 | The Dvkes Mistris |  |
Actus Primus.
Enter Silvio, and Valerio.Si.
Wee are like to have a brave, and jolly time on't.
Va.
The Court looks now as't should be, after such
A tempest, what should follow but a calme,
And Sun-beames? wher's the Dutchesse?
And yet as the case stands, we can scarce give her
That title, all her glory is eclips'd,
Shee's i'th west, poore gentle-woman I can
But pity her, I meane Euphemia.
Sil.
I dare not speake.
Val.
Thou mayst speake any thing
That's Courtly, and in fashion.
Sil.
But the Duke.
Val.
Is Duke, and Heaven preserve him, let him have
His humor, and his Mistresses, what are we
The worse, nay lets consider like wise-men
We are the better for't, it gives us liberty,
And matter for our dutifull imitation.
Sil.
But she was his Dutchesse.
Val.
What then?
A Lady of,
A flowing sweetnes, and but in his eyes
Can want no beauty, how her nature may
Thus cruelly affronted, keepe that soft,
And noble temper—
Val.
Take heede, and be wise,
We are or should be Courtiers, if it please
The Duke for reasons best knowne to himselfe
To have more Wives, I say 'tis fit he have 'em,
I make it my owne case.
Sil.
Thou art not married.
Val.
No, I dare not for that reason, cause I hold it
Unfit my conscience should be limited,
But we are private men, and though the Lawes
Have power on us, the State, and Dukedome may
Suffer, if he that is the soule of all,
I meane the Duke, should wast his life with one,
One melancholy wife, come let me tell thee
Since he has chosen one, that he thinks fayrer
'Tis happy for his first to keepe her head on,
Sil.
Coulst thou have thought so cruell, las Euphemia
Val.
No thou art deceiv'd, if I were Duke
'Tis ten to one I'de have noe Wife at all,
Sil.
How?
Val.
Not of mine owne, while any of my subjects
Had those I could affect; whom I wo'd have
Presented by their husbands, they should doe
Themselves that curtesie, none would denie,
Considering what may follow.
Sil.
Besides Hornes,
Val.
Right, if the toy be gamesome, the husbands made
For ever.
Sil.
Cuckold.
Val.
And his Wife a great one,
Hornes excuse for all.
Sil.
The old mind still.
Val.
I know my constitution
Enter Leontio.
His countenance weares some sore of discontent
Do'es he not appeare Cloudy.
Lett's speake to him.
Val.
My Lord,—my Lord.
Not answer.
Sil.
He does not heare.
My noblest Lord.
Val.
If I did thinke he were proud now of a suddaine,
I wod not aske him how he do'es, to save
His life—I'le speake once more, my worthiest Lord,
Leontio.
Leo.
Ha!
Val.
I ha waken'd him.
Leo.
Valerio, and Siluio.
I am your servants.
Val.
Not that we grudge our duties to your Lordship
Or breath, for without flattery, I dare
Be hoarse with praysing, and with praying for you,
But we would willingly have your Lordship take
Notice, when we expresse our hearts to serve you.
Leo.
Your pardon gentlemen, I am confident
You have more vertue then to let me suffer in your opinions
Sil.
You looke sad.
Leo.
Not I.
Val.
And talke as you had but started from a dreame,
I dare not be too bold to enquire the cause.
But your face will teach others melancholie.
Sil.
Now in this generall mirth it must appeare,
The greater wonder to behold your trouble.
Leo.
I shall betray my selfe, keepe in my passions.
Sil.
Ther's something in't more then we apprehend.
Val.
What should distract the freedome of your sole
Kinsman, and onely favourite to the Duke,
The peoples love too, and these seldome meete,
The minion of the Souldiers, who honour you
Most infinitly for your valour, and your bounty.
Leo.
Flatter not gentlemen.
Val.
I'le be your hinde first.
Ecclipse not, Sr, the glories of your minde
with this strange melancholy, I wod not for
My hopes the Duke should see this dulnes, he
May with unhappy jealousie interpret—
What Jealousie?
Val.
I know not.
Leo.
Is my heart transparent?
Val.
Now ioy revels in the Court,
By his command, and his example too;
Doe not affront his pleasure, I am bold,
But 'tis my zeale, that wo'd not have you suffer,
And you may give it pardon.
Leo.
