 | The Ladies Triall |  |
Actus Quintus.
Enter Martino, Benatzi, and Levidolche.Martino.
Ruffian out of my doores, thou comst to rob me,
An officer, what ho! my house is haunted
By a lewd packe of theeves, of harlots, murtherers,
And she trowles on her ragged customer,
To cut my throat for pillage.
Lev.
Good sir heare me,
Ben.
Heare or not heare, let him rave his lungs out,
Whiles this woman hath abode under this roofe,
I will justifie my selfe her bedfellow in despight
Of deniall, in despight, those are my words.
Mar.
Monstrous! why sirrah, do I keepe a bawdy-house,
An hospitall for pandors? Oh thou monster,
Thou she-confusion! are you growne so rampant,
That from a privat wanton thou proclaimst thy selfe
A baggage for all gamesters, Lords or Gentlemen,
Strangers, or home-spun yeomen, foot-posts, pages,
Rorers or hangmen, hey day, set up shop,
And then cry a market open, toot, and welcome.
Lev.
This is my husband.
Mar.
Husband!
Ben.
Husband naturall, I have married her,
And whats your verdict on the match signior?
Mar.
Husband, and married her!
Lev.
Indeed tis truth.
Mar.
A proper joyning, give ye joy great mistresse
Your fortunes are advanc'd, marry are they,
What joynture is assur'd pray? some three thousand
A yeare in oathes and vermine? faire preferment.
Was ever such a tatterd ragge of mans flesh,
Patch'd up for Copesmate to my Neeces daughter.
Le.
Sir, for my mothers name forbeare this anger,
If I have yoak'd my selfe beneath your wishes,
Yet is my choyce a lawfull one, and I
Will live as truly chaste unto his bosome,
As ere my faith hath bound me.
Mar.
A sweet couple.
Ben.
We are so, for mine owne part, however my out-side
Appeare ungay, I have wrastled with death,
Signior Martino, to preserve your sleepes, and such
A mockery, a very towne-bull for laughter, unthrifts,
And landed babies, are prey-curmudgeons,
Lay their baits for, let the warres rattle about
Your eares once, and the securitie of a souldier is
Right honourable amongst yee then, that day
May shine againe: so to my businesse.
Mar.
A souldier! thou a souldier, I doe believe
Th'art lowsie; that's a pretty signe I grant:
A villanous poore Bandetti rather, one
Can man a queane, and cant, and pick a pocket,
Pad for a cloake, or hat, and in the darke
Pistoll a stragler for a quarter Ducate.
A souldier! yes, a lookes as if a had not
The spirit of a herring, or a tumbler.
Ben.
Let age and dotage rage together, Levidolche thou art
mine, on what conditions the world shall soone witnesse: yet since
our hands joyn'd, I have not interessed my possession of thy bed,
nor till I have accounted to thy injunction, doe I meane: kisse mee
quick and resolute. So adieu Signior.
Lev.
Deare, for loves sake, stay.
Ben.
Forbeare intreaties.
Exit.
Mar.
Ah thou: but what? I know not how to call thee,
Faine would I smother griefe, and out it must,
My heart is broke, thou hast for many a day
Been at a losse, and now art lost for ever:
Lost, lost, without recovery.
Lev.
With pardon,
Let me retaine your sorrowes.
Mar.
Tis impossible,
Despaire of rising up to honest fame,
Turnes all the courses wilde, and this last action
Will roare thy infamie, then you are certainly
Married forsooth, unto this new-come.
Lev.
Yes, and herein every hope is brought to life,
Which long hath laine in deadnesse, I have once more
Wedded Benatzi my divorced husband,
Benatzi, this the man?
Lev.
No odde disguise
Could guard him from discoverie; tis he,
The choyce of my ambition, heaven preserve me
Thankfull for such a bounty; yet he dreames not
Of this deceit, but let me die in speaking,
If I repute not my successe more happy
Then any earthly blessing; oh sweet uncle,
Rejoyce with me, I am a faithfull convert,
And will redeeme the stains of a foule name,
By love and true obedience.
Mar.
Force of passion
Shewes me a childe againe, doe Levidolche,
Performe thy resolutions, those perform'd,
I have been onely steward for your welfare,
You shall have all between yee.
Lev.
