 | The Renegado |  |
Scæna Secunda.
Enter Vitelli, Francisco.Vitel
Sir, as you are my confessor, you stand bound
Not to reueale what euer I discouer
In that Religious way: nor dare I doubt you.
Let it suffice, you haue made me see my follies,
And wrought perhaps compunction; For I would not
Appeare an Hyppocrite. But when you impose
A penance on me, beyond flesh, and blood
To vndergoe: you must instructe me how
To put off the condition of a man:
Or if not pardon, at the least, excuse
My disobedience. Yet despayre not sir,
For though I take mine owne way, I shall doe
Something that may hereafter to my glory,
Speake me your Scholler.
Fran.
I inioyne you not
To goe, but send.
Vitel.
That were a pettie triall
Not worth one so long taught, and exercisde
Vnder so graue a master. Reuerende Francisco
My friend, my father, in that word, my all;
Rest confident, you shall heare some thing of mee
That will redeeme me in your good opinion,
Or iudge me lost for euer. Send Gazet
(Shee shall giue order that hee may haue enterance)
To acquaint you with my fortunes.
Exit Uitelli.
Fran.
Goe and prosper,
Holy Saints guide and strengthen thee. Howsoeuer
As my endeauours are, so may they find
Gracious acceptance.
Enter Gazet, Grimaldi, in raggs.
Gaz.
Now you doe not rore sir
A poore shopkeeper. Doe you remember that sir,
I vveare your marks heere still.
Fran.
Can this be possible?
All vvonders are not ceas'd then.
Grimal.
Doe, abuse me,
Spit on me, spurne me, pull me by the nose,
Thrust out these fiery eies, that yesterday
Would haue lookde thee dead.
Graz.
O saue me sir.
Gri.
Feare nothing,
I am tame, and quiet, there's noe vvrong can force me
To remember vvhat I vvas. I haue forgot,
I ere had irefull fiercenesse, a steelde heart,
Insensible of compassion to others,
Nor is it fit that I should thinke my selfe
Worth mine owne pittie, Oh.
Fran.
Growes this deiection,
From his disgrace doe you say?
Gaz.
Why hees cassherde sir,
His ships, his goods, his liuery-puncks confiscate,
And there is such a punishment laid vpon him,
The miserable rogue must steale no more,
Nor drinke, nor drab.
Fran.
Does that torment him?
Gazet.
O Sir!
Should the State take order to bar men of acres,
From those two laudable recreations,
Drinking, and vvhoring, how should Panders purchase,
Or thrifty Whores build Hospitals? slid if I
That since I am made free, may write my selfe,
A Citty gallant, should forfeit two such charters
I should be ston'd to death, and nere be pittied,
By the liueries of those companies.
Fran.
You'll be whip'd sir,
If you bridle not your tongue. Haste to the Palace
Your Master lookes for you.
Gaz.
My quondam Master,
In seruants tis more pardonable; as a companion,
Or so, I may consent, but is there hope sir,
He has got me a good chapwoman? pray you write
A word or two in my behalfe.
Fran.
Out rascall.
Gaz.
I feele some insurrections.
Fran.
Hence.
Gaz.
I vanish.
Exit Gazet.
Gri.
Why should I study a defence, or comfort?
In whom blacke guilt, and misery if ballanc'd,
I know not which would turne the scale, looke vpward
I dare not, for should it but be beleeu'd,
That I (dide deepe in hells most horrid colours,)
Should dare to hope for mercy, it would leaue
No checke or feeling, in men innocent
To catch at sinnes, the diuell nere taught mankind yet,
No, I must downeward, downeward, though repentance
Could borrow all the glorious wings of grace,
My mountainous waight of sins, would cracke their pinions,
And sincke them to hell with me.
Fran.
Dreadfull! heare me,
Thou miserable man.
Grima.
Good sir deny not,
But that there is no punishment beyond
Damnation.
Enter Master, Boteswaine.
Master.
Yonder he is, I pitty him.
Botes.
Take comfort Captaine, we liue still to serue you.
Gri.
Serue me? I am a diuell already, leaue me,
Stand further off, you are blasted else, I haue heard
Schoolemen affirme mans body is compos'd
Of the foure elements, and as in league together
They nourish life; So each of them affords
Liberty to the soule, when it growes wearie
Of this fleshie prison. Which shall I make choice of?
The fire? no (I shall feele that heereafter)
The earth will not receiue me. Should some whirlewind
Perpetuall plagues would dwell vpon the earth.
And those superior bodies that powre downe
Their cheerefull influence denie to passe it,
Through those vast regions I haue infected.
The (Sea) I that is iustice there, I ploude vp
Mischiefe as deepe as Hell there: there I'le hide
This cursed lumpe of clay may it turne Rocks
Where plummets weight could neuer reach the sands.
And grinde the ribs of all such barkes as presse
The Oceans breast in my vnlawfull course.
I haste then to thee, let thy rauenous wombe
Whom all things else denie, be now my tombe.
Exit Gri.
Master.
Follow him and restraine him.
Fran.
Let this stand
For an example to you. I'le prouide
A lodging for him, and apply such cures
To his wounded conscience, as heauen hath lent mee.
Hee's now my second care: and my profession
Bindes me to teach the desperate to repent
As farre as to confirme the innocent.
Exeunt.
| The Renegado | |