University of Virginia Library

Actus Quintus.

Enter Hippolito and his Page.
Hi.

I know not what to resolue, this letter has distracted me
It is not wise dome to acquaint Eubella, ler me perus't agen.
Sir, though I have repented my love, which drew my dishonor,
I have not lost my charitie, and therefore can take no pleasure in
your ruine, meet me to morrow earely in the groue behind the
Pallace, I will discover a plot against your life, I pitty your danger,
and will secure more ioyes to your bride, be secret yet and trust
her, that is no otherwise then nobly yours, Clariana.

Tis some thing Bellamente has designd.
For his revenge, did he speake strangely saist?

Pag.
Very strangely sir, he said he would dy shortly

Hi.

Thou didst mistake him, he meant I should dy, he wonot
kill me at the altar? perhaps I shall be poisoned at dinner, a

thousand wayes there are to let out life
I must be certaine Eubella and her father
Enter Eubella and Sebastian.
Some truce with my affliction.

Seb.
More welcome then my liberty, Eubella
Has made my heart glad with your new character
And now my sonne Hippolito.

Hip.
That title
Will be aboue all honors the Duke can
Let fall upon me, that I have beene wild
I must with shame remember, but my study
Of after life to her and all the world
I hope shall purchase thee a better name.

Seb.
You will not leave us this morning?

Hip.
I shall returne, excuse me a few minutes.

Eu.
Do what you please, but if it be a businesse
You may dispence with

Hip.
It concernes my honor, but nothing shall
Detaine me long; all places are but darkenesse
Without thy eies, Ile visit em' agen

Eu.
How soone?

Hip.
You shall scarce thinke me absent

Seb.
We must expect you then.

Hi.
May the day shine bright upon thee

Eu.
And all the blessings of it waite on you

Enter Bonaldo.
Seb.
Signior you are most welcome, I entreat you
To call my girle your daughter

Bo.
My sonne has made this choise I heare, Ile
Call her any thing

Eu.
I shall expresse my duty sir, in all things

Bo.
But wheres Hippolito—a buxome thing.

Seb.
Sir please you retire, he is new departed

Bo.
Whither? a musicali lip.

Seb.
Nay we did not examine his affaire
But we expect his quicke returne

Eu.
Wilt please you sir.

Bo.
I should be pleasd with such another,—a light wench
And a yare, Ile attend you Lady.

Exit.
Enter Clariana Milena.
Cal.
Be just Milena to me, and endeere
My love for ever

Mi.
Madam you know my faith

Cla.
I promist to meet
Hippolito this morning in the groue
Behind the Pallace, to conferre about
Some businesse that concernes, thou shat presently
Excuse my travell and intreate him hither,
He and my husband lately had some difference
I know not why, in this convenient absence
Of Bellamente he securely may
Speake with me here, yet Ile not willingly
Have him come hither by the publick way,
The Garden doore shall be left open for him
And a cleare passage to this Chamber

Mi.
Madam I understand,

Cla.
Prevaile with him to come, tell him all's safe

Mi.
Ile sweare it Madam to do you service

Cla.
But use all hast.
Which way shall I beginne, I shall want art
I feare to winne upon him, oh for some
High, and prevailing oratory to
Expresse what my heart labours with! I could
Accuse my unkind desteny, declame
Against the power of love, raile at the charmes
Of language and proportion, that betray us
To hasty sorrow, and too late repentance,
But breath is this way lost, wounds that are made
Require a balsome, and not empty curses
To state our body, should the Marriner
When a storme meetes him, throw away his Card
Neglect himselfe and vessell; and ly downe
Cursing the winds and tempest? If he come
As but to doubt doth make me miserable
The genius of love assist my passion,
I must deliver something that doth make
My poore heart swell, and will if I conceale it
Like fire lockd up in a thick cloud destroy
The prison that containes: shee's returnd
Already.
Enter Milena.
What sayes Hippolito?

