 | A Game at Chaess |  |
Actus Prima,
Scœna Prima.
Enter from the Blacke-house, the Blacke Queenes Pawne. From the White-house, the White Queenes Pawne.Blacke Queenes pawne.
I neuer see that face, but my pitty rises,
When I behold so cleare a Maister-peece
Of Heauens arte, wrought out of dust and ashes,
In that not ours, but the Daughter of Heresie:
My soule bleeds at mine eyes.
White Q. pawne.
Where should truth speake
If not in such a sorrow? they're teares plainly:
Beshrew me if she weepe not hartity?
What is my peace to her to take such paynes in't?
If I wander to losse, and with broad eyes
Yet misse the path she can runne blind-fold in.
(Through often exercise) why should my ouer-sight,
Though in the game that ere Christian lost,
Rayse the least spring of pitty in her eye,
Tis doubtlesse a great charity, and no vertue,
Could winne me surer.
Blacke Q. P.
Blessed things preuaile with't,
If euer goodnesse made a gracious promise,
It is in yonder looke, what little paines
Would build a Fort for vertue to all memory
In that sweet creature, were the ground-worke firmer.
White Q. P.
It has beene all my glory to be firme,
In what I haue profest.
Blacke Q. P.
That is the enemy
Disarmes your soule, euen in that heate of battle:
Your firmnesse that way, makes you more infirme,
For the right Christian conflict: there I spied
A zealous primitiue sparkle, but now flew,
From your deuoted eyes:
Able to blow vp all the Heresies
That euer sate in Councell with your spirit;
Enter the blacke Bishops Pawne.
And here comes he whose sanctimonious breath,
Can make that sparke a flame: list to him (virgin)
At whose first entrance Princes will fall prostrate:
Weomen are weaker Vessells.
White Q. p.
By my pænitence
A comely presentation, and the habit
To admiration reuerend.
Blacke Q. p.
But the heart, the heart Lady
So meeke, that as you see good Charitie pictured still
With young ones in her armes, so will hee cherish
All his young tractable sweete obedient daughters,
E'ene in his armes, in his owne bosome,
I am my selfe a secular Iesuitesse,
As many Ladies are of worth and greatnesse,
A second sort are Iesuits in voto,
Giuing their vow into the father generall:
That's the Blacke Bishop of our house, whose pawne
This Gentleman now stands, now to receiue
The Colledge habit at his holy pleasure.
White Q. p.
But how are these in voto emploied (Lady)
Till they receiue the habit.
Blacke Q. p.
They're not idle,
Hee findes 'em all true labourers in the worke
Of vniuersall Monarchie, which hee
And his Disciples principally aime at.
Those are maintayned in many Courts and Pallaces,
And are induc'd by noble Personages,
Into great Princes seruices, and prooue
Some Counsellers of State, some Secretaries:
(As Parish Clerkes,) their mortuary bills,
To the father Generall, so are designes
Often times preuented, and importinant secrets
Of state discouered, yet no author found,
But those suspected oft that are most sound:
This mistery is too deepe, yet for your entrance,
And I offend to set your zeale so backe,
Checkt by Obedience, with desire to hasten
Your progresse to perfection, I commit you
To the great workers hands, to whose graue worth
I fit my reuerence, as to you my wishes.
Blacke B. p.
Dost finde her supple?
Blacke Q. p.
There's a little passage-made.
Blacke B. p.
Let me contemplate,
With wholy wonder season my accesse;
And by degrees approach the Sanctuary
Of vnmatcht beauty, set in grace and goodnesse
Amongst the daughters of men I haue not found
A more Cathalecall aspect, that eye
Dos promise single life and meeke Obedience.
