 | The Sisters |  |
ACT III.
Enter Lucio, Piperollo.Lu.
For thy Mothers sake thou shalt be entertain'd.
Pi.
An under Butler would fit me rarely,
Ther's none i'th' house that shall be sooner drunk,
Nor oftner for my Ladies credit Sir.
Lu.
Can you write?
Pi.
And read in print Sir.
Lu.
Art thou faithfull? may a man trust thee?
Pi.
For more than I'l speak on; trusted? I was bound
For two Gentlemen lately, that could not take up
Five hundred Pistols upon other security,
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Endure a theef for a thing that I know, alas
You know I am a neighbors child, my mother
Was your good Ladies nurse.
Lu.
Do not I know thy Mother?
Pi.
Better it may be, than I know my Father.
Lu.
Till some Office fall i'th'house, you shall serve me,
And ride with me, to receive my Ladies Rents.
Enter Controller Giovanni.
Gio.
Mr. Steward, yonder are the rarest fellows,
In such phantasticall habits too, they call
Themselves Mathematicians.
Lu.
What do they come for?
Gio.
To offer their service to my Lady, and tell fortunes.
Lu.
Have they no chief?
Gio.
Yes a quaint philosophicall fellow, they call
Him a Caldean, a great Schollar, they do
Not come for money like your starch'd fac'd
Egyptians, but carry things for the credit of
The Mathematiques honourably; my Lady hath
Given the Caldean her Nativity, who is to consult
With the Ephemerides, and give account how
The Stars wil dispose of her.
Pi.
We shall know all our fortunes then.
Gio.
The worst of his train can discipher hands,
Tell foreheads.
Pi.
And Noses.
Gio.
One at the first sight did but whisper to my
Ladies Gentlewoman, and she did so blush
Through her Tiffany.
Pi.
That's no great matter, I have seen one blush
Through a Plaister of Paris.
Lu.
How's that?
Pi.
A kind of French painting Sir.
Gio.
Well said Piperollo;
I have entertain'd him; but my Lady.
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Pa.
The Caldean
Pleases me, I long to hear my fortune,
If it be good he shall have a reward
To cherish his great Art, and worth my bounty;
What if my Stars should frown?
Didst bid 'em follow?
Ste.
They are all ready Madam.
Pi.
Musicall knaves.
Enter Longino, Rancone, Pacheco, Strozzo, in queint disguises.
A Song.
Beauty and the various grace,
That adorn the sweetest faces,
Here take their glorious throne; may he
That is the God of Archerie,
Never aim one angry Dart,
But soft, and gentle as your heart,
Court it with flame, and rich perfume,
To light, and sweeten, not consume.
Pa.
Not the Caldean come yet? my thoughts are
Inflam'd with fierce desire to know my Destiny;
You have skill Gentlemen; but I'l expect
The judgment of your Master on my Fate;
When the great man of art returns acquaint me.
Exit.
Ste.
Come my friends, lets lose no time; Sir.
Lo.
I am for you to the extent of my Art Signiour.
Ra.
If it please you, let me peruse your hand.
Lu.
'Tis at your service.
Pi.
Please you to examine my Palm; can you
Tell me learned Sir, what is past?
Pa.
You know that already.
Pi.
'Twill be a satisfaction to me, if you can
Make it appear, that you know something
In that point.
Lo.
A Fracture in the Mercuriall line, and the
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[Strazzo picks.
Neer a misfortune Sir.
[Stephani. pocket.
Ra.
Jupiters Mount is well form'd and colour'd
A Cross conspicuous, the Suns Mount well
Figur'd, and linea solis, without any intersection,
Lu.
Your Iudgment upon that Sir?
Enter Antonio.
An.
More Anticks yet? What Nation have we here,
Fortune flingers!
Str.
You shall know yours immediately.
An.
Her house is open for these Mountebanks,
Cheaters, and Tumblers, that can foist and flatter
My Lady Gugaw; Every office open,
When Poor men that have worth and want an Alms,
May perish ere they pass the Porters lodge;
What are you Sir?
