 | The Royall Master |  |
The fourth Act.
Enter King, and Domitilla.King.
My pretty Domitilla, now you are
My guest, tis fit whom I have made my charge
Dom.
You are bounty Sir it selfe, and binde
A Virgins prayers.
King.
What art thou yet prepar'd
To heare his name, I would declare thy husband.
Enter Duke.
Duke.
The King.
King.
The Duke; this confirmes it.
Duke.
Vnlucky fate he has spied me.
King.
Thou shalt have
A little patience, while the Duke and I
Change some discourse in private.
Dom.
I Obey.
Exit.
Duke.
He is sent off; I hope the King is not
In love with her himselfe.
King.
Now my Lord, what
Alone, I see you can addresse your selfe
To a handsome Lady.
Duke.
He has prevented me.
Where I receive favour I shall never
Want heart to acknowledge.
King.
That rule binds to all.
Duke.
It does but with distinction, to pay.
King.
But with distinction to pay,
First love to those that best deserves it from us.
Duke.
Tis justice Sir.
King.
This granted, there's another
Whom though you can forget, my sister Sir
Deserves to be remembred.
Duke.
You are jealous
That I visite this Lady.
King.
That were onely
To doubt; I must be plaine; Florence has not
Beene kind to Naples to reward us with
Affront for love, and Theodosia must not
Be any Princes mockery.
Duke.
I can
Take boldnesse too, and tell you Sir it were
I am not lost to Florence yet, though I
Be Naples guest, and I must tell him here
I came to meet with faire and Princely treaties
Of love, not to be made the tale of Italy,
The ground of Scurrile pasquills, or the mirth
Of any Lady, who shall preingage
Her heart to anothers bosome, and then sneake
Off like a tame despised property,
When her ends are advanc'd.
King.
I understand not
This passion; yet it points upon something
That may be dangerous to conclude; Theodosia
Is Naples sister, and I must not see
Her lost to honour, though my kingdome bleed
To rescue her.
Duke.
Now you are passionate;
Tis I must be repair'd; my name is wounded,
And my affection betrayed; your sister
That lookes like a faire starre, within loves skie
Is falne, and by the scattering of her fires
Declares shee has alliance with the earth,
Not heavenly nature.
King.
Are my senses perfect;
Be clearer Sir; teach me to understand
This prodigie; you doe not scorne our sister?
Duke.
Not I; as she has title to your blood
Shee merits all ambition, shee is a Princesse,
Yet no staine to her invention, we are paralells
Equall, but never made to meet.
King.
How's this?
Duke.
Truth is my witnesse I did meane
No ceremonious love, untill I found
Her heart was given from me, though your power
Contract our bodies.
King.
Stay and be advis'd,
And if your doubts by some malitious tongue
Framed to abuse my sister, and your selfe,
A power to cure all.
Duke.
Sir you cannot.
King.
Not to court thee for her husband, wert possest
Of all, ore which our Eagle shakes his wings,
But to set right her honour; and ere I challenge
Thee by thy birth, by all thy hopes and right
To fame, to tell me what seditious breath
Has poyson'd her; heare what my sister sends
By me so late, time is not old in minuts,
The word's yet warme with her owne breath; pray tell
The Duke saies she, although I know not from
What roote his discontents grow, to devote him
To Domitilla.
Duke.
How does shee know that?
King.
Whose beauty has more spell upon his fancy,
I did contract my heart, when I thought his
Had beene no stronger to his tongue, and can
Not finde within it since, what should divert
His princely thoughts from my first innocence;
Yet such is my sterne fate I must still love him;
And though he frame his heart to unkinde distance,
It hath imbracing vertue upon mine,
And with his owne remove, drawes my soule after him;
If he forget I am a Princesse, pray
Let Naples doe so too; for my revenge
Shall be in prayers, that he may finde my wrong
But teach him soft repentance, and more faith.
Duke.
All this must not betray my freedome Sir.
King.
Youle not accuse our sister of dishonour.
Duke.
I would not grieve you Sir to heare what I
Could say; and presse me not for your owne peace;
Fames must be gently toucht.
