 | Loves Crveltie |  |
Actus Quartus.
Enter Hippolito and Clariana upon a bed.Hip.
VVhat pitty tis these pleasures are not lawfull.
Cla.
Lawfull? that would take much from the delight
And value, I have heard some Gentlemen,
That want no venison of their owne,
Sweare they had rather strike their neighbors deere
Then hunt in their owne parke, what we possesse
We keepe for our necessity, not game,
Or wearied with enjoying give't a way
To purchase thanks abroad.
Hi.
For all that Madam, there is danger in some purlies, and
when the Keeper is none of the wisest, their bolts are sooner shot,
I like the sport, but would not be taken at the deere stealing, yet
for such a Doe as thou art, I would venter—
Cla.
Tis no glory to take a towne without some hazard, that
victorie is sweetest which is got in the face of danger, when the
very cannons are hoarse with clamor, then the bold souldier goes
on and thinkes the noise loude musicke to him, give me the man
that feares no colours, was there ever any thing worth the enioying
that came easily and without trouble to us? what makes a
maidenhead the richer purchase thinke you? but I am married
and my husband is your friend
Hip.
Prethee no more o'that
Cla.
No more othat, in my conscience you are fearefull this is
the ballad right. Courtier hey Courtier ho, wilt thou be my
true love, no no no, fy upon't. I should name my husband often
to arme and fortifie our selves, I confesse, I do not wish him
here, perhaps he would do some mischiefe, and hinder another
meeting, but if he were present now, and should see us kisse, for
and he' were ten husbands, I would trust his eyes no further, what
so let her go: come for shame be more sprightly, I have as
much reason to looke about, and play my game wisely, if my
Cards were considerd.
Hi.
Yet you are very confident.
Cl.
He does use to keep his word, I know heele not returne this
two houres, come we are secure, prethee lets talke o something els.
Enter Bellam.
Bel.
Of death.
Are ye vntwind?
Cla.
Are we betraid.
Bel.
You did not looke for me—your sword is of no use, dee see
Pitty your owne damnations; and obey me, get into that closet
no considering, it must be done: so you are fast, now Lady
Lechery dresse you the bed a litle, and lay the pillowes hansomely
bestirre you.
Cla.
Vpon my knees—
Bel.
No petitioning, you can sing, quickly or—so so, you sirra
at the bottome of the staires, come up. Be wise and do not kneele
nor whimper.
Now sirra speake and tell me truly
Or ile search every corner of thy soule
Why didst thou play the vilaine, thus to mocke me
With expectation to find my wife
Playing the adulteresse with Hippolito?
Tell me?
Ser.
Hold sir I beseech you
Bel.
What Divell did instruct thee to disquiet
My heart, secure and confident of their honors
As conscious of my owne, no head but mine
To bruise with jealosie, where is he? shew me
Or take into thy bosome what my vowes
Had fixt for him and her
Ser.
If these be eyes I saw em'
Bel.
If these be eyes, is that your proofe, lay such
A cause upon the strength of a weake sence
That is a thousand wayes deceiv'd, your eyes!
O Clariana, this impudent slave
Naught, lock'd in the lustfull armes of base
Hippolito, my friend, my honest friend.
One that commands not his owne life so much
As I, that wo'd not for a Monarchy
Do me the least disgrace, hast found him vilaine?
Ser.
Ile looke under the bed sir.
Bel.
And I beleevd him too, and had I found
But the least point of such a sinne, within
Thy Chamber, furies should appeare more tame
then Bellamente, hell should not have malice
Enough to adde to my revenge, but pardon
My easie credulous nature, I confesse
A fault, for had I lov'd thee nobly as
Became our holy vowes, our vowes Clariana
To which we cald the Angells, I should never
Have entertained one thought against thy chastity
But this slave shall repent it.
Ser.
Hold, I beseech you sir? by my life I thought
I saw em.
Bel.
Thought? is that excuse
Ser.
Good sir, Ile never trust my owne eyes after this
There was deceptio visus. Oh be mercifull
Bel.
None but her honor, and my friends to poison?
