University of Virginia Library

scæna vltima.

Loud musicke, Enter Mathias, Eubulus, Ladislaus, Ferdinand, Honoria, Baptista, Acanthe, with attendants
Eubulus.
Your maiesty must be weary.

Honoria.
No my Lord
A willing mind makes a hard iourney easie

Mathias.
Not loue attended on by Hermes, was
More welcome to the cottage of Philemon,
And his poore Baucis, then your gratious selfe.
Your matchlesse Queene, and all your royall traine
Are to your seruant and his wife.

Laudislaus.
Where is she?

Honoria.
I long to see her as my now loud riuall

Eubulus.
And I to haue a smach at her, 'tis a cordiall
To an old man, better then sacke, and a tost
Before he goes to supper.

Mathias.
Ha is my house turnd
To a wildernesse? nor wife nor seruants ready
Withall rites due to maiesty to receiue
Such vnexpected blessings? you assurd me
Of better preparation, hath not
Th'excesse of ioy transported her beyond
Her vnderstanding?

Baptista.
I now parted from her,
And gaue her your directions.

Mathias.
How shall I begge
Your maiesties patience? sure my famelie's druncke
Or by some witch in enuie of my glory
A dead sleepe throwne vpon 'em.

Enter Hilario, and seruants.
1 seruant.
Sir.

Mathias.
But that
The sacred presence of the King forbids it,
My sword should make a massacre among you.
Where is your mistris?

Hilario.
First you are welcome home sir
Then know she saies shee's sicke sir, there's no notice
Taken of my brauery.

Mathias.
Sicke at such a time!
I cannot be though she were on her death bed,
And her spirit euen now departed heere stand they
Could call it backe againe, and in this honor
Giue her a second being, bring me to her,
I know not what to vrge, or how to redeeme
This morgage of her manners.

Exeunt Mathias and Hilario.
Eubulus.
Ther's no climate
On the world I thinke where on iades tricke or other
Raignes not in women,

Ferdinand.
You were euer bitter
Against the Sex.

Ladislaus.
This is very strange.

Honoria.
Meane women
Haue their faults as well, as Queenes.

Laudislaus.
O shee appeares now.

Enter Mathias, Sophia.
Mathi.
The iniury that you conceiue I haue done you
Dispute heereafter, and in your peruersenes
Wrong not your selfe, and me.

Sophia.
I am passd my childhood,
And need no tutor.

Mathias.
This is the great King.
To whom I am ingag'd till death for all
I stand posess'd of.

Sophia.
My humble roofe is proud sir.
To be the canopie of so much greatnes,
Set off with goodnes.

Ladislaus.
My owne prayses flying
In such pure ayre, as your sweete breath faire Lady
Cannot but please me.

Mathias.
This is the Queene of Queenes,
In her magnificence to me.

Sophia.
In my duty
I kisse her highnes robe.

Honoria.
You stoope to low
To her whose lipps would meete with yours.

Sophia.
Howere.
It may appeare prepostrous in women
Soe to encounter, 'tis your pleasure Madam
And not my proud ambition, do you heere sir.
Without a magicall picture in the touch,
I find your printe of close and wanton kisses
On the Queenes lipps

Mathias.
Vpon your life be silent.
And now salute these Lords.

Sophia.
Since you'll haue me
You shall see I am experienc'd at the game
And can play it titely, you are a braue man sir
And do deserue a free and harty welcome
Be this the prologe to it.

Eubulus.
An old mans turne
Is euer last in kissing, I haue lipps too
Howeuer cold ones Madam.

Sophia.
I will warme 'em.
With the fire of mine.

Eubulus.
And so she has I thanke you.
I shall sleepe the better all night for't.

Mathias.
You expresse
The boldnes of a wanton courtezan,
And not a matrons modesty, take vp,
Or you are disgrac'd foreuer.

Sophia.
How? with kissing
Feelingly as you tought mee? would you haue me
Turne my cheeke to 'em, as proud ladies vse
To their inferiors, as if they intended
Some businesse should be whisperd in their eare
And not a salutation, what I doe
I will do freely, now I am in the humor
I'll flie at all, are there any more?

Mathias.
Forbeare.
Or you will rayse my anger to a height,
That will descend in fury.

Sophia.
Whie? you know
How to resolue your selfe what my intents are,
By the helpe of Mephostophiles, and your picture,
Pray you looke vpon't againe, I humbly thanke
The Queenes great care of me, while you were absent.
She knew how tedious 'twas for a young wife,
And being for that time a kind of widdow,
To passe away her melancholly howers
Without good company, and in charity therefore
Prouided for me, out of her owne store
She culd the Lords Ubaldo, and Ricardo,
Two principall courtiers for Ladies seruice,
To do me all good offices, and as such
Imployd by her, I hope I'haue receaud,
And entertaind 'em, nor shall they depart
Without the effect arissing from the cause
That brought 'em hither.

Mathias.
Thou dost be-lye thy selfe,
I know that in my absence thou wer't honest,
Howeuer now turnd monster.

Sophia.
The truth is
We did not deale like you in speculations
On cheating pictures; we knew shadowes were
No substances and actuall performance
The best assurance, I will bring 'em hither
To make good in this presence so much for me.
Some minutes space I begge your maiesties pardon
You are mou'd now champe vpon this bit a little
Anon you shall haue another, waite me Hilario.

Exeunt Sophia, & Hilario.
Ladislaus.
How now? turnd statue sir?

Mathias.
Flie, and flie quicklie
From this cursed habitation, or this Gorgon
Will make you all as I am, in her tongue
Millions of adders hisse, and euery hayre
Vpon her wicked head a snake more dreadfull
Then that Tisiphon, threw on Athamas,
Which in his madnes forc'd him to dismember
His proper issue O that euer I
Repos'd my trust in magicke, or beleeud
Impossiblities, or that charmes had power

Eubulus.
These are the fruites
Of marriage, and old batchelor, as I am,
And what's more will continue so, is not troublde
With these fine fagaries.

