 | Loues Sacrifice |  |
Actus Tertius.
Enter Nibrassa chasing, after him Iulia weeping.Nib.
Get from me, strumpet, infamous whore, leprosie of
my blood, make thy moane to Ballad singers, and
Rimers, they'll Iigge out thy wretchednesse and abominations
to new tunes; as for me, I renounce thee, th'art no daughter
of mine, I disclayne the legitimation of thy birth, and
Curse the houre of thy Natiuity.
Iul.
Pray Sir vouchsafe me hearing.
Nib.
With child I shame to my graue!
Oh whoore, wretched beyond vtterance or reformation?
What would'st say?
Iul.
Sir, by the honor of my mothers hearse,
He has protested marriage, pledg'd his faith:
If vowes haue any force, I am his wife.
Nib.
His faith?
Why thou foole, thou wickedly credulous foole,
Canst thou imagine Luxury is obseruant of Religion? No, no,
it is with a frequent Lecher as vsuall to forsweare as to
sweare, their piety is in making idolatry a worship, their
and a Virgin.
Iul.
You are too violent, his truth will proue
His constancy; and so excuse my fault.
Nibr.
Shamelesse woman! this beleefe will damne thee:
how will thy Lady Marquesse iustly reproue me, for preferring
to her seruice a monster of so lewd and impudent a life?
Looke too't; if thy smooth diuell leaue thee to thy infamy,
I will neuer pitty thy mortall pangs, neuer lodge thee vnder
my roofe, neuer owne thee for my childe; mercy bee my
witnesse.—
Enter Petruchio, leading Colona.
Petr.
Hide not thy folly by vnwise excuse,
Thou art vndone, Colona; no entreaties,
No warning, no perswasion, could put off
The habit of thy dotage on that man
Of much deceit, Ferentes: would thine eyes
Had seene me in my graue, e're I had knowne
The staine of this thine honour.
Col.
Good my Lord,
Reclaime your incredulitie; my fault
Proceeds from lawfull composition
Of Wedlocke; he hath seal'd his oath to mine,
To be my husband.
Nibr.
Husband? hey da! is't euen so? nay then we haue
partners in affliction: if my jolly gallants long Clapper haue
strucke on both sides, all is well: Petruchio, thou art not wise
enough to be a Parator; come hither man, come hither, speak
softly, is thy daughter with child?
Petr.
With child, Nibrassa?
Nib.
Fo, doe not trick me off, I ouerheard your gabling;
Harke in thine eare, so is mine too.
Petr.
Alas, my Lord, by whom?
Nib.
Innocent by whom: what an idle question is that?
One Cocke hath trod both our Hens, Ferentes, Ferentes: who
else? How dost take it? me thinkes thou att wondrous patient:
Why, I am mad, starke mad.
How like you this, Colona, 'tis too true?
Did not this man protest to be your husband?
Col.
Ay me, to me he did.
Nib.
What else, what else, Petruchio? and Madam, my
quondam daughter, I hope h'aue past some huge words of
matrimony to you too.
Iul.
Alas, to me he did.
Nib.
And how many more, the great Iucubus of hel knows
best: Petruchio, giue me your hand, mine owne daughter in
this arme, and yours, Colona, in this; there, there, sit ye down
together; neuer rise, as you hope to inherit our blessings,
till you haue plotted some braue reuenge: thinke vpon it to
purpose, and you shall want no seconds to further it, be secret
one to another: Come, Petruchio, let 'em alone, the wenches
will demurre on't, and for the processe, wee'll giue 'em
courage.
Petr.
You counsell wisely, I approue your plot:
Thinke on your shames, and who it was that wrought 'em.
Nib.
I, I, I, leaue them alone: to worke, wenches, to
worke.—
Exeunt.
Iul.
We are quite ruin'd.
Iul.
True, Colona,
Betray'd to infamy, deceiu'd, and mock'd
By an vnconstant Villaine; what shall's doe?
I am with childe.
Col.
Hey-ho, and so am I:
But what shall's doe now?
Iul.
This; with cunning words
First proue his loue; he knowes I am with child.
Col.