King.
As thou art Florence speake.
Duke.
I Shall displease;
Yet I but tell her brother that doth presse me;
Lucrece was chast after the rape; but where
The blood consents, there needs no ravisher.
Exit.
I doe grow faint with wonder! here's enough
To blast an apprehension, and shoote
A quaking through the valiant soule of man;
My sisters blood accus'd, and her faire name
Late chast as trembling snow, whose fleeces clothe
Our Alpine hills, sweet as the Roses spirit
Or Violets cheeke, on which the morning leaves
A teare at parting, now begins to wither,
As it would haste to death, and be forgotten;
This Florence is a Prince that does accuse her;
And such men give not faith to every murmur
Or slight intelligence that wounds a Lady
In her deare honour; but shee is my sister;
Thinke of that too; credit not all, but aske
Of thy owne veines what guilty flowings there
May tempt thee to beleeve this accusation.
Enter Theodosia.
Tis shee;
Th'art come Theodosia to my wishes.
Theo.
What does distract you Sir.
King.
I have done your message to the Duke, and finde
He does love Domitilla.
Theo.
Her he shall meete and marry in Elisium.
King.
What meane you?
Theo.
I have shooke off my tamenesse; doe not hinder
My just revenge; Ile turne their triumphs into death.
King.
There is a question of more consequence
Thou must resolve; it does concerne thee more
Then thy owne life.
Theo.
You fright me.
King.
Are you honest?
Theo.
Honest.
King.
I could have us'd the name of chaste,
Or virgin; but they carry the same sence;
Put off thy wonder Theodosia,
And answer me by both our parents ashes,
Which now are frighted in the urne, and scarse
Contain'd beneath their marble, while their fame
My sister without staine; upon thy chastity
Tell me and answer truth, for both our lives.
Nay, nay, there is no time for thy amaze;
Hast thou not lost thy selfe and beene injoyed;
I blush to name the way.
Theo.
Never.
King.
Agen.
Theo.
By all the good we hope for I an innocent
As your owne wishes.
King.
Th'art my vertuous sister.
Theo.
But by your love and all that bound to
Be just, now let me know my strange accuser.
King.
Thou shalt know that hereafter; let thy thoughts
Live in their owne peace, and dispute not mine.
Exit.
Enter Domitilla.
Dom.
Not speake to me; he fround too: sure I have not
Displeasd him; wherefore stayes the Princesse?
Theo.
Shew spirit now or never. Domitilla
The greatest part of my affliction;
Let my revenge begin here.
Dom.
Your grace does honour your unworthy servant;
And if I might beseech one favour more,
Tis but to know what has displeas'd the King.
Theo.
Must you be of counsell with his passions;
What hath advanc'd you to this boldnesse?
Dom.
Pardon;
Why does your grace put on those angry lookes;
I never did offend you in a thought.
Theo.
Cunning dissembler, yes, and tis thy death
Must satisfie; yet ere I give thee punishment
Tell me what impudence advanc'd thy thoughts
So high in our dishonour? was there none
In your owne forme of blood fit for your love,
But you must flatter your proud hopes with one
So much above thy birth? though he in frailty
Consent to make thee great, dar'st thou accept it,
And with my shame aspite to be his equall;
Dom.
Madam.
Theo.
Doe, or with this I will secure my feares,
And stand the malice of all other fate.
Dom.
Heare me.
Theo.
Be briefe.
Dom.
I know not by what genius prompted Madam,
To live or die, more happily, I have no
Feare of your rage, which is so farre from making
Me sinne against my love, it has inlarg'd
My heart, which trembles not to be loves martyr;
I can forgive your hand too, if you promise
To tell the King how willing I die for him.
Theo.
The King; thou lov'st the Duke.
Dom.
Hee's not concern'd
In my affection; I have no thought
Of any Prince alive, but your owne brother;
Such an example of loves folly have
My starres decreed me; yet if pride and duty
May in one action meete and be good friends,
Both shall assist my last breath which shall offer
Humbly the King, and his affaires to heaven
This he will pardon, shall he know it done
By me more fit to die then live for him.
