 | The Knight of Malta |  |
Actus quartus
Scæna Prima.
Enter Mountferrat, and Rocca.Mount.
The Sun's not set yet?
Roc.
No Sir.
Mount.
Would it were,
Never to rise againe to light the world.
And yet, to what vaine purpose do I wish it,
Since though I were inviron'd with thick mists,
Black as Cymerian darknesse, or my crimes,
There is that here, upon which, as an anvile
Ten thousand hammers strike, and every spark
They force from it, to me's an other Sun
To light me to my shame?
Roc.
Take hope, and comfort.
Mount.
They are aides indeed, but yet as far from me,
As I from being innocent: this cave fashioned
By provident nature, in this solid Rock
To be a den for beasts, alone, receives me,
And having prov'd an enemy to mankinde,
All humane helpes forsak me.
Roc.
I'le ne'r leave you,
And wish you would call back that noble courage
That old invincible fortitude of yours
That us'd to shrink at nothing.
Mount.
Then it did not.
But 'twas when I was honest; then in the height
Of all my hapinesse, of all my glories,
Of all delights, that made life pretious to me,
I durst die Rocca; death it self then to me
Was nothing terrible, because I knew,
The fame of a good Knight would ever live
Fresh on my memory; but since I fell
From my integrity, and dismis'd those guards,
Those strong assurances of innocence,
That constancy fled from me, and what's worse,
Now I am loathsome to my self; and life
A burthen to me, rackd with sad remembrance
Of what I have done, and my present horrors
Unsufferable come, torturd with despair
That I shall ne'r find mercy; hell about me,
Behind me, and before me, yet I dare not
Still fearing worse, put off my wretched being.
Enter Abdella
Roc.
To see this would deterre a doubtfull man
From mischeivous intents, much more the practise
Of what is wicked: here's the Moore, look up sir,
Some ease may come from her.
Mount.
New trouble rather,
And I expect it.
Abd.
Who is this? Mountferrat?
Rise up for shame, and like a river dride up
With a long drought, from me, your bounteous Sea
Receive those tides of comfort, that flow to you;
If ever I lookt lovely, if desert
Could ever challenge welcom; if revenge,
And unexpected wreak, were ever pleasing
Or could endear the giver of such blessings,
All these I come adorn'd with, and as due
Make challenge of those so long wishd embraces
Which you (unkind) have hitherto denyde me.
Mount.
Why, what have you done for me?
Abd.
Made Gomera
As truly miserable, as you thought him happy,
Could you wish more?
Mount.
As if his sicknesse could
Recover me; the injuries I received
Were Orianas.
Abd.
She has paid deer for them,
She's dead.
Mount.
How?
Abd.
Dead: my hate could reach no further:
Taking advantage of her in a swoon,
Under pretence to give a Cordiall to her
I poysond her: what stupid dulnesse is this?
What you should entertain with sacrifice,
Can you receive so coldly?
Mount.
Bloody deeds
Are gratefull offrings, pleasing to the devill,
And thou, in thy black shape, and blacker actions
Being hels perfect character, art delighted
To do what I though infinitly wicked,
Tremble to hear: thou hast in this tane from me
All meanes to make amends with penitence,
To her wrongd vertues, and dispoild me of
The poor remainder of that hope was left me,
For all I have already, or must suffer.
Abd.
I did it for the best.
Mount.
For thy worst ends,
And be assurd but that, I think to kill thee
Would but prevent, what thy despair must force thee
To do unto thy self, and so to adde to
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But get thee from my sight: and if lust of me
Did ever fire thee (love, I cannot call it)
Leap down from those steep Rocks, or take advantage
Of the next Tree, to hang thy self, and then
I may laugh at it.
Abd.
In the mean time
I must be bold, to do so much for you, ha, ha.
Mount,
Why grinst thou, devill?
Abd.
That 'tis in my power,
To punish thy ingratitude; I made triall
But how you stood affected, and since I know
I am us'd only for a property,
I can, and will revenge it to the full.
For, understand, in thy contempt of me
Those hopes of Oriana, which I could
Have changd to certainties, are lost for ever.
Mount.
Why, lives she?
Abd.
