 | The Poor-Mans Comfort |  |
Act. V.
Enter Lucius and Urania.Ura.
Have I not kept my promise? did you not finde her base and mercenary?
Luc.
She is as all the world is mercenary,
Except thy self chast vertuous Castadora.
Enter Gulman, Flavia.
Gull.
But art sure he has no more gold?
Fla.
Not an Asper; but I'le try, come you dissembling wanton,
thou dost not know how I love thee, hast ne'r a toy, a Ring,
nor Jewel left?
Luc.
Pardon sweet Flavia, I ha not any, yet such is thy impulsive
and attracting beauty, I can as well live without free ayr, as be
debarred thy presence.
Flav.
How's this, my presence?
Gull.
The fellow's desperate, he would fain be hang'd at our dore, we
want no sign; good Wine needs no bush, we have custome enough
already.
Luc.
Thou dost but put this trick on me to try me,
Thy last nights love shew'd thy affection to me.
Flav.
Affection! marry foh—I would not endure such another
nights torment; Pack hence, or call an Officer.
Luc.
Thy worst foul Monster! I will not leave this place,
Wast thou as high in malice as in lust,
Here will I end my life, to prove Heaven just.
Ura.
Let me intreat you for this day forbear him.
Gull.
Out upon thee puritanical filth, we may thank thee for this,
that preferst the Cart before the Horse; turn
Flav.
This young Bawd will confound all our doings.
I shall set you in with a mischief.
Ura.
Thou hast done thy worst already, and my miseries in spite
of thee shall end, this hower doth gain
Gull.
You will not go then?
Luc.
Not stir from hence.
Gull.
Look to the door daughter while I go for the Constable;
Wouldst make a vaulting schoole of our house? thou maist hang thy
self and thou wilt, but not here neither, yet if thou hast a mind
to't, Ile go fetch a Hangman.
Ex.
Flav.
She tels you true; this in a circle followes,
Fools and knaves nourish us, and we the gallowes.
Ex.
Luc.
Monsters in nature! my apprehensive thoughts
Present a thousand tortures, the least of which
Wounds more, then the bloudiest Executioner.
Thou tell-tale conscience, cease thy bauling clamors,
Here's that shall stop thy throat, yet now I think on't,
My poor Urania dyed a lingring death;
Each thought whereof like to a greedy Vulture,
Enter Urania.
Feeds on my tyred heart. Thou discontented ghost,
Where ere thou wandrest stay thy restlesse course.
Behold thy most ingratefull husbands bloud,
Siting the thirsty earth. And thus Urania, I boldly come to thee.
Ura.
And thou art welcome, as heaven to miserie. Mistake me
not, I am Urania, she that in this shape, persued thy wished sight,
attending this blest hour.
Luc.
Urania! shame and my joyes at once confound me.
Canst thou forgive my wrongs?
Ura.
As freely as I wish forgivenesse of my sins, say but thou
lovest me, I have double interest for my sorrow.
Luc.
Love thee! I am thy vassall, my joyes come on so fast,
I fear they are too violent to last.
Enter Flavia.
Flav.
I think here comes a Surferare to remove you How's this,
Lucius and my maid so familiar? impudent strumpet, Ile tear the flesh
off thy face.
Luc.
Perpetuall hag, take this for't.
Flav.
Devils and furies! I am slain.
Ura.
Alas! what hast thou done?
Luc.
Nothing but what my life must answer, flie my Urania,
Though thou forgav'st me, heaven will not;
By what thou hold'st most dear, abandon me.
Ura.
No, Should the racks and tortures presently
Be fixt unto my limbs.
Luc.
Thou add'st to my afflictions, if prayers
Will not prevail, Ile flie and leave thee.
Ura.
Rather of life then of this sight bereave me;
If thou makest motion to go without me.
Enter Gullman, Constable and Officer.
Gull.
See, this is the flesh flie I told you of, open that box, you
may swear lawfully you took no bribe of me, Constable do your
office, Oh my daughter, Constable, my daughter!
Const.
How came this murther?
Luc.
This bloudy hand did do it.
Ura.
Set on by me.
Gul.
Let me tear her eyes out.
Luc.
By all that may be sworn by, she is free; the act is only mine.
Gull.
Most unnaturall villain to thrust a woman into the body
thus unmanly, I will have both your blouds for't.
