 | The Parliament of Love |  |
Act' 3u s
Enter Chamont, Perigot, Nouall, Dinant, Lamira & Clarinda.Peri:
twas princelike entertainemt
Cha:
you ore prize it
Dina:
yor Cheerefull lookes made eu'y dish a feast
and tis that Crownes a welcome
La:
for my part
I hold society and honest mirth
the greatest blessinge of a civell life
Clarinda:
wt hout good Companie indeede all dainties
loose their true rellish, & like painted grapes
are onlie seene not tasted
No:
by this light
shee speakes well to, Ile haue a fling at her
shee is noe fitt electuary for a docter
a Courser Iulip may well Coole his wor̄pe
this Cordiall is for gallants
Cha:
let mee see
the night growes old, pray you often bee my guests
such as dare Come vnto an empty [take] table
altho not Crackd wt h Curious delicates
haue liberty to Comaund it as theire owne
I may doe the like wt h you when you are marri[OMITTED]
Peri:
yes tis likely
when theres noe forrage to bee had abro«a[OMITTED] » [OMITTED]
nor Credulous husbands left to father [OMITTED]
of batchellors begettinge, when Cour[OMITTED]
are wone to graunt variety is not p[OMITTED]
& that a«[OMITTED]p»inch is v[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
24
you haue a merry tyme oft
but wee forgett our selves gallants good night
good mr docter when yor leisure serves
visitt my howse, when wee least neede theire art
phisitians looke most louely
Din:
all thats in mee
is at yor lr̄ps service, monnsier Perigot
monnsier Novall in what I may bee vsefull
pray you Comaund mee
No:
weel waite on you home
Din:
by noe meanes sir; good night
Exeunt, manet Nouall & Perigot
No:
the knaue is Ielous
Peri:
tis a disease few docters Cure them selues of
No:
I would hee weare my patient
Peri:
doe but practize
to gett his wiues Consent the waie is easie
No:
you may Conclude so, for my self I graunt
I never was so taken wt h a woman
nor euer had lesse hope.
Peri:
bee not deiected
follow but my directions shees thine owne I'le sett thee in a course yt shall not faile
I like thie choyce but more of that hereafter
adultery is a safe & secure sin
the purchase of a maiden head seldom quitts
the danger & the Labor, build on this
hee that putts home shall find all women Cominge
(the frozen Bellisant euer excepted)
Could you beleeue the faire wife of Chamont
a lady never tainted in her honor
should at the first assault, for till this night
I never Courted her, yeild vpp the fort
that shee hath kepd so long
No:
tis wondrous strange,
what wininge language usd you
Peri:
thou art a Child
tis action not fine speeches take a woman·
pleasures theire heaven, & hell that giues assurance
that hee hath strength to tame theire hot desires
is the prevalinge orrator, shee but saw mee
Iumpe ouer 6 ioynd stooles & after Cutt
some 40 Capers, (tricks that never misd
in a magnificent maske to draw the eyes
25
but straite shee wrunge my hand, trod on my toe
& said my mrs could not but bee happie
in such an able servant, I replyd
bluntlie I was ambitious to bee hers
& shee nor coy nor shie straite entertaind mee·
I vrgd a privat meetinge, it was graunted
the tyme & place appoynted
No:
but remember
Chamont is yor freind
Peri:
now out vppon thee puny
as if a man so farr ere loud that tytle
but twas much more delight & ticklinge to him
to hugg him self & saie this is my Cuckold
No:
but did he not observe you
Peri:
tho hee did
as I am doubtfull, I will not desist
Ent' Clarindore
the danger will indeere the sport
No:
for beare
heeres Clarindore
Peri:
wee wilbee merry wt h him
I haue heard his entertainemt Ioyne but wt h mee
& wee will Ieere this self opiniond foole
almost to madnes
No:
hees already growne
ex[OMITTED]edinge mellanchollie & some saie
[OMITTED]the first step to phrensie
[OMITTED]n[OMITTED]im
«[OMITTED] m»onnsier, noe replie, growne prowd
[OMITTED]is not well
[OMITTED]is[OMITTED]oslings
[OMITTED]
26
wee gratulate
(tho wee paie fort) yor happie entrance to
the Certaine favors, nay the sure possession
of madam Bellisant
Cla:
the yonge whelpe to
tis well exceedinge well
Peri:
tis so wt h you sir
but beare it modestlie, faith it will become you
& beinge arivd at such a lardge revenew
as this yor happie match instates you wt h
twoe thowsand Crownes from mee, & from Novall
tho wee almost Confesse or wager lost
