 | The Poor-Mans Comfort |  |
Act. III.
Cornets for a dum shew.Enter Officers with robes fitting a Senator, Lucius between Leonardo and Silleus, the rest attendant, two Officers.
1. Offic.
Bear back, roome for the Senate, bear back, you are too
forward. I do not speak to you Sir, make roome for the Gentleman
in the imbroydered doublet.
Enter Catzo.
Catz.
My hose are sutable to it, I assure you Sir.
Gisb.
I beseech you Sir, my entrance much concerns me.
1. Offic.
What's that to me? Dost think I stand here for nothing?
Gisb.
You must pardon my ignorance, here's all I have—
1. Off.
Nay then you will in Sir.
Enter Gisbert.
Gisb.
I swear he stands not there for nothing, the heaven of justice
must needs be seated there, here is such hard entrance.
Enter Lucius, Leonardo, Vincentio, Silleus, Glisco.
2 Offic.
What means this rude companion? stand back.
Gisb.
This Officer must have somewhat too, but I have never an
Asper left, I shall never be able to purchase an other entrance,
if I do not speak.
2. Off.
This fellow dotes.
Gisb.
Not of thy company. Justice grave sirs, let me have justice.
Luc.
Death! Gisbert here!
Gisb.
If ever you'l deserve the prayers of good men, or have
Your names preserv'd to happy memory.
When soules corrupted rot, give a free ear
To mine inhumane wrongs.
2. Off.
Fellow, stand back.
Vinc.
Officer forbear, speak freely aged man.
Luc.
Some Planet strike him dead, this fellow's mad,
Talks of a daughter lost, has had some hinderance by her;
And being crost, will rail at any man he meets.
Gisb.
Most shamelesse impudence!
Leon.
He's far gone indeed, twere fit he had some Physick given
him, or carried to the house of the Insani.
Silleus.
His age doth make him past recovery. Poor man! who
brought him hither?
Gisb.
How's this? do they take me for a mad man?
Vinc.
I see no sign of such distemperance. Speak aged father,
Who has done thee wrong?
Gisb.
That Monster Lisander, that ingratefull wretch.
Ha, ha, ha, alas good old man!
Vin.
Lisander! thy passion blinds thee sure, here's none of that name.
Gisb.
Is not your name Lisander? did not you marry my daughter?
Luc.
I told you as much before, a place more private, or lesse free
of aire, would fit him better.
Leon.
See how his eyes turn, how fearfully he gazes on us; It
is a deep Lunacie.
Glisco.
As I am a States-man, I pity him.
Gisb.
It may be I am mad, have lost my senses, I must confesse I
have not been mine own man this 20. days.
Glisc.
It seems no lesse.
Gisb.
Yet let me tell you Sir, were you Lisander, as you look very
like him, I could unfold a tale, that had you harts of flint—
Vinc.
His words me thinks speak no distraction:
Say aged Father, if thy griefes be curable,
Thou shalt find comfort.
Gisb.
Nay it makes no matter, I shall but trouble you. I finde
my sorrowes have orecome me, and oreturn'd my brain,
And ide be very loath—
Luc.
To trouble us: Poor man go home; thou but disturb'st thy
soul with the renewing of some ancient grief.
Gisb.
Look on me once again, and tell me if I be mad, have lost the
faculties of a reasonable man, as sight or hearing.
Glisc.
Lost all as I am truly virtuous.
Vinc.
You wrong your judgement.
Gisb.
Ile be tryed by you Sir, you which do seem to have some
spark of man left, Ile trust your eyes, compassion speaks in them, Am
I my self a knowing creature able to distinguish?
Vinc.
Thou art, discourage not thy self, how ever grief
Transports thee, thou art as free from Lunacy as my self.
Luc.
Vexation!
Gisb.
Then he that sits in purple there's a villaine.
Luc.
Now by mine honour Ile pluck thy tongue out.
Vinc.
This violence proves some guilt.
Gisb.
Nay let him come, has only left me life,
And that I am weary of, hear let him take it.
The groaning earth, the silent aire shall speak
In thundering Accents my inhumane wrongs.
