 | The Hogge hath Lost his Pearle |  |
Actus Tertius.
Enter Carracus driuing his man before him.Ca.
Why thou base villaine, was my dearest friend here, and
couldst not make him stay?
Sfoote sir, I could not force him against his wil, an a
had been a woman.
Ca.
Hence thou vnturer'd slaue.
Exit Ser.
But couldst thou Albert come so nere my dore, and not vouchsafe
the comfort of thy presence?
And seeing my state so full repleate with good,
Canst thou with-draw thy loue to lessen it?
What could so moue thee, was 't because I married?
Didst thou imagine I infring'd my faith,
For that a woman did participate
In equall share with thee? Cannot my friendship
Be firme to thee, because tis deare to her;
Yet no more deere to her then firme to thee:
Beleeue me Albert thou dost little thinke,
How much thy absence giues cause of discontent,
But ile impute it onely to neglect,
It is neglect indeed when friends neglect
The sight of friends, and say tis troublesome;
Onely aske how they do, and so farewell:
Shewing an outward kinde of seeming duty,
Which in the rules of manhood is obseru'd
And thinke full well they haue performd their taske,
When of their friends health they do onely aske,
Not caring how they are, or how distrest,
It is enough they haue their loues exprest,
In bare enquiry, and in these times too
Friendships so cold that fewe so much will doe:
And am not I beholding then to Albert,
He after knowlede of our being well,
Sayd he was truly glad on't: ô rare friend!
If he be vnkind how many more may mend;
But whether am I carried by vnkindnesse?
Why should not I as wel set light by friendship,
Since I haue seene a man whom I late thought,
Had been compos'd of nothing but of faith,
Proue so regardlesse of his friends content.
Enter Maria
Ma.
Come Carracus I haue sought your all about,
Your seruant told me you were much disquieted
Ile charm thee with my lute from forth disturbance.
Ca.
I am not angry sweet, though if I were,
Thy bright aspect would soone alay my rage;
But my Maria, it doth something moue me,
That our friend Albert so forgets himselfe.
Ma.
It may be 'ts nothing els, & theres no doubt
Hele soone remember his accustom'd friendship
He thinks, as yet, peraduenture that his presence
Will but offend, for that our marriage rites
Are but so newly past.
Ca.
I will surmise so too, and onely thinke,
Some serious businesse hinders Alberts presence:
But what ring 's that Maria on your finger?
Ma.
Tis one you lost loue, when I did bestow
A iewell of farre greater worth on you.
Ca.
At what time fairest?
Ma.
As if you knew not, why dee mak't so strange?
Ca.
Yare dispos'd to riddle, pray lets see't,
I partly know it, where wast you found it?
Ma.
Why in my chamber that most gladsome night
When you enricht your loue by my escape.
Ca.
How, in your Chamber?
Ma.
Sure Carracus I will be angry with you
If you seeme so forgetfull, I tooke it vp
Then when you left my lodge and went away,
Glad of your conquest for to seeke your friend:
Why stand you so amaz'd, sir I hope that kindnesse
Which then you reaped, doth not preuaile
So in your thoughts, as that you thinke me light.
Ca.
O thinke thy selfe Maria what thou art:
This is the ring of Albert treacherous man,
Hee that enioy'd thy virgin chastity:
I neuer did ascend into thy chamber;
But all that cold night through the frozen field,
Went seeking of that wretch, who nere sought me;
But found what his lust sought, for dearest thee.
Ma,
I haue heard enough my Carracus to bereaue me of this
little breath, she sounds.
All breath be first extinguisht, within there ho?
Enter Nurse and Seruants.
O Nurse see heere, Maria saies sheele die.
Nu.
Marry, God forbid, oh M
r
i
s. Ms. Ms. she has breath yet,
shees but in a traunce, good sir take comfort sheele recouer by
and by.
Ca.
No, no, sheele die Nurse, for she sayd she would, an she
had not sayd so, tad bene another matter, but you know Nurse
she nere told a lie, I will beleeue her, for she speaks all truth.
Nur.
His memory begins to faile him, come lets beare
This heauy spectacle from forth his presence,
The heaues wil lend a hand, I hope, of comfort,
Exeut Ca. manet.
Ca.