Theo.
Alas poore Domitilla; shee is wounded
As deepe as I; rise and forgive my jealousie;
I cannot promise thee to be my sister,
But I will love thee like one; let us call
A counsell of our thoughts, and mingle sorrowes;
Yet when we have done all, and tyr'd our breath,
There is no cure for love, but love or death.
Exeunt.
Enter King and Montalto.
King.
How will Montalto counsell me; I am
Wilde with the repetition.
Mont.
The Duke
Lay such a blacke aspersion on your sister;
Tis blasphemy to honour; but as soone
He may pollute the Sunne beames, or defile
Make us beleeve the rockes of ice doe flame,
And may indanger the north starre; my wonder
Will make me reasonlesse; it throwes a poyson
On your whole family, a staine so deepe
And so prodigious, all the blood within
His Dukedome wo'not purge it; could he finde
No excuse for his revolt to Domitilla,
But blasting the sweet Princesse.
King.
Domitilla
Whom I must tell you I already have
Prepar'd to be thy bride, as an addition
To the reward I owe thy services.
Mont.
Prepard for me? you are too bountifull
In you I kneele both to my king and father;
But my aspiring will be satisfied
To be your servant still; in your grace I
Injoy the bride my heart affects let me
Grow old with duties here, and not translate
My affection till my weary soule throw off
The burden of my dust.
King.
No more: in this
One act, Ile build a monument of my love
To thee, and my revenge upon the Duke;
Thou instantly shalt marry Domitilla;
Her Beauty, Blood and Fortune will deserve thee.
Mont.
I am your creature; but how this may inflame
The Duke.
King.
Tis meant so.
Mont.
But your sisters fame
Were worth your first care; this may be done
With more accesse of joy when shee is righted:
You have beene pleasd to heare my counsell Sir
And not repented.
King.
What would'st thou advise me?
Mont.
The Duke is young and apt to erre; you cannot
Preserve your hospitable Lawes to affront
Him openly, nor will it be thought prudence
Of peoples tongues; th'aire is dangerous;
Let me search the Dukes bosome, for the spring
Of this dishonour.
King.
How?
Mont.
Mistake me not;
Philoberto is his secret counsellour,
And the receiver of his thoughts; leave me
To manage this great worke; I have a way
To every angle of his heart; meane time
Be pleas'd to keepe your person but retired;
A silent discontent will fright him more,
And arme us with full knowledge.
King.
Wise Montalto,
I like thy honest counsell, and obey it;
But lose no time.
Exit.
Mont.
It never was more pretious;
My essence is concern'd and every minute
Brings a fresh seige against Montaltoes life;
There's none but Philoberto conscious
To my last accusation of the Princesse;
Then hee must be remov'd; delayes are fatall;
Ile poyson him to night; I have the way;
This done, the Duke may follow, or be brib'd
With Domitillaes person to quit Naples.
Enter Guido, Aloisio, Alexio.
Guid.
My honour'd Lord.
Mont.
Guido, Aloisio;
Why make I this distinction y'are but one,
To your Montalto, have one heart and faith;
Your love and dilligence must now be active.
Guid.
You have deserv'd us.
Alex.
Lord of our fortunes.
Guid.
Wee are your creatures,
Bound by all Law and conscience of the court
To serve your ends.
Mont.
Tis but to waite close
And contrive excuses, if the Duke
Gui.
This all.
Mont.
Be carefull
None of his traine nor faction be admitted,
In speciall Philoberto; if he appeare,
Present my service, and desire to speake with him;
This is no mighty Province gentlemen
To waste you much; yet this neglected will
Destroy my tall fate, in whose fall you must
Stoope and be strucken dead with the large ruines.
Gui.
Kill us not first by your suspition;
We looke upon you as our destiny;
Prosper as we are faithfull.
Mont.
You divide me.
Alex.
There is much trouble in his face; how ere
Let us be firme; is not this Philoberto.
Enter Riviero.
Riv.
My honor'd Lords.
Gui.
We are proud to be your servants.