Vinc.
Leave circumstance, name the particulars.
Gisb.
I must give larger vent first, they have too long possest
I cannot name him, once did bear Lisanders, name,
But that (as all his deeds) may well be counterfeit.
Some ten years since, laden with grief and sorrow,
Made to my lodge, though poor, yet happyer farre
Then those whose terrets much more lofty are.
It was that day made fatall by the losse
Of virtuous Ferdinand.
Luc.
Some Planet strike him dead.
Gisb.
His eyes and silent gesture spake his griefs,
No tedious way was made to his relief.
It was sufficient, that his wants were known,
True charity makes others wants their own.
I gave him safe repose, no gold prevail'd,
Though much was offer'd, to have his life betrai'd.
Unto my danghters love; poor maid! pardon my tears!
She did deserve—
Luc.
You wrong your worthy ears,
To heare a mad man thus.
Vinc.
You wrong your self,
By all my Ancestors I do suspect—
Luc.
Your wisdome, do you not?
Vinc.
Rather thy honesty.
Glisc.
You are too forward Vincentio.
Vinc.
What, in relieving misery? would you had no greater crimes.
Father proceed.
Gisb.
Nay I was almost at an end, beyond that ill
Fortune cannot extend a curse;
I mean the saddest nuptiall betwixt
My child and him, with whom he had all,
And more he could not have. To expresse him in a word,
No sooner happy sate our King restor'd,
But he ingratefull not only left his too
Too miserable wife, but to expresse
The hatefull soul of base ingratitude,
Sold both our house and flocks; nor did he blush
To expose those limbs to hatefull beggerie,
That fed and cloth'd his naked miserie.
Vinc.
A tale as sad as true.
Luc.
Peace howling Pesant!
Of such a Bedlam tongue. For you that please to sit,
And hear my honour scandaliz'd, know time
May turn his glasse, and give me cause to smile
And laugh as much at you.
Ex.
Gisb.
Do you then fear him?
If Justice self be aw'd, no marvell then,
If strange oppression prey on weaker men.
Leon.
You are too violent old man, a while give way.
Gisb.
Most willingly.
Vinc.
To such foul crimes we may allow no favour.
Glisc.
You do forget, he's high in birth and place.
Vinc.
His highnesse will add so much more honour
Unto the justice of the punishment.
Leon.
Who strikes a Lion must be sure strike home,
Lest ayming at his life, he lose his owne.
Such game I like not: old man come near;
May I advise thee, thou shouldst leave thy suit.
Gisb.
First I will leave my life.
Leon.
Nay, since you are so peremptory, know,
Thy accusation's idle, thou bring'st no proofe.
Gisb.
No proofe!
Leon.
His worth is known, thy age and poverty
Do move thy tongue beyond a certainty.
Howsoever his desert, for so mean a fact,
Does plead sufficient pardon, were the act
More capitall; men of your ranks
Must put up injuries and render thanks.
Ex.
Gisb.
Good, very good!
Sil.
He tels you true, it may be our own case,
Shall we upon complaint of men so base,
Be questioned? no, Cedars are Cedars still;
The valley must not dare to climbe the hill.
Poor men must suffer, rich do what they will.
Ex.
Gisb.
Better and better!
Glisc.
I admire their judgements that with mine just aim'd;
And I with them, as men blest in one fate:
Should I dissent from them, I were not wise in State.
Ex.
Gisb.
Best of all!
Vinc.
Poor man I pity thee! but cannot help:
The good that I can do thee, is this, the world is bad.
Ex.
Gisb.
Have you now said? I hope you'l give me leave,
At least to answer you. Ha! all gone, tis not possible.
Not possible? This is the Senate house,
The poor mans audience chamber, it cannot be.
Thou shalt have justice sure, see with what silence
They attend thy griefes: He that erst put thee back
How quietly he stands to give thee passage.
He lies that sayes this judgment seat's not free,
And open unto justice, yes Gisbert thou shalt have justice.
Most worthy Senators, this paper speaks my grief,
An old mans grief, an old mans crying griefes.
