University of Virginia Library

Actus Quartus

Scæna Prima.

Enter Master, Boteswaine.
Master.
He does begin to eate?

Botes.
A little, Master,
But our best hope for his recouery, is that
His rauing leaues him, and those dreadfull words,
Damnation, and despayre, with which he euer
Ended all his discourses are forgotten.

Mast.
This stranger is a most religious man sure,
And I am doubtfull whether his charity,
In the relieuing of our wants, or care
To cure the wounded conscience of Grimaldi,
Deserues more admiration.

Botes.
Can you guesse
What the reason should be that we neuer mention
The Church, or the high Altar, but his melancholie
Growes, and increases on him?

Maist.
I haue heard him
(When he gloried to professe himselfe an Atheist,)
Talke often and with much delight and boasting,
Of a rude prancke he did ere he turn'd Pirat,
The memory of which, as it appeares,
Lies heauy on him.

Botes.
Pray you let me vnderstand it.

Maist.
Vpon a solemne day when the whole City
Ioyn'd in deuotion, and with barefoote steps
Pass'd to S. Markes, the Duke and the whole Signiory,
Helping to perfit the Religious pompe,
With which they were receaued; when all men else
Were full of teares, and gron'd beneath the waight
Of past offences (of whose heauy burden
They came to be absolu'd and freed,) our Captaine,
Whether in scorne of those so pious rites
He had no feeling of, or else drawne to it
Out of a wanton irreligious madnesse,
(I know not which) ranne to the holy man,
As he was of doing the worke of grace,
And snatching from his hands the sanctifide meanes
Dash'd it vpon the pauement.

Botes.
How escaped he?
It being a deede deseruing death with torture.

Mast.
The generall amazement of the people
Gaue him leaue to quit the Temple, and a Gundelo,
(Prepar'd it seemes before) brought him aboard,
Since which he nere saw Venice. The remembrance
Of this, it seemes, torments him; aggrauated
With a strong beleefe he cannot receaue pardon
For this fowle fact, but from his hands against whom
It was committed.

Botes.
And vvhat course intendes
His heauenly Physitian, reuerend Francisco,
To beate downe this opinion.

Mast.
He promis'd
To vse some holy and religious finenesse,
To this good end, and in the meane time charg'd me
To keepe him darke, and to admit no visitants
But on no termes to crosse him. Heere he comes.

Enter Grimaldi, with a Booke.
Gri.
For theft! he that restores trebble the value,
Makes satisfaction, and for want of meanes
To doe so, as a slaue must serue it out
Till he hath made full payment. Ther's hope left heere
O vvith vvhat vvil ingnesse vvould I giue vp
My liberty to those that I haue pillag'd
And vvish the numbers of my yeeres though wasted
In the most sordid slauery might equall
The rapines I haue made, till with one voyce
My patient sufferings, might exact from my
Most cruell creditors, a full remission,
An eies losse with an eie, limbs with a limb,
A sad accompt! yet to finde peace within heere,
Though all such as I haue maim'd, and dismembred
In drunken quarrells, or orecome with rage
When they were giu'n vp to my power, stood heere now
And cride for restitution; to appease 'em,
I vvould doe a bloody iustice on my selfe;
Pull out these eies that guided me to rauish
Their sight from others; lop these legs that bore me
To barbarous violence, with this hand cut off
This instrument of wrong, till nought were left me
But this poore bleeding limblesse truncke, which gladly
I vvould diuide among them.
Ha! what thinke I
Of petty forfeitures, in this reuerend habit,
(All that I am turnd into eies) I looke on
A deede of mine so fiendlike, that repentance,
Though with my teares I taught the sea new tides,
Can neuer wash off; all my thefts, my rapes
Are veniall trespasses compar'd to what
I offer'd to that shape, and in a place too
Where I stood bound to kneele to't.

kneeles
Enter Francisco in a Cope like a Bishop.
Fran.
Tis forgiuen,
I with his tongue (whom in these sacred vestments
With impure hands thou didst offend) pronounce it,
I bring peace to thee, see that thou deserue it
In thy fayre life heereafter.

Gri.
Can it bee!
Dare I beleeue this vision, or hope
A pardon ere may finde me?

