 | The Novella |  |
SCENE II.
Enter Guadagni in his Study. A Taper, Baggs, Books, &c.Gua.
Whilest yet the Leaden finger'd god of sleepe
Keeps close the eye-lids of phantastick youth,
Feeding their aery fancies with light dreames,
Of wanton pleasures; giddy, vaine delights,
Throw ope the gates and windowes of soft rest,
Making our midnight noone, to guard and order
The wholsome fruits of our continuall labour.
VVholsome and happy off-springs of my paines
Thus I salute you and implore your safty,
And thus that you may rest, grow and increase
Mine eyes prevent the breakers of your peace.
But see the morning hastens to relieve me!
Day spreads apace, and warmes the provident hand
Doe out the uselesse taper. Hoe! what hoe!
Enter Nanula, Astutta.
Nanulo! Astutta! is it midnight with you?
Nan.
Your servants are all here and ready sir.
Gua.
About about, you drowsy headed drones,
VVhere is my Daugher?
Ast.
Up and ready too sir.
Gua.
Sirrah haste you to Pantalonies house.
Nan.
The rich Magnifico?
Gua.
VVho else, you Rat?
Tell him I doe attend his comming hither,
To expedite the worke we have in hand.
Nan.
It shall be done sir, please you give me passage.
Gua.
Here take the Keys; lock the dore after him
Then call my Daughter to me.
Ast.
See shee's here sir.
Ex. Nan. Ast.
Gua.
Flavia my Girle, see how my early care
Provides for thee, The toyle of many yeares
By dayly travaile, and my nightly watches
Lies here in readinesse to build thy fortune.
And take it willingly, since thou consentst
To match unto my will; whereby this Coyne,
Thy selfe, and both our joyes may finde increase.
I can no lesse then thanke thee Flavia,
Although I must confesse, my sute was long,
Yeilded to my appointment of a husband:
For whom (with no small joy I speak't) thou didst
Cast off (indeed) the off-scum of his blood
The poore, degenerate in fortune, fellow,
I scorne to name him.
Fla.
Alas my Francisco—
Gua.
By which thou gain'st the Nonpareil of heires
In all this wealthy City.
Fla.
Sir tis not
The Riddance of the one, to gaine the other,
Both which are equall blessings unto me
Can ad unto my present happinesse
More, then the thought of your paternall wisdome,
VVhose provident care was author of this good:
Chiefly to you I therefore wish the comfort.
Gua.
It will be so: I finde it my deare child
For though thy joy I know will be abundant
Mine must exceed, that includes thine with it.
VVhy smil'st thou Flavia? to think how deare
Thy Hymeneall day, to morow is?
Fla.
No I could weepe for that.
Gua.
How! ha! whats that?
This money's mine againe, and thou art not
If thou dost wish one dayes procrastination,
Degenerate brat, changeling—
Fla.
Deare Father—Father—
Gua.
Th'ast seene thy last of happinesse: all content
From this black minute, and thy selfe are strangers.
Fla.
Sir, I beseech you heare me—
Gu.
Get you in
I'le mew you up where never Sun shall show
Into what endlesse misery i'le cast thee;
Nor any sound bring succour to thine Eare.
To call thee back from torment.
Sir,—deare sir—
Gua.
My selfe will be your Keeper, Cook, and Carver.
Fla.
Indeed you will be sorry.
Gua.
Sorry! for what?
Fla.
For the mistake you run away withall.
Gua.
Didst thou not say thou wept'st, because to morrow
was come so nigh?
Fla.
So nigh and yet not come sir,
Fearing how many dangerous houres are thither.
Gua.
Ha! I beginne to be now sorry indeed.
Fla.
Loves Minutes sir, are dayes, and houres are years,
When each protracted, multiplies our feares.
Gua.
Now I am sorry with all my heart; and here's a
Thousand checqines to expiate my trespasse.
But do not let thy husband know of them
Till he redeeme a fault to their full value,
Oh mine own Girle, my honey, honey Girle:
Fla.
Was not I sir applauding of your wisdome,
And giving you the glory of my comfort
In this approved match?
Gua.
Thou didst, thou didst,
With teares of joy I must confesse thou didst.
Fla.
Had you but heard me out, I had magnified
My fortune, sprung out of your providence.
Gua.
Speake yet, and I will heare attentively.
Fla.
First then, how first your admirable wisdome
Weighing how I had setled my affection
Upon Francisco excellent in parts,
Of noble blood, how ever low in fortune,
You gave your free consent (knowing your estate
To be a portion fitter to restore him
Unto the dignity of his Ancestors,
Then to be added to anothers Muck-hill)
That I should be his wife—
Gua.
What's this you say?
Nay deare sir flie not off.
Gua.
Well, on then, on.
Fla.
I say you gave consent, that I should be
Wife to that noble Gentleman (pray sit still sir)
As you had foreseene my future happines
Only in him consisted—sir untill
This wealthy heire, young Fabritio,
You Neighbour Trades-mans Son, of great estate,
Was by his father tender'd unto you
For me a husband, then unseene by mee:
But since I must confesse a proper man,
Worthy a fitter Wife—
Gua.
Sweet Modesty.
Fla.
But that your wisdome needs will have it so,
By reason that his heapes may purchase honour,
Which to'thers wants can never wash away,
But farewell him: I must looke this way now;
And crown your wisdome with this closing point,
That whereas I betroth'd was to Francisco,
And Pantalonies Sonne unto another,
(A Lady as tis justified at Rome)
You force me on this man, the fittest husband
On whom to make my party good hereafter,
Who shall not dare to upbraide my breach of faith.