I am yours; where is the Lord Montalto.
Alo.
New gone from us, and desires to speake with you,
And is gone either to your lodging or the Dukes.
Rivi.
I have some affaires with the King, and that
Dispatch'd Ile waite upon him.
Gui.
We are confident
You will excuse us; we receiv'd command
That none should interrupt him.
Rivi.
I come from the Duke.
Alo.
His excellence will conster it our duties.
Riv.
This was not wont.
Alo.
We dare not sir dispute
Our masters pleasure.
Gui.
Perhaps his confessor is with him.
Rivi.
Perhaps there is some cunning; nay preferre
The businesse of the soule, I may presume
He has no long Catalogue to account for.
Gui.
You have not beene of counsell with his conscience,
We doe not use to limit his devotions.
Tis pious, and you three by computation
Montaltoes knaves here plac'd, to keepe away
Discoveries: in spight of all your subtilties,
The king shall know my minde, and understand
The history of your patrons and your service;
Let time speak your reward in your owne chronicles.
Alo.
You not forget my Lord Montalto has
Desire to speake with him.
Rivi.
Tis all my businesse;
Be carefull of your watch and looke about you,
Some Weesell may get in else.
Gui.
Does he jeere us?
Alex.
Let him; his Embassy is not perform'd.
Enter Duke, Montalto.
Mont.
You doe amaze my understanding Sir
To require I should justifie a tale
Made to the blemish of so chaste a Lady.
Duke.
Did not your Lordship tell such a story,
To Philoberto in my lodgings.
Mont.
I dare his malice to affirm't; and tis not
Done like your selfe to sully with one breath
Two fames.
Duke.
Shall I not credit my owne eares?
Mont.
Deare Sir, collect your selfe, and let not passion
To Domitilla whom you may possesse,
Hereafter make you so unjust.
Duke.
Deare Machiavill
This will not doe; the King shall know your stratagems.
Mont.
Goe threaten babes; this would exalt my rage,
But I remember y'are a guest to Naples,
Nor would I grieve the genius of my country,
To place my owne revenge above her honour.
Duke.
Poore shaddow.
Mont.
Now.
Drawes a dagger at the Dukes barke.
Twill not be safe; you know your charge.
Guid.
We are proud to see your excellence in health.
Duke.
Where is the King?
Alo.
A little busie Sir.
Not yet I thinke, he is at his prayers.
Duke.
Ile adde to his Letanie.
Guid.
It wo'not neede;
I thinke his ghostly father can direct him,
With whom he is in private.
Duke.
I know not
How to interpret this; I want Philoberto.
Exit.
Enter Octavio.
Octav.
Your graces
Servant; he lookes displeas'd.
Guid.
My Lord Octavio.
Octav.
Your servant Lords.
Guid.
You meet the Duke.
Octav.
His face shewed discontent.
Aloi.
We summe our fortunes in Montaltoes smile,
By whose commands we have denyed the Duke
Accesse to'th King.
Octav.
You have done well; it much
Concernes my Lord; his and all our fate
Depends upon't; continue still your care
And circumspection, and while I am within
Let none be admitted.
Exit.
Guid.
Let us alone;
A spirit may have the device to enter,
But if he have so much body as a Gnat
Ile know his errand; whoes this; oh it tis
My Lady Domitillaes Secretary.
Enter Bombo.
Bom.
Here are so many trickes, and turnes, and dores
I'these Court lodgings, I have lost my selfe.
Guid.
Mr. Secretary.
Bom.
Twas you betrayd me to the King, and caus'd
My Ladies to be sent for, with more cunning
To bring me hither; but alls one, he has
Not seene me yet nor sha'not; which
Is my way out of this labyrinth?
Alo.
Why are you so unwilling the King should see you?
Guid.
Or to live in Court; me thinkes this habite
Alex.
He lookes like a true Hero.
Bom.
You are beside the story Sir; I did reade once
That Hero had no upper lip; shee was
A Lady of Leanders lake.
Guid.
A wit? theres a new word; now for the Hellespont,
Heele make a subtile courtier.
