 | Loves Crveltie |  |
Actus Primus.
Enter Bellamente, Clariana.Cla.
You shanot goe, indeed you shanot
Bel.
Lady.
Cla.
Vnlesse the fault of your poore entertainment
Bel.
Nay now you trespasse, and dishonour me
With a suspition that I can be so
Vnjust, as not to acknowledge, you haue made
A free, and liberall welcome—but excuse
Cla.
Love shall supply, what else hath beene defective,
To expresse my thankes for your kind visit
Bel.
Tis
Businesse that now ravish me away
By this white hand, which but to kisse, would tempt me
To dwell an age here, I must waite vpon
The Duke
Cla.
Why so you may
Bel.
Tis now my time.
Cla.
You are not tied to such a strict obseruance
That halfe an houre can preiudice you, come
I know you may dispence with dutie so much.
Bel.
You may command;
Cla,
Not any thing that shall
Reflect iniurious to your selfe,
Bel.
I know
Cla.
If there be other
Cause, that concernes your honor, or your fortune,
Trust me, I would not by a minites stay
Be guilty of your wrong, and yet me thinkes
If there were any thing you might tell me;
Ther's not a thought, that I dare keepe from you,
No sigh but you may know from whence it breakes,
I haue not had a teare, but you haue searchd
The very spring, come ist some other friend?
Bel.
O doe not so farre wound your servant Madam
To thinke my heart can allow any time
For the imagination of another
Woman, did all the goodnesse of the sexe
Conspire in one without you, I should loue
My first election, and be blest to write
All my devotion here; if by the title
Of friend, you vnderstand a man, there is
But one in the whole world I dare call friend,
And I am confident it would trouble me
As much to find a cause that would offend him
As to be guilty of the sinne.
Cla.
Hippolito.
Bel.
If he expected me a day, the crime
Were easily purg'd, I can presume on him
Cla.
This is but little of that Character
I haue heard your tongue deliuer, if his loue
Be what you often haue proclaimd, trust me
He is a treasure
Bel.
Such as both the Indies
Sha'not buy, from me,
Cla.
What thing's rare in him
'Bove other friends?
Bel.
His love his love Clariana;
Cla.
That may be found in many
Bel.
But not so rich of so exact a nature
All other is but drossie;
Cla.
He will venture
Bel.
He has don't often
But that is not the thing for which I bosome
Hippolite, I can returne full weight
Of blood for his, engage my selfe to dangers
As high and horrid as he can for me,
But every daring fellow in the street
Can draw a sword, and will for his gay honour
Which swaies him more then his religion,
I'th field maintaine a good or impious quarrell:
But he is such a one to me, the name
Of friend's too narrow for him, and I want
A word that carries more divinitly
To expresse his love.
Cla.
You are not nice to extoll him,
What has he done?
Bel.
An act above all friendship
That yet had story, bov'e all recompence
I am not capable of a cause, to quit
His vnexampled vertue;
Cla.
This is strange
Bel.
You will acknowledge when you heare it, and
It does concerne you somewhat.
Cla.
Me, pray let not
My ignorance make me so vnhappy, not
To give my thankes if he hath aym'd apat
Of curtesie to me, what ist?
Bel.
He dares not see thee
Cla.
Dares not see me why
Am I so terrible? does he feare I shall
Transforme him? sure Minerva never drest
My haires, he should imagine I present
Medusa to him, dares not see me? I
Shoot no infection, nor breath any mist
That shall corrupt him, whats his reason pray?
Bel.
Because I love thee, I ha courted him
As some would do their mistresse, but to be
Companion of one visit, and his love
Cla.
Not to see your friend.
Bel.
He loves me so well, that he dares not trust
His frailty with thy sight, whom I have so
Commended, least before our marriage
Some thing should share in his affection
Which he hath studied to preserue intire
For me, he will not trust his eyes with any
Beauty I loue, least they should stray with too much
Licence, and by degrees corrupt his faith
He knowes not what may theiue upon his seness
Or what temptation may rise from him.
