University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter Edith, a Boy, and a Banquet set out.
Edith.
Now for a Fathers murther, and thy ruine,
All chastity shall suffer if he raign;
Thou blessed soul, look down, and steel thy Daughter,
Look on the sacrifice she comes to send thee,
And through the bloudy clouds behold my piety,
Take from my cold heart fear, from my sex pity,
And as I wipe these tears off, shed for thee,
So all remembrance may I lose of mercy;
Give me a womans anger bent to bloud,
The wildness of the winds to drown his prayers,
Storm-like may my destruction fall upon him,
My rage like roving billows as they rise,
Pour'd on his soul to sink it, give me flattery,
(For yet my constant soul ne'r knew dissembling)
Flattery the food of Fools, that I may rock him
And lull him in the Down of his desires;
That in the height of all his hopes and wishes,
His Heaven forgot, and all his lusts upon him,
My hand, like thunder from a cloud, may seize him.
I hear him come, go boy, and entertain him.

Enter Rollo.
Rol.
What bright star, taking beauties form upon her,
In all the happy lustre of Heavens glory,
Has drop'd down from the Skye to comfort me?
Wonder of nature, let it not prophane thee
My rude hand touch thy beauty, nor this kiss,
The gentle sacrifice of love and service,
Be offer'd to the honour of thy sweetness.

Edi.
My gracious Lord, no deity dwells here,
Nor nothing of that vertue, but obedience,
The servant to your will affects no flattery.

Rol.
Can it be flattery to swear those eyes
Are loves eternal lamps he fires all hearts with?
That tongue the smart string to his bow? those sighs
The deadly shafts he sends into our souls?
Oh, look upon me with thy spring of beauty.

Edi.
Your grace is full of game.

Rol.
By Heaven, my Edith,
Thy Mother fed on Roses when she bred thee.

Ed.
And thine on brambles that have prick'd her heart out.

Rol.
The sweetness of the Arabian wind still blowing
Upon the treasures of perfumes and spices,
In all their pride and pleasures call thee Mistris.

Edi.
Wil't please you sit Sir?

Rol.
So you please sit by me.
Fair gentle maid, there is no speaking to thee,
The excellency that appears upon thee
Tyes up my tongue: pray speak to me.

Edi.
Of what Sir?

Rol.
Of any thing, any thing is excellent.
Will you take my directions? speak of love then;
Speak of thy fair self Edith; and while thou speak'st,
Let me, thus languishing, give up my self wench.

Edi:
H'as a strange cunning tongue, why do you sigh Sir?
How masterly he turns himself to catch me?

Rol.
The way to Paradise, my gentle maid,
Is hard and crooked, scarce Repentance finding,
With all her holy helps, the door to enter,
Give me thy hand, what dost thou feel?

Edi.
Your tears Sir.
You weep extreamly; strengthen me now justice.
Why are these sorrows Sir?

Rol.
Thou't never love me
If I should tell thee, yet there's no way left
Ever to purchase this blest Paradise,
But swimming thither in these tears.

Edi.
I stagger.

Rol.
Are they not drops of blood?

Edi.
No.

Rol.
They're for blood then,
For guiltless blood, and they must drop, my Edith,
They must thus drop, till I have drown'd my mischiefs.

Edi.
If this be true, I have no strength to touch him.

Rol.
I prethee look upon me, turn not from me;
Alas I do confess I'me made of mischiefs,
Begot with all mans miseries upon me;
But see my sorrows, maid, and do not thou,
Whose only sweetest sacrifice is softness,
Whose true condition, tenderness of nature—

Edi.
My anger melts, Oh, I shall lose my justice.

Rol.
Do not thou learn to kill with cruelty,
As I have done, to murther with thy eyes,
(Those blessed eyes) as I have done with malice,
When thou hast wounded me to death with scorn,
(As I deserve it Lady) for my true love,
When thou hast loaden me with earth for ever,
Take heed my sorrows, and the stings I suffer;
Take heed my nightly dreams of death and horrour
Pursue thee not: no time shall tell thy griefs then,
Nor shall an hour of joy adde to thy beauties.
Look not upon me as I kill'd thy Father,
As I was smear'd in blood, do not thou hate me,
But thus in whiteness of my wash't repentance,
In my hearts tears and truth of love to Edith,
In my fair life hereafter.

