 | The Novella |  |
SCENE II.
Victoria above, looking in a Glasse, Jacomo, Paulo, by-named Burgio.Vic.
So I am ready: And trust me Jacconetta
My pretty Moore, (for so I still must call thee
For thy deare Masters sake that gave thee to me)
Thou art grown skilfull in these quaint attires,
So lately unacquainted with my wearing:
Thou hast plaid the good beginner at this dressing,
And by thine industy and further practise,
I doubt not but my Knowledge will grow ripe.
Pau.
And by that Knowledge, you your selfe soone
rotten.
O! could these Creatures grow still towards ripenesse;
Or, being ripe, abide so, and no further,
What excellent fruit they were!
Vic.
VVhat say you Borgio?
Pau.
I say among the twenty thousand Curtezans
In and about this City, none becomes
The dressing, or the habit like your selfe;
Your most unparalell'd selfe! But, noblest Lady,
Not it, your person.
Vic.
Why not it my person?
Pan.
Yes, as the flame the fuell;
To worke it into coales, and so to ashes.
Vic.
Still Borgio in your old morality!
Pan.
These Tires, these Chaines, these Paintings, and
these Gawds
To set out flesh to sale with; or, at best,
But the gay Garlands which adorne the Beast
Prepar'd for Sacrifice—
Vic.
Peace Borgio, peace.
Pan.
And as those Beasts, so senselesse are you women
Of the most certaine danger you put on,
With your vaine glorious gayety; chips and strawes,
To kindle fire of lust, in whose lew'd flame
Sinkes (with Troyes Buildings) Natures choycest
Flame.
Vic.
I would I understood this misery!
Deale freely with me Borgio, what new art
Hast thou in practise, that thou setst a face
Shiningly varnish'd with Divinity
On a profession, that makes Nature vile
In her own shame? Lust's instrument!
Nay case of instruments, holding all meanes
For propagation and maintaining of it;
To make thy Gaine out of its dregs and fragments.
Tell me, dost thinke by preaching modesty
To quit thee of the basenesse of thy trade;
A poore necessitous Bravo? or hast hope
To live upon my honesty, and yet be still
Thy selfe a Ruffiano?
Pan.
I would give o're, would you; and change my
Function.
Ha, ha, ha,—
Jac.
What meane you Borgio, would you now spoile
all?
And no lesse pleasant too, then profitable
(As most of my Bookes titles are) whereby
Shee was so well resolved to goe on—
Pan.
Hold thy peace foole: shee will runne on the
faster.
'Mongst women. She will prove the only Sweep-stake
In all the City.
Jac.
O are you there Devill?
Vic.
Sir, leave this grumbling, or i'le turne you off
Amongst your Brothers, and your Sons Ruffianos,
To lurch i'th' night betwixt eleaven and two
To rob and drown for prey; till being taken
Imediate Hanging followes.
Pan.
I'm now your Creature;
My noble resolute Mistris; now I adore you:
Now you shine bright; your bravery now becomes you,
Yet (let me tell you under faire correction)
I have some cause to hinder your desires,
And theyrs that seeke you more, yet, for a time.
Vic.
Your reason sir?
Pan.
You know I was preferrd to you for a Bravo
Of long and deare experience: I have serv'd
Six, the most famous Dames, this City bred
These sixty yeares; none scorning my advise,
By which, and their endeavours they grew up
To purse the price of Providences; which bestowd
The most in publique, some in pious uses
Purchac'd them fame, almost Canonization.
The last and least of them, Margarita Emiliana
Founded the Augustinian Monastry
These women, whom successively I serv'd,
Fell not by rash adventure unto all
Great Fortunes offers; but by sound advise
(Which kept their Bodies sound and 'rich'd their coffers)
Were long e're they embrac'd; by which their price
And beauty grew of greater estimation,
My profit in this too is unneglected:
For long suspense, and tedious Expectation
Bring me more certaine fees; where, if you fell
Imediatly to work, my work were done,
And your own too, perhaps too soon: witnes the falls
That Pox and Poverty have brought on many!
When their youths flame was spent and they rejected,
When others of their Sisterhood were embrac'd
Into a wholsome Nunnery.
