 | A Pleasant Comedy, called A Mayden-Head Well Lost |  |
Actus primus
Scena prima.
Enter Iulia and Strazo.Iulia.
That shee should doo't?
Stroza.
Shee?
Iul.
May we build vpon't?
Str.
As on a base of Marble; I haue seene
Strange passages of loue, loose enter changes
Of hands and eyes betwixt her and the Prince,
Madame looke too't.
Iul.
What hope hath he in one
So meanly bred? or shee t'obtaine a Prince
Of such discent and linnage?
Str.
What but this
That you must vndergoe the name of wife,
And she to intercept the sweetes of loue
Due to your bed.
Iul.
To be his strumpet Stroza?
Str.
Madame a woman may guesse vnhappily.
Iul.
Thou shouldst be honest Stroza.
Str.
Yes, many should
Be what they are not: but I alwayes was,
Iul.
The Generall Sforsaes daughter? is't not she?
Str.
Is that yet questioned? as if the chaste Court
Had saue her selfe one so degenerate,
So dissolutely wanton, so profuse
In prostitution too, so impudent
And blushlesse in her proud ambitious aime,
As if no man could her intemperance please,
Saue him whom Heauen hath destin'd to your bed.
Iul.
I neuer saw them yet familiar.
Str.
Ha, ha, as if they'd send for you to see't,
To witnesse what they most striue to conceale,
Be guld? be branded: 'las to me, all's nothing,
I shall ne're smart for't, what is't to me?
If being a Bride, you haue a widdowed fortune;
If being married, you must throw your selfe
Vpon a desolate bed, and in your armes,
Claspe nought but Ayre, whilst his armes full of pleasure
Borrow'd from a stolne beauty, shall this grieue
Or trouble me? breake my sleepes? make me starte
At midnight vp, and fill the house with clamours?
Shall this bring strange brats to be bred and brought
Vp at my fire, and call me Dad? No: this
Concernes not me more then my loue to you
To your high Soueraignty.
Iul.
I now repent
Too late, since I too lauishly haue giuen him
The vtmost he could aske, and stretcht my honour
Beyond all lawfull bounds of modesty.
Hee's couetous of others, and neglects
His owne; but I will part those their stolne pleasures,
And crosse those lustfull sports they haue in chase,
Not be the pillow to my owne disgrace.
Exit.
Str.
The game's on foote, and there's an easie path
To my reuenge; this beauteous Millanois
Vnto th'Duke sole heire, still courted, crau'd,
Which I still study how to breake, and cast
Aspersions betwixt both of strange dislike;
But wherein hath the other innocent Mayde
So iniur'd me, that I should scandall her?
Her Father is the Generall to the Duke:
For when I studdied to be rais'd by Armes,
And purchase me high eminence in Campe,
He crost my fortunes, and return'd me home
A Cashierd Captaine; for which iniury
I scandall all his meanes vnto the Duke,
And to the Princesse all his daughters vertues,
I labour to inuert, and bring them both
Into disgracefull hatred.
Enter Prince Parma.
Par.
Stroza?
Str.
My Lord?
Par.
Saw you the Princesse?
Str.
Iulia?
Par.
She?
Str.
I haue my Lord of late no eare of hers,
Nor she a tongue of mine; the, time hath bin
Till soothing Sycophants and Court Parasites
Supplanted me.
Par.
I haue the power with her
To bring thee into grace.
Str.
Haue you the power
To keepe your selfe in? doe you smile my Lord?
Par.
I tell thee Stroza, I haue that interest
In Iulias bosome, that the proudest Prince
In Italy cannot supplant me thence.
Str.
Sir,
I no way question it: but haue I not knowne
A Prince hath bin repulst, and meanest persons
Bosom'd? the Prince would once haue lookt vpon me,
When small intreaty would haue gain'd an eye,
An eare, a tongue, to speake yea, and a heart,
To thinke I could be secret.