Had this report not first arrived at me
How had we all beene shamd—dost thou kneele too
Nay then I must forgive him, rise my honest
My deerest Clariana—but I shall heare
You will be prating of it, if one sillable
Come to my eare let fall by thee, that touches
But thy suspition, Ile ha thy tongue
And heart.
Ser.
Cut me into a thousand peeces, Madam your pardon
How was I cosend
Bel.
Be gon and thanke her goodnesse thou dost live
But do not dare to be so desperate
To come within my eye reach till I call thee
Ser.
Ile not come neere you, Ile bury my selfe in the Cellar.
Exit.
So so. Now sir you may come forth agen
Nor do you my most excellent whoore, thinke
There is no storme to follow—keepe your distance
You have had a feast, a merry one, the shot
Is now to be discharg'd, what do you expect?
Hip.
Death, from that hand, I apprehend no mercie
Not have I so much innocence to hope
You will delay your justice,, were I arm'd
With power to resist, I should adde more
Offences by defending of this life
That has so basely iniured you.
Bel.
Treacherous serpent
Hip.
With this I have sometime releeud your valour
And had no pitty of my blood, but then
I was a friend, in such a cause as this
I have no arme no weapon, not, if I
Were sure the bullet would decline my heart.
It does beget a cowardise to thinke
How I am falne.
Cla.
O pardon
Bel.
Pardon with what conscience canst thou aske it?
Hip.
You shewed a charity above my hope
By giving a few minutes for my prayer,
Which shewes you had no meaning to destroy
The soule, twas Rare compassion, but if you
Could possibly forgive?
Bel.
How forgive
Hip.
I say if it were possible you could
Remitt so foule (in me the blakst) offence
Not for the love I have to number dayes
But by some noble service, to wash off
This shame, this leprosie upon my name
Bel,
Ha you found it now.
Hip.
I have but vainely interrupt your fury
You cannot must not pardon it, such mercie
Becomes not an Italian.
Bel.
Miserable woman.
Cla.
O sir, it was my first offence, what woman is
Have sinn'd, had met with present death you would
Not find some names, that now shine gloriously
Within the catalogue of Saints, my soule
Is full of shame and teares.
Bel.
Tel me Clariana,
Still I shall hit upon thy name, how couldst thou
Vse me so cruelly? did I want youth
And spring about me were my embraces cold
Frost in my blood? or in thy bed was I
Conueyd a snowball, rould up the children
Do to play with winter, did I not affect thee
Beyond all the comfort of the world?
Cla.
I know it.
Bel.
And thou whom best of all mankind I lov'd
Whose friendship tooke up my whole heart till she
Came in a wife, yet then thou hadst a seate
One small degree below her, when this shall be
The talke of Ferrara who shall trust his friend
For thy sake, or at the mention of thy name
Forsweare ever to marry
Cla.
Noble sir.
It is within your power
Bel.
To kill you both
Hip.
I am prepared so well
As this short time will give me leave.
Cla.
Tis yet within your power to silence all,
What is already done should we turne fountaines
We heartily may grieve for, not repaire,
The world can have no knowledge of our trespasse
Nor your dishonor, If you call it so
Vnlesse you tell it, you have nobly sir
Secur'd all shame at home, which has won more
Repentance from me then my teares, go on
Increase that piety, and be not you
The trumpet of their infamy abroad
Whose lives hereafter may be spent with such
Religious sorrow for offending you
Bel.
Shall I be wonne with foolish pitty?
Cla.
Our death will gaine you nothing, but the feare
You shannot keepe your owne life
Hi.
Or if bloud
Must onely satisfie, let your sword here
Bath in revenge, the greatest sinner kill
If men were not, what woman could be ill.
Bel.
Your feares thus vanish, I delight not in
The bloody sacrifie, live both.
Hip.
A miracle
Cla.
But ile do more then kill you—tak my love off.
I do desire never to see you more,
Nor will I be a Courtier to occasion
Meeting hereafter, what is done is circled
Within our knowledge, pray, farwell, for you
I do desire never to bed thee more
Ile force some smiles to keepe suspition off
But feare I never shall love heartily
Agen, thou hast undone me here, Clariana
And yet I wonot wish thee dead for this
Repent and when I die aske for a kisse.
