University of Virginia Library

Act. 1.

Scæn. 1.

Enter Pedro and Leonora.
Ped.
My worthiest Mistress! this day cannot end
But prosperous to Pedro, that begins
With this so wish'd encounter.

Leo.
Only, Servant,
To give you thanks in your own Courtly language,
Would argue me more ceremonious
Then heartily affected; and you are
Too well assur'd, or I am miserable,
Our equal loves have kept one rank too long
To stand at distance now.

Ped.
You make me happy
In this so wise reproof, which I receive
As a chaste favor from you, and will ever
Hold such a strong command o're my desires,
That though my Blood turn Rebel to my Reason,
I never shall presume to seek ought from you,
But what (your honor safe) you well may grant me,
And Vertue sign the Warrant.

Leo.
Your love to me
So limited, will still preserve your Mistress
Worthy her servant, and in your restraint
Of loose affections, bind me faster to you:
But there will be a time when we may welcome
Those wish'd for pleasures, as Heavens greatest blessings;
When that the Vice-roy your most noble father,
And the Duke my uncle, and to that, my Guardian,
Shall by their free consent confirm them lawful.

Ped.
You ever shall direct, and I obey you:
Is my sister stirring yet?

Leo.
Long since.

Ped.
Some business
With her, join'd to my service to your self,
Hath brought me hither; pray you vouchsafe the favor
T'acquaint her with so much.

Leo.
I am prevented.

Enter Almira and two women.
Alm.
Do the rest here; my Cabinet is too hot,
This room is cooler. Brother!

Ped.
'Morrow sister,
Do I not come unseasonably?

Al.
Why good brother?

Ped.
Because you are not yet fully made up,
Nor fit for visitation. There are Ladies
And great ones, that will hardly grant access
On any terms to their own Fathers, as
They are themselves, nor willingly be seen
Before they have ask'd councel of their Doctor,
How the Cervize will appear, newly laid on
When they ask blessing.

Al.
Such indeed there are
That would be still young, in despight of time,
That in the wrinkled winter of their age
Would force a seeming April of fresh beauty,
As if it were within the power of art
To frame a second nature: But for me,
And for your Mistress, I dare say as much;
The faces, and the teeth you see, we slept with.

Ped.
Which is not frequent, sister, with some Ladies.

Al.
You spie no sign of any night,—
Mask here,
(Tie on my Carkanet) nor does your nosthril
Take in the scent of strong perfumes, to stifle
The sourness of our breaths as we are fasting:
You are in a Ladies chamber, gentle Brother,
And not in your Apothecaries shop.
We use the women, you perceive, that serve us,
Like servants, not like such as do create us:
'Faith search our pockets, and if you find there
Comfits of Amber-greece to help our kisses,
Conclude us faulty.

Ped.
You are pleasant, sister.
And I am glad to find you so dispos'd,
You will the better hear me.

Al.
What you please, Sir.

Ped.
I am entreated by the Prince of Tarent
Don John Antonio.

Al.
Would you would choose
Some other subject.

Ped.
Pray you give me leave,
For his desires are fit for you to hear,
As for me to prefer. This Prince of Tarent
(Let it not wrong him, that I call him friend)
Finding your choice of Don Cardenes lik'd of
By both your fathers, and his hopes cut off,
Resolves to leave Palermo.

Al.
He does well,
That I hear gladly.

Ped.
How this Prince came hither,
How bravely furnish'd, how attended on,
How he hath borne himself here, with what charge
He hath continued; his magnificence
In costly Banquets, curious Masques, rare Presents,
And of all sorts, you cannot but remember.

Al.
Give me my Gloves.

Ped.
Now, for reward of all
His cost, his travel, and his dutious service,
He does intreat that you will please he may
Take his leave of you, and receive the favor
Of kissing of your hands.

Al.
You are his friend,
And shall discharge the part of one to tell him
That he may spare the trouble; I desire not
To see, or hear more of him.

Ped.
Yet grant this,
Which a meer stranger in the way of Courtship
Might challenge from you.

Al.
And obtain it sooner.

Ped.
One reason for this would do well.

Al.
My will
Shall now stand for a thousand; shall I lose
The priviledge of my sex, which is my Will,
To yield a Reason like a man? or you
Deny your Sister that which all true women
Claim as their first prerogative, which Nature
Gave to them for a law? and should I break it,
I were no more a woman.

Ped.
Sure a good one
You cannot be, if you put off that vertue
Which best adorns a good one, Courtesie
And affable behaviour. Do not flatter
Yourself with the opinion that your birth,
Your beauty, or whatever false ground else
You raise your pride upon, will stand against
The censure of just men.

Al.
Why let it fall then,
I still shall be unmov'd.

Leo.
And pray you be you so.

Al.
What Jewel's that?

