 | The Pictvre |  |
Scæna secunda.
Enter Sophia sola with a booke and a note.Sophia.
Nor custome nor example, nor vast numbers
Of such as doe offend make lesse the sinne,
For each particular crime a strict accompt
Will be exacted, and that comfort which
The damnd pretend, fellowes in misery,
Takes nothing from their torments, euery one
Must suffer in himselfe the measure of
His wickednes, if so, as I must grant
It being vnrefutable in reason,
Howere my Lord offend, it is no warrant
For me to walke in his forbidden paths,
What penance then can expiate my guilte
For my consent (transported then with passion)
To wantonnesse? the woundes I giue my fame
Cannot recouer his and though I haue fedd
These courtiers with promises and hopes
I am yet in fact vntainted and I trust
My sorrow for it with my purity
And loue to goodnes for it selfe, made powerfull
Though all they haue alleadg'd proue true or false,
Will be such exorcisines as shall command
This furie iealousie from me, what I haue
Determind touching them I am resolu'd
To put in execution, Within there?
Where are my noble ghests?
Enter Hilario, Corisca, with other seruants.
Hilario.
The elder Maddam,
Is drinking by himselfe to your Ladiships health
In Muskadine and egges and for a rasher
To draw His liquor downe he hath got a pie
Of marrow-bones, Potatos and Eringos,
With many such ingredients, and tis sayd
For a pound of Amber gris, and halfe a pecke
Of fishes cald Cantharides.
Corisca.
The younger
Prunes vp himselfe as if this night he were
To act a bridegroomes part, but to what purpose
I am ignorance it selfe,
Sophia.
Continue so.
giues a paper.
Let those lodgings be prepard as this directs you,
And fayle not in a circumstance, as you
Respect my fauour.
1 seruant.
We haue our instructions
2 seruant.
And punctually will follow 'em
Enter Vbaldo.
Exeunt seruants.
Hilario.
Heere comes Madam
The Lord Vbaldo.
Vbaldo.
Pretty on, thers gould,
To buy thee a new gowne, and ther's for thee,
Grow fat, and fit for seruice, I am now
As I should be at the height and able to
Beget a gyant, O my better Angell
In this you show your wisdoms when you pay
The lecher in his owne coyne, shall you sit puling,
Like a patient Grissell, and be laught at? no
This is a fayre reueng, shall we to it?
Sophia.
To what sir?
Vbaldo.
The sport you promisd.
Sophia.
Could it be donne with safety.
Vbaldo.
I warant you, I am sound as a bell, a tough
Old blade, and steele to the backe, as you shall find me
In the triall on your anuill.
Sophia.
So, but how sir
Shall I satisfie your friend to whom by promise
I am equally ingag'd?
Vbaldo.
I must confesse
The more the merier, but of all men liuing
Take heed of him you may safer run vpon
The mouth of a cannon, when it is vnlading
Sophia.
How! is he not holsome?
Vbaldo.
Holsome? I'll tell you for your good, he is
A spittle of diseases and indeed
More lothsome and infections, the tubbe is
His weekely bath; He hath not dranke this seauen yeare
Before he came to your house, but compositions
Of Sassafras, and Guacum, and drie mutton
His daily portion; name what scratch soeuer
Can be got by women and the Surgeons will resolue you
At this time or at that Ricardo had it.
Sophia.
Blesse me from him.
Vbaldo.
'Tis a good prayer Lady,
It being a degree vnto the pox.
Onely to mention him, if my tongue burne not hange me
When I but namd Ricardo.
Sophia.
Sir this caution
Must be rewarded.
Vbaldo.
I hope I haue marrd his market.
But when?
Sophia.
Why presently follow my woman
She knowes where to conduct you, and will serue
To night for a page, let the wast cote I apointed
With the cambricq shirt perfumd, and the rich cappe
Be brought into his chamber.
Ubaldo.
Excellent Lady.
And a candle too in the morning.
Corisca.
I will fit you.
Enter Ricardo.
Exeunt Vbaldo & Cor
Sophia.
So hot on the scent here comes the other beagle.
Ricardo.
Take purse and all
Hilario.
If this company would come often.
I should make a pretty terme on't,
Sophia.
For your sake
I haue put him off, he only begd a kisse
I gaue it and so parted.
Ricardo.
I hope better
He did not touch your lipps?
Yes I assure you.
There was no danger in it.
Ricardo.
No? eate presently
These lozenges, of forty crownes an ounce,
Or you are vndone.
Sophia.
What is the vertue of 'em.
Ricardo.
They are preseruatiues against stinking breath
Rising from rotten lungs.
Sophia,
If so your carriage
Of such deere antidotes in my opinion
May render yours suspected.
Ricardo.
Fie no I vse 'em
When I talke with him I should be poysond else.
But I'll be free with you. Hee was once a creature
It may be of Gods making, but long since
He is turnd to a druggists shoppe, the spring and fall
Hold all the yeere with him that he liues he owes
To art not nature, she has giuen him ore.
He moues like the faery King, on serues and wheeles
Made by his Doctors recipes, and yet still
They are out of ioynt, and euery day reparing
He has a regiment of whores he keepes
At his owne charge in a lazar house but the best is
There's not arose among 'em: Hee's acquainted
With the greene water and the spitting pill
Familiar to him, in a frosty morning
You may thrust him in a pottle pot his bones
Rattle in his Skinne like beanes tos'd in a bladder
If he but heere a coche the fomentation
The Friction with funigation cannot saue him
From the chine euill in a word he is
Not on disease but all, yet being my friend
I wil forbeare his caracter, for I would not
Wrong him in your opinion.
