 | The Royall Master |  |
The second Act.
Bombo, Iacame.Bom.
Have they almost dined? stay, stay a little:
Iaca.
The last course is o'th table;
Why doe not you waite?
Bom.
That were a way indeede to be discovered;
No, the King shall pardon me; he has
Not seene me yet for all his cunning.
Iaca.
Whom doe you meane.
Bom.
The King; thou art ignorant
Ile tell thee after dinner; 'ith meane time
Direct a wandring bottle of wine this way
And let me alone though I appeare not in't
I may have a humour to make a Maske if they
Stay supper.
Iac.
Thou make a Maske.
Bom.
I doe not say Ile write one, for I ha' not
My writing tongue, though I could once have read,
But I can give if neede be the designe,
Make worke among the Deale boards, and perhaps
Can teach 'em as good language as another
Of competent ignorance; things goe not now
By learning; I have read 'tis but to bring
Some pretty impossibillities, for Antemaskes
A little sence and wit dispos'd with thrift,
With here and there Monsters to make 'em laugh;
For the grand businesse to have Mercury
Or Venus Daudeprat to usher in
Or goddesses, and now and then a song
To fill a gap; a thousand crownes perhaps
For him that made it, and theres all the wit.
Iaca.
In what?
Bom.
In getting of the money.
Iaca.
You are witty signior Bombo to advance
The muse, Ile fetch a bottle that you talk'd of.
Exit.
Bom.
If there be a superfluous Phesant
Twill quell my hunger for a time; I heare
Intelligence of an Oleo; if any
Such things may be recovered from the courtiers
That have beene appetites upon hunting dinners;
You shannot neede to enquire much after me.
Enter Iacamo.
I shall be here abouts; why thou hast wings.
Iaca.
A bottle of rich wine.
Bom.
Thou wert alwayes honest.
Iaca.
There's asking for my Ladies Secretary
Bom.
I knew't; I am not here;
Doe they inquire already? come Ile pledge thee;
What wilt thou say if some body be sent for to Court.
Iaca.
Ile drinke some bodies health.
Bom.
Th'art a good fellow, and this curtesie
Shall be remembred.
Within call Iacamo.
Iaca.
I am cald.
Bom.
Leave, leave your wicker; friend weele drinke a cup
When thou art gone; tis very excellent wine;
And now I have a stomacke like an edge toole;
But no good comes of idlenesse—tother cup,
The bottle growes light headed; how now friend?
No dish of meat appeare; nothing to shew
The Kitchin and the Wineseller are friends?
I would the Cooke were rosted honest Iacamo
Enter Iacamo, and Pietro.
I was thinking of a brace of Cocks just as you came.
Iaca.
I have retriv'd a covey of Partridge for thee.
Piet.
And a cup of Greeke wine; heeres to thee.
Bom.
I understand Greeke wine; Ile lose no time.
What's this a Booke.
Bom.
No, tis my learned trencher
Which Schollers sometimes eate, Euclid they call it;
In my opinion this wing and legge
Is worth all bodies mathematicall;
Now let's dispute in Greek, to the Kings health.
Pie.
To me, Ile pledge.
Iaca.
It shall goe round.
Bom.
And why doe you thinke my friend the King
Came hither with the Duke.
Pie.
To dine.
Bom.
Thy braines are in thy guts; you shall heare more;
Whats this?
Iaca.
Potato Bulley.
Bom.
A cup of wine to cleare the passage; so;
Here is as they say Latine; here is Greeke, and
Here is for ought I know an Hebrew roote, most learnedly
Met together.
Jaca.
Heele be drunke presently.
Bom.
Bottle in battle ray, present, give fire, so as
You were; have they good stomacks Iacamo?
How feeds the King?
Iaca.
He was very pleasant with your Lady;
But the Duke feedes upon her lookes.
Bom.
My Ladies health, my Lady little Domitillaes health.
Pie.
Well said; about, about.
Bom.