Fran.
Purchase it
By zealous vndertakings, and no more
T'will be remembred.

Gri.
What celestiall balme
I feele now pour'd into my wounded conscience?
What penance is there Ile not vndergoe
Though nere so sharpe and rugged, with more pleasure
Then flesh and blood ere tasted, shew me true sorrow,
Arm'd vvith an iron vvhip, and I vvill meete
The stripes she brings along vvith her, as if
They vvere the gentle touches of a hand,
That comes to cure me. Can good deeds redeeme me?
I vvill rise vp a vvonder to the vvorld,
When I haue giuen strong proofes how I am altred,
I that haue sold such as profest the Faith,
That I was borne in, to captiuity,
Will make their number equall, that I shall
Deliuer from the oare; and vvinne as many
By the cleerenesse of my actions, to looke on
Their misbeleefe, and loth it. I will be
A conuoy for all Marchants: and thought vvorthy
To be reported to the vvorld heereafter,
The child of your deuotion, nurs'd vp
And made strong by your charity, to breake through
All dangers Hell can bring foorth to oppose me;
Nor am I though my fortunes were thought desperate,
Now you haue reconcil'd me to my selfe,
So voyd of vvorldly meanes, but in despight
Of the proud Viceroyes, vvrongs I can doe something
To vvitnesse of my change; when you please trye me,
And I will perfit vvhat you shall inioyne me,
Or fall a ioyfull Martyr.

Fran.
You vvill reape
The comfort of it, liue yet vndiscouer'd,
And vvith your holy meditations strengthen
Your Christian resolution, ere long
You shall heare further from me.

Grimal.
I'll attend
Exit Francisco.
All your commands with patience; come my Mates,
I hitherto haue liu'd an ill example,
And as your Captaine lead you on to mischiefe,
But now vvill truely labour, that good men
May say heereafter of me to my glory,
Let but my power and meanes, hande vvith my vvill,
His good endeuours, did waigh downe his ill.

Exeunt Grimaldi, Master. Boteswaine.
Enter Francisco.
Fran.
This penitence is not counterfeit, howsoeuer
Good actions are in themselues rewarded,
My trauailes to meete vvith a double crowne,
If that Vitelli come off safe, and prooue
Himselfe the Master of his vvilde affections,
Enter Gaz.
O I shall haue intelligence, how now Gazet,
Why these sad lookes and teares?

Gaz.
Teares sir? I haue lost
My worthy Master, your rich heyre seemes to mourne for
A miserable father, your young vvidow
Following a bedrid husband to his graue,
Would haue her neighbours thinke she cries, and rores,
That she must part vvith such a goodman doe nothing,
When t'is because he stayes so long aboue ground,
And hinders a rich suitor: all is come out sir,
We are smok'd for being cunnicatchers, my master
Is put in prison, his she customer
Is vnder garde to, these are things to weepe for;
But mine owne losse considerd, and vvhat a fortune
I haue, as they say, snatch'd out of my chops,
Would make a man runne mad.

Fran.
I scarce haue leasure,
I am so wholy taken vp vvith sorrow,
For my lou'de pupill to enquire thy fate,
Yet I vvill heare it.

Gaz.
Why sir, I had bought a place,
A place of credit to, and had gone through with it
I should haue beene made an Eunuch, there was honour,
For a late poore prentice, when vpon the suddaine
There was such a hurleburley in the Court,
That I was glad to runne away and carry
The price of my office with me.

Fran.
Is that all?
You haue made a sauing voyage; we must thinke now,
Though not to free, to comfort sad Uitelli,
My greeu'd soule suffers for him.

Gazet.
I am sad too;
But had I beene an Eunuch

Fran.
Thinke not on it.

Exeunt.

Scæna Secunda.

Enter Asambeg. vnlocks the doore, leades forth Paulina.
Asam.
Be your owne gard; obsequiousnesse, and seruice
Shall winne you to be mine. Of all restraint
For euer take your leaue, no threats shall awe you,
No iealous doubts of mine disturbe your freedome,
No fee'd spies, wayte vpon your steps, your vertue
And due consideration in your selfe,
Of what is Noble, are the faithfull helps
I leaue you as supporters to defend you,
From falling basely.