Exeunt.
Enter Bonaldo and a Courtier.
Bon.
Not at the Court? why he desired I should meet him here
Cour.
The Duke hath often asked for him
Bon.
He waites well in the meane time, who in the name of
wantonnesse keepes him away, I know tis a wench, tis a parlous
boy, my owne sonne to a haire, and he should not love a woman I
would disinherit him, for I am of opinion an Athist sometime is
better then an Eunuch, And yet cannot the Court find him
game enough, but he must leape the pale and straggle so farre
for Venison, that the Duke must hunt after him; and he were
not my owne flesh and bloud, I would counsell him to marry,
but they are dangerous, and a disease is more curable then a
wife, for she indeed is a hectick feaver, although I buried mine
seven yeere agoe, yet I feele a grudging of her still, and for a
need could guesse at the change of weather by the knowledge
her noise has infusd into my bones.
Enter Duke, Courtiers.
The Duke.
Du.
Some one looke out Hippolito
Bo.
If please your grace let it be my imployment
Du.
Signior Bonaldo?
Bo.
Your highnesse humble servant, I am sorry my sonne
should be absent, when your grace has service for him, but Ile find
him out, I am acquainted with two or three of his haunts I know
a Taverne is next doore to a—
Du.
To a what?
Bo.
It has a course name
Du.
No matter:
Bo.
To abaudyhouse
Du.
Thats not impossible
Bo.
To find him there, I cannot helpe it?
Co.
He loves him the better for't
Bo.
Tis a tricke he learnd in France sir, where your nobility
practise, he will leave it, when Capring and Kissing are out of
fashion with Gentlemen
Du.
Oh he is young, I have heard you were as wild at his
Yeeres,
Bo.
And wilder too I should be sorry else
Du.
How?
Bo.
I had ne're broke my wives heart else, with supping abroad
and midnight revells, I should ha beene troubled with her till
this time
Du.
She was a shrew it seemes? but you promise actively still?
Bo.
Not much for the crosse point,
But with your highnesse licence, Ile find out Hippolito
To attend your pleasure.
Du.
Good Signior
Exit.
A blunt honest Gentleman.
Co.
He does not boast much honesty, with your pardon sir.
Du.
I like the freedome of his discourse, but see Hippolito
Enter Hippolito.
Hip.
I must not appeare melancholy
Co.
Signior the Duke expects you
Hip.
His graces humble creature
Co.
Now is he come from some vaulting schoole Ile lay my life,
him from the flesh.
2. C.
The Duke imployes him.
Co.
I leiger at home
Hip.
Both in prison
Du.
Both,
We all know Eubella, her father is committed to prison for being
To free on's tongue.
Hi.
Be confident I will prevaile, I have a new spell for her
Du.
Be speedy and be fortunate, she is in that chamber
Returne with her consent to love and be
What the Dukes power can make thee.
Hip.
You too much honor me
Du.
Come Gentleman.
Hippo-seemes to open a chamber doore and brings forth Eubel.
Hip.
Lady, I am sent to know your full and finall resolution
touching the businesse the Duke propounded, though your father be
shut up yet change of aire is fitter for your complexion, the Duke
is a Gentleman that may command in these parts, tis not for want
of provision, the Duke has a mind to cut up your virginity.
Eu.
If this be your affaire sir, tell the Duke
Eubella is a rocke.
Hip.
Thats very hard
Eu.
His mermaids cannot winne me with their songs
Nor all his tempests shake me
Hip.
Stay a litle
There's something more in my commission
Eu.
Hippolito
I now have argument to thinke you were
Not borne a Gentleman, something, here is witnesse
I pittie thee, this is no noble office
Hip.
You meane a pander it ha's been a thriving way for some,
But I am imployed by his grace.
Eu.
Shall feare or flattery
Corrupt a generous soule? I am a woman
The weakest of a thousand yet I dare
Give man example, rather to be sacrificed.
Then betray vertues cause, we give our life
Like the Assyrian brid.