What meanes Stroza?
Str.
But 'tis the fate of all mortality:
Man cannot long be happy; but my passion
Will make me turne blab, I shall out with all.
Par.
Whence comes this? 'tis suspicious, and I must be
Inquisitiue to know't.
Str.
A Iest my Lord,
I'le tell you a good Iest.
Par.
Prithee let's heare it.
Str.
What will you say, if at your meeting next
With this faire Princesse? shee begins to raue,
To raile vpon you, to exclaime on your
Inconstancy, and call the innocent name
Of some chaste Maide in question, whom perhaps
You neuer ey'd my Lord.
Par.
What of all this?
Str.
What but to excuse her owne: (I'le not say what)
Put off the purpos'd Contract: and my Lord
Come, come, I know you haue a pregnant wit.
Par.
We parted last with all the kindest greeting
Louers could adde fare-well with: but should this change
Suite thy report, I should be forc't to thinke
That, which euen Oracles themselues could neuer
Force me to that she is.
Str.
All women are not
Sincerely constant, but obserue my Lord.
Enter Iulia, the Generals Wife, and Lauretta her Daughter.
Iul.
Minion is't you? there's for you, know your owne.
Str.
Obseru'd you that my Lord?
Iulia meets her and strikes her, then speakes.
Lau.
Why did you strike me Madame?
Iul.
Strumpet, why?
Dare you contest with vs?
Lau.
Who dare with Princesse? subiects must forbeare
Each step I treade I'le water with a teare.
Exeunt Mother and Lauretta weeping.
I spy a storme a comming, Ile to shelter.
Exit Stro.
Par.
Your meaning Madame?
Iul.
Did it Sir with yours
But correspond, it would be bad indeede.
Par.
VVhy did you strike that Lady?
Iul.
Cause you should pitty her.
Par.
Small cause for blowes.
Iul.
I strucke her publickly.
Par.
You giue her blowes in priuate.
Par.
Stroza still?
Iul.
Goe periurd and dispose thy false allurements
'Mongst them that will beleeue thee, thou hast lost
Thy credit here for euer.
Par.
I shall finde
Faith else-where then.
Iul.
Eye spread thy snares
To catch poore innocent Maides: and hauing tane them
In the like pit-fall, with their shipwrackt honours,
Make seasure of their liues.
Par.
Iniurious Lady,
All thou canst touch my Honour with, I cast
On thee, and henceforth I will flye thee as
A Basaliske. I haue found the change of lust,
Your loose inconstancy, which is as plaine
To me, as were it writ vpon thy brow,
You shall not cast me off: I hate thy sight,
And from this houre I will abiure thee quite.
Exit Parma.
Iul.
Ile call him backe: if Stroza be no villaine,
He is not worth my clamour. What was that startled
Within me? Oh I am dishonoured
Perpetually; for he hath left behinde
That pledge of his acquaintance, that will for euer
Cleaue to my blood in scandall, I must now
Sue, send, and craue, and what before I scorn'd
By prayers to grant, submissiuely implore.
Exit Iulia.
A flourish. Enter the Duke of Millenie, the Generals wife, and deliuers a petition with Stroza, Lauretta, and attendants.
Lady your suite?
Wife.
So please your Grace peruse it,
It is included there.
Duk.
Our generals Wife?
Duk.
We know you Lady, and your beauteous Daughter,
Nay you shall spare your knee,
Str.
More plot for mee;
My brain's in labour, and must be deliuered
Of some new mischeife?
Duk.
You petition heere
For Men and Money! making a free relation
Of all your Husbands fortunes, how supplyes
Haue beene delay'd, and what extremities
He hath indurd at Naples dreadfull Seige;
We know them all, and withall doe acknowledge
All plentious blessings by the power of Heauen,
By him wee doe obtaine, and by his valour
Lady we greue he hath beene so neglected.
Wife.
