 | The Renegado |  |
Scæna Quinta.
Enter Donusa, Vitelli.Vitelli,
Leaue me, or I am lost againe, no prayers,
No penitence, can redeeme me.
Donusa.
Am I growne
Olde, or deform'd since yesterday?
Vitel.
You are still,
Although the sating of your lust hath sullied
The imaculate whitenesse of your Virgin beauties,
Too fayre for me to looke on. And though purenesse,
The sword with which you euer fought, and conquer'd,
Is rauish'd from you by vnchaste desires,
You are too strong for flesh and blood to treat with,
Though iron grates were interpos'd betweene vs,
To warrant me from treason.
Donusa.
Whom doe you feare?
Vitel.
That humane frailety I tooke from my mother,
That still pursues me, and though once recouer'd
In scorne of reason, and what's more, religion,
A gaine seekes to betray me.
Donusa.
If you meane sir,
To my embraces, you turne rebell to
The lawes of nature, the great Queene, and Mother
Of all productions, and denie alleageance.
Where you stand bound to pay it.
Vitel.
I will stoppe
Mine eares against these charmes, which if Vlysses
Could liue againe, and he are this second Siren,
Though bound with Cables to his Mast, his Ship too
Fasten'd with all her Anchors, this inchantment
Would force him in despite of all resistance,
To leape into the Sea, and follow her,
Although destruction with outstretch'd armes,
Stood ready to receaue him.
Donusa.
Gentle sir,
Though you deny to heare me, yet vouchsafe
To looke vpon me. Though I vse no language
The griefe for this vnkind repulse, will print
Such a dumbe eloquence vpon my face,
As will not onely pleade, but preuaile for me.
Vitelli.
I am a cowar'd, I will see and heere you,
The triall else is nothing, Nor the conquest,
My temperance shall crowne me with heereafter,
Worthy to be remembred. Vp my vertue
And holy thoughts, and resolutions arme me,
Against this fierce temptation; giue me voyce
Tun'd to a zealous anger to expresse
At what an ouerualue I haue purchas'd,
The vvanton treasure of your Virgin bounties,
That in their false fruition heape vpon me
Despayre, and horror; that I could with that ease
Redeeme my forfeit innocence, or cast vp
The poyson I receiu'd into my entrayles,
As now I doe deliuer backe the price,
returnes the Casket.
And salarie of your lust: or thus vncloth me
Of sins gay trappings, (the proud liuery
Throwes off his cloke and doublet.
Of wicked pleasure) which but worn, and heated
With the fire of entertaynement, and consent,
Like to Alcides fatall shirt, teares off
Our flesh, and reputation both together,
Leauing our vlcerous follies bare, and open,
To all malicious censure.
Donu.
You must grant,
If you hold that a losse to you, mine equals,
If not transcends it. If you then first tasted
That poyson as you call it, I brought with me
A palat vnacquainted with the rellish
Of those delights which most (as I haue heard)
Greedily swallow; and then the offence
(If my opinion may be beleeu'd)
Is not so greate: how ere, the wrong no more
Then if Hippollitus and the Virgin Huntresse,
Should meete and kisse together.
Uitel.
What defences
Can lust rayse to maintaine a precipice
Asambeg and Musta. aboue
To the Abisse of loosenes? but affords not
The least stayre, or the fastening of one foote,
To reascend that glorious height we fell from.
Musta.
By Mahomet she courts him.
Asam.
Nay kneeles to him;
Obserue the scornefull villaine turnes away too,
As glorying in his conquest.
Donu.
Are you Marble?
kneeles
If Christians haue mothers, sure they share in
The tigresse fiercenesse, for if you were owner
Of humane pitty, you could not indure
A Princes to kneele to you, or looke on
These falling teares which hardest rocks would soften,
And yet remaine vnmou'd. Did you but giue me
That the remembrance of the sweetenesse of it
Might leaue perpetuall bitternes behind it?
Or shew'd me vvhat it vvas to be a vvife,
To liue a vvidow euer?
Asam.
She has confest it;
Enter Capiaga, Aga, with others.
Ceise on him villaines. O the furies.
Donusa.
How!
Asambeg and Mustapha descend.
Are we betray'd?
Uitel.
The better, I expected
A Turkish Faith.
Donu.
Who am I that you dare this?
Tis I that doe command you to forbeare
A touch of violence.
Aga.
We already Madam
Haue satisfied your pleasure further then
Wee know to answere it.
Capi.
Would we vvere vvell off,
We stand too far ingag'd I feare.
Donu.
For vs?
We'll bring you safe off, who dares contradict
What is our pleasure?
Enter Asambeg, Mustapha.
Asam.
Spurne the dog to prison,
I'll answere you anon.
Vitel.
What punishment
So ere I vndergoe, I am still a Christian.
Ex. with Vitel.
Donu.
What bold presumption's this? vnder what law
Am I to fall that set my foote vpon
Your Statutes and decrees?
Musta.
The crime committed
Our Alcoran calls death.
Donu.
Tush, vvho is heere
That is not Amurahs slaue, and so vnfit
To sit a iudge vpon his blood?
Asam.
You haue lost
And sham'd the priueledge of it, rob'd me to
Of my soule, my vnderstanding to behold
Donu.
I doe appeale to Amurah.
Asam.
We will offer
No violence to your person, till we know
His sacred pleasure, till when vnder gard
You shall continue heere.
Donusa.
Shall?
Asam.
I haue said it.
The Gard leades off Donusa.
Donu.
We shall remember this.
Asam.
It ill becomes
Such as are guilty to deliuer threats
Against the innocent. I could teare this flesh now,
But tis in vaine, nor must I talke but do:
Prouide a well made galley for Constantinople,
Such sad newes neuer came to our great Master;
As hee directs, we must proceed, and know
No will but his, to whom what's ours we owe.
Exeunt.
| The Renegado | |