University of Virginia Library

Scæna secunda.

Enter Ubaldo, Ricardo.
Ubaldo.
What we spake on the voley begins to worke,
We haue layd a good foundation

Ricardo.
Build it vp
Or else tis nothing, you haue by lot the honor
Of the first assault, but as it is condition'd
Obserue the time proportion'd, I'll not part with


My share in the atchieuement, when I whistle,
Or hemme fall off.

Enter Sophia.
Vbaldo.
She comes Stand by, I'll watch
My oportunity.

Sophia.
I find my selfe
Strangely distracted with the various stories
Now wel, now ill, then boubtfully by my ghests
Deliuer'd of my Lord: and like poore beggers
That in their dreames find treasure, by reflection
Of a wounded fancie, make it questionable
Whither they sleepe, or not; yet teickl'd with
Such a phantasticke hope of happinesse,
Wish they may neuer wake in some such measure,
Incredulous of what I see, and touch
As 'twere a fading apparition, I
Am still perplex'd, and troubled, and when most
Confirm'd tis true a curious iealousie
To be assur'd, by what meanes, and from whom
Such a masse of welth, was first deseru'd, then gotten
Cunningly steale into me, I haue practis'd
For my certaine resolution with these courtiers
Promising priuate conference to either,
And at this hower, if in search of the truth
I heare or say more, then becomes my vertue
For giue me my Mathias.

Vbaldo.
Now I make in,
Maddam as you commanded I attend
Your pleasure.

Sophia.
I must thanke you for the fauour.

Ubaldo.
I am no ghostly father, yet if you haue
Some scruples, touching your Lord, you would be resolu'd of
I am prepar'd.

Sophia.
But will you take your oath
To answere truely?

Vbaldo.
On the hemme of your smocke if you please


A vow I dare not breake it beeing a booke
I would gladly swere on.

Sophia.
To spare sir that trouble
I'll take your word which in a gentleman
Should be of equall value, is my Lord then
In such grace with the Queene?

Vbaldo.
You should best know
By what you haue found from him, whether he can
Deserue a grace or noe.

Sophia.
What grace do you meane?

Ubaldo.
That speciall grace (if you'l haue it)
He laboured so hard for betweene a paire of sheets
On your wedding night
When your Ladiship lost you know what.

Sophia.
Fie be more modest
Or I must leaue you.

Vbaldo.
I would tell a truth
As cleanely as I could, and yet the subiecte
Makes me run out a little.

Sophia.
You would put now
A foolish ielousie in my head my Lord
Hath gotten a new mistris.

Vbaldo.
One? a hundred
But vnder seale I speake it, I presume
Vpon your silence, it being for your profit,
They talke of Hercules, backe for fifty in a night
'Twas well but yet to yours he was a pidler
Such a souldier, and a courtier neuer came
To Alba regalis, the ladies run mad for him,
And there is such contention among 'em
Who shall ingrosse him wholy, that the like
Was neuer hard of.

Sophia.
Are they handsome women?

Vbal.
Fie noe course mammets, and whats worse they are old to
Some fifty, some threescore, and they pay deere fort
Beleeuing, that he carries a powder in his breeches


Will make 'em young againe, and these sucke shrewdly,

Ricardo.
Sir I must fetch you off.

Whistles.
Vbaldo.
I could tell you wonders
Of the cures he has done, but a buisnesse of import
Calls me away, but that dispatch'd I will
Be with you presently.

steps aside.
Sophia.
There is something more
In this then bare suspition.

Ricardo.
Saue you lady
Now you looke like your selfe! I haue not look'd on
A lady more compleat yet haue seene a Madam
Were a garment of this fashion, of the same stuffe to,
One iust of your dimensions, sate the wind there boy.

Sophia.
What lady sir?

Ricardo.
Nay nothing, and me thinkes
I should know this rubie very good? tis the same
This chaine of orient pearle, and this diamond to
Haue beene worne before, but much good may they do you
Strengh to the gentlemans backe he toyld hard for 'em,
Before he got 'em

Sophia.
Why? how were they gotten?