Joyne with me sir,
Our plot requires much speed: we must be earnest,
Ile tell yee what conditions threaten danger,
Unlesse you intermediate; let us hasten,
For feare we come too late.
Mar.
As thou intendest
A vertuous honestie, I am thy second
To any office, Levidolche wittie,
My Neece, my wittie Neece.
Lev.
Let's slack no time sir.
Exeunt.
Enter Trelcatio, Malfato, Spinella and Castanna.
Trel.
Kinsman and Ladies, have a little patience,
All will be as you wish, Ile be your warrant,
Feare nothing, Augia is a noble fellow,
I leave yee; but be sure I am in hearing:
Take courage.
Exit.
Mal.
Courage, they who have no hearts,
Finde none to lose; ours is as great as his,
Who defie danger most, sure state and ceremonie
Formalitie of entertainment, Cousen,
Let us returne, 'tis paultry.
Spi.
Gentle sir,
Enter Auria, and Aurelio.
Confine your passion, my attendance onely
Commends a dutie.
Now for heavens sake sister—
A' comes, your husband comes, take comfort sister
Auri.
Malfato.
Mal.
Auria.
Auri.
Cosen, would mine armes
In their embraces might at once deliver
Affectionately what interest your merit
Holds in my estimation, I may chide
The coynesse of this intercourse betwixt us,
Which a retir'd privacie on your part
Hath pleas'd to shew; if ought of my endevours
Can purchase kinde opinion, I shall honour
The meanes and practice.
Mal.
Tis your charitie.
Aure.
VVorthy Malfato.
Mal.
Provident Aurelio.
Auri.
Castanna, vertuous mayd,
Cas.
Your servant, brother.
Auri.
But who's that other, such a face mine eyes
Have been acquainted with, the sight resembles
Something which is not quite lost to remembrance;
VVhy do's the Lady kneele? to whom? pray rise;
I shall forget civilitie of manners,
Imagining you tender, a false tribute,
Or him to whom you tender it, a counterfeit.
Mal.
My Lord, you use a borrowd bravery,
Not suiting faire constructions, may your fortunes
Mount higher than can apprehension reach 'em,
Yet this waste kinde of antique soveraignde
Unto a wife who equals every best
Of your deserts, atchievements, or posteritie,
Let upstarts exercise uncomely roughnesse,
Cleare spirits to the humble will be humble:
You know your wife no doubt.
Auri.
Cry ye mercie Gentleman,
Belike you come to tutour a good carriage,
Are expert in the nicke ont, we shall study
Instructions queintly, wife you sayd, agreed.
Keepe faire, and stand the triall.
Spi.
Those words raise
A lively soule in her, who almost yeelded
To faintnesse and stupiditie, I thanke yee,
Tho prove what judge you will, till I can purge
Objections which require beliefe and conscience,
I have no kindred sister, husband, friend,
Or pittie for my plea.
Mal.
Call ye this welcom? we are mistook Castanna.
Cas.
Oh my Lord, other respects were promised.
Auri.
Said yee Lady,
No kindred, sister, husband, friend.
Spi.
Nor name,
With this addition, I disclaime all benefit
Of mercie from a charitable thought,
If one or all the subtilties of malice,
If any enginiere of faithlesse discord,
If supposition for pretence in folly,
Can poynt out, without injurie to goodnesse,
A likelihood of guilt in my behaviour,
Which may declare neglect in every dutie,
Requir'd fit, or exacted.
Auri.
High and peremptory,
The confidence is masculine.
Mal.
Why not, an honourable cause gives life to truth,
Without controll.
Spi.
I can proceed, that tongue,
Whose venome by traducing spotlesse honour,
Hath spread, th'infection is not more mine enemie,
On whom the poyson of its cankred falshood
Hath wrought for credit to so foule a mischiefe.
Speake sir, the churlish voyce of this combustion,
Aurelio speake, nor (gentle sir) forbeare
Ought what you know, but roundly use your eloquence
Against a meane defendant.
Mal.
Hee's put too't,
It seemes the challenge gravels him.
Aure.
My intelligence,
Was issue of my doubts, not of my knowledge.
A selfe confession may crave assistance,
Let the Ladies justice impose the penance.