wilbee a small addition
No:
you mistake him
nor doe I feare out of his noble nature
but that hee may bee wone to lycence vs
to draw our venture
Cla:
spend yor frothie witts
doe doe, you snarle but hurt not
No:
oh giue leaue
to loosers ser to speake
Peri:
tis a strange fate
some men are borne to, & a happie starr
that raignd at yor nativitie, it Could not bee ells
a lady of a Constancy like a rock
[&] not to bee moud, & held impregnable
should yeild at the first assault
No:
tis the reward of a braue daringe sperrit
Per:
tush wee are dull abusd or opportunitie
Cla:
haue you done yet
Peri:
when hee had privacie of discourse hee knew
how to vse thadvantage, did hee stand
fauninge & Crouchinge, noe hee came vpp bouldlie
tould her what shee was borne to, ruffled her
kissd her & tousd her all the passages
are at Court already, & tis said a pattent
is graunted him if anie maid be harsh
for him to humble her, & a new name give him
the scorneful virgin tamer.
Cla:
I may tame yor buffon tongues if you proceede
No:
noe anger I haue heard
27
that shee straight prepard you a sumptuous banquet
Peri:
yet his enimyes report it was a [blanque] blancket
No:
mallice mallice
Shee was shewinge him her chamber to & calld for
perfumes & cambrick sheetes
Peri:
when see the luck ont
against her will her most vnmannerlie groomes
(for so tis rumerd) tooke him by the shoulders
& thrust him out of doores
No:
faith sir resolue vs
how was it wee would gladlie know the truth
to stop the mouth of Calumy
Cla:
troth sir Ile tell you
one tooke mee by the nose thus, & a second
made bould wt h mee thus, but one word more you shall
feele newe expressions & so my gentle boobies
farwell & bee hangd—
Exit
No:
wee haue netled him
Peri:
had wee stunge him to death it weare but Iustice
an ouer weening bragart
No:
this is nothinge to the docters wife
Peri:
come weel Consult of it & suddenlie
No:
I feele a Womans Longinge till I am at it
Per:
never feare shees thine owne boy
Exeunt [OMITTED] [OMITTED]
Enter Cleremond [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Clere.
what haue my sins been heaven, yet th«* [OMITTED]» pleasure [OMITTED]
must not bee argued, was wretch eu[OMITTED]
on such a black adventure in wc h on«l[OMITTED]»
to wish «to» prosper« is * gre[OMITTED]»
then [OMITTED]
28
t'weare a degree of Comfort to mee yf
I weare starke madd, or like a beast of pray
prickd on by gripinge hunger, all my thoughts
& faculties weare wholly taken vpp
to Cloy my appetite & Could looke noe further
but I rise vpp a new example of
Calamity, transcendinge all before mee
& I should guild my miseries wt h falce Comforts
if I Compard it to an Indian slaues
that wt h incessant labor [searches] to search out
some vnknowne myne, diggs almost to the Center
& yf then found, not thanckd of his prowd mr
but this if putt into an equall scale
wt h my vnparraleld fortune will waigh nothinge
for from a Cabinet of the Choycest Iewells
that mankind ere was ritch in; (whose least Iem
all treasure of the earth or what is hid
in Neptunes watrie boosome cannot purchase)
I must seeke out the richest fairest purest
& when by proofe tis knowne it houlds the vallue
as soone as found destroy it, oh most Cruell
and yet when I Consider of the many
that haue professd themselues my frends & vowd
theire lives weare not theire owne when my engagmts
should summon them to bee at my devotion
not one indures the test I almost grow
of the worlds receaud opinion that houlds
Ent' Montross and Beaupre
freindship but a meere name that binds no farther
then to the Alter to retire wt h safety
heere comes montrosse, what sudden ioy transports him
I never saw man wrapd so·
Mon:
Purse & all
& tis to little tho it weare Cramd full
wt h Crownes of the sunne, oh blessed blessed paper
but ma[[illeg.]]de so by the touch of her faire hand
what shall I answer, say I am her Creature
[of] or if thou Canst find out a word that may
expresse subiection in an humbler stile
vse it I prithee, ad to, her Comaunds
shalbee wt h as much willingnes performd
as I in this fould, this receaue her favors
Beau:
I shall retorne so much
29
& that 2 howers
shall bringe mee to attend her
Beau:
wt h all Care
& circumstance of service from yor self
I will deliuer it
Mont:
I am still thie debtor.
