University of Virginia Library

Actus quarti

Scæna prima.

Carolo Charomonte, Lidia.
Carolo.
Daughter I have observ'd since the Prince left us
(Whose absence I mourn with you, & the visit
Count Sanazarro gave us, you have nourish'd
Sad and retired thoughts, and parted with
That freedome, and alacrity of spirit
With which you us'd to cheere me.

Lidia.
For the Count, Sir,
All thought of him does with his person die;
But I confesse ingenuously I cannot
So soone forget the choyce, and chast delights
The curteous conversation of the Prince,
And without staine I hope, afforded me
When he made this house a Court.

Carolo.
It is in us
To keepe it so without him. Want we know not,
And all we can complaine of (heaven be prais'd for)
Is too much plenty, & we will make use of
Ent. servants.
All lawfull pleasures. How now fellowes, when
Shall we have this lusty dance?

Caponi.
In the after-noone Sir,
'Tis a device I wis of my owne making,
And such a one, as shal make your Signiorship know
I have not beene your Butlar for nothing, but
I have crotchets in my head. We'll trip it titely,
And make my sad young Mistresse merry againe,
Or I'll forsware the Cellar.

Bernardo.
If we had
Our fellow Calandrino here to dance
His part, we were perfect.

Petruchio.
O, he was a rare fellow;
But I feare the Court hath spoil'd him.

Caponi.
When I was young
I could have cut a caper on a pinnacle,
But now I am old & wise, keepe your figure faire,
And follow but the sample I shall set you,
The Duke himselfe will send for us, and laugh at us,
And that were credit.

Enter Calandrino.
Lidia.
Who have we here?

Calandrino.
I finde
VVhat was brawne in the Country, in the Court growes tender.
The bots on these joulting Jades, I am bruis'd to jelly.
A Coach for my mony! and that the Curtezans know well,
Their riding so, makes them last three yeares longer
Then such as are hacknei'd.

Carolo.
Calandrino, 'tis he.

Calan.
Now to my postures. Let my hand have the honor
To convey a kisse from my lips to the cover of
Your foote deere Signior.

Carolo.
Fie, you stoope too low Sir.

Calan.
The hemme of your vestment Lady. Your Glove is for Princes,
Nay, I have con'd my distances.

Lidia.
'Tis most Courtly.

Caponi.
Fellow Calandrino!

Caland.
Signior de Caponi,
Grand Botelier of the Mansion.

Bernardo.
How is't man?

Claps him on the shoulder.
Calan.
Be not so rustique in your salutations,
Signior Bernardo, Master of the accounts.
Signior Petruchio, may you long continue
Your function in the chamber.

Caponi.
When shall we learne such gambolls in our villa?

Lidia.
Sure he's mad.

Carol.
'Tis not unlike, for most of such mushroomes are so.
What newes at Court?

Caland.
Basto! they are mysteries,
And not to be reveal'd. With your favour Signior,
I am in private to conferre a while
With this Signiora. But I'll pawne my honour,
That neither my terse language, nor my habit
How e're it may convince, nor my new shrugs,
Shall render her enamour'd.

Carolo.
Take your pleasure
A little of these apish tricks may passe,
Too much is tedious.
Exit Carolo.

Calandr.
The Prince in this paper
Presents his service. Nay, it is not Courtly
To see the seale broke open. So I leave you.
Signiors of the Villa, I'll descend to be
Familiar with you.

Caponi.
Have you forgot to dance?

Caland.
No, I am better'd.

Petruch.
Will you joyne with us?

Caland.
As I like the project.
Let me warme my braines first with the richest Grape,
And then I am for you.

Caponi.
We will want no wine.

Exeunt. Manet Lidia.
Lidia.
Kissing the letter.
Opens the Letter.
Reads the Letter.
Chast Lidia: the favours are so great
On me by you conferr'd, that to intreat
The least addition to 'em, in true sense
May argue me of blushlesse impudence.
But such are my extreames, if you denie
A farther grace, I must unpittied die.
Hast cuts off circumstance; as you are admir'd
for beauty, the report of it hath fir'd
The Duke my Vncle, and I feare you'll prove,
Not with a sacred, but unlawfull love.
If be see you, as you are, my hop'd-for light
Is chang'd into an everlasting night.
How to prevent it, if your goodnesse finde
You save two lives, and me you ever binde,

The honourer of your vertues, Giovanni.

This spoke as if shee studied an evasion.