Edi.
He will fool me.

Rol.
Oh with thine Angel eyes behold and close me,
Of Heaven we call for mercy and obtain it;
To Justice for our right on Earth and have it;
Of thee I beg for love, save me, and give it.

Edi.
Now heaven thy help, or I am gone for ever,
His tongue has turn'd me into melting pity.

Enter Hamond, and Guard.
Ham.
Keep the doors safe, and upon pain of death
Let no man enter till I give the word.

Guard.
We shall Sir.

[Exeunt.
Ham.
Here he is in all his pleasure; I have my wish.

Rol.
How now? why dost thou stare so?

Edi.
A help, I hope.

Rol.
What dost thou here? who sent thee?

Ham.
My Brother, and the base malicious Office
Thou mad'st me do to Aubrey; pray.

Rol.
Pray?

Ham.
Pray, pray if thou canst pray, I shall kill thy soul else,
Pray suddenly.

Rol.
Thou can'st not be so trayterous.

Ham.
It is a Justice; stay Lady;
For I perceive your end; a womans hand
Must not rob me of vengeance.

Edi.
'Tis my glory.

Ham.
'Tis mine, stay, and share with me; by the gods, Rollo,
There is no way to save thy life.

Rol.
No?

Ham.
No, it is so monstrous, no repentance cures it.

Rol.
Why then thou shalt kill her first, and what this blood
Will cast upon thy cursed head.

Ham.
Poor Guard Sir.

Edi.
Spare not brave Captain.

Rol.
Fear, or the Devil has thee.

Ham.
Such fear Sir as you gave your honor'd Mother,
When your most vertuous Brother, shield-like, held her;
Such I'le give you, put her away.

Rol.
I will not, I will not die so tamely.

Ham.
Murtherous villain, wilt thou draw seas of blood upon thee?

Edi.
Fear not, kill him good Captain, any way dispatch
Him, my body's honor'd with that sword that through me,
Sends his black soul to Hell: Oh, but for one hand.

Ham.
Shake him off bravely.

Edi.
He's too strong, strike him.

Ham.
Oh, am I with you Sir? now keep you from him,
What, has he got a knife?

Edi.
Look to him Captain, for now he will be mischievous.

Ham.
Do you smile Sir?
Do's it so tickle you? have at you once more.

Edi.
Oh bravely thrust; take heed he come not in Sir;
To him again, you give him too much respite.

Rol.
Yet will you save my life, and I'le forgive thee,
And give thee all, all honours, all advancements,
Call thee my friend.

Ed.
Strike, strike, and hear him not,
His tongue will tempt a Saint.

Rol.
Oh for my soul sake.

Edi.
Save nothing of him.

Ham.
Now for your farewel,
Are you so wary? take you that.

Rol.
Thou, that too;
Oh thou hast kill'd me basely, basely, basely.

(Dyes.
Edi.
The just reward of murther falls upon thee.
How do you Sir? has he not hurt you?

Ham.
No, I feel not any thing.

Aub.
I charge you let us passe.

[within.
Gua.
You cannot yet Sir.

Aub.
I'le make way then.

Gua.
We are sworn to our Captain, and till he give the word.

Enter Sophia, Matilda, Aubrey, Lords and attendants.
Ham.
Now let them in there.

Sop.
Oh, here he lies,
Sorrow on sorrow seeks me, Oh, in his blood he lyes.

Aub.
Had you spoke sooner
This might have been prevented;
Take the Dutchess,
And lead her off, this is no sight for her eyes.

Mat.
Oh, bravely done wench.

Edi.
There stands the noble doer.

Mat.
My honour ever seek thee for thy justice,
Oh 'twas a deed of high and brave adventure,
A justice even for heaven to envy at,
Farewel my sorrows, and my tears take truce,
My wishes are come round: Oh bloody Brother,
Till this hour never beauteous; till thy life,
Like a full sacrifie for all thy mischiefs,
Flow'd from thee in these rivers, never righteous:
Oh how my eyes are quarri'd with their joys now?
My longing heart even leaping out for lightness?
But dye thy black sins with thee, I forgive thee.

