 | The Pictvre |  |
THE PICTVRE,
A true Hungarian History.
Actus primi
Scena prima.
Enter Mathias in armour, Sophia in a riding sute, Corisca, Hilario with other seruants.Mathias.
Since we must part Sophia, to passe further.
Is not alone impertinent but dangerous.
We are not distant from the Turkesh campe
Aboue fiue leagues, and who knowes but some partie
Of his Timariots that scoure the countrey
May fall vpon vs, be now as thy name
Truely interpreted hath euer spoke thee,
Wise, and discreete, and to thy vnderstanding
Marrie thy constant pacience.
Sophia.
Yow put me Sir,
To the vtmost triall of it.
Mathias,
Nay noe melting,
Since the necessity that now seperates vs,
We haue long since disputed, and the reasons
Forcing me to it, too oft wash'd in teares,
I grant that you in birth were farre aboue mee,
And great men my superiours riualls for you,
But mutuall consent of heart, as hands
Ioynde by true loue hath made vs one, and equall;
Nor is it in me meere desire of fame,
For a braue souldier that puts on my armour,
Such aerie tumours take not me you know
How narrow our demeanes are, and whats more
Hauing as yet no charge of children on vs
We hardly can subsist.
Sophia.
In you alone sir
I haue all abundance.
Mathias.
For my minds content
In your owne language I could answere you
You haue beene an obedient wise, a right one,
And to my power, though short of your desert
I haue beene euer an indulgent husband.
we haue long inioyd the sweets of loue, and though
Not to satisfie, or lothing, yet
We must not liue such dotardes on our pleasures
As still to hugge them to the certaine losse
Of profit, and preferment, competent meanes
Maintaines aquiet bed, want breeds dissention
Euen in good women.
Sophia.
Haue you found in me sir
Any distast, or signe of discontent
For want of whats superfiuous?
Mathias,
No Sophia.
Nor shalt thou euer haue cause to repent
Thy constant course in goodnes if heauen blesse
My honest vndertakings: 'tis for thee
That I turne souldier, and put forth deerest
Vpon this sea of action as a factor
To trade for rich materialls to adorne
Thy noble parts, and show'em in full lustre.
I blush that other ladies lesse in beauty
And outward forme, but in the harmonie
Of the soules rauishing musicke the same age
Not to be nam'd with thee, should so out shine thee
In iewels, and variety of wardrobes,
Compar'd are of no value) wanting these
Passe vnregarded.
Sophia.
If I am so rich or
In your opinion, why should you borrow
Additions for me?
Mathias.
Why? I should be censur'd
Of ignorance possessing such a Iewell
Aboue all price, if I forbeare to giue it
The best of ornaments. Therefore Sophia
In few words know my pleasure and obey me,
As you haue euer done to your discretion,
I leaue the gouernment of my family
And our poore fortunes, and from these command
Obedienoe to you as to my selfe,
To the vtmost of what's mine liue plentifully,
And ere the remnant of our store be spent,
With my good sword I hope I shall reape for you
A haruest in such full abundance, as
Shall make a merry winter.
Sophia.
Since you are not
To be diuerted Sir from what you purpose
All arguments to stay you heere are vselesse.
Goe when you please Sir, Eyes I charge you waste not
One drop of sorrow, looke you hoord all vp
Till in my widdowed bed I call vpon you,
But then be sure you faile not. You blest Angels
Guardians of humanelife, I at this instant
Forbeare t'inuoke you, at our parting 'twere
To personate deuotion. My soule
Shall goe along with you, and when you are
Circl'd with death and horrour seeke and finde you:
And then I will not leaue a Saint vnsu'd to
For your protection. To tell you what
I will doe in your absence, would shew poorely,
My actions shall speake me, 'twere to doubt you
You cannot liue obscure nor shall one post
By night, or day passe vnexamined by me.
If I dwell long vpon your lips, consider
After this feast the griping fast that followes
And it will be excusable, pray turne from mee.
All that I can is spoken.
Exit Sophia.