Bom.
It has undone me.
Alo.
Vndone thee how?
Bom.
I know not whether it be my wit or clothes,
Or disposition of the place, or all
Together, but I am sure I am in love,
I finde it by the losing of my stomacke;
I am most strangely in love.
Guid
With whom?
Bom.
I know not.
Aloi.
Can you not guesse.
Bom.
I hope tis with my selfe, for I did vow
When my first mistresse dyed which was.
Guid.
What?
Bom.
A dairy maide that we had i'th Countrey,
To love no living woman bove an houre;
Shee was the very creame of all her Sex;
Oft have we churn'd together.
Guid.
And drunke healths
In Butter-milke.
Aloi.
But doe you hope you are in love with your selfe Sir.
Bom.
Marry doe I Sir; is that so wonderfull at Court.
Guid.
You are pleasant.
Aloi.
Lets be rid on him.
Guid.
Come you shall now speake with the King,
And he shall knight thee; more honours may follow.
Bom.
You shall excuse me; put your honours
Vpon some body else.
Guid.
Doe you know what tis.
Bom.
I have not read of late.
Aloi.
But you are much given to hearing,
What is honour.
Honour a buble is that is soone broke,
A Gloworme seeming fire, but has no smoake.
Aloi.
There's fire and water.
Bom.
And smoake for ayre;
A painted Sun-beame, peece of gilded Chaffe,
And he that trusts leanes to a broken staffe.
Gui.
You should have reconcil'd the foure elements
To the conceit; there was fire, aire, water;
Wheres the earth.
Bom.
Oh he that leanes to a broken staffe shall
Finde that presently.
Enter King reading a paper, Octavio.
Guid.
The King.
Bom.
King bee your leave; I vanish.
Exit Bombo.
King.
This paper containes wonder; tis not possible.
Octa.
Vpon my life Sir, Philoberto can demonstate these.
King.
The Divell has not art
To abuse us so; this will require some counsell;
Enter Montalto.
Hee's here,
Montalto; leave us.
Exeunt Lords.
Mont.
Sir your pleasure.
King.
Is all in thee; hast met with Philoberto?
Mont.
Not yet.
King.
No matter; I have thought upon't,
And doe conclude it best to let things passe
Yet in a dreame; choise and enquiry may.
Awake suspition upon innocence.
Mont.
You cannot thinke her guilty Sir.
King.
I am not
Without some feares; I have collected things
Since we conferr'd, that stagger my good thoughts.
Mont.
Of her you cannot; Sir unthinke agen,
What ever would betray her to your jealousy;
A Virgins Monument cannot be more chaste
Ith Temple.
King.
Yes, yes; we may be all cozend;
And therefore let her passe among things desperate;
As tis but a young Leprosie upon her,
I could wish heartily my Sister timely
Married, not to the Duke that would betray us,
But to some one I know not, who could love
Vs both, so well as be that rare friend
And save our honours.
Mont.
Doe you then suspect her.
King.
Oh the Dukes Character had a powerfull sence;
And who knowes but shee may be lost by one
Not fit to make her reparation;
Could any Nobleman be found in Naples
To binde her wound up by so great an act
Of secrecy and marriage; but some winde
May listen and convey, I know not whether,
What my sad breath has scatter'd in the aire;
Thy Master has no servant that dares take
One sorrow from him.
Mont.
You are Sir provided
Of more then that can rise to in my service.
King.
Canst thou be so compassionate to lose
Thy hopes of richer beauty, for my sake?
Darst thou with all this knowledge hide her staine,
And marry her?
Mont.
My duty to your Majestie
Shall marry me to death; let not this trouble
The quiet of your heart; Ile take Theodosia,
And thinke upon her as shee had the whitenesse
Of my good Angell.
King.
Th'art a miracle;
Teach me but which way I may reward this love;
Till now I had no poverty; thy worth
Will make me everlastingly in debt;
What shall I say?
Mont.
Great Sir, no more; your favours
Flow from a bounty, which hath onely heaven
Above it.
King.
They are all trifles; let me see,
My gratitude? how barren are we, wealth,
Honour.
