 | The Bird in a Cage |  |
Actus, V.
Scena, I.
Enter Dondolo, Morello, Grutti.Don.
VVe are sorry, we gave thee distaste, come
let's be friends, you did apprehend too
nicely.
Mor.
Nicely? it might ha beene your owne case.
Grut.
Come, you were unkind to rub us before the
Duke so.
Mor.
Be wise hereafter, and make the Foole your
friend, 'tis many an honest mans case at Court. It is safer
to displease the Duke then his Iester, every sentence the
one speakes, flatterers make an Oracle, but let the impudent
foole barke never so absurdly, other men ha the wit
to make a Ieast on't, 'tis policie in State, to maintaine a
Foole at Court, to teach great men discretion.
D. Gr.
Great men, we are none.
Mor.
No but you may be, by the length of your wit and
shortnesse of your memory, for if you have but wit enough
to doe mischiefe, and oblivion enough to forget good
turnes, you may come to great places in time, keepe a foole
a'your owne, and then you are made—
Don.
Made? What?
Mor.
Cuckolds, if my Lady take a liking to the innocent,
O your Foole is an excellent fellow upon all occasions.
Song.
Among all sorts of peoplethe matter if we looke well to,
The Foole is the best, he from the rest.
will carry away the Bell too.
All places he is free of.
and fooles it without blushing
At Maskes and Playes, is not the Bayes
thrust out, to let the plush in.
and of all men doth feare least,
At every word he Jests with my Lord,
and sickles my Lady in earnest:
The foole doth passe the Guard now,
he'l kisse his hand and leg it,
When wisemen prate, and forfeit their state,
who but the fine foole will beg it.
He without feare can walke in,
the streets that are so stonie,
Your Gallant sneakes, your Marchant breakes,
he's a Foole that does owe no mony.
Enter Rollyardo.
Boll.
The Duke, where is the Duke?
Mor.
He's forthcomming, there's no more mony ith'
Exchequer.
Roll.
I come to give up my accounts and reckon with
him, some body tell him so.
Mor,
And you doe not reckon well with him, he'll
be even with you, Ile doe your Message.
Roll.
Doe, and say I sent a Foole a my errand prithee,
cry mercy, such an Office would ha' become eyther of you
Gentlemen.
Dond.
His tongue moves circular in abuses.
Grut.
The Duke.
Enter Duke, Fulvio, Perenotto, &c.
Duke.
How now, what day is't?
Roll.
'Tis Holyday.
Duke.
How?
Roll.
Therefore wee are preparing a Morris to make
your grace merry, they have chosen mee for the Hobby-horse,
and if doe not deceive theyr expectation, they
will laugh at me extreamly before I dye.
Duke.
Doe you come like one prepar'd for death?
Roll.
Not so well I hope, as I may be hereafter, unlesse
you will be uniust, and have a desire to be clapt into the
Chronicles with some a your Predecessors, for cutting off
laying one block vpon another, and I am quickly sent of a
headlesse errand.
Duk.
Iniust doe you remember what sommes you owe
for, doe not iest away your life.
Roll.
I craue no longer day for't, and I proue not my selfe
free from my engagements.
Duk.
How?
Rol.
For although I had not the art to goe invisible as
these wise Courtiers nor could counterfeit another sex so
becommingly as tother gaudy Signior, to introduce me to
the Ladies, yet with your Princely licence I may say, 'tis
done.
Duk.
Done? what is done.
Per.
Hee's mad sir.
Roll.
I come not to Petition for a mercy
But to cry vp my merit, for a deed
Shall drowne all story, and posterity
When it shall finde in her large Chronicle
My glorious vndertaking, shall admire it
More then a Sybils leafe, and loose it selfe
In wonder of the action, Poets shall
With this make proud their Muses, and apparell it
In rauishing numbers, which the soft haird Virgins
Forgetting all their legends, and Loue tales
Of Venus, Cupid, and the scapes of Joue
Shall make theyr onely song and in full quire
Chant it at Hymens feast.
Duk.
What meanes this boasting?
Ful.
Rolliardo.
Roll.
You thinke I am a lost man, and your gray things
That eccho to your passions, and see through
Your eyes all thats presented, do already
Tickle their very soules, with expectation
To see me beg most miserably for life
But you are all deceiu'd—here I pronounce
The great worke done that cancels all my debts
I haue had accesse vnto the faire Eugenia
More, shee has entertained me for her seruant.
Per.
Sir doe you beleeue him.
Duk.
Thou hast prophaind a name will strike thee dead,
Roll.
