 | Cupid's Revenge |  |
Actus Quintus.
Scæna Prima.
Enter Urania and her Woman.Uran.
What hast thou found him?
Wo.
Madam, he is coming in.
Uran.
Gods bless my brother, wheresoe'er he is:
And I beseech you keep me fro the bed
Of any naughty Tyrant, whom my Mother
Would ha me have to wrong him.
Enter Ismenus.
Isme.
What would her new Grace have with me?
Ura.
Leave us a while. My Lord Ismenus.
Exit M.
I pray for the love of Heaven and God,
That you would tell me one thing, which I know
You can do weell.
Isme.
Where's her sain Grace?
Ura.
You know me well inough, but that you mock, I an
she my sen.
Isme.
God bless him that shall be thy husband, if thou
wear'st the breeches thus soon, thou'lt be as impudent as
thy Mother.
Ura.
But will you tell me this one thing?
Ism.
What is't? if it be no great matter whether I do
or no, perhaps I will.
Ura.
Yes faith, 'tis matter.
Ism.
And what is't?
Ura.
I pray you let me know whaire the Prince my Brother
is.
Ism.
I'saith you shan be hang'd first, is your Mother so
foolish to think your good Grace can lift it out of me?
Ura.
If you have any mercy left i'you to a poor wench,
tell me.
Ism.
Why wouldst thou not have thy brains beat out for
this, to follow thy Mothers steps so young?
Ura.
But believe me, she knows none of this.
Ism.
Believe you? why do you think I never had wits?
or that I am run out of them? how should it belong to you
to know, if I could tell?
Ura.
Why I will tell you, and if I speak false
Let the devil ha me: yonder's a bad man,
Come from a Tyrant to my Mother, and what name
They ha' for him, good faith I cannot tell.
Isme.
An Ambassador.
Ura.
That's it: but he would carry me away,
And have me marry his Master; and I'll day
E'r I will ha' him.
Ism.
But what's this to knowing where the Prince is?
Ura.
Yes, for you know all my Mother does:
Agen the Prince is but to ma me great.
Ism.
Pray, I know that too well, what ten?
Ura.
Why I could goe to the good Marquis my
Brother, and put my self into his hands, that so
He may preserve himself.
Ism.
Oh that thou hadst no seed of thy Mother in thee,
and couldst mean this now.
Ura.
Why feth I do, wou'd I might ne'er stir more if I
do not.
Ism.
I shall prove a ridiculous fool, I'll be damn'd else:
hang me if I do not half believe thee.
Ura.
By my troth you may.
Ism.
By my troth I doe: I know I'm an Ass for't,
But I cannot help it.
Ura.
And won you tell me then?
Ism.
Yes faith will I, or any thing else i'th' world: for
I think thou art as good a creature as ever was born.
Ura.
But ail goe i'this ladst apparel:
Ism.
Help thee? why the pox take him that will not help
thee to any thing i'th' world, I'll help thee to Money, and
I'll do't presently too, and yet soul, if you should play the
scurvy, Harlotry little pocky baggage now and cosin me,
what then?
Ura.
Why, an I do, wou'd I might ne'r set day agen.
Ism.
Nay, by this light, I do not think thou wilt:
I'll presently provide thee Money and a Letter.
Exit. Ism.
Ura.
I, but I'll ne'er deliver it.
When I have found my Brother, I will beg
To serve him; but he shall never know who I am:
For he must hate me then for my bad mother:
I'll say I am a Countrey Lad that want a service,
And have straid on him by chance, lest he discover me;
I know I must not live long, but that taime
I ha' to spend, shall be in serving him.
And though my Mother seek to take his life away,
In a day my brother shall be taught
That I was ever good, though she were naught.
Exit.
Enter Bacha and Timantus: Bacha reading a Letter.
Bac.
Run away, the Devil be her guide.
Tim.
I aith she's gone: there's a Letter I found it in her
pocket, would I were with her, she's a handsome Lady,
a plague upon my bashfulness, I had bobb'd her long ago
else.
Bach.
What a base whore is this, that after all
My ways for her advancement, should so poorly
Make virtue her undoer, and choose this time,
The King being deadly sick, and I intending
A present marriage with some forreign Prince,
To strengthen and secure my self. She writes here
Like a wise Gentlewoman, She will not stay:
And the example of her dear brother, makes her
Fear her self, to whom she means to flie.
Tim.
Why, who can help it?
Bac.
Now Poverty and Lechery, which is thy end, rot
thee, where e'er thou goest with all thy goodness.
