 | The Parliament of Love |  |
10
Act' 2d u s:
Enter Clarindore, montross, Perigot, & NovallPeri:
I doe not rellish the last perte of the kinges speech
tho I was much taken wt h the first
No:
yor reason tutor
Peri:
whie looke you pupill the decree that women
should not neglect the service of theire louers
but paie them from th'exchequer they weare borne wt h
was good & laudable they beinge Created
to bee both tractable & tactable
when they are vsefull, but to have it orderd
all women that haue stombled in the darke
or given by owlelight favors should Complaine
is most intollerable, I myself shall haue
of such as trade in the streets, & scapd my pockets
of progesse landresses & market women
when the kings pleasures knowne, a thowsand bills
preferd against mee
Cla:
this is out of season
nothinge to madam bellisant that in publique
hath so enveighd against vs
No:
shees a fury
I dare noe more attempt her
Peri:
Ile not venter
to Change 6 wordes wt h her for half her state
or staie till shee bee [tyn] trymd from wine & women
for anie new monopolie
mon:
I will studie
how to forgett her, shunn the temptinge poyson
her lookes & magicque of discourse still offer
& bee my self againe, since theres noe hope
tweare madnes to pursue her
Per.
there are madams
better brought vpp tis thought, & wiues that dare not
Complaine in parliamt, theres safe tradinge Pupill
& when shee findes shee is of all for saken
lett my lady pride repent in vaine, & mumpe
& envie others marketts
11
may I nere prosper
but you are 3 of the most faintinge sperrits
that euer I Conversd wt h, you do well
to talke of lawndresses progresse punckes & beggers
the wife of some rich tradesman wt h 3 teeth
& twice so manie haires, truck wt h ould ladies
whome nature hath given ore, that owe theire docters
for an artificiall life, that are so frozen
that a sound plague cannot thaw them, but dispaire
I giue you ore, but never hope to take
a velvet petticoate vpp, or to Comitt
wt h an Italian Cutwork smock when torne too
mont:
& what hopes nourish you
Cla:
troath myne are modest
I am onlie Confident to win the lady
you dare not looke on, & now in the hight
of her Contempt & scorne to humble her
& teach her at what game her mother plaid
when shee was gott, & cloyd wt h those poore toyes
as I finde her obedient & pleasinge
I may perhaps descend to marry her
then wt h a kinde of state I take my Chaire
Comaund a suddaine muster of my servants
& after 2 or 3 maiestick hums [OMITTED]
it beinge knowne all is myne per v[OMITTED]
lett out this manner at an easie re[OMITTED]
to such a freind, lend this ten tho[OMITTED]
for the redemption of his m[OMITTED]
give to each by blow I know[OMITTED]
«[OMITTED]e[OMITTED]»
[OMITTED]
12
theis thinges first orderd by mee & Confirmd
by Bellisant my wife I care not much
yf out of her owne landes I doe assigne her
some petty ioynture
Peri:
talkest thou in thie sleepe
No:
or art thou mad
Cla:
a little ellevated
wt h the assurance of my future fortune
whie doe you stare & grin, I know this must bee
& I will lay three thowsand Crownes wt hin
a moneth I will effect this
Mont:
how
Cla:
giue proofe
I haue enioyd faire Bellisant, evident proofe
I haue pluckd her virgin rose so long preservd
not like a play trick wt h a Chaine or ringe
stolne by Corruption, but against her will
make her Confesse so much
Mont:
impossible
Cla:
then the disgrace bee myne the proffit yor s
yf that you think her Chastety a rock
not to bee moud or shaken or hold mee
a flatterer of my self, or ouer weener
lett mee paie for my foolery
Peri:
Ile ingage
my self for a thowsand
No:
Ile not out for a second
Mont:
I would gladlie loose a third perte for assurance [that]
noe virgin can Can stand Constant longe
Cla:
leaue that
to the tryall, lett vs to a Notarie
draw the Conditions; see the Crownes deposited
& then I will not Crye St denis for mee
but loue, blynd archer aide mee
Per:
looke thou thrive
I would not bee so Ieerd & hooted at
as thou wilt bee ells
Cla:
I will runne the hazzard
Exeunt
Enter Leonora, & a Seruant
Ser:
hee will not bee denied
13
Slaue beate him back
I feede such whelpes.
Ser:
madam I rattled him
rattle him home
Leo:
rattle him hence you rascall
Ent' Clerimond
or never see mee more
Ser:
hee comes, a sword
what would you haue mee doe, shall I cry murther
or raise the Cunstable.
