 | The Revengers Tragaedie [by Thomas Middleton] |  |
ACT. 3.
Enter Ambitioso, and Superuacuo?Sup.
Brother, let my opinion sway you once,
I speake it for the best, to haue him die:
Surest and soonest, if the signet come,
Vnto the iudges hands, why then his doome,
Will be deferd till sittings and Court-daies:
Iuries and further,—Fayths are bought and sold,
Oths in these daies are but the skin of gold.
Amb.
In troth tis true too!
Super.
Then lets set by the Iudges
And fall to the Officers, tis but mistaking
The Duke our fathers meaning, and where he nam'd,
Ere many daies, tis but forgetting that
And, haue him die i'th morning.
Amb.
Excellent,
Then am I heire—Duke in a minute.
Super.
Nay,
And he were once pufft out, here is a pinne.
Amb.
Blast occasion,
He being packt, weele haue some trick and wile,
To winde our yonger brother out of prison,
That lies in for the Rape, the Ladies dead,
And peoples thoughts will soone be buried.
Super.
We may with safty do't, and liue and feede,
The Duchesse-sonnes are too proud to bleed,
Am.
We are yfaith to say true.—come let's not linger
Ile to the Officers, go you before,
And set an edge vpon the Executioner.
Sup.
Let me alone to grind him.
Exit.
Amb.
Meete; farewell,
I am next now, I rise iust in that place,
Where thou'rt cut of, vpon thy Neck kind brother,
The falling of one head, lifts vp another.
Exit.
Enter with the Nobles, Lussurioso from pryson.
Luss.
My Lords? I am so much indebted to your loues,
For this, O this deliuery.
1. Nob.
But our dueties, my Lord, vnto the hopes that growe in you,
Luss.
If ere I liue to be my selfe ile thanke you,
O liberty thou sweete and heauenly Dame;
But hell for pryson is too milde a name.
Exeunt.
Enter Ambitioso, and Superuacuo? with Officers.
Am.
Officers? heres the Dukes signet, your firme warrant,
Brings the command of present death a long with it
Vnto our brother, the Dukes sonne; we are sory,
That we are so vnnaturally employde
In such an vnkinde Office, fitter farre
For enemies then brothers.
Super.
But you know,
The Dukes command must be obayde.
1. Offi.
It must and shal my Lord—this morning then,
So suddainely?
Am.
I alasse poore—good—soule,
Hee must breake fast betimes, the executioner
Stands ready to put forth his cowardly valour.
2. Offi.
Already?
Alreardy ifath, O sir, destruction hies,
And that is least Impudent, soonest dyes,
1. Off.
Troth you say true my Lord we take our leaues,
Our Office shall be sound, weele not delay,
The third part of a minute.
Amb.
Therein you showe.
Your selues good men, and vpright officers,
Pray let him die as priuat as he may,
Doe him that fauour, for the gaping people.
Will but trouble him at his prayers,
And make him curse, and sweare, and so die black.
Will you be so far Kind?
1. Off.
It shall be done my Lord.
Amb.
Why we do thanke you, if we liue to be,
You shall haue a better office,
2. Off.
Your good Lord-shippe.
Sup.
Commend vs to the scaffold in our teares.
1. Off.
Weele weepe and doe your commendations,
Exeunt.
Amb.
Fine fooles in office!
Sup.
Things fall out so fit.
Amb.
So happily, come brother ere next clock,
His head will be made serue a bigger block.
Exeunt.
Enter in prison Iunior Brother,
Iuni.
Keeper.
Keep.
My Lord.
Iuni.
No newes lately from our brothers?
Are they vnmindfull of vs?
Keep.
My Lord a messenger came newly in and brought this from 'em,
Iuni.
Nothing but paper comforts?
I look'd for my deliuery before this,
Had they beene worth their oths—prethee be from vs.
Now what say you forsooth, speake out I pray,
Letter.
Brother be of good cheere,
Slud it begins like a whore with good cheere,
Thou shalt not be long a prisoner.
