 | The Tragedy of Alphonsus Emperour of Germany |  |
29
ACT. III.
Enter to the Revels.Edward with an Imperial Crown. Hedewig the Empress. Bohemia the Taster. Alphonsus the Forrester. Mentz the Gester. Empress the Chambermaid. Brandenburg Physician. Tryer Secretarie. Alexander the Marshal, with his Marshals staff, and all the rest in their proper apparrel, and Attendants and Pages.
Alex.
Princes and Princes Superiors, Lords and Lords
fellows, Gentlemen and Gentlemens Masters, and all the rest
of the States here assembled, as well Masculine as Feminine,
be it known unto you by these presence, that I Alexander de
Toledo, Fortunes chief Marshal, do will and command you,
by the authority of my said Office, to take your places in
manner and form following, First the Emperour and the
Empress, then the Taster, the Secretary, the Forrester, the
Physician, as for the Chambermaid and my self, we will take
our places at the neither end, the Jester is to wait up, and
live by the crums that fall from the Emperours trencher,
But now I have Marshal'd you to the table, what remains?
Mentz.
Every fool can tell that, when men are set to
dinner they commonly expect meat.
Edward.
That's the best Jest the fool made since he came
into his Office. Marshal walk into the Kitchin, and see how
the Churfurst of Collen bestirs himself.
Exit. Alex.
Mentz.
Shall I go with him too? I love to be imploy'd in
the Kitchin.
Edward.
I prethee go, that we may be rid of thy wicked Jests.
Mentz.
Have with thee Marshal, the fool rides thee.
Exit. on Alex. back.
30
Now by mine honour, my Lord of Mentz plays
the fool the worst that ever I saw.
Edward.
He do's all by contraries; for I am sure he playd
the wiseman like a fool, and now he plays the fool wisely.
Alphon.
Princes and Churfursts let us frolick now,
This is a joyful day to Christendome,
When Christian Princes joyn in amity,
Schinck bowls of Reinfal and the purest Wine,
We'l spend this evening lustie upsie Dutch,
In honour of this unexpected league.
Empres.
Nay gentle Forrester, there you range amiss,
His looks are fitly suited to his thoughts,
His glorious Empress makes his heart tryumph,
And hearts tryumphing makes his countenance stai'd,
In contemplation of his lives delight.
Edward.
Good Aunt let me excuse my self in this,
I am an Emperour but for a day,
She Empress of my heart while life doth last;
Then give me leave to use Imperial looks,
Nay if I be an Emperour I'l take leave,
And here I do pronounce it openly,
What I have lately whisper'd in her ears,
I love mine Empress more than Empery,
I love her looks above my fortunes hope.
Alphon.
Saving your looks dread Emperour es gelt a bowl,
Unto the health of your fair Bride and Empress.
Edward.
Sain Got es soll mic en liebe drunk sein, so
much Dutch have I learnt since I came into Germany.
Bran.
When you have drunk a dozen of these bowls,
So can your Majesty with a full mouth,
Trowl out high Dutch, till then it sounds not right,
Drauff es gelt noch eins ihr Maiestat.
Edward.
Sain Got lass lauffen.
Bohem.
My Lord of Brandenburg spoken like a good Dutch Brother;
But most unlike a good Physician,
You should consider what he has to do,
His Bride will give you little thanks to night.
Alphon.
Ha, ha my Lord, now give me leave to laugh,
He need not therefore shun one Beaker full.
31
That the first night the Bridegroom spares the Bride.
Bohem.
'Tis true indeed, that had I quite forgotten.
Edward.
How understand I that?
Alphon.
That the first night,
The Bride and Bridegroom never sleep together.
Edward.
That may well be, perchance they wake together.
Bohem.
Nay without fallace they have several Beds.
Edward.
I in one Chamber, that is most Princely.
Alphon.
Not onely several Beds, but several Chambers,
Lockt soundly too, with Iron Bolts and Bars.
Empr.
Beleeve me Nephew, that's the custom here.
Edward.
O my good Aunt, the world is now grown new,
Old customs are but superstitions.
