 | The Traytor |  |
Actus primus.
Enter Pisano and Petruchio.Pisano.
Didst bid him come?
Pet.
I did.
Pis.
Goe backe agen,
And tell him, I am gone abroad.
Pet.
Hee's here
Enter Cosm.
Already Sir.
Pis.
Oh Cosmo!
Cos.
Deare Pisano,
That I could let thee neerer, into me,
My heart counts this embrace a distance, yet,
Let us incorporate.
Pis.
I was woing Cosmo,
My man, to tell thee, I was gone abroad,
Before thou cam'st.
Cos.
How's this? your words and lookes
Are strange, and teach me to inferre I am
Not welcome, that on riper Counsell, you
Doe wish my absence.
What for telling truth?
Hee thus should ha but made thee fit to see
Thy friend, thou com'st with expectation
To heare me talke sence, dost not?
Cos.
Yes.
Pis.
La now!
And to discourse as I was wont of State,
Our friendship, or of women, no such matter.
Cos.
This is more wild then usuall, your language
I not so cleere as it was wont, it carries
Not the same even thread although some words
May knit, the sence is scatterd.
Pis.
Right, right Cosmo,
The reason is, I ha straggled,
And lost my selfe I know not where, in what
Part of the world, and would not this be showne
As well in him, to ha prepar'd thee now?
Cos.
What humour's this Pisano, I am yet to understand?
Pis.
To understand? why Cosmo,
Had I not chang'd my Dialect and Method,
What neede this tedious Apology?
Thats it, I would have had thee knowne before,
Thou canst not understand me, yet thou hast
A name in Florence, for a ripe young man,
Of nimble apprehension, of a wise
And spreading observation, of whom
Already our old men doe prophesie
Good, and great things, worthy thy faire dimensions.
Cos.
This is an argument above the rest,
Pisano is not well; for being temperate,
He was not wont to flatter, and abuse
His friend.
Pis.
Beside, there is another reason,
Thou shouldst discover me at heart, through all
These mists, thou art in love too, and who cānot,
That feeles himselfe the heate, but shrewdly guesse
At every symptome of that wanton Feaver,
Cos.
What misfortune can approach
Your happy love in fairest Amidea,
You have beene long contracted, and have past
The tedious hope, Himen, doth only waite
An oportunity to light his torch,
Which will burne glorious at your nuptiall:
Let jealous, lovers feare and feele what tis
To languish, talke away their blood, and strength,
Question their unkinde starres, you have game
Before you sir.
Pis.
Before mee where? why dost
Thou mock me Cosmo? shee's not heere:
Cos.
It is
No pilgrimage to travell to her lippe.
Pis.
Tis not for you.
Cos.
How sir for mee? y'ave no
Suspition, I can be guilty of
A treason, to our freindship, be so just,
If malice have been busie, with my fame,
To let me know—
Pi.
You hastily interpret,
Thy pardon I have onely errd, but not
With the least scruple of thy faith, and honor
To mee, thou hast a noble Soule, and lou'st mee
Rather too well, I would thou wert my enemy,
That wee had been borne in distant climes, and never
Tooke cement from our Simpathies in nature.
Would wee had never seene, or knowne each other,
This may seeme strange, from him, that loves thee Cosmo,
More pretious then his life.
Cos.
Love mee, and, wish
This seperation?
Pis.
I will give thee proofe;
So well I love thee, nothing in the world
Thy soule doth hartily affect, but I
Doe love it too, does it not trouble thy
But thine exchangd, thy eyes let in my objects,
Thou hear'st for me, talk'st, kissest, and enjoyst
All my felicities.
Cos.
What meanes this language?
Pis.
But whats all this to thee? go to Oriana,
And bath thy lips in Rosy dew of kisses,
Renew thy eye that lookes as Saturne hung
Upon the lid, take in some golden beame,
Shee'le dart a thousand at one glance, and if
At thy returne, thou findst I have a being
In this vaine world, Ile tell thee more.
Exit.
Cos.
But sir, you must not part so.
Pet.
Not with my good will,
I have no great ambition to be mad.
Cos.
Petruchio, let mee conjure thee, tell
What weight hangs on thy Masters heart? why does he
Appeare so full of trouble?
Pet.
D'ee not guesse?
Cos.
Point at the cause, I cannot.
Pet.
Why he loves—
Cos.
The beauteous Amidea, I know that.
Pet.
Some such thing was, but you are his friend, my, Lord
His soule is now devoted to Oriana,
And he will dye for her, if this Ague hold him.
Cos.
Ha.
Pet.
Your doublet pinch you Sir? I cannot tel;
But nere a woman in the world should make
Me hang my selfe, it may be for his honour,
Hee'le choose another death, hee is about one;
For 'tis not possible without some cure,
He should live long, he has forgot to sleepe,
And for his dyet, h'as not eate this se'night
As much as would choake a Sparrow, a Flie is
An Epicure to him: Good sir, doe you counsell him.
