 | The Lavves of Candy |  |
Actus Secundus.
Scæna prima.
Enter Gonzalo, and Gaspero.Gasp.
Now to what you have heard; as no man can
Better then I, give you her Character;
For I have been both nurs'd, and traind up to
Her petulant humours, and been glad to beare them,
Her brother, my late Master, did no lesse:
Strong apprehensions of her beauty hath
Made her believe that she is more then woman:
And as there did not want those flatterers
'Bout the worlds Conquerour, to make him think,
And did perswade him that he was a god;
So there be those base flies, that will not stick
To buzze into her eares she is an Angel,
And that the food she feeds on is Ambrosia.
Gonz.
She should not touch it then, 'tis Poets fare.
Gas.
I may take leave to say, she may as well
Determine of her selfe to be a goddesse,
With lesser flatterie then he a god:
For she does conquer more, although not farther.
Every one looks on her dyes in despaire,
And would be glad to doe it actually,
To have the next age tell how worthily,
And what good cause he had to perish so:
Her beauty is superlative, she knowes it,
And knowing it, thinks no man can deserve,
But ought to perish, and to dye for her:
Many great Princes for her love have languish'd,
And given themselves a willing sacrifice,
Proud to have ended so: And now there is
A Prince so manded in his owne passions,
That he forgets the Royaltie he was borne to,
And deems it happinesse to be her slave.
Gonz.
You talke as if you meant to winde me in,
And make me of the number.
Gas.
Sir, mistake me not, the service that I owe ye
Shall plead for me: I tell you what she is,
What she expects, and what she will effect,
Unlesse you be the miracle of men,
That come with a purpose to behold,
And goe away your selfe.
Gon.
I thanke you, I will doe it: But pray resolve me,
How is she stor'd with wit?
Gas.
As with beauty,
Infinite, and more to be admired at,
Then medled with.
Gonz.
And walks her tongue the same gate with her feet?
Gas.
Much beyond: what ere her heart thinks, she utters:
And so bold, so readily, as you would judge
It penn'd and studied.
Gonz.
She comes.
Enter Erota, Philander, Annophill, Hyparcha, Mochingo, Attendants.
Gas.
I must leave you then,
But my best wishes shall remain with you.
Gonz.
Still I must thanke you.
This is the most passionate,
Most pitifull Prince,
Who in the Caldron of affections,
Looks as he had been par-boyl'd.
Phil.
If I offend with too much loving you,
It is a fault that I must still commit,
To make your mercy shine the more on me.
Erot.
You are the selfe-same creature you condemne,
Or else you durst not follow me with hope
That I can pittie you, who am so farre
From granting any comfort in this kinde,
That you and all men else shall perish first:
I will live free and single, till I finde
Something above a man to equall me;
Put all your brave Heroes into one,
Your Kings and Emperours, and let him come
In person of a man, and I should scorne him:
Must, and will scorne him.
The god of Love himselfe hath lost his eyes,
His Bow and Torch extinguish'd, and the Poets
That made him first a god, have lost their fire
Since I appear'd, and from my eyes must steale it.
This I dare speak; and let me see the man,
Now I have spoke it, that doth, dare deny;
Nay, not believe it.
Mo.
He is mad that does not.
Erot.
Have not all the nations of the earth heard of me?
Most come to see me, and seeing me, return'd
Full of my praises? teaching there Chroniclers
To make their Stories perfect? for where the name,
Meerely the word of faire Erota stands,
It is a lasting History to time,
Begetting admiration in the men,
And in my owne Sex envie; which glorie's lost,
When I shall stick my beautie in a cloud,
And clearely shine through it.
Gonz.
This Woman's in the altitudes, and he must be
A good Astrologer shall know her Zodiack.
Phil.
For any man to thinke
Himselfe an able purchaser of you,
But in the bargaine there must be declar'd
Infinite bounty: otherwise I vow,
By all that's excellent and gracious in you,
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And yield my selfe up Loves, or your owne Martyr.
Erot.
So you shall please us.
Phil.
O you cannot be
So heavenly, and so absolute in all things,
And yet retaine such cruell tyranny.
Erot.
I can, I doe, I will.
Gonz.
She is in her
Moods, and her Tences: Ile Gramer with you,
And make a triall how I can decline you:
By your leave (great Lady.)
Erot.