Exit Beaupre
Clere:
I reade the Cause now Cleirely, Ile slip by
for tho euen at this instant hee should proue
him self (wc h others falcehood makes mee doubt)
that Constant & best freind I goe in quest of
it weare inhuman in theire birth to strangle
his promisinge hopes of Comfort
Mont:
Cleremond
passe by mee as a stranger, at a tyme to
when I am filld wt h such excesse of Ioy
so swolne & surfited wt h true delight
that had I not found out a freind to whome
I might impart em & so giue em vent
in theire aboundance they would force a passage
& lett life togeither, prithee beare
for freindships sake a perte of that sweete burthen
wc h I shrink under, & when thou hast read
faire Bellisant subscribd so neere my name to
observe but that thou must wt h mee Confesse
th[OMITTED]e cannot bee roome in one Lovers hart
C[OMITTED]tious enough to entertaine
«[OMITTED]l»tituds of pleasure
[OMITTED]Clere
[OMITTED] u
[OMITTED] «[OMITTED]fi »e & envie not yor blessings
«[OMITTED] ** f in[OMITTED]»
30
how noe more
by the snow white hand that writt theis charracters
it is a breach to Curtesie & manners
so couldlie to take notice of his good
whome you Call freind, see further heer shee writes
that shee is trulie sensible of my sufferings
& not alone voutsafes to Call mee servant
but to imploy mee in a cause that much
Concernes her in her honor, theres a favor
are yee yet stupid, & that 2 howers hence
shee does expect mee in the privat walkes
neighboringe the Lovure, [call] Cannot all this move you
I could bee angrie a tenth of theis bounties
but promisd to you from Leonora
to witnes my affection to my freind
in his behalf had taught mee to forgett
all myne owne miseries
Clere:
doe not misinterpret
this Couldnes in mee, for alas montrosse
I am a thinge so made vpp of affliction
so euery waie contemd, that I conclude
my sorrowes are infectious, & my Companie
like such as haue foule vlcers runinge on them
to bee wt h Care avoyded, may yor happines
in the favor of the matchles Bellisant
howerlie increase, & my best wishes guard you
tis all that I can giue
Mont:
you must not leaue mee
Clere:
indeede I must & will, myne owne ingagemt s
Call mee awaie
Mont:
what are they, I presume
there cannot bee a secret of that waight
you dare not trust mee wt h, & should you doubt mee
I iustly might Complaine that my affection
is placd vnfortunately
Clere:
I know you are honest
but this is such a busines & requires
such suddaine execution that [you] it cannot
fall in the Compasse of your will or power
to doe mee a freinds office, in a word
on termes that neere concerne mee in myne honor
I am to fight the quarrell mortall to
the tyme some 2 howers hence, the place ten myles
31
I yet am vnprovided of a second
you will excuse my soden pertinge from you
farwell montrosse
Mon:
not so I am the man
will runne the danger wt h you, & must tell you
that whilst I liue it was a wronge to seeke
annothers arme to side you leade the waie
my horse stands ready
Clere:
I confesse tis noble
for you to offer this but it weare base
in mee to accept it
Mont:
doe not scorne mee freind
Clere:
noe but admire & honor you & from what
serious Consideration must refuse
the tender of yor aid fraunce knowes you valliant
& that you might in single opposition
fight for a Crowne, but millions of reasons
for bid mee yor assistance, you forgett
yor owne designes beinge the very minute
I am to encounter wt h myne enimy
to meete yor mrs such a mrs to
whose favor you somanie yeares haue sought
& will you then when shee voutsafes accesse
nay more invites you, check at her faire offer
or shall it bee reported to my shame
for my owne ends I robd you of a fortune
princes might envie can you euer hope (s[OMITTED]
«shee [OMITTED]i[OMITTED] u [OMITTED]»
32
& in yor prodigallitie of goodnes
doe not vndoe yorself live longe & happie
& leaue mee to my dangers
Mont:
Cleremond
I haue wt h patience heard you & Considerd
the strength of yor best arguments, waid the dangers
I runne in my owne fortunes, but againe
when I oppose the sacred name of freind
against those ioyes I haue so longe pursuide
neither the bewtie of faire Bellisant
her welth her virtues can prevale so far
in such a desperate Case as this to leaue you
to haue it to posteritie recorded
at such a tyme as this I proud true gould
& Currant in my freindship shalbee to mee
a thowsand mistresses & such embraces
as leaue[s] noe stinge behinde them therefore on
I am resolud vnles you beate mee off
I will not leaue you.
