 | The Bird in a Cage |  |
Actus. I.
Scæna. I.
Enter Fulvio, Orpiano.Orpiano.
He does not meane this building for a
Colledge, I hope?
Fulv.
That were an ill Foundation,
there are more Scholers then can live one
by another already; 'tis pitty we should
haue more plenty of learned Beggers.
Orp.
'Tis past all my conjecture, why he built it.
Fulv.
Signior Perenotto, Captain oth' Guard
Is of Counsell onely with the Duke in't.
Enter Morello.
Mor.
Signior Orpiano, and Fulvio.
Fulv.
My Sparke? Whither in such hast? Let vs change Ayre a litle.
Mor.
You are travailing to your Mistris.
Orp.
Madam Donella is newly return'd to Court.
Fulv.
With the Princesse?
Orp.
She was but late retyr'd into the Country:
What's the matter?
Mor.
Your Lordships I hope have heard, the Duke sent
Fulv.
What?
Mor.
Does not your Lordship know?
Fulv.
Not I.
Mor.
Your Lordships wisedome and mine is much about
a scantling then, yet for ought I heare, there be others of
the Court as ignorant as we—your Honors pardon I beseech
you, I must in all haste to the Princesses Lodging.
Orp.
Farewell Signior.
Your amorous locke has a hayre out of order.
Mor.
Vm? what an oversight was this of my Barber, I
must returne now and have it corrected, deere Sign.
Ex.
Fulv.
Here's a Courtier that will not misse a hayre of
his Complement, when he is to appeare before his Mistris:
every morning does this fellow put himselfe upon the
Racke, with putting on's apparell, and manfully indures
his Taylor, when he skrewes and wrests his body into the
fashion of his doublet—but that the Court cannot subsist
without a Foole, I should marvaile what this fellow does
to follow it.
Orp.
There are more have much about his parcell of
Braines, the benefit of youth and good clothes procur'd
their places, and ignorance and impudence have since maintayn'd
em.
Fulv.
Two great helpes as the world goes.
Enter Gentlemen Vshers, Dondolo, Grutti.
Gent.
Cleere the presence, the Duke is entring.
Enter Duke, Eugenia, Perenotto, Attendants.
Eugen.
I ever was obedient—
Duke.
'Tis for thy Honor, which I know,
Is to thy selfe a precious sound—that Building
I late erected, then shall be thy Pallace.
Eugen.
Or my Prison Sir, if I doe rightly understand.
Duke.
That name
Is too unworthy of it, my Eugenia,
Nor will it seeme restraint to my lov'd daughter,
It's owne Commander, every day shall strive
To bring thee in fresh rarities, Time shall bee.
Delighted with thy pleasures, and stay with thee.
Eug.
Indeed I shall thinke Time has lost his wings
When I am thus Cag'd up.
Duke.
Thou shalt give
To him feathers when thou pleasest. Mantua
Shall powre her raptures on thee—why have I
A Crowne, but to command what thou canst wish for,
My deere Eugenia.
Eugen.
A Deere it seemes,
For as you had suspicion of my wildnesse,
You'l measure out my walke.
Duke.
I am thy Father,
Who by example of the wisest Kings,
But build a place to lay my Treasure in,
Safe from the Robber, where Ile place a Guard—
Eugen.
Doe you suspect I shall breake Prison?
Duke.
To keepe off violence, and solliciting
Which may disturbe thy pleasures, vntill we
Shall find out one to match thy Birth and Vertues,
My Dukedome is too poore that way, maintaine
Thy Fathers Soule: thou hast no bloud to mixe
With any beneath Prince—forget as I shall
Thy Love was ever falling from thy Greatnesse,
Into the Armes of one carryes but stile of Honour.
Eugen.
Sir, I am your Daughter.
Duke.
Th'ast deserv'd my blessing, and thy obedience
In this, new Crownes thy Father: I see I need not
Vrge what I am to move thee, and lay force,
Thy understanding does appeare convinc'd,
And loving duty teaches thee to more,
Then the Command—Perenotto—
Eugen.
What narrow ground I tread? I know he is
Too passionate to be denyed his will,
And yet to yeeld will make me miserable;
'Tis my misfortune to be borne so great.
The ayre, when the condition of a Princesse
Makes me a Prisoner. But I must obey
In hope it will not last—I have a Soule
Is full of gratefull duty, nor will suffer me
Further dispute your precept: you have power
To steere me as you please.
Duke.