Mathias.
Follow your mistersse.
Forbeare your wishes for me, let mee finde'em,
At my returne in your prompt will to serue her.
Hilario.
For my part sir I will grow leane with study
To make her merry.
Corisca.
Though you are my Lord,
Yet being her gentlewoman, by my place
I may take my leaue, your hand or if you please
To haue me fight so high, ile not be coy
But stande a tiptoe for't;
Mathias.
O farewell gyrle.
Hilario.
A kisse well begg'd Corisca,
Corisca.
Twas my fee,
Loue how he melts! I cannot blame my ladies
Vnwillingnesse to part with such marmulade lips.
There will be scrambling for'em in the campe,
And were it not for my honesty I could wish now
I were his leager landresse I would finde
Sope of mine owne, enough to wash his linnen
Or I would straine hard for't
Hilario.
How the mammet'twitters!
Come, come my ladie staies for vs.
Corisca.
Would I had beene
Her ladiship the last night.
Hilario.
Noe more of that wench.
Exunt Hilario.
Mathias.
I am strangely troubled: yet why I should nourish
A furie heere, and with imagind foode.
Hauing no reall grounds on which to raise,
A buildings of suspition, she was euer
But foolishly inquire the knowledge of
A future sorrow, which if I find out,
My present ignorance were a cheape purchase
Though with my losse of beeing, I haue already
Dealt with a friend of mine, a generall scholler
One deepely read in natures hidden secrets,
And though with much vnwillingnesse haue wone him
To doe as much as Art can to resolue me
My fate that followes to my wish, Hee's come.
Enter Baptista.
Iulio Baptista, now I may affirme
Your promise, and performance walke together.
And therefore without circumstance to the point,
Instruct me what I am.
Baptista.
I could wish you had
Made triall of my loue some other way.
Mathias.
Nay this is from the purpose.
Baptista.
If you can,
Proportion your desire to any meane
I do pronounce you happy I haue found
By certaine rules of Art your matchlesse wife
Is to this present hower from all pollution
Free and vntainted.
Mathias.
Good.
Baptista.
In reason therefore
You should fixe heere, and make no farther serach
Of what may fall heereafter.
Mathias.
O Baptista
Tis not in me to master so my passions,
I must know farther, or you haue made good
But halfe your promise while my loue stood by,
Holding her vpright, and my presence was
A watch vpon her; her desires being met to
with equall ardor from me; what one proofe
Could she giue of her constancy being vntempted?
But when I am absent, and my comming backe
Not to be quench'd by lawfull meanes, and shee
The absolute disposer of her selfe,
Without, controule, or curbe nay more inuited
By opportunity and all strong temptations
It then she hold out.
Baptista.
As no doubt she will,
Mathias.
Those doubts must be made certainties Baptista
By your assurance, or your boasted Art
Deserues no admiration, how you trifle
And play with my affliction? I am on
The wracke till you confirme mee.
Baptista.
Sure Mathias.
I am no God, nor can I diue into
Her hidden thoughts, or know what her intents are
That is deni'd to art, and kept conceald
euen from the diuels themselues: they can but guesse
Out of long obseruation what is likely,
But positiuely to foretell that this shall be
You may conclude impossible, all I can
I will doe for you when you are distant from her
A thousand leauges as if you then were with her
You shall know truly when she is solicited,
And how far wrought on.
Mathias.
I desire no more.
Baptista.
Take then this little modell of Sophia
With more then humane skill limde to the life
Each line, and lenament of it in the drawing
Soe punctually obserued that had it motion
In so much'twere her selfe.
Mathias,
It is indeede
An admirable peece, but if it haue not
Some hidden vertue that I cannot guesse at
In what can it aduantage me?
Baptista.
Ile instruct you,
Carry it still about you and as oft
With curious eyes peruse it while it keepes
The figure it now has intire, and perfit
She is not onely innocent in fact
But vnattempted: but if once it varie
From the true forme, and what's now white, and red
Incline to yellow rest most confident
Shees with all violence courted but vnconquerd.