Timan.
Berlady they'll bruze her: and she were of brass
I am sure they'll break stone Walls: I have had experience
of them both, and they have made me desperate: but there's
a messenger, Madam, come from the Prince with a Letter
to Ismenus, who by him returns an answer.
Bac.
This comes as pat as wishes: thou shalt presently
away Timantus.
Tim.
Whither Madam?
Ba.
To the Prince, and take the Messenger for guide.
Tim.
What shall I do there? I have done too much mischief
to be believ'd again; or indeed, to scape with my
head on my back, if I be once known.
Bac.
Thou art a weak shallow fool: get thee a disguise,
and withal, when thou com'st before him, have a Letter fain'd
to deliver him: and then, as thou hast ever hope of goodness
by me, or after me, strike one home stroke that shall
not need another: dar'st thou speak, dar'st thou? if thou
fall'st off, go be a Rogue again, and lie and pander to procure
thy meat? dar'st thou? speak to me?
Tim.
Sure I shall never walk when I am dead: I have no
spirit, Madam, I'll be drunk but I'll do it, that's all my refuge.
Exit.
Bac.
Away, no more, then I'll raise an Army whilst the
King yet lives, if all the means and power I have can do it,
I cannot tell.
Enter Ismenus and three Lords.
Ism.
Are you inventing still? we'll ease your studies.
Bac.
Why how now fancy Lords?
Ism.
Nay I'll shake ye; yes devil, I will shake ye.
Bac.
Do not you know me Lords?
Nis.
Yer deadly sin we know ye, would we did not.
Ism.
Doe you hear whore, a plague a God upon thee, the
Duke is dead.
Bach.
Dead!
Ism.
I, wild-fire and brimstone take thee: good man he
is dead, and past those miseries which thou, salt infection-like;
like a disease flungst upon his head. Dost thou hear,
and 'twere not more respect in Womanhood in general than
thee, because I had a Mother, who I will not say she was
good, she liv'd so near thy time, I would have thee in vengeance
of this man, whose peace is made in heaven by this
time, tied to a post; and dried i'th' sun, and after carried
about, and shewn at Fairs for money, with a long story of
the devil thy father, that taught thee to be whorish, envious,
bloudy.
Bac.
Ha, ha, ha.
Ism.
You fleering harlot, I'll have a horse to leap thee,
and thy base issue shall carry Sumpters. Come Lords, bring
her along, we'll to the Prince all, where her hell hood shall
wait his censure; and if he spare the she-Goat, may he lie
with thee again: and beside, maist thou lay upon him some
nasty foul disease, that hate still follows, and his end a dry
ditch. Lead you corrupted whore, or I'll draw a goad shall
make you skip: away to the Prince.
Bac.
I la, ha, ha, I hope yet I shall come too late to find
him.
Cornets.
Cupid from above.
Enter Leucippus, Urania. Leucippus with a bloody Handkerchief.
Leu.
Alas poor boy, why dost thou follow me?
What canst thou hope for? I am poor as thou art.
Ura.
In good feth I shall be weel and rich enough
If you will love me, and not put me from you.
Leu.
Why dost thou choose out me Boy to undo thee?
Alas, for pitty take another Master,
That may be able to deserve thy love
In breeding thee hereafter: me thou knowest not,
More than my misery: and therefore canst not
Look for rewards at my hands: would I were able
My pretty knave, to doe thee any kindness: truly
Good Boy, I would upon my faith, thy harmless
Innocence moves me at heart: wilt thou goe
Save thy self; why dost thou weep?
Alas, I do not chide thee.
Ura.
I cannot tell if I go from you; Sir, I shall ne'er
dawn day more: Pray if you can, I will be true to you: Let
me wait on you: if I were a man, I would fight for you:
Sure you have some ill-willers, I would slay em.
Leu.
Such harmless souls are ever Prophets: well, I take
thy wish, thou shalt be with me still: But prethee eat, my
good boy: Thou wilt die my child if thou fast one day
more. This four daies thou hast tasted nothing: Goe into
the Cave and eat: thou shalt find something for thee, to
bring thy bloud again, and thy fair colour.
Ura.
I cannot eat, God thank you.
But I'll eat to morrow.
Leu.
Thou't be dead by that time.
Ura.
I'should be well then, for you will not love me.
Leu.
Indeed I will. This is the prettiest passion that e'er,
I felt yet: why dost thou look so earnestly upon me?
Ura.
You have fair eyes Master.
