 | The Bond-Man |  |
Actus Primi.
Scæna Prima.
Enter Timagorus, and Leosthenes.Timagorus.
Why should you droope Leosthenes, or dispaire
My Sisters fauour? what before you purchased
By Court-ship, and faire language in these Wars,
(For from her soule you know she loues a Souldier)
You may deserue by action:
Leost.
Good Timagorus
When I haue said my friend; thinke all is spoken
That may assure me yours; and pray you beleeue
The dreadfull voice of warre that shakes the City,
The thundring threates of Carthage; nor their Army
Raisde to make good those threats, affright not me.
If faire Cleora were confirmd his prize,
That has the strongest Arme, and sharpest Sword,
I would court Bellona in her Horrid-trime,
As if she were a Mistrisse, and blesse Fortune
That offers my young valour to the proofe,
How much I dare doe for your Sisters loue.
But when that I consider how auerse
Your noble Father great Archidamus;
Is, and hath euer beene to my desires:
Reason may warrant me to doubt and feare:
What seeds soeuer I sowe in this warres
Of Noble courage, his determinate will
That neuer toyld for it.
Timag.
Prethee doe not nourish
These iealous thoughts: I am thine, (and pardon me
Though I repeate it thy Timagoras)
That for thy sake, when the bold Theban su'd
Farre fam'd Pisander, for my sisters loue,
Sent him disgrac'd, and discontented home.
I wrought my Father then, and I that stopt not
In the careere of my affection to thee,
When that renowned Worthy that brought with him
High birth, wealth, courage, as fee'd Aduocates
To mediate for him, neuer will consent
A foole that only has the shape of man,
Asotas, though he be rich Cleons Heire
Shall beare her from thee.
Enter Pisander.
Leos.
In that trust I loue,
Timag.
Which neuer shall deceiue you.
Pisander.
Sir the Generall
Timoleon by his Trumpets hath giuen warning
For a remoue.
Timagoras.
'Tis well, prouide my Horse.
Pisander.
I shall Sir.
Exit Pisander.
Leost.
This Slaue has a strange aspect.
Timag.
Fit for his fortune, 'tis a strong limm'd knaue;
My Father bought him for my Sisters Litter.
O pride of women! Coaches are too common,
They surfet in the happinesse of peace,
And Ladyes thinke they keepe not state enough,
If for their pompe, and ease, they are not borne
In triumph on mens shoulders.
Leost.
Who Commands
The Carthagenian Fleet?
Timag.
Giscos their Admirall,
And tis our happinesse: a rawe young fellow,
One neuer traind in Armes, but rather fashiond
To tilt with Ladyes lips, then cracke a Launce,
Rauish a Feather from a Mistrisse Fanne
Made horrid with a glorious Plume, will cracke
His womans necke.
Leost.
No more of him, the motiue's
That Corinth giues vs ayde:
Timag.
The common danger
For Sicily being afire, she is not safe;
It being apparant that ambitious Carthage,
That to enlarge her Empire, striues to fasten
An vniust gripe on vs (that liue free Lords
Of Syracusa) will not end, till Greece
Acknowledge her their Soueraigne.
Leost.
I am satisfied.
What thinke you of our Generall?
Timag.
He is a man
A Trumpet sounds.
Of strange and rescrude parts; But a great Souldier.
His Trumpets call vs, I'le forbeare his Character.
To morrow in the Senate house at large,
He will expresse himselfe.
Leost.
Ile follow you.
Exeunt.
SCÆNA II.
Cleon, Corisca, Gracculo.Corisca.
Nay good Chucke.
Cleon.
I haue said it; Stay at home,
I cannot brooke with gadding, you are a faire one,
Beauty inuites temptation, and short heeles
Are soone tripd vp.
Corisca.
Deny me, by my honour
You take no pitty on me. I shall swoune
Assoone as you are absent, aske my Man else,
You know he dares not tell a lie.
Gracculo.
Indeed,
You are no sooner out of sight, but shee
Does feele strange qualmes, then sends for her young Doctor
Who ministers phisicke to her, on her backe,
Her Ladyship lying as she were enthranced.
And sure his Potions neuer faile to worke,
For she is so pleasant, in the taking them
She tickles againe.
