 | Loves Crveltie |  |
Actus Secundus.
Enter Hippolito Fencer.Hip.
Come on sir.
Fen.
Pretty well I protest la, keepe your guard, now sir
Hip.
What de'e thinke ont, I shall never hit your subtle body
Fen.
A very dextrous profer, bring it home, everwhile you live
Bring your weapon home,
Hip.
Agen sir
Fe.
But you do not hit me the neat Schoole-way,
I wont give a rush to be kisd out of the Schoole-way, you must
Falsifie thus.
Hip.
How now man?
Fe.
Pretty well, let us breath
Enter Page and whispers to his Master.
Hi.
A Gentlewoman?
Pag.
That has woed me sir, if it were possible, to see you first
At some distance
Hi.
Is she hansome?
Pa.
I am no comeptent judge of beauty, but if you will have
My verdit, she is guilty of a good face.
Hi.
Ile trouble you no more, I thanke you for this exercise
Fe.
The tother bout
Pa.
Faces about good Master Fencer, my Master has some businesse
You and I will trie a veine below
Fe.
I would have another thrust I protest
Pa,
Not downe staires, what if my master desire to try his skill
With some body else,
Exit.
Enter Clariana.
Hi.
What means the Gentlewoman? I am not to be bought Lady.
Cla.
If you were I have not wealth enough to purchase you.
Hi.
Do not over value me neither.
Cla.
I would I had not seene him
Hi.
Have you businesse with me Lady?
Expect me in the next roome.
Cla.
I came sir but to see you
Hi.
To see how I doe, why I thanke you, you are pretty, and I
Cla.
You may accuse my modesty that thus rudely,—
Hi,
Nay Lady, you cannot offend me that way, I can be as
Rude as you—
Cla.
What shall I say? d'ee know me sir?
Hi.
No good faith not I, but I shall desire to know you any way
You please
Cla.
Did you never see me?
Hi.
See you? you have a beauty would challenge a remembrance
But sure I was not so happy till this minute
Cla.
You are a Courtier and can flatter.
Hi.
And such beauty was made to be flattered
Cla.
Tis a signe it carries not merit enough along to justifie it
But tis as it is, I cannot help it, yet I could paint if I list
Hi.
The more excellent, I do not love your artificiall faces, give
Me one that dares blush, and have but her owne colour for't
Her'es a cheeke hath both Creame and Strawberies in't, a lip with
Cheeries that say come eate me.
Cla.
You are very bold
Hi.
Not so bold as you are welcome, you say you came to see me
And I would satisfie more then one of your sences. I do not
Know your name,
Cla.
What would you do with it, if I told you?
Hi.
Lay it up precious to memory, and open it as a relick for
Men to do it reverence, at my crowned table drinke a health
To the excellent owner, and call it my everlasting Valentine.
Cla.
You would not
Hi.
By this kisse but I would;
Cla.
No swearing
Hip.
I cannot take too deepe an oath in such briske claret,
Say shall I know it Lady?
Cla.
Excuse me sir
I would not have my name be the tost for every cup of Sack
You drinke, you wild Gallants have no mercy upon Gentlewomen,
when you are warme ithe Canaries
Hi.
Why conceale it, I am not in love with a name, and yet I
have a Grudging, a suspition, that you ha paund or lost it
Cla.
What?
Your good name, but let it go, I can tarry 'till you recover
it, I have a bed within Lady, and a Couch.
Cla.
What to do?
Hi.
Nothing but to laugh and ly downe:
Cla.
You are very merry sir. I do like him infinitly, I came
for no such purpose, I am not so weary but I can walke
Hi.
There is a Gallery to walke after.
Cla.
I find it true, what you are reported;
Hi.
Leave this impertinency, and resolue me agen what you
Came hither for
Cla.
If you will have the truth, I heard you had a wit, and
A tall one, and I came hither
Hi.
To take it downe,
Cla.
To try the keenesse, I confesse it has a pretty edge ont, not
altogether so sharpe as a rasor
Hi.