Ura.
Mine, he is innocent.
Luc.
Mine, I desire it.
Gull.
Nay, nere strive, Ile hang you both I warrant you, my
daughter was not unknown to some of the bench, and if they
would not speak for her in such a case as this, would they might
never have good of womans flesh. Oh my daughter! my chast and
virtuous daughter.
Ex.
Enter Sigismond and Catzo as a Lady.
Sigis.
Thou art a Lady fair one.
Catz.
I, a horrible painted one.
Sigis.
And a mighty great one, and therefore Ile court thee.
Catz.
Tis beyond the art of man to court me fair, I am not to
be dealt withall in that kind, and therefore keep off, I am not for
your turn, keep off saucy jack.
Sigis.
Not for my turn? why I am a Prince, and will ingirt thy
brow, thy Ivory brow, with stones as precious.
Catz.
Stones! you can do no good upon me with your stones.
Sigis.
Grant me but assurance of thy love, Ile dart against Joves
thunder, my rivall Jove, whose bolt did cleave my heart, threw
and threw, and made a broadway to my brain, when I last courted
thee in yonder thicket.
Catz.
Oh horrible! he has got the true propertie of a Lover, he
can lie bravely. Court me in yonder thicket?
Sigis.
Why? hast thou forgot my sweet duck, look on me my
pigsnie, cast but one smile, one gentle smile upon me.
Catz.
Some smile! I cannot smile for laughing.
Sigis.
Well remember this, you will not afford me a sheeps eye,
say no more, nay nere intreat, thou getst not a kisse, a look, nor a
touch, nor a feel, nor a bit of my thums length.
Catz.
That's but short allowance for a Gentlewoman.
Sigis.
I must to her again, you do not love me, you do not.
and I plaid last at Maw, when your Ace of harts could not
command my Knave of diamonds, til you were glad to lay your five
fingers on't.
Catz.
Maw! fie upon him, what a noddy is this?
Sigis.
You have forgot since I talk't baudy with your Ladyship
by moonshine, and how you swore you dream't of me, till you
tickled again, and ever since doated on me with the very conceit of
the dream, and now I will make your Ladyship kneel for a kisse,
nay humble thy self, and I wo'not come over thee.
Catz.
Fie, fie, never had Gentlewoman such a suitor. Now by my
poating stick, a fit oath for a chambermaid, you shall have him
court me in all the true Elements of a drunkard, Fox-like, Lyon-like,
and last, Maudlin-like, and so turn all his smiles into tears.
Sigis.
Not yet? will she not stoop? I must close with her, Come,
come, I know you swell now, you grow so plumpe about the lips,
suppose I should vouchsafe to kisse this chop cherry now.
Catz.
I scorne to kisse I can assure thee.
Sigis.
Disdain a Prince, a Lyon, curtrash parboil'd stuff. What's
woman but a hollow vessell, an Aquavite bottle, a washing tub,
a box? What is your Ladyship proud of?
Catz.
Of my Virginity Sir.
Sigis.
Ile try what kind of stuff your Ladyships Virginitie's made
of.
Catz.
Thou wilt not ravish me, wilt thou?
Sigis.
By Mars his standard but I will.
Catz.
By Venus buckler but thou shalt not.
Sigis.
Thou wilt not draw I hope.
Catz.
But I will, and defend my maiden honour with my life.
Sigis.
Put up fair maid, thy chastity orecomes my spleen;
Forgive me gentle Love, and I will weep my self to water.
Catz.
That may be, for your brain swims I am sure, What an asse
is this to be in love with me? I am no Lady, Sir, I am your man
Catzo.
Sigis.
Keep off, I shall orewhelme thee else, dost not see me swim
and tumble mountain high? thou art a Pinace, art thou?
Catz.
A kind of a flie-boat, there's a storme toward, my best is to
put into harbour.
Sigis.
Sea room enough or we are lost, amain, amain,
Now up, now down again.
Tumbles about.
Catz.
I am sure I have a leak already, help, help, help.
Ferd.
What means this out cry?
Catz.
I think he has thrust out my bottome, I shall never live to
prove the old proverb true, a young Courtier and an old begger, I
have had so many maims in his service.
Sigis.
Neptune has laid the storme, how calm's the sea now? how
silent the windes? all's done, all's done.
Catz.