Mi.
Like an honest Gentleman, hee's at the graden gate.
I told him how things were at home, I met him
hard by, as if he meant without inviting
Having expected you so long, to come
Neerer, and waite some opportunitie
To speake with you.

Cla.
Th'art fortunate admit him, tis not
Safe to expect there, but while we conferre
Vse thy best diligence round about to bring
If there be such misfortune, the first newes
Of Bellamente

Mi.
Ile be carefull Madam.

Exit.
Cla.
I m'e glad hees come
With what looke shall I first salute him?

Milena Hippolito.
Mi.
Pray excuse me sir!

Hi.
Twill purchase but a paire of Gloves

Mi.
I have him at my fingers ends, well I can but thinke
What serviceable creatures we Chambermaids are
Sometimes we are the best Cabinets for Ladies, and they
Trust their Iewells of honor with us, but I must looke
About me, I know my office.

Exit.
Cla.
Y'aue seene this face before, does it seeme strange?

Hi.
I have seene it, when it was lesse sad, but tis
The richer Iewell set in blacke, you never
Wore garments did so well become you Lady

Cla.
I shall not love em' worse because they please
Your Eye, they fit the habit of my mind.

Hip.
Your voice has better musicke too, it sounds
As some religious melancholy strooke.
Vpon your heart y'aue praid lately I distinguish
A teare upon your cheeke still tis well done

Cla.
If there be any signe of sorrow here
Tis for your sake

Hip.
I cannot blame thy eyes,
If every time, I ame presented to 'em
Th' unhadpy obiect thou dost weepe Clariana,
I have deserved to find the lowest place
Within thy charity, yet such is thy
Compassion, when my fate is cast
And my unworthy life markd for the sacrifice
Thou art willing to preserve Hippolito
And to that purpose sentst to speake with me

Cla.
You read my letter?

Hi.
Clariana, I
Shall not have time enough to thanke thee, when
Thou hast discovered what conspiracy
Threatens my head, unlesse you use some brevity
There is a worke this morning to be finished
Requires my personall attendance.

Cla.
I am.
Not ignorant what busnesse is designd
It was the reason of my zealous wishes
To change some words before

Hi.
I waite your purpose

Cla.
You are this morning to receive a wife

Hi.
And such blessing as the earth were poore
Without her,

Cla.
Tis Eubella I understand.

Hi.
That most vertuous faire one

Cla.
Ile not take from her
I have heard her much commended, but she is
No miracle

Hi.
How Clariana.

Cla.
Our sex were poore
If she alone had all the grace of woman.
Though she be faire, the Dukedome is not so
Barren but it may shew some parralell.
And let it not be thought a pride, if I
Affirme there have beene those, have said as much
Of me, all beavty is not circumscribd
In one.

Hi.
You point at that which takes the Eye
And is but halfe a hansomnesse at best
Vnlesse the mind be furnished with those vertues
Which write a woman faire, but Clariana
There is no time for this dispute, and I
Am some what sorry you have falne upont
When I but praisd Eubella modestly,
She is to me the best and fairest now
Of all the world, but turne to the occasion
That brought me hither, I would heare what practise
Is meant against my life, which I would now
Preserue for that deere virgin, more then love
To keepe it for my use, I did imagine
How ever Bellamente shewed a formall
And calme release, yet he would meditate
Revenge at such a time he most should wound me
And had not I a perfect confidence
Your thoughts meant simple pitty to my danger
I should not thus farre have engaged my self,
Then I beseech you tell me

Cla.
Any thing.

Hi.
Why dee delay me thus Clariana?

