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Actus 5.
Scena 1.
Enter Timoclea sola.Timo.
Hell and ye furies wheresoere you be,
show me your tortures, and present your selues
Or let the burning monarch clad in flame,
Make an infernall eccho to my name.
Loue-slighted and contemned: O my wish!
That like the crosse-eyd witch of Thessaly
My voice could through the riuets of the earth
Hollo and call reuenge: or rather: what?
My dangerous ghost attir'd like Nemesis
About her middle for a virgin Zone
Girt with a forckt-tooth'd serpent, vent at my brest
That did exceed a stepdame in my lust.
Forbeare yet gentle maide; thy fathers soule
Kneels at the brazen Throne of Radamanth
And craues that office: Whither am I borne?
Dispaire, thou art a false glasse to the soule,
And in the conscience dazeld with thy guilt
Of many sinnes, dost vary formes of feare.
I not belieue thy forc'd suggestions,
I am seduc'd by passion: death and terror.
Borg.
Error,
within.
Timo.
False aire thou liest I erre not: my loues wronge
Ile teare out of my brest: forget those hopes
Made my hands bloody: I am cleare: vnstaind:
Borg.
Staind:
Timo.
Forbeare thy thunder gentle, gentle voice,
Beate not my conscience torments gainst the walls,
To make the Court ring with thy clamorous answers:
Heauens let my teares redeeme me vnto life.
Borg.
Life.
Timo.
Of my terror: I desire not: speake of death.
Borg.
Death.
Timo.
Of my daughter: how easie through the aire
Our sinnes are hurried: thou canst tell of murder.
Borg.
Murder.
Timo.
I of my husband: night thy cole-blacke wings
Though darker then the Moones ecclipsed browe
Are not fit Canopies for sinne.
Borg.
Timoclea.
Timo.
Distraction of my soule, who breathes my name:
Borg.
The airy breath of him that sometime liu'd
A tenant in the brest of Borgias,
By thee driuen out the frame and house of life.
Timo.
By me
Borg.
And now like one whome sterne oppression throwes
Nak'd out of all he did possesse: being robd and spoild
Of the warme couert he inhabited,
I sigh my helpelesse wrongs, and in the aire
Counting all hope I had, find all dispaire.
Timo.
Dispaire.
Borg.
And empty longings for an end of paine,
Which I still wish and craue.
Timo.
But neuer gaine.
Borg.
Neuer.
Timo.
Forgiue me.
Borg.
Aske it of the heauens,
To whom my blood with ceasseles clamours calls
For Iustice and reuenge.
Timo.
Iustice in heauen is like my sin gainst thee
Cruell: and sooner may I with my knees
Eate through the center: from these pearly eyes
Should there fall downe more teares of penitence
Then the clouds drop to purchase a newe spring
I could not be forgiuen.
Borg.
Death is the winter dombd vnto thy soule
Disrobe it of that warme and wanton flesh,
The mouth of Iustice bids Timoclea dye.
Timo.
Be thou then iustice executioner
Reuengefull spirit: in this flesh of mine
Carue thy reuenge in carracters of blood
Let loose some coniur'd tempests: whose lowd stormes
Driuen through the ayre sings horror to the world,
And let them hurle me gainst the labouring clowdes
Sinke to the brazen-gated deepe Abisse,
Where furies sit curling their snakes in knots,
And pull a viper from Alectos head,
And on these breasts that in thy heat of life,
Haue bene as pillowes to aduance thy lust
Let it sucke freely: the Ægiptian Queene
Nere dyed more daring.
And to the sterne commissioners of blood,
Be a glad Hermes: tell them, Timoclea
Takes vengeance on her selfe: dull Element be gone.
Borg.
The mornings saffron horse breathes from the East
Their spicy vapors, suckt from th'ndian plaines
And through the gentle ayre hurle their perfumes.
I heare the Suns steedes trot towards the milky way,
And in a Coach of flames draw vp the day:
Aurorat vsher to the starres of night,
Tels the approching of the God of light:
They gin to twinckle and take in their fires
At their ecclipse we spirits leaue the aire,
And in a dismall vale of darkenesse grone,
Vnder the burthen of a thousand chaines:
I must away, thou onely dost detayne me,
With want of vengeance, which thy death must gaine me.
Tim.
It shall, it shall:
Hard hap of misery, it hath many hands,
That like the windings of a laborinth,
Leads the despayring wretch into a maze:
But not an Ariadne in the world,
That lends a clewe to led vs out the world.
The very maze of horror.
Cease thou that stands first mouer of the Spheres
Deriue successiue motion.