Not fiue and thirty yeare like a banqrout, I thinke so,
We haue thought vpon a deuice to get thee out by a tricke!
By a tricke, pox a your tricke and it be so long a playing.
And so rest comforted, be merry and expect it suddaynely!
Be merry, hang merry, draw and quarter merry, Ile be mad!
Ist not strange that a man should lie in a whole month for a woman,
well, wee shall see how suddaine our brothers: will bee in
their promise, I must expect still a trick! I shall not bee long a
prisoner, how now, what newes?
Keeper.
Bad newes my Lord I am discharg'd of you.
Iunio.
Slaue calst thou that bad newes, I thanke you brothers.
Keep.
My Lord twill proue so, here come the Officers,
Into whose hands I must commit you.
Iunio.
Ha, Officers, what, why?
1. Offi.
You must pardon vs my Lord,
Our Office must be sound, here is our warrant
The signet from the Duke, you must straight suffer.
Iunior.
Suffer? ile suffer you to be gon, ile suffer you,
To come no more, what would you haue me suffer?
2. Offi.
My Lord those words were better chang'd to praiers,
The times but breife with you, prepare to die.
Iunior.
Sure tis not so.
3. Offi.
It is too true my Lord.
Iunior.
I tell you tis not, for the Duke my father,
Deferd me till next sitting, and I looke
E'en euery minute threescore times an houre,
For a release, a trick wrought by my brothers.
1. Offi.
A trick my Lord? if you expect such comfort,
Your hopes as fruitlesse as a barren woman:
Your brothers were the vnhappy messengers,
That brought this powerfull token for your death.
Iunior.
My brothers, no, no.
2. Offi.
Tis most true my Lord.
Iunior.
My brothers to bring a warrant for my death
How strange this showes?
3. Offi.
There's no delaying time.
Iunior.
Desire e'm hether, call e'm vp, my brothers?
They shall deny it to your faces.
1. Offi.
My Lord,
They're far ynough by this, at least at Court,
And this most strickt command they left behinde e'm,
When griefe swum in their eyes, they show'd like brothers,
Brim-full of heauy sorrow: but the Duke
Must haue his pleasure.
Iunio.
His pleasure?
These were their last words which my memory beares,
Commend vs to the Scaffold in our teares.
Iunior.
Pox drye their teares, what should I do with teares?
I hate em worse then any Cittizens sonne
Can hate salt water; here came a letter now,
New-bleeding from their Pens, scarce stinted yet,
Would Ide beene torne in peeces when I tore it,
Looke you officious whoresons words of comfort,
Not long a Prisoner.
1. Off.
It sayes true in that sir, for you must suffer presently.
Iunior.
A villanous Duns, vpon the letter knauish exposition,
Looke you then here sir: Weele get thee out by a trick sayes hee.
2. Off.
That may hold too sir, for you know a Trick is commonly
foure Cardes, which was meant by vs foure officers.
Iunior.
Worse and worse dealing.
1. Off.
The houre beckens vs,
The heads-man waites, lift vp your eyes to heauen.
Iunior.
I thanke you faith; good pritty-holsome counsell.
I should looke vp to heauen as you sedd,
Whilst he behinde me cozens me of my head,
I thats the Trick.
3. Off.
You delay too long my Lord.
Iunior.
Stay good Authorities Bastards, since I must
Through Brothers periurie dye, O let me venome
Their soules with curses.
1. Off.
Come tis no time to curse.
Iunior.
Must I bleed then, without respect of signe? well—
My fault was sweet sport, which the world approoues,
I dye for that which euery woman loues.
Exeunt.
Enter Vindici with Hippolito his brother.
Vind.
O sweete, delectable, rare, happy, rauishing,
Hip.
Why what's the matter brother?
Vin.
O tis able, to make a man spring vp, & knock his for-head
Against yon siluar seeling.
Hip.
Pre-thee tell mee,
Why may not I pertake with you? you vowde once
To giue me share to euery tragick thought.
Vind.