Str.
One of the Mathematicians noble Signior.
An.
Mathematicians? Mungrell,
How durst thou take that learned name upon thee?
You are one of those knaves that stroul the Country,
And live by picking worms out of fools fingers.
Str.
And something out of your trunks, my reverend Cato.
An.
Busie the raskals are, how the rogues stink?
I'l send your Regiment a Quarter-master.
Exit.
Str.
Now to my other gamester.
Pa.
You have been—
Pi.
What Sir?
Pa.
In your ear—a theef.
Pi.
He has a Devil; good Sir not too loud.
Pa.
And you shall be—
Pi.
Hang'd I warrant you.
Pa.
Let me see tother hand.
Pi.
Shall it scape with burning?
Ra.
You shall be a Lord.
Lu.
A Lord.
Ra.
Hum, yes, a Lord infallibly.
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You shall be a Knight Sir.
Pi.
Of the theeves Order, and wear my rich
Collar of hemp; is't not so?
Pa.
An honourable Knight, upon my word.
Lu.
A Lord—Pray give your opinion.
[To Longino.
Lo.
Your hand—you shall be a right worshipfull—
Lu.
One of your tribe told me I should be a Lord.
Str.
And shall be us'd accordingly, Lords are transitory.
Strozzo picks Lucioes pocket.
Lo.
Let me see tother hand. I marry Sir, this line
Cleeres the doubt, and markes you right
Honourable, which makes up the tother half
Of your fortune Signior, these two parallell lines
From the dexter angle to be the Mount of Sol,
Has made all plain, you must be a Lord.
Pi.
He has given you a very good reason Sir,
A man can have but half his fortune in one
Hand, and two right worshipfulls makes up
One right honourable; these are rare fellowes,
I am predestinate to be a Knight,
The Stars may do their pleasure, I obey.
This should be the Caldean.
Enter Frapolo, Castruchio he whispers to the rest.
Fr.
I have narrowly observed the Castle, and
Where the treasure lies, I know my Lady
In honour will entertain us this night, and
When they are asleep wee'l take our opportunity
To rifle her Exchequer, boyes, mean time
Let me alone to humour her proud Nature;
I will so claw her ambition.
Lu.
In the interim, I'l put a question to
His Astrology. Sir, If you please till my Lady
Return to satisfie her Seward, and oblige him
By your Art, one of your under Mathematicks
Has given me a Comfortable Destinie.
Fr.
Your hand. When were you born?
25
I know not Sir.
Ran.
A Lord—
[R.whispers
Fr.
No Matter, Venus in the Ascendent with
Sol, being Lady of your seventh; hum, hum,
With Iupiter, designes you to be a Lord.
Lu.
They all agree; the miracle of learning!
One question more I beseeth you Sir, I
Am to ride with my Man to receive my Ladies
Rent to morrow through the Forrest—
Fr.
Go to.
Lu.
Now I desire to know, whether we shall be
Rob'd in our return or no?
Fr.
What time do you think precisely to come
Back Sir, for we should know the very minute.
Lu.
The Money is ready Sir, and we do purpose,
In your ear—
Fr.
Yes, you shall be rob'd, ther's nothing in
Nature to prevent it.
Pi.
Will they kill us, and please you?
Fr.
No, they shall not kill you, they shall only
Take your money, and break your pate, that
Will be all.
Pi.
Why let 'em rob us Sir, the loss of our Money
Will be an evidence of our preferment, and you
May have more assurance to be a Lord, and
I of my Knighthood—My Lady Sir.
Enter Paulina.
Fr.
Madam, the Stars shine with their full beams
Upon you, Who by me their interpreter, salute
You with a glorious fortune: For Leo's Lord of your
Horoscope in the right angle of heaven, and a royall
Fixt Sar calld Regulus, or the Lions hart, culminating
With him, and a naturall reception between Mars,
And Sol Lord of the tenth, being in the first with
Mercury and Venus in the house of honour, besides
A Conjunction of Iupiter and Luna in Pisces, in
The house of Mariage, I must give Iudgment.