I'm sure this day, this presence all can witness,
The high and mighty Prince th' Archbishop of Collen,
Who now is busie in the skullery,
Joyn'd us together in St. Peters Church,
And he that would disjoyn us two to night,
'Twixt jest and earnest be it proudly spoken,
Shall eat a piece of ill-digesting Iron.
Bride wilt dow dis nicht ben mee schlapen.
Hede.
Da behute mich Gott fur, Ich hoffe Eure maiestat
wills von mir mist, begeran.
Edward.
What says she behute mich Got fur?
Alphon.
She says God bless her from such a deed.
Edward.
Tush Empress, clap thy hands upon thy head,
And God will bless thee, I have a Jacobs staff,
Shall take the Elevation of the Pole;
For I have heard it sayd, the Dutch North star,
Is a degree or two higher than ours.
Bohem.
Nay though we talk lets drink, and Emperour,
I'l tell you plainly what you must trust unto,
Can they deceive you of your Bride to night,
They'll surely do't, therefore look to your self.
Edward.
If she deceive me not, let all do their worst.
Alphon.
Assure you Emperour she'l do her best.
Edward.
I think the Maids in Germany are mad,
E're they be marryed they will not kiss,
And being marryed will not go to Bed.
32
Well warn'd half arm'd our English proverb say
Alphon.
Holla Marshal, what says the Cook?
Enter Alexander.
Belike he thinks we have fed so well already,
That we disdain his simple Cookery.
Alex.
Faith the Cook says so, that his Office was to dress a
mess of meat with that Wood which the English Prince should
bring in, but he hath neither seen Dutch Wood nor English
Prince, therefore he desires you hold him excus'd.
Alphon.
I wonder where Prince Richard stays so long.
Alex.
An't, please your Majesty, he's come at length,
And with him has he brought a crew of Bowrs,
A hipse bowr maikins fresh as Flow'rs in May,
With whom they mean to dance a Saxon round,
In honour of the Bridegroom and his Bride.
Edward.
So has he made amends for his long tarrying.
I prethee Marshall them into the presence.
Alphon.
Lives Richard then? I had thought th' hadst
made him sure.
Alex.
O, I could tear my flesh to think upon't,
He lives and secretly hath brought with him,
The Palsgrave and the Duke of Saxonie,
Clad like two Bowrs, even in the same apparrel
That Hans and Jerick wore when they went out to murder him,
It now behooves us to be circumspect.
Alphon.
It likes me not; Away Marshal bring them.
Exit. Alexander.
I long to see this sports conclusion.
Bohem.
I'st not a lovely sight to see this couple
Sit sweetly billing like two Turtle Doves.
Alphon.
I promise you it sets my Teeth an Edge,
That I must take mine Empress in mine arms.
Come hither Isabel, though thy roabs be homely,
Thy face and countenance holds colour still.
33
Collen.
Dread Emperour and Emperess for to day,
I Your appointed Cook untill to morrow,
Have by the Marshal sent my just excuse,
And hope your Highness is there with content,
Our Carter here for whom I now do speak,
Says that his Axletree broke by the way,
That is his answer, and for you shall not famish,
He and his fellow bowrs of the next dorp,
Have brought a schinkel of good raw Bacon,
And that's a common meat with us, unsod,
Desiring you, you would not scorn the fare,
'Twil make a cup of Wine taste nippitate.
Edward.
Welcome good fellows, we thank you for your present.
Richard.
So spell fresh up and let us rommer daunfeu.
Alex.
Please it your Highness to dance with your Bride?
Edward.
Alas I cannot dance your German dances.
Bohem.
I do beseech your Highness mock us not,
We Germans have no changes in our dances,
An Almain and an upspring that is all,
So dance the Princes, Burgers, and the Bowrs.
Brand.
So daunc'd our Auncestors for thousand years.
Edward.
It is a sign the Dutch are not new fangled.
I'le follow in the measure; Marshal lead.
Alexander and Mentz have the fore dance with each of them a glass of Wine in their hands, then Edward and Hedewick, Palsgrave and Empress, and two other couple, after Drum and Trumpet.
