 | The Changeling |  |
ACTUS SECUNDUS.
Enter Beatrice and Jasperino severally.Bea.
Oh Sir, I'm ready now for that fair service,
Which makes the name of friend sit glorious on you.
Good Angels and this conduct be your guide,
Fitness of time and place is there set down, sir.
Jas.
The joy I shall return rewards my service.
Exit.
Bea.
How wise is Alsemero in his friend?
It is a sign he makes his choyce with judgement.
Then I appear in nothing more approv'd,
Then making choyce of him; for 'tis a Principle, He that can chuse
That bosome well, who of his thoughts partakes,
Proves most discreet in every choyce he makes.
Me thinks I love now with the eyes of judgement.
And see the way to merit, clearly see it.
A true deserver like a Diamond sparkles,
In darkness you may see him, that's in absence,
Which is the greatest darkness falls on love,
Yet is he best discern'd then
With intellectuall eye-sight; what's Piracquo
My Father spends his breath for, and his blessing
Else it goes from me, and turns head against me,
Transform'd into a Curse; some speedy way
Must be remembred, he's so forward too,
So urgent that way, scarce allows me breath
To speak to my new comforts.
Enter Deflores.
Def.
Yonders she
What ever ails me, now a late especially,
I can as well be hang'd as refrain seeing her;
Some twenty times a day, nay not so little,
Doe I force errands, frame wayes and excuses
To come into her sight, and I have small reason for't,
And less incouragement; for she baits me still
Every time worse then other, does profess herself
The cruellest enemy to my face, in town,
At no hand can abide the sight of me,
As if danger, or ill luck hung in my looks.
I must confess my face is bad enough,
But I know far worse has better fortune,
And not endur'd alone, but doted on,
And yet such pickhaird faces, chins like Witches,
Here and there five hairs, whispering in a corner,
As if they grew in fear one of another,
Wrinkles like troughs, where swine deformity swils
The tears of perjury that lie there like wash,
Fallen from the slimy and dishonest eye,
Yet such a one pluckt sweets without restraint,
And has the grace of beauty to his sweet,
Though my hard fate has thrust me out to servitude,
I tumbled into th'world a Gentleman.
She turns her blessed eye upon me now,
And I'le indure all storms before I part with't.
Bea.
Agen—this ominous ill-fac'd fellow more disturbs me,
Then all my other passions.
Def.
Now't begins agen,
Ile stand this storm of hail though the stones pelt me.
Bea.
Thy business? What's thy business?
Def.
Soft and fair, I cannot part so soon now.
Bea.
The villain's fixt—Thou standing toad-pool.
The showre falls amain now.
Bea.
Who sent thee? What's thy errand? leave my sight.
Def:
My Lord your father charg'd me to deliver a message to you.
Bea:
What another since, do't and be hang'd then, let me be rid of thee.
Def:
True service merits mercy.
Bea:
What's thy message?
Def:
Let beauty settle but in patience, you shall hear all.
Bea:
A dallying trifling torment.
Def:
Signior Alonzo de Piracquo Lady, sole brother to Tomazo de Piracquo.
Bea:
Slave, when wil't make an end?
Def:
Too soon I shall.
Bea:
What all this while of him?
Def:
The said Alonzo, with the foresaid Tomazo.
Bea:
Yet agen.
Def:
Is new alighted.
Bea:
Vengeance strike the news,
Thou thing most loath'd, what cause was there in this
To bring thee to my sight?
Def:
My Lord your father charg'd me to seek you out.
Bea:
Is there no other to send his errand by?
Def:
It seems 'tis my luck to be i'th way still.
Bea:
Get thee from me.
Def.
So—why am not I an Asse to devise wayes
Thus to be raild at? I must see her still,
I shall have a mad qualm within this houre agen,
I know't, and like a Common Garden Bull,
I doe but take breath to be lug'd agen.
What this may bode I know not, I'le despair the less,
Because ther's daily presidents of bad faces
Belov'd beyond all reason; these foul chops
May come into favour one day, 'mongst his fellows:
Wrangling has prov'd the mistress of good pastime,
As children cry themselves asleep, I ha' seen
Women have chid themselves abed to men.
Exit Def:
Bea.
I never see this fellow, but I think
Of some harm towards me, danger's in my mind still,
I scarce leave trembling of an hour after.
The next good mood I find my father in,
I'le get him quite discarded: Oh I was
Lost in this small disturbance and forgot
To beare down all my comforts.
Enter Vermandero, Alonzo, Tomazo.
Ver.
Y'are both welcome,
But an especiall one belongs to you, sir,
To whose most noble name our love presents
The addition of a son, our son Alonzo.
Alon.
The treasury of honor cannot bring forth
A Title I should more rejoyce in, sir.
Ver.
You have improv'd it well; daughter prepare,
The day will steal upon thee suddenly.
Bea.
How e're, I will be sure to keep the night,
If it should come so neer me.
Tom.
Alonzo.
Alon.
Brother.
Tom.
In troth I see small welcome in her eye.
Alon.
