 | The Bond-Man |  |
ACTVS III.
SCÆNA I.
Pisander, Timandra.Pisander.
Why, thinke you, that I plot against my selfe?
Feare nothing, you are safe, these thick-skinn'd slaues,
(I vse as instruments to serue my ends)
Pierce not my deepe designes: nor shall they dare
To lift an arme against you.
Timandra.
With your will.
But turbulent spirits rais'd beyond themselues
Dangerous to him that call'd them vp.
Pisander.
Tis true,
In what is rashly vndertooke. Long since
I haue considered seriously their natures
Proceeded with mature aduise, and know
I hold their will, and faculties in more awe
Then I can doe my owne. Now for their Licence,
And ryot in the Citie, I can make
A iust defence, and vse: it may appeare too
A polliticke preuention of such ills
As might with greater violence, and danger
hereafter be attempted; though some smart for't,
It matters not: how euer, I am resolu'd;
And sleepe you with security. Holds Cleora
Constant to her rash vow?
Timandra,
Beyond beleefe;
To me, that see her hourely, it seemes a fable.
By signes I ghesse at her commands, and serue 'em
With silence, such her pleasure is, made knowne
By holding her faire hand thus; she eates little,
Sleepes lesse, as I imagine; once a day
I leade her to this Gallery, where she walkes
Some halfe a dozen turnes, and hauing offred
To her absent Saint a sacrifice of sighes,
She points backe to her prison.
Pisander.
Guide her hither,
And make her vnderstand the slaues reuolt.
And with your vtmost eloquence enlarge
Their insolence, and Rapes done in the Citie,
Forget not to, I am their chiefe, and tell her
You strongly thinke my extreame dotage on her,
As I am Marullo, caus'd this sodaine vprore,
To make way to enioy her.
Timandra.
Punctually
I will discharge my part.
Exit Timandra. Enter Poliphron.
Poliphron.
O Sir, I sought you.
You haue mis'd the best sport. Hell, I thinke is broke loose,
As leaping, shooting, drinking, dancing, whoring
Among the slaues; answer'd with crying, howling,
By the Citizens and their wiues: such a confusion,
(In a word, not to tyre you) as I thinke
The like was neuer reade of.
Pisander.
I share in
The pleasure, though I am absent. This is some
Reuenge for my disgrace.
Poliphron.
But Sir; I feare,
If your authority restraine them not,
They'le fire the Citie, or kill one another,
They are so apt to outrage; neither know I
Whether you wish it, and came therefore to
Acquaint you with so much.
Pisander.
I will among 'em,
But must not long be absent.
Poliphron.
At your pleasure.
SCÆNA II.
Cleora, Timandra, a Chaire, a shout within.Timandra.
They are at our gates, my heart! affrights & horrors
Increase each minute: No way left to saue vs;
No flattering hope to comfort vs, or meanes
By miracle to redeeme vs from base lust,
And lawlesse rapine. Are there Gods, yet suffer
Such innocent sweetnesse to be made the spoile
Of brutish appetite? Or, since they decree
To ruine Natures master-peece (of which
they haue not left one patterne) must they choose,
To set their tyrannie of, slaues to pollute
The spring of chastitie, and poyson it
With their most loath'd embraces? and of those
He that should offer vp his life to guard it?
Marullo, curs'd Marullo, your owne Bond-man
Purchas'd to serue you, and fed by your fauours.
Nay, start not; it is he, hee the grand Captaine
Cleora starts,
One cruell act vndone, that Barbarous conquest,
Yet euer practis'd in a captiue Citie.
He doting on your beauty, and to haue fellowes
In his foule sinne, hath rais'd these mutinous slaues,
Who haue begun the game by violent Rapes,
Vpon the Wiues and Daughters of their Lords:
And he to quench the fire of his base lust,
By force comes to enioy you: doe not wring
Cleora wrings her hands.
Your innocent hands, 'tis bootlesse; vse the meanes
That may preserue you. 'Tis no crime to breake
A vow, when you are forc'd to it; shew your face,
And with the maiestie of commanding beautie,
Strike dead his loose affections; if that faile,
Giue libertie to your tongue, and vse entreaties,
There cannot be a breast of flesh, and bloud,
Or heart so made of flint, but must receiue
Impression from your words; or eies so sterne,
But from the cleere reflection of your teares
Must melt, and beare them company; will you not
Doe these good offices to your selfe? poore I then,
Can onely weepe your fortune; here he comes.