But if it turne all blacke 'tis an assurance
The fort by composition, or surprize
Is forc'd or with her free consent surrenderd.
Mathias.
How much you haue ingag'd me for this fauour,
The seruice of my whole life shall make good
Baptista.
We will not part so, Ile along with you
And it is needfull with the rising Sun
The armies meete yet ere the fight begun
In spite of oposition I will place you
In the head of the Hungarian Generals troope
And neere his person.
Mathias.
As my better Angel
You shall direct and guide mee.
Baptista.
As we ride
Ile tell you more.
Mathias.
In all things Ile obey you.
Exeunt.
scæna secunda,
Enter Vbaldo, Ricardo.Ricardo.
When came the post?
Vbaldo.
The last night.
Ricardo.
From the campe?
Vbaldo.
Yes as 'tis said, and the letter writ and signd
By the generall Ferdinand
Ricardo.
Nay then sans question
It is of moment.
It concernes the liues
Of two great armies,
Ricardo.
Was it cherfully
Receiued by the King?
Vbaldo.
Yes, for being assured
The armies were in view of one another
Hauing proclaimed a publicke fast, and prayer
For the good successe, dispatch'd a gentleman
Of his priuy chamber to the generall
With absolute authority from him
To trie the fortune of a day.
Ricardo.
No doubt then
The Generall will come on and fight it brauely,
Heauen Prosper him, this militarie art
I grant to be the noblest of professions
And yet I thanke my stars fort I was neuer
Inclin'd to learne it, since this bubble honour,
(Which is indeede the nothing souldiers fight for
With the losse of limbes, or life) is in my iudgement
Too deare a purchase.
Vbaldo.
Giue me our Court-warfare,
The danger is not great in the encounter
Of a faire Mistresse.
Ricardo.
Faire and sound together
Doe very well Vbaldo. But such are
With difficulty to be found out, and whe they know
Their value prizde too high. By thy owne report
Thou wast at twelue a gamester, and since that
Studied all kinds of females, from the night-trader
I'the streete with certaine danger to thy pocket,
To the great Lady in her Cabinet,
That spent vpon thee more in cullises
To strengthen thy weake backe, then would maintaine
Twelue Flanders mares, and as many running horses:
Besides Apothecaries and Chirurgeons bills
Payd vpon all occasions, and those frequent.
You talke Ricardo, as if yet you were
A nouice in those misteries.
Ricardo.
By no meanes,
My Doctor can assure the contrary,
I loose no time. I haue felt the paine and pleasure
As he that is a gamester, and playes often
Must sometimes be a looser.
Ubaldo.
Wherefore then
Doe you enuy me?
Ricardo.
It growes not from my want,
Nor thy abundance, but being as I am
The likelier man, and of much more experience,
My good parts, are my cursies, there's no beauty
But yeeldes ere it be summon'd, and as nature
Had sign'd me the monopolie of maidenheads,
There's none can buy till I haue made my market,
Satiety cloyes me, as I liue I would part with
Halfe my estate, nay trauaile ore the world
To finde that onely Phænix in my search
That could hold out against me.
Ubaldo.
Be not rapp'd so:
You may spare that labour, as she is a woman
What thinke you of the Queene?
Ricardo.
I dare not aime at
The petticoate royall, that is still excepted:
Yet were she not my Kings, being the abstract
Of all that's rare, or to be wish'd in woman,
To write her in my catalogue, hauing inioy'd her
I would venter my necke to a halter, but we talke of
Impossibilities, as she hath a beauty
Would make old Nestor young, such maiesty
Drawes foorth a sword of terrour to defend it,
As would fright Paris, though the Queene of loue
Vow'd her best furtherance to him.
Ubaldo.
Haue you obseru'd
The grauity of her language mix'd with sweetnesse?
Then at what distance she reserues her selfe
When the King himselfe makes his approaches to her,
Ubaldo.
As she were still a virgine, and his life
But one continued wooing.
Ricardo.