Very good, I shall love this periwinke.
Cla.
They say you love women too
Hi.
So they, say, but dare not ly with e'm
Cla.
I do not beleeve you can love any woman truly, that love
so many
Hi.
Be like you hold some intelligence in my affaires, and have a
Catalogue of all my gennets, I thinke there be some women
In the world that wish me well, and shan't I
Love 'em againe?
The misery on't is, I have never a Mistresse
Cla.
Do you not confesse many?
Hi.
Women I grant, some moveables, trimmings for a chamber
things that serve the turne, but never a mistresse one that I would
love and honor above all, my Lady Paramount, and super-intendent
Lindabrides and such an Empresse would thou wert.
Enter Page.
Pa.
Sir one from the Duke
Hi.
The Duke; Lady Ile waite upon you presently.
Cla.
I dare not name his friend nor who I am
All is not well within me.
Hi.
Say I attend his grace immediately, Lady pardon my former
rude trespasses, how vnwelcome the cause is that must divorce me
from your sweet company I can onely imagine, but if you dare
time of my absence in that gallery, where some Pictures may
helpe away the time, you will oblige in the highest degree your
servant, as I am a Gentleman I will returne instantly, and acknowledge
the infinite favors:
Cla.
The worst is past already, and I am desperately engag'd
I have not yet exprest the businesse sir
That brought me hither, confident of your noblenesse
I will expect a while,
Pray send my servant to me
Good fortunes w'ee
Hi.
I must not loose her yet,
Lady with your pardon, you shall keepe possession a while,
This key will secure you till my returne.
I hope it will be a fashion shortly for Gentlewomen to come
home and take their tribute, it will be some reliefe to
our landresses.
Venus grant me a speedy returne,
And she scapes me very hard if she have not her come againe.
Exe.
Enter Duke, Bellamente, Eubella, Courtiers.
Du.
Yet Lady have you changd your resolution
May I now hope to be admitted?
Eu.
Whether?
Du.
To your embraces
Eu.
Sir I dare not tell you
What I would say, I would some other man
Might pleade your argument, I should be plaine
And bolder in my answer, in your person
There's something makes me fearefull to expresse
What is behind, another in your name
Would more encourage me to speake.
Du.
I'me glad,
I have provided for your modestie
I wonder hee's so tedious—
Eu.
Whither will these libidnous flames of men.
Pursue poore virgins? does a generall feaver
Enter Hip.
Possesse their blood? who shall protect the chast?
Hi.
When would you have me doot?
Now she is in presence.
Hi.
I am not so well
Fortified as I may be an houre hence
Du.
It must not be delaid, I will prepare her.
Hi.
I am undone, the poore Gentlewoman will be in Purgatory
when she finds I ha lock'd her up, and how to release her I know
not, no tricke, no device? Bellamento prethee friend go to my
lodging, and with this key release a Gentlewoman, that expects
my returne, the Duke has put a scuruy businesse upon me,
kisse her hand for me, and excuse my stay, wot? tell her hereafter
I hope we shall meet and not be distracted, my honor is in pawne,
Bel.
You dare trust me with your tame foule belike, for once
Because there is necessity, Ile take some compassion a your
Pigions, yet you refusd to see my Mistresse, d'ee remember?
Hi.
No quittance now.
Du.
This is the man Lady, d'ee start already? winne her to the
Game—
Hi.
Ile do what I canne; I may have better luck for you then
For my selfe, give us opportunity.
Eu.
Has the Duke pointed him to be his oratour
Hi.
Lady I bring you newes, which you must welcome,
And give me thanks for,
Eu.
If they be worthy.
Hi.
The Duke loves you.
Eu.
D'ee know sir what you say?
Hi.
I am not drunke, the Duke, I say does love you
Eu.
Oh do not use that modest name of love
To apparrell sinne, I know you meant to tell me
The Duke pursues me with hot lust.
Hip.