Vpon those lips the sweete fresh buds of youth,
The holy dew of prayer lies like pearle,
Dropt from opening eye-lids of the morne,
Vppon the bashfull Rose, how beautiously
A gentle fast not rigorously imposed,
Would looke vpon that cheek, and how delightfull
The courteous Physicke of a tender pennance,
Whose vtmost cruelty should not exceed
The first feare of a bride to beate downe frailty,
Would worke to sound health your long festred iudgement,
And make your merrit well (through erring ignorance
Appeares but spotted righteousnesse to me.)
Farre clearer then the innocence of Infants.
White Q. p.
To the good worke I bowe and will become,
Obedience humblest daughter, seythence I finde
The assistance of a sacred strength to ayde me:
The right way since, 'tis she I euer serued
In my desire, though I transgrest in Iudgement.
Black B. p.
It's easily absolued amongst the rest,
You shall not find the vertue, that you serue now
A sharpe and cruell mistresse, her eare's open
To all your supplications; you may boldly
And safely let in the most secret sinne
Into her knowledge, which like vanisht man
Neuer returnes into the World agen:
Fate lookes not vp more trulier.
White Q. p.
To the guiltie,
That may appeare some benifit.
Blacke B. p.
VVho so innocent
That neuer stands in need on't in some kinde?
If euery thought were blabb'd that's so confest,
The very ayre we breath would be imblest:
Now to the worke indeed, which is to catch
Her inclination, that's the speciall vse
We make of all our practise in all Kingdomes
For my disclosing their most secret frailties,
Things which once ours, they must not hide from vs,
That's the first Article in the Creede we teach 'em,
Finding to what point their blood most enclines,
Know best to apt them, then to our designes:
Daughter the sooner you disperse your Errors,
The sooner you make hast to your discouerie,
You must part with'em, to be nice or modest
Towards this good action, is to imitate
The bashfulnesse of one conceales an vlter,
For the vncomly parts that tumor vexes,
Till't be past cure. Resolue you thus faire (Ladie)
The priuatst thought that runnes to hide it selfe,
In the most secret corner of your heart, now
Must be of my acquaintance, so familiarlie
Neuer she friend of yours might counsell neerer.
White Q. p.
I stand not much in feare of any account
I must confesse as in a sacred Temple,
Throng'd with an auditorie, some come rather
To feede on humane obiect, then to taste
Of Angels foode.
So in the Congregation of quicke thoughts
Which are more infinite, then such assemblies,
I cannot for truths safely speake for all:
Some haue bin wanderers, some sinful, some sound:
But those found euer poore entertainment,
They'd incouragement to come againe,
The single life which strongly I professe now;
Heauen pardon me, I was about to part from.
Blacke B. p.
Then you haue past through loue?
White Q. p.
But left no staine
In all ray paassge (Sir) no print of wrong;
For the most chast maide that may trace my foot-steps.
Blacke Bish. p.
How came you off so cleare.
White Q. p.
I was discharged
By an inhumane accident, which modesty
Forbids me to put any language too.
B. B. p.
How you forget your selfe? all actions
Clad in their proper language, though most sorded
My eare is bound by duty to let in,
And locke vp euerlastingly: Shall I helpe you?
Hee was not found to answere his creation?
A vestall Virgine in a slip of prayer,
Could not deliuer mans losse modestier:
'Twas the White Bishops pawne.
White Q. p.
The same (blest Sir.)
Blacke B. p.
An Heriticke well pickled.
White Q. p.
By base treachery,
And violence prepared by the Competitor:
The blacke Knights pawne whom I shall euer hate for't.
Blacke B. p.
'Twas of reuenges the vnmanliest way
That euer riuall tooke, a villaine
That for your sake ile neuer absolue him off.
I wish not so heauy.
Blacke B. p.
Hee must feele it,
I neuer yet gaue absolution
To any crime of that vnmarring nature:
It seemes you refuse him for defect,
That other women haue in the ends of marriage:
Pardon my boldnesse, if I sift your goodnesse
To the last graine.
