 | The Crvell Brother |  |
Actus Primus.
Scena Prima.
Enter Forestee and Lvcio.Forest.
I must not be so rude as to beleeue
That you (my Lord) can your affections set;
Vpon a Mayde, so humble in her birth
As she you name, for regard of honour
Doe not mock the sister of your seruant.
Lucio.
This way to madnesse leads, teach not my heart
Such modern Heraldry. Let it dispose
Of charitable thoughts, with naturall eies,
Vnlimmited by customary forme,
Which gaine, and nicetie haue made an Art,
Virtue, not blood enobles vs, and ernes
Her atribute, without hereditary helpe
From ancestors. O my deere Foreste?
Thy sister with such noble wealth is fraught,
That to be couetous for her, appeares,
A holy sinne. But thou art cruell growne
Thy memory is sick. The old effects
That witnesse how I loue thy learned soule,
Are quite forgot.
Fores.
Young Lord, disclaime that thought!
You found me in estate so poore, so lowe,
That you were faine to stoope to lift me vp,
You are the Dukes Creature! who doates by Art,
Who in his loue, and kindnesse, Method keepes:
He holdeth thus his Armes, in fearefull care
Not to bruse you with his deere embracements,
And what is she whose Virgin blood disdaines
To quench your lawfull fire? or whom the Duke
Would not procure to climbe your Marriage bed
Vpon her Knees? And shall I then
(Like to the treacherous Moone) striue to eclipe
The Sunne that giues me light? Shall i consent
That she, that tumbled in a Wombe with me,
Shall giue your Issue birth? The royall Duke
Would thanke me for such charitie. My Lord
Though you are wise, you are but young.
Lucio.
Heart of Viper!
Sure, Time hath lost his feathers from his Heeles,
Marke how slow he goes? Shall I neere be olde
That my designes may repute haue,
And credit in the World. I doe not aske
Thy Sister for my Whore; but for my Wife.
Fores.
Sir t'is already ioynd vnto my Creede:
For I would eate your Heart, should it contriue
A way in thought, how to cheate my Sister
Of her pure Chastitie. I loue you so
That I with care suppose; She not deserues
To be your Wife, and so esteeme of her
That she is much too good, to be your Whore.
In this new Argument, I am too bolde,
You know my duty well. The Dukes abroad
Though but the birth of day. Goe Sir!
Enter Duke, Castruchio, Dorido, Cosimo, Page: and Followers.
Duke.
My glorious Boy, you are too vigilant:
The Sunne, and you, doe visite me at once.
This courtship is not safe. You must not meete
As your selfe. Foreste! welcome from Genoa,
How fares our Brother Cardinall?
Fores.
In health, and ease. He badde me tell your Grace
It was a deed of charitie to thinke
Him worthy of this same great imployment.
And this letter he humbly recommends
To your perusall.
Duke reads the Letter to himselfe.
Cast.
How can it choose
But choke the very Soule, and bruse the Heart
To thinke that such a giddy Snipe: a Foole
(That meerely liues to disparage Nature)
Should creepe to this ambitious gouernment.
Still he rules the Ruler. The Duke is Ward
Vnto a Page; whose Eie-browes weare more Beard,
Then doth his Chinne: And there's his Instrument,
A darke fellow; that with disguised Lookes
Could cheat an Hypocrite, older then Time.
Dorid.
I'ue heard a better Character of both,
Such, as to the young Count, Witt, and vallour giues:
Vnto Foreste, honest Spirits.
Cast.
Report is then become a Bawde to Luck;
Whom Fortune do henrich, Fame doth flatter.
Duke.
Sure this tame Priest will make vs all Cowards.
We must a truce confirme with Genoa.
Well, be it so. Where now (my noble Boy)
Shall I occasion finde, to testifie
That you deserue my loue, by vertue of your owne?
In sickely times, when Warre and ciuill Spleene
Besiege the Heart, with treacherous designes,
A friend shall find a cause to make him knowne,
But now in faire weather: I neede not aske
What Houell's nere?
Lucio.
In this, I dare discredite Fate.
They are not so wealthy in affliction:
With sorrow so well stor'd; as could suffice
To trie my sufferance: in the behalfe
Of you my Prince, and still royall Master.
Dar'st thou then die for me?
Heere—make thy selfe a sacrifice to Fame,
Profers him a naked Ponyard.
Take it: and I will be thy Chronicler.
Lucio.