Fie, you are too severe a censurer
Of love in all points, there's no bringing on you
If Lovers should mark every thing a fault,
Affection would be like an ill set book,
Whose faults might prove as big as half the volume.
Bea.
That's all I do intreat.
Ver.
It is but reasonable,
I'le see what my son sayes too't: Son Alonzo,
Here's a motion made but to reprieve
A Maidenhead three dayes longer; the request
Is not far out of reason, for indeed
The former time is pinching.
Alon.
Though my joyes
Be set back so much time as I could wish
They had been forward, yet since she desires it,
The time is set as pleasing as before,
I find no gladness wanting.
Ver.
May I ever meet it in that poynt still:
Y'are nobly welcome, sirs.
Exeunt. Ver. and Bea.
Tom.
So, did you mark the dulness of her parting now?
Alon.
What dulness? Thou art so exceptious still.
Tom.
Why let it goe then I am but a fool
To mark your harms so heedfully.
Alon.
Where's the oversight?
Come, your faith's cousened in her, strongly cousened,
Unsettle your affection with all speed,
Wisdome can bring it too, your peace is ruin'd else.
Think what a torment 'tis to marry one
Whose heart is leapt into anothers bosome:
If ever pleasure she receive from thee,
It comes not in thy name, or of thy gift,
She lies but with another in thine arms,
He the half father unto all thy children
In the conception, if he get 'em not,
She helps to get 'em for him, in his passions, and how dangerous
And shamefull her restraint may goe in time to,
It is not to be thought on without sufferings.
Alon.
You speak as if she lov'd some other then.
Tom.
Do you apprehend so slowly?
Alon.
Nay, and that be your fear onely, I am safe enough,
Preserve your friendship and your counsel brother,
For times of more distress, I should depart
An enemy, a dangerous, deadly one
To any but thy self, that should but think
She knew the meaning of inconstancy,
Much less the use and practice; yet w'are friends,
Pray let no more be urg'd, I can endure
Much, till I meet an injury to her,
Then I am not my self. Farewell sweet brother,
How much w'are bound to heaven to depart lovingly.
Exit.
Tom.
Why here is loves tame madness, thus a man
Quickly steals into his vexation.
Exit.
Enter Diaphanta and Alsemero
Dia.
The place is my charge, you have kept your hour,
And the reward of a just meeting bless you.
I hear my Lady coming; compleat Gentleman,
I dare not be too busie with my praises,
Th'are dangerous things to deal with.
Exit:
Als.
This goes well, these women are the Ladies Cabinets,
Things of most pretious trust are lock into 'em.
Enter Beatrice.
Bea.
I have within mine eye, all my desires,
Requests that holy prayers ascend heaven for,
And brings 'em down to furnish our defects,
Then thou unto my wishes.
Als.
W'are so like in our expressions, Lady, that unless I borrow
The same words, I shall never find their equals.
Bea.
How happy were this meeting this embrace,
Is it were free from envy? This poor kiss
It has an enemy, a hatefull one,
That wishes poyson to't: how well were I now
If there were none such name know as Piracquo?
Nor no such tye as the command of Parents,
I should be but too much blessed.
Als.
One good service
Would strike off both your fears, and I'le go neer it too,
Since you are so distrest, remove the cause
The command ceases, so there's two fears blown out
With one and the same blast.
Bea.
Pray let me find you sir. What might that service be so
strangely happy?
Als.
The honorablest peece 'bout man, Valour.
I'le send a challenge to Piracquo instantly.
Bea.
How? Call you that extinguishing of fear
When 'tis the onely way to keep it flaming?
Are not you ventured in the action,
That's all my joyes and comforts? Pray no more, sir.
Say you prevaild, your dangers and not mine then
The law would claim you from me, or obscurity
Be made the grave to bury you alive.
I'me glad these thoughts come forth, O keep not one
Of this condition sir; here was a course
Found to bring sorrow on her way to death:
The tears would ne're a dried, till dust had choak'd 'em.
Blood-guiltiness becomes a fouler visage,
And now I think on one—I was too blame,
I ha mar'd so good a market with my scorn;
'T had been done questionless, the ugliest creature
Creation fram'd for some use, yet to see
I could not mark so much where it should be.
Als.
Lady.
Bea.
Why men of Art make much of poyson,
Keep one to expell another, where was my Art?
Lady, you hear not me.
Bea.
I do especially sir, the present times are not so sure of our side
As those hereafter may be, we must use 'em then
As thrifty folks their wealth, sparingly, now till the time opens.
Als.
You teach wisdom, Lady.
Bea.
Within there Diaphanta.
Enter Diaphanta.
Dia.
Do you call, Madam?
Bea.
Perfect your service, and conduct this Gentleman
The privat way you brought him.
Dia.
I shall, Madam.
Als.
My love's as firm as love e're built upon.
Ex. Dia. and Als.
Enter Deflores.
Def.
I have watcht this meeting, and doe wonder much
What shall become of t'other, I'me sure both
Cannot be serv'd unless she transgress; happily
Then Il'e put in for one: for if a woman
Fly from one point, from him she makes a husband,
She spreads and mounts then like Arithmetick,
1, 10, 100, 1000, 10000, proves in time Sutler to an Army Royall.