What are you?
Gonz.
A man, a good man, that's a wealthy;
A Proper man, and a proud man too; one
That understands himselfe, and knowes, unlesse
It be your self, no woman on the Universe deserves him.
Nay, Lady, I must tell you too withall.
I may make doubt of that, unlesse you paint
With better judgement next day then on this;
For (plaine I must be with you) 'tis a dull Fucus.
Erot.
Knowes any one here what this fellow is?
Attend.
He is of Venice (Madam) a great Magnifico,
And gracious with the Senate.
Erot.
Let him keep then among them; what makes he here?
Heres state enough where I am: here's a doe—
You, tell him, if he have ought with us, let him
Look lower, and give it in Petition.
Mo.
Mighty Magnifico, my Mistris bid me tell you,
If you have ought with her, you must look lower,
And yeeld it in Petition.
Gonz.
Here is for thee a Ducket.
Mon.
You say well sir, take your owne course.
Gonz.
I will not grace you
(Lady) so much as take you by the hand;
But when I shall vouchsafe to touch your lip,
It shall be through your Court a holy-day
Proclamed for so high favour.
Erot.
This is some
Great mans Jester: Sirrah, begone, here is
No place to foole in.
Gonz.
Where are the fooles you talke of?
I doe keep two.
Erot.
No question of it: for
In your selfe you doe maintaine an hundred.
Gonz.
And besides them I keep a noble traine,
Statists, and men of action: my purse is large and deep,
Beyond the reach of riot to draw drie:
Fortune did vie with Nature, to bestow
(When I was borne) her bountie equally:
'Tis not amisse you turne your eyes from me;
For should you stand and gaze me in the face,
You perish would, like Semele by Iolus:
In Venice at this instant there do lye
No lesse then threescore Ladies in their graves,
And in their Beds five hundred for my love.
Mo.
You lie more then they; yet it becomes him bravely;
Would I could walke and talke so? Ile endeavour it.
Erot.
Sir, doe you know me?
Gon.
Yes, you were sister to the late Prince of Candy,
Aunt to this young one: And I in Venice,
I am borne a Lord; equall to you in fortunes,
In shape; Ile say no more, but view.
Mon.
There needs no more be said, were I a woman—
O he does rarely: in shape; Ile say no more,
But view: Who could say more, who better?
Man is no man, nor woman woman is,
Unlesse they have a pride like one of these.
How poore the Prince of Cyprus shewes to him?
How poore another Lady unto her:
Carriage and State makes us seem demi-gods,
Humility, like beasts, wormes of the earth.
Enter Antinous and Decius.
Ant.
Royall Lady, I kisse your hand.
Erot.
Sir, I know you not.
Anno.
O my noble Brother, welcome from the wars.
Ant.
Deare sister.
Ann.
Where is my father, that you come without him?
We have news of your successe: he has his health I hope?
Ant.
Yes sister, he has his health, but is not well.
Ann.
How not well? what Riddles do you utter?
Ant.
Ile tell you more in private.
Gonz.
Noble sir,
I cannot be unmindfull of your merit,
Since I last heard it: you are a hopefull youth,
And (indeed) the soule of Candy.
I must speak my thoughts.
Ann.
The Prince of Cyprus Brother, Good Decius.
Ant.
I am his servant.
Phil.
You are the Patron of your Countrie, sir,
So your unimitable deeds proclame you,
It is no language of my owne, but all mens.
Gonz.
Your Enemies must needs acknowledge it:
Then doe not thinke it flatterie in your friends,
For if they had a heart, they could not want a tongue.
Erot.
Is this your brother Annophill?
Anno.
Yes Madam.
Frot.
Your name's Antinous?
Ant.
I am (Lady) that most unfortunate man.
Erot.
How unfortunate? are you not the souldier,
The Captaine of those Captaines, that did bring
Conquest and victory home along with you?
Ant.
I had some share in't; but was the least
Of the least worthy.
Gonz.
O sir, in your modesty youl'd make
A double Conquest: I was an eare-witnesse
When this young man spoke lesser then he acted,
And had the souldiers voice to helpe him out:
But that the Law compell'd him for his honour,
To inforce him make a claime for his reward,
I well perceive he would have stood the man
That he does now, buried his worth in silence.
Erot.
Sir, I hearken not to him, but looke on you,
And finde more in you then he can relate?