It were (Sir) but ingratitude in me
To lessen thus, the number sanctifide
Of your true friends. Be you pleas'd to sheath it,
In that same part, which you doe most abhorre.
Duke.
O Lucio! thou art my Earewig now,
Creep'st in my eare, to feast vpon my Braines.
When in my priuate graue I lye inclos'd,
More silent then my ruin'd Fame: no tongue
Shall pay his tribute to my memory
But thine: for thou art likely to suruiue.
Thy yeares are few, but full of gratitude.—
Come: hye we to the Parke: The sprightfull morne
Giues motion wings, and libertie to those
Whom lamenesse stakes vnto the ground.
Cast.
Royall dotard, like tinder, thou dost waste
Thy forced fire: to giue another light
Whose sawcy flame will darken thine. Monstrous!
Dorid.
Why dost thou spend thy gall in secret thus?
A pox vpon't: turne thoughts to action:
Heauen knowes, I had rather enrich my selfe,
Then enuy others wealth. Imploy thy brayne.
Get the Dukes fist to this; and thou shalt share
Fiue hundred Crownes.
Cast.
What is't?
Dorid.
The old businesse.
Cast.
And not yet sign'd: This t'is to be modest.
Had I had reputation in thy Creede
Enter Foreste.
It had beene done long since. There's my agent.
Hence and prouide me thanks. Saue you Signior.
Fores.
You may with charitie.
Cast.
Am I in your remembrance sir?
Fores.
Signior Castruchio as I take you.
Cast.
The same. Because I neuer did desire
To gaine by being troublesome, I lost
Custom's a sutors safe encourager.
I the Duke haue seru'd, since I was able
To serue my selfe. Yet neuer had the luck
To get by it: and as the times promise,
Neuer shall: Vnlesse I imitate the Crab,
And find my way (as he doth his) backwards.
That is, to make petition to the foote
That he will please t'instruct, and teach the head
When to comiserate my affaire.
Fores.
Signior. I neede a comment to your words.
Cast.
If you will mooue my Lord (the Count)
To get the Dukes faire hand, subscribed heere;
Then shall I feele my selfe well vnderstood.
Fores.
Sir my abillities are most pregnant
When I find I may be profitable
To any Courtiers iust, and modest sute.
I pray what sense carries the inscription?
Cast.
Only this Sir. There is an Engine made
Which spends its strength by force of nimble wheeles,
For they once screwed vp, in their returne
Will riue on Oake: but with such subtill force
That motion giues no leasure to impediment.
The large and ponderous Logge is soone consum'd,
To shauings more transparant then a Glasse.
Of these the skilfull Boxes make, Scabbards,
Sheathes, Cheasts, and molds for childrens Cabinets.
Fores.
Trust me an Engine of importance great!
But now, what would the Enginere himselfe?
Cast.
Faith Signior, nought but a Monopoly
For all those wares, his Engine makes.
Fores.
Keepe it. Good sir keepe it. A monopoly
Why sir the common-wealth hath beene so crush'd,
With th'insulting Charter of such Patents,
That now the very word defiles the cause.
I had thought you Signior would haue ingag'd
My industry in such a sute as might
Howeuer not abuse the publique weale.
Cast.
Very good Sir. My Lord the Count, your selfe
(His seruile Instrument) and some others,
Of this new faction that now, engrosse
All Offices, and send your Scoutes abroad
Intelligencers strict, that bring you home
The number, and the rate of what your selues,
Or others in the darke can put to sale.
Nature hath not altered yet: the first
And antick method to preserue our breaths.
We must eate bread if we intend to liue;
Which how to get (vnlesse this humble way
That you deride) In troth I cannot tell.
It makes me mad to thinke you should expose
Vs Men of Heart, to those fastidious helpes
That scape your owne acceptance. Your wide Threats,
That soone will swallow any thing which fills
Although it nourish not. A pox vpon you all!
Fores.
I did expect you would begin to rayle.
Good troubled Soule! I knew you well before.
You are the only Man, whose wealthy Muse
Doth furnish all the Fidlers in the State
With desp'rate Ballads, and inuectiue Songs.
Libells of such weake fancy and composure
That we doe all esteeme it greater wrong
T'haue our Names extant in such paltery Ryme
Then in the slanderous sence.
Cast.
Very well Sir!
Fores.
You, you must be a Satyrist forsooth,
Calumniate by instinct and inspiration.
As if iust Heauen would borrow Gall of you,
Where with to write our faults. (O strict account!)