All the Graces
Speake in my Girle—Each syllable doth carry
A Volume of thy Goodnesse: all my Cares
So well rewarded doe convert to sweetnesse
I thanke thy filiall piety: know my Girle
That place wherein I looke so rich a Iewell,
I doe pronounce againe, shall be thy Paradice:
Thy Paradice my Eugenia, saving that
In this man onely finds no being—other
Delights shall streame themselves into thy Bosome,
And those that passe, shall flow agen t'invite
Thy sence to tasting—Perenotto.
Peren.
Your Graces pleasure?
Duke.
Admit those Ladyes that attend—
Fulv.
The Duke shewes much Indulgence.
Orp.
Obserue the yssue.
Duke.
Wee will not limit thy companions,
Elect what Mantuan Beautyes thou canst best
Delight in, they shall serue thee: or if some
Of your owne Traine, whom we haue thought most proper
To be your personall Guard, affect you, they
Enter Donella Katherina, Mardona & Fidelia.
Attend our pleasures: see, they are ignorant
Yet of our purpose, if to any, thy
Affection be not free, thy Breath discharge them,
And point thy owne Attendants.
Eugen.
I shall be pleas'd with your appointment,
Ladyes, I know you loue me.
she goes to the Ladyes.
Don.
Doth your Grace hold suspition, any of vs
Serve you not with our heart?
Eugen.
I doe not doubt,
For my sake can you be content to be
All Prisoners.
Ladyes.
Prisoners?
Eug.
Yes, shut up close Prisoners, and be bard
The conuersation, nay the sight of men.
Kath.
Marry Heaven defend, wherein haue we offended
That we must loose the sweet societie
Of Men.
Mard.
How have we forfeyted our freedome?
Duke.
No man argue—'tis our pleasure.
Don.
'Las Madam, I am new contracted to a handsome Signior.
Kath.
I have but newly entertain'd a Servant, that gave
me these Gloves, they smell of him still, a sweet Courtyer.
Don.
Not one man among so many Ladyes?
Not a Gentleman-Vsher? Nor a Page?
How shall we doe Madam?
Mard.
I beseech your Grace let me be exempted,
If I haue committed an offence, deserues your Anger,
Let one of your Lords cut off my head rather, Sign. Dondalo.
Fidel.
Shall we expresse,
So cold a duty to her highnesse? Fye Ladyes.
Eugen.
You shall but suffer with me: I pertake
As much Seuerity, as any of you shall.
Duke
I will expect your duties Lords in silence,
Orpiano, you shall to Florence, with
Our daughters picture, your Commissions sealed—
Now faire Ladyes,
I hope y'are fixd to waite vpon Eugenia.
If your restraint be a Burthen, it shall be
In her power to inlarge you, and elect
New Friends into your places.
Ladyes.
'Tis our Duties
To obey your Grace and her.
Duke.
Perenott—Are all things prepar'd?
Per.
They are my Lord.
Duke.
For once theu let vs vsher you.
Kat.
Whether doe we goe?
Peren.
Ile tell you.
Whither?
Peren.
To take Phisicke Madam.
The Duke has prepar'd to stay all loosenesse in your bodies
You must be all fast: stone walles and morter will bind.
Fid.
Come follow with a Courage.
Donel.
I hope we shall be allowed our little Dogs and Monkeyes.
Dond.
Sweet Madam.
Exit omn. man. Fulv. Orp. Dond. Grutti.
Grut.
Madam Katherina, they are gone Signior.
Dond.
Would I had knowne this afore?
Fulv.
The Duke will be censur'd for this Act.
Orp.
'Tis very strange, good Lady,
I read a forc'd obedience in her Eye,
Which hardly held up Raine.
Enter Morello.
Mor.
Save you deare Sign. which way went the Ladies?
Grut.
Newes, Signior Newes.
Mor.
I beseech you I may pertake.
Fulv.
Have you forgot there was suspicion
She affected Signior Philenzo the Cardinals Nephew?
Orp.
Alas poore Gentleman, he suffers for't.
Fulv.
By this restraint he would make her sure, his jealousie
Is not yet over—Signior Morello, is your locke rectified,
You have mist your Lady but a hayres bredth.
Mor.
Nay, but my Lords and Gentlemen, where are the
Ladies gone indeed?
Grut.
We ha' told you.
Mor.
What, committed to New Prison:
Fulv.
Very true, Signior.
Dond.
Our dancing dayes are done, shut vp close, not
A man must enter.
Mor.
Would I were a Mouse then—why, but is the Duke mad!
Orp.
Take heed what you say Signior: though we be
no Informers, yet walles have Eares.
Mor.
Eares? Would I had left mine behind me, heere's
Newes indeed!
Fulv.
And y'ad come a little sooner, you might ha taken
your leave, but 'twas your Barbers fault.
