 | The Maid of Honovr |  |
Act. II.
Scene. I.
Roberto, Fulgentio, Astutio.Roberto.
Embarqu'd to night doe you say?
Fulgentio.
I saw him aboord, Sir,
Roberto.
And without taking of his leave?
Astutio.
'Twas strange!
Roberto.
Are we growne so contemptible?
Fulgentio.
'Tis far from me Sir, to adde fuell to your anger,
That in your ill opinion of him, burnes
Too hot already, else I should affirme
It was a grosse neglect.
Roberto.
A wilfull scorne
Of duty and alleageance, you giue it
Too faire a name. But we shall think on't: can you
Guesse what the numbers were that follow'd him
In his desperate action?
Roberto.
More then you thinke, Sir.
Or to your government, or person, with
The turbulent sword-men, such whose poverty forc'd 'em
To wish a change, are gone along with him;
Creatures devoted to his undertakings
In right or wrong, and to expresse their zeale,
And readinesse to serve him, ere they went
Prophanely tooke the sacrament on their knees,
To live and dye with him.
Roberto.
O most impious! their loyalty to us forgot?
Fulgent.
I feare so.
Astut.
Vnthankfull as they are.
Fulgen.
Yet this deserves not
One troubled thought in you, Sir, with your pardon
I hold that their remove from hence makes more
For your security, then danger.
Roberto.
True; and as I'll fashion it, they shall feele it too.
Astutio, you shall presently be dispatch'd
With letters writ, and sign'd with our owne hand,
To the Duchesse of Siena, in excuse
Of these forces sent against her. If you spare
An oath to give it credit, that, wee never
Consented to it, swearing for the King,
Though false, it is no perjury.
Astut.
I know it.
They are not fit to be state agents, Sir,
That without scruple of their conscience, cannot
Be prodigall in such trifles.
Fulgentio.
Right, Astutio.
Roberto.
You must beside from us take some instructions
To be imparted, as you judge 'em usefull,
To the Generall Gonzaga. Instantly
Prepare you for your journey.
Astut.
With the wings
Of loyalty and duty.
Exit Astutio.
Fulg.
I am bold to put your Majesty in mind.
Of my promise,
And ayds, to further you in your amorous project
To the faire, and rich Camiola: there's my ring
Whatever you shall say that I intreat
Or can command by power, I will make good.
Fulg.
Ever your Majesties creature.
Rob.
Venus prove propitious to you.
Exit Robert.
Fulg.
All sorts to my wishes:
Bertoldo was my hindrance. Hee remov'd,
I now will court her in the conquerous stile,
Come, see, and overcome. Boy.
Enter Page.
Page.
Sir, your pleasure.
Fulg.
Haste to Camiola, bid her prepare
An entertainment sutable to a fortune,
She could not hope for. Tell her, I vouchsafe
To honour her with a visit
Page.
'Tis a favour
VVill make her proud.
Fulg.
I know it
Page.
I am gone, Sir.!
Exit Page.
Fulg.
Intreaties fit not me, a man in grace,
May challenge awe, and priviledge by his place.
Exit Fulgentio
Scene. II.
Sylli, Adorni, Clarinda.Ador.
So melancholy say you?
Clar.
Never given
To such retirement.
Adorn.
Can you guesse the cause?
Clar.
If it hath not it's birth, and being from
The brave Bertoldo's absence, I confesse
It is pass'd my apprehension.
You are wide,
The whole field wide. I in my understanding
Pitty your ignorance: yet if you will
Sweare to conceale it, I will let you know
VVhere her shooe ringes her.
Clar.
I vow, Signior,
By my virginity.
Sylli.
A perillous oath
In a waiting woman of fifteene, and is indeed
A Kinde of nothing.
Adorn.
I'll take one of something
If you please to minister it.
Sylli.
Nay, you shall not sweare,
I had rather take your word, for should you vow:
Damne mee, I'll doe this, you are sure to breake.
Adorn.
I thanke you Signior, but resolve us.
Sylli.
Know then,
Here walkes the cause. She dares not looke upon me,
My beauties are so terrible, and inchaunting,
Shee cannot endure my sight.
Adorn.
There I believe you.
Sylli.
But the time will come, be comforted, when I will
Put off this vizor of unkindnesse to her,
And shew an amorous, and yeelding face:
And vntill then, though Hercules himselfe
Desire to see her, hee had better eate
His clubbe then passe her threshold, for I'll be
Her Cerberus to guard her.
Adorn.
A good dogge.
enter Page.
Clar.