Corisca.
And alls to make you merry
When you come home.
Cleon.
You flatter me, I am old,
And Wisdome cries beware.
Corisca.
Old, Ducke to me
You are young Adonis.
Grac.
Well said Venus,
I am sure she Vulcans him.
Corisc.
I will not change thee
For twenty boistrous young things without Beards.
These bristles giue the gentlest Tittillations,
And such a sweet dew flowes on them, it cures
My lippes without Pomatum; heres a round belly,
'Tis a Downe pillow to my backe. I sleepe
So quietly by it; and this tunable nose
(Faith when you heare it not) affords such musicke,
That I curse all night Fidlers.
Gracc.
This is grosse,
Not finde she flouts him.
Corisc.
As I liue I am iealous.
Cleon.
Iealous! of me Wife?
Corisc.
Yes, and I haue reason,
Knowing how lusty and actiue a man you are.
Cleon.
Hum, hum!
Gracc.
This is no cunning queane! slight, she will make him
To thinke, that like a Stagge he has cast his homes,
And is growne young againe.
Corisc.
You haue forgot what you did in your sleepe,
And when you wakd cald for a Cawdle.
Gracc.
'Twas in his sleepe,
For waking I durst trust my Mother with him.
Corisc.
I long to see the man of warre Cleora
Archadamus Daughter goes, and rich Olimpa,
I will not misse the showe.
There's no contending,
For this time I am pleas'd, but I'll no more on't.
Exeunt.
SCÆNA III.
Archidamus, Cleon. Diphilus, Olimpia. Corisca, Cleora, Zanthia.Archidamus.
So carelesse we haue beene, my noble Lords,
In the disposing of our owne affaires,
And ignorant in the Art of gouernment,
That now we need a stranger to instruct vs.
Yet we are happy, that our neighbour Corinth
(Pittying the vniust gripe Carthage would lay
On Siracusa) hath vouchsafed to lend vs
Her man of men Timoleon to defend
Our Country, and our Liberties.
Diphilus.
Tis a fauour
We are vnworthy of, and we may blush,
Necessity compels vs to receiue it.
Archid.
O shame! that we that are a populous Nation,
Ingag'd to liberall nature, for all blessings
An Iland can bring forth; we that haue limbs
And able bodies; Shipping, Armes, and Treasure,
The sinnewes of the Warre, now we are call'd
To stand vpon our Guard, cannot produce
One fit to be our Generall.
Cleon.
I am olde and fat,
I could say something else.
Archid.
We must obey
The time, and our occasions, ruinous buildings,
Whose bases and foundations are infirme
Must vse supporters; we are circled round
With danger, o're our heads with sayle stretch'd wings,
Destruction houers; and a cloud of mischiefe
Ready to breake vpon vs; no hope left vs
That may diuert it, but our sleeping vertue
Rowsd vp by braue Timoleon.
Cleon.
When arriues he?
He is expected euery houre.
Archid.
The braueries
Of Syracusa, among whom my sonne
Timagorus, Leosthenes, and Asotas
(Your hopefull heire Lord Cleon) two dayes since
Rode forth to meet him, and attend him to
The Citie, euery minute we expect
To be blessed with his presence.
Cleon.
What shout's this?
Diphilus.
Tis seconded with lowd Musique.
Archid.
Which confirmes
His wish'd for entrance. Let vs entertaine him
With all respect, solemnity, and pompe,
A man may merit, that comes to redeeme vs
From slauery, and oppression.
Cleon.
Ile locke vp
My doores, and gard my gold; these Lads of Corinth
Haue nimble fingers, and I feare them more
Being within our walls, then those of Carthage,
They are farre off.
Archid.
And Ladies be it your care
To welcome him, and his followers with all duty:
For rest resolu'd; their hands, and swords, must keepe you
In that full height of happinesse you liue:
A dreadfull change else followes.
Exeunt Arch. Cleon. Diphilus.
Olimpia.
We are instructed.
Corisca.
Ile kisse him for the honor of my Country,
With any she in Corinth.
Olimpia.
Were he a Courtier,
I haue sweet meat in my Closet should content him
Be his pallat ne're so curious.
Corisca.