Hip
Thou hast so rich
A stocke of goodnesse, were all other women
Vitious, thou mightst impart enough to make
The whole sexe white agen, and leave thy selfe
One degree lesse then angell: canst thou pardon
That I have tempted thee so farre? thy hand
To give it a relligious kisse, when next
My tongue is orator in so foule a cause
The argument it selfe turne a disease
And eate it to the roote. I am chang'd Eubella
And more to trie thy strength then to orecome
I speake nowe for the Duke, keepe still thy thoughts
Deuout to honor, after I have studied
A yeares repentance for my wrongs to thee,
I will presume to say I love Eubella
Eu.
But hath Hippolito no other meaning?
I understand, and take some ioy to heare this language
Hip.
The first proofe of my conversion
Shall be to tell the Duke he has done ill
To court thee sinfully
Enter Duke.
Du.
Howes this?
Eu.
Pray do not mocke, if you knew how much,
Delight heaven takes to heare you speake so well
To the distressed Eubella.
Hi.
By this lip
If my profane touch make thee not offended
Theres is no good I will not act, nor ill
I will not suffer to deserue thy love
But I am miserable and cannot merit
I have not beene at home these many yeeres
Yet I will call my conscience to account
For all, and throw my selfe upon heavens charity,
Why dost thou weepe?
Eu.
My ioy can weare no other livery
Then teares, and confident all this is truth
Eubellas heart.
Hi.
Then here I take it in
To my possession
Du.
Vilaine Strumpet
Hi.
Sir, here are none such I can assure your highnesse
Du.
Is this your faith to me?
Hi.
I never did you.
True service till this minute, and I dare
Now tell you, though you cut my head off, tis
Not justice to pursue the ruine of
A harmelesse maid
Du.
Traytor
Hi.
Call me some Name, I understand my Lord
This virgin now is mine.
Du.
Your whoore
Hi.
This cannot make me yet forget your person
Eu.
Sir I beseech you.
Du.
By my Dukedome
Hi.
The more you vex the more we grow together
In honor and chast love
Du.
You speake as if
You were to be her husband,
Hi.
Tis a title a prince should be ambitious of.
Du.
Very fine
Do you consent too, to be cald his wife?
Eu.
If he dare make me such there is no second
My heart affects.
Du.
Ist come to this? then heare what I determine
Eu.
Sir consider
Du.
I have considered do not interrupt me
Too morrow if I live Ile see you both
Married, thou excellent maide forgive my passion,
Accept him freely, thou hast overcome
With chastity, and taught me to be a prince
Which character, my lust had neere defac'd
Release Sebastian.
Eu.
What dutie can poore Eubella pay?
No more, good deeds reward themselves, how have
we slept.
Hi.
This exceeds all your favours
Du.
Cherish my gift Hippolito, she is a wife for the best
prince, no honor can be enough to satisfie thy vertue.
Exit,
Co.
Heres a strange whirle, I do not like it, if the Duke continue
this mind, we must all be honest.
2. Co.
Who can helpe it?
Enter Bellamente and Bonaldo at severall doores.
Bo.
Save you Signior is my sonne here?
Bel.
He wa's here very lately, too late
Bo.
You do not answer as you were wont,
I aske for Hippolito, your friend,
Bel.
And did not I answer you?
Cry you mercie Signior, indeed he is not here
Bo.
How is it with your beauteous Clariana?
Bel.
Shee's well
Bo.
Pray commend my service to her
Bel.
What said yee?
Bo.
Nothing but my service to your Lady
Bel.
Oh I thanke you, pray stay, and tell me how I looke
Bo.
Looke?
Bel.
They will perswade me within I am not well
I must confesse there is some cause of melancholy
Within me.
Bo.
I guest so at first sight, may I presume to aske it?
Bel.
And yet does not concerne me in a higher nature then
My friend, a scuruy chance late hapn'ed to him
One that he lov'd most deerely, you will scarce
Beleeve, made him a Cuckold
Bo.
That all?
Bel.
That all. Dee understand what I have said?
Bo.
Yes a friend was made a Cuckold by a friend
He did his wife and him a curtesie.