And so he knowes I am: I told him on't
Last meeting in the lobby, and in troth
The false deceiuer laugh'd.
Iul.
Now by the starres he did the like to me,
And said, 'twas well I was so hap'ly sped.
Col.
Those very words
He vs'd to me; it fretted me to'th heart:
I'le be reueng'd.
Iul.
Peace, here's a noyse me thinkes:
Let's rise, wee'll take a time to talke of this?
Feren.
Will yee? hold: death of my delights, haue yee
lost all sense of shame? y'are best rore about the Court, that
I haue beene your womans-barber, and trimm'd yee, kinde
Morona.
Mor.
Defiance to thy kindnesse, th'ast robd me of my good
name, didst promise to loue none but mee, mee, onely mee;
swor'st, like an vnconscionable villaine, to marry mee the
twelfth day of the month, two months since; didst make my
bed thine owne, mine house thine owne, mine, all and euery
thing thine owne, I will exclaime to the world on thee, and
begge Iustice of the Duke himselfe: Villaine, I will.
Feren.
Yet againe; nay, and if you be in that mood, shut
vp your fore-shop, I'le be your Iourny-man no longer: why
wise Madam Dryfist, could your mouldy braine bee so addle,
to imagine I would marry a stale widdow at six and forty?
Marry gip, are there not varieties enough of thirteene?
come, stop your Clap-dish, or I'le purchase a Carting for you:
By this light, I haue toyl'd more with this tough, Carrion hen,
then with ten Quailes, scarce growne into their first Feathers.
Mor.
O Treason to all honesty or Religion, speake thou
periur'd-damnable-vngracious-defiler of women, who shall
father my child which thou hast begotten?
Feren.
Why thee, Country woman; th'ast a larger purse to
pay for the nursing: nay, if you'll needs haue the world know
how you, reputed a graue-Matron-like Motherly-Madam,
kick'd vp your heeles like a Iennet, whose mark is new come
into her mouth, ee'ne doe, doe; the worst can be said of me
is, that I was ill aduis'd to digge for gold in a Cole-pit: Are yon
answer'd?
Mor.
Answer'd?
Iul.
Let's fall amongst 'em,—Loue—how is't chick? ha.
Col.
My deere Ferentes, my betrothed Lord.
Feren.
Excellent: oh for three Barbary stone horses to
top three Flanders Mares? why how now Wenches, what
means this?
Out vpon me, here's more of his truls.
Iul.
Loue, you must goe with me.
Col.
Good Loue, let's walke.
Feren.
I must rid my hands of 'em, or they'll ride on my
shoulders; by your leaue, Ladies: here's none but is of Common
Counsaile one with another: in short, there are three of
ye with child, you tell me by me: all of you I cannot satisfie,
(nor indeed hansomely any of ye) you all hope I should marry
you, which for that it is impossible to be done, I am content
to haue neither of ye; for your looking big on the matter,
keepe your owne Counsailes, I'le not bewray ye; but for
mariage, heauen blesse ye, & me frō ye; this is my resolution.
Col.
How, not me!
Iul.
Not me!
Mor.
Not me!
Feren.
Nor you, nor you, nor you.
And to giue you some satisfaction, I'le yeeld you reasons:
you, Colona, had a pretty art in your dalliance, but your fault
was, you were too suddenly won; you, Madam Morona, could
haue pleas'd wel enough some three or foure & thirty yeares
agoe, but you are too old; you, Iulia, were young enough, but
your fault is, you haue a scuruy face; now euery one knowing
her proper defect, thanke me, that I euer vouchsaf'd you the
honor of my bed once in your liues: if you want clouts, al I'le
promise, is to rip vp an old shirt or two; so wishing a speedy
deliuerāce to al your burdēs, I cōmend you to your patience
Mor.
Excellent.
Iul.
Notable.
Col.
Vnmatch'd Villaine.
Iul.
Madam, though strangers, yet we vnderstand
Your wrongs doe equall ours; which to reuenge,
Please but to ioyne with vs, and wee'll redeeme
Our losse of honour, by a braue exploit.
Mor.
I embrace your motion, Ladies, with gladnesse, and
will striue by any action to ranke with you in any danger.
