University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

Enter Frapolo, Longino, Pacheco, Rangone, Strozzo, and other Banditi.
Lon.
I like not this last Proclamation.

Ra.
Nor I.

St.
It startled me to read it.

Fr.
Did you read? tis a fault Strozzo a fault!
I'l have no theef hereafter learn to read;
Threaten us with long winded Proclamations?
We are safe within our Woods, and Territories,
And are above his Edicts; Have not wee
A Common-wealth among our selves, ye Tripolites?
A Common-wealth? a Kingdom; and I am
The Prince of Qui-Vala's, your Sovereign theef,
And you are all my Subjects.

Lo.
We are—

Fr.
And is there one so base to change Complexion,
Because we are proscrib'd? I'l be no Prince.
I have a grudging on me to be honest,
And leave you to the fear of hemp, and hunger;
Have I by stratagems so oft preserv'd you,
When you were howling out your lives, and lead
Away in Dog-couples by rusty Officers?
And are you struck dead with a Paper pellet?
Your bloud turn'd Whay, because there is reward
Promis'd to bring our heads in? I renounce you—
Land Rats—

Pa.
Most excellent Frapolo, they recant;
A little humane frailty may be pardon'd.

Fr.
Shall theeves, whose predecessors have been Kings,
And conquer'd worlds, be factious, and schismaticall?
I speak not for my self, but your own sakes,
Whose Impudence, and art in valiant theft,
Hereafter, may advance you to be Princes.

Lo.
You have confirmed us.

Fr.
You were best be rogues, and one betray another,
To get the base reward; do, lose your honour,
Live branded, and be pointed at i'th' street,
There goes a Rascall that betrai'd his Prince,
Or cut the throat of his Comrade, this will
Shew well i'th'Chronicles—Stand fair you varlets,
Because we cannot tell whose heart is treacherous,
I will examine all your Phisnomies,
And in whose face soever I can find
A scandalous line, or look that may beget
Suspition of a Man that wo'not die
An honourable Rebell, and defie
The Laws, I'le shoot him presently.

Lo.
Hang Laws,
And those that make'em, Conscience is a Varlet;
Stand fair and shew complexions.

Fr.
Ye are all valiant, honest theeve landers,
And I will be your Prince agen, and dy w'ee,
As boldly, as they dare invent—

Ra.
Hang Cowards.

Fr.
I will not have you theeves among your selves.

Lo.
How's that, and please thy Excellence, not theeves?

Fr.
Not theeves one to another; but Religious—
There is a kind of a Religion
We Outlaws must observe.

St.
I never knew
Religion yet, and 'twill be now unseasonable
To learn.

Ra.
I'l be of no Religion.

Fr.
Who was so bold
To say he would have no Religion?
What man is he, hopes to be drunk, to whore,
To scope the wheels, the Gallies, and the gallowes
And be of no Religion?

Lo.
He says right.

Fr.
Yee shall be of what Religion I please.

Pa.
Tis fit we should, Frapolo is our Monarch.

Fr.
And yet I must consider of some fit one
That shall become our trade
And constitutions; hum! Silence.

St.
Nay, nay Prince, take time to think on't,
Ther's no hast.

Fr.
I have thought,
And you shall be no Pagans, Jews, nor Christians.

Lo.
What then?

Fr.
But every man shall be of all Religions.

Ra.
I like that well.

Fr.
Why should I clog your Conscience, or confine it?
Do but obey your Prince, and I pronounce
You shall live Grandees, till the State Phangs catch you,
And when you come unto the Wheel, or Gibbet,
Bid figo for the World, and go out Martyrs.

Omnes.
A Prince, a Prince!

Fr.
Provided, that no theef
Makes a Confession at his Death, or peach
His Tribe, or make a shew of penitence,
To make the Butter-women melt, and draw
Compassion from the toothless musty rabble;
This will exclude the benefit of that Canon
Declares you Martyrs for the Cause.
A noise within.
Scout and discover.

Exit Longino.
Ra.
'Tis a howling voice.

Fr.
What Cry was that?

Enter Longino.
Lo.
Of one, whose pocket has given up the Ghost,
And with the fear his body should do so,
He howles O'this fashion.

They put on Vizards.
Fr.
Bring him to our presence.