Exit.

Scæna secunda.

Cozimo, Giovanni, Sanazarro, Carolo, Servants.
Sanazar.
Are you not tyr'd with travaile Sir?

Cozimo.
No, no,
I am fresh and lustie.

Carolo.
This day shall be ever
A holy day to me, that brings my Prince
Under my humble roofe.

Weepes.
Giovan.
See Sir, my good Tutor
Sheds teares for joy.

Cozimo.
Dry them up Charomonte,
And all forbeare the roome, while we exchange
Some private words together.

Giovan.
O my Lord,
How grosly have we overshot our selves!

Sanazarro.
In what Sir?

Giovan.
In forgetting to acquaint
My Guardian with our purpose; all that Lidia
Can doe, availes us nothing; if the Duke
Finde out the truth from him.

Sanazarro.
'Tis now pass'd helpe,
And we must stand the hazard, hope the best Sir?

Exeunt Giovan. Sanazar.
Carolo.
My loyalty doubted Sir.

Cozimo.
'Tis more. Thou hast
Abus'd our trust, and in a high degree
Committed treason.

Carolo.
Treason? 'tis a word
My innocence understands not. VVere my breast
Transparent, and my thoughts to be discern'd,
Not one spot shall be found to taynt the candor
Of my alleageance. And I must be bold
To tell you Sir (for he that knowes no guilt
Can know no feare) 'tis tyrannie to o're-charge
An honest man, and such till now I have liv'd,
And such my Lord I'll die.

Cozimo.
Sir, doe not flatter
Your selfe with hope, these great & glorious words
Which every guilty wretch, as well as you
That's arm'd with impudence, can with ease deliver,
And with as full a mouth, can work on us?
Nor shall gay flourishes of language cleare
What is in fact apparent.

Carolo.
Fact? What fact?
You that know onely, what it is, instruct me,
For I am ignorant.

Cozimo.
This then Sir: we gave up
(On our assurance of your faith and care,)
Our Nephew Giovanni, nay, our heire
In expectation, to be train'd up by you
As did become a Prince.

Carolo.
And I discharg'd it.
Is this the treason?

Cozimo.
Take us with you Sir.
And in respect we knew his Youth was prone
To women, and that living in our Court
He might make some unworthy choyce, before
His weaker judgement was confirm'd, we did
Remove him from it; constantly presuming
You with your best endevours, rather would
Have quench'd those heates in him, then light a Torch,
As you have done to his loosenesse.

Carolo.
I? my travaile
Is ill requited Sir, for by my soule
I was so curious that way, that I granted
Accesse to none could tempt him, nor did ever
One syllable, or obscæne accent touch
His eare that might corrupt him.

Cozimo.
No? Why then
With your allowance did you give free way
To all familiar privacie, betweene
My Nephew and your daughter? Or why did you
(Had you no other ends in't but our service)
Reade to 'em, and together (as they had beene
Schollers of one forme) Grammar, Rhetorique,
Philosophie, Storie, and interpret to 'em
The close temptations of lascivious Poets?
Or wherefore (for we still had spies upon you)
Was she still present, when by your advice
He was taught the use of his weapon, horsmanship,
Wrastling, nay swimming, but to fan in her
A hot desire of him? and then forsooth
His exercises ended, cover'd with
A faire pretence of recreation for him,
When Lidia was instructed in those graces
That add to beauty. He brought to admire her,
Must heare her sing, while to her voyce, her hand
Made ravishing Musick; and this applauded, dance
A light Levalto with her.

Carolo.
Have you ended
All you can charge me with?

Cozimo.
Nor stop'd you there,
But they must unattended walke into
The silent Groves, and heare the amorous birds
Warbling their wanton notes, here a sure shade
Of barren Sicamours: (which the all-seeing Sunne
Could not pierce through) neere that an arbor hung
With spreading Eglantine, there a bubling spring
Watring a banke of Hyacinths, and Lillies,
With all allurements, that could move to lust.
And could this, Charomonte, (should I grant
They had beene equalls both in birth and fortune)
Become your gravity? Nay, 'tis cleare as ayre
That your ambitious hopes to match your daughter
Into our family, gave connivence to it;
And this, though not in act, in the intent
I call high treason.