She well knowes
Her worth, and values it.
Ubaldo.
And so farre the King is
Indulgent to her humors, that he forbeares
The duety of a husband, bxt when she calles for't.
Ricardo.
All his imaginations and thoughts
Are buried in her, the lowd noyse of warre
Cannot awake him.
Ubaldo.
At this very instant.
When both his life and Crowne are at the stake,
He onely studies her content, and when
She's pleas'd to shew her selfe, musicke and masques
Are with all care and cost prouided for her.
Ricardo.
This night she promis'd to appeare.
Ubaldo.
You may heleeue it by the diligence of the King
As if he were her harbinger.
Enter Ladislaus, Eubulus, and attendants with perfumes.
Ladislaus.
These roomes
Are not perfum'd as we directed.
Eubulus.
Not Sir,
I know not what you would haue, I am sure the smoke
Cost treble the price of the whole weekes prouision
Spent in your Maiesties kitchins.
Ladislaus.
How! I scorne
Thy grosse comparison. When my Honoria
Th'amazement of the present time, and enuy
Of all succeeding ages does descend
To sanctifie a place, and in her presence
Makes it a Temple to me, can I be
But that the splendour of her beames of beauty
Hath strucke thee blinde?
Eubulus.
As dotage hath done yon.
Ladislaus.
Dotage, O blasphemy! is it in me
To serue her to her merit? is she not
The daughter of a King?
Eubulus.
And you the sonne
Of ours I take it, by what priuiledge else
Doe you reigne ouer vs? for my part I know not
Where the dispairity lyes.
Ladislaus.
Her birth old man,
Old in the Kingdomes seruice which protects thee,
Is the least grace in her: and though her beauties
Might make the thunderer a riuall for her,
They are but superficiall ornaments
And faintly speake her, from her heauenly mind
Were all antiquity and fiction lost
Our moderne Poets could not in their fancie
But fashion a Minerua farre transcending
Th'imagin'd one, whom Homer onely dreamt of,
But then adde this, she's mine, mine Eubulus.
And though she know one glance from her faire eyes
Must make all gazers her idolaters,
Shee is so sparing of their influence
That to shunsuperstition in others,
Shee shootes her powerfull beames onely at me.
And can I then, whom she desires to hold
Her Kingly captiue aboue all the world,
Whose Nations and Empires if she pleas'd
Shee might command as slaues, but gladly pay
The humble tribute of my loue and seruice,
Nay if I sayd of adoration to her
I did not erre?
Eubulus.
Well, since you hugge your fetters
In loues name weare'em. You are a King, and that
Which we that are foolish Subiects must not argue.
And what in a meane man I should call folly,
Is in your Maiesty remarkable wisedome.
But for me I subscribe.
Ladislaus.
Doe, and loooke vp:
Vpon this wonder.
Lowd musicke, Honoria in state vnder a Canopy, her traine borne vp by Siluia and Acanthe.
Ricardo.
Wonder? it is more Sir.
Vbaldo.
A rapture, an astonishment.
Ricardo.
What thinke you Sir?
Eubulus.
As the King thinkes, that is the surest guard
We Courtiers euer lie at. Was Prince euer
So drownd in dotage? Without spectacles
I can see a hansome woman, and she is so:
But yet to admiration looke not on her.
Heauen how he fawnes; and as it were his duty,
With what assured grauity she receiues it!
Her hand againe! O she at length vouchsafes
Her Lip, and as he had suck'd Nectar from it
How he's exalted! Women in their natures
Affect command, but this humility
In a husband and a King markes her the way
To absolute tyranie. So, Inno's plac'd
In loues Tribunall, and like Mercurie
Forgetting his owne greatnesse, he attends
For her imployments. She prepares to speake,
What Oracles shall we heare now?
Honoria.
That you please Sir,
With such assurances of loue and fauour,
To grace your handmaid, but in being yours Sir,
A matchlesse Queene, and one that knowes herselfe so,
Bindes me in retribution to deserue
Ladislaus.
