 | The Ladies Triall |  |
Actus Quartus.
Enter Malfato, and Spinella.Malfato.
Here you are safe, (sad cosen) if you please
May over-say the circumstance of what
You late discourst, mine eares are gladly open,
For I my selfe am in such hearty league
With solitary thoughts, that pensive language
Charmes my attention.
Spi.
But my husbands honours,
By how much more in him they sparkle cleerly
by so much more they tempt beliefe to credit
The wrack and ruine of my injur'd name.
Mal.
Why cosen should the earth cleave to the rootes,
The seas and heavens be mingled in disorder,
Your purity with unaffrighted eyes
Might waite the uproare, tis the guilty trembles
In censuring a libertie allowd.
Speake freely, gentle cousin, was Adurni
Importunately wanton?
Spi.
In excesse
Of entertainment, else not.
Mal.
Not the boldnesse
Of an uncivill courtship.
Spi.
What that meant,
I never understood, I have at once
Set barres between my best of earthly joyes,
And best of men, so excellent a man
As lives without comparison, his love
To me was matchlesse.
Mal.
Yet put case, sweet cousin,
That I could name a creature, whose affection
Followd your Auria in the height: affection
To you; even to Spinella, true and setled,
As ever Auria's was, can, is, or will be.
You may not chide the storie.
Spi.
Fortunes minions
Are flattered, not the miserable.
Mal.
Listen to a strange tale, which thus the authour sigh'd,
A kinsman of Spinella (so it runnes)
Her fathers sisters sonne, some time before
Auria the fortunate possest her beauties,
Became inamor'd of such rare perfections,
As she was stor'd with, fed his idle hopes
With possibilities of lawfull conquest,
Propos'd each difficultie in pursuit
Of what his vaine supposall stil'd his owne,
Found in the argument one onely flaw
Of conscience, by the nearnesse of their blouds,
Unhappy scruple, easily dispenc'd with,
Had any friends advice resolv'd the doubt.
Still on a' lov'd, and lov'd, and wisht, and wisht,
Eft-soone began to speake, yet soone broke off,
Spi.
Twas wonderfull,
Mal.
Exceeding wonderfull,
Beyond all wonder, yet tis knowne for truth,
After her marriage, when remaind not ought
Of expectation to such fruitlesse dotage.
His reason then, now, then could not reduce
The violence of passion, tho a' vowd
Never to unlock that secret, scarce to her
Herselfe, Spinella, and withall resolv'd,
Not to come neare her presence, but to avoyd
All opportunities how ever proffered.
Spi.
An understanding duld by th'infelicitie
Of constant sorrow, is not apprehensive
In pregnant noveltie, my eares receive
The words you utter, cousin, but my thoughts
Are fastned on another subject.
Mal.
Can you embrace, so like a darling, your owne woes,
And play the tyrant with a partner in them?
Then I am thankfull for advantage, urg'd
By fatall and enjoynd necessitie,
To stand up in defence of injur'd vertue,
Will against any, I except no qualitie,
Maintaine all supposition misapplied,
Unhonest, false, and villanous.
Spi.
Deare cousin, as y'are a gentleman,
Mal.
Ile blesse that hand,
Whose honourable pittie seales the pasport
For my incessant turmoyles, to their rest.
If I prevaile, (which heaven forbid) these ages
VVhich shall inherit ours, may tell posteritie
Spinella had Malfato for a kinsman,
By noble love made jealous of her fame.
Spi.
No more, I dare not heare it.
Mal.
All is sayd:
Henceforth shall never syllable proceed,
Enter Castanna.
From my unpleasant voyce, of amorous folly—
Your summons warn'd me hither, I am come
Sister, my sister twas an unkinde part,
Not to take me along w'ee.
Mal.
Chide her for it,
Castanna, this house is as freely yours,
As ever was your fathers.
Cast.
we conceave so,
Tho your late strangenesse hath bred mervaile in us,
But wherefore, sister, keepes your silence distance?
Am I not welcome t'ee?
Spi.
Lives Auria safe?
Oh prithee doe not heare me call him husband,
before thou canst resolve what kinde of wife
His fury termes the runne away, speake quickely,
Yet doe not stay Castanna, I am lost,
His friend hath set before him a bad woman,
And hee, good man, believes it.
Cast.
Now in truth—
Spi.
Hold, my heart trembles, I perceive thy tongue
Is great with ills and hastes to be delivered,
I should not use Castanna so, first tell me,
Shortly and truely tell me how he does.