Wo.
That which the Prince of Tarent—

Al.
Left here, and you receiv'd without my knowledge;
I have use of't now. Does the Page wait without,
My Lord Cardenes sent t'enquire my health?

Wo.
Yes Madam.

Al.
Give it him, and with it pray him
To return my service to his Lord, and mine.

Ped.
Will you so undervalue one that has
So truly lov'd you, to bestow the pledge
Of his affection (being a Prince) upon
The servant of his Rival?

Leo.
'Tis not well,
'Faith, were it Lady? send gold to the Boy,
'Twill please him better.

Al.
Do as I command you,
I will keep nothing that may put me in mind
Don John Antonio ever lov'd, or was,
Being wholly now Cardenes.

Ped.
In another
This were meer barbarism, sister, and in you
(For I'll not sooth you) at the best 'tis rudeness.

Al.
Rudeness?

Ped.
Yes rudeness, and what's worse, the want
Of civil manners, nay ingratitude
Unto the many and so fair deservings
Of Don Antonio: does this express
Your breeding in the Court, or that you call
The Vice-roy father? A poor peasants daughter
That ne'r had conversation but with beasts
(Or men bred like them) would not so far shame
Her education.

Al.
Pray you leave my chamber;
I know you for a Brother, not a Tutor.

Leo.
You are too violent, Madam.

Al.
Were my Father
Here to command me, (as you take upon you
Almost to play his part) I would refuse it.
Where I love, I profess it; where I hate,
In every circumstance I dare proclaim it:
Of all that wear the shapes of men, I loath
That Prince you plead for; no antipathie
Between things most averse in nature, hold
A stronger enmity then his with mine:
With which rest satisfied; if not, your anger
May wrong your self, not me.

Leo.
My Lord Cardenes!

Ped.
Go; in soft terms,
If you persist thus,
You will be one.

Al.
What one? pray you out with it:

Ped.
Why, one that I shall wish a stranger to me,
That I might curse you: but—

Enter Martino.
Mar.
Whence grows this heat?

Ped.
Be yet advis'd, and entertain him fairly,
For I will send him to you, or no more
Know me a Brother.

Al.
As you please.

Ped.
Good morrow.

Exit.
Mar.
Good morrow, and part thus? you seem mov'd too:
What desperate fool durst raise a tempest here
To sink himself?

Al.
Good sir, have patience;
The cause (though I confess I am not pleas'd)
No way deserves your anger:

Mar.
Not mine, Madam?
As if the least offence could point at you,
And I not feel it: As you have vouchsaf'd me
The promise of your heart, conceal it not,
Whomsoever it concerns.

Al.
It is not worth
So serious an enquiry: My kind Brother
Had a desire to learn me some new Courtship
Which I distasted, that was all.

Mar.
Your Brother,
In being yours, with more security
He might provoke you; yet if he hath past
A Brothers bounds—

Leo.
What then, my Lord?

Mar.
Believe it,
I'll call him to accompt for't.

Leo.
Tell him so.

Al.
No more.

Leo.
Yes, thus much; though my modesty
Be call'd in question for it, in his absence
I will defend him: He hath said nor done
But what Don Pedro well might say or do.
Mark me, Don Pedro! in which understand
As worthy, and as well as can be hop'd for
Of those that love him best, from Don Cardenes.

Mar.
This to me Cousin?

Al.
You forget your self.

Leo.
No, nor the cause, in (which you did so Lady)
Which is so just, that it needs no concealing
On Pedro's part.

Al.
What mean you.

Leo.
I dare speak it,
If you dare hear it, Sir: He did perswade
Almira, your Almira, to vouchsafe
Some little conference with the Prince of Tarent
Before he left the Court; and that the world
Might take some notice, though he prosper'd not
In his so lov'd design, he was not scorn'd,
He did desire the kissing of her hand,
And then to leave her; this was much:

Mar.
'Twas more
Then should have been urg'd by him, well deni'd
On your part, Madam, and I thank you for't.
Antonio had his answer, I your grant:
And why your Brother should prepare for him
An after enterview, or private favor,
I can finde little reason.

Leo.
None at all.
Why you should be displeas'd with't.

Mar.
His respect
To me, as things now are, should have weigh'd down
His former friendship, 'twas done indiscreetly,
I would be loth to say maliciously,
To build up the demolish'd hopes of him
That was my Rival: What had he to do
(If he view not my happiness in your favor,
With wounded eies) to take upon himself
An office so distasteful?

Leo.
You may ask
As well, what, any Gentleman has to do
With civil courtesie.

Al.
Or you with that,
Which at no part concerns you: Good my Lord
Rest satisfied, that I saw him not, nor will.
And that, nor Father, Brother, nor the world
Can work me unto any thing, but what
You give allowance too; in which assurance
With this, I leave you.

Leo.
Nay take me along,
You are not angry too?

Al.
Presume on that.

