University of Virginia Library

Actus primus

scena prima.

Enter Trappolin solus.

My wench Flametta is a dear rogue, the pretty
fool dotes on me; my Lord Barbarin can do
nothing with her; his pistols and jewels she
cares not for. And tis a handsome thing: no
Pomatum ere toucht her lips, or paint her
cheeks, yet are they cherries and roses; I am most
happy to be what I am, and to have the love of
such a one as she.

Enter Flametta.
Flam.
Good morrow Trappolin, how does my Love?

Trap.
First let us kiss, and after I will tell,
For ever thine Flametta.

Flam.
O thanks my dear.

Enter Barbarino.
Bar.

The villain Trappolin has a handsome wench,
and (which angers me) an honest one; I have
spent many weeks about her, but could never do
any good, she will not neither for love or money;
and see where they are a talking together.

Trap.

Yonder is my Lord Barbarino.
My dear Flametta, I am your Honours servant; this
free promise of thine, I can never enough thanke
thee for—at your Lordships command. How
happily shall we live together in marriage, both
loving so well and truly? Your Honours humble
slave. Let us kiss agen,—your poor vassal my
Lord, thus will we spend our daies in these delights;
so will we kiss Flametta—I beseech your
Honour to pardon me: we nere will be a weary of
our selves, if thou dost sigh, thy Trappolin will
weep,—your Honour shall command me alwaies;
and when thou singst thy Trappolin will
dance.

Flam.
And I am thine my honest Trappolin,
And ever will be constant unto thee.

Trap.
I'le attend your Honour presently.

Flam.
There's no man alive shall make me prove
Unfaithful unto thee, so much I love.

Trap.
Your Lordship must pardon me a little,
I am something busie.

Flam.
My Trappolin shall not bestow a kiss,
But I will pay it him with usury;
It is impossible for thee to be
More thy Flametta's then Flametta's thine.

Trap.
I will come to your Honour presently.

Flam.
Pardon Sweetheart that now I must be gone,
My stay another time shall make amends:
A kiss, my dear, my lovely Trappolin;
With such I shall be never satisfied.

Exit.
Trap.

Farewel my dear rogue; my Lord I come,
Your Honour must pardon me, you saw how I was
employ'd, I could not leave the poor fool, your
Lordship sees she loves me, and protest her labour
is not lost: now if your Honour hath any thing to
command me, I am ready Trappolino, your poor
servant.

Barb.
You are a sawcy peremptory villain,
And I have well perceiv'd your base demeanor;
Although I see the wench is yours, you shall
Repent the freedome of your evil language,
Be sure you shall.

Exit.
Trap.

Good morrow my Lord,
Let him do his worst I care not a rush for him; he
would ha my wench, and I am glad I abus'd him,
I ha made his Honour something collerick, let
him disgest it how he will.

Exit.
Enter Lavinio the great Duke, Prudentia, Barbarin, Machavil and others.
Lavin.
The Tuscane glory have we yet upheld,
And from the fierce assaults of enemies
Rescued our cities, set them in a peace
As happy as the Gods did ere vouchsafe.
Sforza the Duke of Milain our old friend,
Who hath in all our wars still sent us aide,
Hath promised me the matchless Isabella
His sister for my wife; and seeing now
We have no more to do with enemies,
I will to Milain go and marry her,
And quickly unto Florence will return,
Where I will celebrate our nuptial
With that magnificence becomes our state.
You, whom I ever have found faithful to me,
Lord Barbarino, and Lord Machivil,
To you I do commit the government
Of Tuscany until I return;
And full commission to do what you shall
See necessary for the good of Florence:
My dear Prudentia, the onely joy
Of our deceased Father, the last Duke,
Live happy, and enjoy thy own desires,
Which I do know are vertuous all.

Prud.
Most noble Sir, it is impossible
That I should happy be, and you not present:
But I am unworthy to beseech your stay;
Go and be fortunate in a worthy choice,
While I to heaven pray for your safe return.
Dear sweet Prudentia, and also Lords,
Look well unto my prisoner Brunetto;
Yet let him want nothing but a free release,
For sure he is more then he seems to be.
I have been long about this journey, now
All things are ready, my Prudentia
Farewel; and sister, be not melancholy,
For in few weeks I will return, and bring
A sister home to keep thee company,
The beauteous Milanes.

Prud.
And may she prove
According to your wishes, noble Sir.

Barb.
And be a joy unto the Florentines.

Mach.
And be a happy mother, that there may
Not want an heir unto your Highness.

Lav.
Our thanks;
Onward, tis time I were upon my way.