Stand ye night-wandring planets in a maze,
And from your hollow Fabricks vewe Timoclea,
Or else ye heauens put in your flaring lights,
And on your azure-seiled arches hang
A rauen-blacke Canopy of congealed cloudes
That you may seeme a Chaos to the world,
And boade eternall darkenes: thou wert not made to kill,
Lookes on her haire displayed.
Nor was the Diademe of her Ponticke Queene
Made as a fatall instrument of death,
And yet it was the engine stop her breath
As thou must mine. Soule of Borgias
Thus to thy ghost I sacrifice my life,
To buy thy requiem.
Borg.
I accept it wise.
He strangles her with her owne haire.
And thus returne the fall of Borgias.
Nay nay repent not deere Timoclea,
Y'are caught in faith: then like a Lyonesse
Snar'd in the wary hunters tangled toyles,
Grinde the thin aire: swell higher till thou burst,
And let the breath that like a vapour prest
Struggle within thy bosome, hurle the vp.
Soft—the time spends fast, & I haue much to thinke of
Before the tell-tale god displaies his light,
To shewe the world the horror of this night.
First for thy death the lustfull Turke must dye,
My riuall in the loue of Iulia.
Him Ile accuse for murdring thee. The Dukes
Because his claime may alienate my hopes
Him in my accusation I will ioyne
As ioynt coagent in the Turke deuises.
As for that rumour of faire Iulias death,
(Who now detaines her) will transfer the falsehood,
As if my selfe had bene by him deluded:
These mazes when like Theseus I haue trod.
Fortune shall spread her wings to make me sailes,
And with a strong ayre cut the angry tide,
That into mountaines swels to stay my pride.
Hah! what heauy noise beates through my eares?
Hang heauy Morpheus on the eies of men,
And make suspition sleepe.
Enter Philenzo and Phego.
Philen.
The rumours strange I pray possesse me with your
propper knowledge.
Phego.
You shall vnderstand Sir, that according to my function,
giuing neere attendance to my Lady, she being feruently
imployed in the Lobby, about a mixture or composure of (as we
vulgarly tearme it) a posset: vpon our first entrance, ere we had
relisht the sweete of her sweete, that is the fruit of her labors, we
were suddainely assayled by a she-goblin: to describe it Sir I am
not able, for my eye-sight turn'd inward to looke after my heart
that was running from my heeles, yet thankes to the lancknesse
of my calfe they made reasonable haste.
Borg.
Heart of all mischiefe see the Court is vp,
Hell and the darkenes keepe me from their sight.
Philen.
At midnight did Ferrara leaue his chamber,
Heauens be his safety.
Phego.
A ghost a ghost.
Exit Borgias
Philen.
Pursue it where it goes: feare shall not stop me.
Followe me sir, Ile speake to it, though death
Ceaze on my life: it shall not loose mine eies
Vnlesse it sincke into the earth.
Exit.
Phego.
S'foot my office is italianated, I am faine to come behinde.
Bord.
Was euer man thus distracted betweene the flesh and
the spirit? s'foot this Pill hath so fiered my mansion that vnlesse
I light on some water-worke, I shall loose the raines like a second
Phaeton, and burne my Fabricke. Surely I am that Tantalus the
hungry Poets talke of, and am as dry as an Eele in a sand-bagge,
and yet want water for the reaching: Let me see, why should I
feare spirits that haue raised vp such an able one at my pleasure,
that like a bold Orator stands on tip-toes to speake in Barre:
and yet me thinkes he should be no good pleader, he was so
suddenly deiected and out of countenance with an apparition.
I would the case were laid open, that I might see how my young
mooter would bestir himselfe: Ha: who is this? no more ghosts
I hope: if it be it is the more womanlie of the two. She lyes as
if she knewe the end of her creation. On my life some wayting
mayde that hath a Court Epilepsie come vpon her: Ile see if
she fome at the mouth. Out & alas, the heauens haue conspired
poore Bordellos ouerthrowe. The vertuous Timoclea wretched
and most accursed hands, that haue trust vp my fortunes in thy
Elfe-knot.
Scæna 2.
Enter Duke of Venice, Lord Prusias Attend.Lord.
These apparitions doe import more weight
Then our distracted iudgements can yet poize,
Yet mighty Duke suspend a while all feare
If both my power in state and worth in honor
May be sufficient gage to be your guarde
Then thinke you are in safety.
Ven.
Sir we thanke you: neither is there one
I dard assure such safety as from you,
And to that end I brought this gentleman,
As well to acquaint you with this deepe occurrence,
That much concernes your present state, as craue
A guard for our security gainst daunger.
Prus.
Respect your guard great Duke. Villaine what art thou
Bord.