Mor.
Would he had left me ith' suds an houre agoe!
What shall we doe Gentlemen, 'tis a hard case, when a
man that has an intention to marry and live honest—
How now, what art thou?
Roll.
Any thing, nothing: yet a man, yet no man
for I want.
Mor.
What? Th'art no Capon I hope.
Roll.
Mony sir, will you spare any from your precious sinnes.
Grut.
Th'art very free.
Roll.
Yet Sir I am in debt.
Dond.
What dost owe?
Roll.
Nobody harme.
Fulv.
Whence cam'st—
Roll.
I dropt from the Moone.
Orp.
So me thinkes, thou talk'st very madly—
Th'ast much humour in thee.
Roll.
Ha yee any thing to doe that yee account impossible Gentlemen.
Fulv.
Why, wilt thou do't?
Roll.
And you'l pay for't. Let mee have mony enough
and Ile doe any thing.
Orp.
Hold, hold.
Roll.
Yes I will hold.
Mor.
Ile lay with thee, what wilt hold—
Roll.
Why Paradoxes.
Grut., Dond.
Paradoxes!
Mor.
I hold you a Paradoxe.
Fulv.
Let's heare some.
Roll.
There are no beasts but Cuckolds and Flatterers;
no cold weather but i'th Dog-dayes; no Physicke to a
whoore, no foole to an Alderman, no Scholler to a Iustice
of Peace, nor no Souldier to a Belt and Buffe Ierkin.
Orp.
A smart fellow.
Enter Duke.
Mor.
The Duke.
Duke.
So my feares are over, in her restraint I bury all my
Iealousies:—How now? What fellowes this?
Fulv.
Such an Humorist as I neuer before converst withall:
it seemes he makes himselfe free of all places.
Duke.
What would he have?
Roll.
Thy pardon mighty man, if it be no Treason to pray
for thee, save thee, wilt imploy me? 'Tis Vacation, and I
want worke, aske me not what I can doe, let me have
money enough, and Ile doe any thing.
You haue your Sences?
Roll.
Five, the small Birds dare not peepe for him,
I take it: I can see greatnesse big with an Impostume,
yet towring in the Ayre like a Fawlcon: I can heare
a man sweare I am thy Eternall Slave, and will serve thee:
whē if opportunity were offer'd, for price of a Plush Cloak,
he will be the first shall strip thee to the very Soule: I can
taste wine that another man payes for, and rellish any
thing that comes of free cost: I can smell a Knave through
a Bar'd Gowne, a Politician, through a Surplace; a Foole,
through a Scarlet out-side: I can touch a Wench better then
a Lute, and tell mony with a Secretary, to shew I ha lost my
feeling: tush, all's nothing, I have a humour to doe some
thing to be talked on, nothing can come amisse to me, let
me have mony enough, and my life to a cheese payring,
Ile doe any thing.
Duke.
You'l except somewhat.
Roll.
Not to doe o're the Seven Wonders of the World,
and demolish 'em when I ha done, let me have money enough,
what starre so high, but I will measure by this Iacobs
staffe: Divine mony, the Soule of all things Sublunary,
what Lawyers tongue will not be tipt with silver, and will
not mony with a Iudge make it a plaine Case, does not
gowty Greatnesse find ease with Aurum palpabile, and
he's a sleight Physitian cannot give a Golden Glister at a
dead lift:—Mony, I adore thee, it comes neere the nature
of a Spirit, and is so suttle it can creepe in at a Cranny, bee
present at the most inward Councels, and betray em: Mony,
it opens lockes, drawes Curtaines, buyes wit, sels Honesty,
keepes Courts, sights Quarrels, pulls downe Churches,
and builds Almeshouses.
Duke.
A wilde fellow.
Fulv.
Will your Grace have him punisht for this insolence?
Duke.
No, his humor is good mirth to vs; whence art?
Roll.
I am of no Country.
Duke.
How?
Roll.
I was borne vpon the Sea.
Duke.
When?
Roll.
In a Tempest I was told—
Mor.
A blustering fellow.
Duke.
Thy Name.
Rolliardo.
Duke.
And how long hast thou beene mad thus?
Roll.
Your Highnesse may be merry-and if you have no
Employment for me, I am gone.
Duke
Stay we command you, and bethinke agen,
What to except in your bold vndertaking.
Roll.
I except nothing, nothing Duke, it were no glory
Not to be generall, active in all, let me have Mony
Enough and Ile doe any thing.
Duke.
You shall.
Fulv.
Will your Grace set him aworke?
Roll.
Name the Action.
Duke.
What say you to a Lady?
Roll.