Your Gall, which in the Pen so ouerflowes,
That still it blots, where in inscribs.
You imitate the propertie of Doggs,
Who barke and snarle most at him they know not
Why nam'd you me? (almost a stranger to your Eye)
My Ancestors that built no Monument
For their fames to dwell in; You also bring
Into the knowledge of the criticke World.
Why I could neuer see thee yet but drunke:
Which makes thy Verses reele and stagger so.
Cast.
Come sir! We may exchange one thrust vnseene.
They draw fight, close, Fore flings down Cas & disarmes him.
Fores.
A prety Curr! dare it bite as well as barke!
How now sir, your Mathematicall thrusts!
Then haue at ye—Yeeld me thy Sword, or else thou dy'st.
I haue no ioy to set at liberty
A Soule so vnprepar'd. And as thou art
My Enemy, I take a full reuenge,
By suffering thy corrupted blood to dwell
Enter a Monke.
And taint within thy vaines. W'are discouered—
Take thy sword Now get thee home and rayle vpon't,
Because t'would fight no better.
Cast.
Yet we may meete i'th'darke. You haue a throat
And there are Kniues in Italy.
Exit Castruchio.
Forest.
A good day attend my ghostly Father.
Doth this your tariance heere discouer ought,
You would with me?
Monke.
Your leasure shall produce my vtterance.
O Sonne, your fame is of complexion cleere,
Such as ensnares the virtuous Eye to loue
And adoration. Such as would procure
All the skilfull Angels sutors to her,
And such as serues for my encouragement
For I no letters haue from Noble friends,
Which a requitall from themselues inuite,
By Courtship bold, and troublesome to others,
Nor am I with that wicked mettall stor'd,
That rules the mighty, and betrayes the minde
To toyle in a designe, which angers Heauen,
And makes the Deuill blush. But yet (deere Sonne)
I haue a suite to thee.
Which I desire to know.
Monke,
In the ancient Covent of S. Austine
There is a holy brother lately dead,
Whose place if you will but confirme on me
By the Dukes letter to the brother-hood,
Then shall I better leasure haue to pray
For you my Patron.
Fores.
Alas my Father!
The times are more obseruant to your Tribe.
It is the method now that your deserts
Need not to vsher but succeed reward.
The Treatise (written lately) to confute,
The desperate sect in Mantua, calls it you
The Author?
Monke.
It knowes no other.
Fores.
There your preferment safely taketh roote.
Beleeue me (ghostly Father) I will choose
The fittest time to woke in your behalfe.
Monke.
Heauen prosper your designes.
Exit Monke.
Forest.
What throngs of great impediments besiege
The vertuous minde? so thick in multitude,
They iostle one another as they come.
Hath Vice a charter got, that none must rise
But such, who of the Deuils faction are?
The way to honour is not euermore
The way to Hell: a vertuous Man may climbe.
Let the flatterer sell his Lies, else-where
It is vnthrifty merchandize to change
My gold for breath. Of all Antagonists
Most charitie I finde in enuious men.
For they doe sooner hurt themselues, then hurt
Or me, or him, that rays'd me vp.
An enuious man is made of thoughts.
To ruminate much doth melt the braine,
And make the heart grow leane. Such men as these:
That in opposing waste their proper strengths:
That sacrifice themselues in silly hope,
And dye to make experiment of Wrath.
Let Fame discourse aloud vntill she want
An Antidote: I am not scar'd with noyse.
Heere I dismisse my feares. If I can swell
(Vnpoyson'd by those helpes, which Heauen forbids)
Fond loue of ease, shall neere my soule dehort:
Maugre all flattery, enuy, or report.
Exit Foreste.
Sutors
within.
O good your Grace heare vs, heare the complaints
Of vs poore Men: O heare vs! we are all
Vndone! Good your Honour heare vs.
Enter Duke and Lucio.
Duke.
Death encounter 'em! Lucio shut the doore!
Tis the plague of greatnesse, the curse
Of pompe, that in our darkest priuacie, wee must
Euen publique be to euery Mans affaires.
How now! All these sawcy Troopes of brawling
Sutors, attend on you my glorious Boy.
Lucio.
It is their humble skill not to arriue
Before your Grace, but by an Aduocate
A Mediatour blessed in your Eies.
Duke.
How apt am I to loue! yet now obserue
Vnkindnesse in my care, and bitternesse
In Physicke. I study how to make thee lesse
That I may make thee more and more my owne.