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I shall beseech your cleerer language.
Fr.
You shall be Married to a Prince, it is inevitable.
Pa.
A Prince?
Lu.
May not I come to be a Lord then?
Pi.
And I a Knight?
Pa.
When shall I see him?
Fr.
He shall within few days visit your Castle,
Drawn hither with the fame of your person,
And bravery. I need not instruct you to entertain
Him with State and Ceremony becoming his
Excellence, but if he Court you not into his arms,
I will renounce the Stars, and say there is no
Truth in Astrology.
Pa.
How my thoughts swel already.
Fr.
She has swallowe'd it.
Pa.
Give him five hundred Pistolets.
Fr.
Do not wrong so much
One that does honour you; as I bribe not
The Stars to tell me their Decrees, I dare not
For money sell their Secrets, and if any
That have relation to me presume
To take a Iulio—
Lo.
By no means Madam—
Pa.
I like it that no Mercenary ends
Guide 'em to flatter me.
[A Drum far off.
Lo.
Is not that a March?
Exit.
Pi.
If it entrench not too far upon your art,
This Prince, Sir, has a Name.
Fr.
And rules this Province,
Fernese is a Bachelour.
Pa.
The Prince of Parma?
My bloud refines in every vein already,
Dull heavy Souls that are content to drudge
In humble thoughts.
Enter Longino and whispers to Frapolo.
Lo.
I Fear we are betraid;
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We may be all surpriz'd let us to, horse—
Exit.
Pa.
Deny not, Sir, this night an entertainment,
Such as my Castle yields, it sha'not spread
To receive guests more welcome.
Lu.
A Drum Madam.
Exit.
Ra.
Must we not stay and rob the house to night?
Er.
Madam, my art foretells I cannot be
Safe to remain here, at my return
I wo'not baulk your Castle, i'th' mean time
Cherish high thoughts, your Stars do call you Princess,
So kissing your fair hand—
Pa.
Make me not so unhappy.
Fr.
There is no dispute with Destinie,
I take my humble leave, away to horse.
Exeunt.
Pa.
This more amazeth me, what danger should
Provoke this hast, if it prove their concernment,
I must believe they do converse with Fate,
And trust to them as Oracles; a Princess?
Was not my Soul Propheticall?
Enter Lucio.
Lu.
Madam, some accident hath rais'd your tenants,
They march in fury this way, in strange postures
And Arms, as if they came to storm the Castle.
Enter Piperollo.
Pi.
Madam, we are all undone, the Clubs are up,
Your Tenants are turn'd Rebels, and by this time
Entred the Hall; and threaten to surprize
I know not whom; But the Caldean, and
His troop are vanish'd, they foresaw this tempest.
Pa.
What should this mean?
Enter Countrymen armed.
1
Come on you men of lusty Chine, Dear Lady
Be not affrighted, Captain of thy Guard
Am I, thy naturall Tenant, and thy Vassall;
Where be these Sunburnt Æthiopians?
28
Pa.
What Æthiopians, what Canting Rogues?
Do not your Clounships know me?
1
Know our Princess?
We honour thee, and rise in thy defence;
Where be these theeves? we heard there were
A Regiment, that came to Cheat and Plunder.
Pa.
Y'are a Knot
Of knaves and fools, and shall repent this insolence;
You that command in chief, good Captain Bumbard,
May teach your Raggamuffins face about,
Was it your stratagem to fright my guests?
1
Your Uncle told us Madam, and commanded.
Pa.
Was it his plot? he's still my enemy.
1
Pard on us Madam,
We came simply hither to do you service;
Kneel, or we shall all be stript out of our Tenements.
Pa.
