 | The Fair Maid of The West. Or, A Girle worth gold. The second part |  |
Actus quintus.
Scena prima.
Enter Duke of Florence and Spencer.Flor.
I cannot rest till I am fully resolv'd
About this jewell. Sir, we sent to stay you,
And wean you some small season from your friends:
And you above the rest, because your presence
Doth promise good discourse.
Spenc.
Sir, I am all yours.
Flor.
How long hath been your sojourn here in Florence?
Spencer.
Two daies, no more.
Flor.
Have you since your arivall
Retain'd no beauteous Mistrisse? Pardon me,
Sir, that I am come thus near you.
Spencer.
On my soul
Not any, royall Sir.
Flor.
Think it my love that I presume thus farre
To question you. Have you observ'd no Ladie
Of speciall note, courted or discourst with any
Within these two daies.
Spenc.
Vpon my honour, none.
Flor.
You are a souldier and a Gentleman,
And should speak all truth.
Spenc.
If otherwise, I should disclaim my gentry.
Flor.
I beleev you, Sir. You have a rich jewell here,
Worthy a Princes wearing: twere not modestie
Spenc.
Nor can I, Sir, resolve you, if you did:
But it was cast me by a Lady, of whom
As then I took small notice of, my minde
Being troubled.
Flor.
'Tis even so.
Spenc.
Perhaps your grace by knowing of this jewell,
May know the beauteous flinger, and so
You might engage me deeply to acquaint me with her,
To prove her gratefull debtor.
Flor.
No such thing,
You know none in this Citie?
Spenc.
Worse then scorn,
Or foul disgrace befall me if I know
Any you can call woman.
Flor.
Be not moved,
I spoke but this in sport. Sure this strange Lady,
Casting her eye upon this Gentleman,
Grew straight if him inamour'd, which makes her
Keep off from my embraces: but Ile sound all,
Yet my own wrongs prevent. Sir, I staid you,
But to another purpose, to commit
A weighty secret to you.
Spenc.
Wer't of millions,
Ide prove your faithfull steward.
Flor.
I have a Mistrisse that I tender dearer
Then mine own eyes. Observe me, dearer Sir,
Whom neither courtship moves, favours can work,
Nor no preferment tempt.
Spenc.
How rich were he
Could call himself lord of such a jewell.
Flor.
My intreaties, friends, perswasions, importunities
Of my chast Ladies cannot prevail at all.
Now would I chose a stranger, selecting thee,
To bear to her these few lines which contein
The substance of my minde.
And Sir, I shall.
Flor.
In thy aspect
I read a fortune that should destine me
To strange felicities. Wilt thou be faithfull?
Spenc.
As to my soul.
Flor.
But thou shalt swear before thou undertak'st it,
(Though I suspect not falshood in thy visage)
Not once to cast on her an amourous look,
Speak to her no familiar syllable,
Not to embrace her, nor to kisse her hand,
Nor her free lip by no means.
Spenc.
Well, I swear.
Flor.
But that's not all,
Swear by thy faith and thy religion.
Not to taste the least small fauour for thy self,
Touch or come near her bosome; for, fair stranger,
I love her above measure, and that love
Makes me thus jealous.
Spenc.
By my honesty,
Faith, and religion, without free release
From your own lips, all this will I perform.
Flor.
And so return the richest Englishman,
That ever pierst our Dukedome. Instantly
Thou shalt about thy task.
Exeunt.
Enter Besse, Merchant.
Besse.
You have tir'd our ears with your long discourse
Leave us to rest.
Merch.
Dream on your best desires.
Besse.
If at some half houre hence you visit us,
We shall be free for language.
Merch.
Soft rest with you.
Besse.
If my soft sleeps presents me any shadow
Oh, let it be my Spencers, him whom waking
I cannot see, I may in dreams perhaps
Converse with, my sudden bleeding and my drowsinesse,
Prove loyall to mine honour: howsoever
Death will end all: and I presume on this
'Tis way to Spencer, and my haven of blisse.
Shee lies to sleep.
Enter Spencer.
Spenc.
What beauty should this be, on whom the Duke
Is grown so jealous: sure 'tis some rare piece;
He tould me she was fairer then I could either
Iudge, Or yet imagine.
Would Besse were here to wager beauties with her,
For all my hopes in England. This is the Chamber:
Ha, thus far off she seems to promise well,
Ile take a nearer and more free survay,
This taper shall assist me: fail my eies?
Or meet I nothing else but prodigies?