And if neede be
I haue a Couch, and a banquetting house in my Orchard,
Where many a man of honour has not scorn'd
To spend an afternoone.
Olimpia.
These men of warre
As I haue heard, know not to court a Lady.
They cannot praise our dressings, kisse our hands,
Commend our feet, and legs, and so search vpwards.
A sweet becomming boldnesse: they are rough,
Boystrous and sawcy, and at the first sight
Ruffle, and towse vs, and as they finde their stomacks
Fall roundly to it.
Corisc.
Troth I like em the better.
I cannot endure to haue a perfum'd Sir
Stand cringing in the hammes; licking his lips,
Like a Spaniell o're a Firmenty pot, and yet
Has not the boldnesse to come on, or offer
What they know we expect.
Olimpia.
We may commend
A Gentlemans modesty, manners, and fine language,
His singing, dancing, riding of great horses,
The wearing of his cloathes, his faire complexion,
Take presents from him, and extoll his bounty,
Yet, though he obserue, and waste his state vpon vs,
If he be stanch and bid not for the stocke
That we were borne to traffick with; the truth is
We care not for his company.
Corisc.
Musing Cliora?
Olimp.
She's studying how to entertaine these Strangers,
And to engrosse them to her selfe.
Cleora.
No surely,
I will not cheapen any of their Wares,
Till you haue made your Market: you will buy
I know at any rate.
Enter Timagor. Leosthenes, Asotus, Timoleon in blacke, led in by Archid. Diphilus, Cleon. followed by Pisander, Gracculo, Cymbrio, and others.
Corisc.
She has giuen it you.
Olimpia.
No more, they come.
The first kisse for this Iewell.
Archid.
It is your seate.
Diphil.
Which with a generall suffrage
As to the supreame Magistrates surely tenders,
And prayes Timoleon to accept.
Timoleon.
Such honours
To one ambitious of rule or titles;
Whose heauen on earth, is plac'd in his commaund,
And veynes swolne high with pride, be entertain'd.
They take not me: for I haue euer lou'd
An equall freedome: and proclaym'd all such
As would vsurpe on others liberties,
Rebels to nature, to whose bounteous blessings
All men lay clayme as true legitimate sonnes.
But such as haue made forfeit of themselues
By vicious courses, and their birthright lost;
Tis not iniustice they are mark'd for slaues
To serue the vertuous; for my selfe, I know
Honours and great imployments are great burthens,
And must require an Atlas to support them.
He that would gouerne others, first should be
The Master of himselfe, richly indude
With depth of vnderstanding, height of courage,
And those remarkable graces which I dare not
Ascribe vnto my selfe.
Archid.
Sir, empty men
Are Trumpets of their owne deserts: but you
That are not in opinion, but in proofe
Really good, and full of glorious parts,
Leaue the report of what you are to fame,
Which from the ready tongues of all good men
Aloud proclaimes you.
Diphil.
Besides you stand bound
Hauing so large a field to exercise
Your actiue vertues offerd you, to impart
Your strengths to such as need it.
Timoleon.
Tis confessed.
And since you'll haue it so, such as I am
For you and for the liberty of Greece
I am most ready to lay downe my life:
But yet consider men of Syracusa,
Before that you deliuer vp the power
Which yet is yours to me, to whom tis giuen
To an impartiall man, with whom nor threats,
Nor prayers shall preuaile, for I must steere
Archid.
Which is desir'd of all.
Timoleon.
Timophanes my brother, for whose death
I am taynted in the world, and foulely taynted,
In whose remembrance I haue euer worne
In peace and warre, this liuory of sorrow
Can witnesse for me, how much I detest
Tyrannous Vsurpation: with griefe
I must remember it, for when no perswasion
Could winne him to desist from his bad practise,
To change the Aristocracie of Corinth
Into an absolute Monarchy; I chose rather
To proue a pious and obedient sonne
To my Country my best mother, then to lend
Assistance to Timophanes, though my brother
That like a Tyrant stroue to set his foote
Vpon the Cities freedome.
Timagoras.
'Twas a deed
Deseruing rather Trophees, then reproofe.
Leost.
And will be still remembred to your honor
If you forsake not vs.
Diphilon.
If you free Sicilie
From barbarous Carthage yoke, it will be said,
In him you slew a Tyrant.
