University of Virginia Library

Scena prima.

Enter Vitelli and Gazet.
Uitelli.
You haue hirde a Shop then?

Gazet.
Yes sir, and our wares
(Though brittle as a maydenhead at sixteene
Are safe vnladen; not a Christall crackt,
Or China dish needs sodring; our choice Pictures
As they came from the workeman, without blemish,
And I haue studied speeches for each Peece,
And in a thrifty tone to fell 'em off;
Will sweare by Mahomet, and Termigant,
That this is Mistris to the great Duke of Florence,
That Neece to old King Pippin, and a third
An Austrian Princesse by her Roman nose,
How ere my conscience tels me they are figures
Of Bawdes, and common Courtezans in Venice.

Vitel.
You make no scruple of an oath then?

Gaz.
Fie sir
Tis out of my Indentures, I am bound there
To sweare for my Masters profit as securely
As your intelligencer must for his Prince,
That sendes him forth an honourable spie
To serue his purposes. And if it be lawfull
In a Christian shopkeeper to cheate his father,
I cannot find but to abuse a Turke
In the sale of our commodities, must bee thought
A meritorious worke.

Vitel.
I wonder sirra
What's your Religion?

Gaz.
Troth to answere truely
I would not be of one that should command mee
To feed vpon poore Iohn, when I see Pheasants
And Partriges on the Table: nor doe I like
The other that allowes vs to eate flesh
In the Lent though it be rotten, rather then bee
Thought superstitious, as your zealous Cobler,
And learned botcher Preach at Amsterdam.
Ouer a Hotchpotch. I would not be confin'd
In my beliefe, when all your Sects, and sectaries
Are growne of one opinion, if I like it
I will professe my selfe, in the meane time
Liue I in England, Spaine, France, Rome, Geneua.
I am of that Countreys faith,

Vitel.
And what in Tunis,
Will you turne Turke heere?

Gaz.
No! so I should loose
A Collop of that part my Doll inioyn'd mee
To bring home as she left it; tis her venture,
Nor dare I barter that commoditie
Without her speciall warrant.

Uitel.
You are a Knaue sir,
Leauing your Roguerie thinke vpon my businesse,
It is no time to foole now
Remember where you are too! though this Mart time,
Wee are allowde free trading, and with safetie.
Temper your tongue and meddle not with the Turkes,
Their manners, nor Religion.

Gaz.
Take you heede sir
What colours you weare. Not two houres since there Landed
An English Pirats Whore with a greene apron,
And as she walk't the streets, one of their Mufties
Wee call them Priests at Venice, with a Razor
Cutts it of Petticoate, Smocke and all, and leaues her
As naked as my Nayle: the young Frie wondering
What strange beast it should be. I scap't a scouring
My Mistres Buskepoynt, of that forbidden coloure
Then tyde my codpeece, had it beene discouer'd
I had beene caponde.

Vitel.
And had beene well seru'd;
Haste to the Shoppe and set my Wares in order
I will not long be absent?

Gaz.
Though I striue sir
To put of Melencholy, to which, you are euer
Too much inclinde, it shall not hinder me
With my best care to serue you
Exit Gazet.

Enter Francisco.
Vitel.
I beleeue thee.
O wellcome sir, stay of my steppes in this life,
And guide to all my blessed hopes heereafter.
What comforts sir? haue your indeauours posper'd?
Haue wee tirde Fortunes malice with our sufferings?
Is she at length after so many frownes
Pleas'd to vouchafe one cheerefull looke vpon vs?

Fran.
You giue too much to fortune, and your passions,
Ore which a wise man, if Religious, tryumphs.
That name fooles worship, and those tyrants which
Wee arme against our better part, our reason,
May add, but neuer take from our afflictions:

Vitelli.
Sir as I am a sinfull man, I can not
But like one suffer.