See how they steale away my faire Maria,
But I will follow after her as farre,
As Orpheus did to gaine his soules delight,
And Plutoes selfe shall know, although I am not
Skilful in musique, yet I can be mad,
And force my loues enioyment in despight
Of hels blacke fury; but stay, stay Carracus,
Where is thy knowledge, and that rational sence,
Which heauens great Architect indued thee with?
All sunke beneath the waight of lumpish nature?
Are our diuiner parts no noblier free,
Then to be tortur'd by the weake assailements
Of earth-sprung griefes? why is man then accompted
The head commaunder of this vniuerse,
Next the Creator, when a little storme
Of natures fury straight ore'whelmes his iudgement,
But mines no little storme, tis a tempest
So full of raging selfe-consuming woe,
That nought but ruine followes expectation:
Oh my Maria, what vnheard of sinne
Haue any of thine Auncestors enacted,
That all their shame should be powr'd thus on thee;
Or what incestuous spirit, cruell Albert
Left hels vast wombe for to enter thee,
And do a mischiefe of such treachery.
Enter Nurse weeping.
If ere thy tongue did vtter pleasing words,
Let it now do so, or hereafter ere be dumbe in sorrow.
Nur.
Good sir take comfort, I am forc't to speake
What will not please, your chaste wife sir is dead.
Ca.
Tis dead indeed, how did you know twas so Nurse?
Nur.
What sir?
Ca.
That my heart was dead, sure thou hast serv'd
Dame natures selfe, and knowest the inward secrets
Of all our hidden powers, ile loue thee for't;
And if thou wilt teach me that vnknowne skill,
Shalt see what wonder Carracus will do;
Ile diue into the breast of hatefull Albert,
And see how his blacke soule is round in compast
By fearefull fiends, oh I would do strange things,
And know to whose cause Lawyers wil incline,
When they had fees on both sides, viewe the thoughts
Of for-lorne widdowes when their Knights haue left them;
Search through the guts of greatnes, and behold
What seueral sin best pleas'd them, thence Ide descend
Into the bowels of some pocky fit:
And tell to leachers all the paines he felt,
That they thereby might warned be from lust,
Troth twill be rare, ile study it presently.
Nur.
Alas! hee's distracted, what a sinne
Am I partaker of by telling him,
So curst an vntruth? But 'twas my Mistris will
Who is recouer'd, though her griefes neuer
Can be recouer'd, shee hath vow'd with teares
Her owne perpetuall banishment, therefore to him
Death was not more displeasing, then if I
Had told her lasting absence.
Ca.
I finde my braines too shallow farre for study,
What neede I care for being a Rethmetitian,
Let Cittizens sonnes stand and they will for Ciphers;
Why should I teach them and go beate my braines,
To instruct vnapt, and vnconceauing dolts,
And when all 's done, my art that should be fam'd,
Your iudgement Madam?
Nur.
Good sir walke in, weele send for learned men that
may alay your frenzy.
Ca.
But can Maria so forget her selfe,
As to debarre vs thus of her attendance?
Nur.
Shee is within sir, pray you wil you walke to her.
Ca.
Oh is she so, come then lets softly steale
Into her chamber, if she be a sleepe
Ile laugh shalt see enough, and thou shalt weepe,
Softly good long coate, softly.
Exeunt.
Enter Maria in Pages aparrell.
Ma.
Cease now thy steps Maria, and looke backe
Vpon that place, where distrest Carracus
Hath his sad being, from whose vertuous bosome,
Shame hath constrain'd me fly nere to retourne:
I will goe seeke some vnfrequented path,
Either in desert woods or wildernesse,
There to be waile my innocent mishaps,
VVhich heauen hath iustly powred downe on me,
In punishing my disobediency.
Enter young Lo. Wealthy.
Oh see my brother
Exit Maria.
Wel.
Ho you, three foote and a halfe, why Page I say, sfoot
is vanisht as sodainly as a dumbe shewe, if a lord had lost his
way now so a had been serued, but let me see; as I take it, this
is the house of Carracus, a very faire building, but it lookes as
if twere dead, I can see no breath come out of the chimnies;
but I shall know the state on't by and by, by the looks of some
seruing-man: VVhat no within here?
Enter Ser.
