University of Virginia Library

SCEN. V.

Valenzo, Piero, Charintha.
Val.
I am too tame Piero, hold mee not,
Lest in deferring of a punishment,
I make the sinne mine owne; had all malice
Dwel't in one tongue, all slander too beene hous'd
Under the same roofe with it, and both busie
To plot the ruine of my owne faire name;
I could have stood unmov'd: but my Charintha!
Heavens! ye ought t'inspire me with revenge,
Such as you'd call a Synode to contrive,
That I may meete this hell-borne ravisher
Of my Charintha's spotlesse fame, with vengeance
As mighty as his crime.

Pier.
Her vertue is
It selfe an antidote against all such poysons;
His breath no more can staine that innocent whitenesse,
Which ever dwell't upon her soule, than hee,
That in a fond maliciousnesse would throw
Dirt at the Sunne, could sulley the least ray;
Her memory, when hee, and's lying marble
Consume to dust, and rottennesse, shall dwell
On earth like a perfume, after the sacrifice,
Pleasing to God, and men.

Char:
If I have us'd
Any immodest braveries, appear'd
In wanton gaudinesse, a hot temptation
To 'th youthfull flowings of the blood;
If I have entertain'd one looser thought
But such as Chastitie's cold votaries,
When they breath out a soule into her bosome,
Might safely nourish; if I've misemploy'd
One houre, in which with strict endeavour, I
Might have gain'd somewhat to my stocke of vertue,
(The onely dower I'de meete your love withall,)
May I be guilty of that sinne, my honour,
My virgin honour's blasted with, and die
A loath'd Apostate.

Val.
Now you grieve, I suffer double;
Forgive mee Lady, I have wrong'd you, and
Onely I.

Char.
Mocke not my teares, they are holy.

Val.
I, that to purchase fame, and idle breath,
Could venter forth abroad into the world,
And leave thee here a prey to ravenous wolves;
Expose the tender yeares of a weake virgin
To labour 'gainst the furious tyde of lust
That has assaulted thee; that my low birth
Should stand in need of such additions,
To raise mee to a height, might equall yours:
That vertue and not blood ennobled us,
This then had never hap'ned.

Char.
Greatnesse transmitted
Has lesser of Divinity; your honours
Are vertues purchase, and your owne deservings.
Valenzo thou return'st in glorious triumph,
Rich, from the conquest of a noble foe,
And yet not laden with the gaudy spoyle
So much, as with the valour of the enemy:
As if th'ad'st envy'd them their vertue onely,
And sought'st to rob 'em of it; all for mee:—

Val:
I've wav'd a plume, dight mee i'th warlike garbe,
Manag'd a sword, or shooke a dreaded speare,
Look't terrible, bin pittilesse to those
That begg'd a life, revell'd in citties sack't,
And rifled tents: too poore and triviall matters
To point at such rich ends as thee, (my love.)
Thy blood runnes high, there's not one purple streame
Cas'd in these azure veines, but is deriv'd
From'th spring of Princely ancestry, and th'art
The wealthy storehouse of their fortunes too.

Char.
'Las! what are these, but what the owner makes them?
Of themselves nothing, only as we use them,
Are good or bad, a blessing or a curse:

Val.
But then their vertues, by a thriftie providence,
Are all summ'd up in thy blest selfe, and make thee
A happinesse which if injoy'd must bee
Bestow'd by gift, because above all purchase.

Char:
No (my Valenzo,) vertue's ravish't hence,
Charintha's strumpetted, her name is rank't
I'th vulgar breath, 'mongst common prostitutes;
Pardon, (my love) shall't never wed thy shame,
Thy jealousie.

Val.
Charintha, thou art cruell, and hast learn'd
An art to wound to'th death, yet keepe alive
Whom thou hast kill'd, O be but speedy in
Thy execution, and when I come below:
And walke those fields, that haplesse lovers trace,
I will report thee milde, soft as the Turtle in her downe

Char.
What meanes Valenzo?

Val.
Perhaps report has injur'd mee, and noys'd
That I was jealous of Charintha's love;
And you contriv'd this plot to make mee hate you;
Or, if you should repent, (as well you may.)
Your favours so ill plac't, upon a subject
So poore and worthlesse; take 'em backe againe,
Live happy in a better choyce, Charintha.
(Pardon my love, shall't never wed thy shame.)

Char.
Farre, farre be such a thought!

Pier.
Your both abus'd,
Grossely abus'd: Ursini's politicke plots
May meete an eye, that can discerne of objects
Farre subtler than they are; come, come,
'Way with this passion, Love has something else
To employ you in:

Val.
Th'ast rob'd mee of a soule:—

(Kisse.
Char:
Take in this kisse mine in exchange againe.

Enter Fung: Serv.
Ser.
That's my Lady Sir,

Fun.
There,—take it I say;

Ser.
My office will scarce deserve it.
Exit Serv.

Pier.

Fungoso, as I wish't; he is Ursini's agent, this will confirm
my relation; let's step aside.

(Val Pier step behinde the Arras.)
Fun.

Ha! What are these? Præsto, be gone; they are vanish't:
men of office these,—and must be rewarded.—
Madame.—

Char.

Come, to your businesse.

Fung.

S'life the Ladie's rampant: (aside.)
soft and faire,
two words to a bargaine, now will I seeme to neglect her,
and she'le streight court mee.

Char.

Sure the man's man.

Fung.

Not with love, sweete Lady; I can hold discourse
with your Ladiship, under the losse of my little wits.

Char.

A blest security; but your errand, your errand, Sir.

Fung.

What do'e take mee for? a foote-post.

Char.

Some such thing.

Fung:

Goe, y'are a—

Char:

What?

Fung:

A merrily dispos'd Lady: but faith, what doe you
thinke sweete, I have a grant of his Lordships reversion.

Char.

Of cast suits.

Fung.

La you now, you would make me angry; pretty piece
of ingenuity; you understand mee, was his Lordship wholsome?

Char:
Stop his mouth, he breathes infection.

Val:
Traytour.

Enter Val: Pier: & draw.
Pier:
Devill.

(kils him.
Fun:
Oh! oh! I'me dead, I'me dead, I'me dead.

(dies.
Val.
Dares he abuse me to my face?—Piero
Thou hast prevented me; t'shall nere be said,
That thou wer't forwarder to vindicate
Charintha's fame than I, then her Valenzo.
Nor shall the cause, but the revenge be mine;
I'le shew my rage can flow as well as thine.

Exeunt. (Val. with his sword drawne.