You transcend
In all things excellent, and it is my glory,
Your worth weigh'd truly to depose my selfe
From absolute command, surrendring vp
My will and faculties to your disposure:
And heere I vow, not for a day or yeere,
But my whole life, which I wish long to serue you:
That whatsoeuer I in iustice may
Exact from these my subiects, you from me
May boldly challenge. And when you require it,
In signe of my subiection, as your vassall,
Thus I will pay my homage.
Honoria.
O forbeare Sir,
Let not my Lips enuie my Robe: on them
Print your alegiance often. I desire
No other fealtie.
Ladislaus.
Gracious Soueraigne,
Boundlesse in bounty!
Eubulus.
Is not heere fine fooling?
He's questionlesse bewitch'd. would I were gelt
So that would disenchant him. Though I forfeit
My life for it I must speake. By your good leaue sir,
I haue no sute to you, nor can you grant one
Hauing no Power. You are like me a subiect.
Her more then serene Maiesty being present.
And I must tell you, 'tis ill manners in you,
Hauing depos'd your selfe to keepe your hat on,
And not stand bare as we doe, being no King,
But a fellow subiect with vs. Gentlemen vshers
It does belong to your place, see it reform'd,
He has giuen his Crowne, and cannot challenge
The priuiledge of his bonnet.
Ladislaus.
Doe no tempt me.
Eubulus.
Tempt you, in what? in following your example
If you are angry question me heereafter,
On equall termes, you were of late my soueraigne
But weary of it, I now bend my knee
To her diuinity, and desire a boone
From her more then magnificence.
Honoria.
Take it freely.
Nay be not mou'd, for our mirth sake let vs heare him,
Eubulus,
'Tis but to aske a question, haue you ne're read
The story of Semiramis and Ninus?
Honoria.
Not as I remember.
Eubulus.
I will then instruct you,
And tis to the purpose, this Ninus was a King,
And such an impotent louing King as this was
But now hee's none, this Ninus (pray you obserue me)
Doted on this Semiramis, a smiths wife,
(I must confesse there the comparison holdes not,
You are a Kings daughter, yet vnder your correction
Like her a woman) this Assirian monarch
(Of whom this is a patterne) to expresse
His loue, and seruice, seated her as you are,
In his regall throne, and bound by oth his Nobles
For getting all alleageance to himselfe
One day to be her subiects, and to put
In execution what euer shee
Pleas'd to impose vpon 'em, pray you command him
To minister the like to vs and then
You shall heare what follow'd.
Ladislaus.
Well sir to your story.
Eubulus.
You haue no warrant, stand by, Let me know
Your pleasure Goddesse.
Honoria.
Let this nod assure you.
Eubulus.
Goddesse like indeede, as I liue a pretty Idoll,
She knowing her power wisely made vse of it
And fearing his inconstancy, and repentance
Of what he had granted (as in reason Madam,
Yo may doe his) that hee might neuer haue
For her short gouernment, instantly gaue order
To haue his head strucke off.
Ladislaus.
I'st possible?
Eubulus.
The story sayes so and commends her wisedome
For making vse of her authority:
And it is worth your imitation Madam,
He loues subiection, and you are no Queene
Vnlesse you make him feele the waight of it.
You are more then all the world to him, and that,
He may be foe to you, and not seeke change,
When his delights are sated, mew him vp
In some close prison, if you let him liue
(Which is no policy) and there dyet him
As you thinke fit to feede your appetite
Since there ends his ambition.
Ubaldo.
Diuelish counsaile.
Ricardo.
The King's amaz'd.
Vbaldo.
The Queene appeares too full
Of deepe imaginations, Eubulus
Hath put both to it.
Ricardo.
Now she seemes resolu'd
I long to know the issue.
Honoria descends.
Honoria.