The Palsgrave whispers with the Empress.
Alphon.
I think the Bowr is amorous of my Empress.
Fort bowr and leffel morgen, when thou com'st to house.
Collen.
Now is your Graces time to steal away,
34
Edward steals away the Bride.
Alex.
(Drinketh to the Palsgrave.)
Skelt bowre.
Palsgrave. Sain Gott.
The Palsgrave requests the Empress.
Ey Iungfraw helpe mich doch ein Iungfraw drunck
Es gelt guter fcenudt ein frolocken drink.
Alphon.
Sam Gott mein frundt ich will gern bescheidt thun
(Alphonsus takes the Cup of the Palsgrave, and drinks to the King of Bohemia, and after he hath drunk puts poyson into the Beaker.)
Half this I drink unto your Highness health,
It is the first since we were joynd in Office.
Bohem.
I thank your Majesty, I'le pledge you half.
(As Bohem is a drinking, e're he hath drunk it all out, Alphonsus pulls the Beaker from his mouth.)
Alphon.
Hold, hold, your Majesty, drink not too much.
Bohem.
What means your Highness.
Alphon.
Methinks that something grates between my teeth,
Pray God there be not poyson in the bowl.
Bohem.
Marry God forbid.
Alex.
So were I pepper'd.
Alphon.
I highly do mistrust this schelmish bowr,
Lay hands on him, I'le make him drink the rest.
Whas ist whas ist wat will you nut mee machen
Alphon.
Drink out, drink out oder der divell soll dich holen.
Pals.
Ey geb you to frieden ich will gein drink.
Saxon.
Drink not Prince Pallatine, throw it on the ground,
It is not good to trust his Spanish flies.
Bohem.
Saxon and Palsgrave, this cannot be good.
Alphon.
'Twas not for nought my mind misgave me so;
This hath Prince Richard done t'entrap our lives.
Richard.
No Alphonsus, I disdain to be a traytor.
Empress.
O sheath your swords, forbear these needless broyls.
Alphon.
Away, I do mistrust thee as the rest.
Bohem.
Lord's hear me speak, to pacify these broyls;
For my part I feel no distemperature,
How do you feel your self?
Alphon.
I cannot tell, not ill, and yet methinks I am not well.
35
Were it a poyson 'twould begin to work.
Alphon.
Not so, all poysons do not work alike.
Pals.
If there were poyson in, which God forbid,
The Empress and my self and Alexander,
Have cause to fear as well as any other.
Alphon.
Why didst thou throw the Wine upon the earth?
Hadst thou but drunk, thou hadst satisfied our minds.
Pals.
I will not be enforc't by Spanish hands.
Alphon.
If all be well with us that schuce shall serve,
If not, the Spaniards blood will be reveng'd.
Rich.
Your Majesty is more afraid than hurt.
Bohem.
For me I do not fear my self a whit,
Let all be friends, and forward with our mirth.
Enter Edward in his night-gown and his shirt.
Richard.
Nephew, how now? is all well with you?
Bohem.
I lay my life the Prince has lost his bride.
Edward.
I hope not so, she is but stray'd a little.
Alphon.
Your Grace must not be angry though we laugh.
Edward.
If it had hapned by default of mine,
You might have worthily laught me to scorn;
But to be so deceiv'd, so over reach'd,
Even as I meant to clasp her in mine arms,
The grief is intollerable, not to be guest,
Or comprehended by the thought of any,
But by a man that hath been so deceiv'd,
And that's by no man living but my self.
Saxon.
My Princely Son-in-Law God give you joy.
Edward.
Of what my Princely Father?
Saxon.
O' my Daughter.
Your new betroathed Wife and Bed-fellow.
Edward.
I thank you Father, indeed I must confess
She is my Wife, but not my Bed-fellow.
Saxon.
How so young Prince? I saw you steal her hence,
And as me thought she went full willingly.
Edward.