VVorth twenty porters.
Page.
Keepe you open house here?
No groome to attend a Gentleman? O, I spie one.
Sylli.
Hee meanes not mee, I am sure.
Page.
You sirrha; Sheepes-head,
With a face cut on a cat-sticke, Doe you heare?
You yeoman phewterer, conduct mee to
Shall disemboge thy soule.
Syl.
O terrible!
Disemboge! I talke of Hercules, and here is one
Bound up in decimo sexto.
Pag.
Answer wretch.
Syl.
Pray you little gentleman, be not so furious,
The Lady keepes her chamber.
Pag.
And we present?
Sent in an Embassie to her? But here is
Her gentlewoman, Sirrah hold my cloake,
While I take a leape at her lips, do it and neatly;
Or having first tripp'd up thy heeles, I'll make
Thy backe my footstoole.
Page kisses Clar.
Syl.
Tamberlaine in little!
Am I turn'd Turke! what an office am I put to!
Cla.
My Lady, gentle youth is indispos'd.
Pag.
Though she were dead and buried, only tell her,
The great man in the Court, the brave Fulgentio
Descends to visit her, and it will raise her
Out of the grave for joy.
Enter Fulgen.
Syl.
Here comes another!
The divell I feare in his holi-day clothes.
Pag.
So soone,
My part is at an end then, cover my shoulders,
When I grow great, thou shalt serve me.
Fulgen.
Are you Sirrah
An implement of the house?
Syl.
Sure he will make
A joynes-stoole of me!
Fulgen.
Or if you belong
To the Lady of the place, command her hither.
Adorn.
I do not weare her livery, yet acknowledge
A duty to her. And as little bound
To serve your peremptorie will, as she is
To obey your summons. 'Twill become you Sir,
You may present your duty.
Fulgen.
Duty? Slave,
I'll teach you manners.
Ador.
I am past learning, make not
A tumult in the house.
Fulgen.
Shall I be brau'd thus?
Syl.
O I am dead! and now I sowne.
They draw. fals on his face.
Clarin.
Helpe, murther!
Pag.
Recover Sirrah, the Ladies here.
Enter Cam.
Syl.
Nay then
I am alive againe, and I'll be valiant.
Cam.
What insolence is this? Adorni, hold,
Hold I command you.
Fulgen.
Sawcy groome.
Cam.
Not so Sir,
However in his life, he had dependance
Vpon my Father, He is a gentleman
As well borne as your selfe. Put on your hat.
Fulgen.
In my presence, without leaue?
Syl.
He has mine Madam?
Cam.
And I must tell you Sir, and in plaine language,
How e'r your glittring out-side promise gentry,
The rudenesse of your carriage and behaviour
Speakes you a couser thing.
Syl.
She meanes a clowne Sr.
I am her interpreter for want of a better.
Cam.
I am a Queene in mine owne house, nor must you
Expect an Empire here.
Syl.
Sure I must love her
Before the day, the prettie Soule's so valiant.
Cami.
What are you? and what would you with me?
Fulgen.
Proud one,
When you know what I am, and what I came for,
And may on your submission proceed so,
You in your reason must repent the coursenesse
Of my entertainement.
Cami.
Why fine man? what are you?
Fulgen.
A kinsman of the Kings.
Cam.
I cry you mercy,
For his sake, not your owne. But grant you are so,
'Tis not impossible, but a king may have
A foole to his kinsman, no way meaning you Sir.
You have heard of Fulgen.
Cam.
Long since Sir,
A suit-broker in Court. He has the worst
Report among good men I ever heard of,
For briberie and extortion. In their prayers
Widdowes and Orphans curse him for a canker,
And caterpiller in the state. I hope Sir,
You are not the man, much lesse imploy'd by him
As a smocke-agent to me.
Fulgen.
I reply not
As you deserve, being assur'd you know me,
Pretending ignorance of my person, onely
To give me a tast of your wit; 'Tis well and courtly,
I like a sharpe wit well.
Syl.
I cannot indure it,
Nor any of the Syllies.
Fulgen.
More I know too,
This harsh induction must serve as a foyle
To the well tun'd observance and respect,
You will hereafter pay me, being made
Familiar with my credit with the King,
And that, containe your joy, I daine to love you.
Cam.
Love me? I am not rap'd with't.
Ful.
Hear't againe.
I love you honestly, now you admire me.
Cam.