I must thanke
Thy love Valerio, thy heart does speake
A noble friendship, you shall witnesse Gentlemen
I will be very pleasant, keepe, keepe in
Yee rebell thoughts, and take some other time
To shew your wildnes.
Sil.
Observ'd you that?
Val.
Shall I be bold to aske your Lordship a question?
Leo.
Any thing.
Ual.
You will pardon the folly on't?
Leo.
What is't? be cleare with me.
Val.
Are you not in love, my Lord?
Leo.
In Love?
Val.
I have shrewd coniectures.
Leo.
From what?
Val.
From these dull Symptomes, if you be—
Leo.
What then?
Ual.
Let me be your Physition, 'tis a woman
I must presume.
Leo.
What does a man love else?
Val.
There be those men are in love with their own cloathes
Their wits, their follies, their estates, themselves,
But if you love a woman, let me advise you.
Sil.
Heare him my Lord, his practise upon that sex
Has made him learn'd.
Val.
Something I have oberv'd
After a hundred Mistresses, I had beene dull else,
But to the point.
Leo.
How would you advise mee?
Val.
I would not counsell you not to love at all,
As some that are all Satyr, 'gainst the sex,
That still your heart finde roome for a fresh beautie,
For twentie, for a thousand.
Leo.
Is inconstancie
So easie, and so pardonable.
Ual.
Why dee' shift
Your shirt, the linnen's fine, but not so cleane
And sweete after a Journey, 'tis a Justice
To change: and a security a woman
Is Tyrant, when she finds a dotage, Love
But wisely, to delight our hearts, not ruine 'em
With too severe impression.
Leo.
Prethee tell me,
What doe most men desire that are in love?
Val.
In this wise love I meane? why, my Lord, they
Desire to enioy their Mistresses, what else
Can be expected? and 'tis necessary
In my opinion.
Leo.
Hadst thou beene woman,
Thou wod'st not have beene so cruell.
Val.
Troth, my Lord,
I know not how the sex might have corrupted mee.
But had I beene Adonis, without question
My Lady Venus should have had no cause
To accuse my bashfullnesse, I should have left
The Forrest to have hunted—
Leo.
I beleeve it.
Val.
But I must be content.
Sil.
Nothing will much trouble thy head Ualerio.
Val.
I doe not vex my selfe with much inquirie
What men doe in the Indies, or what Trade
The great Turke's on, nor what his designe is,
Nor does the State at home much trouble me,
After the warres I enioy my limbs, and can
Boast some activitie untill some woman
In kindnesse take me downe, be rul'd by me.
Employ your spring and youth upon those Joyes
They are fit for, beget a new Elizium,
Under some pleasing shade lets lie and laugh
And richest blood of Grapes, quicken our veines,
Some faire cheek'd boyes skinking our swelling Cups,
And we with Joviall soules shooting them round
At each mans lip a Mistresse.
Sil.
I did looke for this before.
Val.
They in this Bower
Shall with their Songs, and Musicke charme our eares,
And nimbly dance, their bright haire loosely spread;
Nor shall they more their amorous beauties hide
Then those contended for the golden Ball.
Leo.
Thou wod'st imagine many fine devices
But after all these pleasures, as there is
A limit, and a period set, what will
Succeed these raptures, when they are past enjoyings
But leave so many stings upon our thoughts.
Val.
We wo'not thinke of that, or if we do,
Wee'le venture upon Fortunes curtesie.
Leo.
Thou art resolute Valerio, if ere sorrow
Lay seige to me, i'le wish thee my companion.
Val.
I am your humble creature, and shall be honord
In your commands.
Enter Ascanio.
As.
My Lord, the Duke
Ask'd for you.
Ascanio whispers with Valerio, and Silvio.
Leo.
I'le attend. Whither in hast?
Val.
We are commanded to attend Ardelia.
Sil.
It is his pleasure, we should waite upon her
To his presence.
Leo.
Ardelia,
It will become you, and but that his highnes
Exacts my person, I should be a part
Exeunt.
Of her attendance, but not serve her with
Halfe the devotion, I would pay Euphemia
The too much injur'd Dutchesse, now a stranger
To the Dukes bosome, while another sits,
And rules his heart, but this prepares my happines,
My hopes grow from her misery, which may
Encline Euphemia to pity me.
Enter Euphemia, and Macrina.
La.
Good Madam have more comfort.