Oh heavens, it is my Besse; Oh, sudden rapture!
Let me retire to more considerate thoughts.
What should I think, but presently to wake her?
And being mine, to seize her where I finde her.
Oh, but mine oath, that I should never, never
Lie with her being my wife, nor kisse her, touch her,
Speak to her one familiar syllable.
Can oaths binde thus? My honesty, faith, and
Religion are all ingag'd, ther's no dispence for them.
And yet in all this conflict to remember
How the Duke prais'd her vertu, chastitie,
And constancie, whom nothing could corrupt,
Ads to my joyes. But on the neck of this,
It laies a double torture on my life.
First to forsweare, then leave so fair a wife.
She starts.
Besse.
I am all distraction. In my sleep
I saw him, could I but behold him waking.
That were a heaven. Ha, do I dream still?
Or was I born to see
Spencer.
I am neither.
Besse.
Thou hast his shape, his gate, his face, his language:
Onely these words of thine and strange behaviour,
Never came from him. Let me imbrace thee.
Spenc.
No.
Besse.
Then kisse me.
Spenc.
No.
Besse.
Yet speak me fair.
Spenc.
I cannot.
Bess.
Look on me.
Spenc.
I must not, I will not, fare thee well:
Yet first read that.
Besse.
I have read too much already within thy change
of looks.
Spenc.
Oh me my oath;
Ide chop off this right hand to cancell it.
Besse.
But if not now, when then?
Spenc.
Never.
Besse.
Not kisse me?
Spenc.
No.
Besse.
Not fold mee in thine arms?
Spenc.
Not.
Besse.
Nor cast a gratious look upon thy Besse?
Spenc.
I dare not.
Besse.
Never.
Spenc.
No never.
Besse.
Oh, I shall die.
She swounds.
Spenc.
She faints, and yet I dare not for my oath
Once to support her. Dies before mine eies.
And yet I must not call her back to life.
Where is the Duke? some help, no Ladies nigh?
Are you all, all asleep or dead,
Ther's no more noise in Court?
Enter Duke and his train.
Flor.
Ha, what's the buisinesse, noble friend, what newes
Spenc.
You may see there on the ground, half
In the grave already. So fare you well,
What grief mine is, those that love best can tell.
Flor.
Support her. Speak love, look up divinest Mistrisse.
Bess.
You said you would not speak, nor look, nor
touch your Besse.
Flor.
Who I?
By all my hopes I ne're had such a thought.
Besse.
Oh, I mistook.
Flor.
Why do you look so gastly about the room?
Whom do's your eyes enquire for?
Besse.
Nothing, nay, no body.
Flor.
Why do you weep?
Besse.
Hath some new love possest him, and excluded
Me from his bosome? can it be possible?
Flor.
All leave the chamber.
Besse.
But Ile be so reveng'd as never woman was:
Ile be a president to all wives hereafter,
How to pay home their proud neglectfull husbands;
'Tis in my way, I've power, and Ile do it.
Flor.
What is't offends you?
Besse.
'Tis you have don't.
Flor.
Wee?
Besse.
If you be the Prince:
Ther's but one man I hate above all the world,
And you have sent him to torment me here.
Flor.
What satisfaction shall I make thee for't?
Besse.
This, and this onely; If you have any interest
In him, or power above him: if you be a Prince
In your own countrey, have command and rule
In your own dominions, freely resigne his person
And his state solely to my disposure.
Flor.
But whence grows
The ground of such inveterate hate?
Bess.
All circumstance to omit,
He was the cause of all my afflictions,
Tempests, shipwrack, fears. I never had just cause
Of care and grief but he was author of it.
Speak, is he mine?
Flor.
What interest I can claim, either by oath
Or promise, thou art Commandresse of.
Besse.
Then I am yours;
And to morrow in the publike view of all
The stranger Princes, Courtiers, and Ladies,
I will expresse my self. This night I intreat
I may repose my self in my own lodging
For private meditations.
Flor.
What we have promist,
Is in our purpose most irrevocable,
And so we hope is yours.
Besse.
You may presume, my lord.
Flor.
Conduct this Lady to her chamber,
Let her have all observance: we will lay
Our strict command on him, lest he should leave
Our City before our summons, 'tis to morrow, then,
Shall happy thee, make us most blest of men.
Exit Duke.
Besse.
Now shall I quite him home,
Th'ingrate shall know,
'Tis above patience to be injur'd so.
Merch.
Will you walk Lady, or take your coach?