See with what greedy eyes they read it? tush!
Gisbert, thou shall have right man, Equity
It self sits here, This place admits no favour,
Bribe nor fear.
He ascends the State.
As Leon.]
What's here? Gisbert craves justice against a Peer, a Senator,
the man's distracted sure.
As Sil.]
Far gone indeed, see how his eyes do turn,
How fearfully he gazes on us, poor man!
Come hither, alas it were more fit,
Thou wert in Bedlam there to learn more wit.
As Glisc.]
As I am just, I pity him, lead him hence,
A shepheard sue a Lord! Poor innocent,
What mak'st with us? thou art out of the way sure, we
Sit here about affaires more profitable.
As Vinc.]
But not more just, now by my bloud you wrong
The man, tis not distemperance but grief that moves
His tongue, his cause is just, and he shall finde—
As Leon.]
Your weaknesse; shall he not? do you forget he's low
And base, his adversary great, old man be rul'd by me
And leave us, yet if thou needs wo't stay know this.
Thy accusations were they nere so true,
We must respect his eminence, not you.
Poor men are born to wrongs, low are their ranks,
The more they are trod upon, the more they must give thanks.
As Sil.]
He tels you true, it may be our own case, should one
Great theese condemn an other? it were base.
Poor men must suffer, rich do what they will.
As Glisc.]
I admire thy wisdome, that with mine just aim'd;
And I with them, as men blest in one fate; should I
Dissent from them, I were not wise in State.
As Vinc.]
Thou hadst best go home, or stay here and run mad;
The good that I can do thee, is this, the world is bad.
Whose souls are purpler then the robes you wear.
Whose ear's more deaf unto the poor mans cries,
Then hel's to pity. I will go home,
And every step my soul shall utter a curse;
Which meeting with the repercussive earth
Shall beat yon marble vault and wake the Gods;
Who with a leaden hand hold justice back,
From falling on the impious heads of men.
And when mine failes Uranias tongue shall help,
Lysanders name will make her eloquent
In exclamations; the day thus spent
With jealousie we'l watch the wanton night,
No sooner shall a star dart forth his light
Through her Eben vail, but from our eyes
A dauney vapour like a mist shall rise,
To choake his fires, and fright the partiall watch.
The day we'l spend in curses, the night we'l weep
Till tears glew down our eyes, to mock sad sleep.
Ex.
Enter Gisbert again.
Enter Ferdinand, Licurgo, Vincentio, &c.
Ferd.
Move us no more, having seen the fort and taken
Order for those Souldiers, we'l choose a wife for Lucius,
To equall him in birth, and place him as our Lieutenant
Over them, till this be done we'l take no sleep.
How now, from whence these letters?
Horn within.
Enter Post.
Post.
From Sicily.
Ferd.
How fares your King Valerio?
Post.
In perfect health.
These Letters crave perusall with all speed.
Ferd.
Our leasure serves us not, till soon Vincentio
We'l defer the reading of them; and with the morning Sun
Let our Secretary dispatch him with an answer.
I do beseech your Majesty.
Ferd.
Be not so importunate, forbear till morn.
Ex.
Post.
Tis news I fear, though late, will come too soon.
Enter Sigismond, Catzo.
Catz.
What a mad Gentleman's this? whither will he lead me?
Sigis.
I take you are a magician can blinde mens eyes with apparitions,
and turn your self into divers strange shapes and proportions.
Catz.
Who told him of my purpose troe?
Sigis.
I will put you to your purgations Sir, I will have you
show me a sort of Virgins about the age of 20. honest.
Catz.
Tis impossible, Art cannot find them out I assure you.
Sigis.
I will have them poor too: then thou shalt find me 20. honest
Lawyers that are rich.
Catz.
They are not in nature neither.
Sigis.
And they shall marry with those Virgins, and so we may
chance to have an honest breed of them; I am a good Commonwealths
man, I will have it so, do not defer it, art not a conjurer?
Catz.
A poor Scholar Sir, and that's next door to beggery:
They are cousin germanes.
Sigis.