Mont.
Ther's nothing good or great you have not
Freely possest me with; your favours would,
So mighty have they falne upon me, rather
Expresse a storme, and I had sunke beneath
The welcome violence, had not your love
From whence they flowed, inabled me to strength
And manly bearing.
King.
I was inprovident
To reserve nothing, or it was a fault
In thee to be so prodigall of merit
In thy past services; canst thou thinke of nothing
Worth my addition.
Mont.
Nothing Sir.
King.
I have it,
And thanke my better genius I have it,
Such a reward Montalto that I dare
Be modest yet pronounce, never did Prince
Exceede it to his friend.
Mont.
Sir you amaze me,
And shame my want of merit.
King.
In the title,
Let Kings peruse the benefit and study
An imitation to their best loved creatures;
Th'are great as fortune can invent; Ile teach thee
A way Montalto, to know all thy friends
And enemies.
Mont.
That were a pretious knowledge,
Were it in nature; with your highnesse pardon
The hearts of men are not to be measured
With what we reach the starres, or fadome Seas;
Oh he thats active in a state has more
Chainde to him by the power and strength of office,
Then genuine respect; and tis not worth
Or person, but the fortunes of a Statesman
That sometimes men adore.
Tis true; and therefore
I am proud in this that I can teach thee looke
Into mens soules, to know 'em fit for scorne, or
Thy embraces.
Mon.
How may this Sir be done?
King.
Almost 'ith twinckling of an eye too.
Mont.
Strange.
King.
I seeme to frowne upon thee.
Mont.
How Sir?
King.
Doest apprehend me; I will counterfeit
That I am displeas'd with thee; doe not mistake me,
And have it voic'd about the Court, thou art
Confin'd, doest marke; at this will all thy enemies
Whose hearts thou canst not see, their tongues before
By thy great power silenc'd, joyne in faction
Complaine, discover their whole stocke of malice,
Tickling their spleenes, that thou art out of favour,
Whom I shall heare and smile at; then all those
Whose honest soules deserve thee, will rise up,
The champions of thy fame o'th other side
And be so many Oratours to make
Thy faith and honour slaine; when this done,
The scene is chang'd, I send for thee; thou commest
With a most glorious traine; and then Ile smile,
Take thee agen i'th sight of all, discover
Twas but a tricke, thy friends keepe still thy bosome,
And thou in triumph shoot'st a scorne with mine
To strike all envie dumbe; Ist not a rare one?
I cannot doe enough for thee Montalto.
Mont.
You have found out a way I must confesse;
But with your pardon, I shall be more able
To doe you service in the other ignorance,
Then run a desperate hazard in this knowledge;
Some hold it sinne, and capitall enough
To have the Princes favour, which once lost
Though but in suspition; they may rage,
And like a torrent rise to o'rewhelme nature.
King.
These sha'not wound thee.
And how other Iudges
May wrest the actions of a man imployed
Though ne're so faithfull to his King and state.
King.
I am confident of thy justice and decree,
Thy triumph in't; thy goodnesse thus conspicuous
Renders thee loved, and fit for Theodosia
When she is brightest; the Sunne never smiles
More cherefull upon teeming earth,
Then I to finde thee perfect; for I doe
But seeme displeas'd; come, I will have it so;
If thou dost love me, no dispute, but let me
Pursue my fancie meant to doe thee honour.
Who waites?
Enter Lords.
Now it begins;
Attend my Lord Montalto to his Chamber,
Where our will is, he be confin'de untill
Our pleasure further knowne.
Guid.
How's this?
Alex.
Aloi. Confin'd!
King.
No ceremony Sir; when that's done,
We ease you of the trouble too of waiting;
You know the way my Lords to your owne lodgings,
From whence on perill of our anger stirre not
Vntill wee send for you—Octavio.
Guid.
Doe we not dreame.
Mont.
Something wo'd creepe
Like a dead sleepe upon me; I am in
A Labirinth; but hence with coward feare;
I know the worst; grim death can but translate
Me hence, and there's an end of death and fate.
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