Piperollo brought in.
Pi.
Gentlemen, tis very cold, I beseech you
Do not strip my Skin off, you are not sure
I shall go to a fire when I go out of
This World; and yet as I am I confesse
I shall yield very little burn'd.

Lo.
Knock out his brains.

Pa.
Pistoll him.

St.
Cut's throat.

Pi.
Gentlemen, hear me—I am very sorry,
I had no greater sum—but if you please
To reprieve a poor wretch, I may do you service,
And if you knew my inclination,
You would not be too Cruell.

Fr.
To what are you inclin'd Sirra?

Pi.
I have been commended for a Dexterity
At your fellonious trade; for Gentlemen,
I have been a Pickpocket of a child, and have
These many years been thought a pretty house-theef,
Mary I have not yet breeding abroad
With such deserving men, but I shall be
Most glad to learn, and if you please t'accept
Me to your tribe, I have Intelligence
Where money lyes hid, and very few Spirits
To guard it.

Fr.
Be confident, and be cover'd.

Lo.
Let him be one of us.

Fr.
Be brief, where is this treasure?

Pi.
I have an old Father, and Mother, Gentlemen,
Please you bestow a visit upon them;
They have some Goldfinches, having new sold
A peece of Land, was given 'em by the rich
Vincenzo, Father to the famous, proud
Paulina, now his heir.

Lo.
The glorious Daughter
Of old Vincenzo? she's a Semiramis.

Pi.
The very same; if you would visit her,
I am acquainted with the house.

Fr.
Wee'l take a time to think on her; to th'point,
What ready money has your Father Sirra?

Pi.
Tis but two days ago since he receiv'd
Six hundred Pistolets, I can direct
To a Cedar Chest, where the fine sum lies dormant.

St.
What Servants has your Father?

Pi.
Alas none, they are miserable Hinds,
And make me all the drudge, you need not fear
The Court-du-Guard; if you please let me go
An honest theeves part, and furnish me
With a Devills complexion, to hide my own,
I will conduct you.

Fr.
A very honest fellow!

Pi.
I do not love to be ingratefull where
I'm kindly us'd, my heart is honest.

Fr.
Is he thy own Father?

Pi.
My own Father and Mother Sir, the cause
Would not be so naturall else, and meritorious.

Fr.
A precious rogue, fit him instantly
With a disguise, and let him have that face
The Devill wore in the last anti-masque.

Pi.
It cannot be too ugly Sir to fright 'em.

Fr.
But if he fail in any Circumstance—

Pi.
'Tis not far off, I know the nearest way.

Fr.
Or give the least suspition to betray you,
Be sure you cut his throat.

Lo.
We shall.

Pi.
I thank You Sir, d'ee think I'l be a Traytor?

Lo.
Come first along with us.

Exeunt.
Fr.
You heard this fellow name the proud Paulina,
Her Chests are worth the rifling.

Pa.
The Castle is impregnable she lives in.

Fr.
Was that spoke like an understanding theef,
A true Bandit? How I do blush for thee?
Was not the Orchard of Hesperides
Watcht by a fierce, and flaming Dragon, robd?
Shall wee despair to reach her golden Apples?
Wee'l make discovery of the place, and persons,
Put it to Fate, let Stars do what they please;
Mercury is a Stronger theef than Hercules.

Exeunt.
Enter Giovanni Stephanio.
Gio.
What a brave time have we had, since our
Old Master died?

St.
Though he were a gallant man, his Daughter
Makes his Memory burn dym, and (compar'd
To her) he liv'd but like a Hermit in a Cell,
She is all Magnificent, a Berenice,
Every hair of her head worth stellyfying.

Gio.
But my Lady, for so we must call her,
May be of kin to Lucifer for pride;
How many brave Gentlemen hath she despis'd,
When once their blister of Love broke out,
And they made offer of Mariage?

Enter Antonio, Angellina.
Ste.
Here is her Sister Angellina a virgin
Of another constitution, their two natures
As different are, as the two Poles, our Mistress
Cannot be so Tyrannically proud
As she is sweet, and humble.

Gio.
That's the reason her Father left her only
As much as would commend her to a Nunnery.

St.
Her Uncle dotes upon her.

Gio.
He does love her.

St.
Tis an old blunt brave fellow; but he has
Quite lost our gallant Ladies good opinion,
He is out of grace.