O Roiall Sir, you still were Gratious,
But twixt your Vertues and his Merits there
Hath beene some interception, that hath stopt
The current of your fauours.
Duk.
All which shal bee remou'd, and hee appeare
Henceforth a bright starre in our courtly spheare.
Str.
But no such Comet here shall daze my sight,
Whilst I a Cloud am to Eclips that light
Exit Stroza.
Duk.
We sent out our Commissions two Monthes since
For Men and Money, nor was't our intent
It should bee thus delayd: though we are Prince,
We onely can command, to Execute
Tis not in vs but in our Officers,
We vnderstand that by their negligence
He has beene put to much extremity
Of Dearth and Famine; many a stormy night
Beene forc'd to roofe himselfe i'th open field,
Nay more then this, much of his owne reuenue
Yet Reuerend Madame, but forget what's past,
Though late, weele quit his merit at the last.
Enter Iulia and Stroza whispering.
Wife.
Your Highnesse is most Royall?
Stro.
Her Father shall be in the Campe releiu'd,
She grac'd in Court, how will she braue you then?
If suffer this take all? why the meanest Lady
Would neuer brooke an equall? you a Princesse?
And can you brooke a base competitor?
Iulia.
It shall not, we are fixt and stand immou'd,
And will be swaid by no hand.
Duk.
Iulia?
Iulia.
A Sutor to that Lady Royall Father,
Before she be a widdow that you are
So priuate in discourse?
Duk.
O you mistake,
For shee the sutor is and hath obtain'd.
Iulia.
I'm glad I haue found you in the giuing vaine.
Will you grant me one boone to?
Duk.
Question not,
To hast your Marriage with the former Prince,
Or at the least the contract, is't not that?
Iulia.
Say twere my Lord?
Duk.
It could not be denide
But speake? thy suite?
Iulia.
To haue this modest Gentlewoman
Banisht the Court,
Wife.
My Daughter Royall princesse,
Show vs some cause I beg it?
Iulia.
Lady though
You be i'th begging vaine, I am not now
In the giuing, will you leaue vs?
Lauretta.
Wherein O Heauen
Haue I deseru'd your wrath, that you should thus
My vnderstanding, but yet cannot finde?
Wherein I haue offended by my chastity.
Iulia.
How chastitiy?
A thing long sought 'mongst Captains wiues and daughters,
Yet hardly can bee found.
Duk.
Faier Lady yeild
Vnto my daughters spleen her rage blowne 'ore,
Feare not, Ile make your peace, as for your suite
Touching your husband, that will I secure.
Iul.
Haste Stroza, vnto the Prince his chamber,
Giue him this letter, it concernes my honor,
My state, my life, all that I can call good
Depends vpon the safe deliuery
Of these few broken Letters.
Str.
Maddam, tis done—
Exit.
Iul.
VVhat stayes she to out-face me?
Lau.
Madam, I yeeld
VVay to your spleene, not knowing whence it growes,
Bearing your words more heauy then your blowes.
Wife.
Small hope there is to see the Father righted
VVhen the child is thus wrong'd.
Enter a Souldier and Stroza.
Soul.
Must speake with the Duke,
Str.
Must fellow? stay your howre, and dance attendance
Vntill the Duke's at leisure.
Soul.
Ile doe neither,
I come in haste with newes,
Str.
VVhy then keepe out sir.
Soul.
Ha Milksop? know percullist gates
Though kept with Pikes & Muskets, could nere kepe me out
And dost thou thinke to shut me out with VVainscot?
Duk.
VVhat's he?
Soul.
A Souldier,
Duk.
VVhence?
Soul.
The Campe
Duk.
The newes?
Soul.
A mighty losse; a glorious victory
But which the greater?
Soul.
Tis vncertaine Sir:
But will you heare the best or bad newes first?
Duke.
Cheere me with conquest first, that being arm'd
With thy best newes, we better may endure
What sounds more fatall.
Soul.