Archid.
But giuing way
To her inuasion, not vouchsafing vs
(That flie to your protection) ayde, and comfort,
Twill beleeu'd, that for your priuate ends
You kild a brother.
Timoleon.
As I then proceed,
To all posterity may that act be crownd
With a deseru'd applause, or branded with
The marke of infamy; Stay yet, ere I take
This seat of Iustice, or ingage my selfe
To fight for you abroad, or to reforme
Your State at home, sweare all vpon my sword,
And call the gods of Sicily to witnesse
propound for safety of your Common-wealth,
Not Circumscrib'd or bound in, shall by you
Be willingly obey'd.
Archid., Dip., Cleon.
So may we prosper,
As we obey in all things.
Timag., Leost., Aso.
And obserue
All your commands as Oracles.
Timoleon.
Doe not repent it.
Takes the State.
Olimpia.
He asked not our consent.
Corisca.
Hee's a clowne, I warrant him.
Olimp.
I offred my selfe twice, and yet the Churle
Would not salute me.
Corisc.
Let him kisse his Drumme,
Ile saue my lips, I rest on it.
Olimpia.
He thinkes women
No part of the republique.
Corisc.
He shall finde
We are a Common-wealth.
Cleora.
The lesse your honour.
Timoleon.
First then a word or two, but without bitternesse,
(And yet mistake me not, I am no flatterer)
Concerning your ill gouernment of the State,
In which the greatest, noblest, and most rich,
Stand in the first file guilty.
Cleon.
Ha! how's this?
Timoleon.
You haue not, as good Patriots should doe, studied
The publike good, but your particuler ends.
Factious among your selues, preferring such
To Offices, and honours, as ne're read
The Elements, of sauing policie,
But deepely skild in all the principles,
That vsher to destruction.
Leost.
Sharpe.
Timagor.
The better.
Timoleon.
Your Senate house, which vs'd not to admit
A man (how euer populer) to stand
At the Helme of gouernment; whose youth was not
Crown'd with gray haires, gaue warrant to her counsels
Heard, and receiu'd with reuerence, is now fild
With greene heads that determine of the State
Ouer their Cups: or when their sated lusts
Afford them leisure, or suppli'd by those
Who rising from base arts, and sordid thrift
Are eminent for their wealth, not for their wisdome.
Which is the reason, that to hold a place
In Counsell, which was once esteem'd an honour,
And a reward for vertue, hath quite lost
Lustre, and Reputation, and is made
A mercenary purchase.
Timag.
Hee speakes home.
Leost.
And to the purpose.
Timoleon.
From whence it proceeds,
That the treasure of the City is ingros'd
By a few priuate men: the publique Coffers
Hollow with want; and they that will not spare
One Talent for the common good, to feed
The pride and brauery of their Wiues, consume
In Plate, in Iewels, and superfluous slaues,
What would maintaine an Armie.
Corisc.
Haue at vs.
Olimp.
We thought we were forgot.
Cleor.
But it appeares,
You will be treated of.
Timol.
Yet in this plenty,
And fat of peace, your young men ne're were train'd
In Martiall discipline, and your ships vnrig'd,
Rot in the harbour, no defence preparde,
But thought vnusefull, as if that the gods
Indulgent to your sloth, had granted you
A perpetuitie of pride and pleasure,
No change fear'd, or expected. Now you finde
That Carthage looking on your stupid sleepes,
And dull securitie, was inuited to
Inuade your Territories.
You haue made vs see, Sir,
To our shame the Countries sicknesse: now from you
As from a carefull, and a wise phisitian
We doe expect the cure.
Timoleon.
Old festred sores
Must be lanc'd to the quicke and cauteriz'd,
Which borne with patience, after i'le apply
Soft Vnguents: For the maintenance of the warre
It is decreed all moneys in the hand,
Of priuate men, shall instantly be brought
To the publike Treasurie.
Timag.
This bites sore.
Cleon.
The Cure
Is worse then the disease; Ile neuer yeeld to it.
What could the enemy, though victorious
Inflict more on vs? all that my youth hath toyld for
Purchas'd with industry, and preseru'd with care
Forc'd from me in a moment.
Diph.
This rough course
Will neuer be allowd of.