Exeunt.
Barba.
Now will I be reveng'd of Trappolin,
Who hath so boldly to my face abus'd me;
I have authority to do't withall,
I'le make him to repent his sawciness.
Enter Trappolin.
He's here, but I will do't as if by Justice.

Trap.

I can think of nothing but my pretty villain
Flammetta; O 'tis a dear rogue, and she saies she
loves me, and I know she does: when I have
married her I will betake me to the country,
where we will live as jovial as the day is long.—

Enter Mattemoros the Spanish Captain.
Mat.
I'le fight for Florence while I have a vein
To hold my heart from falling unto death;
Nor shall the Longobardy Mantuaus
Ere win a Flag while I am in the field;
I'de make the Tuscan Duke to know the man
Whom he hath trusted to conduct his troops,
Durst but Gonzaga ever stir again.
Methinks there is no nobler thing on earth,
Then to see hills of bodies, lakes of blood:
No braver Musick then the Martial Drum;
Nor Diapasons sweeter to the ear,
Then unto it the Warlike Trumpets make;
When I but hear this harmony, I could,
Full of delight, venter my single person
Against an armed Troop. Away with peace,
It is the Canker and the bane of minds;
'Tis that which makes us to forget our selves,
And spend our lives in sensuality.
Then glorious war advance thy armed arm,
That soldiers may have waies to shew themselves;
Wo'd Gothes and Vandals once again would come
Int' Italy, or Moors into our Spain,
That Mattemoros might wear out his sword
With hewing bones, and cleaving armed men:
Each thing doth to his centre fall, and I
Would unto mine, which is to fight or die.
Who art thou?

Trap.
I!

Matte.
I you! what are you to good to be asked?

Trap.
I am Trappolin.

Matte.
By that I know not, art thou a man of war?
Is Trappolin in any Captains roll?
I'st writ?

Trap.
Yes (Seignior Captain) in the Parsons book,
The day thereof my baptisme is set down.

Mat.
And in that honour oft hast thou ere fought
With Infidels, and slain a score or two?

Trap.

Not I, Heavens be prais'd, a score or two said
you Captain? then should I sure never escape, for
I promise you many an one is hang'd for killing of
one.

Mat.

Fie, what an ignorance is this! hast thou a
mind to become now a souldier?

Trap.

Indeed, Seignior Captain, I cannot resolve you
as yet, I am about a wife, Ile ask her if she will
turn souldier too, and then if I like it ther's an
end. But I pray you Captain what is a souldier?

Mat.
A souldier, Trappolin, is he that does
Venter his life a hundred times a day,
VVood in his countries, and his Princes cause
Stand canon shot, and wood of steeled pikes;
VVood when his bodie's full of wounds all night,
Lie in the field and sleep upon his helm.

Trap.

Good Captain pardon me, neither I nor Flametta
will be souldiers; heavens defend, venter
my life so many times a day! there is more safety
and gain in turning thief: I love my countrey
and Prince well, but my self better; 'tis good sleeping
in a whole skin, tis better lying with Flametta
in a warm bed; marry I had thought a souldier
had not been such a fool.

How many of them might there be in Florence,
Sir Captain?

Mat.
Thou coward, many hundreds.

Trap.

The Gods send them more wit, thats eene
all that I can say: but I pray you Sir Captain, now
I think ont't perswade my Father and mother,
sisters and uncles, and aunts, and all the kin I have
to turn souldiers, that they may be kil'd quickly
and I be their heir; I swear Captain you should
lose nothing by't, I would give you a good present
for't.

Mat.

Base coward.

Trap.

Good Captain, what is the meaning of coward?
I have often heard that word, and would
fain know the true meaning of it.

Mat.
A coward is a fellow base as thou,
One that doth spend his precious time in sloth,
Cares not what alterations kingdomes have,
So he at home may welter in his pleasures;
A fellow that had rather sit all day
Drinking tobacco, and carousing cups,
Then die his sword in blood of enemies.

Trap.

VVhy then Captain, in faith I am a very
coward; tis better by half then a souldier, I know
there is far more pleasure in a glass of good wine
and a pipe of true Varines, then in bullets whizzing
about ones ears, and pikes or halberts, or
what you will abeating out ones teeth.

Mat.

Thou dunghil wretch.

Trap.

Seignior Captain, be not angry, for I vow I
mean earnest, I should never digest the souldiery

life, nor am I sure wood Flametta, and the Gods
help them that do.

Matte.

Thou earthen-minded slave, tis pity thou
shouldest eat or drink that hast no better
thoughts,

Trap.

Not as long as I pay for't; what the Devil have
I to do with your souldery Sir Captain? give me
leave to be of my own mind, and a Coward; for
i'me sure no wise man but wood say as I do, let
those follow your wars that are aweary of their
lives.