I doe indeed, it being a word so seldome
Heard from a courtiers mouth. But pray you deale plainly,
Since you finde me simple. what might be the motives
Inducing you to leave the freedome of
A batchelers life, on your soft necke to weare
The stubborne yoake of marriage? And of all
The beauties in Palermo, to choose me,
Poore me? that is the maine point you must treate of.
Ful.
Why I will tell you. Of a little thing
You are a prettle peate, indifferenly faire too;
And like a new-rigg'd shippe both tite, and y'are
Well truss'd to beare. Virgins of Gyant size
Are fluggards at the sport: but for my pleasure,
Give me a neat well timbred gamster like you,
Such neede no spurres, the quickenes of your eye
Assures an active spirit.
Cam.
You are pleasant Sir,
Vnmention'd yet, that tooke you more then all
Those parts you have remembred.
Fulgen.
What?
Cam.
My wealth Sir.
Fulgen.
You are i'the right, without that beautie is
A flower worne in the morning, at night trod on.
But beautie, youth, and fortune meeting in you,
I will vouchsafe to marrie you.
Cam.
You speake well,
And in returne excuse me Sir, if I
Deliver reasons why upon no tearmes
I'll marrie you, I fable not.
Syl.
I am glad
To heare this, I began to have an ague.
Fulgen.
Come, your wise reasons.
Cam.
Such as they are, pray you take them.
First I am doubtfull whether you are a man,
Since for your shape trimmd up in a Ladies dressing
You might passe for a woman: now I love
To deale on certainties. And for the fairenes
Of your complexion, which you thinke will take me,
The colour I must tell you in a man
Is weake and faint, and never will hold out
If put to labour, giue me the lovely browne.
A thicke curl'd hayre of the same dye; broad shoulders,
A brawnie arme full of veines, a legge without
An artificiall calfe, I suspect yours,
But let that passe.
Syl.
She meanes me all this while,
For I have every one of those good parts,
O Sylli, fortunate Sylli!
Cami.
You are mov'd Sir.
Fulgen.
Fie no, go on.
Cami.
Then as you are a courtier;
A grac'd one too, I feare you have beene too forward,
And so much for your person. Rich you are,
Divelish rich, as 'tis reported, and sure have
The aides of Satans little fiends to get it,
And what is got upon his backe, must be
Spent you know where, the proverb's sta'e, one word more
And I have done.
Fulgen.
I'll ease you of the trouble,
Cam.
Save me, or else he'll beat me.
Fulg.
No, your owne folly shall, and since you put mee
To my last charme, look upon this, and tremble.
Cam.
At the sight of a faire ring? the Kings, I take it.
I have seene him weare the like; if he hath sent it
Shewes the Kings ring.
as a favour to mee.
Fulg.
Yes, 'tis verie likely,
His dying mothers gift, priz'd at his crowne,
By this hee does command you to be mine,
By his gift you are so: you may yet redeme all.
Cam.
You are in a wrong account still. Though the King may
Dispose of my life and goods, my mind's mine owne,
And shall be never yours. The King (Heaven blesse him)
Is good and gracious, and being in himselfe
Abstemious from base and goatish loosenesse,
Will not compell against their wills, chaste Madiens,
To dance in his magnious circles. I believe
Forgetting it, when he washed his hands, you stole it
With an intent to awe me. But you are coozin'd.
I am still my selfe, and will be.
Fulg.
A proud haggard,
And not to be reclaim'd, which of your groomes,
Your coach-man, foole, or foot-man, ministers
Night phisicque to you?
Cam.
You are foule-mouth'd,
Fulg.
Much fairer
Then thy blacke soule, and so I will proclaime thee.
Cam.
Were I a man, thou durst not speake this.
Fulg.
Heav'n
So prosper mee, as I resolve to doe it
To all men, and in every place, scorch'd by
A tit of pen-pence?
Exit Fulgentio and his Page.
Sylli.
Now I begin to be valiant
Nay, I will draw my sword. O for a butcher!
Doe a friends part, pray you carry him the length of't.
I give him three yeeres, and a day to match my Toledo.
Adorn.
Pray have patience.
Cam.
I may live to have vengeance; My Bertoldo
Would not have heard this.
Adorn.
Madam.
Cam.
'Pray you spare
Your language; Pre'thee foole, and make me merry:
Sylli.
That is my Office ever.
Adorn.
I must doe,
Not talke, this glorious gallant shall heare from me.
Exeunt.
Scene. III.
The chambers discharg'd: A flourish, as to an assault. Gonzaga, Pierio, Roderigo, Iacomo, SouldiersGonzaga.
Is the breach made assaultable?
Pierio.