Gua.
And ist not a sound policy my Flavia?
A Bell rings.
But now no more; old Pantaloni comes,
I take it. How now! dos he not come?
Enter Nanulo.
Nan.
Signor Pantaloni, sir, intreats you
Meet him on the Rialto instantly,
That you may goe to the Advocates together.
Gua.
It is my Flavia interchangeably
To seale your Marriage covenants; make thee happy,
Looke to my house and havings; keepe all safe,
I shall be absent most part of this day.
Requires thee to't: and therefore I dare trust thee.
Fla.
Happy successe attend you sir, whilst I
Rest here in prayers for you.
Gua.
Thanks my child,
Come sirrah lock the doore. But first (dee hear)
Beware that none have entrance in my absence
Except Fabritio, Pantalonie's Sonne;
Or such as I have warranted, looke to it.
Nan.
With due respect.
Gua.
Come lock the doore I say.
Exit.
Fla.
I, I, be sure of that, and I could wish
My thoughts were prisoners too: that they might fly
No further then the casement, or the wicket;
Where they (loose things) get out, and nothing bring
Back to this heart, but cold and sad returnes:
O my Astutta—
Enter Astutta.
Ast.
Now or never helpe me!
Fla.
As thou didst ever dreame what true love was,
Fancy some way to quit me of this bondage;
Or else contrive this houre to be my last.
Ast.
What! would you disobey your Father? what!
So good, so carefull, and so wise a Parent?
Fla.
O doe not vex me into longer life.
Either speake helpe, or let me die in silence.
Ast.
Yes, at sixteene; you would die at sixteene?
Fla.
Else let thy pitty of my youth preserve me.
Ast.
O Cupid what a Termagant tyrant art thou
Over poore subjects of sixteene! There is not one
Among a hundred of those ticklish Trifles
But is more taken with a Toy at sixteene
Then six and twenty: because by that time
The edges of most maydenheads are allayd.
Fla.
Nay deare Astutta hast thou thought a course?
What to prevent your Father, my good Master?
Thinke you I can turne traytor to his trust,
And crosse his purpose for your Marriage?
Fla.
If Knife, or Poyson, Fire, or Water may
Remove this wretched cause, i'le do it else.
Ast.
Yes, you were best leape from the top o'th'house
Into the Cavail grande: and there perhaps
Some courteous Gondaliar may catch you up,
And waft you to some house of deare delight.
Fla.
Thou tortur'st me.
Ast.
You see the doore is shut,
And Go-by-ground your fathers Giant here
More sterne then Cerberus holds fast the Key,
You can make no excursion; nor let in
Any attempt for your redemption:
No Letter or a Message can approach you,
But by this Gyant-dwarfe your Fathers Agent,
Though I my selfe were wicked to assist you.
Fla.
O couldst thou be so vertuous! Then I know
Some quaint devise would issue from thy braine
To conjure and controwle his weaker spirits.
Thou knowst I have command of Gold and Jewells
Enough to buy a Senators large conscience:
Doe thou command it all to win him to us,
That petty thing. Dos he appeare bribe-free?
Is he the only officer uncorrupted?
Enter Nanulo.
Nan.
Madona Flavia newes.
Fla.
What I beseech you?
Nan.
From your elected Bridegroome, brave Fabritio.
Ast.
Dissemble patience as you are a woman,
Or hope to be; and heare him handsomely.
Fla.
How dos hee Nanulo?
Ast.
That was well said.
Nan.
VVell and respectfull towards you it seemes,
As I could wish you would not—
Fla.
Insolent slave!
You know I may not stir beyond the Key
You keepe, and yet you wish me stay within.
Ast.
VVill you marre all? the reason?
Nan.
The reason is, he meanes to send anon
A Mercadante from the Merceria,
The famous Pedler woman of this City
VVith her most precious wares; for you to choose
VVhat you shall like, and take them as his presents,
(A ceremony us'd on wedding Eves)
Such Rings, such Things, such Knacks, such Knots & Bobs;
Such Curles, such Purles, such Tricks and Trilly bubkins
As Mayds would turne no Mayds almost to see 'hem!
And can you yet be angry at such newes
VVith me the gladsome bringer?
Ast.
Very good!
I have heard of this rare Pedler-woman;
And that shee is much us'd in close affaires
Twixt parties Hee and Shee; and doe not doubt
Since you make golden offers (gentle Mistresse)
To worke her to your ends, as neare (dee marke?)
As womans wit may reach at such a pinch,
Pray let her come.
Fla.
VVell sir, you know I shall not stir abroad;
VVhen shee is come shee's welcome with my thanks.
Returne so by the messenger.
Nan.
Most readily.
Exit.
Ast.
Now Mistris if I chance to set the sadle
On the right horse; that is, to place your Mayden-head
VVhere you would faine bestow it, I trust you will
Out of your store reward me with a dowry
Fit to convey me to a Tradesmans-Bed.
Fla.
Yes, and wish there a second Maydenhead,
Ast.
Well, be chearfull then,
And cleare those cloudy looks, awake your senses,
Refresh your temples, rowse invention up.
I have found ground to build on; but there lacks
Much rewing, squaring, joynting, to make sure,
Against all stormes, our lofty Archi'ture,
Come up to councell?
Fla.
Now thou comforts me.
Exeunt. Om.
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