You are a foole,
You understand his meaning, will you be wise, and meet it? such
favours are not offred to every body, I ha knowne as hansome a
Lady as you, would ha given all the world, and her selfe too
for a bribe to any man that would ha procurd her but a kisse,
nay as honest women no dispraise ha longd for't, and it was
mercie in his highnesse to saye the childs nose, you have
the whole treasure presented to you, Jupiter in a golden
shower falling into your lap intreats to be accepted, come
Eu.
Whom?
Hip.
The Duke
Eu.
Withall the duty of a servant,
Hi.
Thats well said
Eu.
If he bring vertuous thoughts along with him
Hi.
Bring a Fiddlestick, come you do not know what it is to
be a Dukes Mistresse, to enjoy the pleasures o'the Court to
have all heads bare, the knees bow to you, every doore fly open
as you tread, with your breath to raise this Gentleman, pull
downe that Lord, and new mold the tother Lady, weare upon a
tire the wealth of a province, have all the fashions brought first
to you, all Courtiers sue to you, Tilts and Turnaments for
you; to have the aire you live in, nay your very breath perfumd,
the pavement you tread upon kisst, nay your Dog, or Munkey,
not saluted without an officious leg, and some title of reverence.
Are you Melancholy? a Maske is prepared, and Musicke to charme
Orpheus himselfe into a stone, numbers presented to your eare
that shall speake the soule of the immortall English Ionson, 2
scene to take your eye with wonder, now to see a forrest move,
and the pride of summer brought into a walking wood, in the
instant as if the sea had swallowed up the earth, to see waves
capering about tall ships, Arion upon a rocke playing to the
Dolphins, the Tritons calling up the sea-Nimphes to dance before
you: in the height of this rapture a tempest so artificiall and suddaine
in the clouds, with a generall darkenes and thunder so
seeming made to threaten, that you would cry out with the
Marriners in the worke, you cannot scape drowning, in the
turning of an eye, these waters ravish into a heaven, glorious
and angelicall shapes presented, the starres distinctly with their
motion and musick so inchanting you, that you would wish to
be drowned indeed, to dwell in such a happinesse
Eu.
Fine painted blessings!
Hip.
Will you feast, the water shall be summond to bring in her
finny and shell inhabitants, the aire shall be unpeopled, and the
birds come singing to their sacrifice, Banquets shall spread like
wildernesses, and present more variety then men can possibly take
in surfets. Are you sicke? all the Court shall take phisick for you,
happiest that Courtier that can first betray how much he suffers
with you. Doth not this Pallace please, the Court remoues to
morrow: doth the Scituation distast, new places are built, and
piramids to put downe the Egyptians: will you hunt to day?
the game is provided and taught newes to delight you: will you
take the pleasure of the River? the Barge attends, Musicke and
the Marmaides go a long, Swannes dy a long the shores and
sing their owne dirges: will you spend? the Exchequer is yours
all honor and offices yours, and which is the crowne of all, the
Duke himselfe is yours, whose ambition shall be to make those
pleasures lasting, and every day create new ones to delight his
Mistresse.
Eu.
And yet I thinke you would not give away
Your right hand for all these, much lesse present
A poniard to your heart and stab your selfe.
Hi.
I thinke I should not.
Eu.
And would you tempt me to do worse?
Hi.
Worse?
Eu.
To sell my honor basely for these vanities
Hi.
Vanities?
Eu.
Meere trifles.
Hi.
And you go to that Lady, that which you part withall for
All these pleasures, is but a trifle
Eu.
What?
Hi.
Your maidenhead? where is it? who ever saw it? Is it a
thing in nature? what markes has it? many have beene lost you'ld
say, who ever found em'? and could say and iustifie, this is such or
such a womans maidenhead? a mere fiction, and yet you thinke
you have such a iewell on't
Eu.
You cannot be so ignorant as you seeme
Hi.
I tell you what I thinke.
Eu.
Is chastity and innocence no treasure?
Are holy thoughts and virgin puritie
Of so small value? where is your religion?
Were we created men and women to
Have a command and empire ore the creatures
And shall we loose out priviledge our charter
And piety, to live like beasts, nay be such?