All's one for that you, shall not draw me to sea with you
again.
Ferd.
How camest thou thus attired?
Catz.
He said he would make a Lady on me, but as many Knights
do, he has made a poor one of me, he began very hotly. But at
last he coold me over head and ears, He handle a Lady!
Ferd.
This makes me thinke that love was the originall of this
untimely extasie, didst never hear him speak of some strange beauty?
Catz.
He spoke too lately with me, and now I remember me, I
left him in the wood with a good handsome Female, and
when I found him again, he was as mad as a Hart in rutting
time.
Enter Vincentio.
Ferd.
Her sight sure did transport him. What newes Vincentio?
Vinc.
No great newes, onely a woodman and a maid accus'd
of foul lust, this day receive their doom.
Ferd.
Where were they taken?
Vinc.
In an obscure Cave within the Forrest.
Sigis.
That maid would I fain deal withall, command her hither.
Why dost not fetch her?
Ferd.
Be patient, thou shalt along with us.
Dost know the face that late ith forrest lost you?
Catz.
I have cause to know it, they talke of countenances, I got
more by that face in an hour, then the best countenance ith' Court
will get me in an age, though I were Usher to the best Lady of
them all.
Ferd.
My heart presages; Good heaven work thy will;
When we least hope, the heavens prove kindest still,
Sirra bring him along.
Ex.
Catz.
Come Sir, will you jog into the Garden?
Sigis.
You'l bring me to the Lady then.
Catz.
Yes presently, as soon as ever we can overtake her.
Ex.
A Bare.
Enter Gisbert as a Senator, with others, Oswell, Alexis, Adellezia, Officers.
A Senate.
Gisb.
Stand forth Alexis, though my soul doth tell me,
Yet since thy Accuser by just course of Law
Pursues thy life, thou must endure the hand of peerless justice.
Alex.
I crave no other,
Let equall combat prove us worthy death,
Or else just vengeance stop his perjur'd breath.
Osw.
I seale to thy Request; if in one houre
Two witnesses besides my selfe doe not make good
This accusation.
Exit.
Gisb.
Your offer stands confirm'd. Officer at Armes
If ere the appointed time, these witnesses
Make no Appearance, bring into the Lists
Those Combatants equally prepar'd.
Officer.
It shall be done.
Gisb.
Although my place forbids to doe thee other Right
Alexis, yet this comfort I will give thee, which stands for all,
No power were just, if guiltlesse men should fall.
Alex.
I have no other hope, who beares a spotless brest,
Doth want no comfort else, how ere distrest.
Adel.
That speakes our happinesse, for spite of destiny
We can nor live nor dye unhappily,
How ever Ile conceale my parentage.
Exeunt.
Gisb.
What other cause depends to crave our hearing?
Const.
Bring em forth; away with em.
Enter Constable, Gulman, Lucius, Urania.
Vinc.
How now, what noyse is this?
Gul.
Justice, let me have Justice Noble Senators.
Gisb.
Speake freely, woman thou shalt have thy wish.
Gul.
Behold the bloody murderers of my innocent daughter.
Gisb.
How Lucius one of em? vile wretch;
Doest thou not know this day doth end thy life,
If thou shalt faile to finde thy hapless wife.
Luc.
That sentence thus is voyd, I here present
Your daughter and my wife.
Gisb.
My daughter!
Ura.
Oh thinke that I am lost still, or that
You ne're were happie in the injoyment of a childe.
For know I stand guilty of this abhorred murder.
Luc.
She wrongs her innocent soule, 'twas this hand did it
In just mov'd Anger.
But 'twas I that bid him,
And that in Law is principall.
Gul.
Between em both I have lost my daughter;
A very chast Virgin and a vertuous.
Luc.
A noted whore, a Curtezan.
Gisb.
Divided soule, in what amazement stand'st thou?
On this hand Justice stands, but here a father;
Nature thou art powerfull in me; Immaculates Robes,
You shall not blush at my partiality.
Vinc.
What meane you Sir?
Gisb.
To be a man, a father, oh my Urania!
Vinc.
This violent passion needs not, Sir possesse your seat againe.
Gisb.