I am about another to our reverend Lady Simphorosa;
So, so; this wine they say will make us see things double,
Here is but one Leg visible; well for this favour
Gentlemen if I be forc'd to live in court Ile make
You all in time; who can write or reade among you.
Both.
None, none; we scorne it.
Bom.
You shall have all preferment trust to me,
And marke my steps; heere to the curteous drinker;
Now doe I finde a noble constitution in me, now
Could I leape; would thou wert any living Lady
In my way now.
Iaca.
Away; the Lords are risen.
The Lords doe rise and fall.
Piet.
Hees paid; the King will come this way.
Bom.
Every man goe his owne way; I wonnot see
The King for all this.
Enter Guido, Aloisio, Alexio.
Friend.
Guid.
This is the Ladies Secretary, pray my Lords
Be acquainted with him.
Bom.
Dee heare no body say he saw me, I wonnot
Be seene yet.
He reeles in.
Guid.
Though he be made a spectacle; but leave him
'Twas a handsome entertainement o'the sudden.
Alo.
A pretty hunting dinner; but did you not
Observe with what intention the Duke
Shot eyes on Domitilla.
Alex.
And the King
Applied all his discourse to her; I know not;
He has made no vow against a second marriage
But if he choose at home and looke at beauty.
Guid.
Shees a very pretty talking Lady.
Ale.
Very ingenious.
Aloi.
And with your favour, though she be no Court Lady,
Shee wants no confidence.
Alex.
What if the Duke be taken with her?
Guid.
Let him be taken a bed with her, tis my opinion
My Lord Montalto wonnot die for greefe on't.
Alo.
They are here.
Duke. Montalto.
Mont.
Your grace is sad; excuse
My dilligence to waite on you; I could wish
If it made no intrusion on your thoughts,
I had opportunity to expresse
What might not be unworthy of your patience:
Duke.
To me.
Enter King, leads Domitilla.
Mont.
The King.
This way Ladies to the Garden; let me have
The honour to attend you.
Exit Duke. Montalto.
Wheres the Duke.
Guid.
He tooke that way to the Garden Sir, with
The Lord Montalto.
King.
You may remove a little;
Exit.
You have no feare to trust your selfe with me.
Dom.
I cannot Sir forget you are the King,
And in a Wildernesse could have no thought
With the least prejudice upon your vertue.
King.
You have the greater innocence at home;
My intents are faire enough, and you may stand
The danger of a question; pray how old are you?
Dom.
Although it be not held a welcome complement
To our Sex, my duty bids me not dispute;
I am fifteene my mother saies.
King.
And are
You not in love.
Domit.
I must not charge my selfe
With so much ignorance to answer, that
I understand not what it meanes; I know
The word, but never could apply the fence,
Or finde it in a passion more then ordinary.
King.
Cupid hath lost his quiver then; he could not
Be armde, and let you scape, whose sole captivitie
Would be more glory then the conquest made
As Poets faine upon the gods.
Dom.
Tis language
With which you are pleas'd to mocke your humble handmaid.
King.
But this assures him blinde.
Dom.
He would deserve
To lose his eyes indeede if he should aime
A shaft at me.
King.
Madam you have a heart.
Dom.
To which no other
Flame can approach; then what shall light it to
Obedience of your will and my good mothers.
King.
Obedience to my will; what if it were
My will that you should love.
Dom.
Sir, I doe love.
Love with the warme affection of a mistresse
One Ile present a servant; why that blush;
The words are not immodest; there did want
No blood upon your cheeke to make it lovely;
Or does it flow in silence to expresse
That which your virgin Language would not be
So soone held guilty of, consent.
Dom.
To what?
King.
To love by my direction a man
Whose worth considered shall deserve thee too,
And in the noblest way invite thy freedome
Vntill the holy Priests declare, your hearts
Are knit into one blessing; theres no harme
In this.
Dom.
Most royall Sir I know not, with
What words to say, you honour me; how can
One so unworthy as poore Domitilla
Be entertaind within your thoughts and care
In this high nature.
