University of Virginia Library

sc. ii.

Enter Philadelpha[n] and Flauia
Phy.
Flauia if Rufinus come agen,
Say I'me not well, abroad or any thinge

Fla:
Troth madame you haue [ing] inioynd mee to a taske
will try mee like a packhorse, for these Courtiers
will neuer be sed nay, but stand int still
most if the finde me lying

Phy.
Thou art still
in thy old Rethorick, but Flauia,
I haue more serious cogitations now
that craue advise of my best memorie
therefore Let none disturbe mee

Fla:
not Armanus Madam,
Yes he may
he is my harts companion, my soules docter
ministring heuenly phisick that disolues
and takes away my greatest [fortunes] maladies
prethee let none press in

Fla:
Lett none press in,
I thinke it were the only way
to cure yor sicknes, Venus I beseech thee
keepe me vnmarried still, except I haue a man
will come home oftener, heers a life indeede
a Virgin Wife fie ont, but to my charge
Exit Fla:

Phy.
Why was I borne a Woman, nature sure
gaue me these linaments in mockerie
to tempt the World, and envy ioynd with her
to make my life a scandall to my sex
Fortune's both kinde and cruell, seats me first
in highest honor, linkes me with a man
in my respect aboue the Worlds esteeme
then plucks me from his armes With iron hands
and throwes mee in a dungeon, my darke thoughts
wc h way to scape the Kings Lust makes it soe,

Enter Armanus
Arm.
Still meditating madame

Phy.
Oh Armanus [my sad]
My sad feares still increase,
I haue bin pondring a thowsand waies
and clad my minde in Proteous coulerd roabe
yet finde no remedie, but my resolue,
which beyond death is constant

Arm:
Hold it still
My death shall teach you how, but Heauen I hope
will finde a fairer dissolution,
I haue bethought some meanes, sitt Phila—
to ease our doubts, I will dilate 'em to you,

Ent. Fla:
Fla:
Shees not within Introth

Lear.
wee know she is

Arm:
what inte«r»ruptions that,

Phy.
some Visitants belike
whose impudence will not be answerd with a faire repulse
what are they Flauia

Fla:
Serpents madam I thinke
the haue such stinging toungs in there mouthes,
if there tales bee such theres no medling with em,
Courtiers the say the are, the haue made me swell
aboue the girdle stedd, I cannot keepe em out,

Phy.
Alas good Flauia thou art troubled still

Flauia.
Nay I haue had a hundreth more I thinke
first comes a Senator, I denide him
the very sight of his scarlet Gowne
made mee blush as red as a Turky Cock
but the graue Gentleman
knowing what a Vertue it was in a Woman
to keepe Councell, rewarded my modestie and departed
next comes a Lawyer, he was so vsd to lying himselfe
he would hardly beleeue mee, I put the Case to him
wc h he being not able to stand in long
lett fall his suite and sneaked away agen;
after him a Cittizen yr Ieweller madam
askt if yow wanted any pretious stones
I made choyce of a couple of his fairest
and sed he should haues payment next tyme he came
then comes a Page, the saucie Iacket wearer
stood vpons pantables with mee, and would inn
but I thinke I tooke him downe ere I had done wt h em
and bid him go and rub his Ladies Roses
but nowe these Courtiers theres no who wt h em

Phy
why Flauia

Arm.
Lett em come, cann be no preiudice wee may begett
some thing from there intelligence may befreind vs

Phy.
Yor wills my Lawe in all things, bring em in

Enter Learch. & Leontius
Lear:
Why howe now my close Counting howse
do you stand so strickt vpon yr office, not a man
admitted without money,

Fla:
Mony marry gipp
you might haue stood there till moss had growne
ayoure heeles, except some freind had lent it
such gay cloathes seldome haue siluer lynings

Leon.
A plaugey byting Wenche,
I thinke shee searcht our pocketts,

Arm:
Noble Lords

Lear.
Worthy Armanus, We are bold Visitants,
to see this Widowed Virgin

Ar:
oh yr Loues, shees much indebted to you
you come in best tyme she was sadly fixt