Byth' Masse I thinke I did too,
Then Ile diuide it to thee,—the old Duke
Thinking my outward shape, and inward heart
His heart stands ath out side) hires me by price:
To greete him with a Lady,
In some fit place vaylde from the eyes ath Court,
Some darkned blushlesse Angle, that is guilty
Of his fore-fathers lusts, and great-folkes riots,
To which (I easily to maintaine my shape)
Consented, and did wish his impudent grace
To meete her here in this vn-sunned-lodge,
Where-in tis night at noone, and here the rather,
Because vnto the torturing of his soule,
The Bastard and the Duchesse haue appoynted
Their meeting too in this luxurious circle,
Which most afflicting sight will kill his eyes
Before we kill the rest of him.
Hip.
Twill yfaith, most dreadfully digested,
I see not how you could haue mist me brother.
Vind.
True, but the violence of my ioy forgot it.
Hip.
I, but where's that Lady now?
Vind.
Oh at that word,
I'me lost againe, you cannot finde me yet
I'me in a throng of happy Apprehensions.
Hee's suted for a Lady, I haue tooke care
For a delitious lip, a sparkling eye,
You shall be witnesse brother;
Be ready stand with your hat off.
Exit.
Hip.
Troth I wonder what Lady it should be?
Yet tis no wonder, now I thinke againe,
To haue a Lady stoope to a Duke, that stoopes vnto his men,
Tis common to be common, through the world:
And there's more priuate common shadowing vices,
Then those who are knowne both by their names and prices
Tis part of my alleagance to stand bare,
To the Dukes Concubine,—and here she comes.
Enter Vindice, with the skull of his loue drest vp in Tires.
Vind.
Madame his grace will not be absent long.
Secret? nere doubt vs Madame? twill be worth
Three veluet gownes to your Ladyship—knowne?
Tis the best grace you haue to-do it well,
Ile saue your hand that labour, ile vnmaske you?
Hip.
Why brother, brother.
Vind.
Art thou beguild now? tut, a Lady can,
At such all hid, beguile a wiser man,
Haue I not fitted the old surfetter
With a quaint peice of beauty, age and bare bone
Are ere allied in action; here's an eye,
Able to tempt a greatman—to serue God,
A prety hanging lip, that has forgot now to dissemble
Me thinkes this mouth should make a swearer tremble.
A drunckard claspe his teeth, and not vndo e'm,
To suffer wet damnation to run through e'm.
Heres a cheeke keepes her colour let the winde go whistle,
Spout Raine, we feare thee not, be hot or cold
Alls one with vs; and is not he absur'd,
Whose fortunes are vpon their faces set,
That feare no other God but winde and wet.
Hip.
Brother y'aue spoke that right,
Is this the forme that liuing shone so bright?
Vind.
The very same,
And now me thinkes I cold e'en chide my selfe,
For doating on her beauty, tho her death
Shall be reuengd after no common action;
Do's the Silke-worme expend her yellow labours
For thee? for thee dos she vndoe herselfe?
Are Lord-ships sold to maintaine Lady-ships
For the poore benefit of a bewitching minute?
Why dos yon fellow falsify hie-waies
And put his life betweene the Iudges lippes,
To refine such a thing; keepes horse and men
To beate their valours for her?
Surely wee're all mad people, and they
Whome we thinke are, are not, we mistake those,
Tis we are mad in scence, they but in clothes.
Hip.
Faith and in clothes too we, giue vs our due.
Vind.
Dos euery proud and selfe-affecting Dame
In sinfull baths of milke,—when many an infant starues,
For her superfluous out-side, all for this?
Who now bids twenty pound a night, prepares
Musick, perfumes, and sweete-meates, all are husht,
Thou maist lie chast now! it were fine me thinkes:
To haue thee seene at Reuells, forgetfull feasts,
And vncleane Brothells; sure twould fright the sinner
And make him a good coward, put a Reueller,
Out off his Antick amble
And cloye an Epicure with empty dishes?