Sophia,
The best is
The vertues you bestow on him to me
Are mistries I know not but howeuer
I am at your seruice. Sirrha let it be your care
T'vncloth the gentleman, and with speed, delay
Ricardo.
Good, there's my hat, sword, cloke,
A vengeance on these buttons, off with my dublet
I dare show my Skinne, in the touch you will like it better
Prethe cut my codpeese poynt, and for this seruice
When I leaue them off they are thine.
Hilario.
I'll take your word sir.
Ricardo.
Deere lady stay not long.
Sophia.
I may come too soone sir
Ricardo.
No, no I am ready now,
Hilario.
This is the way sir.
Exeunt Hilario, and Ricardo.
Sophia.
I was much too blame to credit their reports
Touching my Lord that so traduce each other
And with such virulent malice, though I presume
They are bad enough, but I haue studied for 'em
A way for their recouerie.
The noyse of clapping a doore, Ubaldo aboue in his shirt.
Ubaldo.
What dost thou meane wench?
Why dost thou shut the doore upon me? ha
My cloths are taine away to! shall I starue heere?
Is this my lodging? I am sure the lady talkd of
A rich cappe, a perfum'd shirt, and a wastcote
But heere is nothing but a little fresh straw,
A pettycote for a couerlet and that torne to,
And an ould womans biggen for a night cappe,
Enter Corisca.
Slight tis a prison, or a pigstie, ha!
The windows grated with Iron I cannot force'em
And if I leape downe heere I breake my necke
I am betrayd, rogues villaines let me out
I am a Lord, and that's no common tittle,
And shall I be vsd thus?
Sophia.
Let him raue, Hee's fast
I'll parley with him at leasure.
Ricardo entring with a great noyse aboue, as fallen.
Ricardo.
Zoones haue you trap doores?
Sophia.
The other birds i'th cage too let him flutter.
Ricardo.
Whither am I falne into Hell?
Who makes that noyse there?
Helpe me if thou art a friend?
Ricardo.
A friend? I am where
I cannot helpe my selfe, let me see thy face.
Vbaldo.
How Ricardo! prethe throw me
Thy cloke, if thou canst to couer me I am almost
Frozen to death.
Ricardo.
My cloke, I haue no breeches
I am in my shirt as thou art, and heer's nothing
For my selfe but a clownes cast suite.
Vbaldo.
We are both vndone
Prethe rore a little, Madam.
Enter Hilario in Ricardos suite.
Ricardo.
Lady of the house.
Vbaldo.
Groomes of the chamber
Ricardo.
Gentlewomen, mi kemaydes.
Ubaldo.
Shall we be murthered?
Sophia.
Noe but soundly punish'd
To your diserts.
Ricardo.
You are not in earnest Madam?
Sophia.
Iudge as you find, and feele it, and now heere
What I irreuocablie purpose to you.
Being receau'd as ghests into my house
And with all it afforded entertaind
You haue forgot all hospitable duties,
And with the defamation of my Lord
Wrought on my woman weakenesse in reuenge
Of his iniuries, as you fashiond 'em to me,
To yeeld my honor to your lawlesse lust.
Hilario.
Marke that poore fellowes.
Sophia.
And so far you haue
Transgres'd against the dignity of men
(who should, bound to it by vertue, still defend
Chast ladies honors) that it was your trade
To make 'em in famous, but you are caught
In your owne toiles like lustfull beasts, and therfore
Hope not to find the vsage of men from me
Such mercie you haue forfeited, and shall suffer
Vbaldo.
How will you vse vs?
Sophia.
Ease and excesse in feeding made you wanton
A plurisie of ill blood you must let out.
By labour, and spare diet, that way got to,
Or perish for hunger, reach him vp that distaffe
With the flax vpon it, though no Omphale
Nor you a second Hercules, as I take it
As you spinne well at my command, and please me
Your wages in the coursest bread, and water,
Shall be proportionable.
Vbaldo.
I will starue first.
Sophia.
That's as you please.
Ricardo.
What will become of me now?
Sophia.
You shall haue gentler worke I haue oft obseru'd
You were proud to show the finenesse of your hands,
And softnes of your fingers, you should reele well
What he spins if you giue your mind to it, as ill force you
Deliuer him his materialls. Now you know
Your penance fall to worke, hunger will teach you
And so as slaues to your lust, not me I leaue you.
Exit Sophia. and seruants.
Ubaldo.
I shall spinne a fine thred out now
Ricardo.
I cannot looke
On these deuices but they put me in mind
Of rope-makers.
Hilario.
Fellow thinke of thy taske
Forget such vanities, my liuery there
Will serue the to worke in.
Ricardo.
Let me haue my clothes yet,
I was bountifull to thee.
Hilario.
They are past your wearing
And mine by promise, as all these can witnes
You haue no holydaies comming, nor will I worke
While these, and this lasts and so when you please
You may shut vp your shoppe windowes.
Exit Hilario.
Vbaldo.
I am faint
And must lye downe.
Ricardo.
I am hungry to, and could
Ocursed women
This comes of our whoring.
But let vs rest aswell as we can to night
But not ore sleepe our selues, least we fast to morrow.
They drew the curtaines.
| The Pictvre | |