It cannot be, for if you meane your daughter
'Tis that is my preseruer, blest Eugenia
To whose memory, my heart does dedicate
It selfe an altar, in whose very mention
My lips are hallowed, and the place a temple
Whence the diuine sound came, it is a voyce
Which should our holy Churchmen vse, it might
Without addition of more exorcisme
Disinchant houses, tye vp nightly spirits
Which fright the solitary groues, Eugenia
When I haue nam'd, I needs must loue my breath
The better after it.
Duk.
Thou hast vndone.
Thy selfe i'th repetition, and in this
Wherein thou cunningly wouldst beg our pittie
Thou hast destroyed it, and not left a thought
To plead against our anger, where before
Thy life should haue beene gently inuited forth
Now with a horrid circumstance death shall
Make thy soule tremble, and forsaking all
The noble parts, it shall retire into
Some angle of thy body, and be afraid
To informe thy eyes, least they let in a horrour
They would not looke on.
Rol.
I am still the same, and let me be so bold
To plead your royall word, 'twas my security
Nor shall you take mine to induce your faith
To what is done I haue more pregnant euidence,
Your highnesse knowes that character.
Duk.
Ha? 'tis not so, I'le not beleeue my eyes
Come hither Fulvio, Perenotto read
But not too loude, does shee not write to me
It is iniust you let Rolliardo dy
Vnlesse Eugenia beare him company.
Per.
'Tis counterfeit my Lord, cut off my head
If this be not a lygge of his invention.
Du.
My soule is in a sweat. I feele my blood
Heave in my Veynes—he lookes as he had seene her.
More my Propheticke thoughts doe whisper to me—
Fulv.
Beleeve it not Sir.
Duke.
I wonnot—Perenotto—
Don.
I know not what to thinke.
Grut.
The Duk's perplext, observe.
Roll.
Will eyther of you speake for me Gentlemen, if
the Iustice of my cause should fayle me, Ile pay you for't,
I know Courtiers that live upon countenance, must sell
their tongues, what is the price of yours pray?
Grut.
Humble your selfe you Coxecombe.
Duke.
Away, and let not him stirre I charge you.
This does intrench too much upon her person,
Have my endeavours to preserve Eugenia
Of whom I thought so many men unworthy
Ruin'd themselves? Humane invention
Could not instruct me to dispose her where
She could be more defenc'd from all mens eyes
An Anchorite lives not prison'd in a wall
With more security. 'Tis not possible
Why am I troubled thus? My feare abuses me,
In such a cause I would checke an Oracle.
And shall his dexterous forgery, unsettle
My confidence, I wonot shew a guilt,
Of so much weakenesse in me, Fulvio—
And Gentlemen—we'll speake to you anon.
Roll.
I ha spoke too much already it seemes, sure he has
sent for her, I dare repose my life on her, to whose trust I
gave my heart, she is a tbousand witnesses in her selfe.
Fulv.
It will be mirth Sir.
Roll.
I like not this consulting, they breake of pleasantly
now in the name of Mercury what crotchet.
Duke.
I see it is in vaine
Above, becomes not mortals to dispute
Sit there,—nay be not modest, you were borne to't
And therefore take your place, nay nay, be cover'd
Imagine that a Crowne, and these your Subiects
As when I dye, you know 'twill come to that.
In right of my sole daughter—so, does he not
Looke like a Prince indeed, appeares he not
A pretty lumpe of Maiesty.
Don.
He's studying some speech Ile lay my life—
Duke.
Against his Coronation, to thanke all
His loving Subiects, that as low as earth
Draw their Swords: Eugenia enters and Perenotto.
Thus offer him their duties.
Eug.
Hold I beseech you
Let not my duty suffer misconstruction
If while my knee doth beg your blessing, here
I throw my armes, and circle next to Heaven
What must be dearest to me.
Duke.
Ha?
Eug.
My ioy of life.
Du.
Destroy me not?
Eug.
Alas—I would preserve all, am so farre from killing,
That I would dye my selfe, rather than see
One drop of bloud forc'd frow his crimson Fountaine,
Or but one teare rackt from your eye, oh heare me
And after let your anger strike two dead.
So you would let us dwell both in one Grave;
And did you know how neere we were in life
You would not thinke it fitting that in death
Our ashes were divided, you have heard
When the poore Turtle's ravisht from her Mate
The Orphant Dove doth grone away her life
In Widowes solitude, let me call him husband
And tell your selfe the rest.
Duke.
Kill not thy Father with one word Eugenia,
Thy Husband?
Eug.
I doe beseech you heare me.
Duke.
Beg thou mayst be forgotten, 'tis sinne
'Bove my forgivenesse, this a match for thee?
He had a father, or was christen'd? Hee?
We all are in a dreame, awake me thunder.
Roll.
Temper your passion Sir.