Ser.
Good sir, you haue your armes at liberty, wilt please
you to with-draw your action of battery.
Wel.
Yes indeed, now you haue made your appearance, is
the liuing-giuer within sir?
Ser.
You meane my Master sir?
Wel.
You haue hit it sir, prays'd bee your vnderstanding, I
am to haue cōference with him, would you admit my presence.
Ser.
Indeed Sir he is at this time not in health, and may not
be distrub'd.
Sir, an a were in the pangs of childe-bed, I'de speake
with him.
Enter Carracus.
Ca.
Vpon what cause gay-man?
We.
Sfoote I thinke a be disturb'd indeed, a speakes more
commaunding then a Constable at midnight.
Sir, my lord and father, by me a lord, hath sent these lines inclos'd,
which shew his whole intent.
Ca.
Let me peruse them, if they do portend
To the States good, your answere shall be sodaine,
Your entertainement friendly; but if otherwise,
Our meanest subiect shall diuide thy greatnes,
You'd best looke too 't Embassador.
We.
Is your Mr. a Statesman friend?
Ser.
Alas no sir, a vnderstands not what a speakes.
We.
I but when my father dies, I am to be call'd in for one
my selfe, and I hope to beare the place as grauely as my successors
haue done before me.
Ca.
Embassador, I finde your Masters will
Treats to the good of somewhat, what it is
You haue your answere, and may now depart.
We.
I will relate as much sir, fare ye well.
Ca.
But stay, I had forgotten quite our chief'st affaires,
Your Master further writes some three lines lower,
Of one Maria that is wise to me,
That she and I should trauel now with you
Vnto his presence.
We.
Why now I vnderstand you sir, that Maria is my sister,
by whose coniunction you are created brother, to me a lord.
Ca.
But brother lord we cannot goe this iourney.
We.
Alas no sir, we meane to ride it, my sister shall ride vpon
my nagge.
Ca.
Come then weele in, and striue to woe your sister,
I ha not seene her sir, at least these three dayes,
They keepe her in a Chamber, and tell me
Shee's fast a sleepe still, you and ile go see,
We.
Content sir.
Ser.
Mad-men and fooles agree.
Exeunt.
Enter Haddit and Rebecka.
When you haue got this prise, you meane to lose me.
Ha.
Nay pree thee doe not thinke so, if I doe not marry thee
this instant night, may I neuer enioy breath a minute after; by
heauen I respect not his pelfe, thus much, but onely that I may
haue where with to maintaine thee.
Re.
O but to rob my father, though a be bad, the world will
thinke ill of me.
Ha.
Thinke ill of thee, can the world pitty him, that nere
pittied any, besides since their is no end of his goods, nor beginning
of his goodnesse; had not we as good share his drosse in his
life time, as let Constrousersie and Lawyers deuowre it ats death?
Re.
You haue preuail'd, at what houre ist you entend to haue
entrance into his chamber?
Ha.
Why iust at mid-night, for then our apparition will
will seeme most fearefull, youle make away that we may ascend
vp like spirits?
Re.
I will, but how many haue you made instruments herein?
Ha.
Faith none, but my cosen Lightfoote and a plaier.
Re.
But may you trust the player?
Ha.
Oh exceeding well, wele giue him a speech a vnderstands
not, but now I thinke ont, whats to be done with your
Fathers man Peter?
Re.
Why the least quantity of drinke, will lay him dead asleepe;
But harke, I heare my father comming, soone in the euening
ile conuay you in.
Ha.
Till when, let this outward ceremony, be the true pledge
of our inward affections.
So, this goes better forward then the Plantation in Virginia: but
see here comes halfe the west Indies, whose rich mines this
night I meane to be ransacking
Enter Hog, Lightfoote, & Peter.
Hog.
Then youle seale for this small Lordship you say, To
morrow your mony shall be rightly told vp for you to a peny.
Li.
I pray let it, and that your man may set contents vpon
euerie bag.
Ha.
Indeed by that wee may know what we steale without
labour, for the telling ont ore; how now gent, are ye agreed vpon
the price of this earth and clay.
Hog.
Yes faith Mr. Haddit the gent your friend here makes
me paye sweetlie for't but let it goe, I hope to inherite heauen ant
Hog.