My Uncle has abus'd you,
But this submission takes our anger off,
Continue dutifull to my Commands,
And you shall be remembred; Piperollo—
Exit.
Pi.
I know the Buttery Madam; follow me,
It is my Ladies pleasure you be drunk,
And thank her grace ye keep your Copiholds;
Dee you bring up the rear, I'l march in front.
Exeunt.
Enter Antonio, Contarini.
Ant.
Passion O'me, it is to great an honour,
Refuse a man of your high bloud and name,
That Courts her honourably? I could beat her.
Con.
'Tis not impossible at my return
To find a change. I must to Court agen.
Ver.
The horses my Lord are ready.
Con.
Vergerio—
Ant.
What a Baggage 'tis, shees all for the Nunnery,
She sha not have her will, I'l undo my self
But I'l destroy this Modesty; if I could
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Ver.
My Lord you may command, but how unfit,
I am to manage this affair.
Con.
Thou hast a powerfull Language, it prevail'd
On me when I first saw thee, since which time
I have not deserv'd unkindly from thee, and
This trust speaks more than Common favour.
Ver.
Make me his advocate to Angellina?
An.
My Lord, if you can still preserve these thoughts
Of honour to us, leave her to my Counsell.
Con.
Most cheerfully, I am not desperate;
This Gentleman I'l leave to wait upon her,
Who is privy to my Counsells, and affection.
An.
Your Lordship hath found trust in him, but that
Sha'not excuse my care, to make her know
Her happiness, and the Honour of our Family,
By meeting your commands. She's here.
Enter Angellina, Francescina.
Francescina tell me, what hope of your Mistress?
How does thy Counsell work? does she pray less
Then she was wont? or listen now and then
When thou talk'st wantonly, does she smile upon't?
Fr.
Between our selves, I put her to a smiling
Blush.
Ant.
What said she, tell me on thy modesty,
When she found her dear delight, the legend
Of the Saints remov'd, and Ovids tales of
Jupiter put in the place?
Fr.
She said, that Iupiter
Was a most sensuall Heretick, and the cestus
That Venus wore was not St. Francis girdle.
Ant.
How did she like the picture of Leander,
Swimming the Hellespont upon his back?
How that of Cleopatra kissing Antony?
Fr.
She Says that Queen was none of the poor Clares,
30
All I can say, she is not desperate,
I sing no Anthems to her.
Ant.
What says she to her dancing Master?
Fr.
She is past her honor; that's a precious fellow,
She'l laugh to see him gamboll with his limbs,
His head flies like a Ball about the room;
You'd think he were at Tennis with it.
Ang.
Though in the guilt and knowledge of my own
Defects, to answer such an honourable
Esteem of me, I dare not yet presume
To meet it; I shall want no pious thoughts
For this so great a bounty to a poor
Desertlesse Virgin.
Ant.
Hang your pious thoughts
And love my Lord.
Con.
Not for the wealth of Parma
Should my Cause force one cloud upon her face
Or put her eys to the expence of tears,
It shall be argument for me to hope,
If she accept this youth to wait upon her,
Who may in some auspicious hour, prepare me
A gentle seat within her heart, mean time
I leave upon your Virgin lip the faith,
Of your true Servant Lady.
Ant.
I'l attend you
To horse my Lord.
Exeunt.
Ang.
Poor miserable maid.
Faln now beneath the pity of thy self;
My heart, on which so late a flame of Heaven
Stream'd comfort in my holy resolutions,
Is fil'd with love, but not of Contarini,
Whose passion may deserve anothers welcome.
I prethee Francescina take thy Lute
And let me hear thy voice.
Fr.
I can sing Venus and Adonis to you.
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Any thing.
Fr.
Or will you hear the pleasant Dity
How fair Calisto first became a Nunne.
Ang.
I prethee do not name a Nun, the flame
That I feel here deserves no Vestall name.
Fr.
I'l do my best to fit you,
Ther's no such tool in nature as a Chambermaid
To work upon her Mistress.
Exeunt.
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