A most deiected parcell of mans flesh.
Prus.
Lend your eyes and see
A deede as blacke as is the time that hides it:
A murdered gentlewoman.
Lord.
Ignoble villaine, could thy coward-arme
Presume the least wrong to her feeble sexe?
Bord.
Wrong: heauens knowe I meant to haue done her as
much right as could haue bene done to one of her sexe.
Ven.
Death hath not changd her forme: see her face,
You may discerne her by her character.
Lord,
She beares the image of Timoclea
Wife hnto Borgias.
Ven.
Soule of delusion, in this very shape
The ghost of Iulia was presented vnto me.
Lord.
Amazement and the giddy thought of feare
Run an vnsteady circuit through my braine:
Thy feare and trembling doth proclaime thy guilt.
Bord.
Alas Sir my shaking proceedes of a standing ague I
haue had this two houres.
Lord.
The time importunates and craues suddaine counsell.
Guard ceaze him safe, some beare this body hence,
Wee'le vnto Borgias chamber, him wee'le wake,
Acquaint him with the ground of our suspition:
Meane time be safe in me: nor loue nor life
Shall turne mine honors current: Ile be your guard:
This hand seemes your person, or my sword
Shall in the Traytours heart make good my word.
Exeunt.
Scena 3.
Enter Mulleasses & Iulia &c.Iuli.
If thou beest humane, then forsake thy sute
Your words are strange to me: my virgin eares
Nere knew such sound: desist I will not bowe.
Mull.
We loose all pleasure that we do not knowe
Then like Pandora view those heauenly guifts.
The Gods haue deckt thee with: See but thy selfe
And taste more pleasure from thy proper good
Then from the full horne of the Protean floud:
Elisium is in thee, and I implore—
Iuli.
Syrens haue left the Sea and sing on shore.
Mull.
Could I out-fing those Syrens Iulia,
Or were my voyce as tunefull as that harpe
That now vies musicke with the harmonious orbes,
To which each learned Sister naild a star,
Thou mightst with safety heare me: thy Vncles loue
Cold as the white head of the Apennine
feeles not my fire: ambition of rule
Turnes al the heate is left in him to incest.
If thy warme blood (that dallies in thy vaines,
And through thy flesh like wanton riuilets plaies)
Desires with Nyle to rise aboue her bankes,
And vent in pleasure on the neighbouring plaines;
A carpet richer then the breast of Tempe,
Or Tagus yellow channell, shall be spread
And prest with Iulias weight.
Nor the blew Sea-god when in stormes he treads
On pearles as Orient as the rysing East,
For which the toyling Negro diues in vaine,
Are boasted of such wealth: thy bed as soft
As downe feathers pluckt from Ledas swannes,
Shall yeeld vnto thy dalliance,
As faire as Psiches loue shall—
Iulia.
Enough, too much: I am not fit for pleasure
Or if I were thy Mermaid eloquence
Sounds harsher in my eares then Sillas dogs
Vnto the frighted Sea-man.
Mul.
Lady.
Iulia.
Heathen prophane.
Mull.
Be gentle Madam.
Iulia.
If thou beest gentle leaue me Mahomet
Our loues like our religions are at warres
And I disclaime all peace.
Mull.
And Falouers smoothnes: your Vnckles dead
His power is mine, and you must goe.
Iulia.
Soule of wrongs: whither? y'are both to weake
Ther's more then woman in me: villaine, slaue:
Mul.
You vrge me vnto violence come to my chamber.
Iulia.
In hell or in my graue: a rape, treason: treason.
Lord.
A guard, a guard.
Mull.
Death of my hope the Court is vp.
Enter Lord, Uenice, and attendants: with Bordello bound.
Uen.
From hence the voyce was heard, be circumpect.
Iulia.
Treason, treason.
Lord.
Who speakes that word?
Iulia.
Iulia your Soueraigne.
Mul.
Scilence or thou dyest.
Lord.
Error of darkenesse in what Labirinth
Our soules are plunged: raise the Court: Iulia?
Iul.
I.
Ven.
Iulia and Mulleasses?
Mul.
Iulia and Mulleasses fond Venitian
Preuented at the point of hapines:
Ven.
Thus I redeeme her.
Mul.
And like Cephalus kill thine owne Procris.
Iul.
Saue me.
Lord.
Thy death shall be her freedome infidell.
Mul.
Why stop you in your courses short breathed Christians?
