 | The Amorous Fantasme |  |
9
ACTUS PRIMUS.
SCENA PRIMA.
Carlos, Clarina, in a street.Carlos.
Art sure of it, Clarina? is it possible
That Isabella now is sensible
Of what I suffer for her, and resents
In my behalfe the fire which her faire eyes
Have kindled in my heart?
Clarina.
Sir, I assure you,
Tis an undoubted truth, which I receiv'd
From her owue mouth.
Carlos.
I'm much astonished
10
Clarina.
For my parte,
I wonder that you are astonish'd at it:
Is it so great, a miracle, I pray you,
To see a Mayd to chaung? we have a mind
Alternatelie to turne love into hatred,
Or hatred into love, such an effect
As this so common in our Sex, should not
Seeme strang unto you: Isabella. is
Of age sufficient to feele the effect
Both of the fire she kindles, and o'th' evill
Which she procures; the end, Sir, of her coldnes
Should not surprise you: who gives love, can easilie
Take it againe; and when a young heart never
Hath loved any thing, at the first fire
That spatkles, tis inflam'd; my Mistresse is
As sensible as faire; you will be happie,
If you are faithfull.
Carlos.
But com'st thou by her order?
Clarina.
To speak truelie,
She willed me to speak as from my selfe;
But, Sir, your goodnes is a gage that makes me
To tell you all, tis by her expresse order
That I have uttered this secret to you
Of such importance; but you must be silent
And discreet, if yov'll profit by the knowledge.
Carlos.
But may I not at least acquaint her brother
With my good fortune? he is bound by friendship
To favour me, and I should doe him wrong
To disguise any thing to him.
11
Oh! Sir,
That's it my Mistresse, dreadeth, believe me,
Above all things: so farre you must be from
Acquainting him therewith, that you should feare
Least he might have the least suspition of it:
Know you not yet that her inhumane Father,
Will not permit her to give you her hand,
That to uphould the splendour of his house,
He'll rayse his Sonne unto his Daughters cost,
And, (as tis often practis'd now a dayes)
To th'one designes his goods, and to the other
A Monasterie?
Carlos.
I know well that her Father
Hath fuch a purpose, but though he be of
A nature so inhumane, sure, her brother
Is not so barbarous: we are tyed together
By such faire bonds of friendship, that I know
He'll mix his interests with mine.
Clarina.
If I
May frelie speak my thoughts here, I must tel you
That interest can break the strongest bonds,
That commonlie men better keep their wealth
Then their fidelitie, and that there is
No friend which they love equall with themselves
Be sure you trust no person now a dayes,
Daunger still followes too much confidence:
The lesse a good is knowne, the sweeter tis:
Lastly Sir, keepe your secretts to your selfe,
My Mistresse doth desire it.
Corlos.
Oh! Clarina,
It is ynough, there is no reason more
12
Obey without dispute; the name of Friend
Must yeild to that of Lover; but shall I
See our faire Mistresse by thy meanes this evening?
Clarina.
Sir, it is verie late.
Carlos.
I know thy skill.
And thou know'st—
puts gould in her hand.
Clarina.
Yes, your liberalities.
I'le goe t'advertise her, as you desire,
And presentlie returne, if you will stay,
Either to bring you up, or to persuade her
To come downe to you.—
Exit Clarina.
Carlos alone.
Carlos.
Oh how sweet it is
To mollifie a hard and cruell heart!
How charming is Love, when tis mutuall?
what high content, what extasie of joy
Feels a poore captive in his troubles, when
The hand that tames him, helpes to beare his chaines?
A good gain'd easilie is not esteem'd:
The more it costs, the more tis pretious:
Although th'Horizon's covered with darknes,
I easilie discerne the dore to open;
Doubtles, tis Isabella, I'le advaunce.
SCENA SECUNDA.
Carlos, Fabritio.Carlos.
My happines is greater then I dar'd
13
By what soe'r indeavour I can use,
The fullnss of my passion and my joy.