Clere:
oh heere is a Iewell
fitt for the Cabinet of the greatest monarch
but I of all men miserable
mont:
Come bee Cheerefull
good fortune will attend vs
Clere:
that to mee
to haue the greatest blessinge a true freind
should bee the greatest Curse; bee yet advisd
Mont:
it is in vaine
Clere:
that ere I should have Cause
to wish you had loud lesse
Mont:
the hower drawes on
weel talk more as wee ride
Clere:
of men most wretched
Exeunt.
Enter Bellisant and Beaupre
Bell
nay praie you drye yor eyes or yor sad storie
whose euery accent still me thinks I heare
33
will make myne beare yours Companie all my feare is
the rigerous repulse, this worst of men
falce periurd Clarindor I am sick to name him
receaud at his last visitt will deter him
from Cominge againe
34
noe hees resolud to venture
& has bribd mee wt h hazzard of yor anger
to gett him acc but in annother shape
the tyme prefixd drawes neere to
Bell:
tis the better
Knock
one knocks
Beau
I am sure tis his
Bell:
Convey him in
but doe it wt h a face of feare, I cannot
resolue yet wt h what lookes to entertaine him
much lesse what prosperous course to take to worke him
you powers that favor inocence & revenge
wrongs done by such as scornfully deride
Enter Clarindore & Beaupre /
yor awfull names inspire mee
Beau:
Sir I hazzard
my service in this action
Cla:
thou shalt liue
to bee the mrs of thie self & others
if that my proiects hitt, alls at the stake now
& as the dye falls I am made most happie
or past expression wretched
Bell:
ha, whoes that
what bould intruder, vsher you this rudenes
from whence, what would hee
Bea:
hee brings letters madam
as hee saies from lord Chamont
Cla:
how her frownes fright mee
Bell:
from lord Chamont, are they of such import
that you before my pleasure bee enquird
dare bringe the bearer to my privat Chamber
noe more of this, yor packet sir
Cla:
the letters
deliuerd to my trust & faith are writt
in such misterious & darke Characters
as theile require the Iudgemt of yor soule
more then yor eye to reade & understand them
Bell:
what riddles this, am I then Contemd
35
& gentle nature (feare not I must shew
a seeminge [Court] anger) what new boystrous Court ship
after yor late loose language & forcd kisse
Come you to practize I know none beyond yt
yf you Imagin that you may Comitt
a rape in myne owne howse & that my servants
will stand tame lookers on·
Cla:
yf I bringe wt h mee
one thought but of submission & sorrow
or norish anie hope but that yor goodnes
may please to signe my pardon may I perish
in your displeasure wc h to mee is more
then feare of hell hereafter, I Confesse
the violence I offerd to yor sweetenes
in my presumption wt h lips impure
to force a touch from yors, a greater Cryme
then if I should haue mixd lacivious flames
wt h those chaste fires that burne at dians alter
that twas a plott of treason to yor vertues
to thinck you Could bee [[illeg.]] tempted or beleeue
you weare not fashiond in a better mould
& made of purer Clay then other women
since you are then the phenix of your tyme
& e'en now while you blesse the earth pertake
of theire Angelicall essence, Imitate
heavens aptnes to forgiue when mercyes sui'd fo[OMITTED]
& once more take mee to yor grace & favor [OMITTED]
Bell:
what charmes are theis what an inchantin«g [OMITTED]»
36
should in his actions bee so ill
Beau:
take heede
loose notyor self
Bell:
so well sir you haue pleaded
& like an advocate in yor owne cause
that tho yor guilt weare greater I acquit you
the fault noe more rememberd; & for proofe
my hart speakes in my tongue thus seale yor pardon
& wt h this willinge favor (wc h forcd from mee
Calld on my anger) [[illeg.]] make attonemt wt h you
Cla:
yf I dreame now oh may I never wake