Yes, but never to Mountferrat,
Although it is in me, with as much ease
To give her freely up to thy possession,
As to remove this rush, which yet despaire of,
For by my much wrongd love, flattery, nor threats,
Teares, prayers, nor vowes, shall ever win me to it:
So with my curse, I leave thee.
Mount.
Prethee stay,
Thou knowst I doat on thee, and yet thou art
So peevish, and perverse, so apt to take
Triffles unkindly from me.
Abd.
To perswade me
To break my neck, to hang, then damn my self,
With you are trifles.
Mount.
'Twas my melancholy
That made me speak I know not what: forgive,
I will redem my fault.
Roc.
Believe him Lady.
Mount.
A thousand times I will demand thy pardon,
And keep the reckoning on thy lips, with kisses.
Abd.
Ther's something els, that would prevaile more with me.
Mount.
Thou shalt have all thy wishes do but blesse me
With meanes to satisfie my madde desires
For once in Oriana, and for ever
I am thine, only thine my best Abdella.
Abd.
Were I assur'd of this, and that you would
Having enjoyd her.
Mount.
Any thing: make choice of
Thine own conditions.
Abd.
Swear then, that performed.
(To free me from all doubts and fears hereafter)
To give me leave to kill her.
Mount.
That our safety
Must of necessity urge us to.
Abd.
Then know
It was not poyson, but a sleeping potion
Which she received, yet of sufficient strength
So to bind up her sences, that no signe
Of life appeard in her, and thus thought dead
In her best habit, as the custome is
You know in Malta, with all ceremonies
She's buried in her families monument,
In the Temple of St. Iohn; i'le bring you thither,
Thus, as you are disguisd; some six howers hence
The potion will leave working.
Roc.
Let us haste then.
Discover Tombe
Mount.
Be my good angel, guid me.
Abd.
But remember
You keep your Oath.
Mount.
As I desire to prosper
In what I undertak.
Abd.
I ask no more.
Exeunt.
Scæna Secunda.
Enter Miranda, Norandine, and Collonna.Col.
Here sir, I have got the Key, I borrowd it
Of him that keeps the Church, the door is open.
Mir.
Look to the horses then, and please the fellow.
After a few devotions, i'le retire.
Be not far off, there may be some use of ye,
Give me the light: come friend, a few good prayers
Were not bestowd in vaine now, even from you sir.
Men that are bred in blood, have no way left 'em,
No bath, no purge, no time to weare it out
Or wash it off, but penitence, and prayer:
I am to take the order, and my youth
Loaden I must confesse with many follies,
Circled and bound about with sins as many
As in the house of memory live figures.
My heart i'le open now, my faults confesse,
And rise a new man, heaven I hope, to a new life.
Nor.
I have no great devotion, at this instant,
But for a prayer or two, I will not out sir,
Hold up your finger, when you have praid enough.
Mir.
Go you to that end.
Nor.
I shall ne'r pray alone sure,
I have bin so us'd to answer the Clerk: would I had a
cushion, for I shall ne'r make a good Hermit, and kneel
till my knees are horn, these stones are plaguy hard
where shal I begin now? for if I do not observe a method,
I shall be out presently.
Ori.
Oh, oh.
Nor.
Whats that sir? did ye heare?
Mir.
Ha; to your prayers.
Nor.
'Twas here abouts, t'has put me clean awry now,
I shall ne'r get in again, ha, by Land,
And water, all children, and all women,
I there it was I left.
Ori.
Oh, oh.
Nor.
Never tell me sir,
Here's something got amongst us.
Mir.
I heard a groane:
A dismall one,—
Ori.
Oh, Oh.
Nor.
Here, tis here sir, 'tis here sir;
A devill in the wall.
Mir.
Tis some illusion
To fright us from devotion—
Ori.
Oh, oh.
Nor.
Why tis here,
The spirit of a huntesman choakd with butter,
Her's a new tomb, new trickments too.
Mir.
For certaine,
This has not bin three dayes here.
Nor.
And a Tablet
With rimes upon't.
Mir.
I prethee read 'em Norandine.
Nor.
An Epi—and Epi—taff. I think 'tis, I 'tis taff, an Epitaff.
Upon the most excell, excell—lent—and.
Mir.
Thou canst not read.
Nor.
I have spoild mine eyes with gunpowder,
Mir.