I will fall vpon her, as Iupiter on Danae, let me
have a shower of Gold, Acrisius brazen Tower shall melt
agen, were there an Army about it, I would compasse her
in a Moneth or dye for't.
Duke.
Ha?—A Lady without guard would try your wit,
and mony to get her Love.
Roll.
A toy, a toy.
Duke.
Through a Credulity, you may too much
Traduce the Sexe, and merit such a Iustice
No Mony will buy off:—admit some Branches
Grow not so straight and beautifull, as Nature
Intended them, will you disgrace the stemme
Or for some womans Lenity, accuse
That fayre Creation? Mony buy their Love
Promise a Salary of that sacred flame
Themselves cannot direct, as guided by
Divine intelligence.
Roll.
Your Highnesse Pardon; if you prohibite I must
not undertake, but let me have freedome, and Mony enough
(for that's the Circle I walke in) and if I doe not
conjure up a spirit hot enough to inflame a frozen Lucrece
bosome: make Mummy of my flesh, and sell me to the Apothecaries:
try me with some Master peece; A womans
Love is as easie as to eate dinner without saying Grace,
getting of Children, or going to bed drunke: Let me have
Fulv., Orp.
He's constant.
Duke.
Admit there be a Lady, whom a Prince
Might Court for her Affection; Of a Beauty,
Great as her Vertue, adde unto them Birth,
Equall to both, and all three but in her
Not to be match'd—Suppose this Myracle
(Too precious for mans Eye) were shut vp, where
A Guard more watchfull then the Dragons; did
Forbid accesse to mankind:—Men pick'd out
Betweene whose Soules and Mony were Antipathy
Beyond that which we know; and you assoone
Might bribe to be a Saint:—what would you doe
With your enough of mony, were your life
Ingag'd to winne her Love?
Roll.
The sky may fall, and Aldermen cry Larkes
About the City.
Duke.
The fellow's impudent: Sirrah, thou hast landed
thy selfe upon a Rocke, you shall have sence of what you
would contemne, a Life: put on a most fortified resolution,
you shall need it; we haue a daughter thus lock'd up—
Fulv,
What does the Duke meane?
Duke.
A Virgin.
Orp.
He is in Passion.
Duke.
Shalt not ingage thee on a worke so much
Impossible as procurement of her Love,
Make it appeare with all the Art thou canst
Get but accesse to her; a Moneth we limit
But take heed Boaster, if you faile; your Life
Shall onely satisfie our charge, and teach
All other Mountibanks to be at distance,
With such bold undertakings: you shall expect
A severe Iustice:
By this, I shall try the Fidelity of those are trusted.
Roll.
'Tis a match, I shall have mony enough?
Duke.
You shall. What d'yee call enough,
I will not be particular and agree oth' Summe, you
looke I should dye if I performe not, and Ile looke to bee
merry and want nothing while I live, Ile not take the Advantage
on you, because I hope to receive credit by it: if
I use now and then a round summe set me up oth' Ticket
for't, but who shall passe his word if I doe this feate, you'l
let me keepe my head a my shoulders.
Duke.
Our royall word secure thee.
Roll.
'Tis enough.
Fulv.
What security can your Grace expect for his
foorthcomming, if he fayle.
Duke.
We ha studyed that,
'Tis but the losse of some superfluous Crownes,
Let the end carry what successe Fate please,
All the expence will not be lost, to try
The faith of those we shall imploy in this;
Our Citie's strong, the River that invirons
On three parts, shall be carefully attended,
A wall makes safe the fourth, which shall be guarded
Our Vigils shall be so exact, he shall
Deserve his liberty, if he escape vs,
We are constant Sir.
Fulv.
Would he might pay for his curiositie.
Roll.
Ile waite upon your Highnesse for some earnest: I
have a Moneth good, let me have faire play and my bargaine
Mony enough, if I doe come short, let my head be too heavie
for my shoulders; if I doe more then is expected, you'l
beleeve it possible hereafter: when a man has money enough
he may doe any thing.
Duke.
Maintaine your humour still—attend vs.
Exeunt
Manent Morello, Dondolo, and Grutti.
Mor.
Here's a mad fellow, does he meane to get into the Ladyes?
Dond.
It seemes so.
Gr.
Or I wud not be in his taking when the Moon chāges.
Mor.
Our best course then is to observe and humor him,
he may have a tricke more then we know; he seemes to be
a good Fellow, let's be drunke together, and get him to
confesse it—ha?
A match.
Mor.
Like errand Knights our valiant wits must wrastle
To free our Ladyes from the inchanted Castle.
Exeunt.
| The Bird in a Cage | |