Matte.

Thou art as dunghil a minded Rascal as ere
I heard in my life; I would not for any thing thou
wast a Spaniard, thou wouldst be a slander to the
whole Nation. And Villain, I tell thee if thou
wert one, I would kill thee; Mattemoros would
do it, and so I leave it.

Exit.
Trap.

Farewel my Sir Don, go hang your self, what
have I to do with your wars tro? for nothing would
I venter to fight but Flametta, and for her I durst
not exceed about at fifty Cuffs, or a bout with a little
pair of Cudgels at the most: I should never
endure to shoot off a Gun, not I, the very noise of
it would make me endanger my Breeches,

Enter Horatio.

Brunetto, honest Brunetto, how dost do? be merry man,
this time will have an end man, and till it come
be as jovial as thou canst, thou wouldst ene a blest

thy self to a seen how I vext the patience of my
Lord Barbarin.

Horat.

You have not sure.

Trap.

Marry but I have, and to the purpose too.

Horat.

Then you are undone Trappolin.

Trap.

Why man?

Horat.

The Duke has left him and the Lord Machavil
governours till his return,

Trap.

The Devil he has.

Horat.

Tis very true.

Trap.

Troth then I am but little better I fear.

Enter Officers.
1.

Thats he,

2.

Lay hold on him.

Trap.

Brunetto, I am undon, thy Trappolin must to
the Jayle, pray you my small friends give me leave
to speake but one word, Remember me to my
sugar-candy Flametta.

3.
Away with him.

4.
To prison with the saucy Rogue.

Exeunt.
Horat.
I came to Mantoa to ayde the Duke
My Uncle gainst his foes the Florentines,
Where hearing every man to praise the beauty
Of sweet Prudentia, the report did win me;
Being taken in the wars, I was not sad,
Because I was to go where she did live:
But seeing so many Princes all desirous
To marry her, I knew the great Duke never
Would bestow her on Savoyes second Son.
And therefore yet I have concealed my self;
Nor doth she know I am Horatio:
For want of opportunity I yet
Could nere so much as sigh within her hearing.

Enter Prudentia and Hipolita.
Hipo.
The Lady Isabella, by her picture,
May be supposed to be a matchless fair one;
Each feature of her face is wondrous good,
And her fine head of hair's a curious colour.

Prud.
In her we shall be happy all, for she
The world reports hath equal to her forme
A noble and a vertuous mind; Whose that?

Hipo.
He is your brothers prisoner, called Brunetto,
That in the wars of Mantoa was took.

Prud.
Tis a handsome man.

Hipo.
And thought by all the Court a Gentleman
Of good descent, but he hath not disclosed
His parentage to any.

Prude.
Why doth he not?

Hipol.
That no man knows yet besides himself.

Prud.
How melancholy he doth seem?

Hipo.
He hath good cause for it Madam:
Who can be merry in Captivity?

Pruden.
Tis true;
A Gentleman of good descent suppos'd,
I never saw a man of braver Carriage,
Nor one that pleas'd me better then he doth;
Aha!

Hipo.
Why sigh you Madam?

Prud.
To think of fortune; perhaps this prisoner
Is of a house as good as the Medices,
Hath lived before the wars of Mantua,
In all the happiness you could desire,
And now we see him thus.

Hipol.
Methinks I hear him sigh.

Prud.
And so do I.

Hipo.
He's gone.

Exit Horatio.
Prud.
But with how sad a gate?
Methinks I am not as I was before.
Hipolita.

Hip.
Madam.

Prud.
Preethee go tune my Lute, I have a mind
To sing a little, I shall forget to play
If I so seldome use it.

Hip.
I go Madam.

Exit Hipolita.
Prud.
I have sent her hence that I might search my heart,
For sure it is not as it lately was;
It is so full of thoughts, I cannot find
The free access into it I had wont:
What should the reason be, what have I don
To breed this alteration? nothing I,
Ere I came here I felt my self as free
From this strange—what it is I cannot tell,
The place is not bewitched sure, nor have
I seen ought but this hapless prisoner.
Alas poor Gentleman, (for in his looks
And in his carriage I can guess him such)
How little to the fates art thou beholding
To let thee live a prisoner thus? how now!
What i'st I say, talk of Brunetto? Oh,
I am in Love, the Gods will have it so.

Exit.

Scena tertia.

Enter Barbarino, Machavil, Mattemoros, and Officers leading Trappolin after them.
Barb.
This man, Lord Machavil, is one of those
That doth in Florence nourish vice, he is
A pander, one that if he sees a stranger,
Straight makes acquaintance with him, for what end
Your self may guess; so he may gain thereby
He would betray our daughters, lead our sons
To Brothels, vicious and full of rottenness.