Leo:
hence you shakinge Coward
Ser:
I am glad I am so gott off, heeres a round some
for a few bitter wordes, bee not shooke of sir
Ile see none shall disturbe you
[Exit Seruant
Clere:
you might spare
theis frownes good Lady, on mee they are vselesse
I am shot through & through wt h yor disdaine
& on my hart the [scorne] darts of scorne so thick
that theres noe vacant place left to receaue
annother wound, theire multitude is growne
my best defence, & doe Confirme mee that
you cannot hurt mee further·
Leo
we[OMITTED]u not
[OMITTED]of impudence & slavd to follie
[OMITTED]op of noble blood remaine
[OMITTED]ll [OMITTED] vaynes hadst thou or touch or rellish
«[OMITTED]l»itie or manners
«[OMITTED]r»med outside onlie
«[OMITTED]**» essence «of» a «m[OMITTED]»
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
14
force from a blushinge woman that rude language
thie basenes first made mee acquainted wt h
Clere:
now saintlike patience guard mee
Leo:
I have heard
of mountebancks that to vent theire druggs & oyles
haue so invrd themselves to poyson that
they could digest a venomd tode or spider
better then wholesome viands, in the list
of such I hould thee, for that bitternes
of speech, reproofe & scorne, by her deliuerd
whome thou professest to adore & shake at
(wc h would deter all mankind but thieself)
doe nourish in thee sawcy hopes wt h pleasure
Clere:
heare but my iust defence
Leo:
yet since thou art
so spaniell like affected, & thie dotage
increases from abuse & iniury
that way I'le once more feast thee, of all men
I euer saw yett, in my setled Iudgmt
spight of thie barber, Tayler & perfumer
& theire adulterate & borrowed helps
thou art the vgliest Creature & when trymd vpp
to the hight as thou imaginst, in myne eyes
a leaper wt h a Clapdish (to giue notice
hee is infectious) in respect of thee
appeares a younge Adonis
Clere:
you looke.on mee
in a falce glasse madam.
Leo:
then thie dunghill mynd
sutable to the outside never yet
producd one gentle thought knowinge her want
of faculties to putt it into act
thie Courtship as absurd as anie zanies
after a practizd mr thie discourse
tho full of bumbast phrase never brought matter
worthie the laughinge at, much lesse the hearinge
15
thie ills I meane, & speake them to the full
would tyre a thowsand womens voluble tongues
& twice so manie lawyers, for a farwell
Ile sooner Claspe an Incubus, or hugg
a forckd tongud adder then meete thie embraces
wc h as the divell I flye from·
Clere:
now you haue spent
the vtmost of yor spleene, I would not saie
yor [mallice [splee], I wo] mallice, sett of to the height wt h fixion
allow mee leaue, (a poore request) wc h Iudges
seldome denie vnto a man Condemnd
a little to Complaine, for beinge Censurd
or to extenuate or excuse my guilt
weare but to wash an[t] ethiop, how oft wt h teares
when the inhuman Porter has forbid
my entrance by yor more seveere Comaund
haue theis eyes washd yor threshold, did there euer
Come noveltie to paris rich or rare
wc h but as soone as knowne was not presented
how ere wt h scorne refusd, haue I not brought
the braueries of fraunce before yor window
to fight at barriers or to breake a launce
or in theire full Careere to take the rin«*»
to doe you honor, & then beinge refus«e[OMITTED]»
to speake my greefe, my Arms my [OMITTED]
the Cullers that I weare in a du[OMITTED]
expressd how much I sufferd in[OMITTED]
of yor displeasure
Leo:
twoe m[OMITTED]es hen[OMITTED]e Ile [OMITTED]
16
staie best madam
I am growinge to a period
Lev:
pray you doe
I heere shall take a napp else tis so pleasinge
Clere:
then onlie this the voyce you now Contem·
you once did sweare was musicall, you haue mett to
theis lips in a soft encounter, & haue brought
an equall ardor wt h you, never liv'd
a happier paire of louers, I Confesse
after you promisd marriage, nothinge wantinge
but a few daies expird, to make mee happie
my violent impatience of delay
made mee presume & wt h some amorous force
to aske a full fruition of those pleasures
wc h sacred Hymen to the world makes lawfull
before his torch was lighted in this onlie
you iustly can accuse mee
Leo:
darst thou thinck
that this offence can euer finde a pardon
vnworthie as thou art
Clere:
but you most Cruell
that in yor studied purpose of revenge
Cast both devine & human lawes behinde you
& onlie see theire rigor, not theire mercy
offences of foule shap by [w] holy writt
are warranted remission, prouided
that the delinquent vndergoe the pennance
imposd vpon him by his Confessor
but you that should bee myne & onlie Can
or punish or absolve mee, [onlie can] are so farr
from doinge mee right that you disdaine to heare mee
Leo:
now I may catch him in my longe wishd toyle
my hate helpe mee to worke it, to what purpose
poore & pale sperrited man should I expect
from thee the satisfaction of a wronge
Compard to wc h the murther of a brother
weare but a gentle iniury.