Col.
Come Gentlewomen, let's together then,
Thrice happy maids that neuer trusted men.—
Exeunt.
Duke.
Roseilli will not come then? will not? well,
His pride shall ruine him.—Our letters speake
The Dutchesse Vncle will be here to morrow.
To morrow, D'auolos.
R. D.
To morrow night, my Lord, but not to make more
then one dayes abode here: for his Holinesse has commanded
him to be at Rome the tenth of this month, the Conclaue of
Cardinals not being resolu'd to sit till his comming.
Duke.
Your Vncle (Sweet-hart) at his next returne,
Must be saluted Cardinall: Ferentes,
Be it your charge to thinke on some deuice
To entertaine the present with delight.
Fer.
My Lord, in honour to the Court of Pauy,
I'le ioyne with you: Ferentes, not long since,
I saw in Bruxils, at my being there,
The Duke of Brabant welcome the Arch-bishop
Of Mentz with rare conceit, euen on a sudden
Perform'd by Knights and Ladies of his Court,
In nature of an Anticke; which, me thought,
(For that I ne're before saw women Anticks)
Was for the newnesse strange, and much commended.
Bian.
Now good my Lord Fernando further this
In any wise, it cannot but content.
Fior.
If she intreat, 'tis ten to one the man
Is won before hand.
Duke.
Friend, thou honour'st me:
But can it be so speedily perform'd?
Fer.
I'le vndertake it, if the Ladies please
To exercise in person onely that;
And we must haue a Foole, or such an one
As can with Art well act him.
Fior.
I shall fit yee,
I haue a naturall.
Fer.
Best of all, Madam; then nothing wants:
You must make one, Ferentes.
With my best seruice and dexterity, my Lord.
Petr.
This fals out happily, Nibrassa.
Nib.
We could not wish it better:
Heauen is an vnbrib'd Iustice.
Duke.
Wee'll meet our Vncle in a solemne grace
Of zealous presence, as becomes the Church:
See all the Quire be ready, D'auolos.
R. D.
I haue already made your Highnesse pleasure known
to them.
Bian.
Your lip, my Lord!
Fer.
Madam.
Bian.
Perhaps your teeth haue bled, wip't with my handkercher;
giue me, I'le doo't my selfe.—Speake, shall I steale
a kisse? beleeue me, my Lord, I long.
Fer.
Not for the world.
Fior.
Apparant impudence.
R. D.
Beshrew my heart, but that's not so good.
Duke.
Ha, what's that thou mislik'st D'auolos?
R. D.
Nothing, my Lord,—but I was hammering a
conceit of mine own, which cannot (I find) in so short a time
thriue, as a dayes practise.
Fior.
Well put off, Secretary.
Duke.
We are too sad, me thinkes the life of mirth
Should still be fed where we are;
Where's Maurucio?
Feren.
And't please your Highnesse, hee's of late growne
so affectionately inward with my Lady Marquesses Foole,
that I presume he is confident, there are few wise men worthy
of his society, who are not as innocently harmelesse as
that creature; it is almost impossible to seperate them, and
'tis a question which of the two is the wiser man.
Duke.
Would 'a were here, I haue a kind of dulnesse
Hangs on me since my hunting, that I feele
As 'twere a disposition to be sicke, my head is euer aking.
R. D.
A shrewd ominous token; I like not that neither.
Duke.
Againe! what is't you like not?
R. D.
I beseech your Highnesse excuse me; I am so busie
it almost confounds my capacity.
Bian.
My Lord, you were best to try a set at Maw;
I and your friend, to passe away the time,
Will vndertake your Highnesse and your sister
Duke.
The game's too tedious.
Fior.
'Tis a peeuish play,
Your Knaue will heaue the Queene out, or your King;
Besides, 'tis all on fortune.
Enter Maurucio, Roseilli like a foole, and Giacopo.
Mau.
