 | The Lavves of Candy |  |
Actus Quartus.
Scæna prima.
Enter Hyparcha, and Mochingo.Hyp.
I cannot help it.
Mo.
Nor do I require it,
The malady needs no Phisitian,
Helpe hospitall people.
Hyp.
I am glad to heare
You are so valliant.
Mo.
Valiant?
Can any man be proud that is not valiant;
Foolish woman, what wouldst thou say? thou—
I know not what to call thee.
Hyp.
I can you,
For I can call you Coxcome, Asse, and Puppy.
Mo.
You do do it, I thanke you.
Hyp.
That you'l lose a fortune,
Which a Cobler better deserves, then thou dost.
Mo.
Do not provoke my magnanimity,
For when I am insens'd, I am insensible;
Go tell thy Lady, that hath sent me word
She will discard me, that I discard her,
And throw a scorne upon her, which I would not,
But that she does me wrong.
Enter Erota, and Antinous.
Ant.
Do you not glory in your conquest more,
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And shall a Lady find lesse mercie from you,
That yeilds her selfe your Captive, and for her Ransome,
Will give the jewell of her life, her heart,
Which she hath lockt from all men but thy selfe:
For shame (Antinous) throw this dulnesse off,
Art thou a man no where but in the field?
Hyp.
He must here Drums, and Trumpets ere he sleeps,
And at this instant dreames he's in his Armour:
These Iron-hearted Souldiers are so cold,
Till they be beaten to a womans armes,
And then they love 'em better then their owne;
No Fort can hold them out.
Ant.
What pitty is it (Madam) that your selfe,
Who are all excellence, should become so wretched,
To thinke on such a wretch as griefe hath made me?
Seldom despairing men looke up to heaven,
Although it still speake to 'em in its glories:
For when sad thoughts perplexe the mind of man,
There is a plumit in the heart, that waighs,
And puls us (living) to the dust we came from;
Did you but see the miseries you pursue,
(As I the happinesse that I avoid
That doubles my afflictions) you would flye
Unto some wildernesse, or to your grave,
And there find better comforts then in me,
For love, and cares can never dwell together.
Er.
They should,
If thou hadst but my love, and I thy cares.
Ant.
What wild beast in the Desart, but would be
Taught by this Tongue to leave his crueltie,
Though all the beauties of the face were vail'd!
But I am savager than any beast,
And shall be so till Decius do arive.
Whom with so much submission I have sent
Under my hand, that if he do not bring
His Benediction backe, he must to me
Be much more crueller, then I to you.
Ero.
Is't but your fathers pardon you desire?
An.
With his love, & then nothing next that, like yours.
Er.
Decius is come.
Enter Decius.
Ant.
O welcome friend; If I apprehend not
Too much of joy, there's comfort in thy lookes.
Er.
There is indeed: I prethee Decius speake it.
De.
How? prethee Decius? this woman's strangly alter'd.
An.
Why dost not speake (good friend) and tell me how
The reverent blessing of my life, received
My humble lines; wept he for joy?
Dec.
No ther's a letter will informe you more:
Yet I can tell you, what I think will grieve you,
The old man is in want, and angry still,
And povertie is the bellowes to the Coale,
More then distast from you as I imagine.
Ant.
What's here? how's this? It cannot be: now sure
My griefes delude my senses.
Er.
In his lookes,
I read a world of changes: Decius marke
With what a sad amazement he surveies
The newes: canst thou ghesse what 'tis?
Dec.
None good I feare.
Er.
I feare so too: and then—
Ant.
It is her hand.
Er.
Are you not well?
Ant.
Too well: if I were ought
But Rock, this Letter would conclude my miseries,
Peruse it (Lady) and resolve me then,
In what a case I stand.
Dec.
Sir, the worst is,
Your fathers lownesse, and distaste.
Ant.
No Decius,
My sister writes, Fernando has made suite
For love to her: and to expresse sincerely
His constant truth, hath like a noble Gentleman,
Discovered plots of treachery; contriv'd
By false Gonzalo, not intending more
The utter ruine of our house then generally
Candies confusion.
Dec.
'Tis a generous part
Of young Fernando.
Ant.
'Tis, and I could wish
All thrift to his affections Decius.
You find the summe on't Madam.
Er.
Yes, I do.
Ant.
And can you now yet think a heart opprest
With such a throng of cares, can entertaine
An amorous thought? love frees all toyles but one,
Calamitie and it can ill agree.
Er.
Wil't please ye speake my doome?
Ant.
Alas great Lady,
Why will you flatter thus a desperate man,
That is quite cast away? O had you not
Procured the Senates warrant to enforce
My stay, I had not heard of these sad newes.
What would you have me do?
Er.
Love me, or kill me,
One word shall sentence either: for as truth
Is just, if you refuse me, I am resolute
Not to out-live my thraldome.