Peter.
Pe.
Anon sir,
Hogge
I wonder how Haddit came by that gay suite of
clothes, all his meanes was consumed long since.
Pe.
Why sir being vndone himselfe; a liues by the vndoing
or by-lady, it may be by the doing of others, or peraduenture
both a decayed gallant may liue by any thing, if a keepe one
thing safe.
Hog.
Gentlemen, Ile to the Scriueners to cause these writings
to be drawne.
Li.
Pray doe sir, weele now leaue you till the morning.
Hog.
Nay, you shall stay dinner, ile retourne presently; Peter
some beare here for these worshipful gentlemen.
Ha.
We shall be bold no doubt, and that olde penny-father
youle confesse by to morrow morning.
Li.
Then his daughter is certainely thine, and condiscends
to all thy wishes.
Had
And yet you would not once beleeue it, as if a females
fauour could not be obteyn'd by any, but he that weares the
Cap of maintenance.
That may the chiefest prize mongst all of them inherit,
Li.
Well thou hast got one deserues the bringing home with
trumpets, and fals to thee as miraculously as the 1000. pound
did to the Tailor, thanke your good fortune, but must Hogges
man be made druncke,
Had.
By all meanes: and thus it shall be effected, when a
comes in with beere, do you vpon some slight occasion fall out
with him, and if you doe giue him a cuffe or two, it will giue
him cause to know y'are the more angry, then will I slip in and
take vp the matter, and striuing to make you two friends, wele
make him druncke.
Li.
Its done in conceipt already, see where a comes.
Enter Peter.
Pe.
Wilt please you to tast a cup of September beare gentlem.
Li.
Pray begin, wele pleadge you sir.
Its out sir, Li. then my hand in sir.
(Li. cuffes him.
Li.
Why goodman hobby horse, if we out of our gentility
offered you to beginne, must you out of your rascality needes
take it.
Had.
Why how now sirs, whats the matter.
Pe.
The gentleman here fals out with me, vpon nothing in
the world but mere courtesie,
Had.
By this light but a shall not, why Cozen Lightfoote.
Pe.
Is his name Lightfoote, a plague on him, a has a heauie
hande.
Enter young Lord welthy.
We.
Peace be here: for I came late enough from a madman.
Had.
My young Lord, God saue you.
We.
And you also: I could speake it in lattine, but the phrase
is common.
Had.
True my Lords, and whats common, ought not much
to be dealt with all: but I must desire your helpe my Lord to end
a Controuersie here, betweene this gentleman my friend, and
honest Peter, who I dare besworne is as ignorant as your Lordshippe.
We.
That I will, but my masters thus much ile say vntee, if so
be this quarrell may be taken vp peaceably, without the indangering
of my owne person, well, and good, otherwise I will
not meddle therewith, for I haue beene vext late enough alreadie.
Had.
Why then my Lord if it please you, let me, being your
inferiour, decree the cause betweene them.
We.
I doe giue leaue, or permit.
Had.
Then thus I will propound a reasonable motion; how
many cuffes Peter did this gent. out of his fury make thee partaker
of?
Pe.
Three at the least sir.
Ha.
All which were bestowed vpon you for beginning first
Peter.
Pe.
Yes indeed sir.
Ha.
Why then here the sentence of your suffering, you shal
both downe into Master Hogs seller Peter, and whereas you
began first to him, so shall he there to you, and as he gaue you
three cuffes, so shall you retort of in defiance of him, three
thine, and he accompted by the wise discretion of my Lord here
a flincher.
Omnes
A very reasonable motion.
We.
Why so, this is better then being among mad-men yet.
Ha.
Were you so lately with any my Lord?
We.
Yes faith, Ile tell you all in the Seller, how I was taken
for an Embassador, and being no sooner in the house, but the
mad man carries mee vp into the garret for a spie, and very
roundly bad me vntrusse, and had not a courteous seruing man
conueied me away whilst he went to fetch whips I thinke in my
conscience: not respecting my honour a would a breecht me.
Had.
By Lady, and t'was to be fear'd; but come my Lord
wele heare the rest in the seller.
My Lord and I, will see thee well relieued.
Exeunt.
| The Hogge hath Lost his Pearle | |