Pisander.
He that aduances
Enter Pisander speaking at the doore.
A foot beyond this, comes vpon my sword
You haue had your wayes, disturbe not mine.
Timandra.
Speake gently,
Her feares may kill her else.
Pisander.
Now loue inspire me!
Still shall this Canopie of enuious night
Obscure my Suns of comfort? and those dainties
Of purest white and red, which I take in at
My greedy eyes, deny'd my famish'd senses?
The Organs of your hearing yet are open;
And you infringe no vow, though you vouchsafe,
To giue them warrant, to conuey vnto
Your vnderstanding parts the story of
A tortur'd and dispairing Louer, whom
Cleora shakes.
Not Fortune but affection markes your slaue.
As farre from danger as I am from force.
All violence I'le offer, tendes no farther
Then to relate my suffrings, which I dare not
Presume to doe, till by some gratious signe
You shew, you are pleas'd to heare me.
Timandra.
If you are,
Hold forth your right hand.
Cleora holdes forth her right hand.
Pisandra.
So, 'tis done, and I
With my glad lips seale humbly on your foot,
My soules thankes for the fauour: I forbeare
To tell you who I am, what wealth, what honours
I made exchange of to become your seruant:
And though I knew, worthy Leosthenes
(For sure he must be worthy, for whose loue
You haue endur'd so much) to be my riuall,
When rage, and iealousie counsail'd me to kill him,
(Which then I could haue done with much more ease,
Then now, in feare to grieue you, I dare speake it)
Loue seconded with duty boldly told me,
The man I hated, faire Cleora fauour'd,
And that was his protection.
Cleora bowes.
Timandra.
See, she bowes
Her head in signe of thankfulnesse.
Pisander.
He remou'd,
By th'occasion of the war (my fires increasing
By being clos'd, and stop'd vp) franticke affection
prompted me to doe something in his absence,
That might deliuer you into my power,
Which you see is effected, and euen now,
When my rebellious passions chide my dulnesse,
And tell me how much I abuse my fortunes;
Now 'tis in my power to beate you hence,
Cleora starts.
Or take my wishes here, (nay, feare not Madam
True loue's a seruant, brutish lust a Tyrant)
I dare not touch those viands, that ne're taste well,
But when they are freely offred: only thus much,
Be pleas'd I may speake in my owne deare cause,
I haue lou'd truly, (cannot say deseru'd,
Since duty must not take the name of merit)
That I so farre prise your content, before
All blessings, that my hopes can fashion to mee,
That willingly I entertaine despayre,
And for your sake embrace it. For I know,
This opportunity lost, by no endeauour
The like can be recouer'd. To conclude,
Forget not, that I lose my selfe, to saue you.
For what can I expect, but death and torture
The warre being ended? and, what is a taske
Would trouble Hercules to vndertake,
I doe deny you to my selfe, to giue you
A pure vnspotted present to my riuall.
I haue said, if it distaste not, best of Virgins,
Reward my temperance with some lawfull fauour,
Though you contemne my person.
Cleora kneeles, then puls off her Gloue, and offers her hand to Pisander.
Timandra.
See, she kneeles
And seemes to call vpon the gods to pay
The debt she owes your vertue. To performe which
As a sure pledge of friendship, she vouchsafes you
Her faire right hand.
Makes a lowe curtsie, as she goes off.
Pisander.
I am payd for all my suffrings.
Now when you please, passe to your priuate Chamber:
My loue, and dutie, faithfull guards, shall keepe you
From all disturbance; and when you are sated
With thinking of Leosthenes, as a fee
Due to my seruice, spare one sigh for me.
Exeunt.
SCÆNA III.
Gracculo leading Asotus in an Apes habit, with a chaine about his necke. Zanthia, in Coriscaes Cloathes, she bearing vp her traine.Gracculo.
Come on, Sir.
Asotus.
Oh.
Grac.
Doe you grumble? you were euer
To come aloft, and doe tricks like an Ape
Your mornings lesson: if you misse—
Asotus.
O no, Sir.
Asotus makes moppes.
Grac.
What for the Carthaginians? a good beast.
What for our selfe your Lord? exceeding well.
Dances.
There's your reward. Not kisse your pawe? So, so, so.
Zanthia.
Was euer Lady the first daie of her honour
So waited on by a wrinkled crone? she lookes now
Without her painting, curling, and perfumes
Like the last day of Ianuary; and stinkes worse
Then a hot brach in the dogge daies. Further of,
So stand there like an image; if you stirre,
Till with a quarter of a looke I call you,
You know what followes.