Paul.
This is vvondrous strange
Whence flowes this alteration?

Asam.
From true iudgement,
And strong assurance, neither grates of iron,
Hemde in vvith vvalls of brasse, stricte gards, high birth.
The forfeiture of Honour, nor the feare
Of infamie, or punishment, can stay
A woman slaude to appetite from being
False, and vnworthy.

Paul.
You are growne Satyricall
Against our sex, vvhy sir I durst produce
My selfe in our defence, and from you challenge
A testimony not to be deni'd,
All fall not vnder this vnequall censure,
I that haue stood your flatteries, your threats
Bore vp against your fierce temptations; scorn'd
The cruell meanes you practis'd to supplant me,
Hauing no armes to helpe me, to hold out
But loue of piety, and constant goodnesse,
If you are vnconfirm'd, dare againe bouldly
Enter into the lists, and combat vvith
All opposites mans malice can bring forth
To shake me in my chastetie built vpon
The rocke of my religion.

Asam.
I doe vvish
I could beleeue you, but vvhen I shall shew you
A most incredible example of
Your frayletie in a Princesse, su'de and sought to
By men of worth, of ranck, of eminence; courted
By happinesse it selfe, and her cold temper
Approou'd by many yeeres; yet she to fall,
Fall from her selfe, her glories, nay her safet,
Into a gulfe of shame, and blacke despayre,
I thinke you'll doubt your selfe, or in beholding
Her punishment for euer be deterde
From yeelding basely.

Paul.
I vvould see this vvonder;
Tis sir my first petition.

Asam.
And thus granted;
Aboue you shall obserue all.

Paul. steps aside. Enter Must.
Must.
Sir I sought you
And must relate a vvonder, since I studied
And knew vvhat man vvas, I vvas neuer vvitnesse
Of such inuincible fortitude as this Christian
Showes in his sufferings, all the torments that
We could present him vvith to fright his constancy
Confirm'd, not shooke it; and those heauy chaines
That eate into his flesh, appear'd to him
Like bracelets made of some lou'd mistrisse hayres
We kisse in the remembrance of her fauours.
I am strangely taken vvith it, and haue lost
Much of my furie.

Asam.
Had he suffer'd poorely
It had call'd on my contempt, but manly patience
And all commanding vertue, wins vpon
An enemy. I shall thinke vpon him, ha!
Enter Aga with a black box.
So soone return'd? this speede pleads in excuse
Of your late fault, which I no more remember.
What's the grand Signiors pleasure?

Aga.
Tis inclos'd heere
The box to, that contaynes it, may informe you
How he stands affected: I am trusted with
Nothing but this, on forfeit of your head
She must haue a speedy triall.

Asam.
Bring her in
In blacke as to her funerall, tis the colour
Her fault wils her to weare, and which, in iustice
I dare not pitty, sit and take your place,
Howeuer in her life she has degenerated
May she die nobly, and in that confirme
Her greatnesse, and high blood.

A solemne musicque. A garde. The Aga, and Capiaga, leading in Donusa in blacke, her trayne borne vp by Carazie, and Manto.
Musta.
I now could melt;
But soft compassion leaue me.

Fran.
I am affrighted
With this dismall preparation. Should the enioying
Of loose desires finde euer such conclusions,
All Women would be Vestalls.

Donu.
That you cloth me
In this sad liuery of death, assures me
Your sentence is gone out before, and I
To late am cald, for, in my guilty cause
To vse qualification, or excuse—
Yet must I not part so with mine owne strengths,
But borrow from my modesty boldnesse, to
Enquire by whose authority you sit
My iudges, and whose warrant digs my graue
In the frownes you dart against my life?

Asam.
See heere
This fatall signe, and warrant this brought to
A Generall fighting in the head of his
Victorious troopes, rauishes from his hand
His eu'n then conquering sword; this showne vnto
The Sultans brothers, or his sonnes, deliuers
His deadly anger, and all hopes lay'd by
Commands them to prepare themselues for heauen.
Which would stand with the quiet of your soule
To thinke vpon, and imitate.