Heare me then my Lord,
We sack't the Citty after nine Moneths siege,
Furnisht with store of all warres furniture,
Our (neuer to be praisd enough) braue Generall
Fought in the Cannons face, their number still
Increast, but our diminisht; their souldiers pay
Doubled, and ours kept backe: but we (braue spirits)
The losse we had of Coyne, the more we tooke
Vnto our selues of Courage, but when all
Our furniture was spent euen to one day,
And that to morrow we must be inforc't
To raise a shameful siege, then stood our General
(Our valiant Generall) vp, and breath'd vpon vs
His owne vndaunted spirit, which spred through
The Campe, return'd it doubly arm'd againe:
For he did meane to lay vpon one shott
His state and fortune, and then instantly
He bad vs arme and follow: On then he went,
We after him; oh! 'twas a glorious sight,
Fit for a Theater of Gods to see,
How we made vp and mauger all opposure,
Made way through raging stormes of showring bullets;
At last we came to hooke our ladders, and
By them to skale. The first that mounted, was
Our bold couragious Generall: after him
Ten thousand, so we instantly were made
Lords of the Citty, purchas'd in two houres
After a nine Moneths siege: all by the valour
Of our approued Generall.
Duke.
I neuer heard a brauer victory,
Soul.
Oh that, which ten such Conquests
Cannot make good, your worthy Generall.
Wife.
My Lord and husband? spare me passion,
I must with-draw to death.
Exit.
Duke.
How perish't he?
What dy'de he by the sword?
Soul.
Sword? No alas,
No sword durst byte vpon his noble flesh,
Nor bullet raze his skinne: he whom War feared,
The Cannon spar'd, no steele durst venture on.
No Duke, 'twas thy vnkinde ingratitude
Hath slaine braue Sforsa.
Duke.
Speake the cause?
Soul.
I shall:
This Citty seaz'd, his purpose was the spoyle
To giue his Souldiers; but when his seal'd Commission
He had vnript, and saw expresse command,
To deale no farther then to victory,
And that his great Authority was curb'd,
And giuen to others, that respect their profit
More then the worth of souldiers: euen for griefe,
That he could neither furnish vs with pay
Which was kept back, nor guerdon vs with spoile,
What was about him he distributed,
Euen to the best deseruers, as his garments,
His Armes, and Tent, then some few words spake,
And so opprest with griefe, his great heart brake.
Str.
There's one gone then.
Duke.
Attend for thy reward,
So leaue vs.
Soul.
Pray on whom shall I attend?
VVho is't must pay me?
Str.
I sir.
Soul.
You sir? tell me,
VVill it not cost me more the waiting for,
Then the summe comes to when it is receiu'd?
Str.
You are a bold
And saucy souldier.
Soul.
You are a cunning slaue,
And cowardly Courtier.
Duke.
See all things be dispatcht
Touching conditions of attoned peace
'Twixt vs and Naples: see that souldier to
Haue his reward.
Soul.
Come will you pay me sir?
Exit Soul.
Str.
Sir, will you walke: as for your saucinesse
I'le teach you a Court-tricke: you shal be taught
How to attend.
Duke.
But that our General's lost:
Str.
Is't not now peace, what should a Generall doe?
Had he return'd, he would haue lookt for honours,
This suite and that for such a follower:
Now Royall sir, that debt is quite discharg'd.
Duke.
But for his wife, we must be mindefull of her,
And see we doe so.
Exit Duke.
Iul.
Speake, will he come?
Str.
Madam, I found him ready to depart
The Court with expedition: but at my vrgence
He promis't you a parley.
Iul.
It is well:
If prayers or teares can moue him, Ile make way
To saue my owne shame, and enforce his stay.
Exeunt.
Enter three souldiers: one without an arme.
1 Soul.
Come fellow souldiers, doe you know the reason
That we are summon'd thus vnto the house
Of our dead Generall?
2 Soul.
Sure 'tis about
Our pay.