Fabritio.
Deare friend, I doe beseech thee let us leave
Vaine complements, I know shy goodnes for me.
Carlos.
Good God! how I'm confounded! tis her brother
Fabritio.
—aside.
Fabritio.
Thou knowest then, it seemes,
How highlie fortune is propitious to me,
My marsiage is concluded and agreed,
And thou com'st without doubt to wish me joy.
Carlos.
Friend—
Fabritio.
I'm certaine, it is this that brings thee hether:
Thou wilt congratulate my happines.
Carlos.
How readie, and ingenious he is
To draw me out of trouble?
—aside
Fabritio.
Thou comes to take part in my ravishment.
Carlos.
Thou should'st doe me a great wrong, to judge otherwise.
Fabritio.
Know then that our desires did jump together:
I was a going hastilie unto thee
To tell thee the glad newes, I did believe
Thou knew'st it not, and did not thinke to be
Prevented, I am highlie redovable
To thy rare friendship.
Carlos.
I doe nothing for thee
That is considerable, my interest
14
To thanke me for it.
Fabritio.
How! what interest
Canst thou have in this place?
Carlos.
The same which friendship
Enjoyneth me to take in thy contents.
Betweene two faithfull friends, such as we are,
Everie thing should be common, joy and happines
Possesseth both, when one of them enjoyes it.
Know when I beare a part in thy good fortune,
I more oblige my selfe then thee, and am
So well paid for my care and tendernes,
That there needs no addition of thanks.
Fabritio.
Know also of my part when Fortune doth
Conferre her favours on me, they are dubled
When Carlos shares therein, and would diminish
If he should not partake them; but who comes
So late forth of our house?
SCENA TERTIA.
Clarina, Fabritio, Carlos.Clarina addressing her selfe to Fabritio thinking to speake to Carlos.
Clarina.
Sir, enter quicklie;
My Mistresse Isabella in her chamber
Expecteth you and will.—
Fabritio.
How, what will she?
15
Misfortune! tis Fabritio, I must
Dissemble.
—aside.
Fabritio.
Well, what will she, finish now.
Clarina.
Sir, she would speak with you,
T'expresse the joy whereto her love engageth her
On the conclusion of your marriage.
Fabritio.
I know her tendernes, and what I owe her;
Carlos and I will see her presentlie
To give her a good night.
SCENA QUARTA.
Climene, Iacinta, Carlos, Fabritio.Climene comming out of her house.
Climene.
It is Fabritios voice this which I heare,
I cannot come forth in a fitter time.
Carlos.
I willinglie waite on you, your desires
Are mine, you need not doubt them—
to Fabritio.
Fabritio.
Let us enter.
Carlos.
How this successe favoureth my flame!
—aside
Fabritio stopped by Climeme.
Fabritio.
But who doth stop me? Heaven! it is a Woman.
It seemes she Would speak with me Carlos stay.
Carlos.
I waite you heere.
16
How comes it she withdrawes
When I advaunce?
Carlos.
Withour doubt she hath something
To speak to you in private.
Fabritio.
In the hope
Wherein I am that I am he you seek,
Be not offended that I dare t'approach:
I've courage and civilitie ynough
T'esteeme me fortunare if I could serve you:
T'engage me, Madame, to the offer which
I make to use my utmost cares and paines
T'accomplish your desires, it is sufficient
That Heaven hath given you the advantage to be
Of that faire Sex unto which all owe homadge:
If I may notwithstanding without giving you
The least offence be honoured to knowe
Your name, you will encrease my Zeale in giving me
So faire a satisfaction.
Climene.
Take it then,
My deare Fabritio, and know Climene.
Fabritio.
Climene, my faire Mistresse, what occasion
Could bring thee heere at such an hower as this?
Thou doublest my feare and perturbation;
The more thy voice assureth me; the more
Vncertaine am I: and so farre am I
From comming forth of errour, that I enter
Into new Labyrinths, and doubts, I was
More happie when I knew thee lesse; oh what
Designe hast thou, I cannot comprehend it?