For what name else can we allow our selves?
Hath it been held in every age a vertue
Rather to suffer death then staine our honor?
Does every sinne stricke at the soule and wound it
And shall not this, so foule as modesty
Allowes no name, affright us? can the Duke
Whose wicked cause you plead, with justice punish
Those by his lawes that in this kind offend,
And can he thinke me Innocent, or himselfe
When he has plaid the foule adulterer?
Princes are gods on earth and as their virtues
Doe shine more exemplary to the world
So they stricke more immediately at heaven
When they offend.
Hi.
I did not trouble you with this divinity,
Eu.
I see you are a Gentleman he favours
Be worthy of his trust, and counsell him
To better wayes, his shame is your dishonor;
For every good man suffers with his prince:
Put him in the memory of the holy vow,
When he received his Septer
He promis'd then protection to the innocent:
Tell him the punishment in store for lust
This were an Angels office.
Hi.
But Ile not doo't for a hundred angells, thanke you as much
As though I did, that were the tricke of a wise Courtier, tell
The Prince of his faults
Eu.
If he have but the seeds of goodnesse in him
Hee'll take it well
Hi.
He shall doe when I take it upon me,
I am not weary o'my place, thou wodst make a very fine Court
Surgeon—well dee heare, you wo'not doe this feate for the
Duke then?
Eu.
I dare not.
Hi.
You wonot y'are resolv'd for his sake, why then
prethee doo't for mine, you told me once you lov'd me,
Eu.
I never lov'd your vicious wayes;
Hi.
My wayes, they shanot trouble you, Ile take my owne
Course, meet him but to night for my sake and twine with him.
Eu.
Ile sooner meete with a disease, with death;
You are ignoble, do you urge it as
An argument of my respect to you
To sinne against my love?
Hi.
I shall do no good upon her—were I the Duke, you should
Find another usage.
Eu.
A tirant might do any thing
Enter Duke
Du.
How now is she moist and supple?
Will she stoope to the impression?
Hi.
I told you sir, I was not arm'd toth' purpose, you tooke
me unprovided, at the next bou't I may do somewhat, ith
meane time let me Counsell you, to let her feed high, shee'le
never fall low enough else, she must be dieted, if you let her pick
her sallets, you may fast another Lent, and all our paines be not
worth an egge at Easter.
Du.
Come cruell faire one; we may take the aire together.
Hi.
So so Im'e discharged, now to my guest.
Exeunt.
Enter Clariana and her maide.
Cla.
Not yet returnd? I shall expect too long
He is a hansome Gentleman and witty
I must not alwayes walke in clouds, his friend
Must bring us more acquainted, I do love him.
Not yet? his businesse has much force upon him
Mil.
Madam the doores are lock'd
Cla.
What should this meane? he knowes me not
I cannot feare betraying
Enter Bellamente.
Bel.
Now for this Ladybird ha
Mil.
Madam tis Bellamente
Cla.
Cupid defend wench, ha.
Bel.
Sure tis a dreame
Cla.
All is at stake, I must be confident, how does my servant?
Bel.
I am wondring
Cla.
To see me here I warrant
Bel.
Is not your name Clariana?
Yes.
Bel.
Tis not sure
You are some other Lady without a name
Whom our friend made a prisoner to his Chamber,
And cause his businesse with the Duke detaines him
Sent me to kisse your hand and disingage you
Cla.
Will you not know me then?
Bel.
Yes now I looke better on you, y'are Clariana
To whom Bellamente hath devoted all
His loving honest service, she that gave me
Vowes in exchange of mine, if my eyes be not
Vnfaithfull and delude me.
Cla.
Come Ile take
Your wonder off
Bel.
Take it all off together, I ha not done
My admiration, have I not mistooke
My way and falne upon some other lodging?
Is this your dwelling Madam?
Cla.
No?
Bel.
His name, I pray you call the owner
Cla.
Tis
Bel.
Tis so and I am miserable, false Clariana
O whither is the faith of women fled!