3 Soul.
But stand aside, here comes the Lady.
Enter the Mother, Lauretta, and Clowne.
Are all these Gentlemen summond together,
That were my Husbands followers, and whose fortunes
Expir'd in him?
Clo.
They are if please your Ladiship: though I was neuer
Tawny-coate, I haue playd the summoners part, and the rest
are already paide, onely these three attend your Ladiships remuneration.
Wife.
VVelcome Gentlemen,
My Husband led you on to many dangers
Two yeares, and last to pouerty: His reuenewes
Before hand he sold to maintaine his Army,
VVhen the Dukes pay still fail'd, you know you were
Stor'd euer from his Coffers.
1 Soul.
He was a right
And worthy Generall.
2 Soul.
He was, no lesse.
Clo.
He was no lesse; and all you know hee was no more,
well, had he liu'd, I had beene plac't in some house of office
or other ere this time.
Wife.
It was his will, which to my vtmost power
I will make good, to satisfie his souldiers
To the vtmost farthing. All his Gold and Iewels
I haue already added, yet are we still
To score to souldiery? what is your summe?
1 Soul.
Pay for three Moneths.
Wife.
There's double that in Gold.
1 Soul.
I thanke your Ladiship.
Wife.
VVhat yours?
2 Soul.
VVhy Madam,
For foure Moneths pay.
Wife.
This Iewell surmounts that.
2 Soul.
I am treble satisfied.
Wife.
You are behinde hand too.
Clo.
By but Madam, I thinke he be no true souldier.
Wife.
No true Souldier? your reason?
Clo.
Marry because he walkes without his Armes.
The Dukes Treasure
Cannot make good that losse, yet are we rich
In one thing:
Nothing we haue that were of nothing made,
Nothing we owe, my Husbands debts are payd.
Morrow Gentlemen.
All.
Madam, Hearts, Swords and hands, rest still
At your command.
Wife.
Gentlemen I'me forty that I cannot pay you better,
Vnto my wishes and your owne desert,
'Tis plainely seene great Persons oft times fall,
And the most Rich cannot giue more then all.
Good morrow Gentlemen,
All.
May you be euer happy.
Exeunt Souldiers.
Clo.
I but Madam, this is a hard case being truly considered,
to giue away all, why your Shoe-maker, though he hath
many other Tooles to worke with, he will not giue away
his All.
Wife.
All ours was his alone, it came by him.
And for his Honour it was paid againe.
Clo.
VVhy, say I had a peece of Meate, I had a mind to, I
might perhaps giue away a Modicum, a Morcell, a Fragment
or so, but to giue away and bee a hungry my selfe, I
durst not doo't for my Guts, or say I should meete with a
friend that had but one Penny in his Purse, that should giue
mee a Pot of Ale, that should drinke to me, and drinke vp all,
I'le stand too't there's no Conscience in't.
Lau.
VVhat hath benee done was for my Fathers Honor.
Clo.
Shee might haue giuen away a little, and a little, but
VVhen all is gone, what's left for me?
Wife.
VVee will leaue Millaine and to Florence straight,
Though wee are poore, yet where we liue vnknowne
'Tis the lesse griefe, sirrah, will you consort
VVith vs, and beare a part in our misfortunes?
Clo.
Troth Madam, I could find in my heart to goe
with you but for one thing.
What's that?
Clow.
Because you are too liberall a Mistresse: and that's
a fault seldome found among Ladies: For looke, you vse
to giue away all, and I am all that is left; and I am affraide
when you come into a strange Countrey, you'le giue away me
too, so that I shall neuer liue to be my owne man.
Wife.
Tush, feare it not.
Clow.
Why then I'le goe with you in spite of your teeth.
Wife.
Leaue Milleine then, to Florence be our guide,
Heauen when man failes, must for our helpe prouide.
Exeūt.
| A Pleasant Comedy, called A Mayden-Head Well Lost | |