Office and Dignity are Enemies
To health and ease. Respect growes tedious
Obseruance troublesome, where ti's most due.
He that giues his Soule no more imployment
Then what's her owne: may sleepe within a Drumme
While busie Hearts, that loue to vndertake
Beyond their reach of yeeres: are faine to vse
Drowsie potions yet watch the Winter night
With more distinction then the Parish Clocke.
Could'st thou resigne thy titles and thy cares
To make me yet more capable of still
Lucio.
My zeale vnto my selfe forbids my speech.
Since if I make reply to this, I but
Disparedge duty, and consume my breath.
Where fight is young, and cleere, there Spectacles
Are troublesome; and rather hide, then shew
The obiect. The most deuout obedience
Which I shall euer owe vnto your Grace
Becomes my heart, much better then my tongue.
Duke.
But yet obserue (my Lucio)
Th'vnkind tricks of Nature: how we are fool'd
By a religious constancy in Loue.
A Princes hate doth ruine where it falls:
But his affection warmeth where it shines
Vntill it kindle fire to scorch himselfe.
If we are subiect to the sinne of Heauen,
(Too much charitie) extreamity of loue:
Let there be mercy shewen in punishment.
Why is the corrupted vse of Royall loue
Imputed to our charge, to our Audit layd?
We that with all those Organs furnish'd are
All those faculties naturall in Men:
Yet limitted in vse of each: prescrib'd
Our conuersation, by a sawcy forme
Of State. How can we choose (by this restraint)
But struggle more for liberty? make choise
Of some one Eare; wherein to empty out our Soules,
When they are full of busie thoughts; of plotts
Abortiue, crude, and thinne. T'is cheape, and base
For Maiestie not to be singular
In all effects. O then, if I must giue my heart
To the command of one: send him (sweete Heauen!)
A modest appetite: teach him to know
The stomacke sooner surfeits with too much,
Then starues for lacke of that supply
Which couetous Ambition calleth want.
For when my Friend beggs, my bounty then
Shall so vnthrifty be of breath to aske in vaine.
Distraction! tamenesse! O my Lucio.
How canst thou conster this. After I haue chid
I seeme to flatter thee.
Lucio.
My gracious Lord!—
Duke.
Peace—
I will no more imploy my memory
Thus to discourage thine. Where's Foreste!
T'is fit he know you are not vigilant
In his behalfe. Farelo de Sforza
(My old Secretary) is newly dead:
The place is his. I shall expect no thankes
From you, nor yet from him:
My bounty is requited in her choice.
Lucio.
Your Grace will bring vs both within the reach
Of publique enuy.
Duke.
Thou now would'st certifie,
His birth obscure and base discourageth
Such earnest helpe to his so great promotion.
Not a iot: Know my Boy! t'is the vulgar,
Not the Royall trade to patch vp things:
Or seeke to mend what was before of qualitie
Perfect enough it selfe. To make a Man
Of nothing: why this same creation
Enclines a little neere Diuinitie.
Neere the old performance; which from Chaos
Drew this multitude of subtill formes.
Lucio.
Since you (the royall maker) doe commend
The mettall, and your workemanshippe; it shewes
There's little skill in those which enuy him.
Foreste is your Creature. Many times
I doe acquaint him what the generall voyce
Doth vrge in his disgrace. He laughs it out
And sweares he would not loose that priuiledge
Which Nature gaue him by her kinde mistake
In his natiuitie, for the Seas worth.
A Monument, vnlesse himselfe doe hewe
The stones whereof t'is built: vnlesse he raise
His Monument on a Wart; his dignitie
On pouertie obscure and base.
Duke.
We doe affect his thoughts. Such industry
Proclaimes him fit for high designes: Some Men
Attend the talking Drumme, and riddle out
Their liues on Earth; with Madnesse Sophistry:
Calling their losse, their gaine, danger, delight.
Some men conuerse with Bookes, and melt the braine
In sullen study how to vindicate
The liberall Arts. Those loose formalitie,
Then grow Methodicall; and dy i'th' darke.
Some practise rules of State, and suffer much
For Honors sake: nay tread vpon themselues
At first; to reach the higher. Some pursue
The Plough; and in their wholesome sweat doe swimme.
And some that furnish'd are with nimbler soules,
Imploy their times in wanton exercise;
Masques and Reuells: the complements of Loue,
And Loue I finde the easiest vanity.
Lucio.
O gentle Corsa! make it so with me,
Faine would I (if I durst) reueale to him
a noyse within
The heate of my affection, and where t'is fix'd.