17
Climene.
Leave me to speake, then, I will tell it thee.
I will not say what joy and happie rapture
Seised me when I understood the newes,
That by a joynt accord our friends and parents
At last had yeilded to our marriage;
My love, which thou shouldst not forget, exemps me
To discourse this unto thee, and enjoynes me
To a relation much more important,
And much lesse pleasing,
Fabritio.
How? what thing is there
In nature that can trouble our repose,
Since as our hearts, our parents are agreed?
Climene.
Tis of a longer date then from to day
That Love useth to mingle with his sweets
Much bitternes, those whom he flattereth
At first, are seldome happie, his deceit
Is equall to his blindnes, and like Fortune,
H'is constant onelie in inconstancie:
This is a truth, which thou shalt but to sensibly
Conceive: one day which was the fatallest
Of all my life, wherein my father burthened
With age and sicknes had the sorrie honour
To be by the Duke of Ferrara vissitted:
This Prince knew me in this extremity,
And thought to see some charmes upon my pale
And blubbered face, myne eyes unluckily
Wept unto his, and from the sources of
My teares his flame took birth,
Fabritio.
Oh Climene,
I feare—
18
That feare offends me; my heart wholie
Was thine, I gave it thee, and the Dukes passion
Stir'd up in me nothing but my aversion:
Though I conceal'd this fire, thou hast no cause
To complaine at it, for before twas knowne,
I hop'd to quench it, and I scarce should yet
Reveile it to thee, if thy interest
Oblig'd me not to speak: on the report
Which was spread of our marriage, the passion
Of the Duke was converted into rage;
He came unto me in his first transport,
Sware to me solemnelie that my choice was
The sentence of thy death, that Love opposing
My punishment, he thought to doe more in
Destroying what I lov'd; and to the end
He might with the more rigour punish me,
He would even to the bottome of thy heart
Goe for to seek me: Lastly knowing well
That his desire is to assault my life
In threatening thine, conducted here by love,
And more by feare, I come to conjure thee
T'avoid his furie; fly hence, whatsoever
Care for me keeps thee back heere, and to save
My life, preserve thine.
Fabritio.
This discourse is cruel
As much as it appeareth sweet: should you
Advice me to absent me from your person?
Sure I should little know what tis to love,
T'obey you in this point: Come, come, say all,
Confesse your love is chang'd, that my remaines
Of hope must vanish, and that the Dukes flame
Hath dazled you, I see well that mine heere
Is troublesom, that you abandon Love
To follow Fortune, and that poore Fabritio
With all his fetters pleaseth your faire eyes
19
This signall rigour; you deprive me of
A happines whereof I was not worthy,
And in receaving of a Scepter offered
Vnto your beauties, you obtaine much lesse
Then you deserve. Raigne, nothing is dishonourable,
To gaine a diademne; and as I love you
More then my selfe, I shal esteem my death
A faire designe, if entering into
A tombe, I leave you in a throne.
Climene.
Fabritio,
Canst thou love me, and speak thus? reallie
Thou detract'st from my glorie in this thought
That I can be unfaithfull, bannish it,
It is thy enemie and mine, suspition
Between us two should be a hideous monster;
Canst thou be ignorant with any justice,
That I love lesse a scepter then Fabritio,
And find more joy in being captive with thee
To raigne over thy heart, then ore the universe?
Fabritio.
It is ynough, Climene, my devout
And amourous soule, which ever must adore thee
Although thou should'st abuse it, would believe thee:
And though a lye, carries a swarthy face,
In issuing from thy mouth it would have charmes;
But how comes it to passe that when thy sweetnes
For my sake flyes a crowne, thou dost ordaine me
To depart, and to leave thee? how to leave thee.
And in a Rivalls power to! no, this remedie
Is worse then the disease. Suffer my presence,
Or suffer my despaire, what matter is it
20
Climene.