Besse
That we the streets more freely may survay,
Wee'll walk along.
Exeunt.
Enter Clem with his pots.
Clem.
Let me see, three quarts, two pottles, one gallon
and a pinte, one pinte, two quarts more, then I have my
load: thus are we that are under-journeymen put too't.
Oh the fortune of the seas; never did any man that marries
a whore, so cast himself away, as I had been like i'th
last tempest: yet nothing vexes me so much, that after all
very truely, I am now no better then a pot companion.
Enter Besse, Merchant.
Besse.
That should be Clem my man, give me some gold,
Here, Sirra, drink this to the health
Of thy old Mistris. Vsher on,
We have more serious things to think upon.
Clem.
Mistris Besse, Mistris Elizabeth, 'tis shee: ha,
gold: hence pewter pots, Ile be a pewter porter no longer:
my Mistris turn'd Gallant, and shall I do nothing but run
up stares and down stares with, Anon, anon, Sir? no, I
have gold, and anon will be as gallant as the proudest of
them. Shall I stand at the Bar to bar any mans casting that
drinks hard? no, Ile send these pots home by some porter
or other, put my self into a better habit, and say, The
case is alter'd; then will I go home to the bush where I
drew wine, and buy out my time, and take up my Chamber,
be served in pomp by my fellow prentises:
Where I will flaunt it in my Cap and my Feather.
Enter Goodlack, Spencer, Ruffman.
Goodl.
You tell us of the strangest wonderment that
ever came within the compasse of my knowledge.
Spenc.
I tell you but what's true.
Goodl.
It cannot finde example. Did you leave her
those extremities of passion?
Spenc.
I think dying, or the next way to death.
Goodl.
To chear you,
The Dukes own witnesse of her constancy,
And vertue, arm'd against all temptations,
Part of your griefs should lessen.
Spenc.
Rather friend,
Augment my passions, to be forc'd to lose,
And quite abjure so sweet a bedfellow.
Goodl.
VVer't my cause,
I'de to the Duke and claim her, beg for justice,
And through the populous court clamor my wrongs,
If he detein her from you.
Spenc.
But my oath
Ties me from that, I have quite abjur'd her,
I have renounc'd her freely, cast her off,
Disclaim'd her quite: I can no more
Interest claim in her, then Goodlack
Thou, or Ruffman thou.
Goodl.
'Tis most strange, let's examine all our brains
How this may be avoided.
Ruff.
How now Clem, you loyter here, the house is full
of guests, and you are extreamly call'd for.
Clem.
You are deceived my Lieutenant, Ile assure you,
you speak to as good a man as my self: Do you want any
money?
Goodl.
Canst thou lend me any?
Clem.
Look, I am the lord of these mines, of these
Indies.
Ruff.
How camest thou by them?
Clem.
A delicate sweet Lady, meeting me i'th street,
like an Asse groaning under my heavy burthen, and being
inamour'd of my good parts, gave me this gold: if
you think I lie, examine all these pots, whose mouthes, if
they could speak, would say as much in my behalf. But
if you want any money, speak in time, for if I once turn
Courtier again, I will scorn my poor friends, look scurvily
upon my acquaintance, borrow of all men, be beholding
to any man, and acknowledge no man: and my Motto
shall be, Base is the man that paies.
Ruff.
But Clem, how camest thou by this gold?
Clem.
News, news, though not the lost sheep, yet the
lost shrew is found, my Mistris, Mistris Elizabeth, 'tis she,
she meeting me 'ith street, seeing I had a pot or two too
signum.
Enter a Lord.
Lord.
The Duke hath summond your appearance, Gentlemen,
And laies his power of love, not of command,
To visit him in Court.
Clem.
I am put into the number too, if he be a tall
man, tell him we will attend his highnesse.
Lord.
Fellow, my language was not aim'd at you.
Clem.
But Sir, Ile make bold to come at first bidding.
Lord.
Sir, your reward staies for you at Court,
For bringing of the out-law'd Captains head,
Ther's order tane for't from the treasurie.
Ruff.
The Duke is just and royall. VVee'll attend you.
Clem.
And Ile go furnish my self with some better accoutriments,
and Ile be with you to bring presently.
Enter Florence, Mantua, and Farara.
Mant.
There is not in your looks renowned Florence,
That sommers calme, and sweet alacritie
That was wont there to shine, a winters storm
Sits threatning on your discontented brow.
May we desire the cause.
Flor.
VVhich you shall know.