Corisca.
O what am I falne to!
But 'tis a punishment for my lust and pride,
Iustly return'd vpon me.
Gracculo.
How doo'st thou like
Thy Ladiship Zanthia?
Zanthia.
Very well, and beare it
With as much state as your Lordship.
Gracculo.
Giue me thy hand;
Let vs like conquering Romans walke in triumph,
Our captiues following. Then mount our Tribunals,
And make the slaues our footstooles.
Zanthia.
Fine by Ioue,
Are your hands cleane minion?
Corisca.
Yes forsooth.
Zanthia.
Fall off then.
So now come on: and hauing made your three duties,
Downe I say, (are you stiffe in the hams?) now kneele,
And tie our shooe. Now kisse it and be happy.
Gracculo.
This is state indeed.
Zanthia.
It is such as she taught me,
A tickling itch of greatnesse, your proud Ladyes
Expect from their poore Waiters, we haue chang'd parts;
Shee does what she forc'd me to doe in her raigne,
And I must practise it in mine.
'Tis iustice;
O heere come more.
Enter Cymbrio, Cleon, Poliphron, Olympia.
Cymbrio.
Discouer to a Drachma,
Or I will famish thee.
Cleon.
O I am pin'de already.
Cymbrio.
Hunger shall force thee to cut off the brawnes
From thy armes and thighes, then broile them on the coles
For Carbonadoes.
Poliphron.
Spare the olde Iade, he's foundred.
Gracculo.
Cutt his throat then,
And hang him out for a scarre-Crowe.
Poliphron.
You haue all your wishes
In your reuenge, and I haue mine. You see
I vse no tyrannie: When I was her slaue,
She kept me as a sinner to lie at her backe
In frostie nights, and fed me high with dainties,
Which still she had in her belly againe e're morning,
And in requitall of those curtesies
Hauing made one another free, we are marryed,
And if you wish vs ioy, ioyne with vs in
A Dance at our Wedding.
Gracculo.
Agreed, for I haue thought of
A most triumphant one, which shall expresse, wee are Lords, and these our slaues.
Poliphron.
But we shall want
A woman.
Gracculo.
No, here's Iane of Apes shall serue;
Carry your body swimming: where's the Musicke?
Poliph.
I haue plac'd it in yon Window.
The dance at the end.
Gracculo.
Begin then sprightly.
Enter Pisander.
Poliphron.
Well done on all sides. I haue prepar'd a Banquet;
Let's drinke, and coole vs.
Gracculo.
A good motion,
Cymbrio.
Wait heere,
You haue beene tyr'd with feasting, learne to fast now.
Grac.
Ile haue an Apple for Iacke, and may be some scrapps
May fall to your share
Exeunt Gracculo, Zanthia, Cymbrio, Poliphron, Olympia.
Corisca.
Whom can we accuse
But our selues for what we suffer? thou art iust
Instructs me now, that yesterday acknowledg'd,
No Deitie beyond my lust and pride.
There is a heauen aboue vs, that lookes downe
With the eyes of Iustice, vpon such as number
Those blessings freely giuen, in the accompt
Of their poore merits: Else it could not be
Now miserable I, to please whose pallat
The Elements were ransack'd, yet complain'd
Of Nature, as not liberall enough
In her prouision of rarities
To soothe my taste, and pamper my proud flesh:
Now wish in vaine for bread:
Cleon.
Yes, I doe wishe too,
For what I fed my dogges with.
Corisca.
I that forgot
I was made of flesh and blood, and thought the silke
Spunne by the diligent worme, out of their intrals,
Too course to cloathe mee; and the softest Downe
Too hard to sleepe on; that disdain'd to looke
On vertue being in ragges; that stop'd my nose
At those that did not vse adulterate arts
To better nature; that from those, that seru'd me,
Expected adoration, am made iustly
The scorne of my owne Bond-woman.
Asotus.
I am punish'd,
For seeking to Cuckold mine owne naturall Father.
Had I beene gelded then, or vs'd my selfe
Like a man: I had not beene transform'd, and forc'd
To play an ore-growne Ape.
Cleon.
I know I cannot
Last long, that's all my comfort: come, I forgiue both,
It is in vaine to be angry, let vs therefore
Lament together like friends.
Pisander.
What a true mirror
Were this sad spectacle for secure greatnesse!