Here might a scornefull and ambitious woman,
Looke through and through her selfe,—see Ladies, with false formes,
You deceiue men, but cannot deceiue wormes.
Now to my tragick businesse, looke you brother,
I haue not fashiond this onely—for show
And vselesse property, no, it shall beare a part
E'en in it owne Reuenge. This very skull,
Whose Mistris the Duke poysoned, with this drug
The mortall curse of the earth; shall be reuengd
In the like straine, and kisse his lippes to death,
As much as the dumbe thing can, he shall feele:
What fayles in poyson, weele supply in steele.
Hip.
Brother I do applaud thy constant vengeance,
The quaintnesse of thy malice aboue thought.
Vind.
So tis layde on: now come and welcome Duke,
I haue her for thee, I protest it brother:
Me thinkes she makes almost as faire a sine
As some old gentlewoman in a Periwig?
Hide thy face now for shame, thou hadst neede haue a Maske now
Tis vaine when beauty flowes, but when it fleetes
This would become graues better then the streetes.
Hip.
You haue my voice in that; harke, the Duke's come.
Uind.
Peace, let's obserue what company he brings,
And how he dos absent e'm, for you knowe
Heele wish all priuate,—brother fall you back a little,
With the bony Lady.
Hip.
That I will.
Vind.
So, so,—now 9. years vengeance crowde into a minute!
You shall haue leaue to leaue vs, with this charge,
Vpon your liues, if we be mist by'th Duchesse
Or any of the Nobles, to giue out,
We're priuately rid forth.
Vind.
Oh happinesse!
Duk.
With some few honorable gentlemen you may say,
You may name those that are away from Court.
Gentle.
Your will and pleasure shall be done my Lord.
Vind.
Priuatly rid forth,
He striues to make sure worke on't—your good grace?
Duk.
Piato, well done hast brought her, what Lady ist?
Vind.
Faith my Lord a Country Lady, a little bashfull at first
as most of them are, but after the first kisse my Lord the worst is
past with them, your grace knowes now what you haue to doo;
sha's some-what a graue looke with her—but—
Duk.
I loue that best, conduct her.
Vind.
Haue at all.
Duk.
In grauest lookes the Greatest faultes seeme lesse
Giue me that sin thats rob'd in Holines.
Vind.
Back with the Torch; brother raise the perfumes.
Duk.
How sweete can a Duke breath? age has no fault,
Pleasure should meete in a perfumed mist,
Lady sweetely encountred, I came from Court I must bee bould
with you, oh, what's this, oh!
Vind.
royall villaine, white diuill;
Duke.
Oh.
Vind.
Brother—place the Torch here, that his affrighted eyeballs
May start into those hollowes, Duke; dost knowe
Yon dreadfull vizard, view it well, tis the skull
Of Gloriana, whom thou poysonedst last.
Duk.
Oh, tas poysoned me.
Vind.
Didst not know that till now?
Duk.
What are you two?
Vind.
Villaines all three?—the very ragged bone,
Has beene sufficiently reuengd.
Duk.
Oh Hippolito? call treason.
Hip.
Yes my good Lord, treason, treason, treason. stamping on him.
Duk.
Then I'me betrayde.
Vind.
Alasse poore Lecher in the hands of knaues,
A slauish Duke is baser then his slaues.
My teeth are eaten out.
Vind.
Hadst any left.
Hip.
I thinke but few.
Vin.
Then those that did eate are eaten.
Duk.
O my tongue.
Vind.
Your tongue? twill teach you to kisse closer,
Not like a Flobbering Dutchman, you haue eyes still:
Looke monster, what a Lady hast thou made me,
My once bethrothed wife.
Duk.
Is it thou villaine, nay then—
Vind.
T'is I, 'tis Vindici, tis I.
Hip.
And let this comfort thee: our Lord and Father
Fell sick vpon the infection of thy frownes,
And dyed in sadnesse; be that thy hope of life.
Duke.
Oh?
Vind.
He had his toung, yet greefe made him die speechlesse.