Cast.
In perfect health.
Spi.
For that my thankes to heaven.
Mal.
The world hath not another wife like this,
Cosen you will not heare your sister speake,
So much your passion rules.
Spi.
Even what she pleases: goe on Castanna.
Cast.
Your most noble husband
Is deafe to all reports, and only grieves
At his soules love, Spinellas causelesse absence.
Mal.
Why looke ye cosen now?
Spi.
Indeede.
Cast.
Will value no counsel, takes no pleasure in his greatnesse,
Neither admits of likelyhood at all,
That you are living: if you were hee's certaine
It were impossible you could conceale
But as for jealousie of your dishonor,
Hee both laughes at and scornes it.
Spi.
Does a'.
Mal.
Therein he shewes himselfe desertfull of his happinesse,
Cast.
Methinks the newes should cause some motion sister.
You are not well.
Mal,
Not well.
Spi.
I am unworthy.
Mal.
Of whom? what? why?
Spi.
Goe cosen, come Castanna.
Exeunt.
Enter Trelcatio, Piero, and Futilli.
Trel.
The state in counsel is already set,
My comming will bee late; now therfore gentlemen,
This house is free as your intents are sober,
Your paines shall be accepted.
Fut.
Mirth sometimes falls into earnest signior.
Pie.
Wee for our parts aime at the best.
Trel.
You wrong your selvs & me else, good successe t'ee.
Exit.
Pie.
Futilli tis our wisest course to follow
Our pastime with discretion, by which meanes
Wee may ingratiate as our businesse hits,
Our undertakings to great Aurias favour.
Fut.
I grow quite weary of this lazie custome
Attending on the fruitlesse hopes of service,
For meate and ragges, a wit, a shrewd preferment
Study some scurrill jests, grow old and beg
No let em be admir'd that love foule linnen.
Ile runne a new course.
Pie.
Get the coyne we spend,
And knocke 'em ore the pate who jeers our earnings—
Fut.
Husht man, one suiter comes.
Musicke.
Pie.
The tother followes.
Enter Amoretta.
Fut.
Be not so lowd—here comes Madona sweete lips.
Amo.
Dentlemen then ye ith thith muthicke yourth, or can ye
tell what great manths fidleth, made it tith vedee petty noyth, but
who thold thend it.
Pie.
does not your selfe know Lady.
Amo.
I doe not uth
To thpend lip labour upon quethtionths,
That I my thelfe can anthwer.
Fut.
No sweet madam,
Your lips are destind to a better use,
Or else the proverbe failes of lisping maids.
Amo.
Kithing you mean pey come behind with your mockths then,
My lipthes will therve the one to kith the other—
How now whath neckt?
SONG.
VVhat hoe we come to be merry,Open the doores a Joviall crew,
Lusty boyes and free, and very,
Very, very lusty boys are wee,
We can drinke till all looke blew,
Dance sing and roare,
Never give ore.
As long as we have nere an eye to see
Pithee, pithee, leths come in,
Oue thall all oua favous win,
Dently, dently, we thall passe,
None kitheth like the lithping lasse.
What call yee this a song?
Amo.
Yeth a delithious thing, and wondroth prety,
Fut.
A very country catch—doubtlesse some prince
Belike hath sent it to congratulate
Your nights repose.
Amo.
Thinke ye tho thignior,
That thuns the light.
Pie.
Perhaps the prince of darkenesse.
Amo.
Of darkeneth what ith he?
Fut.
A courtier matchlesse
A' woes, and wins, more beauties to his love
Then all the kings on earth.
Enter Fulgosa.
Amo.
Whea thandeth hith court pey—
Fut.
This gentleman approaching I presume,
Has more relation to his court then I,
And comes in time t'informe ye.
Amo.
Thinck ye tho: ime thure you know him,
Pie.
Lady youl perceave it.
Ful.
She seemes in my first entrance to admire me,
Protest she eyes me round; Fulg. shees is thine owne.
Pie.
Noble Fulgoso.
Ful.
Did you heare the musique?
Twas I that brought it, was't not tickling? ah ha
Amo.
Pay what pinth thent it.
Ful.
Prince, no Prince but we,
We set the ditty and composd the song,
Theres nos a note or foote in't, but our owne,
And the pure trodden morter of this braine,
We can doe things and things.
Amo.
Doo'd thing't you a thelfe then.
Ful.
Nay, nay, I could never sing
More then a gib cat, or a very howlet,
But you shall heare me whistle it.