Bel.
Go home and pray, y'are in a desperate state
This is enough to weigh thee downe to hell
Bo.
I am not of your mind, and I had don't my selfe, I should
Never had so much despaire as to hang my selfe, why tis as
Bel.
But harke you sir, how ere you talke you cannot in your
judgement thinke so, are yon married?
Bo.
What dee see in my forehead you should thinke me so
miserable?
Bel.
Ile tell you then, what a wife is, or should be
Bo.
I can tell you, what they should be,
Bel.
What?
Bo.
They should be honest and love their husbands, and for their
Sakes their bastards, which if they understand they are bound, to
keepe, because their ill conditions drive us a broad to get 'em.
Bel.
No, heare me.
A wife is mans best peece, who till he marries
Wants making up, she is the shrine to which
Nature doth send us forth on Pilgrimage,
She was a syens taken from that tree
Into which if she have no second grafting
The world can have no fruit, she is mans
Arithemeticke which teaches him to number
And multiply himselfe in his owne children,
She is the good mans Paradise, and the bads
First step to heaven, a treasure which who wants
Cannot be trusted to posterity
Nor pay his owne debts, she is a golden sentence
Writ by our maker, which the Angells may
Discourse of, only men know how to use
And none but devills violate
Bo.
All this youle justifie a wife
Bel.
Now tell me Signior what punishment
That man deserves, that should deface or steale
This wealth away.
Bo.
How meane you in the way of lying with her?
I am of my first opinion, there is not much treason
In't, if she be hansome
Bel.
But is there no respect of friendship to be observ'd?
Bo.
Nor kindred much in such a case
Bel.
Would you not chide your sonne that should abuse his
Deere friends wife or Mistresse?
Yes if he should abuse her, but if he did but ly with her I
should commend him, make the case your owne would you deny
a friend that wanted linnen the curtesie of your cleane shirt? a woman
is a more necessary wearing, and yet never the worse for't
Bel.
Away thou wot infect my dwelling else,
To what a monster, is man growne
Bo.
Fare you well sir, I ha but answered to your questions
Bel.
Cynick Ile hold thy Lanthorne now, and goe with thee
Through Athens and the world to find one man
That's honest.
Enter Page.
Pa.
My Master remembers his humble service
Bel.
To me? Ide rather thanke him to forget it
Why does he trouble me with letters? yet Ile read em.
Ha? to be married to morrow—This is an honest
Sentence, my heart bleeds still for wronging you.
Enter Clariana.
Clariana Tis no secret
Cla.
Ha to Eubella, I shanot conceale my passion, he
must not marry
Bel.
Give me the paper
Cla.
Inspire me love ile crosse it
Exit.
Bel.
Why does thy master boy, send me this letter?
Pa.
I know not sir; unlesse it be to certifie you of his marriage.
Bel.
He will marry now and live honest, heaven give him joy.
But its not so faire to disturbe my braine
That is not fully setled with his triumphes,
What ist to me? He cannot satisfie.
My iniurie if he should court his wife
And prevaile with her
To imbrace me too.
The Duke he writes, will honor his solemnity
His conscience dares not suffer him to invite
Me as his guest, why then must I be troubled
Cannot he laugh and home and kisse his bride
But he must send me word, whose soule he has
Put miserably out of tune,
Enter Clariana.
Cla.
Conceale that letter from all eyes but your Masters.
Bel.
Sirra you shall returne, and say I will dy shortly.
Heaven forbid sir
Bel.
That is a kind of prayer, who bad thee thee sayo?
Then if I must live, Ile find out a Hermit
That dwells within the earth or hollow tree.
A great way hence there I shall be secure
And learne to pray for I want charity—be gon boy
Cla.
Good sir talke not so strangely
Bel.
Fare you well too, Ile come agen to morrow, or I know
Not when, I have much businesse abroad
Cla,
Will you ride forth?
Bel.
Yes,
Cla.
Shall none attend you?
Bel.
No I shall be best alone, you know your chamber
Theres none so bold to rob me of my griefe
Yet he thats sad as I, beares his owne thiefe.
| Loves Crveltie | |