You shall attend on me.
Ant.
Madam, your pardon.
Ero.
Deny it not sir, for it is more honour
Then you have goten ith' field: for know you shall,
Upon Erota's asking, serve Erota.
Ant.
I may want answers, Lady,
But never want a will to doe you service.
I came here to my sister, to take leave,
Having enjoyn'd my selfe to banishment,
For some cause that hereafter you may heare,
And wish with me I had not the occasion.
Anno.
There shall be no occasion to divide us:
Deare Madam for my sake use your power,
Even for the service that he ought to owe,
Must, and does owe to you his friends, and countrey.
Erot.
Upon your Loyalty to the state and me,
I doe command you Sir, not depart Candy:
Am I not your Princesse?
Ant.
You are a great Lady.
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Then shew your selfe a Servant and a Subject.
Ant.
I am your vassaile.
Mon.
You are a Coward; I that dare not fight,
Scorne to be vassaile to any Prince in Europe:
Great is my heart with pride, which Ile encrease
When they are gone, with practise on my Vassailes.
Atten.
The noble Cassilane is come to see you Madam,
Dec.
There's comfort in those words, Antinous:
For heres the place, and persons, that have power,
To reconcile you to his love againe.
Ant.
That were a fortunate meeting.
Enter Cassilane and Arcanes.
Cas.
Greatnesse still wait you Lady.
Ero.
Good Cassilane, we doe maintain our greatnesse,
Through your valour.
Cas.
My prayers pull dayly blessings on thy head,
My un-offending childe, my Annophill,
Good Prince, worthy Gonzalo! ha? art thou here
Before me? in every action art thou ambitious?
My duty (Lady) first offered here,
And love to thee (my childe) though he out-strip me;
Thus in the wars he got the start on me,
By being forward, but performing lesse;
All the endeavours of my life are lost,
And throwne upon that evill of mine owne
Cursed begetting, whom I shame to father.
O that the heat thou robd'st me off, had burnt
Within my Entrailes, and begot a feaver,
Or some worse sicknesse, for thou art a disease
Sharper then any physick gives a name to.
Ann.
Why doe you say so?
Cas.
O Annophill; there is good cause my girle:
He has plaid the thiefe with me, and filch'd away
The richest jewell of my life, my honour,
Wearing it publikely with that applause,
As if he justly did inherit it.
Ant.
Would I had in my Infancy been laid
Within my grave, covered with you blessings,
Then growne up to a man, to meet your curses.
Cas.
O that thou hadst.
Then I had been the father of a childe,
Dearer then thou wert even unto me,
When hope perswaded me I had begot
Another selfe in thee: Out of mine eyes,
As farre as I have throwne thee from my heart,
That I may live and dye forgetting thee.
Ero.
How has he deserv'd this untam'd anger,
That when he might have ask't for his reward
Some honour for himselfe, or masse of pelfe,
He onely did request to have erected
Your Statue in the Capitoll, with Titles
Ingrav'd upon't, The Patron of his Countrey?
Cas.
That, that's the poison in the gilded cup,
The Serpent in the flowers, that stings my honour,
And leaves me dead in fame: Gods doe a justice,
And rip his bosome up, that men may see,
Seeing, believe the subtle practises
Written within his heart: But I am heated,
And doe forget this presence, and my selfe.
Your pardon, Lady.
Ero.
You should not aske, 'lesse you knew how to give.
For my sake Cassilane, cast out of your thoughts
All ill conceptions of your worthy son,
That (questionlesse) has ignorantly offended,
Declared in his penitence.
Cas.
Bid me dye (Lady) for your sake Ile doe it;
But that you'll say is nothing, for a man
That has out-liv'd his honour: But command me
In any thing save that, and Cassilane
Shall ever be your servant. Come Annophill,
(My joy in this world) thou shalt live with me,
Retired in some sollitarie nook,)
The comfort of my age; my dayes are short,
And ought to be well spent: and I desire
No other witnesse of them but thy selfe,
And good Arcanes.
Anno.
I shall obey you sir.
Gonz.
Noble sir:
If you taste any want of worldly meanes,
Let not that discontent you: know me your friend,
That hath, and can supply you.
Cas.
Sir, I am too much bound to you already,
And 'tis not of my cares the least, to give you
Faire satisfaction.