Carolo.
Heare my just defence Sir,
And though you are my Prince, it will not take from
Your Greatnesse to acknowledge with a blush,
In this my accusation you have beene
More sway'd by spleene, and jealous suppositions,
Then certaine grounds of reason. You had a Father
(Blest be his memory) that made frequent proofes
Of my loyalty, and faith, and (would I boast
The dangers I have broke through in his service)
I could say more. Nay, you your selfe, dread Sir,
VVhen ever I was put unto the test,
Found me true gold, and not adulterate metall,
And am I doubted now?

Cozimo.
This is from the purpose.

Carol.
I wil come to it Sir, your Grace wel knew
Before the Princes happy presence made
My poore house rich, the chiefest blessings which
I gloried in, (though now it prove a curse)
Was an onely daughter. Nor did you command me,
As a security to your future feares,
To cast her off: which had you done, how e're
She was the light of my eyes, and comfort of
My feeble age; so farre I priz'd my duty
Above affection, she now had beene
A stranger to my care. But she is faire.
Is that her fault, or mine? Did ever Father
Hold beauty in his issue for a blemish?
Her education and her manners tempt to.
If these offend, they are easily remov'd,
You may, if you think fit, before my face,
In recompence of all my watchings for you,
VVith burning corrasives transforme her to
An ugly Leper; and this done to taint
Her sweetnes, prostitute her to a loathsom brothel.
This I will rather suffer Sir, and more,
Then live suspected by you.

Cozimo.
Let not passion
Carie you beyond your reason.

Carolo.
I am calme Sir,
Yet you must give me leave to grieve, I finde
My actions misinterpreted. Alas Sir,
VVas Lidias desire to serve the Prince
Call'd an offence? or did she practise to
Seduce his youth, because with her best zeale
And fervour she endevoured to attend him?
'Tis a hard construction: though she be my daughter
I may thus farre speake her. From her infancy
She was ever civill, her behaviour neerer
Simplicity then craft; and malice dares not
Affirme in one loose gesture, or light language,
She gave a signe she was in thought unchast:
I'll fetch her to you Sir, and but looke on her
VVith equall eyes, you must in justice grant
That your suspition wrongs her.

Cozimo.
It may be,
But I must have stronger assurance of it
Then passionate words. And not to trifle time,
As we came unexpected to your house,
We will prevent all meanes that may prepare her
How to answer that, with which we come to charge her.
And howsoever it may be receiv'd
As a foule breach to hospitable rites,
On thy alleageance, and boasted faith,
Nay forfeit of thy head, we doe confine thee
Close prisoner to thy Chamber, till all doubts
Are clear'd that doe concerne us.

Carolo.
I obey Sir,
And wish your Grace had followed my hearse
To my Sepulchre, my loyalty unsuspected,
Rather then now? but I am silent Sir,
And let that speake my duty.
Exit Carolo.

Cozimo.
If this man
Be false, disguised treacherie ne're put on
A shape so neere to truth. VVithin there.

Enter Giovan. and Sanazar. ushering in Petronella. Caland. & others setting forth a banquet.
Sanazarro.
Sir.

Cozimo.
Bring Lidia forth.

Giovan.
She comes Sir of her selfe
To present her service to you.

Cozimo.
Ha. This personage
Cannot invite affection.

Sanazarro.
See you keepe State.

Petronella.
I warrant you.

Cozimo.
The manners of her minde
Must be transcendent, if they can defend
Her rougher out-side; may we with your liking
Salute you Lady?

Petronella.
Let me wipe my mouth Sir
VVith my Cambrick handkercher, and then have at you.

Cozimo.
Can this be possible?

Sanazar.
Yes sir, you will finde her
Such as I gave her to you.

Petronella.
Will your Dukeship
Sit down and eat some Sugar-plums? here's a Castle
Of March-Pane too, and this Quince Marmalade
Was of my owne making. All summ'd up together
Did cost the setting on, and here is wine too
Drinks all off.
As good as e're was tap'd. I'll be your taster,
For I know the fashion, now you must doe me right Sir,
You shall nor will, nor choose.

Giovanni.
She's very simple.

Cozi.
Simple, 'tis worse. Doe you drink this often Lady?

Petro.
Still when I am thirsty, and eate when I am hungry.
Such Junkets come not every day. Once more to you,
VVith a heart and a halfe ifaith.

Cozimo.
Pray you pawse a little,
If I hold your Cards, I shall pull downe the side,
I am not good at the game.

Petronella.
Then I'll drink for you.