Princes, the fierce and bloody moors, have late
Committed outrage on our seas, especially,
One mightie Bashaw, 'gainst whom w'have sent
Petro Deventuro, one of our best Sea Captains,
And, till we hear of his successe, w'are bard
Of much content.
Enter Merchant.
Merc.
My lord, good news, Petro Deventuro is return'd
With happy victory, and many noble prisoners,
And humbly laies his conquest at your feet.
Enter Petro, Bashaw.
Flor.
Petro, welcome.
The manner of thy Sea fight.
Petro.
Then thus, great Duke.
This noble Bashaw: noble I must call him,
For he deserves that worthy attribute,
Did lord o're these our seas, appointed well;
Laden with many a rich and golden spoil,
Not weak to us in number; being in ken,
We had him and his Gallies straight in chase:
He ne're set sail or fled: afar our ordnance plaid;
Comming more near, our muskets and our small shot,
Like showers of hail begun the slaughter;
There this Bashaw then perceiving straight
That he must either yeeld or die: his Semiter
He pointed to his breast, thinking thereon
To perish, had not my coming staid him.
Ioffer.
Nor think, bold Christian,
That I can commend, or thank thee for't,
For who that's noble will not prize brave death
Before a slavish bondage: had I died
By mine own hand, 'thad been a soldiers pride.
Flor.
Although a prisoner captive and a Moor,
Yet use him like the noblest of his nation.
And now withdraw with him, till wee
Determine of his ransome.
Exit.
Enter Merchant and Besse: also Spencer, Ruffman, Goodlack.
Merch.
Way there for the Dukes Mistrisse.
Spenc.
Ha, the Dukes Mistris, said he:
Goodl.
It was harsh.
Besse.
Keep off, we would have no such rubs as these,
Trouble our way? but have them swept aside,
A company of base companions, to do no reverence
To a Princes Mistris.
Heare you that?
Merch.
Give back, you trouble the presence.
Goodl.
This cannot be Besse, but some Furie hath stoln
her shape.
Ruff.
It seems strange.
Spenc.
But unto me most horrid.
Besse.
Great Duk, I come to keep my promise with you,
if you keep your word with me.
Flor.
These kinde regreets are unto me more welcome
Then my late victory got at Sea:
Will't please you take your seat?
Merc.
Is not yon Spencer, and that the Captain of the Negro?
Spenc.
What shall we next behold?
Flor.
Yet are you mine?
Besse.
From all the world, great Florence, witnesse this,
You ne're had yet a voluntary kisse.
Spenc.
'Sfoot I could tear my hair off.
Flor.
Second your kindnesse, let these Princes see
Your tempting lips solely belongs to me.
Besse.
Ther's one again, it surfets me 'bove measure,
To be a Princes darling, and choice treasure.
Spencer.
Hold me Goodlack, or I shall break out,
Into some dangerous outrage.
Goodl.
Shew in this your wisdome, and quite suppresse
your fury.
Flor.
Princes, I fear you have mistook your selves
In these two strangers, for I have little hope
To finde them worthy your great character.
Mant.
There must be great presumption that must
force belief to that.
Farar.
Nay more then presumptions, proofs,
Or they will win small credit.
Flor.
You had from us Lady, a costly jewell,
It cost ten thousand crowns, speak, can you shew it?
Besse.
I kept it chary
As mine own heart, because it came from you;
Snatcht it from my arm, therefore my suit is
With whomsoe're the jewell may be found,
The slave may die.
Flor.
His sentence thine, we never will revoke it.
Our Merchant, search all our Courtiers and such
Strangers as are within our Court.
Merch.
Her's one of no mean lustre that this Gentleman
wears in his hat.
Flor.
Reach it the Lady.
Goodl.
This cannot be Besse Bridges, but some Medusa,
Chang'd into her lively portrature.
Besse.
Princes, the thief is found: what e're he be
That's guilty of this felony, I beg
That I may be his sentencer.
Flor.
Thou shalt.
Besse.
If you have any intrest in his blood,
His oaths or vows, freely resigne them, him,
And all at my dispose.
Flor.
Have we not don't?
Farar.
Who can with the least honour speak for him,
The theft being so apparant?
Clem.
Now if she should challenge me with the purse
she gave me, and hang me up for my labour, I should curse
the time that ever I was a courtier.
Besse.
Let me descend, and e're I judge the Fellon,
Survay him first. 'Tis pitty, for it seems
He hath an honest face. The word was never.
Goodl.
What Besse, forget your self?
Besse.