Cla.
Pardon o pardon me Hippolito
Indeed I will discover all the plot

Hi.
I am prepard,

Cla.
But there is no misfortune
Leveld at you, the danger is all mine
And I but use this policy, to take
My last farewell, for I must never see
You married

Hi.
You amaze me, what unhappinesse?
Will Bellamente be so cruell to thee
Having forgiven

Cla.
A hand more severe.
Is armd against me

Hi.
Is there no prevention

Cla.
It is within your mercy to do much

Hi.
Pronounce then as much safety as my strength
can give thee against any enemy be
But Bellamente, I have wounded him
Too much already, may I credit then
There is treachery ayming at my blood
Declare what man I must oppose in thy
Protection

Cla.
No man

Hi.
Y'are misticall

Cla.
A woman is my enemy

Hi.
There will be
No use of valour then

Cla.
But much of love
If you resolve to save bleeding Clarianæ
Thou must oppose Eubella.

Hi.
What was that?
Kill my Eubella?

Cla.
It stretches not so farre, onely I beg
You would not marry her, and I shall live.

Hi.
Not marry her, why theres no steele can bring
So certaine and so violent a death,
Forsake Eubella now, now when shee's drest
My glorious bride, the Nuptiall ceremonie
And Priest expecting us, I know you speake not
In hope I should beleeve, you may as well
Bid me commit a murder on my life
For this will kill her and we both are one.
Who hath instructed you to this?

Cla.
My love
My love that will not suffer me to know
Thou must be given thus away for ever
I could endure thy absence for whole yeeres
And not complaine, repent my equall sorrow
We have so farre offended, while you keepe
Your present freedome, there were then some hope
A possiblity, at last to meet
In new affections to redeeme the old
But thus my expectation is destroyd,
You understand?

Hi.
Too much, be not deceived,
There is no love that is not vertuous
And thy consenting thus farre but in thought
Is sacriledge, and thou dost rob the Church
Twice, first in violation of thy vowes
Which there were registred, and then mine expected
I dare not heare you talke thus

Cla.
Is this all?
All the reward for loosing of my selfe
For thy sake?

Hip.
Y'are not yet quite lost

Cla.
What curse
Made blacke the houre of my conception
Farewell Hippolito, when you heare me dead
Come to my grave, and drop one teare upon me

Hip.
What meanes Clariana?

Enter Milena.
Mi.
Oh Madam looke behind me
I see my Master comming in, and he
Suspecting my hast this way, followes me
With his sword drawne

Enter Bellamente,
Bel.
Are you so nimble? ha.

Hi.
Woman thou hast undone me.

Cla.
Oh my fortune againe betraid

Bel.
Nay then, Ile make sure worke

Exit,
Mi
Alas what shall become of me, the doores are lockt,

Hip.
Cruell dessembler.

Cla.
Hippolito the sequell shall acquit
My thoughts, Ime circled with more certaine danger
And cannot hope life

Hi.
Tis not that I feare
To dy, thou knowst I am not guilty
Of any second shame, but my Eubella
That every minute lookes to be my bride
How the thought rends me.

Cla.
I can prevent his furie
Against thee

Hi.
There is no way

Cla.
Yes this.

Hi.
Ha divell what hast done?

Mi.
Alas what ha you both done?

Cla.
I thanke thee
Thou hast spar'd my execution on my selfe
Ile tell thee now Hippolito, by this
This crimson in whose ebbe my life hasts from me
I did not looke for Bellamente, but
Surprisd I thought it honor to beg in
The tragedy, I know my fate was not
To be resisted, twas impossible.
To find a second mercy from him, and
I would secure no woman after me
Should boast the Conquest of Hippolito
Thy sword was gentle to me, search't againe
And thou shalt see.
How my embracing blood will keepe it warme
And kisse the kind destroyer

Enter Bellamente and Servants, Milena runns in.
Bel.
What are you humbled? must not serve your turne.

Cla.
We have deceivd your triumph.

Hi.
Bellamente.

Cla.
Heare me first, and know this bold hand sav'd
Thy fury to Hippolito, whom with
My last breath I pronounce not in a thought
Guilty of new dishonor

Bel.
As soone perswade
It is not day

Hi.
This letter summond me

Cla.
I had no other meanes to speake with him
And my unruly love did prompt me to it

Hi.
I tremble not in my innocence to thinke
Of death but my Eubella, poore Eubella

Cla.
If she but lovd thee as I did, sheel'le follow
Furies will lend a torch to light her to
The shades we go to

Bel.
Is the wickednesse all thine?

