be so, come strike me to the earth,
Thou needest no other weapon but thine eye,
Tis full of poyson, fixe it and Ile die.
Val.
Vncharitable youth, I am no serpent venom'd,
No basiliske to kill thee with my sight.
Fre.
Then thou speakst death, I am sorry I mistooke,
They both are fatall, there's but little choice,
The first inthral'd my father, the last me,
No deadlier swords ever vs'd enemie,
My lot's the best, that I dye with the sound,
But he lives dying in a death profound.
I grow too bitter being so neere my end,
Speake quickly, boldly, what your thoughts intend.
Ualen.
Behold this warrant, you can reade it well.
Fred.
But you the interpretation best can tell:
Speake beauteous ruine, twere great iniurie,
That he should read the sentence that must dye.
Val.
Then know in briefe, 'tis your fathers pleasue
Fred.
His pleasure, what?
Val.
That you must loose your life.
Fred.
Fatall is his pleasure, 'tis to please his wife,
I prethee tell me, didst thou ever know,
A Father pleas'd, his sonne to murder so?
For what is't else, but murder at the best,
The guilt whereof will gnawe him in his brest,
Torment him living, and when I am dead,
Curse thee, by whose plot I was murdered?
I have seene the like example, but ô base,
Why doe I talke with one of thy disgrace:
Where are the officers? I have liv'd too long,
Val.
That is thy fathers hand, thou dost not doubt?
And if thou shouldst I have witnesse to approve it,
Yet tho it be his hand, grant to my request,
Love me, and live.
Fred.
To live so I detest, love thee?
Valen.
I, love me, gentle Fredericke, love me.
Fred.
Incestuous strumpet cease.
Ual.
Oh thou dealest ill,
To render so much spleene for my good will.
Fred.
Torment farre worse then death.
Ualen.
Ile follow thee,
Deare Fredericke like thy face be thy words faire.
Fre.
This monstrous dealing doubles my deaths care
Valen.
What shall I call thee to allay this ire?
Fred.
Why call me son, and blush at thy desire.
Valen.
I never brought thee foorth.
Fred.
Art thou not wife unto my father?
Val.
Thinke upon thy life,
It lyes like mine, onely in gentle breath,
Or that thy father's dead, and after death,
'Tis in my choice to marry whom I will.
Fred.
Any but me.
Ualen.
O doe not thinke so ill,
Rather thinke thou art a stranger not his sonne,
Then 'tis no incest tho the Act be done,
Nature unto her selfe is too unkind,
To buzze such scruples into Fredericks minde,
Twas a device of man to avoid selfe love,
Else every pleasure in one stocke should move,
Beautie in grace part never from the kinne.
Fred.
If thou persever as thou hast begun,
I shall forget I am my fathers sonne,
I shall forget thou art my fathers wife,
And where 'tis I must die, abridge thy life.
Valen.
Why did'st not kill me being thy prisoner then,
But friendly didst deliver me a jemme?
Fred.
Beyond all sufferance, monster thou dost move me,
'Twas for my fathers sake, not for thine owne,
That to thy lifes losse, thou hadst throughly knowne,
But that relenting nature playde hor part,
To save thy blood, whose losse had slaine his heart,
And it repents me not hee doth surviue.
But that his fortune was so ill to wive,
Come kill, for, for that you came; shun delayes,
Lest living, Ile tell this to thy dispraise,
Make him to hate thee, as he hath iust cause,
And like a strumpet turne thee to the lawes.
Valen.
Good Fredericke.
Fred.
Tis resolu'd on, I have said.
Valen.
Then fatall Ministers I crave your ayde.
Enter Uan. and Mont.
Come Vandermas, Montano, wheres your corde?
Quicklie dispatch, strangle this hatefull Lord,
Or stay, because I loue him, he shall chuse,
The easiest of three deaths that we may vse,
The halter, poyson or bloodshedding blade.
Fred.
Any of them.
Ualen.
This Aconite's well made, a cup of poyson,
Stuft with dispatching simples, give him this,
And he shall quickly leave all earthly blisse.
There, take it Fredericke, our last gift of grace,
Since thou must die, Ile have thee die apace.
Fred.
O happie meanes given by a trecherous hand
To be my true guide to the heavenly land.
Death steales upon me like a silken sleepe,
Through every vaine doe leaden rivers flowe,
The gentlest poyson that I ever knewe,
To worke so coldly, yet to be so true,
Like to an infant patiently I goe,
Out of this vaine world, from all worldly woe,
Thankes to the meanes, tho they deserve no thankes,
My soule beginnes t'ore-flow these fleshly bankes,
My death I pardon unto her and you,
Valen.
Ha, ha, ha.
he falls asleepe.
Mon.
Hee's dead, why does your highnesse laugh?
Valen.
Why Lord Montano, that I love to see,
He that hath sav'd my life, to die for me.
But there's a riddle in this Princes death,
And Ile explaine it on this floore of earth.
Come, to his sisters execution goe,
We have varietie of ioyes in woe,
I am sure you have heard his Excellence did sweare,
Both of their heads should grace a Kingly beare,
Vpon a mourning hearse let him be layd,
He shalbe intombed with a wived maid.
Exeunt.
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