Blesse thee, most excellent Duke; I here present thee
as worthy and learned a Gentleman, as euer I (and yet I haue
liued threescore yeares) conuers'd with; take it from me, I
haue try'd him, and is worthy to be priuy-Counsayler to the
greatest Turke in Christendome: of a most apparant and deep
vnderstanding, slow of speech, but speaks to the purpose;
Come forward, Sir, and appeare before his Highnesse in
your owne proper Elements.
Ros.
Will—tye—to da new toate sure la now.
Gia.
A very senselesse Gentleman, and please your Highnesse,
one that has a great deale of little wit, as they say.
Mau.
Oh Sir, had you heard him as I did, deliuer whole
histories in the Tangay tongue, you would sweare there were
not such a linguist breath'd againe; and did I but perfectly
vnderstand his langnage, I would be confident, in lesse then
two houres, to distinguish the meaning of Bird, Beast, or
Fish, naturally, as I my selfe speake Italian, my Lord.—
Well, he has rare qualities.
Duke.
Now prethe question him, Maurucio.
Mau.
I will, my Lord.
Tell me, rare scholler, which in thy opinion,
Doth cause the strongest breath,—garlick or onyon?
Gia.
Answer him, brother foole; doe, doe, speak thy mind
chucke, doe.
Ros.
Haue bid seen all da fyne knack, and d'ee
Naghtye tat-tle of da knaue, dad la haue so.
Duke.
We vnderstand him not.
Admirable, I protest, Duke; marke oh Duke, mark!
What did I aske him, Giacopo?
Gia.
Which caused the strongest breath, garlicke or onyons,
I take it, Sir.
Mau.
Right, right by Hellicon; and his answer is, that a
knaue has a stronger breath then any of 'em; wisedome (or
I am an Asse) in the highest, a direct Figure; put it downe,
Giacopo.
Duke.
How happy is that Ideot, whose ambition
Is but to eat, and sleepe, and shun the rod:
Men that haue more of wit, and vse it ill,
Are fooles in proofe.
Bian.
True, my Lord, there's many
Who thinke themselues most wise, that are most fooles.
R. D.
Bitter girds if all were knowne,—but—
Duke.
But what? speake out; plague on your muttering
Grumbling, I heare you, Sir, what is't?
R. D.
Nothing, I protest, to your Highnesse pertinent, to
any moment.
Duke.
Wel, Sir, remember.—Friend, you promis'd study.
I am not well in temper; come Biancha,
Attend our friend Ferentes.
exeunt, manent Fer. Ros. Feren. et Mau.
Fer.
Ferentes, take Maurucio in with you
He must be one in action,
Feren.
Come, my Lord, I shall intreat your helpe.
Fer.
I'le stay the Foole:
And follow instantly.
Mau.
Yes, pray, my Lord.
Exeunt Feren. et Mau.
Fer.
How thriue your hopes now, Couzen?
Ros.
Are we safe?
Then let me cast my selfe beneath thy foot,
True vertuous Lord: Know then, Sir, her proud heart
Is onely fix'd on you in such extremes
Of violence and passion, that I feare,
Or shee'll enioy you, or shee'll ruine you.
Fer.
Me, Cooze; by all the ioyes I wish to taste,
Shee is as farre beneath thy thought, as I
Ros.
I obseru'd
Euen now, a kind of dangerous pretence
In an vn-ioynted phrase from D'auolos:
I know not hir intent, but this I know,
He has a working braine, is minister
To all my Ladies counsels; and (my Lord)
Pray heauen there haue not any thing befalne
Within the knowledge of his subtill Art,
To doe you mischife.
Fer.
Pish; should he or hell
Affront me in the passage of my fate,
I'de crush them into Atomies.
Ros.
I, doe; admit you could, meane time, my Lord,
Be nearest to your selfe, what I can learne
You shall be soone inform'd of: here is all
We fooles can catch the wise in; to vnknot
By priuilege of coxcombes, what they plot.—
Exeunt
Enter Duke and D'auolos.
Duke.
Thou art a Traytor: doe not thinke the glosse
Of smooth euasion, by your cunning iests,
And coynage of your polliticians braine,
Shall jig me off: I'le know't, I vow I will.
Did not I note your darke abrupted ends
Of words halfe spoke? your wel's, if all were knowne?