I am mistaken, thou art a Philosopher, pick me a sallet for
my dinner, and by that time Ile be with you in Philosophy.
Catz.
Pick you a sallet! I had as live pick rushes. I cannot tell
how to pick a sallet, not I. Who comes here? another mad man? hel's
broke loose sure, I were best to run away.
Enter Gisbert.
Gisb.
Tis done in dismall characters, how black it looks!
Especially towards the latter end, where they did
Make away my daughter, now let me see what shape
Would fit me best.
Catz.
An Asses shape if your Advocate hath left you worth your ears.
Gisb.
Rare! I ha't, into a night ravens, it will smite with my
Revenge, for when the evening growes late, these prying Statesmen
fit in their closets plotting some innocents fall, which to their
net may bring a golden draught: my wings shall beat their
casements open, and with horrid clamors and
To see those made others make themselves despaire.
Sigis.
Do 'ye heare Sir? before we enter into disputation,
Ile put a case of State upon you, I know you are a Politician.
Gisb.
A word with you Sir, Is this a Senator?
Dost make a doubt on't? is he not cloth'd in purple, shalt
hear him give his charge. Grave father take your seat.
Catz.
This world will not last long sure, Learning is so
sodainly advanced.
Sigis.
Now Sir? have you any businesse with this Learned man?
Gisb.
Speciall businesse! Does not your Lordship know Gisbert?
Catz.
That name is known to me.
Gisb.
And his daughters too, is't not?
Catz.
He had a daughter.
Gisb.
But thou hast murdered her.
Plucks him down.
Sigis.
Oh! save the Physitian, learning's overthrown else.
Catz.
Hold Sir, hold, I am no Senator, I am a foolosopher.
Gisb.
A Philosopher, then rise Aristark asse.
Catz.
You have made a starke asse of me I am sure.
Gisb.
Are you a Philosopher too?
Sigis.
Keep off I shall break in pieces else, I am made all of glasse;
Canst thou not see quite thorow me?
Gisb.
I took him for a Senator, a man of State, those we call
great ones.
Catz.
You have made a little one of me, I might have kept me
out of your clawes like a coxcombe as I was, if I had known you
would ha played horse play with me.
Sigis.
But since you are a Philosopher, Ile put you to your books.
Catz.
Not I Sir, I was put to that afore: and since it will not
save me, Ile be hang'd ere I trust to't any more: There's a Gentleman
of your own humours, he'l dispute like a Puritan, without
all sense or reason.
Gisb.
Then this Learned man; shall be Moderator, nay sit down,
if you prove not a Philosopher, Ile make an asse of you presently.
Sigis.
I would be loath to crack, the least touch makes a flaw
in me.
Gisb.
Thus I oppose you Philosopher, If justice be corpus simplex,
a simple body, as Philosophy defines it, how comes it that she desires
composition, and deals not simply according to her nature,
without a working element be joyn'd with her?
Cat.
This Question's able to put ten Constables and their bils
to silence, yet Ile answer you Sir. Iustice is a simple body, now
Sir, the more simple the body is, the better cloathing it requires;
and great reason, for the most part she weares loose garments, and
now being to cut her coat out of a broad cloth, she had not need
Sigis.
But Justice is blind Sir.
Catz.
True Sir! and therefore subject to go astray; and therefore
she had need have the more help to put her in the way.
Gisb.
Ile have another bout with you Philosopher.
Catz.
A few more bouts will make me turn Fencer and run away,
tis the safest ward when all is done.
Gisb.
Have at you Sir. Thus I oppose you Mr. Philosopher, If
heavy bodies that are composed of earth, descend downward, how
comes it, that so many fools and Usurers, rise upward?
Catz.
As I am honest man, I shall never be able to answer him.
Gisb.
I ha' put you to't, make no demurs, lest I joyne issue
with you.
Catz.
Hold, hold, he'l beat that into me, which he wants himself.
Gisb.
Are you ready?
Catz.
You are I am sure else, but Ile answer you. The reason that
fools and Usurers rise upward, is this, Fortune's a whore, now your
whore is a light creature you know, and of her self turnes upward;
now this whore doating upon none but fools and Usurers, with a
violent hand bears them along with her.
