University of Virginia Library

Scene. I.

Camiola. Sylli.
Cam.
You see how tender I am of the quiet
And peace of your affection, and what great ones
I put off in your favour.

Sylli.
You doe wisely,
Exceeding wisely! and when I have said,
I thanke you for't, be happy?

Cam.
And good reason,
In having such a blessing.

Syl.
When you have it,
Bat the baite is not yet ready. Stay the time,
While I triumph by my selfe, King, by your leave,
I have wip'd your royall nose, without a napkin,
You may cry willow, willow, for your brother,
I'll onely say goe by; for my fine favourite,
He may graze where he please, his lips may water
Like a puppies ore a frementy pot, while Sylli
Out of his two-leav'd cherry-stone dish drinkes Nectar!
I cannot hold out any longer; heav'n forgive me,
'Tis not the first oath, I have broke, I must take
A little for a preparative.

Offers to kisse & embrace her.
Cam.
By no meanes.
If you forsweare your selfe we shall not prosper.
I'll rather loose my longing.

Sylli.
Pretty soule!
How carefull it is of me! let me buffe yet
Thy little dainty foot sor't; that I am sure
Is out of my oath.

Cam.
Why, if thou canst dispense with't
So faire, I'll not be scrupulous; such a favour
My amorous shoomaker steales.

Syl.
O most rare leather!
Kisses her shooe often
I doe begin at the lowest, but in time
I may grow higher.

Cam.
Fie, you dwell too long there.
Rise, prethee rise.

Enter Clarinda hastily
Syl.
O I am up already.

Cam.
How I abuse my houres! what newes with thee now?

Clar.
Off with that gowne, 'tis mine, mine by your promise
Signior Ador. is return'd! now upon entrance;
Off with it, off with it, Madam.

Cam.
Be not so hasty,
When I goe to bed 'tis thine.

Syl.
You have my grant too;
But doe you heare Lady, though I give way to this,
You must hereafter aske my leave before
You part with things of moment.

Cam.
Very good,
When I am yours, I will be govern'd.

Syl.
Sweet obedience!

Ent. Ador.
Cam.
You are well return'd.

Ador.
I wish that the successe
Of my service had deserv'd it.

Cam.
Lives Bertoldo?

Ador.
Yes, and return'd with safety.

Cam.
'Tis not then
In the power of fate to adde to, or take from
My perfit happinesse: and yet he should
Have made me his first visit.

Ador.
So I think too
But he

Syl.
Durst not appeare, I being present,
That's his excuse, I warrant you.

Cam.
Speake, where is he?
With whom? who hath deserv'd more from him? or
Can be of equall merit? I in this
Doe not except the King.

Ador.
Hee's at the Palace
With the Dutchesse of Siena. One coach brought 'em hither,
Without a third. Hee's very gracious with her,
You may conceive the rest.

Cam.
My jealous feares
Make me to apprehend.

Ador.
Pray you dismisse
Signior wisdome, and I'll make relation to you
Of the particulars.

Cam.
Servant, I would have you
To haste unto the Court.

Syl.
I will out-runne
A foote-man for your pleasure.

Cam.
There observe
The Dutchesse traine and entertainment.

Syl.
Feare not,
I will discover all that is of waight
To the liveries of her Pages, and her footemen.
This is fit imployment for me.
Exit Syl.

Cam.
Gracious with
The Dutchesse! sure you said so?

Ador.
I will use
All possible brevity to enforme you, Madam,
Of what was trusted to me, and discharg'd
With faith and loyall duty.

Cam.
I beleeve it;
You ransom'd him, and suppli'd his wants imagine
That is already spoken; and what vowes
Of service he made to me is apparent;
His joy of me, and wonder too perspicuous;
Does not your story end so?

Ador.
Would the end
Had answered the beginning, in a word,
Ingratitude, and perjury at the height
Cannot expresse him.

Cam.
Take heed.

Ador.
Truth is arm'd
And can defend it selfe. It must out, Madam.
I saw, the presence full, the amorous Dutchesse
Kisse and embrace him, on his part accepted
With equall ardor, and their willing hands
No sooner joyn'd, but a remove was publish'd,
And put in execution.

Cam.
The proofes are
Too pregnant. O Bertoldo!

Ador.
Hee's not worth
Your sorrow, Madam.

Cam.
Tell mee, when you saw this
Did not you grieve as I do now to heare it?

Ador.
His precipice from goodnesse raising mine,
And serving as a foyle to set my faith off,
I had little reason.

Cam.
In this you confesse
The divellish malice of your disposition.
As you were a man, you stood bound to lament it,
And not in flattery of false your hopes
To glory in it: when good men pursue
The path mark'd out by vertue, the bless'd Saints
VVith joy looke on it, and Seraphique Angels
Clap their celestiall wings in heavenly plaudits,
To be a scene of grace so well presented,
The fiends and men made up of envy mourning;
VVhere as now on the contray as far
As their divinity can partake of passion,
VVith me they weepe, beholding a faire Temple
Built in Bertoldo's loyalty turn'd to ashes
By the flames of his inconstancy, the damn'd
Rejoycing in the object: 'Tis not well
In you Adorni.

Adorni.
VVhat a temper dwells
In this rare Virgin, can you pitty him
That hath shown none to you?

Cam.
I must not be
Cruell by his example, you perhaps,
Expept now I should seeke recovery
Of what I have lost by teares, and with bent knees.
Begge his compassion. No; my towring vertue
From the assurance of my merit scornes
To stoope so low. I'll take a nobler course,
And confident in the justice of my cause,
The King his brother, and new Mistresse, judges,
Ravish him from her armes, you have the contract
In which he swore to marry her?

Adorn.
'Tis here Madam.

Cam.
He shal be then against his wil my husband,
And when I have him, I'll so use him, doubt not,
But that your honesty being unquestion'd,
This writing with your testimony cleares all.

Ador.
And buries me in the darke mists of error.

Cam.
I'll presently to Court, pray you give order
For my caroch.

Adorn.
A cart for mee were fitter
To hurry me to the gallowes
Exit Adorni.

Cam.
O false men!
Inconstant! perjur'd! my good Angell helpe mee
In these my extremities!

Enter Syll.
Sylli.
If you ever will see brave sight,
Lose it not now. Bertoldo, and the Dutchesse
Are presently to be married. There's such pompe
And preparation.

Cam.
If I marry, 'tis
This day or never.

Sylli.
Why with all my heart,
Though I break this, I'll keep the next oath I make
And then it is quit.

Cam.
Follow mee to my Cabinet,
You know my confessor, Father Paulo?

Syll.
Yes. Shall he
Doe the feate for us?

Cam.
I will give in writing
Directions to him, and attire my selfe
Like a Virgin-bride, and something I will doe
That shall deserve mens praise, and wonder too.

Syl.
And I to make all know, I am not shallow
Will have my points of Cutchineale and yellow.

Exeunt.