An Epitaph upon the most vertuous, and excellent Lady
The honor of Chastity, Oriana.
Nor.
The grand masters sister: how a devil came she here?
When slipt she out oth' way, the stone's but half upon her.
Mir.
Tis is a sodain chang: certain the mischiefe
Mountferrat offerd to her broak her heart-strings.
Nor.
Would he were here, I would be the clerk my self,
89
Her's no lamenting now.
Ori.
Oh, oh.
Nor.
There tis.
Mir.
Sure from the monument, the very stone groanes for her.
Oh, deer Lady: blessing of women, vertue of thy sex;
How art thou set for ever, how stolne from us.
Babling, and prating now converse with women.
Nor.
Sir it rises, it looks up.
She rises up.
Mir.
Heaven blesse us.
Nor.
It is in womans cloathes, it rises higher.
Mir.
It looks about, and wonders, sure she lives sir.
Tis she, tis Oriana, tis that Lady.
Nor.
Shall I go to her?
Ori.
Where am I!
Mir.
Stand still.
Ori.
What place is this?
Nor.
She is as live as I am.
Ori.
What smell of earth, and rotten bones, what dark place.
Lord, whether am I carried?
Nor.
How she stares,
And sets her eyes upon him.
Mir.
How is't deer Lady?
Do you know me, how she shakes?
Ori.
You are a man.
Mir.
A man that honours you.
Ori.
A cruell man,
Ye are all cruell: are you in your grave too?
For ther's no trusting cruell man, above ground.
Nor.
Byr' Lady, that goes hard.
Mir.
To do your service
And to restore ye to the joyes you were in.
Ori.
I was in joyes indeed, and hope—
Mir.
She sincks againe
Again she is gon; she is gon: gon as a shadow,
She sinks for ever, friend.
Nor.
She is cold now,
She is certainly departed, I must cry too.
Mir.
The blessed angels guide thee: put the stone too,
Beauty thou art gon to dust, goodnesse to ashes.
Nor.
Pray take it well: we must all have our houres sir.
Mir.
I, thus we are; and all our painted glory,
A buble that a boy blowes in toth' ayre,
And there it breaks.
Nor.
I am glad ye sav'd her honour yet.
Mir.
Would I had sav'd her life now too: oh heaven
For such a blessing, such a timely blessing
O friend, what deer content 'twould be, what story
To keep my name from wormes?
Oria.
Oh, oh.
Nor.
She lives again,
'Twas but a trance.
Mir.
Pray ye call my man in presently
Help with the stone first, oh she stirs againe.
Oh call my man away.
Nor.
I fly, I fly sir.
Mir.
Upon my knees O heaven, O heaven I thank thee.
The living heat steales into every member;
En. Colonn. & Norand.
Come help the Coffin out, softly, and sodainly
VVhere is the Clerk?
Col.
Drunk above, he is sure sir.
Mir.
Sirah, you must be secret.
Col.
As your soule sir.
Mir.
Softly good friend, take her into your armes.
Nor.
Put in the crust againe.
Mir.
And bring her out there when I am a horseback
My man, and I will tenderly conduct her
Unto the Fort; stay you, and watch what issue,
And what inquirie's for the body.
Nor.
Well sir.
Mir.
And when ye have done, come back to me.
Nor.
I will.
Mir.
Softly, oh softly.
Nor.
She growes warmer still sir.
Col.
What shall I do with' Key?
Mir.
Thou canst not stir now,
Leave it ith' door: go get the horses ready.
Exeunt
Roc.
The door's already open, the Key in it.
En. Rocca Mountferrat Abdella. With a dark lanthorn.
Mount.
What were those past by?
Roc.
Some scout of Souldiers, I think.
Mount.
It may be well so, for I saw their horses,
They saw not us I hope.
Abd.
No, no, we were close,
Beside they were far off.
Mount.
What time of night is't?
Abd.
Much about twelve I think.
Roc.
Let me go in first
For by the leaving open of the door here
There may be some body in the Church: give me the Lanthorne.
Abd.
You'l love me now I hope.
Mount.
Make that good to me
Your promise is engaged for.
Abd.
Why she is there
Ready prepar'd, and much about this time
Life will look up again.
Roc.
Come in all's sure,
Not a foot stirring, nor a tongue.
Mount.
