 | The Maid of Honovr |  |
Scene. I.
Gonzaga, Pierio Roderigo, Iacomo.Gonzaga.
You haue seaz'd upon the Citadell, and disarm'd
All that could make resistance
Pierio.
Hunger had
Done that before wee came; nor was the souldiour
Compell'd to seeke for prey the famish'd wretches,
In hope of mercy, as a sacrifice offer'd
All that was worth the taking.
Gonzag.
You proclaim'd,
On paine of death, no violence should be offer'd
To any woman.
Rod.
But it needed not,
For famine had so humbl'd 'em and tooke off
The care of their sexes honour, that there was not
So coy a beauty in the towne, but would
For halfe a mouldy bisket sell her selfe,
To a poore besognion, and without shrieking.
Gonz.
Where is the Duke of Vrbin.
Iacom.
Vnder guard,
As you directed
Gonzag.
See the Souldiers set.
In ranke, and file, and as the Dutchesse passes
Bid 'em vaile their ensignes, and charge 'em on their lives
Not to cry whores.
The divell cannot fright 'em
From their military licence, though they know
They are her subjects, and will part with being,
To do her service; yet since she is a woman,
They will touch at her britch with their tongues, and that is all
That they can hope for.
Gen.
O the divell! they are at it.
A shout, and a generall cry within, whores, whores.
Hell, stoppe, their bawling throats; againe! make up
And cudgell them into jelly.
Roder.
To no purpose,
Though their mouthes were there,
They would have the same name for 'em.
Exeunt.
| The Maid of Honovr | |