Leu.
Sure the boy dotes: why dost thou sigh my child?
Ura.
To think that such a fine man should live, and no
gay Lady love him.
Leu.
Thou wilt love me?
Ura.
Yes sure till I die, and when I am in heaven, I'll
e'en wish for you.
Leu.
And I'll come to thee boy.
This is a Love I never yet heard tell of: come, thou art
sleepy child; goe in, and I'll sit with thee: heaven what portends
this?
Ura.
You are sad, but I am not sleepy, would I could do
ought to make you merry: shall I sing?
If thou wilt good Boy.
Alas my boy, that thou shouldst comfort me, and art
far worse than I!
Enter Timantus with a Letter disguised.
Ura.
Law Master, there's one, look to your self.
Leu.
What art thou that in this dismal place,
Which nothing could find out but misery,
Thus boldly stepst? Comfort was never here,
Here is no food, nor beds, nor any house
Built by a better Architect than beasts;
And e'r you get dwelling from one of them,
You must fight for it: if you conquer him,
He is your meat: if not, you must be his.
Tim.
I come to you (for if I not mistake, you are the
Prince) from that most Noble Lord Ismenus with a Letter.
Ura.
Alas, I fear I shall be discover'd now.
Leu.
Now I feel my self the poorest of all mortal things.
Where is he that receives such courtesies
But he has means to shew his gratefulness
Some way or other? I have none at all:
I know not how to speak so much as well
Of thee, but to these trees.
Leucippus opening the Letter, the whilst Timantus runs at him, and Urania steps before.
Tim.
His Letters speak him, Sir—
Ura.
Gods keep me but from knowing him till I die:
aye me, sure I cannot live a day, Oh thou foul Traitor:
How do you Master?
Leu.
How dost thou my child? alas, look on his, it may
make thee repentant, to behold those innocent drops that
thou hast drawn from thence.
Ura.
'Tis nothing Sir, and you be well.
Tim.
Oh pardon me, know you me now, Sir?
Leu.
How couldst thou find me out?
Tima.
We intercepted a Letter from Ismenus, and the
bearer directed me.
Leu.
Stand up Timantus boldly,
The world conceives that thou art guilty
Of divers treasons to the State and me:
But oh far be it from the innocence
Of a just man, to give a Traitor death
Without a tryal: here the Countrey is not
To purge thee or condemn thee; therefore
A nobler trial than thou dost deserve,
Rather than none at all, here I accuse thee
Before the face of Heaven, to be a Traitor
Both to the Duke my Father and to me, and the
Whole Land: speak, is it so or no?
Tima.
'Tis true Sir, pardon me.
Leu.
Take heed Timantus how thou dost cast away thy
self, I must proceed to execution hastily if thou confess it:
speak: once againe, is it so or no?
Tima.
I am not guilty, Sir.
Fight here: the Prince gets his sword, and gives it him.
Leu.
Gods and thy sword acquit thee, here it is.
Tima.
I will not use any violence against your Highness.
Leu.
At thy peril then, for this must be thy trial: and
from henceforth look to thy self.
Timantus draws his sword, and runs at him when he turns aside.
Tim.
I do beseech you, Sir, let me not sight.
Leu.
Up, up again Timantus,
There is no way but this, believe me.
Now if—Fie, fie Timantus, is there no
Usage can recover thee from baseness,? wert thou
Longer to converse with men, I would have chid
Thee for this: be all thy faults forgiven.
Tim.
Oh spare me Sir, I am not fit for death.
Leu.
I think thau art not, yet trust me, fitter than for
life: Yet tell me e'r thy breath be gone, know'st of any
other plots against me?
Tim.
Of none.
Leu.
What course wouldst thou have taken, when thou
hadst kill'd me?
Leu.
What Page?
Tim.
Your boy there.— Dies.
Urania sounds.
Leu.
Is he fall'n mad in death, what does he mean?
Some good god help me at the worst: how dost thou?
Let not thy misery vex me, thou shalt have
What thy poor heart can wish: I am a Prince,
And I will keep thee in the gayest cloaths,
And the finest things, that ever pretty boy had given
him.
Ura.
I know you well enough,
Feth I am dying, and now you know all too.
Leu.
But stir up thy self; look what a Jewel here is,
See how it glisters: what a pretty shew
Will this make in thy little ear? ha, speak,
Eat but a bit, and take it.
Ura.
Do you not know me?
Leu.
I prethee mind thy health: why that's well said my
good boy, smile still.
Ura.