An indifferent proper man, and take these courses.
You said you would not speak, nor look upon, nor touch your
Besse.
Spenc.
I could be a new Sinon and betray
A second Troy, rather then suffer this.
Besse
Good outward parts, but in a forraign clime
Shame your own countrey. Never think of that.
I fear my heart will break,
It doth so struggle for eruption forth.
Flor.
When do you speak his sentence, Lady?
Bess.
You'l confirm't what e're it be.
Flor.
As we are Prince we will.
Besse.
Set forth the prisoner.
Merch.
Stand forward Englishman.
Besse
Then hear thy doom, I give thee back thy life,
And in thy arms throw a most constant wife;
If Thou hast rashly sworn, thy oaths are free,
Th'art mine by gift, I give my self to thee.
Flor.
Lady, we understand not this.
Bess.
Shall I make it plain?
This is, great Duke, my husband,
Whose vertues even the barbarous Moors admir'd.
This the man for whom a thousand dangers I've endur'd,
Of whom the best approved Croniclers,
Might write a golden legend.
Merch.
My lord, I know that Gentleman
For Spencer, and her husband, for mine eyes
Saw them espous'd in Fesse: that Gentleman,
As I take it, was Captain of the Negro,
Th'other his Lieutenant.
Clem.
And do not you know me?
Merch.
Not I, Sir.
Clem.
I am Bashaw of Barbarie, by the same token I
sould certain precious stones to purchase the place.
Flo.
Lady, you told us he was the author
Of all your troubles, cares, and fears.
Besse.
I told true, his love was cause of all,
It drew me from my Countrey in his quest,
When I despair'd: and finding him in Fesse,
Oh do but think great Duke if e're you lov'd,
What might have bought him from you.
Had my Spencer been an Euridice,
I would have plaid the Orpheus,
Flor.
We now perceive,
The cause of all these errours his unkindnesse,
Grounded on his rash oath, which we release;
And all those vertues, honours, and renowns,
Which e'ne the barbarous Moors seem'd to admire,
Wee'll dignifie and raise their suffrage higher,
All.
Florence is honourable.
Enter Ioffer, Venturo.
Flor.
Bring in the Bashaw, call Venturo forth.
Ioffer
Duke, I am prisoner,
Put me to ransome or to death: But to death rather;
For me thinks, a Souldier should not outlive bondage.
Spenc.
Bashaw Ioffer?
Leave my embraces, Besse, for I of force am cast
Into his arms. My noble friend?
Ioff.
I know you not, and I could wish you did not
know me, now I am a prisoner, a wretch, a captive, and
such a one as I would not have my friends to know. I pray
stand off.
Spenc.
Because you are in durance,
Should I not know you? no:
For then the noblest mindes should friends best know.
Have you forgot me, Sir?
Ioff.
No; were I in freedome and my princely honours,
I should then be proud to call you Spencer,
And my friend, but now
Spenc.
An English vertue thou shalt try,
That for my life once didst not fear to die.
That for his noble office done to me,
Embrace him Besse, dear Goodlack, and the rest,
Whilst to this Prince I kneel. This was the Bashaw,
King Mullisheg made him great Viceroy of Argiers.
I know not, Prince, how he is faln so low,
But if my self, my friends, and all my fortunes
May redeem him home, unto my naked skin
Will not amount so much, Ile leave my self in hostage.
Farar.
'Tis the part
Of a most noble friend.
Mant.
And in these times worthy admiration
Flor.
I wonder not the Moors so grac'd this nation,
If all the English equall their vertues.
For this brave Stranger so indear'd to thee,
Passe to thy countrey ransomlesse and free.
All
Royall in all things is the duke of Florence.
Ioff.
Such honour is not found in Barbarie.
The vertue in these Christians hath converted me,
Which to the world I can no longer smother,
Accept me then a Christian and a brother.
Flor.
Princes,
These unexpected novelties,
Shall ad unto the high solemnity
Of your best welcome. Worthy Englishman,
And you, the mirrour of your sex and nation,
Fair English Elizabeth, as well for vertue
As admired beautie, wee'll give you cause, ere
You depart our Court, to say great Fesse
Was either poor, or else not bountifull.
Bashaw, wee'll honour your conversion,
With all due rites. But for you beauteous Lady,
Thus much in your behalf we do proclaim,
The fairest Maid were pattern'd in her life,
So fair a Virgin, and so chast a wife.
| The Fair Maid of The West. Or, A Girle worth gold. The second part | |