Amo.
Thith thingth thome jethter,
Thure he belongth unto the printh of darkneth.
Pie.
Yes, and ile tell you what his office is,
His Prince delights himselfe exceedingly
In birds of divers kindes, this gentleman
Is keeper and instructer of his black-birds, he tooke his skill first
from his fathers carter.
Amo.
Tith wonderfull to thee by what thrange meanes
Thome men are raisd to plathes.
I doe heare you,
And thanke ye heartily for your good wills,
In setting forth my parts, but what I live on,
Is simple trade of money from my lands.
Hang sharkes, I am no shifter.
Amo.
Ith pothible—
Enter Guzman.
Bleth uth whoth thith?
Fut.
Oh it is the man of might.
Guz.
May my addresse to beauty lay no scandall
Upon my martiall honour, since even Mars
Whom as in war, in love I imitate,
Could not resist the shafts of Cupid, therefore
As with the god of Warre, I deigne to stoop.
Lady vouchsafe loves goddesse like to yield
Your fairer hand unto these lips, the portalls
Of valiant breath, that hath ore-turnd an army.
Amo.
Fay'a weather, keepe me, what a thorme ith thith?
Fut.
Oh Don keepe off at further distance yet
A little farther, doe you not observe
How your strong breath hath terrifyd the Lady?
Guz.
Ile stop the breath of war and breath as gently
As a perfum'd paire of sucking bellowes
In some sweete Ladies chamber, for I can
Speake Lyon-like, or sheepe like, when I please.
Fut.
Stand by then, without noise a while brave Don
And let her only view your parts, they'le take her.
Guz.
Ile publish them in silence.
Pie.
Stand you there
Fulgoso the magnificent.
Ful.
Heare?
Pie.
Just there,
Let her survey you both; youle be her choyce
Nere doubt it, man.
Fut.
I cannot doubt it, man.
Pie.
But speake not till I bid you.
Ful.
I may whistle.
Pie.
A little to your selfe, to spend the time.
Both foolth you thay.
Fut.
But heare them for your sport.
Pie.
Don shal begin,—begin Don, she has surveyd
Your outwards and your inwards through the rents,
And wounds of your apparell.
Guz.
She is politicke,
My out-side Lady shrowds a prince obscurd;
Amo.
I thanke ye for your muthicke printh.
Guz.
My words
Are musique to her.
Amo.
The muthicke and the thong
You thent me by thith whithling thing, your man?
Guz.
She tooke him for my man, love thou wert just.
Ful.
I wonot hould, his man, tis time to speake
Before my time, oh scurvy, I his man?
That has no meanes for meat or ragges, and seame-rents.
Guz.
Have I with this one rapier.
Pie.
He has no other.
Guz.
Past through a field of pikes, whose heads I lopt
As easily as the bloody minded youth
Lopt off the poppy heads.
Ful.
The puppit heads.
Guz.
Have I—have I—have I?
Ful.
Thou lyest thou hast not,
And ile mayn't.
Guz.
Have I—but let that passe,
For tho my famous acts were damb'd to silence,
Yet my discent shall crowne me thy superior.
Amo.
That I would lithen to.
Guz.
List and wonder,
My great, great Grandsir was an ancient Duke,
Stild Dis? vir di Gonzado.
Fut.
Thats in Spanish
An incorrigible rogue, without a fellow,
An unmatchd rogue, he thinkes we understand not.
Guz.
So was my grandfather height Argozile.
Ful.
An arrant, arrant theefe leader, pray mocke it.
My grandsire by the mothers side a Condee,
Condee Scrivano.
Fut.
A crop-eard Scrivener.
Guz.
Whose son, my mothers father was a Marquis,
Huio di puto.
Pie.
Thats the sonne of a whore.
And my renowned sire Don Piccaco.
Fut.
In proper sence a rascall—O brave Don.
Guz.
Huio di una pravado—
Pie.
A' goes on,
Son of a branded bitch—high spirited Don,
Guz.
Had honors both by sea and land, to wit.
Fut.
The Gallies and Bride-well.
Ful.
Ile not endure it,
To heare a canting mungrell—Heare me lady,
Guz.
Tis no faire play.
Ful.
I care not faire or foule,
I from a King derive my pedigree,
King Oberon by name, from whom my father
The mightie and couragious Mounti-banco,
Was lineally descended, and my mother
(In right of whose blood I must ever honor
The lower Germany) was a Harlekine.
Fut.
He blow up
The Spaniard presently by his mother side.