Trap.

I wonder how the Divel he came to know
any thing that I did.

Barb.
This writing yesternight was presented to me:
Here you may see what enormities he is guilty of.

Trap.

His Lordship would shew himself a great hater
of bawdery.

Mach.
Tis good we did examine him.

Mat.
And there is not such a coward in Tuscany;
He's able to corrupt an army.

Trap.

Seignior Captain, never fear it, for I nere
mean to come into one.

Barb.

Bring him before us.

Trap.

Ah that I durst tell my Lords Excellence why

he deals thus with me, tis for a wench, and yet
how eager he is against bawdery.

Offic.
Forward Trappolin, go before their Excellencies.

Barb.
Sirra, this paper doth not onely shew
You are a rogue, your looks declare you one,
Thou hast as ill a face as ere I saw.

Trap.
And yet Flametta think'st as good as his,
I did not lie and if I said a better.

Mac.

Ere we come to his pandarisme, I'le examine
him about other matters;

Sir do you never use to carry pistols about you?

Trap.
Sometimes and please your Excellence I do.

Bar.
Write down that Notarie.

Trap.

What does your Lordship mean, I did not
steal them.

Mac.

I know well enough what I do; sirra, you
went to shoot some body.

Trap.

Beseech your Honour to take me along with
you, I meant money.

Mach.

That's vain, then Notarie tear it out.

Barb.

Do you nere carry other armes neither?

Trap.

Many times my Lord.

Barb.

Notarie down with it, he shall be talk'd with
for that.

Trap.

Your Honour is deceiv'd agen, I mean onely
armes upon seales, or scutchions from the Heralds.

Mac.

This is nothing Notarie, tear it out.

Barb.

A pimp I'me sure he is.

Mac.

Do you never carry no Love Letters, as from
a Gentleman to a Lady, or a Gentlewoman to a
Cavalier, or so?

Trap.

O very oft my Lord.

Barb.

Do you so indeed? Notarie write it down.

Trap.

Your Honour must understand me, Letters of
Love, of friendship, as when a Lady writes unto
her brother at Siena, a wife to her husband at
Pisa, a son to his mother at such a place, a father
to his daughter married at such a town, I am often
hired, and carry them to the Post.

Mac.
Notarie, you must tear out this too.

Barb.
But sirra, to come nearer to the matter,
Do you not keep intelligence with Whores?
Have you nere plaid the Ruffian? by your means
Hath no man been provided of a lodging?

Trap.

This I have no excuse for, the whole city
knowes me a pimp.

Aside.

And that it is very nigh my living.

Mac.

What say you sirra?

Trap.

My Lords, I am but a poor fellow, and must
live.

Barb.

By Bawdery?

Trap.

Tis but a friends part.

Mac.

A wicked ones, Notarie down with this at
large.

Trap.

Alas my Lord, what hurt is it, if I help a Gentleman
to a sound wench, where is there any
fault? good your Honours, consider me, think not
I am a man alone in this business, that many
others live by it as well as I.

Bar.
What an impudency is this?
Not onely to do ill, but to defend it,
Is a transgression exceeds forgiveness.

Trap.

Good my Lord take pity on me, wel a day
what should I do!
I have not onely done a favour in it for my self, but
also a courtesie for many a Gentleman.

Mach.

Do not teare out that, Notarie.

Trap.

Beseech your Honours let him tear't out.

Barb.

What shall we do with this villain?

Mac.

Why let's hang him and ther's an end of
him.

Trap.

That's true I faith, consider my Lords, that
never man was put to death for such a matter, but
rather that they have been beloved, and well paid
by noble men and cavalieres.

Mach.

Had we not best to condemn him to the
Gallies? or lets banish hm.

Barb.

I that's the best.

Trap.

Beseech your Honours pity me.

Mac.

After to morrow, Trappolin, if thou be'st seen
in Florence thou shalt die, be hang'd; we banish
thee for term of life, therefore prepare against to
morrow to be gone.

Trap.

Pray your Honours.

Bar.

Notarie, write down he's banish't.

Mac.

You rogue, it is irrevocable, and therefore
make you ready.

Trap.

I think I am the first man that ever was banish't
for such a matter; were all of my profession in

the City served so, I think we should make an Army
Royal of us.

Barb.
This matter is concluded, Trappolin;
Go seek your fortune. My Lord Machavil;
We may depart.

Exeunt.
Matte.
Thou man of durt, hadst thou a Souldier been,
This banishment had never been pronounc'd.