Your short, I like not that? your girds, and Buts?
Yes (Sir) I did: such broken language argues
More matter then your subtilty shall hide:
Tell me, what is't? by Honors selfe I'le know.
R. D.
What would you know, my Lord? I confesse I owe
my life and seruice to you, as to my Prince; the one you haue,
the other you may take from me at your pleasure: should I
deuise matter to feed your distrust, or suggest likelihoods
without appearance? what would you haue me say? I know
nothing.
Duke.
Thou ly'st, dissembler; on thy brow I read
Distracted horrors figur'd in thy loakes.
Thou hop'st to liue in grace with vs, vnfold
What by thy party halting of thy speech
Thy knowledge can discouer: By the faith
We beare to sacred Iustice, we protest,
Be it or good, or euil, thy reward
Shall be our speciall thanks, and loue vn-term'd:
Speake, on thy duty, we thy Prince command.
R. D.
Oh my disaster! my Lord, I am so charm'd by those
powerfull repetitions of loue and duty, that I cannot conceale
what I know of your dishonor.
Duke.
Dishonor! then my soule is cleft with feare:
I halfe presage my misery, say on;
Speake it at once, for I am great with griefe.
R. D.
I trust your Highnesse will pardon mee, yet I will
not deliuer a sillable which shall be lesse innocent then truth
it selfe.
Duke.
By all our wish of ioyes, we pardon thee.
R. D.
Get from me cowardly seruility, my seruice is noble,
and my loyalty an Armour of brasse: in short, my Lord,
and plaine discouery, you are a Cuckold.
Duke.
Keepe in the word,—a Cuckold?
R. D.
Fernando is your Riuall, has stolne your Dutchesse
heart, murther'd friendship, hornes your head, and laughes at
your hornes.
Duke.
My heart is split.
R. D.
Take courage, be a Prince in resolution; I knew it
would nettle you in the fire of your composition, and was
loath to haue giuen the first report of this more then ridiculous
blemish to all patience or moderation. But, oh my Lord,
what would not a subiect doe to approue his loyalty to his
Soueraigne? yet, good Sir, take it as quietly as you can: I
must needs say, 'tis a soule fault, but what man is hee vnder
the Sun, that is free from the Careere of his destiny? may be
she will in time reclaime the errors of her youth: or 'twere
a great happinesse in you, if you could not beleeue it; that's
the surest way, my Lord, in my poore counsell.
The ycie current of my frozen blood
Is kindled vp in Agonies as hot
As flames of burning sulphure: oh my fate!
A Cuckold? had my Duke domes whole inheritance
Beene rent, mine honors leueld in the dust,
So she, that wicked woman, might haue slept
Chast in my bosome, 't had beene all a sport.
And he, that Villaine, viper to my heart,
That he should be the man!
That he should be the man; death aboue vtterance!
Take heed your proue this true.
R. D.
My Lord.
Duke.
If not,
I'le teare thee ioynt by ioynt.—Pew, me thinks
I should not be; Biancha! why, I tooke her
From lower then a bondage; hell of hels?
See that you make it good.
R. D.
As for that, would it were as good as I would make
it, I can (if you will temper your distractions) but bring you
where you shall see it; no more.
Duke.
See it?
R. D.
I, see it, if that be proofe sufficient: I for my part,
will slacke no seruice that may testifie my simplicitie.
Enter Fernando.
Duke.
Enough:—what newes Fernando?
Fer.
Sir, the Abbot is now vpon arriuall, all your seruants
Attend your presence.
Duke.
We will giue him welcome
As shall befit our loue and his respect:
Come mine owne best Fernando, my deere friend,—
Exeunt
R. D.
Excellent! now for a horned Moone.
Sound of Musicke.
But I heare the preparation for the entertainement of this
great Abbot let him come and goe, that matters nothing to
this; whiles hee rides abroad in hope to purchase a purple
hat, our Duke shall as earnestly heat the pericranion of his
noddle, with a yellow hood at home: I heare 'em comming.