Fran.
I exacte not from you
A fortitude insensible of calamitie,
To which the Saint's themselues haue bowde and showne
They are made of flesh, and bloud, all that I challenge
Is manly patience. Will you that vvere train'd vp
In a Religious Schoole, where diuine maximes
Scorning comparison, vvith morall precepts
Were daily taught you, beare your constancies triall
Not like Vitelli, but a Village nurse
With curses in your mouth: Teares in your eyes?
Hovv poorely it showes in you?

Ui.
I am School'd sir,
And will heereafter to my vtmost strength
Studie to bee my selfe.

Fran.
So shall you find mee
Most ready to assist you; Neither haue I
Slept in your greate occasions since I left you
I haue beene at the Viceroies Court and presde
As far as they allovve a Christian entrance.
And something I haue learn't that may concerne
The purpose of this iourney.

Ui.
Deere Sir vvhat is it?

Fran.
By the command of Asambeg, the Viceroy:
The Cittie swels vvith barbarous Pompe and Pride
For the entertainement of stout Mustapha
The Basha of Aleppo, vvho in person
Comes to receiue the neece of Amurah
The fayre Donusa for his bride.

Vitel.
I find not
Hovv this may profit vs.

Fran.
Pray you giue mee leaue.
Among the rest that vvayte vpon the Viceroy,
(Such as haue vnder him command in Tunis.)
Who as you haue often heard are all false Pirats,
I savv the shame of Uenice and the scorne
Of all good men: The periurde Renegado
Antono Grimaldy;

Uitel.
Ha! his name
Is poyson to mee.

Fran.
Yet againe?

Uitel.
I haue done sir.

Fran.
This debauchde villaine: whom we euer thought,
(After his impious scorne done in Saint Markes
To me as I stood at the holy Altar)
The theefe that rauish't your fayre sister from you,
The vertuous Paulina not long since,
(As I am truely giuen to vnderstand)
Sold to the viceroy a fayre Christian Virgin,
On whom, maugre his fierce and cruell nature
Asambeg dotes extreamely.

Vitel.
Tis my sister
It must be shee, my better Angell tells me
Tis poore Paulina. Farewell all disguises
Ile show in my reuenge that I am Noble.

Fran.
You are not mad?

Uitel.
No sir, my vertuous anger
Makes euery veyne an arterie, I feele in mee
The strength of twenty men, and being arm'd
With my good cause to wreake wrong'd innocence
I dare alone run to the viceroys Court
And with this Ponyard before his face.
Digge out Grimaldies heart.

Fran.
Is this Religious?

Vitel.
Would you haue me tame now; Can I know my sister
Mewde vp in his Serraglio, and in danger
Not alone to loose her honour, but her soule,
The hell-breed Villaine by too? that has sold both
To blacke destruction, and not haste to send him
To the Deuill his tutor? to be patient now,
Were in another name to play the Pandor
To the Viceroyes loose embraces, and cry aime
While he by force, or flaterie compels her
To yeeld her fayre name vp to his foule lust,
And after turne Apostata to the faith
That she was breed in.

Fran.
D'oe but giue me hearing.
And you shall soone grant how ridiculous
This childish fury is. A wise man neuer
Attempts impossibilities; 'tis as easie
For any single arme to quell an Army,
As to effect your wishes; we come hither
To learne Paulinas faith, and to redeeme her,
(Leaue your reuenge to heauen) I oft haue tould you
Of a Relique that I gaue her, which has power
(If we may credit holy mens traditions)
To keepe the owner free from violence:
This on her breast she weares, and does preserue
The vertue of it by her daily prayers.
So if she fall not by her owne consent
Which it were sinne to thinke: I feare no force.
Be therefore patient, keepe this borrowed shape
Till time and oportunitie present vs
With some fit meanes to see her, which perform'd,
Ile ioyne with you in any desperate course
For her deliuery.

Vitel.
You haue Charmde me sir
And I obey in all things; Pray you pardon
The weakenesse of my passion.

Fran.
And excuse it.
Be cheerefull man for know that good intents
Are in the end Crownd with as fayre euents.

Exeunt.