Ex. Ant. Ang.
Gio.
Because he would correct her insolence,
Who oblig'd by her father to the care of
Her governour, wo'not tie up his Counsell,
Which he enforces sometimes so passionately,
It is a sport to hear her contempt of his gravity.
Enter Paulina, Antonio.
He has met my Lady, I see a quarrell
In their looks already, let us withdraw
Behind that Lobby, we may hear, and
Laugh securely.

Exeunt.
An.
How long have you been speechless? am
Not I your Uncle? why do you look so scurvily?
I do not think you are a Princesse yet,
And therefore take the boldness to salute you,
Without the Ceremony of Petitioners
That haunt your Ladiships charity; or if
You thought me despicable, your Sister has
Deserv'd your smile.

Pa.
It may be so—

An.
Buffoones,
That make an Idoll of you, and can pawn
Their Souls to flatter you, should be entertaind,
And Courted to your vanity. I blush for you;
Will nothing bring you into sense of Honour
Or Modesty? I ha done.

Pa.
It will become you;
You do presume too much.

An.
Presume? why, are
Not you Paulina am not I Antonio
Your Uncle? speak.

Pa.
I do remember Sir,
I calld you so, while you preserv'd your wits,
And may acknowledge you again, upon
Sober Conditions, and your Senses perfect.

An.
Sober Conditions? am I Drunk, Gipsey?
What flesh is able to forbear. Dost hear?
Thou hast drunk a Devill.

Pa.
I did not see him in my Cup.

An.
And he has sweld thee to this monstrous pride,
More than thy Sex beside; if thou goest on
At this rate, thou wilt make Lucifer an Ape,
He must be thy Disciple.

Pa.
The Old thing raves:

An.
Thing? what thing? thank heaven thou
Art a woman; I would beat thee into a Poltise—
When didst thou say thy prayers?

Pa.
You know I keep a Chaplain.

An.
Thy Soul wants desperate lancing;
Ther's an eternall Ulcer in thy heart,
Ten Witches cannot suck it dry, there is
A bath of Poyson in thee.

Pa.
I shall pity him;
A Posset, and to bed with him, his head
Does want the benefit of sleep; how wild
The good man looks?

An.
Thou art—

Pa.
The Mistress of this Castle as I take it,
Without your Legacy.

An.
I could rail upon the dead for't; dost thou not fear
Thy Fathers ghost should haunt thee?

Pa.
I never think upon him, and it was
His providence to leave me an estate,
To keep me from those Malancholy fancies,
And I will have you my caprichious Uncle
Know, in the Circle of these my Dominions,
I will have no Competitor.

An.
Dominions?
Was ever such an insolence? are not you
Some Queen conceald?

Pa.
I am Independent, and sole regent here.

An.
So so,
Where's your Nobility? they are to blame
Not to attend—

Pa.
Who waits?

Enter Giovanni, Stephanie.
An.
But they do want white Staves, this is
Not State enough.

Pa.
It shall be mended, let them be remembred.

An.
She's in earnest—and
If I were worthy to advise you Madam,
Your grace should be a little more reserv'd,
And entertain none that did treat of Mariage
To your private conference, untill they had
In publick receiv'd audience like Ambassadors.

Pa.
I like the Counsell well, it shall be so,
The next that comes shall find it my good Uncle.

An.
She's incorrigible.
What if you commanded those that do attend
Your person to observe you on their knees
Sometimes, they must be humble to your highness;
I can forget my gray hairs, name, and bloud,
And teach your Servants duty.

Pa.
The example
Will edifie the houshold, and you may,
By fair degrees rise to our Princely favour.

Enter Lucio.
Lu.
Madam, the Lord Contarini is arrived
The Castle.

Pa.
He comes a woing to me, let it be
Your Office reverend Uncle to acquaint him,
Our pleasure is to give him Audience
To Morrow in full State, untill when Uncle,
Make it your care, his entertainment be
Such as becomes the greatness of his bloud,
And one, on whom the Prince, we know, bestows
His speciall grace.

An.
D'ee hear sweet Niece? be not you transported;
This is no dream, the man is no mock-lord.

Pa.
I'l be a Princess here, as you directed,
If he can humble himself to Ceremony,
Promise him honourable access, and freedom,
If the Conditions please him not, he may
Return, and leave our Court.

Exit.
An.
Is this in Nature? well I'l follow her,
And if she be not past all shame, and senses,
I will humble or confound her.

Exit.