but slumber thus ten ages
Bell:
till this minute
you nere to mee lookd louelie
Cla:
how
Bell:
nor haue I
ere seene a man my opinion worthie
the bounty I voutsafe you, therefore fix heere
& make mee vnderstand that you can beare
yor fortune modestly
Cla:
I finde her Cominge
this kisse was but the prologue to the plaie
& not to seeke the rest weare Cowardice
helpe mee dissemulation; pardon madam
tho now when I should putt on Cheerefull lookes
in beinge blest wt h what I durst not hope for
I Change the Comick sceane & doe present yo
wt h a most tragick spectacle
Bell:
heaven avert
this prodegie, what meane you
Cla:
to Confirme
in death how trulie I haue loud, I graunt
yor favors done mee yeild this benifitt
as to make waie for mee to passe in pease
to my longe rest, what I haue tasted from you
informes mee onlie of the much I want
37
you did but poynt mee out a foreright waie
to leade to Certaine happines, & then willd mee
to moue noe further, pray you excuse mee therefore
tho I desire to end a lingringe torment
& if you please wt h yor faire hands to make mee
a sacrifice to yor Chastety I will meete
the instrumt you make choyce of wt h more fervor
then euer Cesar did to hugg [te] the mrs
hee doted on, plumd victorie, but if that
you doe abhor the office as to full
of crueltie & horror, yet giue leaue
than in yor presence I my self may bee
both preist & offeringe
offers to kill him self·
Bell:
hold hold frantick man
the shrine of loue shall not bee bathd in loue.
women tho faire weare made to bringe forth men
& not destroy em, therefore hold I saie
I had a mother & shee lookd vppon mee
as on a true epitomie of her youth
nor can I thinck I am forbid the Comfort
to bringe forth little modells of my self
yf heaven bee pleasd, (my nuptiall ioyes performd)
to make mee fruitefull
Cla:
such Celestiall musique
nere blest theis eares, oh you haue argued better
for mee then I could for my self
Bell[OMITTED]
for you
[OMITTED]re did I giue you hope to bee my husband
Cla[OMITTED]
«[OMITTED] o»f againe
«[OMITTED] y»ou haue giuen such proofe
38
that longe haue been Conceald, I am yors, but how
in an honorable waie
Cla:
I weare more then base
should I desire you otherwise
Bell:
true affection
needs not a Contract, & it weare to doubt mee
to engage mee further, yet my vow [performd] expird
wc h is to liue a virgin for a yeare
[I] Challenge my promise
Cla:
how a yeare, oh madam
plaie not the tyranesse, doe not giue mee hopes
& in a moment change them to dispaire
a yeare, alas this bodie thats all fyer
yf you refuse to quench it wt h your favor
will ere 3 daies bee Cinders, & yor mercy
will come to late thenn, deerest ladie marriage
is but a Ceremony and a hurtfull vow
is in the breach of it better Comended
then in the keepinge, oh I burne I burne
& if you take noe pitty I must flie
to my last refuge
Bell:
hold, saie I should yeild
this night to satisfie you to the full
& you should sweare vntill the weddinge daie
to keepe the favors I now graunt Conceald
you woulde bee talkinge
Cla:
may my tongue rott out then
Bell:
or boast to yor Companions of yor Conquest
& of my easines
Cla:
Ile indure the [w]rack first
Bell:
& havinge what you longe for cast mee of
as you did madam Beaupre·
Cla:
may the earth
first gape & swallow mee
Bell:
Ile presse you noe further
goe in yor chambers ready yf you haue
39
& libertie to leaue you when I please·
I blush if you replie
Cla:
till now nere happie
Exit
Beau:
what meanes yor ladiship
Bell:
doe not aske but doe
as I direct you tho as yet wee tread
a rough & thorny waie, faint not the ends
I hope to reach shall make a lardge a mends
Exeunt
finis Actus Tertij
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