Heaven blesse me,
I never enter'd with such unholy thoughts
This place before.
Abd.
Ye are a fearfull foole,
If men have appetites allow'd 'em,
And warm desires, are there not ends too for 'em?
Mount.
Whether shall we carry her?
Roc.
Why, to the bark sir,
I have provided one already waites us
The wind stands wondrous fair too for our passage.
Abd.
And there, when ye' have enjoyd her, for ye have that liberty
Let me alone to send her to feed fishes,
I'le no more sighes for her.
Mount.
Where is the monument?
Thou art sure she will awake about this time?
Abd.
Most sure, If she be not knockt oth' head: give me the Lanthorn,
Here 'tis, how is this, the stone off?
Roc.
I, and nothing
Within the monument, that's worse, no body
I am sure of that, nor signe of any here,
But an empty Coffin.
Mount.
No Lady.
Roc.
No, nor Lord sir,
This Pye has bin cut up before.
Abd.
Either the Devill
Must doe these tricks—
Mount.
Or thou, damn'd one, worse;
Thou black swoln pitchie cloud, of all my afflictions:
Thou night hag, gotten when the bright Moone sufferd
Thou hell it self confin'd in flesh: what trick now?
Tell me, and tell me quickly what thy mischief
Has done with her, and to what end, and whether
Thou hast remov'd her body, or by this holy place
This sword shall cut thee into thousand peeces
A thousand thousand, strow thee ore the Temple
A sacrifice to thy black sire, the Devill.
Rod.
Tell him, you see he's angry.
Abd.
Let him burst,
Neither his sword, not anger do I shake at,
Nor will yeild to feed his poor suspicions,
His idle jealouzies, and madde dogs heares
One thought against my self: ye have done a brave deed
90
When ye have kill'd me; reckon't amongst your Battels:
I am sorry ye are so poore, so weake a gentleman
Able to stand no fortune: I dispose of her?
My mischiefe make her away? a likely project,
I must play booty against my selfe, if any thing crosse ye
I am the devill, and the devils heire,
All plagues, all mischiefes.
Mount.
Will ye leave and doe yet?
Ab.
I have done too much,
Far, far too much for such a thanklesse fellow,
If I be devill, you created me,
I never knew those arts, nor bloody practises
(—o' your cunning heart, that mine of mischiefe)
Before your flatteries won 'em into me,
Here did I leave her, leave her with that certainty
About this houre to wake again.
Mount.
Where is she?
This is the last demand.
Ab.
Did I now know it,
And were I sure, this were my latest minute
I would not tell thee: strike, and then i'le curse thee:
Rocca.
I see a light, stand close, and leave your angers.
We all miscarry else.
Enter Gomera, Page with Torch.
Ab.
I am now carelesse,
Mount.
Peace, prethee peace, sweet, peace, all friends,
Ab.
Stand close then.
Gom.
Waite there Boy, with the light, till I call to thee,
In darknesse was my soule and sences clouded
When my faire Jewell fell, the night of jealousie,
In all her blacknesse drawn about my judgement:
No light was let into me: to distinguish
Betwixt my suddain anger and her honour,
A blinde sad Pilgrimage shall be my pennance,
No comfort of the day will I looke up at:
Far darker then my jealous Ignorance
Each place of my aboad shall be my: prayers
No ceremonious lights shall set off more;
Bright Armes, and all that carry lustre, life,
Society, and sollace, I forsake ye.
And were it not once more to see her beauties
(For in her bed of death, she must be sweet still,)
And on her cold sad lips seal my repentance;
Thou child of heaven, faire light I could not misse thee.
Mount.
I know the tongue, would I were out againe
I have done him too much wrong to looke upon him.
Ab.
There is no shifting now, boldnesse, and confidence
Must carry it now away: he is but one neither,
Naked as you are, of a strength far under
Mount.
But he has a cause above me,
Ab.
That's as you handle it.
Roc.
Peace: he may goe againe, and never see us.
Gom.
I feele I weepe apace, but where's the flood,
The torrent of my teares, to drown my fault in,
I would I could now like a loaden cloud
Begotten in the moyst south, drop to nothing
Give me the Torch, Boy.
Roc.
Now he must discover us.
Ab.
He has already, never hide your head
Be bold, and brave, if we must dye together.