W. Q. p.
I reuerence your paines (Sir)
And must confesse, custome to enioy
What other women challenge and possesse,
More ruld me then desire: for my desires
Dwell all in Ignorance, and Ile neuer wish
To know that fond way, may redeeme them thence.
B. B. p.
I neuer was so taken, beset dubly
Now with her iudgment what a strength it puts forth,
I bring worke neerer to you, when you haue seene
A maister-peece of man, composed by Heauen
For a great Princes fauor, kingdomes loue:
So exact Enuy could not finde a place
To sticke a blot on person, or on fame:
Haue you not found ambition swell your wishes then?
And desire stirre your blood.
W. Q. p.
By vertue neuer:
I haue onely in the dignity of the creature,
Admired the workes glory.
B. B. p.
She's impregnable,
A second siedge must not fall off so tamely:
She's one of those must be informed to know
A daughters duty which some take vntaught;
Her modesty brings her behind hand much,
My old meanes I must flye too, yes 'tis it,
Please you pervse this small tract of Obedience,
'Twill helpe you forward well.
W. Q. p.
(Sir) that is a vertue:
I haue euer thought on with especiall reuerence.
B. B. p.
You will conceiue by that,
Enter White Bishops pawne.
W. B. p.
What makes yond troubler of all Christian water,
So neere yond blessed spring? but I know
Her goodnesse is the rocke from whence it issues.
Vnmoouable as fate, 'twould more afflict me
Then all my sufferings for her, which so long
As she holds constant to the house she come off,
The whitnes of the cause, the side, the quality
Are sacrifices to her worth and vertue,
And though confined in my religious ioyes,
I marry her and possesse her.
Ent. the B. Kt. pawne.
B. B. p.
Behold Lady,
The two inhuman enemies, the black Knights pawne,
And the white Bishops, the gelder and the gelded.
W. Q. p.
There's my griefe, my hate.
B. Kt. p.
What? in the Iesuites fingers? by this hand,
Ile giue my part now for a Parrats feather,
Shee neuer returnes vertuous, 'tis impossible:
Ile vndertake, more wagers will be layd
Vpon a Vsurers returne from hell,
Then vpon hers from him now: haue I bin guilty
Of such base malice, that my very conscience
Shakes at the memory of it, and when I looke
To gather fruit find nothing but the Sauin tree:
Too frequent in Nunnes Orchards, and there planted
By all coniecture to destroy fruit rather,
I wilbe resolued now most noble Virgine.
W. Q. p.
Ignoble villaine, dare that vnhallowed tongue
Lay hold vpon a sound so gracious,
What's noblenesse to thee, or virgine Chastity?
They're not of thy acquaintance, talke of violence,
That shames creation, deeds would make night blush
That's company for thee, hast thou the impudence
To court me with the Leprosie vpon thee,
Able to infect the walls of a great building.
B. B. p.
Sonne of offence forbeare, go set your diuell
Before your eyes, a pænitentiall vesture,
B. Kt. p.
And you a three pound smocke, steed of an Abbey,
An Epicene Cassible, this holy fellow
Robs saf'st and close, I feele a sting that's worse too:
White pawne, hast so much Charity to accept
A reconcilement, make thy owne conditions,
For I begin to be extreamely burthned.
W. B. p.
No truth, no peace, of that blacke house, protest
Is to be trusted, but for hope of acquittance,
And warned by difference, I may intrap him soonest,
I admit conference.
B. Kt. p.
It is a noblenesse
That makes confusion cleaue to all my merrits.
B. B. p.
That treatise will instruct you fully.
B. Kt.
So, so,
Enter blacke Knight,
The businesse of the Vniuersall Monarchy
Goes forward well now, the Colledge pot
That should be alwayes boyling with the fuell,
Of all intelligencers possible,
Through the Christian Kingdome is this fellow
Our prime incendiary? one of those
That promis'd the white Kingdome seauen yeares since
To our blacke-house, put a new daughter to him,
The great worke-slaues, he minds nor Monarchie
Nor Hererazie (diuiner principallities) I brag lesse,
But haue done more then all the conclaue on'em
Take their assistant fathers in all parts:
I, or their father generall in to boote:
And what I haue done, I haue done factiously!