Trap.

But Sir Captain, I fear I should have been kil'd,
which is worse.

Matte.
If for thy Country, t'had been a noble death.

Trap.
I had rather live Cap. then die nobly.

Matte.
Thou man compos'd of sand, in vain I spend
My breath to talk with such a slave as thou;
Go and be hang'd, for so thou do dost deserve,
And might I judge thee, it should be thy end.

Exit.
Trap.

Thou brazen-headed Coxcomb, may'st thou go
to the divel with a Drum before thee; I had as leeve
be banish't out of my Country and walk in peace,
as be out on't in the wars.

Enter Horatio.
Brunetto, O Brunetto, I must leave thee, I must be gone
Man to morrow, farewell Florence.

Hora.
Why, whats the matter Trappolin?

Trap.

Why, I have banish't the Lord Barberino, and
the Lord Machavil.

Hora.

How! you banish't them?

Trap.

They have banished me, or I them, 'tis all one,
I must be gone, and the divel a bit a mony I have:
shall I help thee to a Wench Brunetto? Or if thou

hast no mind to one, know'st thou any body that
has? I'de fain be earning a little mony.

Hora.
I wish thee well, live honest Trappolin,
And so thou shalt be sure to prosper better;
This Ring I give thee, sell it, and the mony
Spend to maintain thee.

Trap.
Honest Brunetto, faith
An ere I can I will require thee fully;
Farewell, I must also take my leave
Of my Flametta, we shall cry together
Like unto School Boys that are to be whipt.

Exit.
Hora.
Alas poor simple Trappolin, I pity
Thy fortune, yet 'tis better far then mine;
Of all mankind I am most miserable,
And lead a life would make a soul prove mortal,
Yet do I not repine: Most dear Prudentia,
I never can endure enough for thee,
So that at last I may attain my wishes:
There's not a grief mankind did ever suffer,
Nor pain, I would not pass to make thee mine;
Thou art the Centre of my wishes, all
Horatio's thoughts upon thy beauty fall.

Enter Prudentia.
Prud.
O Heavens, be merciful, and if I tell
Him I am his, let him say he is mine;
I have a fire within my breast must out,
Longer I cannot hide it, if he now
Do's not wooe me, I shall solicite him.
How sad a pace he walks? how melancholy
Do's he look? Love compels us unto things
In others we would scorn; I'le speak unto him,
Because I fear he dares not unto me.
Brunetto.

Hora.
Divinest Lady.

Prud.
I thought a Gentleman (for so I guess you)
Could have endured affliction better far,
That in the wars durst venter so his person.

Hora.
Most Excellent Princess, many thousand men
Can suffer well the dangers of a battel,
But there are few or none at all that can
Bear out the passions of a mind afflicted.

Prud.
Then you are discontent: Alas, you long for
Your liberty, and (truth) I cannot blame you.

Hora.
Then should I hate my self, being a slave to one
Whom I desire evermore to serve.
Ye that command the destinies of men,
Now let me die, and if I shall not prosper:
Know, Noblest Lady, that the prisoner
That speaks unto you is a Prince by birth;
I am Horatio, second son unto
The Duke of Savoy, and the Piemondt Prince;
At Mantoa the fame of your perfections
Captiv'd my soul, and when that I was took,
I did account my self a happy man,
Being to go where you did live; I know,
Most dearest Princess, that I am unworthy
So great a happiness as is your love;
Yet if you deny me, witness heaven,
I never will return unto Turin,
But here die languishing for your refusal.
The Duke my father soon would pay my ransom,
But thraldom for your sake I have esteemed
Above liberty and pleasures of a Court.

Prud.
My thanks, most gracious heavens—Brunetto is
A Prince, most worthy brave Horatio,
I scorn to dally with my happiness,
Like some that love to counterfeit their joys;
Know I do love thee dear as my own soul,
And that if thou hadst now been silent, I
My heart unto thee had disclosed, live happy,
And if it in my power lies thou shalt.

Hora.
Doubt, fear, despaire be gone, I am a man
That envy not the blessed lives of Kings;
Now she hath dain'd to say these happy words,
I care not though all mankind threaten me.
Most excellent and mercifullest Lady,
Y'ave raised me to a joy beyond my thoughts,
May all the Gods require you for this goodness,
And I wear out my life to do you service.

Prud.
My dear Horatio enough, I doubt not
Thy affections equal unto mine; we will
Love while we live, and may we dye forgotten
When we do cease to love, say I not well?

Hora.
Admired Princess, you out-speak me much,
But never shall out-love me.

Prud.
Heavens be kind,
And make us in two bodyes have one mind.

Exeunt.