Exeunt:
Mar:
Am I assur'd of her, and shall again
Be tortur'd with suspition to loose her.
Before I have enjoy'd her? the next Sun
Shall see her mine; why should I doubt then? yet
To doubt is safer, then to be secure
But one short day: Great Empires in less time
Have suffer'd change; she's constant, but a woman,
And what a lovers vows, perswasions, tears,
May in a minute work upon such frailty.
There are too many, and too sad examples.
The Prince of Tarent gone, all were in safety;
Or not admitted to solicite her,
My fears would quit me; 'tis my fault, if I
Give way to that, and let him ne'er desire
To own what's hard, that dares not guard it.
Who waits there?

Enter Servants and Page.
Serv.
Would your Lordship might?

Mar.
'Tis well
You are so neer.

Enter Don John, and Servant.
John.
Take care all things be ready
For my remove.

Serv.
They are.

Mar.
We meet like Friends,
No more like Rivals now: my emulation
Puts on the shape of love and service to you.

John.
It is return'd.

Mar.
'Twas rumor'd in the Court
You were to leave the City, and that wan me
To find you out: Your Excellence may wonder
That I that never saw you till this hour,
But that I wish'd you dead, so willingly
Should come to wait upon you to the Ports,
And there, with hope you never will look back,
Take my last farewell of you.

John.
Never look back?

Mar.
I said so, neither is it fit you should;
And may I prevail with you as a friend,
You never shall, nor while you live hereafter
Think of the Viceroy's Court, or of Palermo,
But as a grave, in which the Prince of Tarent
Buried his honor.

John.
You speak in a language
I do not understand.

Mar.
No? I'll be plainer.
What mad-man, that came hither with that pomp
Don John Antonio did, that exact Courtier
Don John Antonio, with whose brave fame only
Great Princesses have faln in love, and dy'd;
That came with such assurance as young Paris
Did to fetch Helen, being sent back, contemn'd,
Disgrac'd and scorn'd, his large expence laugh'd at,
His bravery scoff'd, the Lady that he courted
Left quietly in possession of another
(Not to be nam'd that day a Courtier
Where he was mention'd, the scarce known Cardenes,
And he to bear her from him) that would ever
Be seen again (having got fairly off)
By such as will live ready witnesses
Of his repulse, and scandal?

John.
The grief of it,
Believe me, will not kill me. All mans honor
Depends not on the most uncertain favor
Of a fair Mistris.

Mar.
Troth, you bear it well.
You should have seen some that were sensible
Of a disgrace, that would have rag'd, and sought
To cure their honor, with some strange revenge:
But you are better temper'd; and they wrong
The Neapolitans in their report,
That say they are fiery spirits, uncapable
Of the least injury, dangerous to be talk'd with
After a loss, where nothing can move you.
But, like a Stoick, with a constancy,
Words nor affronts, can shake, you still go on
And smile when men abuse you.

John.
If they wrong
Themselves, I can: yet I would have you know,
I dare be angry.

Mar.
'Tis not possible.
A taste of't would do well: And I'd make tryal
What may be done. Come hither Boy, you have seen
This Jewel, as I take it.

John.
Yes, 'tis that
I gave Almira.

Mar.
And in what esteem
She held it, coming from your worthy self,
You may perceive, that freely hath bestowed it
Upon my Page.

John.
When I presented it,
I did not indent with her, to what use
She should employ it.
See the kindness of
A loving soul; who, after this neglect,
Nay gross contempt, will look again upon her,
And not be frighted from it.

John.
No indeed Sir,
Nor give way longer: Give way, do you mark,
To your loose wit, to run the Wilde-goose chace,
Six syllables further: I will see the Lady,
That Lady, that dotes on you, from whose hate
My love increases, though you stand elected
Her Porter, to deny me.

Mar.
Sure you will not.

John.
Yes, instantly: Your prosperous success
Hath made you insolent; and for her sake
I have thus long forborne you; and can yet
Forget it, and forgive it, ever provided,
That you end here, and for what is past recalling,
That she make intercession for your pardon,
Which at her suit, I'll grant.

Mar.
I am much unwilling
To move her for a triffle; bear that too,
And then she shall speak to you.

John.
Men and Angels,
Take witness for me, that I have endur'd
More then a man:—O do not fall so soon,
Stand up; take my hand, so: When I have printed
For ever contumelious word, a wound here,
Then sink for ever.

Mar.
O! I suffer justly.

Serv.
Murther, murther, murther.
Exe. Servants.

2 Serv.
Apprehend him.

3 Serv.
We'll all joyn with you.

John.
I do wish you more,
My fury will be lost else, if it meet not
Matter to work on; one life is too little
For so much injury.

Enter Almira, Leonora, Servants.
Al.
O my Cardenes,
Thou dead, still my Cardenes: Villains, cowards,
What do ye check at? can one arm, and that
A murtherers, so long guard the curs'd Master,
Against so many swords, made sharp with Justice?