Heere they that neuer see themselues, but in
The Glasse of seruile flattery, might behold
That trust in humane frailtie. Happie are those,
That knowing in their births, they are subiect to
Vncertaine change, are still prepar'd, and arm'd
For either fortune: A rare principle,
And with much labour, learn'd in wisdomes schoole!
For as these Bond-men by their actions shew,
That their prosperitie, like too too large a Sayle
For their small barke of iudgement; sinkes them with
A fore-right gale of libertie, e're they reach
The Port they long to touch at: So these wretches
Swolne with the false opinion of their worth,
And proud of blessings left them, not acquir'd,
That did beleeue they could with Gyant-armes
Fathome the earth, and were aboue their fates.
Those borrow'd helpes that did support them, vanish'd:
Fall of themselues, and by vnmanly suffring,
Betray their proper weaknesse, and make knowne
Their boasted greatnesse was lent, not their owne.
Cleon.
O for some meate, they sit long.
Corisc.
We forgot,
When we drew out intemperate feasts till midnight:
Their hunger was not thought on, nor their watchings;
Nor did we hold our selues seru'd to the height,
But when we did exact, and force their duties
Beyond their strength and power.
Asotus.
We pay for't now,
I now could be content to haue my head
Broke with a ribbe of Beefe, or for a Coffin
Be buried in the dripping Pan.
Cymbrio.
Doe not hold me,
Enter Poliphron, Cymbrio, Gracculo, Zanthia, Olimpia, drunke and quarrelling.
Not kisse the Bride?
Poliphron.
No Sir.
Cimbrio.
She's common good,
And so wee'll vse her.
Gracculo.
Wee'le haue nothing priuate.
Olympia.
Hold:
Zanthia.
Heere, Marullo.
Hee's your chiefe.
Cymbrio.
We are equals,
I will know no obedience.
Gracculo.
Nor superior,
Nay, if you are Lyon-drunke, I will make one,
For lightly euer he that parts the fray,
Goes away with the blowes.
Pisander.
Art thou madde too?
No more, as you respect me.
Poliphron.
I obey, Sir,
Pisander.
Quarrell among your selues?
Cymbrio.
Yes, in our Wine, Sir,
And for our Wenches.
Gracculo.
How could we be Lords else?
Pisan.
Take heed, I haue news will coole this heat, & make you
Remember, what you were.
Cymbrio.
How?
Pisander.
Send off these,
And then I'le tell you.
Zanthia beating Corisca.
Olympia.
This is tyrannie,
Now she offends not.
Zanthia.
'Tis for exercise,
And to helpe digestion, what is she good for else?
To me it was her language.
Pisander.
Leaue her off,
And take heed Madam minx, the Wheele may turne.
Goe to your meate, and rest, and from this houre
Remember, he that is a Lord to day,
Exeunt Cleon, Asotus, Zanthia, Olympia, Corisca.
May be a Slaue to morrow.
Cleon.
good morallity.
Cymbrio.
But what would you impart?
Pisander.
What must inuite you
To stand vpon your guard, and leaue your feasting,
Or but imagine, what it is to be
Most miserable, and rest assur'd you are so.
Our Masters are victorious:
All.
How?
Pisander.
Within
And proud of conquest, the Armado sunke,
The Carthaginian Admirall hand to hand,
Slaine by Leosthenes.
Cymbrio.
I feele the whippe
Vpon my backe already.
Gracculo.
Euery man
Seeke a conuenient Tree, and hang himselfe.
Poliphron.
Better die once, then liue an age to suffer
New tortures euery houre.
Cimbrio.
Say, we submit,
And yeeld vs to their mercy.
Pisander.
Can you flatter
Your selues with such false hopes? or dare you thinke
That your imperious Lords, that neuer fail'd
To punish with seuerity petty slipps,
In your neglect of labour, may be wonne
To pardon those licentious outrages,
Which noble enemies forbeare to practise
Vpon the conquer'd? What haue you omitted,
That may call on their iust reuenge with horror,
And studied cruelty? We haue gone too farre
To thinke now of retyring; in our courage,
And during, lies our safetie; if you are not
Slaues in your abiect mindes, as in your fortunes
Since to die is the worst, better expose
Our naked breasts to their keene Swords, and sell
Our liues with the most aduantage, then to trust
In a forestal'd remission, or yeeld vp
Our bodies to the furnace of their furie,
Thrice heated with reuenge.
Gracculo.
You led vs on.