Now do I look to be most richly raild at,
Yet I must see her.
Bea.
Why, put case I loath'd him
As much as youth and beauty hates a Sepulcher,
Must I needs shew it? Cannot I keep that secret,
And serve my turn upon him?—see he's here—Deflores.
Def.
Ha, I shall run mad with joy,
She call'd me fairly by my name Deflores,
And neither Rogue nor Rascall.
Bea.
What ha' you done to your face a-late? y'ave met with some good Physitian,
Y'have prun'd your self me thinks, you were not wont
To look so amorously.
Def.
Not I, tis the same Phisnomy to a hair and pimple,
Which she call'd scurvy scarce an hour agoe: How is this?
Bea.
Come hither, neerer man.
Def.
I'me up to the chin in heaven.
Bea.
Turn, let me see, vauh tis but the heat of the liver, I perceiv't.
I thought it had been worse.
Def.
Her fingers touch't me, she smels all Amber.
Bea.
I'le make a water for you shall cleanse this within a fortnight.
Def.
With your own hands, Lady?
Yes, mine own sir, in a work of cure, I'le trust no other.
Def.
'Tis half an act of pleasure to hear her talk thus to me.
Bea.
When w'are us'd to a hard face, 'tis not so unpleasing,
It mends still in opinion, hourly mends, I see it by experience.
Def.
I was blest to light upon this minute, I'le make use on't.
Bea.
Hardness becomes the visage of a man well,
It argues service, resolution, manhood, if cause were of imployment.
Def:
'Twould be soon seen, if e're your Ladiship had cause to use it.
I would but wish the honor of a service so happy as that mounts to.
Bea:
We shall try you—Oh my Deflores!
Def:
How's that? She calls me hers already, my Deflores,
You were about to sigh out somwhat, Madam.
Bea:
No, was I? I forgot—Oh!
Def:
There 'tis agen—the very fellow on't.
Bea.
You are too quick, sir.
Def.
There's no excuse for't, now I heard it twice, Madam,
That sigh would fain have utterance, take pitty on't,
And lend it a free word, 'las how it labours
For liberty, I hear the murmure yet beat at your bosome.
Bea.
Would Creation—
Def:
I well said, that's it.
Bea.
Had form'd me man.
Def.
Nay, that's not it.
Bea.
Oh 'tis the soul of freedom, I should not then be forc'd to
marry one
Then to oppose my loathings, nay remove 'em for ever from my sight.
Def:
Oh blest occasion—Without change to your Sex, you
have your wishes.
Bea.
In thee Deflores? There's small cause for that.
Def.
Put it not from me, it's a service that I kneel for to you.
Bea.
You are too violent to mean faithfully,
There's horror in my service, blood and danger,
Can those be things to sue for?
Def:
If you knew how sweet it were to me to be imployed
In any act of yours, you would say then
I faild, and us'd not reverence enough
When I receive the charge on't.
Bea.
This is much methinks, belike his wants are greedy, & to such
Def.
I'le have the work first.
Bea.
Possible his need is strong upon him, there's to incourage thee
As thou art forward and thy service dangerous,
Thy reward shall be pretious.
Def:
That I have thought on, I have assur'd my self of that before
hand, and know it will be pretious, the thought ravishes.
Bea.
Then take him to thy fury.
Def.
I thirst for him.
Bea:
Alonzo de Piracquo.
Def:
His ends upon him, he shal be seen no more.
Bea:
How lovely now dost thou appear to me!
Never was man dearlier rewarded.
Def:
I do think of that.
Bea.
Be wondrous carefull in the execution.
Def.
Why? are not both our lives upon the cast?
Bea.
Then I throw all my fears upon thy service.
Def:
They ne're shal rise to hurt you.
Bea.
When the deed's done, I'le furnish thee with all things for thy
flight, thou mayst live bravely in another countrey.
Def.
I, I, wee'l talk of that hereafter.
Bea.
I shall rid my self of two inveterate loathings at one time,
Piracquo and his Dog-face.
Exit.
Def.
Oh my blood, methinks I feel her in mine arms already.
Her wanton fingers combing out this beard,
And being pleased, praising this bad face.
Hunger and pleasure they'l commend sometimes
Slovenly dishes, and feed heartily on 'em,
Nay which is stranger, refuse daintier for 'em.
Some women are odd feeders—I'me too loud.
Here comes the man goes supperless to bed,
Yet shall not rise to morrow to his dinner.
Enter Alonzo.
Alon.
Deflores.
Def:
My kind honorable Lord.
Alon:
I am glad I ha' met with thee.
Def:
Sir.
Alon.
Thou canst shew me the full strength of the Castle,
Def.
That I can sir.
Alon.
I much desire it.
And if the ways & straits of some of the passages be not too tedious
for you, I will assure you worth your time and sight, my Lord.
Alon.
Puh, that shall be no hinderance.
Def.
I'me your servant then: 'tis now neer dinner time, 'gainst your
Lordships rising I'le have the keys about me.
Alon.
Thanks kind Deflores.
Def.
He's safely thrust upon me beyond hopes
Exeunt:
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