Cozimo.
Nay, pray you stay. I'll finde you out a pledge
That shall supply my place, what think you of
This compleat Signior? You are a Juno, and in such state
Must feast this Iupiter, what think you of him?

Petronella.
I desire no better.

Cozimo.
And you will undertake this service for me?
You are good at the sport.

Calandr.
Who I? A pidler Sir.

Cozimo.
Nay, you shall sit inthroan'd, and eate, & drink
As you were a Duke.

Caland.
If your Grace will have me,
I'll eate and drink like an Emperour.

Cozimo.
Take your place then,
We are amaz'd.

Giovanni.
This is grosse. Nor can the imposture
But be discover'd.

Sanazar.
The Duke is too sharpe sighted
To be deluded thus.

Caland.
Nay, pray you eate faire,
Or devide, and I will choose. Cannot you use
Your fork as I doe? Gape and I will feed you.
Feedes her.
Gape wider yet, this is Court-like.

Petro.
To choke Dawes with,
I like it not.

Caland.
But you like this.

They drink.
Petronel.
Let it come Boy.

Cozi.
What a sight is this? we could be angry with you,
How much you did belye her when you told us
She was onely simple, this is barbarous rudenesse,
Beyond beliefe.

Giovanni.
I would not speake her Sir
Worse then she was.

Sanazarro.
And I my Lord chose rather
To deliver her better parted then she is,
Then to take from her.

Enter Caponi.
Caponi.
E're I'll loose my dance,
I'll speake to the purpose. I am Sir no Prologue,
But in plaine termes must tell you, we are provided
Of a lusty Hornepipe.

Cozimo.
Prethee let us have it,
For we grow dull.

Caponi.
But to make up the medley,
For it is of severall colours, for we must borrow
Your Graces Ghost here.

Caland.
Pray you Sir depose me,
It will not doe else. I am sir the engine
Rises and resignes his chaire.
By which it moves.

Petronel.
I will dance with my Duke too,
I will not out.

Cozim.
Begin then. There's more in this
Dance
Then yet I have discover'd. Some Oedipus
Resolve this riddle.

Petronel.
Did I not foot it roundly?

Falls downe.
Coz.
As I live stark drunk. Away with her. We'll reward you.
When you have cool'd your selves in the Cellar.

Caponi.
Heaven preserve you.

Exeunt dancers.
Cozimo.
We pitty Charomonte's wretched fortune
In a daughter, nay, a monster. Good old man!
The place growes tedious. Our remove shall be
With speed. We'll onely in a word or two
Take leave and comfort him.

Sanazar.
'Twill rather Sir
Encrease his sorrow, that you know his shame,
Your Grace may doe it by Letter.

Cozimo.
Who sign'd you
A Pattent to direct us? Waite our comming
In the Garden.

Giovan.
All will out.

Sanaz.
I more then feare it.

Exeunt Giovan. & Sanazar.
Coz
These are strange Chimeras to us! what to judge of't
Is past our apprehension! One command
Charomonte to attend us. Can it be
Exit servant.
That Contarino could be so besotted
As to admire this prodigie! or her Father
To dote upon it! or does she personate
For some ends unknowne to us, this rude behaviour
Within the Scæne presented, would appeare
Ridiculous and impossible. O you are welcome.
Ent. Carol.
We now acknowledge the much wrong we did you
In our unjust suspition. We have seene
The wonder Sir, your daughter.

Carolo.
And have found her
Such as I did report her. What she wanted
In Courtship, was I hope suppli'd in civill
And modest entertainment.

Cozimo.
Pray you tell us,
And truly we command you, Did you never
Observe she was given to drink?

Carolo.
To drink Sir?

Cozimo.
Yes. Nay more, to be drunk.

Carolo.
I had rather see her buried.

Cozi.
Dare you trust your own eyes, if you finde her now
More then distemper'd?

Carolo.
I will pull them out Sir,
If your Grace can make this good. And if you please
To grant me liberty, as she is I'll fetch her,
And in a moment.

Cozimo.
Looke you doe, and faile not,
On the perill of your head.

Carol.
Drunk. She disdaines it.
Exit Carolo.

Cozimo.
Such contrarieties were never reade of.
Charomonte is no foole, nor can I think
His confidence built on sand. We are abus'd,
'Tis too apparent.

Enter Carolo and Lidia.
Lidia.
I am indispos'd Sir,
And that life you tender'd once, much indanger'd
In forcing me from my Chamber.