Ful.
Her father was Grave Hansvan Herne, the son
Of Hogen Mogen, dat de droates did sneighen
Of veirteen hundred Spaniards in one neict.
Guz.
Oh Diabolo.
Ful.
Ten thousand Divels, nor Diabolos
Shall fright me from my pedigree, my uncle
Yacob van Flagon drought, with Abraham Snorten fert
And yongster Brogen foh with fourscore hargubush,
Manag'd by well-lin'd Butter-boxes, tooke
A thousand Spanish Iobber-nowles by surprise,
And beat a sconce about their eares.
Guz.
My furie
Drawes.
Amo.
Lath they thall not fight.
Fut.
Feare not, sweet Lady.
Pie.
Be advis'd great spirits.
Ful.
My fortunes bid me to be wise in duels,
Else hang't, who cares?
Guz.
Mine honour is my tutour,
Already try'd and knowne.
Fut.
Why there's the poynt,
Mine honour is my tutour too, Noble men
Fight in their persons, scorn't, tis out of fashion,
Theres none but hare-brain'd youths of metall use it.
Pie.
Yet put not up your swords, it is the pleasure
Of the faire Lady, that you quit the field,
With brandisht blades in hand.
Fut.
And more to shew
your suffering valour, as her equall favours,
you both should take a competence of kickes.
Ambo.
How?
Fut., Pie.
Thus and thus, away you brace of stinkards,
Ful.
Pheugh, is it were.
Guz.
Why since it is her pleasure, I dare and will endure it.
Ful.
Pheugh.
Pie.
Away, but stay below.
Fut.
Budge not, I charge yee,
Till you have further leave.
Guz.
Mine honour claimes
The last foot in the field.
Ful.
Ile lead the van then.
Exit.
Enter Trelcatio.
Fut.
yet more, be gone, are not these pretious suiters—
Trel.
What tumults fright the house?
Fut.
A brace of Castrels,
That flattered sir, about this lovely game
your daughter, but they durst not give the souze
And so tooke hedge.
Pie.
Mee Haggards, Buzzards, Kites.
Amo.
Ith korne, thuch trumpe and will thape my luffe,
Trel.
Why now thou singst in tune, my Amoretta,
And my good friends, you have likewise Physitians,
Prescrib'd a healthfull dyet, I shall thinke on
A bounty for your paines, and will present yee
To noble Auria: such as your descents
Commend, but for the present we must quit
This roome to privacie: they come—
Amo.
Nay predee,
Leave me not Dentlemen.
Fut.
We are your servants.
exeunt.
Enter Auria, Adurni, and Aurelio,
Auri.
Y'are welcome, be assur'd you are, for proofe,
Retrive the boldnesse (as you please to terme it)
Of visit to commands, if this mans presence
Be not of use, dismisse him.
Adur.
Tis (with favour)
Of consequence my Lord, your friend may witnesse
How farre my reputation stands ingag'd
To noble reconcilement.
Auri.
I observe
No partie here amongst us, who can challenge
A motion of such honour.
Adur.
Could your lookes
Borrow more cleare severitie and calmnesse,
Than can the peace of a composed soule;
Yet I presume, report of my attempt
(Train'd by a curiosity in youth)
For scattering clouds before 'em, hath rais'd tempests
Which will at last break out.
Auri.
Hid now (most likely)
I'th darknesse of your speech.
Aure.
you may be plainer.
Adur.
I shall my Lord, that I intended wrong,
Auri.
Ha? wrong? to whom?
Adur.
To Auria, and as farre
Auri.
Take advice,
(Young Lord) before thy tongue betray a secret
Conceald yet from the world; heare and consider
In all my flight of vanitie and giddinesse,
VVhen scarce the wings of my excesse were fledg'd,
VVhen a distemperature of youthfull heat,
Might have excus'd disorder and ambition,
Even then, and so from thence till now the down
Of softnesse is exchang'd for plumes of age,
Confirm'd and hardned, never durst I pitch
On any howsoever likely rest,
VVhere the presumption might be consterd wrong,
The word is hatefull, and the sence wants pardon:
For as I durst not wrong the meanest, so
He who but onely aimd by any boldnesse,
A wrong to me, should finde I must not beare it,
The one is as unmanly as the other.
Now without interruption.
Adur.