Aub.
Who did this deed?

Ham.
I, and I'le answer it.

Dies.
Edi.
He faints, oh that same cursed knife has kill'd him.

Aub.
How?

Edi.
He snatch'd it from my hand, for whom I bore it,
And as they grappl'd.

Aub.
Justice is ever equal,
Had it not been on him, th'adst dy'd too honest.
Did you know of his death?

Edi.
Yes, and rejoyce in't.

Aub.
I'me sorry for your youth then; though the strictness
Of Law shall not fall on you, that of life
Must presently, go to a Cloyster, carry her,
And there for ever lead your life in penitence.

Edi.
Best Father to my soul, I give you thanks, Sir,
And now my fair revenges have their ends,
My vows shall be my kin, my prayers my friends.

[Exit.
Enter Latorch, and Juglers.
Lat.
Stay there, I'le step in and prepare the Duke.

Nor.
We shall have brave rewards?

Fis.
That is without question.

Lat.
By this time where's my huffing friend Lord Aubrey?
Where's that good Gentleman? oh, I could laugh now,
And burst my self with meer imagination;
A wise man, and a valiant man, a just man;
To suffer himself be juggl'd out of the world,
By a number of poor Gipseys? farewel Swash buckler,
For I know thy mouth is cold enough by this time;
A hundred of ye I can shave as neatly,
And ne'r draw bloud in shew: now shall my honour,
My power and vertue walk alone: my pleasure
Observ'd by all, all knees bend to my worship,
All sutes to me as Saint of all their fortunes,
Prefer'd and crowded to, what full place of credit,
And what place now? your Lordship? no, 'tis common,
But that I'le think to morrow on; now for my business.

Aub.
Who's there?

Lat.
Dead, my Master dead? Aubrey alive too?

Gua.
Latorch, Sir.

Aub.
Seize his body.

Lat.
My Master dead?

Aub.
And you within this half hour,
Prepare your self good Devil, you must to it,
Millions of gold shall not redeem thy mischief,
Behold the Justice of thy practice, villain;
The mass of murthers thou hast drawn upon us:
Behold thy doctrine; you look now for reward, Sir,
To be advanc'd, I'm sure, for all your labours?
And you shall have it, make his gallows higher
By ten foot at the least, and then advance him.

Lat.
Mercy, mercy.

Aub.
'Tis too late fool,
Such as you meant for me, away with him.
He is led out.
What gaping knaves are these, bring 'em in fellows,
Now, what are you?

Nor.
Mathematicians, if it please your Lordship.

Aub.
And you drew a figure?

Fis.
We have drawn many.

Aub.
For the Duke, I mean; Sir Latorchs knaves you are.

Nor.
We know the Gentleman.

Aub.
What did he promise you?

Nor.
We are paid already.

Aub.
But I will see you better paid, go whip them.

Nor.
We do beseech your Lordship, we were hir'd.

Aub.
I know you were, and you shall have your hire;
Whip 'em extremely, whip that Doctor there,
Till he record himself a Rogue.

Nor.
I am one, Sir.

Aub.
Whip him for being one, and when th'are whip't,
Lead 'em to the gallows to see their patron hang'd;
Away with them.

They are led out.
Nor.
Ah, good my Lord.

Aub.
Now to mine own right, Gentlemen.

1 Lord.
You have the next indeed, we all confess it,
And here stand ready to invest you with it.

2 Lord.
Which to make stronger to you, and the surer
Than bloud or mischiefs dare infringe again,
Behold this Lady, Sir, this noble Lady,
Full of the bloud as you are, of that nearness,
How blessed would it be?

Aub.
I apprehend you, and so the fair Matilda dare accept
Me her ever constant servant.

Mat.
In all pureness,
In all humility of heart and services,
To the most noble Aubrey, I submit me.

Aub.
Then this is our first tye, now to our business.

1 Lord.
We are ready all to put the honour on you, Sir.

Aub.
These sad rites must be done first, take up the bodys,
This, as he was a Prince, so Princely funeral
Shall wait upon him: on this honest Captain,
The decency of arms; a tear for him too.
So, sadly on, and as we view his blood,
May his Example in our Rule raise good.