 | The Knight of Malta |  |
Scæna quinta.
Enter two Marshalls.1.
Are the Combatants come in?
The Scaffold set out and the staires.
2.
Yes.
1.
Make the field cleere there.
2.
That's done too.
1.
Then to the prisoner: the grand Master's coming,
Let's see that all be ready there.
2.
Too ready.
How ceremonious our very ends are?
Alas, sweet Lady,
If she be innocent,
Florish.
No doubt but justice will direct her Champion
Enter Valetta: Norandine Astor. Castriot: &c.
Away: I heare 'em come:
1.
Pray heaven she prosper.
Val.
Give Captain Norandine a chaire.
Nor.
I thank your Lordship.
Val.
Sit sir, and take your ease: your hurts require it.
You come to see a womans cause descrided:
That's all the knowledge now, or name I have for her:
They say a false, a base, and treacherous woman,
And partly prov'd too.
Nor.
Pitty it should be so:
And if your Lordship durst aske my opinion,
Sure, I should answer no: so much I honour her:
And answer't with my life too: But Gomera
Is a brave Gentleman; the other valiant,
And if he be not good, doggs gnaw his flesh off,
And one above 'em both will finde the truth out.
He never failes, sir,
Val.
That's the hope rests with me.
Nor.
How nature, and his honour struggle in him!
A sweet, cleere, noble Gentleman.
Within, make roome there.
Guard.
Make roome there.
Enter Oriana; Ladies, Executioner, Abdel; la: & Guard.
Val.
Go up: and what you have to say, say there,
Ori.
Thus I ascend: neerer I hope to heaven,
Nor do I fear to tread this dark black Mansion:
The Image of my grave each foot we move,
Goes to it still: each houre we leave behinde us,
Knols sadly toward it: My noble Brother,
For yet nine innocence dares cals ye so,
And you the friends to vertue, that come hither,
The Chorus to this Tragick Scæne behold me,
Behold me with your justice, not with pitty,
(My cause was ne're so poore to aske compassion,)
Behold me in this spotlesse white I weare,
The Embleme of my life, of all my actions,
So ye shall finde my story, though I perish:
Behold me in my Sex, I am no Souldier,
Tender, and full of fears our blushing Sex is,
Unhardned with relentlesse thoughts; unhatcht
With blood, and bloody practise: alas we tremble;
But when an angry dreame afflicts our fancies,
Dye with a tale well told: had I been practis'd,
And known the way of mischiefe, travell'd in it,
And given my blood, and honour up to reach it,
Forgot religion, and the line I sprung on,
Oh heaven, I had been fit then for thy justice,
And then in black as dark as hell, I had howl'd here.
Last, in your own opinions weigh mine innocence;
Amongst ye I was planted from an Infant
(would then if heaven had so been pleas'd, I had perish'd)
Grew up, and goodly, ready to bear fruit,
The honourable fruit of marriage:
And am I blasted in my bud with treason?
Boldly, and basely of my faire name ravish'd,
And hither brought to finde my rest in ruine?
But he that knowes all he that rights all wrongs,
And in his time restores, knows me: I have spoken.
Val.
If ye be innocent, heaven will protect ye,
And so I leave ye to his Sword strikes for ye,
Farewell.
Ori.
O that went deepe: farewell deere brother,
And howsoe'r my cause goes, see my body
(upon my knees I ask it) buried chastely;
For yet, by holy truth, it never trespass'd.
Ast.
Iustice sit on your cause; & heaven fight for ye.
Nor.
Two of ye Gentlemen, doe me but the honour
To lead me to her: good my Lord, your leave too:
Val.
You have it sir.
Nor.
Give me your faire hands fearelesse,
As white as this I see your Innocence,
As spotlesse, and as pure: be not afraid Lady,
You are but here brought to your nobler fortune,
To adde unto your life immortall story:
Vertue, through hardest things arrives at happinesse,
Shame follow that blunt sword that looses you:
And he that strikes against you: I shall study
A curse or two for him: once more your faire hands,
I never brought ill luck yet; be fearelesse happy.
Ori.
I thank ye, noble Captain.
Nor.
So I leave ye.
Val.
Call in the Knights severally.
Enter severally Gomera, and Miranda.
Ori.
But two words to my Champion,
And then to heaven and him, I give my cause up:
Ual.
Speake quickly: and speake short.
Ori.
I have not much sir.
Noble Gomera, from your own free vertue,
You have undertaken here a poore Maids honour,
And with the hazard of your life: and happily
You may suspect the cause, though in your true worth
You will not shew it, therefore take this testimony
(And as I hope for happinesse, a true one)
And may it steel your heart, and edge your good sword,
Ye fight for her as spotlesse of these mischiefes,
As heaven is of our sinnes, or truth of errors,
And so defie that treacherous man, and prosper.
Nor.
Blessing o'thy heart Lady.
Val.
Give the signall to 'em.
Low Alarmes.
Nor.
'Tis bravely fought Gomera; follow that blow,
Well strooke againe boy: looke upon the Lady,
And gather spirit: brave againe: lye close.
Lye close I say: he fights aloft, and strongly:
Close for thy life: a—o' that fell buffet:
Retire, and gather breath: ye have day enough knights;
Looke lovely on him Lady: to't againe now,
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Gather thy strength together; God blesse the woman:
Why, wher's thy noble heart? heaven blesse the Lady.
All.
Oh, Oh!
Ual.
She is gone, she is gone:
Nor.
Now strike it.
Hold; hold: he yeelds: hold thy brave sword, he's conquer'd:
He's thine Gomera, now be joyfull Lady:
What could this theefe have done, had his cause beene equall?
He made my heart strings tremble.
Ual.
Off with his Cask there;
And Executioner, take you his head next.
Abdel.