Ant.
Gentle Lady.
Er.
Say, must I live, or dye?
Dec.
My Lord, how can you
Be so inexorable: here's occasion
Of succouring your father in his wants,
Securely profer'd: pray sir, entertaine it.
Er.
What is my sentence?
Ant.
What you please to have it?
Er.
As thou art Gentle, speake those words againe.
Ant.
Madam, you have prevail'd; yet give me leave
Without offence, ere I resigne the interest
Your heart hath in my heart, to prove your secresie.
Er.
Antinous, 'tis the greatest Argument
Of thy affections to me.
Ants.
Madam, thus then,
My father stands for certaine summes engag'd
To treacherous Gonzalo; and 'has more 'gag'd
The greatest part of his estate to him:
If you receive this morgage, and procure
Acquitance from Gonzalo to my father,
I am what you would have me be.
Er.
You'l love me then?
Ant.
Provided (Madam) that my father know not
I am an Agent for him.
Er.
If I faile
In this, I am unworthy to be lov'd.
Ant.
Then (with your favour) thus I seale my truth,
To day, and Decius witnesse how unchangingly
I shall still love Erota.
Er.
Thou hast quickned
A dying heart Antinous.
Dec.
This is well:
Much happinesse to both.
Enter Hyparcha
Hyp.
The Lord Gonzalo
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Er.
Comes as we could wish,
Withdraw Antinous, here's a Closset, where
You may partake his errand; let him enter.
Enter Gonzalo
Ant.
Madam you must be wary.
Ex.
Er.
Feare it not,
I will be ready for him; to entertaine him
With smiling welcome: Noble sir, you take
Advantage of the time; it had been fit
Some notice of your presence, might have fashion'd
A more prepared state.
Gonz.
Do ye mocke me Madam?
Er.
Trust me, you wrong your judgement, to repute
My gratitude a fault: I have examin'd
Your portly carriage, and will now confesse
It hath not slightly won me.
Gonz.
The wind's turn'd;
I thought 'twould come to this: it pleas'd us Madam,
At our last interview, to mention love,
Have you consider'd on't?
Er.
With more then common
Content: but sir, if what you spake, you meant,
(As I have cause to doubt) then—
Gonz.
What, (sweet Lady?)
Er.
Methinks me should lay by this forme of statelinesse.
Loves courtship is familiar, and for instance,
See what a change it hath begot in me,
I could talke humbly now, as Lovers use.
Gonz.
And I: and I: we meet in one selfe-center,
Of blest consent.
Er.
I hope my weakenesse sir,
Shall not deserve neglect: but if it prove so,
I am not the first Lady has been ruin'd
By being too credulous: you will smart for't one day.
Gon.
Angell-like-Lady, let me be held a villaine,
If I love not sincerely.
Er.
Would I knew it?
Gonz.
Make proofe by any fit command.
Er.
What, do ye meane to marry me?
Gonz.
How? meane? nay more, I meane
To make you Empresse of my earthly fortunes,
Regent of my desires, for did ye covet
To be a reall Queene, I could advance you.
Er.
Now I perceive you slight me, and would make me
More simple then my sexes frailety warrants.
Gon.
But say your mind, and you shall be a Queene.
Er.
On those conditions, call me yours.
Gon.
Enough,
But are we safe?
Er.
Assuredly.
Gon.
In short,
Yet Lady first be plaine: would you not choose
Much rather to prefer your own Sun-rising,
Then any's else though ne're so neere entituled
By bloud, or right of birth?
Er.
'Tis a question
Needs not a resolution.
Gonz.
Good: what if
I set the Crowne of Candy on your head?
Er.
I were a Queene indeed then.
Gon.
Madam, know
There's but a boy 'twixt you, and it: suppose him
Transhap'd into an Angell.
Er.
Wise Gonzalo,
I cannot but admire thee.
Gonz.
'Tis worth thinking on:
Besides your husband shall be Duke of Venice.
Er.
Gonzalo, Duke of Venice?
Gonz.
Ye are mine ye say.
Er.
Pish: you but dally with me; and would lull me
In a rich golden dreame.
Gonz.
You are too much distrustfull of my truth.
Er.
Then you must give me leave to apprehend
The meanes, and manner how.
Gonz.
Why thus—
Er.
You shall not,
We may be over-heard; Affaires and counsels
Of such high nature, are not to be trusted
Not to the Aire it selfe, you shall in writing,
Draw out the full designe; which if effected,
I am as I professe.
Gonz.
O I applaud
Your ready care, and secresie.
Er.
Gonzalo,
There is a bar yet, twixt our hopes and us,
And that must be remov'd.
Gonz.
What is't?
Er.
Old Cassilane.
Gonz.
He? feare not him: I build upon his ruines
Already.
Er.
I would find a smoother course
To shift him off.
Gonz.