When two inevitable dangers meet
To invade us at once, tis wisedome still
To think of the most pressing, here thy ruine
Is certaine, being absent, thou canst live;
Consider this, that to what punishment
Soer our love exposeth thee, thou canst not
Suffer but I must suffer too, nor dye,
But I must cease to live, for know absuredlie
My dayes shall finish with thy destiny;
When we are dead, the grave shall be a wittnes
Of our reunion? where I see thee not
No object pleaseth me; if thou art yet
Incredulous of words and protestations,
At least believe my teares.
Fabritio.
Oh open not
Those pretious sluces, keep that treasure in;
Encrease not my affliction with thy griefe:
Not all the blood which tunneth in my veines
Is worth the least drop of these liquid pearles,
The evills wherewith my life is thretened
Are too well payed with a single teare.
Climene.
Oh leave those vaine discourses, and depart.
Fabritio.
Well, well, Climene, I must then obey.
Climene.
I have as much cause heere to be afflicted,
As satisfied, I feare more thy departure
Then wish it, and I give my faith unto thee,
That thou shouldst not depart, if I could keep thee
And expose but my selfe. Let's separate;
But what! this fatall image robbeth me
Already of my strength, spare me, I pray thee,
In parting hence the danger heere to dye
21
Exit Climene.
Fabritio.
Climene flyes me;
O lamentable destinie!
SCENA QUINTA.
Carlos, Frabitio.Carlos.
Friend, comfort thee.
Fabritio.
I am inconsolable,
And must die, Carlos, since I must absent me.
Carlos.
Thou shalt be happier, if thou wilt heare me,
I have a meanes that thou shalt not depart,
And yet, in safetie too, shalt see Climene,
Alone, and without trouble.
Fabritio.
To abuse
Thy friend, is but an odd way, in my judgment,
T'assist him, tis to aggravate my evill,
And not to heale it: is there any art
To render me invisible?
Carlos.
For once then
Believe that I will doe for thee a thing
Which seemes impossible, give me leave to speak
And in a moment thou shalt lose ehy griefe,
And thy astonishment: Thou knowest well
That Italie hath for a certaine time
Bene troubled with two factions, whose partakers
In everie citie name themselves a loud
The Guelps and Gibelins: on this occasion
22
Took an immortall hatred; through their credit
And their condition, each made himselfe
Head of a faction; the Duke receiving
Advertisement thereof, and apprehending.
The issue of this enmity, so stronglie
Conceived, made them both to be arrested,
Not without, reason, and confined them
As prisoners, each one to his owne house.
My Father who saw his pretension vaine,
Knowing his house was neere unto the others,
Had recourse unto cunning, and believed
That everie thing was lawfull to destroy
The greatest of his enemies; to work then
His ruine, and in private too, he caus'd
A close Mine to be digg'd even underneath
His adversaries garden; being finish'd,
My Father fell sick, and soone after dyed;
I was, as thou knowst by the right of birth
Heire of his goods, and not of his revenge;
But though I should now have a hatred for
Climene, I should sacrifice it wholie
Vnto thy love; in opening this Mine,
Thou may'st, without being seen, have easie accesse
Vnto thy Mistresse, and to execute it
Securelie, we will make all men believe
That thou art gone.
Frabitio.
How infinitlie am I
Indebted to thee? how shall I acquit me?
Carlos.
My friendship is offended verie much
At these expressions of acknowledgments.
I'le to the Duke expreslie t'understand
What his intentions are concerning thee.
Enter into my house.—
Exit Carlos.
23
I'le goe t'impart
This secret to Climene. But what heare I?
SCENA SEXTA.
The Duke, Valerio, Fabritio, Iacinta, Guards.Duke.
Doe that which I commaunded.
Valerio knocks, at the dore of Climenes house.
Fabritio.
Tis the Duke.
Rage overcomes my reason.
Duke.
