 | The Vnfortunate Mother |  |
The third Act
first Scene.
The Scene being the presence.Bonardo, Cardente and Fidelio.
Bon.
Did she reveal't her selfe Cardente to you?
Or else do you conclude it from some circumstance?
In such a cause I would not have credulity
Mocke it selfe into errour.
Card.
'Twas my Lord
Her owne confession; yet before the Dutchesse
She doth pretend 'twas onely an intent
To mock my curiosity: but I feare
It is too sad a truth.
Bon.
To me most sad,
Mine age growes fast upon me; and to have
A staine throwne now upon our House, by one
So eminent in all appearancies
Of good, it makes my wishes hast to meete
The sweet peace of my grave: but yet Cardente
I am not easie to believe.
Card.
Nor I.
There may be other causes why a Lady
Of her pure constitution should be subject
To qualmes and puling.
Bon.
Is she not in love?
Card.
That may be in my Lord, and if you could
Discover who the man is.
Bon.
Would that helpe
To cleare suspition?
Card.
All would straight appeare
In its full truth; her staine, or innocence;
For thus my Lord. I know the inclinations
Of all the Gallants; which are Goats, which Eunuches:
Now if she doth love any forward youth,
Before he hath said grace (you can apply it)
Tis so; if not, so.
Fid.
My Jtalian nature
Begins to breake her prison, and grow violent;
I'le force her sir to tell me.
Bon.
Vse no threats,
But mild perswasions; such as may become
The place: and urge them home before the presence
Fills with more number. Here she is.
2 Scene.
Enter Amanda.Card.
Pray Heaven
He doe not stab her.
Fid.
Sister are y'in health?
Am.
I know not brother, would you'd aske a Doctor;
A skilfull one that hath prov'd more men mortall,
Then a corrupted Vintage, or French Duells:
If such a learned mans inspection can
Tell the disease which many thinke I have,
But am not sensible thereof my selfe.
Fid.
You slight my question.
Am.
Sure it doth deserve
No better answer. How doe I appeare
To every curious eye that undertakes
The reading of my inside? sure that Lady
Hath made you jealous.
Fid.
There's a staine Amanda
Throwne on you by suspition, on your honour;
Nothing but blood, or a faire satisfaction
Can wash it off.
Am.
I thought some such fine thing
Had mockt your credulous weaknes. Blush to thinke
You owne so low a soule as to suspect
Her whom your love calls sister; though detraction
Spake with a hundred tongues, and mutter'd circumstance
To make it probable,
Fid.
Your confidence
Carries the greater show of guilt.
Am.
Of guilt!
Did e're invent: I have no feares can make me
Belie mine innocence, though it might free me
From all their suffering.
Fid.
This doth shew more like
The violence of a distemper'd passion,
Than will to satisfie. 'Twas never yet
Read in the story of our Ancestors,
Any least blemish stuck upon our house.
And if you have transgrest, the knowledge of it
Will poynt us out a way to just revenge,
Or to an honourable recompence;
And so preserve our yet unsullyed fames
Cleare to postesterity.
Am.
This circumvention
Is of so strange and intricate a nature,
I know not how to free my selfe, but by
Mine owne just testimony. Brother know
Your best prepar'd devotions are not purer
Then my worst thoughts; their ends being alwayes noble
When I have had desires.
Fid.
Not to have some,
Indeed were more than wonder: such a Lady
As you are sister, pamper'd with the fulnesse
Of Court delights, not to elect some one
Prefer'd in her esteeme, were such a paradox,
Not all your learning can maintaine.
Am.
Suppose
I should confesse to whom mine are directed;
He's one that you dare not suspect, much lesse
Accuse of such a sinne that is so farre from
His vertuous inclination.
Fid.
I am glad
Your love can give him such a Character.
To know him might advance your desires,
Provided they be honourable.
Am.
Brother
You seeme to hedge me in with studdied cunning.
By naming him you'ld know. I doe affect
Your friend Lord Spurio.
Fid.
He the man hath done it?
Am.
Done what? your jealousie is weake, and grounded
Upon too nice a feare; and onely propt
With her slight information.
Fid.