With pleasant subtilty, and be witching court-ship,
Abuse al my beleeuers with delight,
They tooke comfort to be cousned by me,
Too many a soule I haue let in mortall poyson,
Whose cheekes haue crackt with laughter to receiue it,
I could so roule my pills in sugred syllables,
And strew such kindly mirth o're all my mischiefe,
They tooke their baine in way of recreation,
Hee spies me now, I must vphold his reuerence,
Especially in publique (though I know)
Pryapus guardian of the cherry Gardens:
Bacchus and Venus chit is not more vitious.
B. B. p.
Blessings accumiliation keep with you (sir.)
B. Kt.
Honors dissimulation be your due (sir.)
W. Q p.
How deep in duty in obseruance plunge?
His charge must needes be reuerend.
B. B. p.
I am Confessor
To this Black Knight too, you see deuotion's fruitfull,
Sh'as many sonnes and daughters.
B. K.
I do this the more,
To maze our aduersaries to behold,
The reuerence we giue these great ones,
And to beget a sound opinion
Of holinesse in them, and zeale in vs;
As also to enuite the like obedience
In other pupills, by our meeke example:
So, is your trifle gone?
B. B. p.
Trifle call you her, it's a good game (sir)
Sure she's the second pawne of the White house,
And to the opening of the game I hold her.
B. Kt.
I you hold well: for that I know your play
Of old, if there were more Queenes pawnes you'ld plye
The game a great deale harder (now sir we're in priuate)
But what for the maine worke, the great existance?
The hope Monarchall?
B. B. p.
It goes on in this.
B. Kt.
In this? I cannot see't.
B. B. p.
So you may deny
A Dyalls motion, 'cause you cannot see
The hand mooue, or a wind that rends the Cedars.
B. Kt.
Where stops the current of intelligence,
Your father generall Bishop of the Blacke-house,
Complaines for want of worke.
B. B. p.
Here's from all parts
A packet from the assistant fathers lately,
Looke you there's Anglica, this Gallica.
B. Kt.
I marry (sir) there's some quicke-flesh in this.
B. B. p.
Germanica.
B. K.
Thinke they'n seald this with butter.
B. B. p.
Italica this.
B. Kt.
They put their pens the hebrew way me thinks.
B. B. p.
Hispanica there.
B. Kt.
Hispanica, blinde word this,
The Iesuite hath writ this with iuice of Leamons sure
It must be held close to the fire of Purgatory
Ere't can be read.
B. B. p.
You will not loose your iest (Knight)
Though it wound your owne fame.
B. Kt.
Curanda pecunia.
Enter the white Kings pawne.
B. B. p.
Take heed (Sir) we're intrapt.
B. Kt.
He's made our owne (man) halfe in voto yours,
His heart's in the blacke house, leaue him to me,
Most of all friends indeed preciously speciall.
W. Kt. p.
You see my out-side, but not my heart,
Great difference in the colour, there's some intelligence,
And as more ripenesse, so your knowledge still
Shall prooue the richer, there shall nothing happen
(Beleeue't) to extenuate your cause.
Or to oppresse her friends, but I will striue
To crosse it with my Counsell, purse and power
Keep all supplies both in meanes and men,
That may rayse against you, we must part,
I dare not longer of this theame discussue,
The eare of State is quicke and iealious.
B. Kt.
Excellent estemation, thou art valu'd
Aboue the Fleece of gold, that came short home,
Poore Iesuit, ridden soule, how art thou foold
Out of thy faith, from thy allegance drawne,
Which way so ere thou takest, thou'rt the lost Pawne.
Finit Actus Primus.
| A Game at Chaess | |