Gom:
Who's there? what friend to sorrow? The Tombe wide open
The Stone off too? the body gone, by—
Looke to the doore Boy: keep it fast, who are ye?
What sacrilegious villaines? false Mountferrat,
The wolfe to honour, h'as thy hellish hunger,
Brought thee to tear the body out oth' tomb too?
Has thy foule mind so far wrought on thee? ha,
Are you there too? nay, then I spie a villany
I never dream't of yet, thou sinfull usher
Bred from that rottennesse, thou bawd to mischiefe,
Doe you blush through all your blacknesse? will not that hide it?
Ab.
I cannot speake.
Gom.
You are well met, with your dam, sir,
Art thou a Knight? did ever on that sword,
The Christian cause sit nobly? could that hand fight,
Guided by fame, and fortune? that heart inflame thee,
With vertuous fires of valour, to fall off,
Fall off so suddainly, and with such foulenesse,
As the false Angels did, from all their glory?
Thou art no Knight, honour thou never heard'st of,
Nor brave desires could ever build in that breast,
Treason, and tainted thoughts, are all the Gods
Thou worship'st, all the strength thou hadst: and fortune;
Thou didst things out of feare, and false heart, villaine
Out of close traps and treacheries, they have rais'd thee.
Mount.
Thou rav'st old man.
Gom.
Before thou get'st off from me,
Had'st thou the glory of thy first fights on thee
Which thou hast basely lost, thy noblest fortunes,
And in their greatest lustres, I would make thee
Before we part, confesse, nay, kneele, and doe it,
Nay, crying kneele, coldly for mercy, crying:
Thou art the recreant'st Rogue, time ever nourish'd,
Thou art a dogge, I will make thee sweare, a dog stav'd,
A mangy Cur-dogge; doe you creep behind the Altar?
Looke how it sweats, to shelter such a rascall;
First, with thy venemous tooth infect her chaste life,
And then not dare to doe; next, rob her rest,
Steale her dead body out oth' grave.
Mount.
I have not.
Gom.
Prethee come out, this is no place to quarrell in,
Valiant Mountferrat come,
Mount.
I will not stir.
Gom.
Thou hast thy sword about thee,
That good sword, that never fail'd thee: prethee come,
We'l have but five stroakes for it, on, on Boy,
Here's one would faine be acquainted with thee,
Would wondrous fain cleave that Calves-head of yours sir,
Come, prethee let's dispatch, the Moone shines finely:
Prethee be kill'd by me, thou wilt be hang'd else,
But it may be, thou long'st to be hang'd.
Roc.
Out with him, Sir,
You shall have my sword too: when he's dispatch'd once
We have the world before us.
Gom.
Wilt thou walke fellow,
I never knew a Rogue, hang arse-ward so,
And such a desperate knave too.
Ab.
Pray goe with him,
Something I'le promise too,
Mount.
You would be kill'd then?
No remedy; I see,
Gom.
If thou dar'st doe it?
Mount.
Yes, now I dare; lead out, i'le follow presently
Vnder the Mount i'le meet ye.
Gom.
Goe before me,
Ile have ye in a string too.
Mount.
As I am a Gentleman,
And by this holy place, I will not faile thee,
Feare not, thou shalt be kill'd, take my word for it
I will not faile.
Gom.
If thou seap'st thou hast Cats luck,
The Mount?
Mount.
The same: make haste, I am there before else.
Gom.
Goe get ye home; now if he scape I am Cowar'd.
Mount.
Well, now I am resolv'd, and he shall finde it.
Exeunt.
91
Scæna Tertia.
Enter Miranda, Lucinda, Collonna.Mir.
How is it with the Lady?
Luc.
Sir, as well
As it can be with one, who feeling knowes now
What is the curse the divine justice lay'd
On the first sinfull woman.
Mir.
Is she in travell?
Luc.
Yes sir; and yet the troubles of her mind
Afflict her more, then what her body suffers,
For in the extremity of her paine, she cries out,
Why am I here? Where is my Lord Gomera,
Then sometimes names Miranda, and then sighes,
As if to speake, what questionlesse she loves well,
If heard, might doe her injury.
Col.
Heavens sweet mercy
Looke gently on her,
Mir.