Leo.
Is not that she? her habite like her Fortune
Most blacke, and ominous, heer's a change of State,
Noe noyse of waiters, and officious troopes,
Of Courtiers flutter here, where are the traine
Of Ladies, with more blossome then the Spring,
Ambitious to present their duties to her,
Where be those Jewells, whose proud blaze did use
To vye with Sun-beames, and strike gazers blind?
All gone behind a Cloud? how she observes
The Structures, which more soft then Dionisio
seeme to incline their marble heads, and sweate
In the compassion of her iniury,
My heart is labouring for breath, and yet
I dare not speake to her, the Duke has spies
Upon her, and his anger carries ruine.
Enter Courtiers, who passe by neglectfully.
Eup.
Sure I should know this place.
La.
Tis the Court Madam.
Eup.
And those were Courtiers that past by?
La.
They were.
Eup.
Some of them serv'd me once, but now the Duke
Has discharg'd all, why dost not thou forsake me.
La.
I serv'd you Madam, for your selfe, and cannot
Thinke on you with lesse reverence, for your change
Of Fortune.
Eup.
Is not that Leontio?
La.
It is Madam.
Eup.
Does he decline me too? though I am miserable,
My griefe wo'd not infect him, but he must
Compose himselfe to please, the Duke, whose creature
He has beene alwayes.
Leo.
I will speake to her,
Though death in the Dukes eye threatens to kill me,
Great Mistresse.
Eup.
You doe not well Leontio to insult
Upon my misery, Dionisios frowne
Leo.
By all vertue,
And by your selfe the Mistris, I have not
One thought so irreligious in my soule
I weepe for your misfortune, and shall Study
All humble wayes to serve you.
Eup.
You have beene noble.
Leo.
Your titles are all sacred still with me,
The Dukes neglect cannot unprince you here;
Oh let not hasty sorrow boast a triumph
Over so great a mind, let not that beauty
Wither with apprehension of your wrong
That may be soone repented, and the Storme
That cowardly would shake that comliest building
Make for your happines, some lament your fate.
Enter Strozzi.
Whose lookes speake mirth, be confident, the Duke
Will chide the unlawfull flame, that like rude
And wandring meteor, led him from your vertues
With so much danger to embrace Ardelia.
Str.
The Duke shall know your complements.
Exit.
Eup.
Noe more, least for your charity to me,
For I must call it so, you ruine not
Your favour with the Duke, farewell Leontio
Yet I would pray one favour from you.
Leo.
Me?
My life's your servant.
Eup.
If you heare the Duke
Speake of me, as I feare he never will
But in displeasure, tell him I will thinke it
Noe cruelty to take this poore life from me,
Rather then let me draw a wretched breath
With generall scorne, let him command me dead,
And I forgive him otherwise farewell.
Exeunt.
Leo.
That close shew'd something, like a will to be
Reveng'd, her brest heav'd up, and fell againe,
While both her eyes shot a contention upward,
As they would seeme to put just Heaven in mind
How much she suffers.
If griefe thus become her,
What magicke will not love put on? I must
Stifle my passion. Pallante, welcome,
You are well met in Court;
Where dost thou live Pallante?
Pall.
Every where,
Yet no where to any purpose, we are out
Of use, and like our Engines are laid by
To gather dust, the Court I ha' not skill in,
I want the tricke of flatterie, my Lord,
I cannot bow to Scarlet, and Gold-lace,
Embroiderie is not an Idoll for my worship,
Give me the warres agen.
Leo.
But yet remember we fight for peace,
The end of warre.
Pall.
I never did, my Lord.
Leo.
What?
Pall.
Fight for peace, I fought for pay, and honour,
Peace will undoe us.
Leo,
Tis the corruption of our peace, that men
Glorious in Spirit, and desert, are not
Encourag'd.
Pall.
The faults somewhere.
Leo.
I presume
Thou art not of so tyrannous a nature,
But thou couldst be content to weare rich cloathes,
Feed high, and want no fortune without venturing
To buy them at the price of blood.
Pall.
I could.
Leo.
And ile engage thou sha't, be this the Prologue.
Pall.
Not I, keepe, keepe your money.
Leo.
You doe not scorne my bounty.
Pall.
You may guesse
That fortune has not doted much upon mee,
And yet I must refuse it.
Leo.
Your reason pray?