Stand Aurelio,
And justifie thine accusation boldly,
Spare me the needlesse use of my confession,
And having told no more, then what thy jealousie
Possest thee with againe before my face,
Vrge to thy friend the breach of hospitalitie
Adurni trespast in, and thou conceavst
Against Spinella; why proofes grow faint,
If barely not suppos'd, Ile answere guilty.
Aure.
You come not here to brave us.
Adur.
No Aurelio.
But to reply upon that brittle evidence,
To which thy cunning never shall rejoyne.
I make my Iudge my Iurie, be accountant
VVhither withall the eagernesse of spleene
Of a suspitious rage can plead, thou hast
Enforc'd the likelihood of scandall.
Aure.
Doubt not
As much as I believe, and justly witnesse.
Adur.
Loose grounds to raise a bulwarke of reproach on,
And thus for that; my errand hither is not
In whining trewant-like submission,
To cry I have offended, pray forgive me,
I will doe so no more: but to proclaime
The power of vertue, whose commanding soveraignty,
Sets bounds to rebell-bloods, and checke restraines,
Custome of folly by example teaches
A rule to reformation; by rewards,
Crownes worthy actions, and invites to honour.
Aure.
Honour and worthy actions, best beseeme
Their lips who practice both, and not discourse 'em.
Auri.
Peace, peace, man, I am silent.
Adur.
Some there are,
And they not few in number, who resolve
No beauty can be chaste, lesse unattempted;
And for because the liberty of courtship
Flies from the wanton, on the her comes next,
Meeting oft times, too many soon seduced,
Conclude, all may be won by gifts, by service,
Or complements of vowes; and with this file
I stood in ranke, conquest securd my confidence,
Spinella (storme not Auria) was an object
Of study for fruition; here I angled
Not doubting the deceipt could finde resistance.
Aure.
After confession followes—
Auri.
Noyse observe him.
Adur.
Oh strange: by all the comforts of my hopes
I found a woman good; a woman good,
Yet as I wish beliefe, or doe desire
A memorable mention, so much majesty
Of humblenesse, and scorne, appeard at once
In faire, in chast, in wise Spinellas eyes,
That I grew dull in utterance, and one frowne
From her, could every flame of sensuall appetite.
On sir and doe not stop.
Adur.
Without protests,
I pleaded meerely love, usd not a sillable,
But what a virgin might without a blush,
Have listned to, and not well arm'd have pittied,
But she neglecting, cry'd come Auria, come
Fight for thy wife at home, then in rushd you sir
Talkd in much fury, parted, when as soone
The Lady vanishd, after her the rest.
Auri.
What followd?
Adur.
My commission on mine errour,
In execution whereof I have prov'd
So punctually severe, that I renounce
All memory, not to this one fault alone
But to my other greater, and more irksome,
Now he who ever ownes a name, that consters
This repetition, the report of feare.
Of falshood, or imposture, let him tell me
I give my selfe the lye, and I will cleare
The injury, and man to man, or if
Such justice may prove doubtfull, two to two,
Or three to three, or any way reprieve
Th'opinion of my forfeit, without blemish.
Auri.
Who can you thinke I am? did you expect
So great a tamenesse as you finde, Adurni,
That you cast lowd defiance? say—
Adur.
I have rob'd you
Of rigor (Auria) by my strict self-penance,
For the presumption.
Auri.
Sure Italians hardly
Admit dispute in questions of this nature,
The tricke is new.
Adur.
I finde my absolution,
By vowes of change from all ignoble practice.
Auri.
Why looke ye frind, I tould you this before
You would not be perswaded,—let me thinke.
Aure.
You doe not yet deny that you solicited
Adur.
I have answerd,
But it returnd much quiet to my minde,
Perplext with rare commotions.
Auri.
Thats the way
It smoothes all rubs.
Aure.
My Lord.
Auri.
Foh I am thinking
You may talke forward, if it take tis cleare
And then and then, and so and so.
Adur.
You labour with curious engins sure,
Auri.
Fine ones, I take ye
To be a man of credit—else,
Adur.
Suspition is needlesse, know me better.
Auri.
Yet you must not part from me sir.
Adur.
For that your pleasure.
Aur.
Come fight for thy wife at home my Auria—yes
We can fight my Spinella, when thine honor
Relies upon a Champion—now.
Enter Trelcatio.
Trel.
My Lord
Castanna with her sister, and Malfato
Are newly enterd.
Auri.
Be not lowd; convey them
Into the gallery—Aurelio, friend
Adurni Lord, we three will sit in counsell
And peece a hearty league, or scuffle shrewdly.
Exit.
| The Ladies Triall | |