Carolo.
Here she is Sir,
Suddainly sick I grant, but sure not drunk,
Speake to my Lord the Duke.

Lidia.
All is discover'd.

Kneeles.
Cozimo.
Is this your onely daughter.

Carolo.
And my heire Sir,
Nor keepe I any woman in my house
(Unlesse for sordid offices) but one,
I doe maintaine trimm'd up in her cast habits,
To make her sport. And she indeede loves wine,
And wil take too much of it. And perhaps for mirth
She was presented to you.

Cozimo.
It shall yeeld
No sport to the contrivers, 'tis too plaine now
Her presence does confirme what Contorino
Deliver'd of her, nor can sicknesse dimme
The splendor of her beauties, being her selfe then
She must exceede his praise.

Lidia.
Will your Grace heare me?
I am faint and can say little.

Cozimo.
Here are accents,
Whose every syllable is musicall!
Pray you let me raise you, and a while rest here!
False Sanazarro, trecherous Giovanni;
But stand we talking?

Carolo.
Here's a storme soone rais'd.

Coz.
As thou art our Subject, Charomonte, sweare
To act what we command.

Carolo.
That is an oath
I long since tooke.

Cozimo.
Then by that oath we charge thee
Without excuse, deniall, or delay
To apprehend, and suddainly, Sanazarro,
And our ingratefull Nephew. We have said it.
Doe it without reply, or we pronounce thee,
Like them, a traytor to us. See them guarded
In severall lodgings, and forbid accesse
To all, but when we warrant, Is our will
Heard, sooner then obay'd?

Carolo.
These are strange turnes,
But I must not dispute 'em.
Exit Carolo.

Cozimo.
Be severe in't.
O my abused lenity! from what height
Is my power falne?

Lidia.
O me most miserable!
That being innocent, make others guilty.
Most gracious Prince!

Cozimo.
Pray you rise, and then speake to me.

Lidia.
My knees shal first be rooted in this earth,
And Mirrha like I'll grow up to a tree,
Dropping perpetuall teares of sorrow, which
Hardned by the rough winde, and turn'd to amber,
Unfortunate virgins like my selfe shall weare,
Before I'll make Petition to your Greatnesse
But with such reverence, my hands held up thus,
As I would doe to heaven. You Princes are
As gods on earth to us, and to be su'd too
With such humility, as his Deputies
May chalenge from their vassalls.

Cozimo.
Here's that forme
Of language I expected; pray you speake,
What is your suit?

Lidia.
That you would looke upon me
As an humble thing, that millions of degrees
Is plac'd beneath you. For what am I dread sir?
Or what can fall in the whole course of my life,
That may be worth your care, much lesse your trouble?
As the lowly shrub is to the lofty Cedar,
Or a molehill to Olympus, if compar'd,
I am to you Sir. Or suppose the Prince,
(Which cannot finde beliefe in me,) forgetting
The greatnesse of his birth, and hopes, hath throwne
An eye of favour on me, in me punnish,
(That am the cause) the rashnesse of his youth.
Shall the Queene of the inhabitants of the ayre,
The Eagle that beares thunder on her wings,
In her angry mood destroy her hopefull young,
For suff'ring a Wren to perch too neere 'em?
Such is our disproportion.

Cozimo.
With what fervour
She pleades against her selfe!

Lidia.
For me poore Mayde,
I know the Prince to be so farre above me,
That my wishes cannot reach him. Yet I am
So much his creature, that to fix him in
Your wonted grace and favour, I'll abjure
His sight for ever, and betake my selfe
To a religious life (where in my prayers
I may remember him) and ne're see man more
But my ghostly father. Will you trust me Sir?
In truth I'll keepe my word? or if this faile,
A little more of feare what may befall him,
Will stop my breath for ever.

Cozimo.
Had you thus argu'd
Raises her.
As you were your selfe, and brought as advocates
Your health and beauty, to make way for you,
No crime of his could put on such a shape,
But I should looke with the eyes of mercy on it.
What would I give to see this diamond
In her perfect lustre, as she was before
The clouds of sicknesse dimm'd it! yet take comfort,
And as you would obtaine remission for
His trecherie to me, cheere your drooping spirits,
And call the blood againe into your cheekes,
And then pleade for him. And in such a habit
As in your highest hopes you would put on,
If we were to receive you for our Bride.

Lidia.
I'll doe my best Sir.

Cozimo.
And that best will be
A crowne of all felicity to me.

Exeunt.