Puh, tis but early yet, now ile begin
To stick thy soule with Vlcers, I will make
Thy spirit grieuous sore, it shall not rest,
But like some pestilent man tosse in thy brest-(marke me duke)
Thou'rt a renowned, high, and mighty Cuckold.
Duke.
Oh!
Uind.
Thy Bastard, thy bastard rides a hunting in thy browe.
Duke.
Millions of deaths.
Uind.
Nay to afflict thee more,
Here in this lodge they meete for damned clips,
Those eyes shall see the incest of their lips.
Duke.
Is there a hell besides this, villaines?
Vind.
Villaine?
Nay heauen is iust, scornes are the hires of scornes,
I nere knew yet Adulterer with-out hornes.
Hip.
Once ere they dye 'tis quitted.
Vind.
Harke the musicke,
Their banquet is preparde, they're comming—
Duke.
Oh, kill me not with that sight.
Vin.
Thou shalt not loose that sight for all thy Duke-doome.
Duke.
Traytors, murderers?
Uin.
What? is not thy tongue eaten out yet?
Then weele inuent a silence? brother stifle the Torch,
Duke.
Treason, murther?
Vind.
Nay faith, weele haue you husht now with thy dagger
Naile downe his tongue, and mine shall keepe possession
About his heart, if hee but gaspe hee dyes,
If he but winck, not brooking the foule obiect,
Let our two other hands teare vp his lids,
And make his eyes like Comets shine through bloud,
When the bad bleedes, then is the Tragedie good,
Hip.
Whist, brother, musick's at our eare, they come.
Enter the Bastard meeting the Dutchesse.
Spu.
Had not that kisse a taste of sinne 'twere sweete.
Dutch.
Why there's no pleasure sweet but it is sinfull.
Spu.
True, such a bitter sweetnesse fate hath giuen,
Best side to vs, is the worst side to heauen.
Dutch.
Push, come: 'tis the old Duke thy doubtfull Father,
The thought of him rubs heauen in thy way,
But I protest by yonder waxen fire,
Forget him, or ile poyson him.
Spu.
Madam, you vrge a thought which nere had life,
So deadly doe I loath him for my birth,
That if hee tooke mee haspt within his bed,
I would adde murther to adultery,
And with my sword giue vp his yeares to death.
Dutch.
Why now thou'rt sociable, lets in and feast,
Lowdst Musick sound: pleasure is Banquests guest.
Exeunt.
Duk.
I cannot brooke—
Vind.
The Brooke is turnd to bloud.
Hip.
Thanks to lowd Musick.
Vind.
Twas our friend indeed,
'Tis state in Musicke for a Duke to bleed:
The Duke-dome wants a head, tho yet vnknowne,
As fast as they peepe vp, lets cut 'em downe.
Exeunt.
Enter the Dutchesse two sonnes, Ambitioso & Supervacuo.
Amb.
Was not his execution rarely plotted?
We are the Dukes sonnes now.
Super.
I you may thanke my policie for that.
Amb.
Your policie, for what?
Super.
Why wast not my inuention brother,
To slip the Iudges, and in lesser compasse,
Did not I draw the modell of his death,
Aduizing you to suddaine officers,
And een extemporall execution.
Amb.
Heart, twas a thing I thought on too.
You thought ont too, sfoote slander not your thoughts
With glorious vntruth, I know twas from you.
Amb.
Sir I say, twas in my head.
Spu.
I, like your braines then,
Nere to come out as long as you liu'd.
Amb.
You'd haue the honor on't forsooth, that your wit
Lead him to the scaffold,
Super.
Since it is my due,
Ile publisht, but Ile ha't in spite of you.
Amb.
Me thinkes y'are much too bould, you should a little
Remember vs brother, next to be honest Duke.
Sup.
I, it shall be as easie for you to be Duke,
As to be honest, and that's neuer ifaith.
Amb.
Well, cold he is by this time, and because
Wee're both ambitious, be it our amity,
And let the glory be sharde equally.