Timol.
O blinde men!
If you refuse the first meanes that is offer'd
To giue you health, no hope's left to recouer
Your desp'rate sicknesse. Doe you prize your mucke
Aboue your liberties? and rather choose
To be made Bondmen, then to part with that
To which already you are slaues? or can it
Be probable in your flattering apprehensions,
You can capitulate with the Conquerour
And keepe that yours, which they come to possesse,
And while you kneele in vaine, will rauish from you?
But take your owne wayes, brood vpon your gold,
Sacrifice to your Idoll, and preserue
The prey intire, and merit the report
Of carefull Steward, yeeld a iust account
To your proud Masters, who with whips of Iron
Will force you to giue vp what you conceale,
Or teare it from your throates, Adorne your walls
Couer the floores on which they are to tread
With costly Median silkes; perfume the roomes
With Cassia, and Amber: where they are
To feast and reuell, while like seruile Groomes
You wayte vpon their trenchers; feed their eyes
With massie Plate vntill your Cupbords cracke
With the weight that they sustaine; set forth your Wiues
And Daughters in as many varyed shapes
As there are Nations, to prouoke their lusts,
And let them be imbrac'd before your eyes,
The object may content you; and to perfit
Their entertainment, offer vp your Sonnes,
And able men for Slaues; while you, that are
Vnfit for labour, are spurn'd out to starue
Vnpittied in some Desart, no friend by,
Whose sorrow may spare one compassionat teare,
In the remembrance of what once you were.
Leost.
The blood turnes.
Timag.
Obserue, how olde Cleon. shakes,
As if in picture hee had showne him, what
He was to suffer.
Corisc.
I am sicke, the man
Speakes poniards, and diseases.
Olimp.
O my Doctor,
I neuer shall recouer.
Cleora.
If a Virgin,
Whose speech was euer yet vsher'd with feare,
One knowing modestie, and humble silence
To be the choysest ornaments of our sexe,
In the presence of so many Reuerend men,
Strucke dumbe with terrour and astonishment,
Presume to cloath her thought in vocall sounds,
Let her finde pardon. First, to you, great Sir,
A bashfull Mayd's thankes, and her zealous prayers
Wing'd with pure innocence, bearing them to Heauen,
For all prosperitie, that the Gods can giue
To one, whose pietie must exact their care,
Timol.
Tis a happie Omen.
Rise blest one, and speake boldly: on my vertue
I am thy warrant; from so cleere a Spring
Sweet Riuers euer flow.
Cleora.
Then thus to you
My noble Father, and these Lords, to whom
I next owe duty, no respect forgotten
To you my Brother, and these bolde young men
(Such I would haue them) that are, or should be
The Cities Sword and Target of defence.
To all of you, I speake; and if a blush
Steale on my cheekes, it is showne to reproue
Your palenesse; willingly I would not say
Your cowardise, or feare: thinke you all treasure
Hid in the bowels of the Earth, or Shipwrack'd
In Neptunes watry Kingdome, can hold weight
When Libertie, and Honour, fill one scale,
Triumphant Iustice sitting on the beame?
Or dare you but imagine that your golde is
Too deare a salary for such as hazard
Their blood, and liues in your defence? For me
An ignorant Girle, beare witnesse heauen, so farre
I prize a Souldier, that to giue him pay
With such Deuotion as our Flamens Offer
Their Sacrifices at the holy Altar,
I doe lay downe these jewels, will make sale
Of my superfluous Wardrobe to supply
The meanest of their wants.
Timoleon.
Braue masculine spirit!
Diphil.
We are showne to our shame what we in honour
Should haue taught others.
Archid.
Such a faire example
Must needs be followed.
Timag.
Euer my deare Sister,
But now our Families glory.
Leost.
Were she Deform'd
The vertues of her minde would force a Stoicque
Cleon.
I must yeeld,
And though my heart blood part with it, I will
Deliuer in my wealth.
Asotas.
I would say something,
But the truth is, I know not what.
Timol.
We haue money,
And men must now be thought on.
Archid.
We can presse
Of Labourers in the Countrey (men in-vr'd
To colde and heate) ten thousand.
Diph.
Or if need be,
In roll of Slaues, lustie, and able Varlets,
And fit for seruice.
