University of Virginia Library

Act. 5.

Scæn. 1.

Enter Guardiano and Ward.
Guard.
Speak, hast thou any sence of thy abuse?
Do'st thou know what wrong's done thee?

Ward.
I wear an Ass else.
I cannot wash my face, but I am feeling on't.

Guard.
Here take this Galtrop, then convey it secretly
Into the place I shew'd you; look you Sir,
This is the trap-door to't.

Ward.

I know't of old Uncle, since the last triumph;
here rose up a Devil with one eye I remember,
with a company of fire-works at's tail.

Guard.

Prethee leave squibbing now, mark me,
and fail not; but when thou hear'st me give a stamp,
down with't: The villain's caught then.

Ward.

If I miss you, hang me; I love to catch a
villain, and your stamp shall go currant I warrant
you: But how shall I rise up, and let him down too?
All at one hole! that will be a horrible puzzle. You
know I have a part in't, I play Slander.

Guard.

True, but never make you ready for't.

Ward.

No, my clothes are bought and all, and a
foul Fiends head with a long contumelious tongue

i'th' chaps on't, a very fit shape for Slander i'th'
out-parishes.

Guard.
It shall not come so far, thou understandst it not.

Ward.
Oh, oh!

Guard.
He shall lie deep enough ere that time,
And stick first upon those.

Ward.
Now I conceive you Gardiner.

Guard.
Away, list to the privy stamp, that's all thy part:

Ward.

Stamp my Horns in a Morter if I miss you,
and give the powder in White-wine to sick Cuckolds,
a very present remedy for the head-ach.

Exit Ward.

Guard.
If this should any way miscarry now,
As if the fool be nimble enough, 'tis certain,
The Pages that present the swift wing'd Cupids,
Are taught to hit him with their shafts of love,
Fitting his part, which I have cunningly poyson'd;
He cannot 'scape my fury; and those ills
Will be laid all on Fortune, not our Wills,
That's all the sport on't; for who will imagine,
That at the celebration of this night
Any mischance that hap's, can flow from spight?

Exit.

Scæn 2.

Florish.
Enter above, Duke, Brancha, L. Cardinal, Fabritio, and other Cardinals, Lords and Ladies in State.
Duke.
Now our fair Dutchess, your delight shall witness,
How y'are belov'd and honor'd; all the glories
Bestow'd upon the gladness of this night,
Are done for your bright sake.

Bran.
I am the more
In debt my Lord, to loves and curtesies,
That offer up themselves so bounteously
To do me honor'd Grace, without my merit.

Duke.
A goodness set in greatness; how it sparkles
Afar off like pure Diamonds set in Gold!
How perfect my desires were, might I witness
But a fair noble peace, 'twixt your two spirits!
The reconcilement would be more sweet to me,
Then longer life to him that fears to die.
Good Sir!

L. Card.
I profess Peace, and am content:

Duke.
I'll see the Seal upon't, and then 'tis firm.

L. Card.
You shall have all you wish.

Duke.
I have all indeed now.

Bran.
But I have made surer work; this shall not blinde me;
He that begins so early to reprove,
Quickly rid him, or look for little love;
Beware a Brothers envy, he's next heir too.
Cardinal you die this night, the plot's laid surely:
In time of sports Death may steal in securely; then 'tis least thought on:
For he that's most religious, holy Friend,
Does not at all hours think upon his end;
He has his times of frailty, and his thoughts
Their transportations too, through flesh and blood,
For all his zeal, his learning, and his light,
As well as we, poor soul, that sin by night.

Duke.
What's this Fabritio?

Fab.
Marry, my Lord, the model
Of what's presented.

Duke.
Oh we thank their loves;
Sweet Dutchess take your seat, list to the Argument.


Reads.
There is a Nymph that haunts the Woods and Springs,
In love with two at once, and they with her;
Equal it runs; but to decide these things,
The cause to mighty Juno they refer,
She being the Marriage-Goddess; the two Lovers
They offer sighs, the Nymph a Sacrifice,
All to please Juno, who by signs discovers,
How the event shall be, so that strife dies:
Then springs a second; for the man refus'd
Grows discontent, and out of love abus'd,
He raises Slander up, like a black Fiend,
To disgrace th'other, which pays him i'th' end.

Bran.
In troth, my Lord, a pretty pleasing Argument,
And fits th'occasion well; Envy and Slander
Are things soon rais'd against two faithful Lovers;
But comfort is, they are not long unrewarded.

Musick.
Duke.
This musick shews they're upon entrance now.

