University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

Enter Longino, Strozzo, Binding Fabio, and Morulla.
Mo.
Ah sweet Gentlemen, we are very poor,
And have a great Charge.

Str.
We do come to ease you of your charge.

Fa.
Pity my age.

St.
You must then pity our youth.

Enter Piperollo visarded with three bags.
Pi.
Here, share and share like.

Mo.
Alas we are undone.

St.
What shall we do with them?

Pi.
If you have bound her hands and feet, you
May try whether she be a Witch or no, there's
A Pond in the backside, if she swim, so—
For him?

Fa.
Have some compassion, tis our whole estate.

Lo.
You have a Son, a pious child we hear.

St.
He will not let you want.

Mo.
Alas poor boy, he little thinks what we
With care and providence laid up for him
Should thus be lost. O pity Gentlemen.

Pi.
Boh—Lets away.

St.
I begin to find a kind of a compunction,
Let us be charitable theeves for once—

Lo.
And return half,
What say you?

Pi.
Not a gazet, y'are not such foolish theeves;
Part with present money? part with my life first.

St.
Not to your Parents?

Pi.
We use them well, because we do not carry
Their Cowes away; there they have Cheese, and Butter,
Bread comes by nature, and they both can glean,
There's water in the Well too; not a penny—
If you will be so charitable, defalk
From your own shares, mine is a just theeves part;
I look for thanks, distribute your own alms;
These things must be employ'd to better uses.
Is a Father, and Mother considerable
To ready mony; oh! fie—boh!

St.
Then we must over-rule you.

Trips up his heels.
Pi.
Ah what do you mean?

St.
Baul and betray your self at your own perill.
We will be bold with your theeves part—
Come neerer—Look you good Woman,
You shall not lose your thirds, say you have met
With honest theeves; this shall suffice at present,
Which we but borrow neither, that you may not
Suspect our payment, you shall have security,
This honest man bound for't, and so we leave you.

Fa.
Tis money.

Mo.
And left one of their fellows bound.

Fa.
Do we not dream Wife? I dare not come neer
Him.

Mo.
They are gone, I'l see his complexion;
Who's this?

Fa.
Our own Son Piperollo?

Pi.
Pray Father give me your blessing, ah—
Mother do not stone me to death with that
Money bag, I am your Son.

Mo.
My Son? I know thee not.

Pi.
A liar, you know Mother, is worse than a
Theef; do not destroy the hopes of your Family,
Alas, I was drawn in, and made a theef
In my own defence, they swore to cut my throat
Else, do you think I had so little grace—

Mo.
Did they so? I'l try what I can do.

She draws her knife.
Pi.
Oh my quibibles! sweet Mother, remember
You were a woman in your days, that knew
What's what, and the true difference of things.
I am a man yet, your forgivenesse may
Make me a true man. Libbing, and hanging
Are no helps to posterity, I am your own
Sweet flesh and bloud—Oh.

Mo.
Kick him out of doors.

Pi.
I thank you, this Correction may do me good;
Gently, ah gently; shall I not ask you blessing,
A twelve-month hence?

Both
Never.

Pi.
I wo'not.
My Mother has a deadly lift with her leg.

Fa.
Boh, you tadpole.

Exeunt.
Pi.
I shall do no good o'this trade.
Now to my wits, this is no world to starve in.

Exit
Enter Lucio, Giovanni, Stephanio, with white Staves.
Lu.
This is very fine; do not these Staves become us?
But will my Lady be thus mad, and give
The Lord Contarini Audience in such State?
She takes upon her like a very Princess.

Gio.
But is't not strange, her Uncle should thus humor her?

Ste.
He gave her the first hint, which she pursues
To his vexation.

Luc.
But will my Lord stoop to this mockery?

Gio.
He is prepar'd by her Uncle; 'twil be sport,
If she but carry it with pride enough.

Gio.
Let her alone.

St.
And if my Lord wants confidence—

Gio.
I think her impudence will make him blush,
And put him out; I have seen a Counterfeit
With such a Majesty compose himself,
He thought himself a Prince, could frown as scornfully,
And give his hand out to great Lords to kiss,
With as much grace, as all the Royall bloud
Had musterd in his veins.

Lu.
Some Monarch
Of Innes a Court in England sure; but when
His reign expires, and Christmas in the grave
Cold as the Turkies coffind up in crust,
That walk like Ghosts, and glide to severall Tables,
When Instruments are hoarse with sitting up,
When the gay triumph ceases, and the treasure
Divided, all the Offices laid up,
And the new cloathes in Lavender, what then?

Gio.
Why then the man that kist his highness hand
O'r night, may justle him for the wall next morning,
And have it too; if he come off with all
His wits, the Play is paid for, and he fit
For travell.
Enter Contarini, Antonio, Vergerio, they whisper.
My Ladies Uncle, and the Lord Contarini.