Oh cursed fortune!
Gom.
Stay, I beseech ye sir, and this one honour
Grant me, I have deserv'd it, that this villaine
May live one day, to envy at my justice,
That he may pine, and dye before the sword fall.
Viewing the glory, I have wone her goodnesse.
Ual.
He shall, and you the harvest of your valour
Shall reape brave sir, abundantly.
Gom.
I have saved her.
Preserv'd her spotlesse worth from black destruction,
Her white name to eternity delivered,
Her youth, and sweetnesse, from a timelesse ruin.
Now Lord Valetta, if this bloody labour
May but deserve her favour.
Mir.
Stay and heare me first.
Val.
Of with his Cask, this is Miranda's voice.
Nor.
'Tis he indeed, or else mine eyes abuse me,
What makes he here thus?
Ori.
The young Miranda?
Is he mine enemy too?
Mir.
None has deserv'd her
If worth must carry it, and service seeke her,
But he that saved her honour.
Gom.
That's I Miranda.
Mir.
No, no, that's I Gomera, be not so forward,
In bargaine for my love, ye cannot cozen me.
Gom.
I fought it.
Mir.
And I gave it: which is nobler?
Why every Gentleman would have done as much
As you did: fought it: that's a poore desert, sir,
They are bound to that; but then to make that fight sure,
To doe as I did, take all danger from it
Suffer that coldnesse, that must call me now
Into disgrace for ever, into pitty.
Gom.
I undertook first, to preserve from hazzard.
Mir.
And I made sure no hazzard should come neere hir.
Gom.
'Twas I defide Mountferrat.
Mir.
'Twas I wrought him,
You had had a darke day else; twas I defide
His conscience first, 'twas I that shook him there,
Which is the brave defiance.
Gom.
My life and honour
At stake I lay'd,
Mir.
My care; and truth lay by it
Least that stake might be lost: I have deserv'd her,
And none but I; the Lady might have perish'd,
Had Fell Mountferrat strooke it, from whose malice
With cunning, and bold confidence I catch'd it,
And 'twas high time, and such a service Lady
For you, and for your innocence, for who knows not
The all devouring sword of fierce Mountferrat?
I shew'd ye what I could doe, had I beene spightfull
Or Master but of halfe the poyson he beares,
(Hell take his heart for't) and beshrow these hands Maddam,
With all my heart, I wish a mischiefe on 'em,
They made ye once looke sad: such another fright
I would not put ye in, to owne the Island,
Yet pardon me, 'twas but to shew a Souldier,
Which, when I had done, I ended your poore coward.
Val.
Let some looke out, for the base Knight Mountferrat.
Ab.
I hope he's far enough if his man be trusty:
This was a strange misfortune; I must not know it.
Val.
That most debosh'd knight: come down sweet sister.
My spotlesse Sister; now, pray thanke these Gentlemen,
They have deserv'd both truly, nobly of ye.
Both excellently deerely, both all the honour
All the respect and favour.
Ori.
Both shall have it;
And as my life, their memories i'le nourish.
Val.
Ye are both true Knights, and both most worthy Lovers,
Here stands a Lady ripen'd with your service,
Yong, faire, and (now I dare say) truly honourable:
'Tis my will she shall marry: marry now,
And one of you (she cannot take more nobly) your deserts
Begot this will, and bred it; both her beauty
Cannot enjoy: dare ye marke me your umpier?
Gom., Mir.
With all our Soules.
Val.
He must not then be angry
That looses her.
Gom.
O that were Sir, unworthy,
Mir.
A little sorrow he may finde.
Val.
'Tis manly.
Gomera, you are a brave accomplish'd Gentleman
A braver no where lives then is Miranda,
In the white way of vertue, and true valour.
Ye have been a pilgrime long: yet no man farther
Has trod those thorny steps then young Miranda,
You are gentle: he is gentlenesse it selfe: Experience
Cals you her brother; 'tis his hopefull heire.
Nor.
The young man now, and 't be thy will.
Val.
Your hand sir;
You undertooke first: nobly undertook,
This Ladies cause: you made it good, and fought it
You must be serv'd first: take her, and enjoy her,
I give her to you: kisse her; are you pleas'd now?
Gom.
My joy's so much I cannot speake.
Val.
Nay, fairest sir;
You must not be displeased: you breake your promise.
Mir.
I never griev'd at good, nor dare I now sir,
Though something seeme strange to me.
Ual.
I have provided
A better match for you: more full of beauty,
I'le wed ye to our Order: there's a Mistresse,
Whose beauty ne're decayes: time stands below her:
Whose honour Ermin-like, can never suffer,
Spot, or black soyle; whose eternall issue
Fame brings up at her breasts, and leaves 'em saintied.
Her you shall marry.
Mir.
I must humbly thanke ye.
Ual.
Saint Thomas Fort, a charge of no small valew
I give ye too, in present, to keepe waking
Your noble spirits; and to breed ye pious,
Ile send ye a probation Roabe; weare that
Till ye shall please to be our brother: how now?
Ast.
Mountferrat's fled sir.
Enter Actorius.
Val.
Let him goe a while
Till we have done these rites, and seen these coupled:
His mischiefe now lyes open: come all friends now.
And so let's march to th'Temple, sound those Instruments,
That were the signall to a day of blood;
Evill beginning houres may end in good.
Florish.
Nor.
Come, we'll have wenches man, and all brave things.
—Let her goe: we'll want no Mistresses,
Good swords, and good strong Armours.
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Those are best Captain.
Nor.
And fight 'till Queenes be in love with us, and run after us.
Ile see ye at the Fort within these two dayes,
And let's be merry prethee.
Mir.
By that time I shall.
Nor.
Why that's well said: I like a good heart truly.
Exeunt.
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