So in the rules of friendship, as of love,
Suspition is not seldome an improper
Advantage for the knitting faster joynts
Of faithfullest affection by the fevers
Of casualtie unloos'd, where lastly errour
Hath run into the toyle.
Spi.
Wofull satisfaction for a divorce of hearts.
Auri.
So resolute,
I shall touch nearer home, behold these haires,
(Great Masters of a spirit) yet they are not
By winter of old age quite hid in snow,
Some messengers of time I must acknowledge
Amongst them tooke up lodging, when we first
Exchang'd our faiths in wedlock, I was proud,
I did prevaile with one whose youth and beauty
Deserv'd a choyce more sutable in both.
Advancement to a fortune could not court,
Ambition either on my side, or hers:
Love drove the bargaine, and the truth of love
Confirm'd it, I conceiv'd, but disproportion
In yeares, amongst the married, is a reason
For change of pleasures, whereto I reply
Our union was not forc'd, 'twas by consent;
So then the breach in such a case appeares
Spi.
My thoughts in that respect are as resolute as yours,
The same, yet herein evidence of frailtie
Deserv'd not more a separation,
Then doth charge of disloyaltie objected
Without or ground or witnesse, womans faults
Subject to punishments, and mens applauded,
Prescribe no lawes in force.
Aure.
Are ye so nimble.
Mal.
A soul sublim'd from drosse by competition,
Such as is mighty Aurias fam'd; descends
From its owne Spheare, when injuries profound ones
Yeeld to the combat of a scoulding masterie.
Skirmish of words hath with your wife lewdly rang'd
Adulterating the honour of your bed.
Hold dispute, but execute your vengeance,
With unresisted rage we shall looke on,
Allow the fact, and spurne her from our blouds,
Else not detected, you have wrong'd her innocence
Unworthily, and childishly, for which
I challenge satisfaction.
Cas.
Tis a tyranny
Over an humble and obedient sweetnesse,
Ungently to insult—
Enter Adurni.
Adur.
That I make good,
And must without exception finde admittance
Fitting the party who hath herin interest,
Put case I was in fault, that fault stretch'd meerely
To a misguided thought, and who in presence
Except the paire of fisters faire and matchlesse,
Can quit an imputation of like folly?
Here I aske pardon (excellent Spinella
Of only you) that granted he amongst you,
VVho calles an even reckoning, shall meet
An even accountant.
Auri.
Baited by confederacie,
Spi.
And I, my Lord, my Lord,
What stirre and coyle is here? you can suspect,
So reconciliation then is needlesse,
Conclude the difference by revenge, or part,
And never more see one another: sister,
Lend me thine arme, I have assum'd a courage
Above my force, and can hold out no longer,
Auria unkinde, unkinde.
Cas.
She faints.
Auri.
Spinella, regent of my affections, thou hast conquerd,
I finde thy vertues as I left them, perfect,
Pure, and unflaw'd, for instance let me claime
Castannas promise.
Cas.
Mine?
Auri.
Yours, to whose faith
I am a guardian, not by imposition,
But by you chosen, looke yee, I have fitted
A husband for you, noble and deserving,
No shrinking backe, Adurni I present her
A wife of worth.
Mal.
Howes that?
Advr.
So great a blessing
Crownes all desires of life, the motion, Lady,
To me, I can assure you, is not sudden,
But welcom'd & forethought, would you could please
To say the like.
Auri.
Castanna doe—Speake deerest,
It rectifies all crookes, vaine surmises,
I prethee speake.
Spi.
The courtship's somewhat quick,
The match it seemes agreed on, doe not sifter
Reject the use of fate.
Cas.
I dare not question
The will of heaven.
Mal.
Vnthought of and unlookt for.
Spi.
My ever honored Lord.
This marriage frees
Each circumstance of jealousie.
Auri.
Make no scruple
(Castanna) of the choyce, tis firme and reall,
Why else have I so long with tamenesse nourisht
Report of wrongs, but that I fixt on issue
Of my desires, Italians use not dalliance
But execution; herein I degenerated
From custome of our nation: for the vertues
Of my Spinella rooted in my soule,
Yet common forme of matrimoniall complements,
Short liv'd, as are their pleasures, yet in sooth,
My dearest, I might blame your causelesse absence,
To whom my love and nature were no strangers,
But being in your kinsmans house, I honour
His hospitable friendship, and must thank it.