17
witness heaven
all blessings by good men are tortors
the wicked shake at, noe saint left vnsworne by
that vncompelld I heere give vpp my self
wholly to yor devotion, if I faile
to doe what euer you please to Comaund
to expiat my trespasse to yor honor
so that the taske performd you like wise sweare
first to forgiue & after marrie mee
may I indure [most] more sharpe & lingringe torments
then euer tyrants found out, may my freinds
wt h scorne not pitty looke vppon my sufferings
& at [th] my last gaspe in the place of hope
horrid dispaire possesse mee
Leo:
thou art Caught most miserable foole but fitt to bee so
& tis but Iustice that thou art deliuerd
into her power thats sencible of a wronge
& glories to revenge it lett mee study
what dredfull punishmt worthie my fury
I shall inflict vppon thee all the mallice
of Iniurd women helpe mee, death thats nothinge
tis to a Conscious wretch a bennifitt
& not[OMITTED] pennance, ells on the next tree
for[OMITTED]sake I could make thee hange thie self
«Cl[OMITTED]»
w[OMITTED] I done
[OMITTED]bee recalld
[OMITTED]ares in the Turkish gallies
[OMITTED]bee sould [to sould] to a brothell
[OMITTED] thats« a tr f[OMITTED]»
[OMITTED]
18
Ile Imitate them, I haue it to
Clere:
remember
you are a woman·
Leo
I haue heard thee boast
that of all blessings in the earth next mee
the number of thie trustie faithfull freinds
made vpp thie happines, out of theis I chardge thee
& by thine owne repeated oathes Coniure thee
to kill the best deserver, doe not start
Ile haue noe other penance, then to practize
to find some meanes that hee deserves thee best
by vnder takinge some thinge others flie from
this done I am thine
Clere:
but heare mee
Leo:
not a sillable
& till then neuer see me
Exit.
Clere:
I am lost·
foolishlie lost & sunck by myne owne basenes, Ile say onlie
wt h a hart breakinge patience, yet not raue
better the divells then a womans slaue
Exit
Enter Clarindore and Beaupre
Cla:
nay prithee good Caliste
Beau:
as I liue sir
shee is determynd to bee privat, Chardgd mee
till of herself shee broke vpp her retyrements
not to admitt a visitant
Cla:
thou art a foole
& I must haue thee learne to know thie [self] strength
there never was a sure path to the mrs
but by her ministers helpe wc h I will pay for
but yett this is but trash; harke in thine eare
by Loue I like thie person & will make
full paymt that waie bee thou wise
Bea:
like mee sir
one of my darke Complexion
Cla:
I am serious
19
the soft tuch hightens appetite, & takes more
then Culler Venus dressinge in the daie tyme
but neuer thought on in her midnight Revells
[but never thought] Come I must haue thee myne
Beau:
but how to serve you .