What aversenes
Soe'r Climene hath unto my flame
Some little hope yet flattereth my soule,
I've gain'd her woman; who hath promised
This night to bring me ptivatelie into
Her chamber, the dore openeth, Iacinta!
Iacinta comming from Climene.
Iacinta.
Yes everie thing succeedeth to your wish,
My Mistresse is deceiv'd and takes you for
Fabritio, she commanded me to open
Without delay, her order doth excuse me
In letting you to enter, lose no time;
But I heare her descend, speake not a word,
Without doubt, she'll mistake her selfe.
Duke.
We will
Be cleer'd therein, let us approach a little.
24
SCENA SEPTIMA.
The Duke, Climene, Fabritio, Iacinta, Valerio, Guards.Climene addressing her selfe to the Duke and thinking to speake to Fabritio.
Climene.
What would'st thou, my deare Lover?
Fabritio.
Ha, deare Lover!
Heavens! what is this I heare!
Climene.
I have cause, reallie,
To complaine of thee, could'st thou not one night
At my request refraine my companie?
Yet I excuse thee upon this presumption
That who loves well is little Master of
Himselfe, and can't deny but my charm'd soule
Complaines heere but of being too much lov'd.
Fabritio.
May I believe this? Heaven! am I enchanted?
Climene.
Thou need'st not doubt this truth; when I would be
Angry against thee, suddenlie I check
My selfe, and when my mouth accuseth thee,
My soule defends thee.
Duke.
Fortunate Fabritio
—aside
Fabritio.
O happie Rivall!
—aside.
Climene.
Thou dost know my love.
25
I knew it ill.
—aside
Climene.
What! answearest thou nothing?
Doubts thou my flame, or fearst thou that another
More pleasing object drives thee from my soul?
What ever happens, rest thy selfe assur'd
That my loue and my life shall have one course,
And that it is impossible for me
No more to love thee.
Duke.
How unhappie am I?
—aside.
Fabritio.
How miserable am I?
—aside.
Climene.
What obligeth thee
To murmur still thus to thy selfe? must I
Confirme my love unto thee by some oathes?
If my flame for thee make not all my glorie,
If thou alone possessest not my heart,
And all my thoughts, let—
Fabritio.
Sweare not ingratefull and perfidious Woman,
It needeth' not, I doe believe thy words.
Duke.
Thy death shall soone follow thy insolence:
My Guards.
Fabritio flying.
Fabritio.
It is in vaine to make resistance.
Valerio and the Guards goe after Fabritio.
Duke.
Pursue, and kill him.
Iacinta.
Alas! I'm dead with feare.
Climene,
I faint, I faint, Iacinta, hould me up.
26
Let him dye, tis but just, too great a merit
Is often a great crime, in ruining
This Rivall, I may gaine what I desire;
And if he perish not, my hope must perish:
Let's see if the successe answeareth my wish.
SCENA OCTAVA.
Valerio, The Duke, Iacinta, Guards.Valerio.
Oh, Sir, tis done, he's dead, in vaine he did
Indeavour to defend himselfe, he fell
Peirc'd with a thousand mortall stroaks, his soul
Found overtures ynough to sallie forth
His bloody body, covered o'r with wounds
Iacinta.
Oh! stay Sir.—
Comming forth of Climenes house.
Duke.
Thy cares are superfluous.
I am reveng'd, Iacinta, and Fabritio
Is dead.
Iacinta.
Oh if you love Climene, enter not
Into the house, she's scarce recovered yet
Of a great faintnes which seis'd on her spirits.
Duke.
The blood which I have shed, will cost her teares,
I will not goe, to add unto her griefes,
But retire me, a while, in the meane time,
Valerio, let it be your charge to goe
Vnto Fabritios Father, to acquaint him
With his sonnes death, and further let him know
That for his rash and sawcy insolence,
He hath receav'd but a just recompense.
The End of the first Act.
| The Amorous Fantasme | |