Cla.
Youle heare me sir?
Bel.
Was't not Hippolito,
Whom I so often did entreate to see her
My friend Hippolito, he wod not go with me
To her, that were too publicke, he had plots
And private meetings, Lady he has seene you now
And knowes you too,
And how dee like him Lady, does he not careere handsomely
In the Divells sadle? my soules upon a torture
Cla.
Youle heare me sir?
Bel.
I must be mad come tell me, why do not I kill thee now,
Cla.
Tis in your power to be a murderer, but if you knew,
Bel.
I know too much but Ile begin with him.
Cla.
What dee meane?
Bel.
To write upon his hart he has abus'd me,
But never for his sake will I trust man
Nor woman, you have forfeited your soules
There's not a graine of faith nor honesty
In all your sexe, you have tongues like the Hyena
And onely speake us faire to ruine us
You carry springs within your eies and can
Out weepe the Crocadile, till our too much pitty
Betray us to your mercilesse devouring.
Cla.
When you are temperate enough to heare
The cause that brought me hither happily
You will repent this passion, in which
I must be bold to tell you sir, my honor
Suffers unkindly—and your friends
Bel.
Grow not from fraile to impudent,
Cla.
You are resolved
To be impatient? when you are collected
Bel.
Stay I will heare, indeed I will, say any thing
Cla.
First then you have no cause to accuse Hippolito
For breach of friendship, had he purpos'd any
Dishonor to your selfe through me, he could not
Be such a foole to send you to his chamber
Whoe's knowledge, it should last of all the world
Arrive at, if you soberly consider.
He knowes not so much of me, as my name;
Thinke then but with what justice, you have all
This while inveighed against him—for my selfe
I confesse freely sir I made a visit
But innocently and pure from any thought
To iniure you; I had a curiosity
To see the man you had so much commended
That was my fault, and I before you came
Accusd my selfe, and could without your furie.
Have chid my modesty enough. Yet sir
You tooke me in no action of dishonour
My maide was all my company.
Bel.
But you look'd for
One to returne, misfortune kept him from you
Could any woman Clariana, that
Would ha the world but thinke her virtuous
Suffer her selfe to be'lock'd up suspitiously
Within a strangers lodging,
Cla.
By all goodnesse
It was without my knowledge, I was weary
Expecting him, and meaning to depart;
Some minutes ere you came my servant told me
I was a prisoner, you have all the story
Which cannot, if but weighd with reason
Carry a crime like yours
Bel.
Like mine?
Cla.
I ha said it
Tis you have made a greater fault then I,
With so much violence to condemne before
You know the offence, and I must tell you sir
But that my love is grounded upon virtue,
This were enough to stagger my affection
Raile at your Mistresse but for going abroad
To see your friend? so just a one? I see
You will be jealous when we are married.
Bel.
Never, you have awakd my honour Lady
I dare beleeve and aske thy pardon, trust me
I will command my passions hereafter
And if thou but consent, give proofe, all jealousie
Is flowne away, wee'le marry instantly
Should he retaine a thought not square of her
This will correct all, he is here, no word
Of discontent, put all off merrily.
Lets kisse
Enter Hip.
Hip.
How now, he wo'not serve me so?
Bel.
We are acquainted and now you have seene
My Mistresse, I shall hope, we may enioy
Your company hereafter,
Hi.
Ha, your Mistresse?
Bel.
mine. Clariana
Clar.
Tis my name
Bel.
Come sh'as told me all
Salute her now as mine, the character
I gave her, and thy resolution
Not to see her, engaged her to this travell
Hi.
May I be confident, you have forgiven
My wilde discourse, my studies shall hereafter
bend all to serve you nobly
Cla.
There is cause that I should beg your pardon.
Bel.
Weele not part.
Now till the Priest hath made all perfect
Hi.
Ile assist the Clarke
Cla.
You have power to steere me
Bel.
Hymen light up thy Torches, woods of Pine
Should be cut up to make thy altars shine.
Exeunt.
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