Ver.
My Lord Contarini expects when he
May have the happiness to present his service
To your great Lady.

Lu.
We shall Sir acquaint her.

Ver.
Your Office Sir?

Lu.
Her Steward.

Ver.
Yours I pray?

St.
Mine, Treasurer.

Gio.
Mine, Controller.

Ver.
I kiss your hands; this may be worth my Lords
Curiosity.

An.
For the mirths sake, my Lord be pleas'd, you may
Do an act of Charity and restore her Senses;
I'l wait on you again.

Exit.
Con.
Now Vergerio?

Ver.
The expectation is increas'd, her Officers
Observe the State; were your affections earnest
And I my Lord your Mistresse, I should trust
Her pride.

Con.
Unless she ravish me.

Enter Antonio.
An.
She's upon entrance, her madness holds,
Your confidence may convert her, shees my Neece
And I am sorry for it.

Enter Paulina attended in State, Angellina, Ladies.
Pa.
Give him accesse.

Con.
What Ladies that stands on her right hand?

An.
Her younger Sister, that does vex me as much
With her humility, as the other with
Her impudence.

Con.
An excellent peece, Vergerio.

Ver.
Which my Lord?

Con.
Madam, the glory of your time and Nation,
Whose looks do shine with Majesty, and shoot
A flame t'undoe the admirer, O call in
Some beams that wait upon the thrones of light,
Or I shall fall your sacrifice, and not finish
What my great Master gave me in charge.

Lu.
Has the Prince a mind to her himself.

St.
Tis not impossible.

Pa.
Speak on my Lord.

An.
Gipsey, she does believe the lightning of her eys
Will blast indeed, how scornfully she squinnies?

Con.
I come from the great Sovereign of hearts,
Whose glorious monarchy uncircumscrib'd,
Extends to all the habitable world,
Where ever land or lover-stretch'd his arm,
Whose Scepter's not like that of common Kings,
But a bright golden shaft feather'd with sighs,
And headed with a flame, which finds access,
Like subtill lightning to the most secure,
And stubborn Cell that ever yet inclos'd
A humane thought—

Lu.
He flies high.

Gio.
Tis his arrow—

Pa.
Speak this great name.

Con.
The most immortall Prince of Love—

Gio.
A high and mighty Prince indeed.

Lu.
Tis not our Prince of Parma then?

Con.
Unto your beauty Madam, that makes sweet
The breath of Fame, in his name I am sent
To offer up a Servant, rich with wonder,
And humble thoughts that honour you; who can
See those perfections and not adore
The Divine Owner? Brightness that offends
The innocent eye that gazes, is in you
The cure of blindness, and the filmes that hang
Upon the humble sight, fall off and vanish,
That it may take new life and light from you.

An.
Is she not yet ridiculous to her self?

Con.
I can leave Cupids Court to live with you,
And all those bowers, where an eternall spring
Makes every flower in love with it's own beauty.
The wind whose airy wings convey all sweetness
That sense can entertain, I would exchange
But to be near your breath; and think there dwels
A harmony in your voice, above the airs
Of all those charming Birds by love selected
From every wood to be his quire. I fear
I am too bold, and may be thought to wander;
If Madam you accept my amorous vows,
Which live yet in the weak expression
Of him that honours you, time will produce
A white and fortunate hour to crown our loves
With nuptiall happiness.

Pa.
You have relation
To the Court of Parma, your name Lord
Contarini, you have no Message from you Master?

Con.
Madam your fame hath fild his Court, and he
Presents by me his Princely wishes of
Your happiness, and should he see your person,
Like mine, his heart I fear would melt into
A stream of Love and Admiration.

Pa.
Sir, we accept in good part greeting from
The Prince, but you have no commission
To treat for him; the substance of your own
Affair will ask our pause, we will take time
To answer, which till you receive, you may
Command our Court.

Exeunt Paulina, Servant:
Angellina stayes.
Ver.
Proud folly!

Ant.
Prodigious impudence!

Con.
What think you Signior?

Ant.
I am confounded, I'l to her agen.

Exit.
Ang.
When shall I awake?
This sure is but a dream, the Gentleman
Cannot so much mistake his time and Language.

Con.
I came with Curiosity to see
Her pride so talk'd of, but my heart I feel
Is taken with an object of true sweetness.
Is't not a lovely figure? say Vergerio.

Ver.
If but her mind answer that fair proportion,
My Lord she is worth love, but being Sister
To a woman of such pride—

Con.
I prethee leave me.

Ver.
She is very beautifull; my Lord is taken.

Exit.
Con.
Lady, but that ther's story for your births,
I should make judgment by your modest face,
This arrogant woman could not be your Sister.