To undoe us all
Cla.
A rare and noble friendship.
Bel.
Ist not Clariana?
Cla.
He need not feare I shall
Commit a rape upon his friendship, and
A love so just and perfect as his, cannot
With one sight of a woman, armd with more
Beauty then mine, be violated;
He dares not trust his frailty, he has faults
Belike though he be such a miracle
In friendship, pray enioy him, and by no meanes
Tempt his soft nature to a crime so great
As seeing me, it shall suffice my love's
To thee inviolable, and what opinion
For your sake, I may modestly allow
The man I never saw, because your friend
Be confident he has it.
Bel.
Thar't all sweetnesse
But I forget my attendance on the Duke
Now you allow my absence, vertuous thoughts
Streame in your bosome.
Cla.
Not one kisse at parting?
Bel.
Let one speake the devotion of your servant
That would but dares not stay, to print a thousand.
Cla.
Milena.
Exit.
Mil.
Madam.
Is Bellamente gone?
Mil.
Yes Madam
Cla.
I must see this strange friend, bid make ready
The Caroch, and do attend—
Mil.
I shall
Cla.
Dares not trust his frailty with a woman, a fine fellow
Enter Hippolito. Courtier.
Hip.
Eubella come to Court
Cour.
This morning Sir
And much grac'd by the Duke, Sebastian
Her father made a Knight
Hip.
A Knight? Wy much good doot him, hee's a gentleman
may deserve it for his daughters sake. The Duke has the advantage,
he is able to make great men, there is no bande to a round
pension per annum, or the severe brow of authority, promotion
will turne the stomack, we under-sinners o'the commonwealth,
ha nothing but our good parts to procure for us, she is
like to become game royall then.
Cour.
The Duke pretends she shall be in some place neere the Duchesse,
Hip.
In some neere place with the Duke, when the Duchesse
is in another bed and never Dreames on't; she may intime be
a gamster, in the meane time the Duke will play at Cards with
her, and if he chance turne up a coate, the honor shall be hers,
and a stock perhaps to set up the precious sinne withall, is she
not yet Ladified?
Cour.
She is in the way to rise
Hip.
Thou art mistaken, she is in the way to fall, a hansome Gentlewoman
and new come to Court, in the high way to fall too, if
any thing will doot, the Duke has taken a course to take in her
Maiden towns.
Cour.
Did not you love her?
Hip.
No faith, I cannot properly say I did ever love her, she
was too honest, if she have praid since, she has beene sorry for
loving me so well,—she was too wise to be a whoore, and I was
not so much a foole to marry, till my time were come,
Cour.
What time?
Hip.
Why the fall of the leafe, when my Summer is over, the
Dog-days may do much wo me, marry before one and thirty?
single game, tis neither Courtly nor fashionable, and whats become
of her wise brother?
Cour.
He cannot do amisse in the generall aduancement, if his
father and sister rise—
Hip.
He must needs shew a high forehead, tis such a dog in
a wheele, hee'le never become a doublet in fashion, he talkes as
if he had read Poetry out of Almanacks, and makes a leg like a
Farmer, I wonder who begot him?
Cour.
His father.
Hip.
What father? It had beene a question, had his mother
beene a Courtier, and not liv'd and died honest in the Country, they
that looke upon him, and his sister, would never think two,
Poliux and Helena, twinnes, i'th same egge, yet she may be
a good hen hereafter and lay, but and he be not addled, he is wiser
then his nurse tooke him for
Cour.
Will you not see 'em in?
Hip.
Where are they?
Co.
I'th garden where the Duke hath beene this halfe houre in
private discourse with her
Hip.
No Ile backe agen, I ha not eaten to day, and I dare not
looke upon an honest woman fasting, tis ominous, and we have
too many fisndayes already, if the Duke aske for me make some
excuse,
Co.
I owe my preferment to you, and you may challenge my services,
Enter Bellamente.
Bel.
Friend whither in such hast
Hip.