'Tis true, I stole her finely from amongst you,
And by the Arch-Bishop of Collens help,
Got her alone into the Bride-Chamber,
Where having lockt the Door, thought all was well.
I could not speak but pointed to the Bed,
36
I seeing that suspected no deceit,
But straight untrust my points, uncas'd my self,
And in a moment slipt between the Sheets;
There lying in deep contemplation,
The Princess of her self drew neer to me,
Gave me her hand, spake prettily in Dutch
I know not what, and kist me lovingly,
And as I shrank out of my luke warm place
To make her room, she clapt thrice with her feet,
And through a trap-door sunck out of my sight;
Knew I but her Confederates in the deed—
I say no more.
Empress.
Tush Cosin, be content;
So many Lands, so many fashions,
It is the German use, be not impatient,
She will be so much welcomer to morrow.
Rich.
Come Nephew, we'l be Bed-fellows to night.
Edward.
Nay if I find her not, I'le lye alone,
I have good hope to ferret out her Bed,
And so good night sweet Princess all at once.
Alphon.
Godnight to all; Marshal discharge the train.
Alex.
To Bed, to Bed the Marshal crys 'tis time.
Exeunt.
Flourish Cornets, Manent Saxon, Richard, Palsgrave, Collen, Empress.
Saxon.
Now Princes it is time that we advise,
Now we are all fast in the Fowlers gin,
Not to escape his subtle snares alive,
Unless by force we break the Nets asunder.
When he begins to cavil and pick quarrels,
I will not trust him in the least degree.
Empress.
It may beseem me evill to mistrust
My Lord and Emperour of so foul a fast;
But love unto his honour and your lives,
Makes me with tears intreat your Excellencies
To fly with speed out of his dangerous reach,
His cloudy brow foretells a suddain storm
Of blood not natural but prodigious.
Rich.
The Castle gates are shut, how should we fly;
37
E're I would leave my Nephew to the slaughter;
He and his Bride were sure to bear the brunt.
Saxon.
Could I get out of doors, I'ld venture that,
And yet I hold their persons dear enough,
I would not doubt, but e're the morning Sun
Should half way run his course into the South,
To compass and begirt him in his Fort,
With Saxon lansknights and brunt-bearing Switzers,
Who lye in Ambuscado not far hence,
That he should come to Composition,
And with safe conduct bring into our tents,
Both Bride and Bridegroom, and all other friends.
Empress.
My Chamber Window stands upon the Wall,
And thence with ease you may escape away.
Saxon.
Prince Richard, you will bear me Company?
Richard.
I will my Lord.
Saxon.
And you Prince Pallatine?
Pals.
The Spanish Tyrant hath me in suspect
Of poysoning him, I'l therefore stay it out,
To fly upon't were to accuse my self.
Empress.
If need require, I'le hide the Pallatine,
Untill to morrow, if you stay no longer.
Saxon.
If God be with us, e're to morrow noon,
We'll be with Ensigns spread before the Walls,
We leave dear pledges of our quick return.
Emp.
May the Heavens prosper your just intents.
Exeunt.
Enter Alphonsus.
Alphon.
This dangerous plot was happily overheard,
Here didst thou listen in a blessed howr.
Alexander, where do'st thou hide thy self?
I've sought thee in each Corner of the Court,
And now or never must thou play the man.
Alex.
And now or never must your Highness stir,
Treason hath round encompassed your life.
Alphon.
I have no leasure now to hear thy talk.
Seest thou this Key?
Alex.
Intends your Majesty that I should steal into the Princes Chambers,
38
That cannot be.
Alphon.
Wilt thou not hear me speak?
Alex.
The Prince of England, Saxon, and of Collen,
Are in the Empress Chamber privily.
Alphon.
All this is nothing, they would murder me,
I come not there to night; seest thou this Key?
Alex.
They mean to fly out at the Chamber Window,
And raise an Army to beseege your Grace.
Now may your Highness take them with the deed.
Alphon.
The Prince of Wales I hope is none of them.
Alex.
Him and his Bride by force they will recover.
Alphon.
What makes the cursed Palsgrave of the Rhein?