Phy.
Such entertaynment as thouse affords,
the owner being absent, shall be stretcht
to bid yr Lordshipps welcome, but as yet
wee know not well whether a Bridall feast
or funerall bankett best befitts yee
excuse then what is wanting

Lear
Yr all bountie
haue you receiu'd no newes then from the [Compte] Campe

Phy
Not the least tydings yett,

Lear.
Tis hot at Court
Yr happie Lord has gott the Victorie
repulst the foe and tane there strongest hold
and there I hope is perisht

Phy.
Yr newes brings life, truth liue with you for euer

Leon.
The King for ioy, proclaimes a Festiuall
triumphs and maskes, rich courtly revellings
and celebrates with-all his royall birth day

Arm.
When is this happy Iubile solemnized

Leon.
the ensuing morne, you shall haue notice
doubtles.

Enter Rufinus
Ruf.
Before mee Gallants, you haue then made knowne
this preperation, from my Soueraignes mouth
Lady you are invited the Cheefe Guest,
his Edict beares Comāund, but kinde entreats
sommons yr louely presence,

Phy.
his Comaund
what ere our harts bee must not be denied,

Ru
You haue best cause to come, tis onely donne
in honor of yr Lord, and yr high grace
wc h all Roome dos reioyce att

Phy.
Wee are Vassailes vnto Roome and him,

Ru:
You must cast off this Vayle of widdowhood
it ill becomes a beautie of yr yeares
a married Virgin too, yr bridall Roabes,
I thinke neare saw as yet a second sunn,

Phy.
Wee shall appeare as best befitts the tyme

Ruf.
A time oft wisht for by [Martius] «C»oud—a«ni»e Madam

Phy.
A bankett and some wine, please you my Lords,
to tast such homely Cates as the howse yeilds,

Ruf.
Yr prodigall in all things, but in vice,

Arm:
This mans malevolent in my Aspect
I looke to heare the Raven croake some newes
thats balefull ers departure, tis strange else,

Phy.
pray seat you lords, weele beare you company
but with small stomache to tast any foode

Arm.
Thou art all goodnes, Vertues patterne right,
showes loue ene to her greatest enimies,

Lear.
Will not you sitt Armanus

Arm.
No my Lords
I am my freinds sole Steward, and my care
consists in yr free welcome,

Ru:
You are kind sir
and worthy such a freind, heere and in hell,
whither ile quickly send yee

Ent. Flauia
Fla:
Newes, newes, newes,

Phy
Thou neuer comest without, good theres no question

Ruf.
What ist Flauia,

Fla:
A foole and like yr lordship, a meere asse
that thinkes himselfe a wondrous wise man,
a pollititian too

Arm.
Grammercy Wenche
that iest shall purchase a new Gowne from mee,

Fla:
It tis Sr Pergamus returnd from Campe
ere hee was halfe way there, holding vps snoute
like a Sowe smelling the winde, his mightie Dwarfe
loaded with all his spoyles and Victories,
which must hang vpp for trophes,

Lear.
And hee by 'em

Fla:
if honor take not place tis like he may

Ruf.
I prethee bring em in his mirth may proue
better di[«s»]gestion then a Doctors pill

Fla:
Bring him in, I warrant yee theres none can keepe
him out, if he hears talke but of a bankett once

Leon.
Wee shall heere wondrous stories doubtles

Ru:
the best wilbe some newes of Tullius
that may bring ioy to you, the warriour Comes

Ent. Sr Per. & Dind—
Sr Per.
when sound[,] the Drum & Trumpets
that should tell, wee are returnd in triumph,

Dwa:
by and by Sir,
the haue run so fast sr to gape after vs
the haue not recouerd breath yett,

Sr Per.
Dindimus be sure to second what so ere I say
and sweare it to profoundly

Dwa:
I warrant you sr.
Stampe you and stare, let me alone to sweare

Sr Per.
All haile,

Lear.
he begins to storme alreadie,

Ruf
Sr Pergamus welcome to Roome braue knight,

Sr Per.
You haue cause to bid vs welcome for you see
wee haue brought home the spoiles of Victorie,

Dwa:
the'aue spoyld mee I'me sure, such an other loade
would make mee a Dwarfe all daies of my life