Vbaldo hemms.
Ricardo.
Not in the feeld with his sword vpon my life
He may thanke his close stilletto, plage vpon it
Run the minutes so fast, pray you excuse my manners
I left a letter in my chamber window,
Which I would not haue seene on any termes, fye on it
Forgetfull as I am, but I strayt attend you

Ricardo steps aside.
Sophia.
This is strange his letters sayd these iewels were
Presented him by the Queene, as a reward
For his good seruice, and the trunckes of clothes
That followd them this last night, with hast made vp
By his direction.



Enter Ubaldo.
Ubaldo.
I was telling you
Of wonders Maddam.

Sophia.
If you are soe skilfull
Without premeditation answere me,
Know you this gowne, and these rich iewels?

Ubaldo.
Heauen.
How things will come out, but that I should offend you,
And wrong my more then noble friend
Your husband for we are sworne brothers, in the discouery
Of his neerest secrets I could.

Sophia.
By the hope of fauour
That you haue from me out with it.

Ubaldo.
Tis a potent spell
I cannot resist, why I will tell you Madam,
And to how many seuerall women you are
Beholding for your brauerie, this was
The Wedding gowne of Paulina a rich strumpet
Worme but a day when she married ould Gonzage,
And left of trading.

Sophia.
O my hart.

Ubaldo.
This chaine
Of pearle was a great widdowes, that inuited
Your Lord to the masque, and the wether prouing foule
He lodg'd in her house all night, and merry they were,
But how he came by it I know not.

Sophia.
Periurd man!

Ubaldo.
This ring was Iuliettas, a fine peece
But very good at the sport, this diamond
Was Madam Acanthes giuen him for a song
prick'd in a priuate arbor, as she sayd
When the Queene askd for it, and she hard him sing to,
And danc'd to his hornepipe or there are lyers abroad
There are other toyes about you
The same way purchas'd but paraleld
With these not worth the relation.


You are happy in a husband neuer man
Made better vse of his strength, would you haue him wast,
His body away for nothing? If he holds out,
Thers not an Embrodered peticote in the court
But shall be at your seruice.

Sophia.
I commend him
It is a thriuing trade, but pray you leaue me
A little to my selfe.

Vbaldo.
You may command
Your seruant madam, she stung vnto the quicke ladd.

Ricardo.
I did my part if this potion worke not hang me
Let her sleepe as well as she can to night, to morrow
Wee'll mount new batteries,

Ubaldo.
And till then leaue her?

Exeunt Vbaldo, Ricardo
Sophia.
You powers that take into your care, the gard
Of inocence ayd me, for I am a creature,
Soe forfeyted to dispaire, hope cannot fancie
A ransome to redeeme me, I begin
To wauer in my faith and marke it doubtfull
Whither the Saints that were canoniz'd for
Their holines of life find not in secret.
Since my Mathias is falne from his vertue
In such an open fashion, could it be else
That such a husband so deuoted to me,
so vow'd to temperance, for laciuious hire
Should prostitute himselfe to common harlots
Ould, and deform'd to wast for this he left me?
And in a faind pretence for want of meanes
To giue me ornament? or to bring home
Diseases to me? suppose these are false,
And lustfull goates if he were true and right
Why stayes he so long from me? being made rich
And that the onely reason why he left me.
No he is lost; and shall I weare the spoiles.


And Salaries of lust? they cleaue vnto me
Like Nessus poyson'd shirt? no in my rage
I'll teare 'em of, and from my body wash
The venome with my teares, haue I no spleene
Nor anger of a woman? shall he build
Vpon my ruins and I vureueng'd
Deplore his falshood? no? with the same trash
For which he hath dishonor'd me, I'll purchase
A iust reuenge, I am not yet so much
In debt to yeares, nor so misshap'd that all
Should flie from my Embraces, chastity
Thou onely art a name, and I renounce thee,
I am now a seruant to voluptuousnesse,
Wantons of all degrees and fashions welcome
You shall be entertain'd, and if I stray
Let him condemne himselfe, that lead the way.

Exit.