Ang.
Sir, if your expectation be not answered
With her full worth, I shall beseech you name her
With less disgrace, (our bloud so neer) it cannot
Be gratefull to my ear, to hear her blemishes.

Con.
I was prepar'd before to meet this goodness;
These words and looks become that innocent spring
From whence they flow, vertue hath such an army
About your heart, ther's nothing can approach
Ill to betray it, or proceed from you
But warranted by honour.

An.
I know not,
But sure my Lord, you talk too fine a language
For me to understand; we are far from Court,
Where though you may speak Truth, you cloath it with
Such trim and gay apparell, we that only
Know her in plainness, and simplicity,
Cannot tell how to trust our ears, or know,
When men dissemble.

Con.
By your own love
To truth, you must beleeve me, when I say,
Although it took beginning from this visit,
I love no beauty but your self.

Ang.
You said you lov'd my Sister, and exprest
Your passion in such mighty phrase and fancie
I thought your soul had made a business on't,
Pardon the weakness of my faith if I
Dare not believe this change.

Con.
Your Sister, Lady,
I came to visit, not affect, I heard,
And had a purpose but to try how neer
The wonder of her pride (pardon sweet Virgin)
Came to a truth, nor did I Court her with
The language of a meaning lover; but
Prepared by your Vncle, meant to make her see
Her miserable folly; I dare not
Present such Mockeries to you; suspect not
This hasty address; by your fair self, I love you.

Ang.
My Lord, If I beleev'd this, reall Courtship,
I should not entertain your honour with a
A fruitless Expectation, but declare,
Besides my want of fortune, beauty, birth,
To make me worth your love, I am already
Contracted by my Father to Religion,
Whose will I cheerfully obey, and wait
When my good Uncle will dispose me to
A Nunnery.

Con.
A Nunnery?

Ang.
Where for
So great an honour you pretend to me
A most unworthy maid, I'l offer up
My prayers, that you may choose a heart more equall
To your own love, and greatness.

Enter Antonio, Paulina, and Servants.
Con.
Nay you must
Not leave me so, we are interrupted, you
May trust me fair one with a neerer Conference.

Exeunt.
Pa.
Alas poor old man.

Ant.
The Old man before your borrowed Ladiship
Is bold to keep his head warm, and to tell you
You are a Puppet, take that to your title;
Of honour.

Pa.
So Sir, none restrain his insolence?

Ant.
I'l make him swallow down his staff of Office
That stirs. I ha'not done. Canst be so impudent
To think his Lordship does not laugh at thee?
Your eys the thrones of light? a brace of Lanthorns,
In which two snufs of Candle close to th'socket,
Appear like fire-drakes, and will serve to light
A traveller into a Ditch. You Madam Majesty,
And the glory of a Nation?
Tho'art a disease to Honour, Modesty,
A Feaver in thy Fathers bloud, a Gangren
Upon his name, a Pox upon thee for't;
Ther's one disease more, yet I have not done.

Pa.
My Charity may invite, if these fits hold,
Some close provision for you 'mong mad men;
I do command you leave my house.

Ant.
I wo'not,
I'l fire the house; dost hear? thou wo't burn well,
Th'ast Oil enough about thy face, and all
Thy body Pitch, very combustible.
But I'l not be damn'd for thee, now I think on't,
And since no Counsell will prevail, I'l save
My self. Before I go, give but a reason
Why thou dost slight this gallant Lord, and squint
As if he were Groom or Foot man.

Pa.
I'l tell you,
You would have the truth.

Ant.
If thou canst speak any.

Pa.
I do esteem my self
More equall for his Master.

Ant.
Who, the Prince?

Pa.
No, the blind Prince of Love, you are wise Uncle,
But I am out of Poetry.

Ant.
I think I were best cut off thy head, and save
The Laws a labour—Ther's no talking to her.

Pa.
I am of your mind Uncle, you may edifie
Your charge, my younger Sister, she's not proud,
Pray take her w'ee, shee'l become the Cloister;
Go, and be mortified together, take her,
I am weary of her.

Ant.
And I of thee;
She shall be further off too, thou'lt infect her,
Although her foolish Father, (yet he was
My Brother) I have not power to speak
Well o'th'dead, gave thee his whole Estate,
I have a fortune, dost thou hear? I have,
And to vex thee, thy Sister shall have that,
I'l see, and I can make her proud, I'l do't;
She shall have Servants, Suters, Fidlers, Flatterers,
Fine Cloathes, and all the food that can provoke
To glorifie her sense; I have bags to spare,
She shall not to a Nunnery to vex thee,
I say again she shall not, wee'l have humours;
The to'ther Pox upon thee, and farewell.

Pa.
I fear he's mad indeed. Let me have Musick,
This talk has made me Melancholy.

Exeunt.