Donusa.
Giue me leaue
A little to complayne, first of the hard
Condition of my Fortune, which may moue you
Though not to rise vp intercessors for me
(Yet in remembrance of my former life,
This being the first spot, tainting mine honor)
To be the meanes to bring me to his presence;
And thou I doubt not, but I could alleage
Such reasons in mine owne defence, or pleade
So humbly (my teares helpinge) that it should
Awake his sleeping pitty.

Asam.
Tis in vayne.
If you haue ought to say you shall haue hearing,
And in me thinke him present.

Donusa.
I would thus then
First kneele, and kisse his feete, and after tell him
How long I had beene his darling, what delight
My infant yeeres afforded him; how deere
Hee prizde his sister, in both bloods, my mother;
That she like him had frailety, that to me
Descends as an inheritance, then coniure him
By her blest ashes, and his fathers soule,
The sword that rides vpon his thigh, his right hand
Holding the Scepter and the Ottoman fortune,
To haue compassiion on me.

Asam.
But suppose
(As I am sure) he would be deafe, what then
Could you inferre?

Donusa.
I then would thus rise vp,
And to his teeth tell him he was a tyrant,
A most voluptuous, and insatiable Epicure
In his owne pleasures: which he hugs so deerely,
As proper, and peculiar to himselfe,
That he denies a moderate lawfull vse
Of all delight to others. And to thee
Vnequall iudge I speake as much, and charge thee
But with impartiall eies to looke into
Thy selfe, and then consider with what iustice
Thou canst pronounce my sentence. Vnkind nature,
To make weake women seruants, proud men Masters
Indulgent Mahomet, doe thy bloudy lawes
Call my embraces vvith a Christian, death?
Hauing my heate and May of youth to pleade
In my excuse? and yet want power to punish
These that vvith scorne breake throgh thy Cobweb edicts
And laugh at thy decrees? to tame their lusts
There's no religious bit, let her be fayre
And pleasing to the eye, though Persian, Moore,
Idolatresse, Turke, or Christian, you are priueledg'd
And freely may enioy her. At this instant
I know, vniust man, thou hast in thy power
A louely Christian Virgin; thy offence
Equall, if not transcending mine, vvhy then
We being both guilty doest thou not descend
From that vsurp'd Tribunall and vvith me
Walke hand in hand to death?

Asam.
She raues, and vve
Loose time to heare her: reade the Law,

Donusa.
Doe, doe,
I stand resolu'd to suffer.

Asa.

If any Virgin of what degree or quality soeuer,
borne a naturall Turke, shall bee conuicted of corporall
loosenesse, and incontinence, with any Christian, she is by
the decree of our great Prophet Mahomet to loose her
head.

Asam.

Marke that, then taxe our iustice.

Aga.

Euer prouided that if shee, the sayd offender, by
any reasons, arguments or perswasion, can win and preuaile
with the sayd Christian offending with her, to alter his
religion, and marry her, that then the winning of a soule to
the Mahometan sect, shall acquit her from all shame, disgrace
and punishment whatsoeuer.

Donu.
I lay hold on that clause and challenge from you
The priueledge of the Law.

Musta.
What will you doe?

Donu.
Grant me accesse and meanes, I'll vndertake
To turne this Christian Turke, and marry him:
This triall you cannot denie.

Must.
O base!
Can feare to die make you descend so low
From your high birth, and brand the Ottaman line
With such a marke of infamy?

Asam.
This is worse
Then the parting with your honour, better suffer
Ten thousand deaths, and without hope to haue
A place in our great Prophets Paradice,
Then haue an acte to after times remembred
So foule as this is.

Musta.
Cheere your spirits Madam,
To die is nothing, tis but parting with
A mountaine of vexations.

Asam.
Thinke of your honour;
In dying nobly you make satisfaction
For your offence, and you shall liue a story
Of bould Heroicke courage.

Donu.
You shall not foole me
Out of my life, I claime the Law and sue for
A speedy triall; if I fayle, you may
Determine of me as you please.

Asam.
Base woman!
But vse thy wayes, and see thou prosper in 'em
For if thou fall againe into my power
Thou shalt in vaine after a thousand tortures
Cry out, for death, that death which now thou fliest from
Vnloose the prisoners chaynes, goe leade her on
To try the Magique of her tongue; I follow:
I am on the racke, descend my best Paulina.