Yes, and the moate
Fill'd up, the Canonier hath don his parts,
We may enter six a brest.
Roderig.
There's not a man
Dares shew himselfe upon the wall.
Facom.
Defeate not
The souldiers hop'd-for spoile.
Pier.
If you, Sir,
Delay the assault, and the Citie be given up
To your discretion, you in honour cannot
Vse the extremitie of warre, but in
Compassion to 'em, you to us prove cruell.
Iacom.
And an enemy to your selfe.
Roder.
A hindrance to
The brave revenge you have vow'd
Gonz.
Temper your heat,
And loose not by too sudden rashnesse, tha
Which be but patient, will be offer'd to you
Of an enemy three parts vanquish'd with desire
And greedinesse of spoyle, have often wrested
A certaine victory from the Conquerours gripe,
Discretion is the tutor of the warre,
Valour the pupill, and when we command
With lenity and your directions follow'd
With cheerefulnesse, a prosperous end must crowne
Our workes well undertaken.
Roderig.
Ours are finish'd
Pier.
If we make use of fortune.
Gonz.
Her false smiles
Deprive you of your judgements. The condition
Of our affaires exacts a double care,
And like bifronted Ianus, wee must looke
Backward, as forward: though a flattering calme
Bids us urge on, a sudden tempest rais'd,
Not fear'd, much lesse expected, in our reere
May foully fall upon us, and distract us.
To our confusion. Our scout! what brings
Enter Scout.
Thy ghastly lookes, and sudden speede?
Scout.
Th'assurance
Of a new enemy.
Gonz.
This I fore-saw, and fear'd.
What are they, know'st thou?
Scout.
They are by their colours
Sicilians, bravely mounted, and the brightness
Of their rich armours doubly guilded with
Reflection of the Sunne.
Gonz.
From Sicilie?
The King in league! no warre proclaimed ! 'tis foule,
But this must be prevented, not disputed
Ha, how is this? your Estridge plumes, that but
E'n now like quills of Porcupines seem'd to threaten
The staires, drop at the rumor of a shower?
And like to captive colours sweep the earth?
Are neuer proud. Shall a few loose troopes untrain'd
But in a customary ostentation,
Presented as a sacrifice to your valours
Cause a dejection in you?
Pier.
No dejection.
Rod.
However startl'd, where you lead, we'll follow
Gon.
'Tis bravely said. We will not stay their charge,
But meet 'em man to man, and horse to horse.
Pierio our absence hold our place,
And with our foot-men, and those, sickely troupes,
Prevent a sally. I in mine owne person,
With part of the cavallery, will bid,
These hunters welcome to a bloody breakefast,
But I lose time.
Pier.
I'll to my charge.
Exit Pierio.
Gonz.
And wee
To ours. I'll bring you on.
Iacom.
If we come off
It is not amisse, if not, my state is settl'd
Exeunt, alarme.
Scene. IIII.
Ferdinand. Druso. Livio. above.Far.
No aydes from Sicilie? Hath hope forsooke us?
And that vaine comfort to affliction, pitty
By our vow'd friend deni'd us? we can not live,
Nor die with honor: like beasts in a toyle
Wee waite the leasure of the bloody hunter,
Who is not so farre reconcil'd unto us,
As in one death to give a period
To our calamities, but in delaying
The fate wee cannot flie from, starv'd with wants,
Wee die this night to live againe to morrow,
Druso.
There is not
Three dayes provision for every soldiour,
At an ounce of bread a day left in the Citty.
Liv.
To dye the beggers death with hunger, made
Anatomies while we live, cannot but cracke
Our heart-strings with vexation.
Ferd.
Would they would breake,
Breake altogether, how willingly like Cato
Could I teare out my bowells, rather then
Looke on the conquerours insulting face,
But that religion, and the horrid dreame
To be suffer'd in the other world denyes it.
What newes with thee?
Enter Souldier.
Soul.
From the turret of the fort
By the rising clouds of dust, through which, like lightning
The spendor of bright armes sometimes brake through,
I did descry some forces making towards us,
And from the campe, as emulous of their glory,
The Generall, (for I know him by his horse)
But bravely seconded. encounter'd 'em.
Their greetings were to rough for friends, their swords
And not their tongues exchanging courtesies.
By this the maine Batralias are joyn'd,
And if you please to be spectators of
The horrid issue, I will bring you where
As in a Theater you may see their fates
In purple gore presented.
Ferd.
Heaven, If yet
Thou art appeas'd for my wrong done to Aurelia,
Take pitty of my miseries. Lead the way, friend.