Stay, stay Sister;
There's something more: Did not you once pretend
You had a powerfull interest in his Sister
That might command me a successe with her?
Am.
And you interpret it.
Fid.
Nothing good Sister,
But one thing for another.
Am.
Hug your errour,
And cherish it untill it sting your bosome:
Your threats shall not enforce another answer
Though the place had no priviledge.
Fid.
Enough
Good Sister; I am satisfi'd.
Am.
Will you sir
(To Bonardo.)
Cherish my duty with a faith?
Bon.
Of what?
Am.
What that bad woman hath accus'd me of,
Is false as any fabulous Deity
Bono. and Fidelio whisper.
Ascrib'd to wicked mortall.
Card.
Nay good Lady,
If any grounded feare hath rais'd suspition,
Truth ought to be discover'd; if it were,
We then would make provision of some Villa,
Some pretty Country house, under pretence
That ayr's most wholsome for you.
Am.
Would thou wert
Without that noysefull instrument of speech;
Or all thy hearers deafe. But that her vertues
Carry their perfect lustre, I should almost
Suspect the Dutchesse, for corferring favour
Upon so vile a woman.
Exit.
Practice it.
(To Fidelio.
'Twill be a perfect tryall.
3 Scene.
Enter Polemici, Vittorio, A Lady and Beneventi.Fid.
Here's Vittoria,
And brave Polemici, that are return'd
With the triumphing Notho.
Bon.
I embrace yee;
Y'are welcome home to peace,
Salute.
Vit.
We thanke your Lord-ship.
Ben.
'Tis downe right complement; we Souldiers
Are sparing of our words my Lord: blowes chiefly
Are our discourse.
Pole.
We Courtiers Beneventi
Can talke, but seldome fight.
Bon.
That hit you home.
To Beneventi.
Ben.
How dare you offer to salute the Ladies,
Before y'have shifted shirts? sure your Campe Laundresse
Never perfum'd your linnen.
Pole.
Had you bin
There Beneventi, 'twould have made your linnen
Soone want perfuming.
Card.
Souldiers doe not use
To Beneventi.
Other perfumes than match and Gun-powder.
Ben.
Were you converted into it Cardente,
You'ld sweeten their Buffe-jerkins.
Lady.
Were I Gun-powder
I'ld blow you up.
Pole.
You take your servants part.
Ben.
You serve a Lady! Ladies should serve you
For your good service to the Duke and State:
Oh the mens heads that you cut off, Polemici!
Pole.
The Maiden-heads you purchast in our absence!
Many a Suburbe agent is inricht by't;
Though to the losse of your owne state and conscience:
Ingeniously confesse your chiefe imployment.
Ben.
We feigne our selves as vertuous as the Duke,
And are as chast at Court as wither'd Eunuches:
But when we are at liberty abroad,
Ease and high feeding cannot hold out long:
Doe piddle now and then with Suttlers wives;
And are content in praise their tann'd complexions
For most rich beauties: whilst we Courtiers
Ravish delights from lipps that tast of Nectar,
And thinke our selves in Heaven.
Pole.
Whilst we Souldiers
After a tedious march, are forst to make
The earth our bed without a Pillow, sheets,
Or silver warming-pan; start from our sleepe
At every sound the ayres light motion makes,
Thinking it an alarme: Returne from sight
Smear'd o're with blood and sweat, and savourly
Take the refreshment of a troubled water;
Whose muddy streames our Horses would scarce tast
But for necessity: fast till our guts
Contract themselves so close they will scarce hold
The full digestion of one Larke.
Ben.
Good Captaine
No more of this discourse; it mortifies me:
But now the Wars are ended, you'l turne Courtier!
'Tis quickly learnt.
Pole.
You have instructed me,
Dissemble first an imitation
Of the Dukes vertues; feed high, and be lazie;
Next leacherous: is't not so?
Ben.
A great proficient,
You'l quickly take Degrees.
Pole.
In the last Schoole
We shall out-strip you Courtiers; for observe
If any one of you should rivall us,
And dare to intercept our pleasures, we
Can beate you Beneventi, marke me, beate you;
And sure the Duke would give us pensions for it,
To keepe your Goat-ships honest.