So, so, it workes;
Exit Cos.
This was my Lord Lorenzoes plot, and I
His love to Amidea, by praysing
Oriana, to him, he is here, my Lord.
Enter Lorenzo attended.
Lor.
Petruchio, where's your Lord? how mooves the worke?
Pet.
To your owne wish my Lord, he has throwne off
The thought of Amidea, and is mad
For Cosmo's Mistris, whom by your instructions
I have commended so—
Lor.
My witty villaine!
Pet.
Cosmo is with him, to whom cunningly
I ha discover'd his disease, and I
Beseech you interrupt 'em not.
Lor.
This may
Have Tragicall effects Petruchio:
For Cosmo, we shall prune his fortune thus,
Oriana's wealth would swell him in the State,
He growes too fast already, be still ours.
Pet.
My Lord, you bought my life, when you procur'd
My pardon from the Duke.
Exit Lor.
Enter Pisa. and Cosmo.
Pis.
O friend, thou canst not be so mercifull,
To give away such happinesse, my Love
Is for some sinne I have committed, thus
Transplanted, I look'd rather thou shouldst kill me,
Then give away this comfort, tis a charity
Will make thee poore, and 'twere a great deale better
That I should languish still, and dye.
Cos.
While I have art to helpe thee? Oriana
And I were but in treaty, howsoever,
I were not worthy to be calld his friend,
Whom I preferd not to a Mistris, if
You can finde dispensation, to quit
With Amidea, your first love, be confident
Oriana may be wonne, and it were necessary
Pis.
Each sillable is a blessing, harke
Petruchio.
Cos.
There is an Engine leveld at my fate,
And I must arme,
Pis.
Away.
Exit Pet.
Cos.
This for thy comfort,
Although some complements ha past betweene
Me and Oriana, I am not warme
Yet in the Mothers fancy, whose power may
Assist you much, but loose no time, lets follow.
Pis.
Thou miracle of friendship!
Exeunt.
Enter Duke Frederico, Florio, and Alonso.
Du.
Letters to us? from whom?
Al.
Castruchio.
Du.
The exile? whence?
Al.
Sienna my good Lord,
It came inclos'd within my Letter, which
Imposd my care and duty, in the swift
Delivery.
Fr.
The Duke is pale oth suddaine.
Du.
A Palsey does possesse me, ha? Lorenzo?
Our Cosen, the enemy of our life and State,
My bosome Kinsman? not too loud, the Traytor
May heare, and by escape prevent our justice.
Flo.
What Traytor?
Du.
Signior Alonso, come you hither,
What correspondency maintaine you with this
Castruchio?
Al.
None my Lord, but I am happy
In his election, to bring the first
Voice to your safety.
Du.
Most ingratefull man!
Turne Rebell? I have worne him in my blood.
Al.
Tis time to purge the humour.
Du.
I will doot.
Our guard, were he more precious, had he shar'd
This action makes him nothing, had I beene
In heaven, I could have lent him my eternitie,
He turne conspirator? oh the fate of Princes!
But stay, this paper speakes of no particular,
He does not mention what designe what plot.
Al.
More providence is necessarie,
Du.
Right, right, good Alonso, thar't an honst man
And lov'st us well, whats to be done?
Al.
Tis best
To make his person sure, by this you may
Discouer soonest who are of his faction.
Du.
And at our leasure study of his punishment,
Which must exceed death, every cōmon trespasse
Is so rewarded, first apply all tortures
To inforce confession, who are his confederates,
And how they meant to murder us, then some rare
Invention to execute the Traytor,
So as hee may bee halfe a yeare a dying,
Will make us fam'd for justice.
Enter Lorenzo Depazzi.
Al.
Hee is heere,
Shal's apprehend him?
Lo.
Happy morning to
My gratious Soveraigne.
Du.
Good morrow Cooze.
Can Treason couch it selfe within that frame?
We ha letters for you.
Lo.
Letters, these dread sir
Have no direction to mee, your highnes
Is onely nam'd.
Du.
They will concerne your reading,
Alonso now observe and watch him Florio,
Depazzi come you hither, does Lorenzo
Looke like a Traitor?
How sir? a Traitor?
Du.
I sir.
Dep.
I sir, by my honour not I sir, I defie
Him that speakes it; I am in a fine pickle
Lor.
I ha read—
Du.
No blush? not tremble? read agen
The substance is, that you maintaine
A vigilant eye over Lorenzo, who
Hath threatned with your death, his countries liberty
And other things, touching reducing of
A common wealth.
Du.
I like not that.
Dep.
All's out:
A pox upon him for a Traitor, hee
Has hedg'd meee in but Ile confesse—
Du.
What answere
Make you to this Lorenzo?
Lor.