Alex.
Him hath the Empress taken to her charge,
And in her Closet means to hide him safe.
Alphon.
To hide him in her Closet? of bold deeds,
The dearest charge that e're she undertook,
Well let them bring their Complots to an end,
I'le undermine to meet them in their works,
Alex.
Will not your Grace surprize them e're they fly?
Alphon.
No, let them bring their purpose to effect,
I'le fall upon them at my best advantage,
Seest thou this Key? there take it Alexander;
Yet take it not unless thou be resolv'd;
Tush I am fond to make a doubt of thee;
Take it I say, it doth command all Doors,
And will make open way to dire revenge.
Alex.
I know not what your Majesty doth mean.
Alphon.
Hie thee with speed into the inner Chamber,
Next to the Chappe, and there shalt thou find
The danty trembling Bride coutcht in her Bed,
Having beguil'd her Bridegroom of his hopes,
Taking her farewel of Virginity,
Which she to morrow night expects to lose,
By night all Cats are gray, and in the dark,
She will imbrace thee for the Prince of Wales,
Thinking that he hath found her Chamber out,
Fall to thy business and make few words,
And having pleas'd thy senses with delight,
39
Make thence agen before the break of day,
What strange events will follow this device,
We need not study on, our foes shall find.
How now? how standst thou? hast thou not the heart?
Alex.
Should I not have the heart to do this deed,
I were a Bastard villain and no man;
Her sweetness, and the sweetness of revenge,
Tickles my senses in a double sense,
And so I wish your Majesty good night.
Alphon.
God night, sweet Venus prosper thy attempt.
Alex.
Sweet Uenus and grim Ate I implore,
Stand both of you to me auspicious.
Exit. Alexander.
Alphon.
It had been pitty of his Fathers life,
Whose death hath made him such a perfect villain.
What murder, wrack, and causeless enmity,
'Twixt dearest friends that are my strongest foes,
Will follow suddainly upon this rape,
I hope to live to see, and laugh thereat,
And yet this peece of practice is not all.
The King of Bohem though he little feel it,
Because in twenty hours it will not work,
Hath from my Knives point suck'd his deadly bane,
Whereof I will be least of all suspected;
For I will feign my self as sick as he,
And blind mine enemies eyes with deadly groans;
Upon the Palsgrave and mine Emperess,
Heavy suspect shall light to bruze their bones;
Though Saxon would not suffer him to taste,
The deadly potion provided for him,
He cannot save him from the Sword of Iustice,
When all the world shall think that like a villain,
He hath poyson'd two great Emperours with one draught;
That deed is done, and by this time I hope,
The other is a doing, Alexander
I doubt it not will do it thorowly.
While these things are a brewing I'l not sleep,
But sudainly break ope the Chamber doors,
And rush upon my Empress and the Palsgrave,
40
Enter Captain, and Souldiers.
Cap.
What would your Majesty?
Alphon.
Take six travants well arm'd and followe,
They break with violence into the Chamber, and Alphonsu trayls the Empress by the hair.
Enter Alphonsus, Empress, Souldiers, &c.
Alphon.
Come forth thou damned Witch, adulteros Whore,
Foul scandal to thy name, thy sex, thy blood.
Emp.
O Emperour, gentle Husband, pitty me.
Alphon.
Canst thou deny thou wert confederate,
With my arch enemies that sought my blood?
And like a Strumpet through thy Chamber Window,
Hast with thine own hands helpt to let them down,
With an intent that they should gather arms,
Besiege my Court, and take away my life?
Emp.
Ah my Alphonsus.
Alphon.
Thy Alphonsus Whore?
Emp.
O pierce my heart, trail me not by my hair;
What I have done, I did it for the best.
Alphon.
So for the best advantage of thy lust,
Hast thou in secret Clytemnestra like,
Hid thy Ægestus thy adulterous love.
Emp.
Heav'n be the record 'twixt my Lord and me,
How pure and sacred I do hold thy Bed.
Alphon.
Art thou so impudent to bely the deed,
Is not the Palsgrave hidden in thy Chamber?