Lady.
Witty Souldier,
He fits you at all weapons.
Ben.
Yours, the tongue;
Hee'ld hit you otherwise.
Bon.
Peace thus playes with war,
And makes it pastime.
4 Scene.
Flourish Enter Macario, Infelice, Notho, Spurio, Corvino, Amanda, Melissa & LadiesFid.
Here's the noble Conquerour.
Mac.
Welcome agen into our bosome Souldier.
Wee'ld have you now leave action, and apply
Your ready will to entertaine and manage
The honours we intend you, as rewards
Due to your valour and successe: you have
Setled our peace at home by the subversion
Of all our neighbouring enemies, and now
'Tis fit you share a full proportion
Of all you labour'd for, that we in ease
And softnesse might securely please our senses;
And know no sufferings more then what are incident
To every prince, our cares: those lesson'd too
By our grave Counsailes industry. I wish
You would move something from your owne desires,
That granted might be valewed by your selfe:
We should bee free.
Not.
Ambition never toucht me.
If I have done an act hath gain'd allowance
In popular opinion, let not flattery
Court it with too much praise. These ought to share;
And every common souldier well as I:
I but directed what they executed.
Let your rewards sir, smile upon their wants,
For sure our victory brought much more honour
Then profit home: nor could I thinke it lesse
Than tyranny to slave men being conquer'd,
And force them buy their liberty; though in pollicy
And custome 'tis allow'd both safe and honourable.
Cherish their valour sir, and the example
Will (when your need requires it) arme the hearts
Of others with like forwardnesse.
Mac.
Wee give
The spoiles to be distributed, and pension
I know not what: considerate judgements must
Allow the gift a worth before I offer it.
Embrace you two whilst I embrace yee both.
Why doth my Spurio frowne upon his brother?
Can his cleare soule give entertainment to
Neglect or envy? such a glorious paire
To suffer an Ecclipse.
Spu.
Your victory
And person both are welcome.
Not.
Both must serve you.
Inf.
Deare valiant Notho, now you have put off
The rough abilliments of War, pray' weare
These ornaments for my sake.
Gives him jewells.
Not.
They are favours.
An Easterne Monarch might be proud of Madam:
A Mine could not have made your servant richer
In's owne esteeme.
Card.
Trust me the Souldier speakes
Excellent Court-ship Ladies. Those rich jewells
Will be yours shortly; and I would advise you
Not to refuse them upon any tearmes
When they are offer'd.
Inf.
Your deserts require
Give Vitt. and Polem. Iewells.
Some due acknowledgement.
Pole.
These Madam are
Bounties above them.
Mac.
Doe not you my Lord
To Corvino.
Conceive strange joyes, to see so faire an issue
Make your age happy?
Corv.
'Tis a happinesse
For which I owe Heaven thankes.
Ben.
What thinke you Captaine?
To Polemici.
You seldome found such spoiles in a py'd Knap-sack.
Doe you know how to use them?
Pole.
Not as you doe,
Like Children; play with them.
Ben.
You'l pawne them rather?
That I beleeve you use.
Mac.
Wee'l have some revells,
'Tis fit that Souldiers sometimes should have rest,
And tast the Courts delights.
Ben.
You'l find there's difference
Betwixt a Courtier and a Souldier Captaine.
Pole.
There's much.
Ben.
How much?
Pole.
As much as is betwixt
A good sword and a Fiddle-sticke.
Ben.
But how
Doe you apply them?
Pole.
That unto my selfe
I best know how to use.
Mac.
Wee'l first thanke Heaven,
And then wee'l see some maskery. This day
Wee'l honour with solemnities.
Exeunt.
Spu.
With me sir?
Flourish, Spu. Not. Fid. Ben. Vitto. and Polemici remaining.
Not.
Brother.
Spu.
Forget that name; it must be lost
To both our memories.
Not.
Sure mine preserves not
The least impression of an injury
I ever did you, that might justly challenge
Th'acquaintance of that Title. Others looke
Upon my fortune with respectfull smiles;
You either scorne or envy it.
Spu.