This o'th suddaine,
Sir I must owe the title of a Traitor
To your high favours; Envy first conspir'd,
And malice now accuses, but what story,
Mentioned his name, that had his Princes bosome,
Without the peoples hate, 'tis sinne enough
In some men to be great, the throng of stars
The rout, and common people of the skie,
Move still another way then the Sun does,
That guilds the creature, take your honors back,
And if you can, that purple of my veines,
Which flowes in yours, and you shall leave mee in
A state I sh'anot feare the great ones envy,
Nor common peoples rage, and yet perhaps
You may be credulous against mee.
Du.
Ha!
All.
The Duke is coole.
Du.
Alonzo looke you prove.
Lorenzo what you say.
All.
I say my Lord?
Dep.
stand too't—
Lo.
With licence of your highnesse, what
Can you imagine I should gaine by Treason?
Admit I should bee impious, as to kill you,
I am your neerest kinsman, and should forfeit
Both name and future title to the State,
By such a hasty, bloody disposition,
The rabble hate mee now, how shall I then
Expect a safety? is it reformation,
Of Floence they accuse mee of? suggesting
I disaffect a Monarchy, which how
Vaine and ridiculous would appeare in mee,
Your wisedome judge, in you I liue and flowrish,
What in your death can I expect, to equall
The riches I enjoy under your warm'th?
Should I for the ayre, and talke of a new government,
A Common wealth, loose all my certainties?
And you above 'em all, whose favours have
Falne like the Dew upon mee? have I a soule
To thinke the guilt of such a murder easie,
Were there no other torments? or can I
Expect the people will reward your murderer
With any thing but death, a parricide?
Al.
So so the Duke's already in his circle.
Lor.
But I am tame, as if I had no sence
Nor other argument to vindicate
My Loyalty, thus poysoned by a paper,
In my eternall fame, and by a slave?
Call to my brow, some one that dare accuse mee,
Let him have honor, great as mine, to forfeit,
Or since your grace hath taken me so neere,
Your owne hight, that may scale may not expect
Such a proportion'd adversary, yet let him
Have name within his Country, and allow him
A Soule, sgainst which, I may ingage my more,
Then equall honor, then Ile praise your justice
A desperate exile—is it possible
A Treason hatcht in Florence, gainst the Duke
Should have no eyes at home to penetrate,
The growing danger but at Sienna, one
Must with a perspectiue discouer all?
Aske this good Councellor, or these gentlemen
Whose faiths are tryed, whose cares are always waking
About your person, how have I appear'd
To them, that thus I should be rendred hatefull,
To you and my good Countrie, they are vertuous
And dare not blemish a white faith, accuse
My sound heart of dishonor? sir you must
Pardon my bold defence, my vertue bleeds
By your much easinesse, and I am compelld
To breake all modest limits, and to waken
Your memory (if it be not to late
To say you have one,) with the story of
My faire deservings, who sir overthrw
With his designes your late ambitious brother
Hippolito, who like a Meteor threatned
A blacke and fatall omen?
Du.
Twas Lorenzo.
Lo.
Be yet as just, and say whose art directed
A countermine to check the pregnant hopes
Of Saluiati, who for his Cardinals Cappe,
In Rome was potent, and heere popular?
Du.
None but Lorenzo.
Dep.
Admirable Traitor?
Lor.
Whose service was commended when the exiles
One of whose tribe accuseth mee had raisd
Commotions in our Florence when the hindga
Of State did faint under the burthen, and
The people sweat with their owne feares, to thinke
The Souldier should inhabit their calme dwellings,
Who then rose up your safety, and crushd all
Their plots to ayer?
Our deere Cozen Lorenzo.
Lor.
When he that should reward, fogets the men
That purchas'd his security, tis vertue
To beast a merrit with my services
I ha not staru'd your treasurie, the grand
Captaine Gonzales accounted to King Ferdinand,
Three hundred thousand crownes, forspies, what bills
Have I brought in for such inteligence?
Dep.
I doe grow harty
All thy actions
Stand fresh before us, and confirme, thou art
Our best and dearest friend, thus wee assure
Our confidence, they love us not that feed
One jealous thought of our deare Cooze Lorenzo
New welcome to us all, for you Alonzo
Give o're your paper kites, learne wit, tis time.
Where shall wee meet to night?
Lo.
Pardon mee sir I am a dangerous man.
Du.
No more a that
I'le credit my soule with thee, shall wee revell
This night with Amidea?
Dep.
The Duke courts him,
Well go thy waies, for one of the most excellent
Impudent Traytors—
Du.
Yet a murmuring
Of a Traitor? wee shall sooner suspect him,
That thinkes Lorenzo guilty.
Dep.
I my Lord,
Dare boldly sweare, his honor is as free—
From any treason, as my selfe,
I did prophisie this issue.
Duk.
'Tis an age
Till night, I long to fold her in my armes,
Prepare Sciarrha, but be very wise
In the discovery, hee is all touchwood.
Lor.
I know he is her brother, leave the managing
Of things to mee.
Still when we expect,
Our blisse, time creepes, but when the happier things
Call to enjoy, each sawcy houre hath wings.
Exeunt.
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