Duke.
Some tortures to enforce confession from him
How he procur'd accesse.
Roll.
They shannot need, you sent me Sir your selfe.
Duke.
Wee?
Roll.
The Cage was my conveyance.
Per.
That was presented lately with the Birds, you gave command.
Du.
Be dumbe, I dare not heare you.
Dond.
This was a Bird in a Cage indeed.
Du.
Search for the Traytor Bonamico presently
He has betray'd me, they shall suffer both
Before the noyse be spread to our dishonour.
Eug.
Yet will you heare me.
Du.
I heare too much, thou hast forgot thy birth,
Thy Fortunes, and thy Father, were my cares
So wondred at abroad, censur'd at home
Worthy of nothing but contempt from thee
For whom they were begotten? thou hast plough'd
Vpon my Face, canst thou undoe a wrinckle
Or change but the complexion of one Hayre.
Yet thou hast gray'd a thousand, taken from mee,
Not added to my comforts, more then what
Like an indulgent Parent I have flattered
My selfe into.
Enter Bonamico.
Grut.
Here is the other Traytor Sir.
Duke.
Away with 'em to death.
Eug.
Let me goe too.
Du.
It needs not, thou art dead already Girle,
And in thy shame, I and the Dukedome suffer,
Thou mayst remember (false to thy owne vow)
Philenzo whom I banish'd, for thy sake.
The title of my Subject, and thy Love
To him, pull'd our displeasure on him, since
Wee studying to adde more height to thee,
Clasp'd with the sonne of Earth to coole the Feuer
Of hote sinne in thy veines, ingratefull to
Philenzo, cold already in thy memory.
Roll.
'Tis happinesse enough that you haue mentioned him,
And whither to your Mercy, or your justice,
See that Philenzo kneele.
Omnes.
Lord Philenzo.
Ful.
My Noble cozen so neere mee, and conceal'd.
Eug.
Your daughters knees ioyne with his bended heart
To beg your pardon.
Duke.
Philenzo? were not you banish'd Sir.
Roll.
It was your sentence.
Duke.
In paine of death not to returne, blest Fate
Thou hast relieued mee, had'st thou died before
By our command, it would haue beene thought Tiranny
Though none durst tell vs so, now wee haue argument
Of iustice, and our euery breath is Law
To speake thee dead at once, wee shannot neede
To study a diuorce, thy second exile
Shall be Eternall, Death.
Roll.
You doe me honour.
Duke.
Be it your punishment, as you preferd him
By Art to her, now by another Art
For euer to deuide 'em, be's Executioner,
And after make him higher by the head,
To cure's ambition, see't aduanc'd.
Roll.
Ere I goe, dread Sir,
I haue an humble suite, it is not life
Ile aske, for that I giue up willingly
And call it Mercy in you to immortalize
The affection I shall owe Eugenia,
Your other banishment is onely Death,
You new create me now, it was my ayme
And my attempt you thought so bold, I made
To serue this end, that since I could not liue
I might dye for her; pray reprieue my breath
It shall be a very short, and silent farewell.
Enter Embassadour.
Duk.
'Tis granted.
Fu.
My Lord Embassadour.
Duk.
Not the least whisper of Philenzo, as you value
our regard—O my good Lord welcome.
Emb.
Letters to your Grace.
Duk.
They are gratefull as my comfort—Perenotto,
let them withdraw; Her vaine will be discouered—Fuluio
follow and part 'em, giue order for his execution, off
with his head instantly—I can read no more for ioy, Perenotto
vse your best oratory on my daughter to forget
that Traitour, and prepare to marry Florence, 'tis concluded
to be solemnized by proxie.
Don.
Ile see the execution.
Exit.
Duk.
Now to the rest,
Your last letters were acceptable; and our sonne before had
intention to finish the marriage in his person, but lately
receiuing intelligence, that one Philenzo of Noble birth,
now in exile, though without your consent, had long since
intrest in your daughters affection, wee thought meet rather
to aduise for his repeale then proceed to our dishonour;
where the hearts meete, there onely marriages are
sacred, and Princes should be exemplary in all Iustice, although
we disclaime in this designe, on our parts, we will
continue all other Princely correspondence.
Into a laborinth, from whence no art
Can bring me of with safety—my Lord you may
Please to retire your selfe, a thousand wheeles
Do moue preposterous in my braine, what cure?
I loose my selfe, runne with a hast thou wod'st
Preserue my life, and stay the execution.
I will not haue a drop of blood fall from
Philenzo for my Dukedome, flye I say
Thou should'st be there already.
How now, has Philenzo still a head on?
Don.
Yes my Lord.
Duke.