Scæna Tertia.

Enter Franciso, Iaylor.
Fran.
I come not empty handed, I will purchase
Your fauour at what rate you please. There's gold.

Iaylor,
Tis the best oratory. I will hazard
A checke for your content below there?

Vitelli,
Welcome.
Vitelli vnder the Stage.
Art thou the happy messenger that brings me
Newes of my death?

Iay.
Your hand.

Vitelli plack'd vp.
Fran.
Now if you please,
A little priuacie.

Jay.
You haue bought it sir,
Enioy it freely.
Exit Jaylor.

Fran.
O my deerest pupill,
Witnesse these teares of ioy, I neuer saw you
Till now looke louely; nor durst I ere glory
In the mind of any man I had built vp
With the hands of vertuous, and religious precepts,
Till this glad minute. Now you haue made good
My expectation of you. By my order,
All Roman Cæsars, that ledde kings in chaines
Fast bound to their triumphant chariots, if
Compar'd with that true glory, and full luster
You now appeare in, all their boasted honors
Purchas'd with blood, and wrong, would loose their names
And be no more remembred.

Vitelli,
This applause
Confirm'd in your allowance ioyes me more,
Then if a thousand full cram'd Theaters
Should clap their eager hands to witnesse that
The Scene I act did please, and they admire it.
But these are (father) but beginnings, not
The ends of my high aimes. I grant to haue master'd
The rebell appetite of flesh and blood
Was far aboue my strength; and still owe for it
To that great power that lent it. But when I
Shall make't apparant, the grimme lookes of death
Affright me not, and that I can put off
The fonde desire of life (that like a garment
Couers, and clothes our frailty) hastening to
My Martirdome, as to a heauenly banquet,
To which I was a choyce inuited guest.
Then you may boldly say, you did not plough
Or trust the barren, and vngratefull sands
With the fruitfull graine of your religious counsels.

Fran.
You doe instruct your teacher. Let the Sun
Of your cleere life (that lends to good men light)
But set as gloriously, as it did rise,
Though sometimes clouded) you may write nil vltra
To humane wishes.

Vitel.
I haue almost gain'd
The end of the race, and will not faynt, or tire now.

Enter Aga and Iaylor.
Aga.
Sir by your leaue (nay stay not) I bring comfort;
The Viceroy taken with the constant bearing
Of your afflictions, and presuming to
You will not change your temper, does command
Your irons should be tane off. Now arme your selfe
With your olde resolution, suddenly
the chayne taken off.
You shall be visited, you must leaue the roome to
And doe it without reply.

Fran.
There's no contending,
Bee still thy selfe my sonne.
Exit Francisco.

Vitel.
Tis not in man
Enter Donu. Asam. Musta. Paul.
To change or alter me.

Paul.
Whom doe I looke on?
My brother? tis he! but no more my tongue,
Thou wilt betray all.

Asam.
Let vs heare this temptresse,
The fellow lookes as he would stop his eares
Against her powerfull spels.

Paul.
He is vndone else.

Uitel.
I'll stand th'incounter, charge me home.

Donu.
I come sir,
bowes her selfe.
A begger to you, and doubt not to finde
A good mans charity, which if you denie,
You are cruell to your selfe, a crime, a wiseman
(And such I hold you) would not willingly
Be guilty of, nor let it find lesse welcome
Though I (a creature you contemne) now shew you
The way to certaine happinesse, nor thinke it
Imaginarie, or phantasticall,
And so not vvorth th'acquiring, in respect
The passage to it is nor rough nor thornie;
No steepe hills in the way which you must climbe vp;
No monsters to be conquer'd; no inchantments
To be dissolu'd by counter charmes, before
You take possession of it.

Uitel.
What strong poyson
Is wrap'd vp in these sugred pills?