1. Serv.
Sure he will kill us all; he is a devil.

2. Serv.
He is invulnerable.

Al.
Your base fears
Beget such fancies in you: Give me a sword,
This my weak arm, made strong in my revenge,
Shall force a way to't.

John.
Would it were deeper Madam,
The thrust; which I would not put by, being yours
Of greater force, to have peirc'd through that heart
Which still retains your figure: Weep still Lady,
For every tear that flows from those griev'd eyes,
Some part of that which maintains life, goes from me.
And so to die, were in a gentle slumber
To pass to Paradise; but you envy me
So quiet a departure from my world,
My world of miseries; therefore take my sword,
And having kill'd me with it, cure the wounds
It gave Cardenes.

Enter Pedro.
Ped.
'Tis too true: Was ever
Valor so ill employ'd?

John.
Why stay you Lady?
Let not soft pity work on your hard nature:
You cannot do a better office to
The dead Cardenes, and I willingly
Shall fall a ready sacrifice, to appease him,
Your fair hand offering it.

Al.
Thou couldst ask nothing
But this, which I would grant:

Lev.
Flint-hearted Lady!

Ped.
Are you a woman, Sister?

Al.
Thou art not
A Brother, I renounce that title to thee:
Thy hand is in this bloody act; 'twas this
For which that savage homicide was sent hither.
Thou equal Judge of all things, if that blood,
And innocent blood—

Al.
Oh Cardenes,
How is my soul rent between rage and sorrow,
That it can be, that such an upright Cedar
Should violently be torn up by the roots,
Without an earthquake in that very moment
To swallow them that did it.

John.
The hurt's nothing,
But the deep wound is in my conscience, friend,
Which sorrow in death only can recover.

Ped.
Have better hopes.

Enter Viceroy, Messina, Captain, Guard, and Servants.
Mess.
My son, is this the marriage
I came to celebrate? false hopes of man,
I come to find a grave here.

Al.
I have wasted
My stock of Tears, and now just Anger help me
To pay in my Revenge the other part
Of duty which I owe thee. O great Sir,
Not as a Daughter now, but a poor Widow,
Made so before she was a Bride, I flie
To your impartial justice; the offence
Is death, and death in his most horrid form:
Let not then title, or a Princes name
(Since a great crime is in a great man greater)
Secure the Offender:

Mess.
Give me life for life,
As thou wilt answer it to the great King
Whose Deputy thou art here.

Al.
And speedy Justice.

Mess.
Put the damn'd wretch to torture.

Al.
Force him to
Reveal his curs'd Confederates, which spare not,
Although you find a Son among them.

Vice.
How?

Mess.
Why bring you not the Rack forth?

Al.
Wherefore stands the Murtherer unbound?

Vice.
Shall I have hearing?

Mess.
Excellent Lady, in this you express
Your true love to the dead.

Al.
All love to mankind from me, ends with him.

Vice.
Will you hear me yet?
And first to you; you do confess the fact
With which you stand charg'd?

John.
I will not make worse
What is already ill, with vain denial.

Vice.
Then understand, though you are Prince of Tarent,
Yet being a Subject to the King of Spain,
No priviledge of Sicily can free you
Being convict by a just form of Law,
From the municipal Statutes of that Kingdom,
But as a common man, being found guilty,
Must suffer for it.

John.
I prize not my life
So much, as to appeal from any thing
You shall determine of me.

Vice.
Yet despair not
To have an equal hearing; the exclaims
Of this griev'd Father, nor my Daughters tears
Shall sway me from my self; and where they urge
To have you tortur'd, or led bound to prison,
I must not grant it.

Mess.
No?

Vice.
I cannot sir;
For men of his rank are to be distinguish'd
From other men, before they are condemn'd,
From which (his cause not heard) he yet stands free:
So take him to your charge, and as your life
See he be safe.

Capt.
Let me die for him else.

Exe. Ped. John, Cap. & guard.
Mess.
The guard of him should have been given to me.

Al.
Or unto me.

Mess.
Bribes may corrupt the Captain.

Al.
And our just wreak, by force or cunning practice,
With scorn prevented.

Mar.
Oh!

Al.
What groan is that?

Vice:
They'r apparent signs of life yet in him.

Al.
Oh that there were! that I could pour my blood
Into his veins!

Mar.
Oh, oh!

Vice.
Take him up gently.

Mess.
Run for Physitians.

Al.
Surgeons.

Mess.
All helps else.

Vice.
This care of his recovery, timely practis'd,
Would have express'd more of a Father in you,
Then your impetuous clamors for revenge.
But I shall find fit time to urge that further
Hereafter to you; 'tis not fit for me
To add weight to oppress'd calamitie.

Exeunt.