It suites not with my fortunes, vouchsafe
Me leave to plead her cause, you worthy Judges;
Behold three lives layd in a doubtfull scale,
'Gainst which a strumpets Lust the ballance swayes;
Three worthy lives, if age and fate deny
To make mine miserable, which if your gentler hands
Refuse to poise, are lost, and must pay the price
Of an adulteresse blood. Oh thinke what a whore is!
A creature onely shap't like woman, that we might see
In that faire foile best her deformitie.
The wombe of sinne from whence all horrid crimes,
As Rivolets from the Sea, derive their streames;
The Devills warehouse, for though we voyd all snares,
This surely takes, and here he vends his wares:
Which no shop else wu'd utter, hence avarice,
Pride, pale murder, all black deeds doe rise; besides,
Thinke how she stands in Law, to whom deny'd
A Christian Buryall, this Law by which we are try'd,
Oh let it not exact such payment then,
For those deserve not common Rights of men
This is the onely favour I doe crave,
Judge her unworthy life as of a grave.
Vinc.
Your Arguments are forcible; onely let's know
The Motives to her death.
Luc.
Her sensuall rage
Brought her into the place, where much unlook'd for
Joy forc'd one embrace,
The wretch at sight hereof orecome with spleene,
Did seise my wife, which sight on sodaine raisd
My just incensed blood, that with one stroake
Her cursed life unhappily I tooke.
Gisb.
Make it your owne case, thinke how free they stood,
In height of their owne Joyes from others blood.
Vinc.
The case is plaine she sought her owne death
Willfully, and seeking her owne ill
We judge them free, now take your place agen.
Gisb.
Beare witnesse, I have playd a fathers part.
Vinc.
A carefull father.
Amb.
One most kinde and loving.
Gisb.
Let me embrace you both; farewell; think here
Your father dyes, and now y'are to be doomd by an impartiall Judge.
Vinc.
What meanes this Circumstance?
Gisb.
Know that a man consists of soule and body;
The one by Nature, the other by Justice rul'd;
So he is lesse then man that swerves from either,
And disobeyes these equall Governours.
What Nature might command I have perform'd;
Now Justice takes his place, true partlesse Justice,
That heavenly Names bestows upon us here.
That we like Gods might no Affection beare;
Which once agen commands unto the Barre
Those bloody murderers.
Vinc.
Strange and unheard of.
Gisb.
Stand forth you haplesse wretches, that have robd
A creature of her life, which to restore,
Would make the world turne bankrout; nay more,
You have robd Heaven of a soule, inforc'd her hence
Loaden with all her sinnes without defence;
Not given her time to shed one pennitent teare,
That might plead for her before that severe
And all-confounding Judge, with losse of breath,
You have repriev'd her soule to farre worse death.
Lastly, you have felloniously usurpt
The sword of Government, violated Law,
And being borne Subjects, you have assum'd
The seat of death-inflicting Soveraigntie; for which
We doome you—Weake heart, why, doest thou faint?
You dare not see to doe such worthy Justice
On these wretches, I will blind and barre that light,
Whose partiall view doe make so few doe right;
Now know we doome you for this your horrid murder
To present Execution, and command
That where the fact was done, a Jibbit stand,
On which you both shall suffer forthwith; Officers away,
Your lives are forfeit in one houres delay.
Vinc.
Beyond all president!
Luc.
For mine owne life,
'Tis justly forfeited, but to this creature
Urania, not as she is my wife,
But thy daughter, the hope of thy name,
And wisht posterity, be pitifull.
Gisb.
Thou beatst the Ayre, though all the world should fall,
Justice must be her selfe, beare equall sail.
Ura.
Be patient gentle Love, since 'tis for thee,
I cannot thinke it is an Ill to die.
Father Farewell, your doome I will not grudge,
Above I hope to finde a milder Judge.
Gisb.
Away with em—Heaven on their soules have mercy.
Enter Ferdinand.
Stay, let me embrace thee, thou perfect'st man
That er'e made Nature proud, Renowned Gisbert,
Loe as thou gavest unto thy Countryes good
Thy onely daughter, having no other gift
Worthy thy merit, I returne agen
Thy present, which to recompense with any
Other Benefit would speake us poore
And much ingratefull, in us they both shall live
With pardon, so receive them, then.
Gisb.
As a repreive sent to condemned men.
Fer.
In whom maist thou survive to endless dayes. As for this loathed
Creature Hells Harbinger, this Bawd to sinne, her daughters losse shall
take away her bodyes punishment, onely we banish her six miles from
any City.