Cleon.
They shall goe for me,
I will not pay and fight too.
Cleora.
How! your Slaues?
O staine of Honour! once more, Sir, your pardon,
And to their shames, let me deliuer, what
I know in justice you may speake.
Timol.
Most gladly,
I could not wish my thoughts a better organ,
Then your tongue, t'expresse them.
Cleora.
Are you men?
(For Age may qualifie, though not excuse
The backwardnesse of these) able Young men?
Yet now your Countries libertie's at the stake,
Honour, and glorious tryumph, made the garland
For such as dare deserue them; a rich Feast
Prepar'd by Victory of immortall vyands,
Not for base men, but such as with their Swords
Dare force admittance, and will be her Guests,
And can you coldly suffer such rewards
To be propos'd, to Labourers and Slaues?
While you that are borne Noble (to whom these
Valued at their best rate, are next to Horses,
Or other Beasts of carriage) cry ayme,
Like idle lookers on, till their proud worth
Timol.
By my hopes,
There's fire and spirit enough in this to make
Thersites valiant.
Cleora.
No; farre, farre be it from you,
Let these of meaner qualitie contend,
Who can indure most labour; Plough the earth,
And thinke they are rewarded, when their sweat
Brings home a fruitfull Haruest to their Lords;
Let them proue good Artificers, and serue you
For vse and ornament, but not presume
To touch at what is Noble; if you thinke them
Vnworthy to taste of those Cates you feed on,
Or weare such costly garments; will you grant them
The priuiledge and prerogatiue of great mindes,
Which you were borne to? Honour, wonne in warre
And to be stiled preseruers of their Countrey
Are Titles fit for free and generous Spirits,
And not for Bond-men: had I beene borne a man
And such ne're dying glories made the prize
To bolde Heroicke Courage; By Diana,
I would not to my Brother, nay my Father,
Be brib'd to part with the least peece of honour
I should gaine in this action.
Timoleon.
Shee's inspir'd,
Or in her speakes the Genius of your Countrey
To fire your blood in her defence. I am rap'd
With the imagination! Noble mayde,
Timoleon is your Souldier, and will sweat
Drops of his best blood, but he will bring home
Triumphant conquest to you. Let me weare
Your colours, Lady, and though youthfull heates
That looke no further then your outward forme,
Are long since buryed in me, while I liue,
I am a constant louer of your minde,
That does transcend all presidents.
Cleora.
'Tis an honour:
Giues her Scarfe.
And so I doe receiue it.
Plague vpon it,
She has got the start of vs. I could e'ne burst
With enuy at her fortune.
Olimpia.
A raw young thing,
We haue too much tongue sometimes, our Husbands say,
And she out-strips vs.
Leost.
I am for the journey.
Timag.
May all Diseases, sloath and lechery bring,
Fall vpon him that stayes at home.
Archid.
Though olde,
I will be there in person.
Diphil.
So will I.
Me thinkes I am not what I was; her wordes
Haue made me younger, by a score of yeares,
Then I was when I came hither.
Cleon.
I am still
Old Cleon, fat, and vnweldy, I shall neuer
Make a good Souldier, and therefore desire
To be excusde at home.
Asotus.
Tis my suite too.
I am a grissell, and these Spider fingers,
Will neuer hold a Sword. Let vs alone
To rule the Slaues at home, I can so yerke em,
But in my Conscience, I shall neuer proue
Good Iustice in the warre.
Timoleon.
Haue your desires:
You would be burthens to vs, no way aydes.
Lead, fairest, to the Temple, first we'le pay
A Sacrifice to the Gods for good successe.
For, all great actions the wish'd course doe run,
That are, with their allowance, well begun.
Exeunt all but the Slaues.
Pisander.
Stay Cymbrio, and Gracculo.
Cymbrio.
The businesse?
Pisander.
Meet me to morrow night, neere to the Groue
Neighbouring the East part of the Citie.
Gracc.
Well.
Pisander.
And bring the rest of our Condition with you,
I haue something to impart, may breake our fetters,
Cymbrio.
Wee'l not fayle.
Gracc.
A Cart-rope
Shall not binde me at home.
Pisander.
Thinke on't, and prosper.
Exeunt.
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