If thou lov'st me interrupt me not, I dare not stay, there
are new things at Court, and I ha not provided a complement
yet Ile see thee anon.
Bel.
Farewell. Wild as the wind some crochet has possest him
And he is fixt to follow't he but wants
A litle pruning, and no Courtier
Could grow up more accomplisht, I could wish him
An ounce or two of snow to qualifie
Some fury in his blood, were there no women
He would be a brave man, but why do I
Trouble my selfe, that am secure? the Duke.
Du.
You are too modest
Eu.
That was not wont to be a vice my Lord
Or if it be too homely for the Court
And out of fashion, with your highnes pardon
I shall be welcome with it, to the place
I came from.
Seb.
Hold that constant my Eubella.
Du.
Will you still be ignorant?
Bo.
Is not that your daughter?
Seb.
She was
Bo.
Has she found another father?
Seb.
She has found a miserie
Bo.
Let them tell the markes that lost it and take it agen
By my consent
Du.
Bellamente
Bel.
My Lord
Du.
Is she not an excellent creature, wer't not pitty
That so much beautie should be cast away
Vpon a thanklesse woman?
Be.
How sir
Du.
That wonot use it to her best advantage?
I have beene courting this houre for
A smile.
Bel.
I like not this
Seb.
Nor I.
Bel.
I cannot but congratulate your good fortune
Seb.
Do not, do not
You ever have beene held an honest man.
Pray, do not mock me, it has pleas'd his grace
To give, me a new name; a riban in my forehead
Bo.
Sebastian's a forehorse-but would I were to be the Dukes taster,
Seb.
But there's a price too great set for the honor,
That is my daughter sir, and though I say't
She is yet a virgin, would you part with such
A child to buy a Knighthood? bribe at such
Expence for a poore title?
Bel.
Tis darke language
Mistake the Duke
Seb.
I wod I did, the way
To be assurd is to aske the question sir
Du.
Sebastian you put us well in mind, we have forgot
You have too litle testemonie of our favour
You shall be Captaine of our Guard
Bo.
Howes that? the Duke does love her, I hope not
Honestly, she was not borne to he a Dutchesse, I have it
Heaven forgive us, the Duke meanes to make her owne
father the Pander, tis so, he does not use to give such offices
for nothing, well go thy wayes for a princely Ferret, she cannot
hold out upon these termes
Seb.
I know not what to say, but do you thinke
She shall be safe here, is the Court a Sanctuary
For virgins?
Bo.
Tw'ere better you were both pickeld,
Seb.
It depends upon the Princes chastity
Whose example builds up vertue
Or makes iniquity a trade
Du.
Why should you
Be such an enemy to your selfe, come faire one
Thinke who it is that Courts you, he that may
Command.
Eu.
My life but not my honor.
Du.
Your honor? why I offer in exchange
A thousand.
Eu.
But not all of value, to
Repurchase mine, when I have sold it to
Your wantonnesse, remember sir how much,
You may by one black deed, make forfeit of,
Your precious eternity
Du.
No doctrines
Eu.
Warrant not so much ill by your example
To those that live beneath you, if you suffer,
That sordid vice raigne in your blood, who shano't
Be a fraid to live with vertue
Du.
Let a kisse correct this vnkind language
I want patience to see any man kisse
A hansome Gentlewoman, and when my owne lips
Cannot use their owne priviledge, I prophesie what will
Become on her, for all her modesty, but dare stay
No longer the sight of so much temptation.
Seb.
Why should any
Promotion charme my honest tongue? Ide rather
Plough my owne acres with my innocence
Then have my name advanc'd by poisoned honor,
He must not Whoore my daughter
Be.
I commend.
Your noble soule, but be advis'd how you
Expresse your trouble, griefe while it is dumb
Doth fret within, but when we give our thoughts
Articulate sound we must distinguish hearers,
Princes are dangerous and carry death
Vpon their tongue, I wish you well and speake
My friendly counsell—'las poore gentleman!
Du.