Bran.
Then enter all my wishes:

Enter Hymen in Yellow, Ganymed in a Blue robe powdered with Stars, and Hebe in a White robe with golden Stars, with covered Cups in their hands: They dance a short dance, then bowing to the Duke, &c. Hymen speaks.
Hym.
To thee fair Bride Hymen offers up
Of nuptial joys this the Celestial Cup.
Taste it, and thou shalt ever finde
Love in thy Bed, peace in thy minde.

Bran.
We'll taste you sure, 'twere pitty to disgrace
So pretty a beginning.

Duke.
'Twas spoke nobly.

Gan.
Two Cups of Nectar have we begg'd from Jove;
Hebe give that to Innocence, I this to love.
Take heed of stumbling more, look to your way;
Remember still the Via Lactea.

Hebe.
Well Ganymed, you have more faults, though not so known;
I spil'd one Cup, but you have filtch'd many a one.

Hym.
No more, forbear for Hymens sake;
In love we met, and so let's part.

Exeunt.
Duke.
But soft! here's no such persons in the Argument,
As these three, Hymen, Hebe, Ganymed.
The Actors that this model here discovers,
Are onely four, Juno, a Nymph, two Lovers.

Bran.
This is some Antemask belike, my Lord,
To entertain time; now my peace is perfect.
Let sports come on a pace, now is their time, my Lord.
Musick.
Hark you, you hear from 'em!

Duke.
The Nymph indeed.

Enter two drest like Nymphs, bearing two Tapers lighted; then Isabella drest with flowers and Garlands, bearing a Censor with fire in it; they set the Censor and Tapers on Juno's Altar with much reverence; this Ditty being sung in parts.

Ditty.
Iuno Nuptial-Goddess, thou that rul'st o'r coupled bodies,
Ty'st man to woman, never to forsake her, thou onely powerful marriage-maker,
Pitty this amaz'd affection; I love both, and both love me,
Nor know I where to give rejection, my heart likes so equally,
Till thou set'st right my Peace of life,
And with thy power conclude this strife.

Isab.
Now with my thanks depart you to the Springs;
I to these Wells of Love: Thou sacred Goddess,
And Queen of Nuptials, Daughter to great Saturn,
Sister and Wife to Jove, Imperial Juno,
Pitty this passionate conflict in my Brest,
This tedious War, 'twixt two Affections;
Crown me with victory, and my heart's at peace.

Enter Hippolito and Guardiano, like Shepherds.
Hip.
Make me that happy man, thou mighty Goddess.

Guard.
But I live most in hope, if truest love
Merit the greatest comfort.

Isab.
I love both
With such an even and fair affection,
I know not which to speak for, which to wish for,
Till thou great Arbitress, 'twixt lovers hearts,
By thy auspicious Grace, design the man;
Which pitty I implore.

Both.
We all implore it.

Livia descends like Juno.
Isab.
And after sighs, contritions, truest odors,
I offer to thy powerful Deity,
This precious Incense, may it ascend peacefully;
And if it keep true touch, my good Aunt Juno,
'Twill try your immortality er't belong:
I fear you'll never get so nigh Heaven again,
When you're once down.

Liv.
Though you and your affections
Seem all as dark to our illustrious brightness
As nights inheritance Hell, we pitty you,
And your requests are granted: You ask signs;
They shall be given you, we'll be gracious to you.
He of those twain which we determine for you,
Loves Arrows shall wound twice, the later wound
Betokens love in age; for so are all
Whose love continues firmly all their life time,
Twice wounded at their marriage; else affection
Dies when youth ends: This favor overcomes me.
Now for a sign of wealth and golden days,
Bright-ey'd Prosperity, which all couples love,
I, and makes love take that: Our Brother Jove
Never denies us of his burning treasure,
T'express bounty.

Duke.
She falls down upon't,
Whas's the conceit of that?

Fab.
As over-joy'd belike:
Too much prosperity overjoyes us all,
And she has her lapful, it seems my Lord.

Duke.
This swerves a little from the Argument though: Look you my Lords.

Guard.
All's fast; now comes my part to toll him hither;
Then with a stamp given, he's dispatch'd as cunningly.

Hip.
Stark dead: Oh treachery! cruelly made away! how's that?

Fab.
Look, there's one of the Lovers dropt away too.

Duke.
Why sure this plot's drawn false, here's no such thing.

Liv.
Oh I am sick to th' death, let me down quickly;
This fume is deadly: Oh 't'has poyson'd me!
My subtilty is sped, her art h'as quitted me;
My own ambition pulls me down to ruine.

Hip.
Nay, then I kiss thy cold lips, and applaud
This thy revenge in death.