Cimb.
And 'tis but iustice, you should bring vs off.
Gracculo.
And we expect it.
Pisander.
Heare then, and obey me,
And I will either saue you, or fall with you;
Man the Walls strongly, and make good the Ports
Boldly deny their entrance, and rippe vp
This desperate course: if they disdaine to heare
Of composition, we haue in our powers
Their aged Fathers, Children, and their Wiues,
Who to preserue themselues, must willingly
Make intercession for vs. 'Tis not time now
To talke, but doe. A glorious end or freedome
Is now propos'd vs; stand resolu'd for either,
And like good fellowes, liue, or die togeather.
Exeunt.
SCÆNA IIII.
Leosthenes, Timagorus.Timagoras.
I am so farre from enuie, I am proud
You haue outstrip'd me in the race of honour.
O 'twas a glorious day, and brauely wonne!
Your bold performance gaue such lustre to
Timoleons wise directions, as the Armie
Rests doubtfull, to whom they stand most ingag'de
For their so great successe.
Leosthenes.
The Gods first honour'd,
The glory be the Generalls; 'tis farre from mee
To be his riuall.
Timagoras.
You abuse your fortune,
To entertaine her choyce, and gratious fauours,
With a contracted browe; Plum'd victorie
Is truly painted with a cheerefull looke,
Equally distant from proud insolence,
And base deiection.
Leosthenes.
O Timagoras,
You onely are acquainted with the cause,
That loades my sad heart with a hill of lead.
Whose ponderous waight, neither my new got honour,
Assisted by the generall applause
The souldier crownes it with: nor all warres glories
Can lessen, or remoue; and would you please,
With fit consideration to remember,
How much I wrong Cleoras innocence,
Shee did impose vpon her tender sweetnesse,
To plucke away the Vulture iealousie,
That fed vpon my Liuer: you cannot blame me,
But call it a fit iustice on my selfe,
Though I resolue to be a stranger to
The thought of mirth, or pleasure.
Timandra.
You haue redeem'd
The forfeit of your fault, with such a ransome
Of honourable action, as my Sister
Must of necessitie confesse her suffrings
Weigh'd downe by your faire merits; and when she views you
Like a triumphant Conquerour, carried through
The Streets of Syracusa, the glad people
Pressing to meet you, and the Senators
Contending who shall heape most honours on you;
The Oxen crown'd with Girlands led before you
Appointed for the Sacrifice; and the Altars
Smoaking with thankfull Incense to the gods:
The Souldiers chaunting loud hymnes to your praise:
The windowes fill'd with Matrons, and with Virgins,
Throwing vpon your head, as you passe by,
The choycest Flowers; and silently inuoking
The Queene of Loue, with their particular vowes,
To be thought worthy of you; can Cleora,
(Though, in the glasse of selfe-loue, shee behold
Her best deserts) but with all ioy acknowledge,
What she indur'd, was but a noble tryall
You made of her affection? and her anger
Rising from your too amorous eares, soone drench'd
In Lethe, and forgotten.
Leosthenes.
If those glories
You so set forth were mine, they might plead for mee:
But I can laye no claime to the least honour,
Which you with foule iniustice rauish from her;
Her beauty, in me wrought a myracle,
Taught me to ayme at things beyond my power,
Which her perfections purchas'd, and gaue to me
That vallour, which I dare not call mine owne:
And from the faire reflexion of her minde,
My soule receau'd the sparckling beames of courage.
Shee from the magazine of her proper goodnesse,
Stock'd me with vertuous purposes; sent me forth
To trade for honour; and she being the owner
Of the barke of my aduentures, I must yeeld her
A iust accompt of all, as fits a Factor:
And howsoeuer others thinke me happy,
And cry aloud, I haue made a prosperous voyage:
One frowne of her dislike at my returne,
(Which, as a punishment for my fault, I looke for)
Strikes dead all comfort.
Timagoras.
Tush, these feares are needlesse,
Shee cannot, must not, shall not be so cruell.
A free confession of a fault winnes pardon;
But being seconded by desert, commands it.
The Generall is your owne, and sure; my Father
Repents his harshnesse: for my selfe, I am
Euer your creature, one day shall be happy
In your triumph, and your Mariage.
Leosthenes.
May it proue so,
With her consent, and pardon.
Timagoras.
Euer touching
On that harsh string? she is your owne, and you
Without disturbance seaze on what's your due.
Exeunt.
| The Bond-Man | |