Ferdinand.
Till you are resolu'd sir,
Forsake not hope.

Baptista.
Vpon my life this is
Dissimulation.

Ladislaus.
And it sutes not with
Your fortitude and wisdome to be thus
Transported with your passion.

Honoria.
You were once
Deceaud in me sir as I was in you,
Yet the deceipte please both.

Mathias.
She hath confes'd all,
What further proofe should I aske?

Honoria.
Yet remember
The distance that is interpos'd betweene
A womans tongue, and her hart, and you must grant
You build vpon no certaineties.

Enter Sophia, Corisca, Hilario, Ubaldo, & Ricardo, as before.
Eubulus.
What haue we heere?

Sophia.
You must come on and show you selues.

Vbaldo.
The King!

Ricardo.
And Queene too, would I were as far vnder the earth
As I am aboue it.

Vbaldo.
Some Poet will
Prom this relation, or in verse, or proofe,
Or both together blended render vs
Ridiculous to all ages,

Ladislaus.
I remember
This face when it was in a better plight
Are not you Ricardo?

Honoria.
And this thing I take it
Was once Vbaldo.

Vbaldo.
I am now I know not what.

Ricardo.
We thanke your maiesty for imploying vs
To this subiill Circe.

Eubulus.
How my Lord? turnd spinster.
Do you worke by the day or by the great?

Ferdinand.
Is your Theorbo
Turnd to a distaffe Signior, and your voyce
With which you chanted rome for a lusty gallant
Turnd to the note of lacreymæ?

Eubulus.
Prethee tell me
For I know thou art free, how often and to the purpose
Haue you beene merry with this lady.

Ricardo.
Neuer, neuer.

Ladislaus.
Howsoeuer you should say so, for your credit
Being the only court bull.

Vbaldo.
O that euer
I saw this kicking heyfer,

Sophia.
You see Madam
How I haue curd your seruants, and what fauours
They with their rampaht valour haue woone from me.
You may as they are phisickd, I presume
Trust a faire virgine with 'em, they haue learnd
Their seuerall trades to liue by, and payd nothing
But cold, and hunger for 'em, and may now
Set vp for them selues for heere I giue 'em ouer,
And now to you sir, why doe you not againe,
Peruse your picture? and take the aduice
Of your learned consort? these are the men, or none
That made you, as the Italian sayes a beco.

Mathias.
I know not which way to intreat your pardon
Nor am I worthy of it my Sophia,
My best Sophia, heere before the king,
The Queene, these Lords, and all the lookers on
I do renounce my error, and embrace you
As the great example to all after times
For such as would dye chast, and noble wiues
With reuerence to immitate.

Sophia.
Not so sir.
I yet hold of, howeuer I haue purg'd
My doubted innocence, the foule aspertions
In your vnmanly doubts cast on my honor
Cannot so soone be washd of.

Eubulus.
Shall we haue
More ijggobobs yet?

Sophia.
When you went to the warrs
I set no spie vpon you to obserue
which way you wandred, though our sex by nature
Is subiect to suspitions and feares,
My confidence in your loyalty freed me from 'em.
But to deale as you did gainst your religion
With this inchanter to suruey my actions
Was more then womans weaknes, therefore know
And tis my boone vnto the King, I doe
Desire a seperation from your bed
For I will spend the remnant of my life
In prayer, and meditation.

Mathias.
O take pitty
Vpon my weake condition, or I am
More wretched in your innocence, then if
I had found you guilty, haue you showne a iewell
Out of the cabinet of your rich mind
To locke it vp againe? She turnes away
Will none speake for me? shame, and sinne hath robd me
Of the vse of my tongue.

Ladislaus.
Since you haue conquerd Maddam
You wrong the glory of your victory
If you vse it not with mercy.

Ferdinand.
Any penance
You please to impose vpon him I dare warrant
He will gladly suffer.

Eubulus.
Haue I liu'd to see
But on good woman, and shall we for a trifle
Haue her returne nun? I will first pull downe the cloyster
To the ould sport againe with a good lucke to you
'Tis not alone enough that you are good,
We must haue some of the breed of you, will you destroy
The kind, and race of goodnesse? I am conuerted
And aske your pardon Madam for my ill opinion
Against the sex, and show me but two such more
I'll marry yet, and loue em.

Honoria.
She that yet
Nere knew what 'twas to bend but to the King
Thus begge remission for him.

Sophia.
O deere Madam
Wrong not your greatnesse so.

Omnes.
We all are sutors.

Vbaldo.
I do deserue to bee hard among the rest.

Ricardo.
And we haue sufferd for it

Sophia.
I perceiue
Thers no resistance but suppose I pardon
What's past, who can secure me, He'll be free
From iealousie heereafter.

Mathias.
I will be
My owne security, go ride where you please,
Feast, reuele, banquet, and make choise with whom
I'll set no watch vpon you, and for proofe, oft
This cursed picture I surrender vp
To a consuming fire,

Baptista.
As I abuire
The practise of my art.

Sophia.
Vpon this termes.
I am reconcil'd and for these that haue payd
The price of their folly, I desire your mercy.

Ladislaus.
At your request they haue it.

Vbaldo.
Hang all trades now.

Ricardo.
I will find a new one, and that is to liue honest.

Hilario.
These are my fee's.

Ubaldo.
Pray you take 'em with a mischeefe.

Ladislaus.
So all ends in peace now
And to all married men be this a caution.
Which they should duly tender as their life
Neither to dote to much nor doubt a wife.

Exeunt Omnes.