As how?
Er.
Wee'l talke in private,
I have a ready plot.
Gonz.
I shall adore you.
Exeunt.
Enter Fernando, and Annophil.
Fer.
Madam, although I hate unnoble practices,
And therefore have perform'd no more then what
I ought, for honours safety: yet Annophil,
Thy love hath been the spur, to urge me forward
For speedier diligence.
Anno.
Sir your owne fame
And memory will best reward themselves.
Fer.
All gaine is losse (sweet beauty) if I misse
My comforts here: The brother and the sister
Have double conquer'd me, but thou maist triumph.
Anno.
Good sir, I have a father.
Fer.
Yes, a brave one;
Could'st thou obscure thy Beauty, yet the happinesse
Of being but his daughter, were a dowre
Fit for a Prince: what say ye?
An.
You have deserv'd
As much as I should grant.
Fer.
By this faire hand
I take possession.
Anno.
What in words I dare not,
Imagine in my silence.
Fer.
Thou art all vertue.
Enter Cassilanes, and Arcanes,
Cas.
I'le tell thee how: Baldwin the Emperour,
Pretending title, more through tyranny,
Then right of conquest, or descent, usurp'd
The stile of Lord o're all the Grecian Islands,
And under colour of an amity
With Creet, preferd the Marquesse Mountferato
To be our Governor; the Cretians vex'd
By the ambitious Turkes, in hope of aide
From the Emperour, received for Generall,
This Mountferato; he (the wars appeased)
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Of them for Candy: they paid well, he steales
Away in secret; since which time, that right
The state of Venice claimes o're Candy, is
By purchase, not inheritance, or Conquest:
And hence growes all our quarrell.
Arc.
So a usurer
Or Lumbard-Jew, might with some bags of trash,
Buy halfe the Westerne world.
Cas.
Money Arcanes
Is now a God on earth: it cracks virginities,
And turnes a Christian, Turke;
Bribes justice, cut-throats honour, does what not?
Arc.
Not captives Candy.
Cas.
Nor makes thee dishonest,
Nor me a Coward—Now sir, here is homely,
But friendly entertainment.
Fer.
Sir, I find it.
Arc.
And like it, do ye not?
Fer.
My repaire speakes for me.
Cas.
Fernando we were speaking off—how this?
Enter Gonzalo, and Gaspero, with a Casket.
Gon.
Your friend, and servant.
Cas.
Creditors, my Lord,
Are Masters and no Servants: as the world goes,
Debters are very slaves to those to whom
They have been beholding to; in which respect,
I should feare you Gonzalo.
Gon.
Me my Lord?
You owe me nothing.
Cas.
What, nor love, nor money?
Gon.
Yes, love, I hope not money.
Cas.
All this braverie,
Will scarcely make that good.
Gonz.
'Tis done already:
See sir, your Morgage which I only took,
In case you and your son had in the wars
Miscarried: I yeild it up againe: 'tis yours.
Cas.
Are ye so conscionable?
Gon.
'Tis your owne.
Cas.
Pish, pish, I'le not receive what is not mine,
That were a dangerous businesse.
Gon.
Sir, I am paid for't,
The summes you borrowed, are return'd; The bonds
Cancell'd, and your acquittance formerly seal'd:
Looke here sir, Gaspero is witnesse to it.
Gas.
My honoured Lord, I am.
Gon.
My Lord Fernando,
Arcanes and the rest, you all shall testifie,
That I acquit Lord Cassilane for ever,
Of any debts to me.
Gas.
'Tis plaine and ample:
Fortune will once againe smile on us fairely.
Cas.
But hearke ye, hearke ye, if you be in earnest,
Whence comes this bounty? or whose is't?
Gon.
In short,
The great Erota, by this Secretary,
Returned me my full due.
Cas.
Erota? why
Should she do this?
Gon.
You must aske her the cause,
She knowes it best.
Cas.
So ho; Arcanes, none
But women pitty us? soft-hearted women,
I am become a brave fellow now, Arcanes,
Am I not?
Arc.
Why sir, if the gracious Princesse
Have tooke more speciall notice of your services,
And meanes to be more thankfull than some others,
It were an injury to gratitude,
To disesteeme her favours.
Anno.
Sir she ever
For your sake most respectively lov'd me.
Cas.
The Senate, and the body of this Kingdom,
Are herein (let me speake it without arrogance)
Beholding to her: I will thanke her for it;
And if she have reserv'd a meanes whereby
I may repay this bounty with some service,
She shall be then my Patronesse: come sirs,
Wee'l taste a cup of wine together now.
Gonz,
Fernando, I must speake with you in secret.
Fer.
You shall—Now Gaspero, all's well.
Gas.
There's newes
You must be acquainted with.
Come, there is no master-peece in Art, like Policie.
Ex.
| The Lavves of Candy | |