Vic.
This fellow speakes my thoughts. Borgio, I thought
You had respect to your particular profit
In all this winding warinesse for my good.
Pan.
You may conceive, 'twould grieve me, that (where
now
That yeild me fees for the bare sight of you)
You should in yeilding to their common use
Send one man cloyd away, t'affright another
From his approach.
Vic.
Borgio, no more of this,
A deare friend put you to me, for whose sake
I hitherto have follow'd your advise,
In hoysting up the price of my virginity.
Jac.
To such a rate no common purse dares venture,
Nor common folkes presume t' approach the house.
Vic.
And such as did attempt, by offring lesse,
I have sent back with shame; as the old youth
Last night, for which I thanke thee Jacconetta,
I thinke I coold his grave concupiscence.
Vic.
And therefore, doubt not, carefull Borgio,
Unlesse I meet a husband by the way
I will not stoope this moneth at a lesse rate,
Then the proposed sum and your consent.
Pau.
I thanke you more then if you had possess'd
Me of the value of that sum propos'd.
Jac.
He meanes her Maydenhead! Ifaith good sir,
The mark's grown out of your old chaps, or else
Hang me if I believ'd you, by that little
I know of man.
Vic.
So now about our businesse.
Some of my visitants I know are neare,
Wayt circumspectly Borgio.
Pau.
You need not doubt me.
Exit.
Vic.
There is some hidden vertue in this fellow,
Or dangerous ill: but whether let it be;
As was my Birth my purpose shall be free.
Make fit my Chamber Jaconet. But first
Give me my Lute; and set me for the signe
Of what I meane to be, the fam'd Novella.
Song.
Whilst she playes and sings above, Paulo waits below: Many Gallants passe over the stage gazing at her. Piso is received in by Paulo, after him a French Cavalier, then a brave Spaniard, and after him a glorious German. Paulo takes fees of all as they enter the house.
The Song ended, Paulo appeares above with Victoria.
Vict.
Now Borgio, how speakes your muster roll?
What? are you full?
Pau.
I have an army royall
Of Princely spirits, ready for incounter.
Vic.
But one at once good Borgio.
I have encamp'd them each in severall quarter.
Here lies the no lesse politick then stout
Italian force, and there your sprightly French;
Here the brave Spaniard, there the German bold;
Here the Polonian, and Sclavonian there;
Persian and Grecian—
Vic.
Pray thee hold. No more.
Pau.
'Tis not your house can hold, (would I admit 'em)
One of each severall nation would throng in
To make his battery on your virgin Fort.
The rich Piazza, on her greatest Mart
Boasts not more Nations; nor St. Marke himselfe
The understanding of more Languages
Then I (could I find house-roome) could receave,
To be made one by your interpretation
O what a Daring glasse is sparkling beauty;
Fetching ambition from above the pitch
Of towring Eagles, or Sky-touching Larks
Down with a glance into the Nets of Love!
Vic.
Pray thee speake nearer home, who hast thou
hous'd?
Pau.
I have cull'd from the pack a speciall prince;
Foure glittering Gallants; one of Italy,
For our deare Countries sake; But then a Monsieur,
A joviall French-man, all of flame and spirit.
Vic.
I shall not dare to meddle with his glory
For feare I fall with Simele, who next?
Pau.
A Spaniard next, that, to adorne his pride,
Weares an Epitome of both the Indies.
Vic.
I saw his punctuality passe by.
Pau.
And did you note his stiffe reservednesse?
He dares not cough for breaking of his chaine,
But then there is a Dutchman, (Cargo lustick!)
A jolly strong chind German, princely borne;
A Landsgrave at the least; whose very bluntnesse
The fiery Frenchman, or the doughty Diego
In all their eager pursuit.
Vic.
That man Burgio!
You have bestowd them all in severall Roomes?
Pau.
O like fierce Beasts, from sent of one another.
Vic.
Then first, in faire requitall of the Musick,
I doe imagine some of them bestowd
On me, this morning e're my Love appeares
To feed their eyes, let Musick feast their eares.
Exeunt Om.
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