Donu.
My suite is
That you vvould quit your shoulders of a burthen
Vnder vvhose ponderous vvaight you vvilfully
Haue too long groan'd, to cast those fetters off,
With vvhich vvith your own hands you chaine your freedome
Forsake a seuere, nay imperious mistresse,
Whose seruice does exact perpetuall cares,
Watchings, and troubles, and giue entertainement
To one that courts you, whose least fauours are
Variety, and choyce of all delights
Mankind is capable of.

Uitel.
You speake in riddles.
What burthen, or what mistrisse? or what fetters?
Are those you poynt at?

Donu.
Those which your religion,
The mistresse you too long haue seru'd, compells you
To beare with slaue-like patience.

Uitel.
Ha!

Paul.
How brauely
That vertuous anger showes!

Donu.
Be wise and waigh
The prosperous successe of things, if blessings
Are donatiues from Heauen (which you must grant
Were blasphemy to question) and that
They are call'd downe, and powr'd on such as are
Most gracious with the great disposer of 'em,
Looke on our flourishing Empire; if the splendor,
The Maiestie, and glory of it dimme not
Your feeble sight; and then turne backe, and see
The narrow bounds of yours, yet that poore remnant
Rent in as many factions, and opinions,
As you haue petty kingdomes, and then if
You are not obstinate against truth and reason,
You must confesse the Deity you worship
Wants care, or power to helpe you.

Paul.
Hold out now
And then thou art victorious.

Asam.
How he eies her!

Musta.
As if he would looke through her

Asam.
His eyes flame too,
As threatning violence.

Vitel.
But that I know
The Diuell thy Tutor fills each part about thee,
And that I cannot play the exorcist
To dispossesse thee, vnlesse I should teare
Thy body limbe by limbe, and throw it to
The furies that expect it, I would now
Plucke out that wicked tongue, that hath blasphem'd
That great omnipotency at whose nod
The fabricke of the World shakes. Dare you bring
Your iugling Prophet in comparison with
The most inscrutable, and infinite essence
That made this all, and comprehends his vvorke?
The place is too prophane to mention him
Whose onely name is sacred. O Donusa!
How much in my compassion I suffer,
That thou, on whom this most excelling forme
And faculties of discourse, beyond a vvoman,
Were by his liberall guift confer'd, should'st still
Remaine in ignorance of him that gaue it?
I vvill not foule my mouth to speake the Sorceries
Of your seducer, his base birth, his vvhoredomes,
His strange impostures; nor deliuer how
He taught a Pigeon to feede in his eare,
Then made his credulous followers beleeue
It vvas an Angell that instructed him
In the framing of his Alcoran. Pray you marke me.

Asam.
These words are death, were he in nought else guilty.

Vitelli,
Your intent to winne me
To be of your beleefe proceeded from
Your feare to die. Can there be strength in that
Religion, that suffers vs to tremble
At that vvhich euery day, nay hower vvee hast to?

Donu.
This is vnanswerable and there's something tells mee
I erre in my opinion.

Vitelli.
Cherish it
It is a Heauenly prompter, entertaine
This holy motion, and weare on your forehead
The Sacred badge he armes His seruants vvith,
You shall, like mee, vvith scorne looke downe vpon
All engines tyranny can aduance to batter
Your constant resolution. Then you shall
Looke truely fayre, vvhen your minds purenesse answers
Your outward beauties.

Donusa.
I came heere to take you,
But I perceiue a yeelding in my selfe
To be your prisoner.

Vitelli,
Tis an ouerthrow
That will outshine all victories. O Donusa,
Dye in my faith like me, and tis a marriage
At vvhich celestiall Angels shall be vvaiters,
And such as haue beene Sainted vvelcome vs,
Are you confirm'd?

Donu.
I vvould bee; but the meanes
That may assure mee?

Vitelli,
Heauen is mercifull,
And vvill not suffer you to vvant a man,
To doe that sacred office, build vpon it.

Donu.
Then thus I spit at Mahomet.

Asam.
Stoppe her mouth:
In death to turne Apostata! I'll not heare
One sillable from any; wretched creature.
With the next rising Sunne prepare to die.
Yet Christian, in reward of thy braue courage,
Bee thy faith right, or vvrong, receiue this fauour.
In person Ile attend thee to thy death,
And bouldly challenge all that I can giue
But what's not in my grant, which is to liue.

Exeunt.