Like a proud Lyon with a richer prize
Then Nessus would haue stolne from Hercules
And dare your enuies: my death vnto your state
Shalbe as ominous as his poysond shirt:
Your false Protector's dead: Ile mockt your griefes
And made you weepe at Iulias funerall,
Whose hope I vnderwrought, and now had worne
The wreath of Florence: Loue and ambition,
Kindled my cold braine from their mutuall heate
Sprung my aspiring aime: nor shall it sincke
But in the death of Iulia: since I cannot
Quench my hot thirst of Lust, and coole the heat
That hotter then the coales of Parta
Burne in my liuer: like the snowy Dragon,
Tangling the Elephant in his snarled orbes:
Ile dye in the pursuit of my desire,
And mixe our bloods in death to sate my fire,
Ven.
Hold monster.
Lord.
Damnation on thy soule.
Ven.
Thy death shall ransome her.
Mul.
Death double thy feard force, and it some forme
Affright pale Hecate darken the Moone,
I like the Sunne, backt on th'Arcadian beast,
When in his burning progresse he did sindge
Adonis gardens: from my soules faire light
Chase cloudy feare: and like Thetis sonne,
When he was oynted with Ambrosia,
Am more then fire-proofe: liues Iulia yet?
Ven.
She liues dam'd villaine and out-liues thy hate.
Mull.
Death had bene kinde in her: with her I might
Vnder the coole shades of Elisium
Played before Pluto and made Proserpine
As iealous as Iuno of my loue—
But since I must not
Enter Borgias Philenzo, Phego.
Borg.
Vp from the darke earths exhalations
I cannot loose their sight, hel of feare!
Phil.
It flies our eager steps: follow, follow.
Lord.
What meanes these clamours: Borgias?
Mul.
Hah, Borgias:
Borg.
Horror of soules I am surprizd.
Mull.
Illusiue ayre, false shape of Borgias,
Could thy vaine shaddow worke a feare in him
That like an Atlas vnderwent the earth
When with a firme and constant eye he sawe
Hells fifty headed Porter: thus I'de proue
Thy apparition idle:—runnes at Borgias.
Borg.
Treason: I liue: Deuils and Furies I am slaine.
Lord.
Wonder of admiration: what distraction is this?
Mul.
Ha ha, ha: climbt high my mounting spirit
And when thou hast aspird to thy full hight
Like a Collossus on a base of cloudes
Stand and applaud thy fortunes: Borgias
Borg.
Grin'st hellish Anticke?
Mul.
Should the Cecropian theefe stretch my torne flesh
Rackt on his bed of steele: if on Caucasus
My growing liuer were exposd a prey
To rauening Vulturs: I would still laugh
To see thee like a falling Pine-tree reele
In a rough tempest.
Borg.
Hold vp ye broken organs of my soule
Carry me high and make me stand as firme
As Oakes on Ossa: that aduance their tops
Euen till their rootes breake. Timoclea
Mull.
For loue of me kild her owne childe
Thy daughter Amada.
Lord.
Amazement!
Borg.
Blest fates I thanke you: I shal dye reueng'd
Fly, Ioue lou'd Nemesis and at Justice feet
Shake thy triumphall Ash: I slue Timoclea
Mull.
By thee before thought dead
When in the habit of a murdred ghost,
This night she appeared to the Duke, to breed
Suspect in them of thee, and arme their hate
Vnto my plotted faction.
Ven.
Damnd illusion.
Lord.
Where is Ferrara?
Phil.
Heauens be his guard.
Borg.
So they are. He kild my slaue
And in his habit by this hand he dyed.
Phil.
False periurd villaine.
He runs at him.
Borg.
Sinke, sinke Cytheron, high Pallane tremble
Greene Tempe wither, and with me forgoe
Your place and being, this whole world of flesh
With fatall earth-quakes totters.
False Turke thy fate be but as cruell as is Borgias hate.
motitur.
Mul.
Stoope down thou Lydian mount, bend thy cold head
And hide it in thy brackish fathers waues
That as thou shrinkst, thy starry loade may nod
At Mulleasses fall: or euer shroude
Those ioyfull bonfires in a mourning cloude.
moritur.
Ven.
Iust end of treason.
Lord.
Madame our duties ioy your life
And wish your happinesse.
Ven.
As the iust reward of daunger.
My Lord I claime her loue.
Lord.
Not without Iustice braue Venecian
She is herselfe and free.
Iulia.
And thus I giue my selfe.
Lord.
Heauens seale it for the the good of both our states.
Ven.
Philenzo:
We can but grieue at great Ferraras losse:
Embassadours from vs shall plead our sorrowes
Euen to your Senats: meane time his obsequies
Shall want no honor: Signior Bordello
We giue you liberty: what remaines vndone
Shall by the Senate be confirm'd: leade on.
FINIS.
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