Scene. V.
A long charge after a Flourish for Victory.Gonzaga. Iacomo. Roderigo wounded. Bertoldo. Gasparo. Anthonio Prisoners.
Gonz.
VVe have 'em yet, though they cost vs deer. This was
Charg'd home, and bravely follow'd. Be to your selves
True mirrors to each others worth, and looking
With noble Emulation on his wounds,
(The glorious Livery of triumphant war)
To Iacomo and Roderigo.
Imagine these with equall grace appeare
Vpon your selfe. The bloody swsat you have suffer'd
In this laborious, nay toylesome harvest,
Yeelds a rich crop of conquest, and the spoyle
Most precious balsum to a souldies hurts
Will ease and cure 'em. Let me looke upon
To Gasparo and Anthon.
The prisones faces. O how much transform'd
From what they were. O Mars! were these toyes fashion'd
To undergoe the burthen of thy service?
The weight of their defensive armor bruiz'd
Their weak, effeminate limbes, and would have forc'd em
In a hot day without a blow to yeeld.
Antho.
This insultation shewes not manly in you.
Gonz.
To men I had forborne it, you are women,
Or at the best loose carpet knights, what fury
Seduc'd you to exchange your ease in Court
For labour in the field? Perhaps you thought,
To charge through dust, and blood, an armed foe,
Was but like gracefull running at the ring
For a wanton mistrisse glove, and encounter
A soft impression on her lips. But you
Are gawdie butterflies, and I wrong my selfe
Gaspa.
Ua victis. Now we prove it.
Rod.
But here's one fashion'd in another mould,
And made of tougher mettall.
Gonz.
True, I owe him
For this wound bravely given.
Ber.
O that mountaines
Were heap'd upon me, that I might expire
A wretch no more remembred.
Gonz.
Look up Sr.
To be orecome deserves no shame. If you
Had falne ingloriously, or could accuse
Your want of courage in resistance, 'twere
To be lamented: But since you perform'd
As much as could be hop'd for from a man,
(Fortune his enemy) you wrong your selfe
In this direction, I am honor'd in
My victory ore you: but to have these
My prisoners, is in my true judgement rather,
Captivitie then a triumph; you shall finde
Faire quarter from me, and your many wounds
(Which I hope are not mortall) with such care
Lookt to, and cur'd, as if your nearest friend
Attended on you.
Ber.
When you know me better
You will make void this promise: Can you call me
Into your memory.
Gonz.
The brave Bertoldo!
A brother of our order! By Saint Iohn,
(our holy patron) I am more amaz'd,
Nay thunder strooke, with thy Apostacy,
And præcipice, from the most solemne vowes
Made vnto heaven, when this, the glorious badge
Of our redeemer was conferr'd upon thee,
By the great master, then if I had seene
A reprobate Iew, an Atheist, Turke, or Tartar
Baptiz'd in our religion.
Ber.
This I look'd for,
And am resolv'd to suffer.
Gon.
Fellow Souldiers.
Know that 'tis safer far to play with lightning,
Then trifle in things sacred. In my rag
Weepes.
I shed these at the funerall of his vertue,
Faith and religion; why I will tell you
He was a gentleman, so trayn'd up, and fashion'd
For noble uses, and his youth did promise
Such certainties, more then hopes, of great atchievments,
As if the Christian world had stood oppos'd
Against the Ottoman race to trie the fortune
Of one encounter, this Bertoldo had beene
For his knowledge to direct, and matchles courage
To execute, without a rivall, by
The votes of good men chosen generall,
As the prime souldier, and most deserving,
Of all that weare the crosse, which now in justice
I thus teare from him.
Ber.
Let me dye with it,
Vpon my breast.
Gonz.
No, by this thou wer't sworne
On all occasions, as a knight to guard
Weake Ladies from oppression, and never
To draw thy sword against 'em, where as thou
In hope of gaine or glory, when a Princesse
And such a Princesse as Aurelia is,
Was dispossess'd by violence, of what was
Her true inheritance, against thine oth,
Hast to thy uttermost labour'd to uphold
Her falling enemie. But thou shalt pay
A heavy forfeiture, and learne too late,
Valour, imploy'd in an ill quarrell, turnes
To cowardice, and vertve then puts on
Foule vices vizard. This is that which cancells
All friendships bands between vs Beare 'em off
I will heare no replie. And let the ransome
In this I doe but right, and let it be
Stil'd justice, and not wilfull cruelty.
Exeunt.
The end of the second Act.
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