King.
Though your mother have
Made both her person and your selfe a stranger
To Court, I have had eyes upon your vertues
Which waited on by a most ample fortune,
I have studied to advance, if you'le accept
A husband of a my choise; what say you Madam?
Dom.
I have a mother Sir.
King.
Shee shall thinke it fortunate
Bove expectation; you have not vowed your selfe
To a cold Nunnery.
Dom.
Not I Sir.
King.
When
I shall declare how pretious he is
To my owne bosome.
Dom.
Royall Sir, this language
Must needes prepare a welcome; I should thinke
My heart unlike another womans, not
To obey a charme so powerfull as your praise;
But when you are considered as my King,
And humbles every thought beneath obedience.
King.
His name is.
Dom.
Pardon I beseech you Sir,
Conceale it yet; what gentle spirit walkes
Vpon my blood; I dare not looke upon him
My hopes my feares; it is enough great Sir,
That you leave one within your thought, you would
Commend to Domitilla, one you love,
And pretious to your bosome; sure you blest him
With such a Character.
King.
It was too short.
Dom.
My heart is a false Prophet; tis a fate
Too good and great for Domitilla.
King.
Well his name shall be reserv'd; but when it opens
It selfe to your knowledge you will honour it,
And thanke me Domitilla; ith meane time
Let the opinion you have of me
Live in your trust, and make roome in your heart
To meete the husband I shall bring.
Exit.
Dom.
Why may not this be meant by his owne person?
More wonders have beene read in story; I
Finde thicke but amorous tremblings in my heart;
Hee's King; why not? love has done stranger things,
And can lead captive the proud heart of Kings.
Exit.
Enter Duke, Montalto.
Duke.
Here none can reach our voyce: be free and cleare.
Mon.
First let me kisse your hand, on which I sweare
To speake all truth; tis justice to your person,
Your merrit and my faith; next though the secret
May both concerne and benefit your knowledge,
I shall desire your pardon
Duke.
You prepare me
For wonders if it be an act of friendship
To me, it will become me to reward it,
Not thankes, nor pardon.
Mon.
But all truthes meet not
With charitable eares; there is a descant
Present it, if our sense be indispos'd
To patience and calme hearing.
Duke.
Doe not doubt me.
Mont.
Twill not become me so much as in thought
To enquire how long, or with what firme devotion,
You affect the Princesse, Theodosia;
But Naples is more conscious, then to doubt
You bring a welcome treaty in your person,
And every voice and heart is busie with
The expectation of your marriage;
Whilst every eye bright with your stame is able
To light a Torch to Hymen; Virgins have
No other care then with what flowers sweet
As your owne name to adorne the smiling altars.
Duke.
You promis'd Sir a secret.
Mon.
It will come
To fast upon your knowledge; have you never
Look'd from the prospect of your Pallace window.
When some faire sky courted your eye to reade
The beauties of a day, the glorious Sunne
Enriching so the bosome of the earth
That trees and flowers appear'd but like so much
Enamell upon gold; the wanton birds
And every creature but the drudging Ante
Despising providence, and at play; and all
That world you measure with your eye, so gay
And proud, as winter were no more to shake
His Icy Lockes upon 'em, but the breath
Of gentle Zephire to perfume their growth,
And walke eternally upon the Springs;
When from a coast you see not, comes a cloud
Creeping as overladen with a storme,
Darke as the wombe of night, and with her wings
Surprising all the glories you beheld;
Leaves not your frighted eyes a light to see
The ruines of that flattering day.
Duke.
This Language
My Lord convey your meaning to my knowledge.
Mon.
I shall, I had in vaine prepard you thus else.
Pardon againe the story; Theodosia,
More beautifull then the day I figur'd by her,
Is quite orecast and lookes through an Ecclipse
Vpon your love: shee has no heart, but what
Another is possest of.
Duke.
Ha.
Mont.