Now lasting truce on all hands.
Aure.
You will pardon
A rash and over-busie curiositie.
Spi.
It was too blame, but the successe remits it.
Ad.
Sir, what presumptions formerly have grounded
Opinion of unfitting carriage to you,
On my part I shall faithfully acquite
At easie summons.
Mal.
You prevent the nicetie,
Use your owne pleasure—
Enter Benatzi, his sword drawn, Levidolche and Martino following.
Aure.
Whats the matter?
Auri.
Matter?
Ben.
Adurni and Malfato found together!
Now for a glorious vengeance.
Lev.
Hold, oh hold him.
Aure.
This is no place for murder, yeeld thy sword.
Aure.
Yeeld it, or force it; set you up your shambles
Of slaughter in my presence.
Adur.
Let him come.
Mal.
VVhat can the Ruffian meane?
Ben.
I am prevented.
Had else not prov'd a sanctuarie Lord,
Thou hast dishonourably wrong'd my wife.
Adur.
Thy wife! I know not her, nor thee.
Auri.
Feare nothing.
Le.
Yes, me you know, heaven has a gentle mercie
For penitent offenders: blessed Ladies,
Repute me not a cast-away, though once
I fell into some lapses, which our sex
Are oft inntangled by; yet what I have been,
Concernes me now no more, who am resolv'd
On a new life. This Gentleman Benatzi,
Disguised as you see, I have re-married,
I knew you at first sight, and tender constantly
Submission for all errours.
Mar.
Nay, tis true sir.
Ben.
I joy in the discovery, am thankfull
Vnto the change.
Auri.
Let wonder henceforth cease,
For I am partner with Benatzis counsels;
And in them was director, I have seene
The man doe service in the warres late past,
VVorthy an ample mention; but of that
At large hereafter, repetitions now
Of good or bad, would streighten time presented
For other use.
Mar.
VVelcome, and welcome ever.
Le.
Mine eyes sir, never shall without a blush
Receive a looke from yours; please to forget
All passages of rashnesse, such attempt
VVas mine, and onely mine.
Mal.
You have found a way
To happinesse, I honour the conversion,
Adur.
Then I am freed.
Mal.
may stile your friend your servant,
Mar.
Now all thats mine, is theirs,
Adur.
But let me adde
Auri.
How likes Spinella this? our holy day
Deserves the Kalender.
Spi.
This Gentlewoman
Reform'd must in my thoughts live faire and worthy,
Indeed you shal.
Cas.
And mine, the noveltie
Requires a friendly love.
Lev.
You are kinde and bountifull.
Enter Trelcatio, Futelli, Amoretta, Piero, driving in Fulgosa, and Guzman.
Trel.
By your leaves Lords and Ladies, to your jollities,
I bring increase with mine too, here's a yongster
Whom I cll sonne-in-law, for so my daughter
Will have it.
Amo.
Yeth in sooth thee will.
Trel.
Futelli hath wean'd her from this paine.
Pie.
Stand forth stout lovers.
Trel.
Top & Top-gallant paire, and for his pains,
She will have him, or none, hee's not the richest
I'th parish; but a wit, I say Amen,
Because I cannot helpe it.
Amo.
Tith no matter.
Auri.
Wee'l remedy the penury of Fortune,
They shall with us to Corsica, our cousin
Must not despaire of means, since tis believ'd
Futelli can deserve a place of trust.
Fut.
You are in all unfellowed,
Amo.
Withly thpoken.
Pie.
Thinke on Piero sir.
Auri.
Piero, yes,
But what of these two pretty ones?
Ful.
Ile follow.
The Ladies, play at cards, make sport and whistle,
My purse shall beare me out, a lazie life,
And weele be game whiles you fight at home,
Runne high, runne low, here is a braine can doot,
But for my martiall brother Don, prithee make him
A what dee callt, a setting dog, a centinell
Ile mend his weekely pay.
Guz.
Hee shall deserve it.
Vouchsafe employment honourable
Ful.
Marry.
The Dons a generous Don.
Auri.
Unfit to loose him,
Command doth limit us short time for revells,
Wee must be thrifty in them, none I trust,
Repines at these delights, they are free and harmelesse,
After distresse at sea, the dangers ore,
Safety and welcomes better taste a shore.
| The Ladies Triall | |