Cupids shoot.
Fab.
Look, Juno's down too:
What makes she there? her pride should keep aloft.
She was wont to scorn the Earth in other shows:
Methinks her Peacocks Feathers are much pull'd.

Hip.
Oh death runs through my blood; in a wilde flame too:
Plague of those Cupids; some lay hold on 'em.
Let 'em not 'scape, they have spoil'd me; the shaft's deadly.

Duke.
I have lost my self in this quite.

Hip.
My great Lords, we are all confounded.

Duke.
How?

Hip.
Dead; and I worse.

Fab.
Dead? my Girl dead? I hope
My Sister Juno has not serv'd me so.

Hip.
Lust, and forgetfulness has been amongst us,
And we are brought to nothing: Some blest Charity
Lend me the speeding Pitty of his Sword
To quench this fire in blood. Leantio's death
Has brought all this upon us; now I taste it,
And made us lay plots to confound each other;
The event so proves it, and mans understanding
Is riper at his fall, then all his life time.
She in a madness for her lovers death,
Reveal'd a fearful Lust in our near bloods,
For which I am punish'd dreadfully and unlook'd for;
Prov'd her own ruine too, Veng'ance met Vengeance,
Like a set match; as if the plague of sin
Had been agreed to meet here altogether.
But how her fawning partner fell, I reach not,
Unless caught by some spring of his own setting:
(For on my pain, he never dream'd of dying)
The plot was all his own, and he had cunning
Enough to save himself; but 'tis the property
Of guilty deeds to draw your wisemen downward.
Therefore the wonder ceases.—Oh this torment!

Duke.
Our Guard below there!

Enter a Lord with a Guard.
Lord.
My Lord:

Hip.
Run and meet death then,
And cut off time and pain.

Lord.
Behold my Lord, h'as run his Brest upon a weapons point.

Duke.
Upon the first night of our nuptial honors,
Destruction play her triumph, and great mischiefs
Mask in expected pleasures, 'tis prodigious!
They're things most fearfully ominous: I like 'em not.
Remove these ruin'd bodies from our eyes.

Bran.
Not yet, no change? when falls he to the Earth?

Lord.
Please but your Excellence to peruse that Paper,
Which is a brief confession from the heart
Of him that fell first, ere his soul departed;
And there the darkness of these deeds speaks plainly.
'Tis the full scope, the manner, and intent;
His Ward, that ignorantly let him down,
Fear put to present flight at the voice of him.

Bran.
Nor yet?

Duke.
Read, read; for I am lost in sight and strength.

L. Card.
My noble Brother!

Bran.
Oh the curse of wretchedness!
My deadly hand is faln upon my Lord:
Destruction take me to thee, give me way;
The pains and plagues of a lost soul upon him,
That hinders me a moment.

Duke.
My heart swells bigger yet; help here, break't ope,
My brest flies open next.

Bran.
Oh with the poyson,
That was prepar'd for thee, thee, Cardinal!
'Twas meant for thee.

L. Card.
Poor Prince!

Bran.
Accursed Error!
Give me thy last breath, thou infected bosome,
And wrap two spirits, in one poyson'd vapor.
Thus, thus, reward thy murderer, and turn death
Into a parting kiss: My soul stands ready at my lips,
Ev'n vext to stay one minute after thee.

L. Card.
The greatest sorrow and astonishment
That ever struck the general peace of Florence;
Dwells in this hour.

Bran.
So my desires are satisfied,
I feel deaths power within me.
Thou hast prevail'd in something (cursed poyson)
Though thy cheif force was spent in my Lords bosom;
But my deformity in spirit's more foul;
A blemish'd face best fits a leprous soul.
What make I here? these are all strangers to me,
Not known but by their malice; now th'art gone;
Nor do I seek their pities.

Card.
O restrain
Her ignorant wilful hand!

Bran.
Now do; 'tis done.

Leantio.
Now I feel the breach of marriage
At my heart-breaking: Oh the deadly snares
That Women set for Women, without pity
Either to soul or honor! Learn by me
To know your foes: In this belief I die;
Like our own Sex, we have no Enemy, no Enemy!

Lord.
See my Lord
What shift sh'as made to be her own destruction.

Bran.
Pride, Greatness, Honors, Beauty, Youth, Ambition,
You must all down together, there's no help for't:
Yet this my gladness is, that I remove,
Tasting the same death in a cup of love.

L. Card.
Sin, what thou art, these ruines show too piteously.
Two Kings on one Throne cannot sit together,
But one must needs down, for his Titles wrong;
So where lust raigns, that Prince cannot raign long.

Exeunt.