Pall.
Why ten to one I shall spend it.
Leo.
So tis meant.
Twill make me gay a while, but I shall pawne
My Robes, and put on these agen,
Leo.
Thou sha't not
While I have Fortune to preserve thee otherwise,
Pall.
I say out of my love to you I must not,
I never yet tooke money upon charity,
I earn'd it in the Warre, and i'le deserue't
In peace, of you I cannot, tis my misery
To be unserviceable.
Leo.
Is that your Scruple?
But that I know thy humor, I should thinke
This cunning, but you shall not, Sr, despaire,
I shall find wayes to have mention'd
In your accounts for merrits, doubt not, I
Will give you occasion to deserve more.
Pall.
On those conditions i'le take more, and thinke the better
Of my owne life, honour'd by your imployments.
Leo.
The Duke.
Enter Duke, Strozzi, Ascanio.
Du.
Ha? Leontio.
Str.
If I have any braynes, he shew'd a passion
Did not become him to your Dutches, Sr.
Du.
Presumes he on his blood, above our favour?
Dares he but in a thought controule our pleasure,
No more, wee'le take noe knowledge, oh my Lord
You absent your selfe too much, though we confesse
Our State must owe much to your care, we would not
Your offices should wast you with imployments
Preserve your health I pray—
Leo.
I never did
Enioy it more then when I studied service,
And duties to your grace.
Du.
Musicke, the minuits
Are sad i'th absence of Ardelia,
And moove too slow, quicken their pace with Luts,
And voices.
A Song.
Du.
No more; we will be Musicke of our selves,
And spare your Arts, thought of Ardelia,
What brow lookes sad, when we command delight?
We shall account that man a Traytor to us,
That weares one sullen Cloud upon his face,
I'le read his soule in't, and by our bright Mistresse,
Then which the World containes noe richer beauty,
Punish his daring sinne.
Leo.
He will deserve it
Great Sir, that shall offend with the least sadnes,
Or were it so possest, yet your command
That stretches to the soule, would make it smile,
And force a bravery, severe old age
Shall lay aside his sullen gravity,
And revell like a youth, the froward Matrons
For this day, shall repent their yeares, and coldnes
Of blood, and wish agen their tempting beauties
To dance like wanton Lovers.
Du.
My Leontio,
In this then thou dost present our bosome to thee,
What's he?
Leo.
A Gentleman that has deserv'd
For service in your late warres, Sir, a Captaine.
Du.
He may turne Courtier now, we have no use
Of noyse, we can march here without a Drumme,
I hope we are not in arreares to him,
He haunts us for noe pay?
Leo.
Your bounty beside that, hath wonne their hearts.
Du.
Why has he noe better cloathes? this is a day
Of Triumph.
Pall.
I beseech your highnes pardon,
I ha' drunke your health in better cloathes, dispise
My Christian Buffe! this is the fruits of peace,
I'le waite on you agen.
Exit.
Du.
Wher's my Ardelia?
How at the name my spirits leape within me,
And the amorous winds doe catch it from my lips
To sweeten the Ayre—heaven at the sound
Lookes cleare, and lovely, and the earth put's on
A spring to welcome it, speake Leontio
Enter Ardelia, Valerio, Silvio.
For whom the World shall weare eternall shine,
Brightest Ardelia, Queene of love, and me,
Ar.
The onely honor, my ambition climes too,
Is to be held your highnes humblest hand-maid.
Du.
Call me thy servant, what
New charmes her lookes does throw upon my soule.
Sil
How the Duke gazes?
Du.
There is some strange divinity within her,
Is there not Valerio?
Val.
I am not read so farre yet as divinity,
Mine is but humane learning.
Du.
Speake agen,
And at thy lipps the quires shall hang to learne
New tunes, and the dull spheres but coldly imitate,
I am transform'd with my excesse of rapture,
Frowne, frowne Ardelia I shall forget
I am mortall else, and when thou hast throwne downe
Thy servant, with one smile exalt agen
His heart to heaven, and with a kisse breath in me
Another soule fit for thy love, but all
My language is too could, and we wast time,
Lead on, ther's something of more ceremony
Expects our presence, Italy is barren
Of what we wish to entertaine Ardelia.
Leo.
May all the pleasures thought can reach attend you.
Exeunt.
Finis Actus primi.
| The Dvkes Mistris | |