Cla:
bee speakinge still my praises to thie Lady
how much I loue & languish for her bounties
you may remember to how many madams
are rivalls for mee, & in waie of Caution
saie you haue heard when I was wild how dreadfull
my name was to a professd Curtesan
Ent' Bellisant
still askinge more then shee could giue
Beau:
my Lady
Bell:
bee wt hin Call, how now Clarindore
courtinge my servant, nay tis not my envie
you now expresse yor self a Compleate Lover
that for varieties sake if shee bee woman
Can Change discourse wt h anie
Cla:
all are foyles
I practize on but when you make mee happie
in doinge mee that honor, I desird
to heare her speake in the morisco tongue
troath tis a pritty language
Bell:
yes to daunce to,
looke to those sweetemeates
Exit Beaupre
Cla:
how by heauen, shee aymes'
to speake wt h mee in privat
Bell:
Come sitt downe
letts haue« so»me merry Con«ff[OMITTED]»nce
Cl[OMITTED]
«[OMITTED]w**[OMITTED]»
[OMITTED]
20
at noe perte Can deserve
Bell:
yf you esteeme it
at such a rate doe not abuse my bountie
or Coment on the graunted privacy farther
then what the text may warrant, so you shall
destroy what I haue built
Cla:
I like not this
Bell:
this new erected parliamt of loue
it seemes has frighted hence my visitants
how spend montrosse & Perigot theire howers
Novall & Cleremond vanishd in a moment
I like yor Constancy yet
Cla:
thats good againe
shee hath restord all, pitty them good maddam
the splendor of yor howse & entertainemt
inrichd wt h all perfections by yor self
is to to glorious for theire dim eyes
you are aboue theire element, modest fooles
that onlie dare admire and barr them from
Comparinge of theis eyes to the fairest starrs
givinge you Iunos mat y, Pallas witt
dianas hand & Thetis pritty foote
or when you daunce to sweare that Venus leads
the graces so on the Idalian [plaine] greene
& such hiperboles stolne out of play bookes
they would stand all daie mute & as you weare
some Curious picter onlie to bee lookd on
presume noe farther
Bell:
pray you keepe your distance
& grow not rude
Cla:
rude lady, manlie bouldnes
Cannot deserve that name, I haue studied you
& loue hath made an easie glosse vppon
the most abstruce & hidden misteries
wc h you may keepe Conceald, you well may praise
a bashfull suiter that is ravished wt h
a feather of yor fan or if hee gaine
a ribbond from yor shoe cryes out Nil Vltra
Bell:
& what would satisfie you .
Cla:
noe such poore trifles
I Can assure you lady; doe not I see
21
a man that of himself Comes bouldlie on
that will not putt yor modestie to troble
to teach him how to feede when meates before him
that knowes that you are flesh and blood a Creature
& borne wt h such affections, that like mee
now I haue oppertunitie & yor favor
will not abuse my fortune, should I stand now
lickinge my fingers, cry ay mee, then kneele
& sweare you weare a goddesse, kisse the skirts
of yor proud garmt s, when I weare gon, I gon I am sure
I should bee kindlie laught at for a Coxcombe
the storie made the subiect of your mirth
at the next meetinge when you sitt in Connsaile
amonge the bewties
Bell:
is this possible
all due respect forgotten
Cla:
hange respect
are wee not alone, see I dare touch this hand
& wt hout adoration vngloue it
a spring of youth is in this palme, heere Cupid
the moysture turnd to diamonds heads his arrowes
the farr fa«m»d english bath, or german spaw
one dropp of this will purchase, shall this nectar
runn« »vselesse then to waste, or weare theis lips
[OMITTED] like the morne breathinge perfumes
[OMITTED]s dare approch them, bee vntouchd
[OMITTED]st (nay tis in vaine to make resistance)
[OMITTED] kist & tasted[OMITTED] you seeme angrie
[OMITTED] I haue «d[OMITTED]»sd you [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
22
by force had broke into my howse
Ent' Seruants
Cla:
how's this
Bell:
circle him round wt h death & if hee stirr
or but presume to speake til I allow it
his bodie bee the nauell to the wheele
in wc h yor rapiers like so many spokes
shall meete & fix them selues
Cla:
weare I off wt h life
this for my wager
Bell:
villaine shake & tremble
at my iust anger, wc h of all my actions
Confind in vertuous lymitts haue giuen life
& birth to this presumption, hast thou euer
observd in mee a wanton looke or gesture
not suitinge wt h a virgin, haue I been
prodigall in my favors or giuen hopes
to nourish such attempts, sweare & sweare trulie
what in thie soule thou thinckst of mee·
Cla:
as of one
made vpp of Chastety and onlie tryed
wc h I repent, what this might woorke vppon you
Bell:
thie intent deserves not death; but sirra know
tis in my power to looke thee dead
Cla:
tis graunted
Bell:
I am not so Cruell yet for this insolence
for beare my howse foreuer, yf you are hott
you ruffian like may force a pertinge kisse
as from a Comon gamster
Cla:
I am Coold; heers a virago
Bell:
or you may goe boast
how brauely you Came on to yor Companions
I will not bribe thie silence, noe reply
now thrust him headlonge out of dores & see
hee neuer more passe my threshold:
Exit
Cla:
this Comes of
my daringe, all hells plagues light on the proverb
that saies faint hart; but it is stale
Seruant:
pray you walke sir
wee must shew you the waie ells
Cla:
bee not to officious
23
sitt quiet by this disgrace I Cannot
some other Course I must be forcd to take
not for my wager now, but honors sake
Exeunt
finis Actus Secundi
| The Parliament of Love | |