Sup.
I am content to that.
Amb.
This night out yonger brother shall out of prison,
I haue a trick.
Sup.
A trick, pre-thee what ist?
Amb.
Weele get him out by a wile.
Sup.
Pre-thee what wile?
Amb.
No sir, you shall not know it, till't be done,
For then you'd sweare twere yours.
Super.
How now, whats he?
Amb.
One of the officers.
Super.
Desired newes.
Amb.
How now my friend?
Off.
My Lords, vnder your pardon, I am allotted
To that desertlesse office, to present you
With the yet bleeding head.
Sup.
Ha, ha, excellent.
Amb.
All's sure our owne: Brother, canst weepe thinkst thou?
Twould grace our Flattery much; thinke of some Dame,
Twill teach thee to dissemble.
Sup.
I haue thought,—Now for your selfe.
Amb.
Our sorrowes are so fluent,
Our eyes ore-flow our toungs, words spoake in teares,
Are like the murmures of the waters, the sound
Is lowdly heard, but cannot be distinguisht.
Sup.
How dyed he pray?
Off.
O full of rage and spleene.
Super.
He dyed most valiantly then, we're glad to heare it.
Off.
We could not woe him once to pray.
Amb.
He showd himselfe a Gentleman in that: giue him his due.
But in the steed of prayer, he drew forth oaths.
Super.
Then did hee pray deere heart,
Although you vnderstood him not.
Offi.
My Lords,
E'en at his last, with pardon bee it spoake,
Hee curst you both.
Sup.
Hee curst vs? lasse good soule.
Amb.
It was not in our powers, but the Dukes pleasure,
Finely dissembled a both-sides, sweete fate,
O happy opportunitie.
Enter Lussurioso.
Luss.
Now my Lords.
Both.
Oh!—
Luss.
Why doe you shunne mee Brothers?
You may come neerer now;
The sauor of the prison has for-sooke mee,
I thanke such kinde Lords as your selues, Ime free.
Amb.
Aliue!
Super.
In health!
Amb.
Releasd?
We were both ee'n amazd with ioy to see it,
Luss.
I am much to thanke you.
Sup.
Faith we spar'd no toung, vnto my Lord the Duke.
Amb.
I know your deliuery brother
Had not beene halfe so sudden but for vs.
Sup.
O how we pleaded.
Luss.
Most deseruing brothers,
In my best studies I will thinke of it?
Exit Luss.
Amb.
O death and vengeance.
Sup.
Hell and torments.
Amb.
Slaue camst thou to delude vs.
Off.
Delude you my Lords?
Super.
I villaine, where's this head now?
Off.
Why heere my Lord,
Iust after his deliuery, you both came
With warrant from the Duke to be-head your brother.
Amb.
I, our brother, the Dukes sonne.
Off.
The Dukes sonne my Lord, had his release before you came.
Amb.
Whose head's that then?
Off.
His whom you left command for, your owne brothers?
Amb.
Our brothers? oh furies—
Sup.
Plagues.
Amb.
Confusions.
Sup.
Darkenesse.
Amb.
Diuils.
Sup.
Fell it out so accursedly?
Amb.
So damnedly.
Villaine Ile braine thee with it,
Off.
O my good Lord!
Sup.
The Diuill ouer-take thee?
Amb.
O fatall.
Sup.
O prodigious to our blouds.
Amb.
Did we dissemble?
Sup.
Did we make our teares woemen for thee?
Amb.
Laugh and reioyce for thee.
Sup.
Bring warrant for thy death.
Amb.
Mock off thy head
Super.
You had a trick, you had a wile forsooth.
Amb.
A murren meete 'em, there's none of these wiles that
euer come to good: I see now, there is nothing sure in mortalitie,
but mortalitie, well, no more words shalt be reuengd ifaith.
And deeper setled hate, sirrah sit fast,
Weele pull downe all, but thou shalt downe at last.
Exeunt.
| The Revengers Tragaedie [by Thomas Middleton] | |