I shall smile till death an I see you,
I am Urania, your Sister-in-law.
Leu.
How?
Ura.
I am Urania.
Leu.
Dulness did seize me, now I know thee well;
Alas, why cam'st thou hither?
Ura.
Feth for love, I would not let you know till I was
dying; for you could not love me, my Mother was so naught.
Leu.
I will love thee, or any thing: what? wilt
Thou leave me as soon as I know thee?
Speak one word to me: alas she's past it,
She will ne'er speak more
What noise is that? it is no matter who
Enter Ismenus with the Lords.
Comes on me now. What worse than mad are you
That seek out sorrows? if you love delights
Begone from hence.
Isme.
Sir, for you we come, as Soldiers to revenge the
wrongs you have suffer'd under this naughty creature:
what shall be done with her? say, I am ready.
Leu.
Leave her to Heaven, brave Cosin, they shall tell
her how she has sinn'd against 'em, my hand shall never be
stain'd with such base bloud: live wicked Mother: that reverend
Title be your pardon, for I will use no extremity
against you, but leave you to Heaven.
Bacha.
Hell take you all, or if there be a place
Of torment that exceeds that, get you thither:
And till the devils have you, may your lives
Be one continued plague, and such a one,
That knows no friends nor ending.
May all ages that shall succeed, curse you as I do:
And if it be possible, I ask it heaven,
That your base issues may be ever Monsters,
That must for shame of nature and succession,
Be drown'd like dogs.
Would I had breath to please you.
Leu.
Would you had love within you, and such grief
As might become a Mother: look you there,
Know you that face? that was Urania:
These are the fruits of those unhappy Mothers,
That labour with such horrid births as you do:
If you can weep, there's cause; poor innocent,
Your wickedness has kill'd her: I'll weep for you.
Isme.
Monstrous woman,
Mars would weep at this, and yet she cannot.
Leu.
Here lies your Minion too, slain by my hand,
I know you were too blame, the gods forgive you,
Isme.
See, she stands as if she were inventing
Some new destruction for the world.
Leu.
Ismenus, thou art welcome yet to my sad company.
Isme.
I come to make you somewhat sadder, Sir.
Leu.
You cannot, I am at the height already.
Isme.
Your Fathers dead.
Leu.
I thought so, Heaven be with him: Oh woman,
woman, weep now or never, thou hast made more sorrows
than we have eyes to utter,
Bac.
Now let Heaven fall, I am at the worst of evils, a
a thing so miserably wretched, that every thing, the last
of humane comforts hath left me: I will not be so base
and cold, to live and wait the mercies of these men I hate,
no, 'tis just I die, since fortune hath left me, my step discent
attends me: hand, strike thou home, I have soul enough to
guide; and let all know, as I stood a Queen, the same I'll
fall, and one with me.
She stabs the Prince with a knife.
Leu.
Ho.
Isme.
How do you, Sir?
Leu.
Nearer my health, than I think any here, my tongue
begins to faulter: what is man? or who would be one,
when he sees a poor weak woman can in an instant make him
none.
Dor.
She is dead already.
Isme.
Let her be damn'd already as she is: post all for
Surgeons.
Leu.
Let not a man stirr, for I am but dead:
I have some few words which I would have you hear,
And am afraid I shall want breath to speak 'em:
First to you my Lords, you know Ismenus is
Undoubtedly Heir of Lycia, I do beseech you all,
When I am dead, to shew your duties to him.
Lords.
We vow to do't.
Leu.
I thank you.
Next to you Cosin Ismenus, that shall be the Duke,
I pray you let the broken Image of Cupid
Be re-edified, I know all this is done by him.
Isme.
It shall be so.
Leu.
Last, I beseech you that my Mother-in-law may
have a burial according to—
Dies.
Isme.
To what, Sir?
Dor.
There is a full point.
Isme.
I will interpret for him; she shall have burial according
to her own deserts, with dogs.
Dor.
I would your Majesty would haste for setling of the
people.
Isme.
I am ready.
Age.
Goe, and let the Trumpets sound
Some mournful thing, whilst we convey the body
Of this unhappy Prince unto the Court,
And of that virtuous Virgin to a Grave:
But drag her to a ditch, where let her lie,
Accurst, whilst one man has a memory.
Exeunt.
Cupid
's Speech.
The time now of my Revenge draws near.
Nor shall it lessen as I am a god,
With all the cries and prayers that have been;
And those that be to come, though they be infinite,
In need and number.
| Cupid's Revenge | |