Hi.
Except the wound my hasty sword
Gave as reward for this too neere my heart
I feare

Cla.
Dost feare?

Hi.
For poore Eubellas sake

Bel.
Now thou hast met a justice in thy blood
For thy first sinne, but I will have a Surgeon

Hi.
Send for Eubella rather
Oh let me breath my last upon her lips
It will concerne thee Bellamente somewhat
The world will think this murder was thine else

Bel.
Make hast:
O woman thou didst weepe once, when thy teares
Won my forgivenesse, where are all the drops,
The penitent showers, in which thy stained soule
Should bath it selfe, this minute lanching forth
To thy eternity.

Cla.
Th'are of another colour, oh forgive me
Good heaven, I have wrongd thee Bellamente
Oh wives hereafter, meane your hearts to them
You give your holy vowes, what mist weighs downe
My eyes already, oh tis death I see
In a long robe of darkenesse is preparing
To seale them up for ever, twere no death,
If we could loose our sinnes as we do breath

Bel.
Shees gone to a long silence, place her body
There and then gently raise Hippolito
To the other chaire

Hi.
Hast, hast my deare Eubella.

Enter Bonaldo
Bo.
How came this tragedy?

Hi.
Give me your last blessing
Ime going a long Pilgrimage, you gave
Too great a licence to my youth

Bo.
Howes this?

Hi.
My wanton bloud now payes fort, Clariana
And I have changd awound, where is Eubella?

Bo
She is too neere this griefe, this punishment
Should ha beene mine long since, I was his father
In sinne as well as yeeres, she is dead already
Thy glasse had many sands till it was broken
Then those few minutes that are left of mine,
Ile number with my prayers.

Enter Duke. Eub. Seb. Court.
Eu.
Hippolito.

Hip.
My wound hath had a happy patience. Farewell.

Seb
Eubella

Bo.
He is departed

Du.
Bellamente who hath done all this?

Bel.
Ile do my best to tell you
Here's all thats left of them whom how I lov'd,
Heaven and my poore heart knowes,

Eu.
And is he slaine?
But once more let me kisse him.

Bel.
I did not kill em sir, they were too willing
To leave the world together, but their wrongs
All all the paiment for my honest love
awakd me to revenge, and had they beene
The very strings that tye my life together
It should ha falne to peeces, but their hands
Prevented mine.

Du.
The cause? you rather leade me
To thinke you were their murderer, we must
Be better satisfied or your blood must answer
For this effusion.

Bel.
The cause my Lord—tis growne since it came hither
Pray give me leave, because you shanot suffer
Ith expectation, you shall have it all
Together, this Hippolito and that Clariana
Harke there tis.

Enter Milena.
Seb.
His griefe has overchargd him

Du.
None to decipher these sad characters?

Mi.
With your pardon I can

Seb.
Be comforted Eubella, all thy teares
Will not recall his life

Eu.
Pray give me leave
Since he is dead to embalme him, had I di'ed
Before him, hee'd ha wept as much for me.

Du.
We have heard too much but moderate Eubella,
Thy sorrows, he surviues that will supply
A bridegroome, and thy vertue bids me tender
My selfe a recompence for thy sufferings

Eu.
I know you wod not lead me to forget
Hippolito so soone, I dare not thinke
Of being a Bride agen.

Seb.
Does your grace meane this honor?

Du.
By my Dukedome.

Seb.
After this shower is over, she will shine
Doubt not my Lord, and blesse her happy starres

Du.
Lead from this charvell house they shall be interrd
With all solemnity becomes there birth
And when their funerall rites and teares are done
New joyes shall rise with the next mornings Sunne.

Exit omnes.