Come you must weare this Iewell, I ha don,
But you must live at Court
Eu.
You will be just
To your owne honor, and not give me cause
To curse your entertainement
Du.
Y'are too scrupulous.
Seb.
Great sir
Du.
Give order for his Patent to be drawne
We will create him Lord, no honor can
Reward your merit, and the title will
Become the father of this excellent maide
Co.
His mouth's stopd agen.
2.
Lord? What does the Duke meane?
1., 3.
No harme to the Gentlewoman.
2 Co.
If these wonot purchase the old mans consent
to leave his Daughter to his highnesse mercie, for he rises that
she may be humbled, there are other courses to be thought
on, Sebastian has beene a Souldier, there are quarrells now in
the world and Christian warres he were a fit man for a Generall
when hee's abroad, the siege at home wonot be so desperate.
She must be the Court Starre:
2. Co.
Do not you blaze it abroad neither, I do not
Thinke his grace will acquaint his counsell
With such a cause
3.
The old man for ought I see has no stomack to it:
Du.
Wheres Hippolito?
1. Co.
I see him this morning.
Du.
He is an active Courtier, practis'd in these amorous
Paths, weele try his skill to winne her to our
Close embrace, command him presently waite on vs
Bellamenti.
Seb.
We heare you are to be married.
Eu.
Ill tell you more hereafter
I do not like the Court, and yet I have
His royall word no force shall touch my chastity.
Seb.
Be resolute for thy honor, I weigh not
The titles he would heape, remember girle
Thy mothers vertue, since thy birth, though noble
Cannot expect his Courtship for thy selfe,
Scorne to be cald a Lady for his pleasure
Enter Bovaldo
Du.
Signior Boualdo, wheres your sonne?
Bo.
So please your highnesse hee's not ith Court
Vnlesse he be in some o'the lobbyes, I could
Not examine all: ha? tis come about, and the
Father Ile lay my life is laying the law to her,
Why was not I a Duke, I have as many titillations,
though I be the elder huntsman.
Du.
You would not thanke us for
A law, that none about our Court should marry ere we
Choose a wife our selfe.
Be.
Your grace is pleasant
Du.
Tell me what hast heard of that Eubella?
Bel.
A very noble character.
Du.
What doe you call noble?
Bel.
Shee's chast and vertuous
Du.
A vertuous folly but we let her coole
Too much; Eubella
I know not, still I feare her innocence
Is not enough to guard her, if the Duke
Pursue her vitiously, what is a virgin
Against so many flattering temptations?
Du.
Come fairest.
Seb.
I would you would be pleasd my Lord
Du,
I am infinitely pleasd my Lord, with that rare modesty
Sets on this cheeke, and with thy selfe whom we
Have not yet grac'd sufficiently, our state
Doth want such able honest men, and we
Admit you to our high and secret counsels;
I prophesie the Dukedome shall owe much
To your care, and grave directions.
Exeunt all but Sebastian and Bovaldo.
Bo.
Hayda a Privy Counselor too.
We are like to have a fine smock-age ont, virgins will be virgins
If the Duke hold this humour and at such price forestall the market;
A widow will be excellent meat againe; hee's Melancholy,
Seb.
Shall I be choakd with honors and not speake?
Where is my courage, shall a few gay titles
Corrupt a father? Bovaldo thou art reported a
Good fellow.
Bo.
Would you were as right for your owne sake:
Seb.
Is there no tricke to give a man a spirit?
I would be valiant; I dare not talke;
Bo.
If you have a mind to quarrell drinke.
Seb.
Well thought on, that shall arme me against all
His flattery shall's to a Tauerne?
Bo.
Ile beare you company
Seb.
It shall be so; the Courts too open,
You shall command Sebastian
Bo.
My Lord—
Seb.
No titles, Ile thither to forget em and drinke
my selfe into a heate above his conjuration, if there be
a spirit in wine Ile swallow it: How is man falne; that
to preserue his name and defend innocence must fly to
shame.
Bo.
Ile lead you sir.
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