Follow him, and with that Nimblenesse thou would'st
Leape from thy Chamber when the Roofe's a fire
Proclayme aloud our pardon to Philenzo.
And bring him backe to us.
Dond.
'Tis too late Sir, Philenzo's dead already
He sav'd the Executioner that trouble.
The voyce is, he is poyson'd.
Enter Fulvio.
Duke.
Poyson'd, how—
Where is Philenzo?
This foole reports him poyson'd, what circumstance?
Fulv.
He had no sooner parted from Eugenia,
But suddainly he fainted, at which fall
Of his owne spirit, he seem'd griev'd with shame
To shew so little courage neere his death,
Which he call'd Martyrdome, and presently
Whither supply'd by other, or prepar'd
By himselfe we know not, he had a Violl
Of water soveraigne as was pretended
To inlifne his dull heart, he dranke it up
And soone shew'd cheerefull in his eyes, weeled
Him smiling forward but before we could
Approach the place of death, he sunke agen
But irrecoverably, for in vaine we applyed
Our helpe, by which we did conclude he had
Drunke poyson.
Duke.
All this talke is such, and through
My eare I take it in, with as much danger,
I feele it active in my Braine already.
Call our Physitians I will hang em all
Vnlesse they can recover him, it shall be
Death to save any man hereafter, if
They suffer him to perish.
Fulv.
Sir your Daughter
It seemes the accident has arriv'd at her.
Du.
Arriv'd at her? Fame will soone spread it Fulvio,
About the world, and wee shall be theyr mockery.
He's dead they tell me Girle, poyson'd they say, too.
Eug.
Oh my Philenzo.
Enter Grutti, Philenzoes Body is brought in, and layd vpon a Carpet.
Duke.
Eugenia 'shat not marry Florence now,
Nor any other since Philenzoes dead,
But thou wo't not beleeve me, had he liv'd
He had beene thine, that minute tooke him hence,
Wherein I first resolv'd to ha given thee to him.
Eug.
Oh doe not mocke me Sir, to adde to my
Affliction, you nere would give me to him.
Duke.
May Heaven forgive me never then, but what
Availes too late compunction? Noble Gentleman
Thou shalt have Princely Funerall, and carry
On thy cold marble the Inscription of
Our sonne in death, and my Eugenias Husband.
Fulv.
Madam, this sorrow for his losse is Reall.
We met the Florentine Embassadour
Who told me the Expectation of that Prince
Was now dissolv'd, and Messengers were sent
To stay the Execution.
Duke.
Who now
Shall marry my Eugenia, I have undone
The hope of our posterity.
Eug.
Not so Sir,
If yet you'l give me leave to make my choyce
Ile not despaire to find a Husband.
Duke.
Where?
Here Royall Sir, Philenzo is not dead
But made by Vertue of a drinke to seeme so
Thus to prevent his suffering, that I might
Or other friend by my confederacy,
By begging of his body fit for buriall,
Preserve him from your anger.
Duke.
Dost not mocke me?
Eug.
Let me beg your pardon,
Confident of your change to mercy, I have
Confess'd what terrour could not force me to.
Enter Morello, and Ladies,
Grut.
This is pretty Dondolo.
Duke.
Blessings fall doubly on thee.
Eugen.
He expects
Not such a full streame of happinesse, heaven dispose him
To meet it quickly,
Per.
Here are strange turnings, see he stirs.
Roll.
Where am I now? no matter where I be
'Tis Heaven if my Eugenia meet me here
She made some promise sure to such a purpose.
This Musicke sounds divinely, ha Eugenia
'Tis so, let's dwell here for Eternity
If I be dead, I wonot live agen
If living—ha! I'm lost, lost for ever.
Duke,
Not found till now, take her a guift from me
And call me father.
Roll.
I am not yet awake.
Eug.
Thou art Philenzo, and all this is truth,
My Father is Converted.
Roll.
'Tis a Myracle.
Duke.
You must beleeve it,
In signe how we are pleas'd proclaime this day
Through Mantua a pardon to all offenders
As amply as when we tooke out Crowne.
Mor.
Then my Petticote is discharg'd.
Dond.
Now Lady you are free,
Make me happy to renew my suit.
Mor.
And mine, shall's to Barlibreake
I was in Hell last, 'tis litle lesse to be in a Petticote somtimes—
Roll.
Madam vouchsafe him kisse your hand
Wee owe him much.
Duke.
We'll take him to our Service.
Dond.
I am too much honour'd.
Duke.
And you into our bosome, this day shall
Be consecrate to tryumph, and may time
When 'tis decreed, the world shall have an end
By Revolution of the yeare make this
The day that shall conclude all memories.
Exeunt Omnes.
| The Bird in a Cage | |