Empe.
That I have hid the Palsgrave I confess;
But to no ill intent your conscience knows.
Alphon.
Thy treasons, murders, incests, sorceries,
Are all committed to a good intent;
Thou know'st he was my deadly enemy.
Emp.
By this device I hop'd to make your friends.
Alphon.
Then bring him forth, we'l reconcile our selves.
Emp.
Should I betray so great a Prince's life?
Alphon.
Thou holdst his life far dearer than thy Lords,
This very night hast thou betrayd my blood,
41
And but thou speedily deliver him,
I'le trail thee through the Kennels of the Street,
And cut the Nose from thy bewitching face,
And into England send thee like a Strumpet.
Emp.
Pull every hair from off my head,
Drag me at Horses tayls, cut off my nose
My Princely tongue shall not betray a Prince.
Alphon.
That will I try.
Emp.
O Heav'n revenge my shame.
Enter Palsgrave.
Pal.
Is Cæsar now become a torturer,
A Hangman of his Wife, turn'd murderer?
Here is the Pallatine, what wouldst thou more?
Alphon.
Upon him Souldiers, strike him to the ground.
Emp.
Ah Souldiers, spare the Princely Pallatine.
Alphon.
Down with the damn'd adulterous murderer,
Kill him I say, his blood be on my head.
They kill the Pallatine.
Run to the Tow'r, and Ring the Larum Bell,
That fore the world I may excuse my self,
And tell the reason of this bloody deed.
Enter Edward in his night gown and shirt.
Edw.
How now? what means this sudain strange Allarm?
What wretched dame is this with blubbered cheeks,
And rent dishevel'd hair?
Emp.
O my dear Nephew,
Fly, fly the Shambles, for thy turn is next.
Edward.
What, my Imperial Aunt? then break my heart.
Alphon.
Brave Prince be still; as I am nobly born,
There is no ill intended to thy person.
Enter Mentz, Tryer, Branden. Bohem.
Mentz.
Where is my Page? bring me my two hand Sword.
Tryer.
What is the matter? is the Court a fire
42
Whose that? the Emperour with his weapon drawn?
Bohem.
Though deadly sick yet am I forc'd to rise,
To know the reason of this hurley burley.
Alphon.
Princes be silent, I will tell the cause,
Though sudainly a griping at my heart
Forbids my tongue his wonted course of speech.
See you this Harlot, traytress to my life,
See you this murderer, stain to mine honour,
These twain I found together in my Bed,
Shamefully committing lewd Adultery,
And hainously conspiring all your deaths,
I mean your deaths, that are not dead already;
As for the King of Boheme and my self,
We are not of this world, we have our transports
Giv'n in the bowl by this adulterous Prince,
And least the poyson work too strong with me,
Before that I have warnd you of your harms,
I will be brief in the relation.
That he hath staind my Bed, these eyes have seen,
That he hath murder'd two Imperial Kings,
Our speedy deaths will be too sudain proof;
That he and she have bought and sold your lives,
To Saxon, Collen, and the English Prince,
Their Ensigns spread before the Walls to morrow
Will all too sudainly bid you defiance.
Now tell me Princes have I not just cause,
To slay the murderer of so many souls?
And have not all cause to applaud the deed?
More would I utter, but the poysons force
Forbids my speech, you can conceive the rest.
Bohem.
Your Majesty reach me your dying hand,
With thousand thanks for this so just revenge.
O, how the poysons force begins to work!
Mentz.
The world may pitty and applaud the deed.
Brand.
Did never age bring forth such hainous acts.
Edward.
My senses are confounded and amaz'd.
Emp.
The God of Heav'n knows my unguiltiness.
Enter Messenger.
Mes.
Arm, arm my Lords, we have descry'd a far,
43
Alphon.
Some run unto the Walls, some draw up the Sluce,
Some speedily let the Purculless down.
Mentz.
Now may we see the Emperours words are true.
To prison with the wicked murderous Whore.
Exeunt.
| The Tragedy of Alphonsus Emperour of Germany | |