I doe neither;
But there are secrets which my knowledge cannot
Yet comprehend, till time makes more discoveries:
If it appeare then you are not my brother,
Say not it was my fault.
Not.
I would you give me
A fuller satisfaction.
Spu.
When I can
I will not be reserv'd.
Not.
I know not what
Your words imply, unlesse you'll call me bastard;
Of nature, or respects unto the greatnesse
Favour hath rais'd you to—
Spu.
Hee's here can satisfie.
5 Scene.
Enter Corvino.Cor.
Will you yet wedde Melissa?
Spu.
Never sir;
I would you'ld cleare my doubts.
Cor.
Oh never sir,
Till you performe that act.
Spu.
My ignorance
And innocence shall then preserve me safe;
There may be danger in the knowledge of it:
Hence forth Ile not be curious.
Exeunt Spurio, Fide. Beneventi.
Not.
Sir, my duty
That taught me humble knees, and an obedience
Is somewhat stagger'd; something hath begot
A jealousie within me, that I ought not
Pay them to you: but still my vertuous reason
Doth fight against that sin.
Cor.
What meane you Notho?
Not.
My brother sir, or Spurio (for the name
Of brother he refuseth) sayes we are not
The issue of one blood.
Cor.
It was a folly,
And inconsiderate rashnesse to betray
Himselfe to so much hazard.
Not.
Sir, the knowledge
Would settle my disturbances, and make
Agen that duty perfect, which yet doubts
To whom it owes it selfe.
Cor.
Those words of his
Might be interpreted; and I confesse
My wanton youth had much unlawfull issue:
Of which perhaps he's one.
Not.
My lawfulnesse
Had then first priviledge to take exception:
I must not now owne him.
Cor.
Yes; for my love
Not.
In that you are
Unjust to the deserts of my dead mother;
And th'Honour'd family whence she deriv'd
Her blood and vertues.
Cor.
It becomes not you
To taxe my partiall humour, since your selfe
Is equally unlawfull.
Not.
You have aw'd me,
'Twas not my sin; and thus my duty beggs
Kneeles.
The publicke knowledge may not be my shame.
Cor.
That shall not staine, thy fame staines not thy conscience
And tell me Notho, dar'st be great?
Not.
I dare bee
What fortune or my reason prompts me to,
If warranted for lawfull.
Car.
Dar'st be Duke?
Not.
Forbid it loyalty.
Car.
'Tis in my power
To make thee justly so.
Not.
If't be my right,
There's no attempt that can have danger in't
Enough to fright me.
Cor.
Shall't attempt no danger:
The prosecution shall be politicke
And safe. But first thou must resolve to doe
What I command thee.
Not.
Speake it.
Cor.
Wed Melissa.
Not.
Did ever father yet command his Children
To be incestious! is your reason perfect?
This shewes distraction.
Cor.
All depends upon it;
And Heaven knowes 'tis lawfull: Therefore be
Suddaine in thy resolves.
Exit.
Not.
What fit hath seaz'd him?
Pole.
The Ladies eyes have shot some wanton fire
Into his heart: my Lord.
Polemici
I have heard wonders, and your bosomes shall
Partake the secret, so you'l keepe it safe:
'Tis of high consequence.
Pole.
They are the same
Safe Closets you have trusted.
Not.
You'ld not envy me
If I were Duke.
Pole.
We should not sure unlesse
It made you proud.
Not.
But dare your valours aide me
In the designe?
Pole.
Why what disloyall divell
Hath put these thoughts into you? have we sav'd
Our throates from cutting by the enemy
To feele the Hang-mans Axe? why how dare you
Cherish such vaine ambition? if you should
Marry the Dutchesse, she must have no sonne first:
And then 'tis doubtfull whether the election
Will be conferr'd on you. There are more worthies
That hold as good opinion in the state.
Not.
But say it be my rig
Pole.
I never studied
Your Genealogy so much, to find
How there might be relation; if there's any
Let it appeare.
Not.
You shall know more hereafter;
Strange misteries in fortunes hidden lye,
Cannot be judg'd of by a common eye.
Exeunt.
| The Vnfortunate Mother | |