Prethee tell her, my Prayers
Are present with her, and good wench provide
That she want nothing: what's thy name?
Luc.
Lucinda.
Mir.
Lucinda? there's a prosperous omen in it,
Be a Lucina to her, and bring word
That she is safe delivered of her burthen,
And thy rewards thy liberty: come Collonna,
We will goe see how th'Engineer has mounted
The Canon the great Master sent, be carefull.
To view the workes, and learn the discipline
That is us'd here: I am to leave the world
And for your service, which I have found faithfull.
The charge that's mine, if I have any power
Hereafter may concerne you.
Col.
I still finde
A noble Master in you,
Mir.
'Tis but justice,
Thou do'st deserve it in thy care, and duty.
Exeunt.
Scæna quarta.
Enter Gomera, Mountferrat, Rocca, Abdella, with a Pistoll.Gom.
Here's even ground, i'le stir no foot beyond it,
Before I have thy head.
Mount.
Draw Rocca.
Gom.
Coward,
Hath inward guilt, rob'd thee as well of courage
As honesty? that without oddes thou dar'st not
Answer a single Enemy?
Mount.
All advantage
That I can take, expect.
Roc.
We know you are valiant,
Nor doe we purpose to make further triall
Of what you can doe now: but to dispatch you.
Mount.
And therefore fight, and pray together.
Gom.
Villaines,
Whose basenesse, all disgracefull words made one,
Cannot expresse; so strong is the good cause
That seconds me, that you shall feele, with horrour
To your proud hopes, what strength is in that arme,
Though old, that holds a sword made sharp by justice.
Ab.
You come then here, to prate?
fight.
Mount.
Helpe Rocca, now,
Or I am lost for ever; how comes this?
Are villany, and weaknesse twynes?
Roc.
I am gone too.
Gom.
You shall not scape me, wretches,
Ab.
I must doe it,
All will goe wrong else.
shoots him
Gom.
Treacherous bloody woman,
What hast thou done?
Ab.
Done a poor womans part,
And in an instant, what these men so long
Stood fooling for.
Mount.
This aide was unexpected,
I kisse thee for't,
Roc.
His right armes onely shot,
And that compell'd him to forsake his sword,
He's else unwounded.
Mount.
Cut his throat.
Ab.
Forbeare.
Yet doe not hope 'tis with intent to save thee.
But that thou maist live to thy farther torment
To see who triumphes over thee: come Mountferrat,
Here joyne thy foot to mine, and let our hearts
Meet with our hands, the contract that is made
And cemented with blood, as this of ours is,
Is a more holy sanction, and much surer,
Then all the superstitious ceremonies
Enter Norandine.
You Christians use.
Roc.
Who's this?
Mount.
Betray'd againe?
Nor.
By the report it made, and by the wind
The Pistoll was discharged here.
Gom.
Norandine,
As ever thou lov'st valour, or wear'st Armes
To punish basenesse, shew it.
Nor.
O the devill,
Gomera wounded, and my Brache black beauty
An actor in it?
Ab.
If thou strik'st, i'le shoot thee.
Nor.
How? fright me with your Pot-gun? what art thou?
Good heaven, the Rogue, the traytor rogue Mountferrat
To swinge the neast of you, is a sport unlook'd for,
Hels—consume you.
Mount.
As thou art a man;
I am wounded, give me time to answer thee.
Go.
Durst thou urge this? this hand can hold a sword yet.
Nor.
Well done: to see this villaine, makes my hurts
Bleed fresh againe, but had I not a bone whole,
In such a cause I should doe thus, thus Rascals.
Enter Corporall and watch.
Cor.
Disarme them, and shoot any that resists.
Gom.
Hold Corporall; I am Gomera,
Nor.
'Tis well yet, that once in an age you can
Remember what you watch for: I had thought
You had again been making out your parties
For sucking piggs.
'Tis well:
Nor.
As you will answer
The contrary with your lives, see these forth coming.
Cor.
That we shall doe.
Nor.
You bleed a pace: good Souldiers
Goe helpe him to a Surgeon,
Roc.
Dare the worst,
And suffer like your selfe.
Ab.
From me learne courage.
Nor.
Now for Miranda, this newes will be to him
As welcome, as 'tis unexpected: Corporall,
There's something for thy care to night: my horse there.
Exeunt.
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