Gisb.
Why had not this whore Fortune been carted then?
Cat.
Because she has the Usurer to her friend, and buyes it out Sir.
Gisb.
Let me imbrace thee, most wise Lucullus;
Give Learning place.
Catz.
Alas! you ha' beat out his bottome, did he not tell you, he
was all glasse. We shall never joynt him together again.
Sigis.
I finde my self in two, hold! or I shall fall in pieces.
Gisb.
What bad fortune had I to break so rare a piece of workmanship?
Enter Ferdinand, Vincentio, Glisco, Silleus.
Ferd.
Fair Adellezia shipwrackt, let each eye drown'd in tears,
Participate her losse. Command through out our Land
An universall day of sorrow; haplesse maid!
Not thine, but my impartiall fate had sway.
In thy untimely object; behold him that confirmes it.
My all of grief and joy, poor boy could I
Recover with my lives losse, thy well being;
But thou art all incurable.
Sigis.
True Esculapius, I am.
Catz.
You must bear with him, he is no wiser then he should be.
He thinks he is glasse, and with this fall broke in a 1000 pieces.
Let him into our palace, henceforth we'l not expose him
To experiment of art, our self will be his keeper.
His sight at least will do a true friends part,
And banish flattering comfort from my heart.
What aged man is that in whom grief looks
So pale? It makes us fearfull to behold him.
Gisb.
It is the King of birds sure, how all crouch to him;
and do him willing homage.
Fe d.
Speak, what art thou?
Gisb.
Though old dread Soveraign, yet vouchsafe him hearing,
Will lay such black deeds ope will banish night
For ever from her vail, or loath the light.
Peruse this paper.
Enter Lucius.
Ferd.
Alas poor man! my soul doth pity him.
See here the Villain comes, Lord Lucius
We purpose to prefer you to a wife
Of our election.
Luc.
I do beseech your grace to pardon me,
I have vow'd to live a single life.
Ferd.
You have vow'd to live a single Villain!
Peace monstrous wretch, I hardly check my tears,
Unhappy King that must trust others ears!
No marvell Heaven so many ills down hurl,
Nought but injustice can destroy the world.
Corrupted Judges, the States most dangerous foes,
They smile and strike, there's no fence for their blowes.
Vengeance and rage! I could forget my being,
And be your executioner my self.
Gisb.
This creature speaks an other language.
Sil.
We humbly do confesse our crimes, and on
Our knees intreat your highnesse pardon.
Ferd.
Pardon! may nay own sins ne'r be remitted then.
Ingrateful Monster! Canst thou deny this schedule?
Recall thy self old man, I am thy Prince,
And will revenge thy wrong.
Gisb.
Are you a man Sir?
Fdrd.
As thou art. Speak Villain.
Canst thou disprove this too just accusation?
Luc.
I cannot; only for the murther,
As I shall hope for mercy, I am free.
Lives my Urania then!
Luc.
I left her neer the Lodge,
Whither in grief she made—
Ferd.
Abhorred viper, that could'st behold her smart,
Who with her own cur'd thine, I loth thy sight;
And here deprive thee of all dignity
Due from thy Ancestors, thy Land we seise,
And give thee only four dayes space, to find Urania out.
One hour defer'd, our Kingly word is past,
Thou for her losse, shalt tast untimely death.
So thrust him forth our presence.
Ex. Lucius.
Gisb.
True Prince indeed!
Pardon, renowned King, my much forgetfulnesse:
Oh! let some pinacle, made a God, whose height
May reach to heaven, bear thy name stampt
In golden characters, untoucht by envious time.
Ferd.
Rise much wrong'd man, you worst, but first in place
With him that did so easily second thy false doome,
We banish both of you into the woods,
As most unworthy mans society.
Thou shalt injoy the place and honour
Of our chief Justice; infer no denyall.
What want is in thy births preheminence,
Thou hast in virtue and in innocence.
So lead away, thy daughter being not dead,
Thy joy ore' flowes, all sorrow's cancelled.
| The Poor-Mans Comfort | |