Enter 3. or 4. with Torches; after the Duke, Fernando, Biancha, Fiormonda, Petruchio, Nibrassa at one doore. Enter at another doore, two Fryars, Abbot, and attendants: The Duke and Abbott meet and salute, Biancha and the rest salute, and are saluted; they ranke themselues, and goe out the Quire singing, D'auolos onely stayes.
R. D.
On to your vittailes; some of yee, I know, feed vpon
wormewood.
Exit.
Enter Petruchio and Nibrassa with napkins, as from supper.
Petr.
The Duke's on rising; are you ready ho?
Within.
All ready.
Nib.
Then, Petruchio, arme thy selfe with courage and
resolution, and doe not shrinke from being stayed on thy
owne vertue.
Petr.
I am resolu'd.—fresh lights, I heare 'em comming.
Enter some with lights: the Duke, Abbot, Biancha, Fiormonda, Fernando and D'auolos.
Duke.
Right Reuerend Vncle, tho our minds be scanted
In giuing welcome as our hearts would wish,
Yet we will striue to shew how much we ioy
Your presence, with a Courtly a shew of mirth.
Please you to sit.
Abbot.
Great Duke, your worthy honours to me,
Shall still haue place in my best thanks:
Since you in me so much respect the Church,
Thus much I'le promise; at my next returne,
His Holinesse shall grant an Indulgence
Both large and generall.
Duke.
Our humble duty
Seat you, my Lords: now let the Masquers enter.
Enter in an Anticke fashion, Ferentes, Roseilli, and Maurucio at seuerall doores, they dance a little: suddenly to them enter Colona, Iulia, Morona in odde shapes, and dance; the men gaze at them, are at a stand, and are inuited by the women to dance, they dance together sundry changes, at last they close Ferentes in, Maurucio and Roseilli being
Cease Musicke.
Feren.
Vncase me; I am slaine in iest, a pox vpon your
outlandish feminine Antiks: pull off my Visor; I shall bleed
to death, ere I haue time to feele where I am hurt: Duke, I
am slaine, off with my visor, for heauens sake off with my
visor.
They vnmaske him.
Duke.
Slaine? take this visor off; we are betray'd:
Ceaze on them, two are yonder, hold, Ferentes;
Follow the rest, apparant treachery.
Abbot.
Holy St. Bennet, what a sight is this?
Enter Iulia, Colona, and Morona vnmask'd, euery one hauing a child in their armes.
Iul.
Be not amaz'd, great Princes, but vouchsafe
Your audience; we are they haue done this deed:
Looke here, the pledges of this false mans lust,
Betray'd in our simplicities: He swore,
And pawn'd his truth to marry each of vs;
Abus'd vs all, vnable to reuenge
Our publike shames, but by his publike fall,
Which thus we haue contriu'd; nor doe we blush
To call the glory of this murther ours:
We did it, and wee'll iustifie the deed.
For when in sad complaints we claym'd his vowes,
His answer was reproach; villaine, is't true?
Col.
I was too quickly wonne, you slaue.
Mer.
I was too old, you dogge.
Iul.
I (and I neuer shall forget the wrong)
I was not faire enough, not faire enough
For thee, thou monster; let me cut his gall,
she stabs him,
Not faire enough! oh scorne! not faire enough?
Feren.
O, o, oh.—
Duke,
Forbeare, you monstrous women, doe not adde
Feren.
Pox vpon all Codpeece extrauagancy.
I am pepper'd—oh, oh, oh—Duke forgiue me.
Had I rid any tame beasts, but Barbary wild Colts,
I had not bin thus jerk'd out of the saddle.
My forfeit was in my blood, and my life hath answer'd it.
Vengeance on all wild whores, I say,—oh 'tis true;
Farewell generation of Hackneyes.—ooh.
dyes.
Duke.
He is dead, to prison with those monstrous strumpets.
Petr.
Stay, I'le answer for my daughter.
Nib.
And I for mine:—oh well done, girles.
Fer.
I for yon Gentlewoman, Sir.
Mau.
Good my Lord, I am an innocent in the businesse.
Duke.
To prison with him; beare the body hence.
Abbot.
Here's fatall sad presages, but 'tis iust,
He dyes by murther, that hath liu'd in lust.
Exeunt.
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