Duke.
Hearke: sure the gallery doore is left vnlockt.
Are we debard all place of priuacie?
Nature in vs hath lost her vulgar right.
A loude, bawling sutor; doth not waken
Charitie, but deafen her.
A shame vpon 'em all! In Lucio.
Exeunt Duke & Lucio.
Enter Sutors at the other doore.
1.
Heauen blesse his Grace!
2.
Amen: and my Lord the Count's good Honor.
3.
Friend! went the Duke this way?
2.
Heere. This way.
3.
Pray shew me him: they call Signior Lucio
The Count. Come, I'le shew you him.
1.
Follow, follow, follow.
Exeunt.
Enter Dorido and Cosimo.
Dor.
Dost heere? Cosimo.
Cosi.
What sayst thou?
Dor.
I prethee stay, why slip but heere aside:
And thou shalt see the most resplendent Fopp,
That euer did discredit Nature. Signior
Lothario; a Countrey Gentleman
But now the Court Baboone: who perswades himselfe,
(Out of a new kinde of madnesse) to be
enter Lothario, Borachio.
The Dukes fauorite. He comes. Th'other is
A bundle of Prouerbs: whom he seduc'd
From the Plough; to serue him for Preferment.
Lotha.
Borachio.
Bor.
My Lord?
Loth.
Suruay my garments round, and then declare
If I haue hit it?
Bor.
You haue sir: but not the marke.
Loth.
What marke? thou bold Parishioner of Hell.
Bor.
Why Sir, the marke I aime at: Preferment.
After a storme, comes a calme: the harder
You blow, the sooner your Cheekes will ake: and he
That cares for your anger, may haue more of't
When he list, for my part, I know my Mother.
Loth.
The froward Sisters haue conspir'd Slaue! Dog
Wilt thou neuer leaue this immense folly?
Can nothing serue these dull Lippes but Prouerbs?
Bor.
Sir, I know none of your Prouerbs. First come,
First seru'd. These words that are neerest the tongue,
Haue opportunitie soonest to leaue
The mouth.
Loth.
Is it then decreed, I must grow mad?
Bor.
I'le be no more flowted, nor brus'd, not I
What need my Lord, be beholding to me
For's mirth; when he may laugh at's owne folly?
Be good for grosse bodies; therefore, must they
Of the Guard, pitch me vp and downe like a barre!
Loth.
Sa, sa, sa, A mutinie in Heauen!
Bor.
If there be; You are not likely to come
Thither to appease it, first end this quarrell
Vpon earth, I haue seru'd you this sixe Moneths,
In hope of an Office; and am no more
An Officer then she that bore me.
Loth.
Alas poore foole!
I pitty thee. Thou wilt beleeue nothing
But that which may be seene or vnderstood.
I say thou art an Officer. Or if thou art not
Thou shalt be; which is better: for that fame
Which we now enioy is in some danger
To be lost: but that which we neuer had
Cannot be lost before we haue it.
Bora.
O rare conclusion!
Loth.
Besides. Looke heere and then reioyce, Is the Count
(Whom they call my Riuall ith' Dukes fauour)
Is he (I say) accoutred like to me?
Why his sleeues sit like stockins on his Armes.
His Breeches are like two Clokebags, halfe sowde
Together in the Twist: and his other
Garments shew like Playsters on him. Follow.
And make thy fortune fat.
Bora.
Well. He that still expects, but tires his hope,
What One cannot, another can: t'is so
With dayes and houres too. And for my part
Let Glasse runne out.
Exeunt Loth. Bor.
Dorid.
His Man's as full of Prouerbs
As a Constable: he coyns 'em himselfe.
Cos.
And such another Heade-peece fill'd with Whay
As is the Master heere, the Sunne nere saw.
Dorid.
He walkes like a Zealand-storke.
Cast.
But sure the Duke
Enables error in their fancy, by some
The Master, and the Man expect: for else
Folly cannot be so sickely-Eied; but time
Will giue it strength to know it selfe.
Dorid.
Why sir; this dignifies the least. They scarce
Ere saw the Duke: and are lesse knowne
Vnto the world. His Grace well apprehends,
These voluntary mistakes of Nature,
In preseruation of their intellects,
Are fitter subiects for accidentall mirth,
Then a Comicall continuance. It is
A leuitie too humble in a Prince
To heede such trifles.
Cos.
Nay—Prethee lead the way.
Exeunt omnes.
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