Giue me leaue,
Deare sir to reprehend you for appearing
Perplex'd with what this old man out of enuy
Of your vnequal'd graces showr'd vpon me,
Hath in his fabulous story sawcily
Applide to me, sir that you onely nourish
One doubt Honoria dares abuse the power
With which shee is inuested by your fauour,
Or that she euer can make vse of it
To the iniury of you the great bestower,
Takes from your iudgement, it was your delight
To seeke to me with more obsequiousnesse,
Not to receiue what you were pleas'd to offer?
I doe but act the Part you put vpon me,
And though you make me Personate a Queene,
And you my subiect, when the play your pleasure
Is at a period, I am what I was
Before I enter'd, still your humble wife,
And you my royall Soueraigne.
Ricardo.
Admirable!
Honoria.
I haue heard of Captains taken more with danger
Then the rewards, and if in your approches
To those delights which are your owne, and freely
To heighten your desire, you make the passage
Narrow and difficult, shall I prescribe you?
Or blame your fondnesse? Or can that swell me
Beyond my iust proportion?
Ubaldo.
Aboue wonder!
Ladisluus.
Heauen make me thankefull for such goodnesse.
Honoria.
Now Sir,
The state I tooke to satisfie your pleasure
I change to this humility, and the oath
You made to me of homage, I thus cancell,
And seate you in your owne.
Ladisluus.
I am transported
Beyond my selfe.
Honoria.
And now to your wise Lordship,
Am I prou'd a Semiramis? or hath
My Ninus, as maliciously you made him,
Cause to repent th'excesse of fauour to me,
Which you call dotage?
Ladisluus.
Answere wretch.
Eubulus.
I dare Sir,
And say how euer the euent may pleade
In your defence, you had a guilty cause;
Nor was it wisedome in you (I repeate it)
To teach a Lady, humble in her selfe
To be ambitious.
Honoria.
Eubulus, I am so,
Tis rooted in me, you mistake my temper.
I do professe my selfe to be the most
Ambitious of my sex, but not to hould
Command ouer my Lord, such a proud torrent
Would sincke me in my wishes; not that I
Am ignorant how much I can deserue
And may with iustice challenge.
Eubulus.
This I look'd for;
After this seeming humble ebbe I knew
A gushing tide would follow.
Honoria.
By my birth,
And liberall giftes of nature, as of fortune,
From you, as things beneath me, I expect
What's due to maiesty, in which I am
A sharer with your soueraigne.
Eubulus.
Good againe!
Honoria.
And as I am most eminent in place,
In all my actions I would appeere so.
Ladislaus.
You need not feare a riuall.
Honoria.
I hope not;
And till finde one, I disdaine to know
What enuie is.
Ladislaus.
You are aboue it Madam.
Honoria.
For beauty without art, discourse, and free
From affectation, with what graces else
Can in the wife and daughter of a King
Be wish'd, I dare prefer my selfe.
Eubulus.
As I
Blush for you lady, trumpet your owne prayses?
This spoken by the people had beene heard
With honour to you; does the court afford
No oyle-tongu'd parasite, that you are forc'd
To be your owne grosse flatterer?
Bee dumbe,
Thou spirit of contradiction.
Honoria.
The wolfe
But barkes against the Moone, and I contemne it.
The masque you promis'd.
A horne.
Enter a Post.
Ladislaus.
Let'em enter. How!
Eubulus.
Heere's one, I feare vnlook'd for.
Ladislaus.
From the Campe?
Post.
The Generall victorious in your fortune,
Kisses your hand in this Sir.
Ladislaus.
That great Power,
Who at his pleasure does dispose of battailes,
Be euer prais'd for't. Read sweet, and pertake it:
The Turke is vanquish'd, and with little losse
Vpon our part, in which our ioy is doubl'd.
Eubulus.
But let it not exalt you, beare it Sir
With moderation, and pay what you owe for't.
Ladislaus.
I vnderstand thee Eubulus. Ile not now
Enquire particulars. Our delights deferr'd,
With reuerence to the Temples, there wee'l tender
Our Soules deuotions to his dread might,
Who edg'd our swords, and taught vs how to fight.
Exeunt omnes.
The end of the first Act.
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