Gonz.
You may imagine I doe speak to that end,
But trust me, 'tis to make you bolder with me.
Cas.
Sir, I thanke you, and may make triall of you,
Meane time my service.
Ann.
Brother be comforted; so long as I continue
Within my fathers love, you cannot long
Stand out an Exile: I must goe live with him,
And I will prove so good an Orator
In your behalfe, that you againe shall gaine him,
Or I will stirre in him another anger,
And be lost with you.
Ant.
Better I were neglected: for he is hasty,
And through the Choller that abounds in him,
(Which for the time divides from him his judgement)
He may cast you off, and with you his life;
For griefe will strait surprize him, and that way
Must be his death: the sword has try'd too often,
And all the deadly Instruments of warre
Have aim'd at his great heart, but ne're could touch it:
Yet not a limbe about him wants a scarre.
Cas.
Madam my duty—
Ero.
Will you he gone?
Cas.
I must (Lady) but I shall be ready,
When you are pleas'd command me, for your service.
Excellent Prince—To all my heartie love,
And a good farewell.
Mon.
Thanks honest Cassilane.
Cas.
Come Annophill.
Gonz.
Shall I not wait upon you sir?
Cas.
From hence you shall not stirre a foot:
Loving Gonzalo, it must be all my study
To requite you.
Gonz.
I may be so fortunate to deserve
The name of friend from you, I have enough.
Cvs.
You are so, and you have made your selfe so.
Gonz.
I will then preserve it.
Ero.
Antinous you are my servant, are you not?
Ant.
It hath pleased you so to grace me.
Ero.
Why are you then dejected? you will say,
You have lost a father; but you have found a Mistris
Doubles that losse: be master of your spirit;
You have a cause for it: which is my favour,
Gonz.
And mine.
Ero.
Will no man ease me of this foole?
Gonz.
Your fellow.
Ero.
Antinous wait upon us.
Ant.
I shall Madam.
Gonz.
Nay but Ladie, Ladie.
58
Sir, you are rude: and if you be the Master
Of such meanes as you doe talk of, you should
Learne good manners.
Gonz.
O Lady, you can finde a fault in me,
But not perceive it in your selfe; you must, shall heare me:
I love you for your pride, 'tis the best vertue
In you.
Erot.
I could hang this fellow now: by whom
Are you supported, that you dare doe this?
Have you not example here in a Prince
Transcending you in all things, yet beares himselfe
As doth become a man had seen my beautie?
Back to your Countrey, and your Curtizans,
Where you may be admired for your wealth,
Which being consum'd, may be a meanes to gaine you
The opinion of some wit. Here's nothing
To be got but scorne, and losse of time.
Gonz.
Which are things I delight in.
Erot.
Antinous follow me.
Exit.
Gonz.
She is vext to the soule.
Mon.
Let her be vext, 'tis fit she should be so:
Give me thy hand Gonzalo, thou art in our favour,
For we doe love to cherish lofty spirits,
Such as percusseere the earth, and bound
With an erected countenance to the clouds.
Gonz.
'S-foot, what thing is this?
Mon.
I doe love fire-works, because they mount:
An Exhalation I professe to adore,
Beyond a fixed starre, 'tis more illustrious,
As every thing rais'd out of smoak is so:
Their vertue is in action: what doe you think of me?
Gonz.
Troth sir,
You are beyond my ghesse, I know you not.
Mo.
Doe you know your selfe?
Gonz.
Yes sir.
Mon.
Why you and I are one: I am proud, and
Very proud too, that I must tell you; I saw
It did become you, cousin Gonzalo, prethee
Let it be so.
Gonz.
Let it be so good cousin.
Mon.
I am no great ones foole.
Gonz.
I hope so, for alliance sake.
Mo.
Yet I do serve the Mighty, Monstrous, and Magnanimous
Invincible Erota.
Gonz.
O good cousin, now I have you: Ile meet you in your Coat.
Mo.
Coat? I have my horse-mans coat I must confesse
Lin'd through with Velvet, and a Scarlet out-side;
If you'll meet me in't, Ile send fort;
And cousin you shall see me with much comfort,
For it is both a new one, and a right one,
It did not come collaterall.
Gon.
Adieu good cousin; at this present I have some businesse.
Mo.
Farewell (excellent cousin.)
| The Lavves of Candy | |