Leon.
What honord Trophes has yr Vallor Wonne
pray relate Sr Pergamus,

Sr Per.
the first part
of a bold Souldier is to eate you knowe

Ruf.
thats true indeede pray fall too Sr Pergamus

Dwa.
I am my mr s second

Sr Per
forbeare Dindimus,
wee shalbe thought vnmannerly, therefore first
weele finishe our discourse, onely reserue
a modicum to relish in the interim,

Lear.
nay [ta«k»] pray take all [this pie] Sr Pergamus

Sr Per.
by no meanes

Leon:
now for your braue exploytes

Sr Per.
behold this sheild

Dwa:
Wee bought it at an Armorers

Sr Per.
this from the Arme of bold Arminius
the stoutest champion of the Sabinets
when on my launces point from his horse back
I bort som three speares length, fell to the ground,
wc h Dindimus tooke vpp, in that carere
ere I could stay my Neapolitan stead
vnhorst some fifteene more,

omnes
oh wonderfull

Dwa:
Nay this is nothing yett,

Sr Per.
see you this tale

Dwa:
I cutt it from a dead horse, that can now
neither wighee nor wagtaile

Sr Per.

Dw:
thankes noble and renowned Sr Pergamus

Sr Per.
but here vewe this the Standard of the foe

Dw:
it cost Ten dragmaes at a painters shopp

Sr P:
This standing in the middle of the hoast
I with my Page before mee,

Dwa:
I went first

Sr Per.
Made such a Lane amongest the thickest troupes
that twenty men a brest might followe mee
and brought this Ensigne there by force of armes

omnes
ist possible

Dwa:
By mars great toe tis true,

Leon
and yet you scap't vnhurt

Sr Per.
and free as yow see

Lear
Tis most horrible

Ruf.
But all this while what did the Generall

Sr Per.
he fought vpon the other side othe feild
but when the fled wee mett, and ioynd our force
to beat 'em in tooth Towne, the bard there gates
which wee as easily tore vnto the Earth
as I this Tower of martsh pane, so wee enterd
wee onely staid there to refresh our selues
and so came poasting home to bring the newes

Arm.
It tis a Worthy storie and deserues
a recompence boue bountie

Sr Per
Cates wee scorne
heres thats more worth, then gold or pretious stone
my smug fact Flauia, for whose louely sake
these hard aduentures I did vndertake

Ruf.
She cannot but requite you
ist a match

Fla:
With all my hart, the foole has Wealth enough
thoe he wants witt, whome I like fares the better

Ruf
I will ad something too't for our good mirth

Arm.
Ile see thou shalt not want sweete Flauia

Sr Per.
And are wee mett, Ring bells and bonfires flame
go Dindimus this nuptiall straight proclaime
come they that will vnto or wedding feast
for there wilbe a hundreth geese at least

Exent
Lear.
Lady I feare weare too long troblesome
thanks for our entertaine,

Phy.
Welcome thats all

Arm
this foole speakes comfort Learchus heere
saies there is some speach of his victory

Ruf.
Yes ouer death, tis true
he has wonne that fort Armanus

Arm:
howe

Ruf.
Vpon my life most certaine he is slaine
but none dares whisper it vnto the Kinge
nor would I haue yr tonge the dolefull Bell
to ring it in her eares, but seeke some way
in smoothest termes which way to publish it
Im'e studying how to breake it to the Kinge
but not before to morrowes triumphs end:

Arm:
Rufinus is a Villin and I feare,
[s]this is some hellish stratagem of his
ayming at Tullius life thus to diuulge
his death ere it be acted, swift as thought
ile fly vnto the Campe, if there be plotts
my notice may preuent trechery,

Phy
Whethers Armanus posted in such hast

[Ruf] Arm
Vnto the Court Ru where wee must after him
there some important busines of State
to bee debated on, Madam adeiw,
small thankes must now suffice for yr great loue
thinke of to morrowes triumphs

Exit Lords
Phy
To my death
I'de go triumphantly, oh Tullius
this is the latest night that thou canst stay
be it for euer night: eres day bright eye,
see mee disroabd of my pure Chastitie,

Exit.