I know
It cannot but afflict your thoughts that all
Your expectation ripe and courted, to
The enjoying such a treasure as shee is,
Must finish in embracing of a shaddow,
Invited to a fable, not a bride
That should with joy dwell in your princely armes;
For Theodosia without sacriledge
Cannot be yours; shee is contracted.
Duke.
How?
The King of Naples must not Sir ingage
Florence to such a mockery.
Mon.
Tis my duty
To cleare his honour in't: he has a pure
Intention to make his sister yours; her close
Though honorable love's designd without
His knowledge, and you will but waste your rage
Vpon her destiny which will bury her
In her owne ruines, if your anger make
The King her enemie.
Duke.
I doe not finde
My heart in any disposition
To breake at hearing of this newes, but wish it
Truth to prepare roomes for another guest;
The fairer Domitilla is here sainted.
Mont.
Your excellencie.
Duke.
Must not be thus affronted
Montalto, and returne with this dishonour;
Was there no cheaper person to be made
Mont.
Calme your blood,
I know you must resent it, but let not
Your passion make the world beleeve you should
Dispaire to finde one apter to your bosome;
The richest beauty in the world, your birth
And fortune must deserve and I should curse
My forward duty to your grace.
Duke.
No more
I have considered better and although
Your love may merrit thankes, yet this intelligence
Wonot concerne my faith; this cannot be Sir.
Mont.
My honour is ingaged then to convince you
Though with the hazard of my life and fortunes,
Both which must now depend upon your mercy;
Your breath shall make 'em bleed or live.
Duke.
What meanes
Montalto?
Mont.
To translate the power of all
My Starres, and make you Lord of my whole fate
Theodosias heart Sir should be mine, by free
Gift of her selfe, who has beene pleas'd to take
My vowes in the exchange, which now may boast
Some time and growth, which could not be a sinne
Against your love, with which all that can spring
From me deserves no name, nor dare I take
Boldenesse to call her mine, who am a thing
Lighter then ayre in ballance with your grace;
If you but chide the ambition, and could render,
Though I commit a rape on my owne life,
All that her love hath promis'd me.
Duke.
Tis strange.
Mont.
But she let me take freedome to be plaine.
Duke.
Is not to be reduc'd youle say.
Mont.
Sir, women
Love not with that safeguard upon their passion
Duke.
Shee has a wise art to dissemble then.
Mont.
Tis feare it should arive at the King knowledge
A will to mocke your grace, for whom there is
Another wound within her minde, that shee
Should weare a smiling summer in her brow
Yet frost within her heart, in which unhappily
Shee comes to neare the nature of the Adamant
Hard to your grace whom shee attracts; but love
Your wisedome knowes is in the volume of
Our fate decreede, whose periods when they are
By time made knowne; greatnesse on earth, that meanes
To play the tyrant with us, may have strength
To punish not reverse.
Duke.
I am confirmde
And prosper in my thoughts.
Mont.
It takes.
Duke.
My Lord,
You have exprest an act of confidence
Which I must not betray though to my losse;
It is some happinesse to know this early;
We may be expected; you shall finde me Sir
A Prince, but no usurper.
Mont.
I am your creature,
The King.
Enter King, Simphorosa, Domitilla, Guido, Aloisio, Alexio.
We build upon your piety
Vntill some little time may call our loves
Out of this silence.
King.
You understand me Madam?
Simp.
And am honord.
Duke.
Her eyes beget new wonder; I shall be observ'd.
King.
Come, now to horse.
Duke.
I shall attend; your entertainement has
Oblig'd us Madam.
Sim.
Twas not worth such guest;
But prayers and duty must supply.
King.
Now Madam you are a great part of my care;
Depend upon me for a husband.
Ist not plaine.
Duke.
Madam another guest must take his leave,
That here would choose his pallace.
Dom.
You are gratious and but encourage more to honour you
Mont.
Ile creepe and kisse thy Altar love, allow
Them flame, and knit more charmes upon her brow.
Exeunt.
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