Gul.
I had rather be Carted six times about the City then live in the
Countrey, unlesse your grace will make a continuall progresse.
Exit.
Fer.
Away with her, what meanes this sound?
It gives a signall to a Combatant that has accus'd a stranger
of foule lust with a knowne Shepheard.
Fer.
Our selfe have heard so much, give him his oath.
Vinc.
Sweare by thy trust in Heaven thou comst not Armd, led on by
malice, or in hope of gaine, but in the Justice of thy cause without eyther
charme or guile.
Enter Oswell, Alexis, Adelizia: Sigismund gazes on her.
Osw.
This Ile make good.
Ferd.
Administer the like Oath to the other.
Vinc.
Sweare by the equall powers, no hope or confidence,
Doth raise thine Arme besides thine Innocence.
Alex.
I sweare, and if not truely, of Heaven I crave,
Instead of ayd, to send a shamefull grave.
Ferd.
Give signall to the fight.
Sigis.
Stay.
Ferd.
What meanes our sonne?
Sigis.
This she, that brow, that eye, that face doth speake it,
give me my Armour there.
Catz.
Give him his braines there, has most need of them.
Sigis.
Villaine, Ile teare thy soule out, if thou deferre one minute.
Divinest Beauty, oh let me kisse thy hand!
Ferd.
This accident confounds, speake gentle sonne.
Sigis.
And if I have a Being worthy you,
Deny not my request, or with my Brest
Ile naked thus oppose the traytor.
Ferd.
Thou hast thy wish fayre sonne, bring weapons forth,
Some fate directs him thus.
Enter Leonardo, Sileus.
Vinc.
More Champions yet; what meane these strangers?
Leo.
To prove this Traytor a malicious villaine;
That Lady chast and free.
Sil.
The same cause moveth me to equall Armes.
Sigis.
You shall be damn'd, first; by my blood and Honour,
Who makes an offer to deprive this Arme
Of this fayre Conquest, drawes one on himselfe.
Ferd.
They shall not, I must intreat you give free way unto his passion,
being assur'd the hand of Heaven drawes him to end his life or
misery.
Leo:, Sil.
Shall we not have the Honour then?
Ferd.
Our sonne has begd it, and it must be his.
Amb.
We'l free him from that danger.
Discover themselves.
Osw.
Vexation.
How dare you being exild approach this place?
Leo.
Though not from death this deed shall free one staine, know that
our love to Justice, whose wrong erst lost our good names doth force us
hither, this is trayterous Oswell.
Ferd.
Oswell, lay hands upon the Monster.
Sil.
This Adelizia king Valerius daughter,
To whose untimely fall that villaine brib'd us;
When this blest Shepheard that preserv'd her breath,
Redeemd our lives from a despised death.
Ferd.
Astonishment!
Alex.
Dread Soveraigne, accept this Beauteous Princesse, fair Adelizia
by me preserv'd after her shipwrack.
Ferd.
Joy overcomes me, can Adelizia live?
Adel.
That Letter speakes no lesse.
Sig.
I know you are the same, my love pursued in those spatious woods.
Adel.
I am the same.
Ferd.
Thou hast reviv'd my sonne, restor'd mine age,
So many Blessings, Heaven I wish no more.
Adel.
If any good my Being brings with it,
This vertuous Shepheard well may challenge it.
Ferd.
Our love and high regard shall speake it freely.
To you we give your meanes and libertie, to thee.
Omnes.
Doe but command us we'l teare him peecemeale.
Ferd.
Though his desert to such extreames might sway,
We'l have no blood shed on our wedding day.
We doome him to perpetuall prisonment.
Osw.
Had I my will you should all keepe your wedding day in hell.
Ferd.
So lead him hence. Now faire Adelezia there remaines,
Onely thy free consent to accept my sonne.
Sigis.
I am her owne, the marriage Heaven begun,
When her blest sight restor'd me.
Ferd.
Speake gentle maide.
Adel.
Since Fate ordaines it so,
I like your sonne so well, Ile scarce say no.
Ferd.
Then lovely daughter, true Subjects, worthy friends,
I embrace you all, and here our woes all ends;
Which teacheth us, how ere vaine man may trust,
The end makes happy those onely that are just.
| The Poor-Mans Comfort | |