 | Lady alimony |  |
Act. 3.
Scen. 1.
Enter two Citizens.1. Citizen.
Is it for certain that the Dukes voyage holds for
Salamanca?
2. Citizen.
No doubt on't: his resolution is so
firmly fixt, no motion can decline it. And if we may
credit Fame, which seldom errs in all, though it exceed in
many; never was Fleet more bravely rig'd, better prepar'd,
nor with more Military strength furnish'd, nor more
virile spirits accompanied, nor by more expert Commanders
at any time since the Battel of Lepanto conducted.
1. Citizen.
It was thought he would not personnally
have ingaged himself in this adventure: but have deputed
some experienc'd General for perfecting this grand design:
and imposing a final period to an Action of such
high consequence.
2. Citizen.
'Tis true; but those many aggrievances, aggravated
with numerous Petitions presented by our Sivil
Merchants, wrought such strong effects upon the sweet
compassionate nature of the good Duke; as that endeared
resentment which he retain'd upon those Merchants
relation, touching the infinitely surcharging losses which
they had suffered though the hostile Pyracy of the Salamancans,
as he made a solemn Vow to ingage himself in
their quarrel: and either revenge the injuries and indignities
they had sustained, or seal his just desires with the sacrifice
of his dearest life.
1. Citizen.
Were the Merchant losses great?
2. Citizen.
In Shipping infinite: and by Accomptants
of approved trust, computed to many millions: for besides
Vessels of lesser burthen in one Sea-voyage being driven
by contrary winds upon the Coasts of Calabria, they
lost at one time “the Panther, Libard, Bugle, Antilope,
Caracts of great and formidable sail: such as would have
been dispers'd and weakned by violent tempests: Besides,
the unexpected Herocane, which dash'd all the endeavours
of the best Pilots that all their Fleet afforded: yet reduced
to this strait and sad exigent, they found no Islander so
compassionate as to pitty their deplorable Condition: but
rather such as were ready to adde fresh affliction to their
late suffering, by seizing on whatsoever remained estimable
in their forelorn Vessels: and exposing them without
the least remonstrance of humanity or civil hospitality to
the mercy of the winds. This it was which winged the
Duke to this Expedition: chusing, as report goes, the
Revenge for his Ship of War, and that onely man of War,
wherein he means to steer his course, return his errand and
requite his Quarrel.
1. Citizen.
The Duke's a Person of a gallant spirit.
2. Citizen.
I dare affirm it Sir; that the State of Sivil
was never with more prowess, prudence, nor Martial Policy
at any time mannaged; which not onely his prosperous
exploits abroad, then which none more successive:
but likewise his vigilant care and, command at home may
sufficiently manifest. For his late Declaration under his
Great Seal has discovered the incompatable zeal he had of
serving both Court and City: in commanding all such
useless and incommodious Weeds, as Trapanners Tarpaulins,
with all our abusively intitled Hectors, that they should
by a peremptory day depart the City and Line of Communication
in relation to the Court: since which time,
they have resolved for want of better supplies to hazard
the remainder of their broken Fortunes upon a desperate
adventure for Tunis.
1. Citizen.
In such glorious designs levelling at honour,
they declare themselves really Hectors.
Enter a Mariner.
2. Citizen.
What news Segasto?
Mariner.
The Duke's upon his march: and near approaching.
1. Cit.
How quick's his Spirit to redress our wrongs!
Scen. 2.
Trumpets and Kettle-drums sounding, with other Martial Musick usually observed in that Countrey.Enter Duke Eugenio, Officers and Souldiers; with Colours display'd.
Duke.
Thus far on our address: may prosperous gales
Breath on our Sails: Sails on our just designs
In vindicating of our Countreys fame
Too long impair'd by suffring injuries;
Till which redrest our Honour lies at stake
And we made Aliens to our own estate.
March on then bravely that it may appear
“Our Courage can revenge as well as hear.
They march over the Stage with Trumpets, Fifes, Drums and Colours.
Manentibus Civibus.
1. Cit.
This gallant resolve of the Duke pursu'd with
such alacrity can never be sufficiently admir'd; and to ingage
his Person too in so perillous adventure—
2. Cit.
And all this in vindication of the Merchants
honour and their Interest.
1. Cit.
Trust me, he appears bravely.
2. Cit.
His disposition from his youth foretold
What's manhood would assay—whence comes this noise?
Enter Boy.
Boy.
Room for our Bravo's, Cadets; they march along in
ranks and fyles. Their pockets grow shallow, the Taverns
and Ordinaries, they vow to be Infidels, so as they have
inlisted themselves Souldiers of fortune.
1. Cit.
These be those Trapanners, whom the Duke has
proscribed, or I mistake it.
Scen. 3.
Enter Captain, Tripanners, Terpaulins, with other Runnagado's orderly marching. And in the reer, Benhadad a Quaker.With Tobacco Pipes.
1. Tripan.
Rouze Buckets and Tubbs.—Hey for Tunis
and Argiers.
Captain.
Keep your ranks my Comrades, and fight valiantly.
What else Captain, we cheated before for
nothing, and now having nothing we mean to fight for
something.
3. Tripan.
'Slid Bullies, I think the Duke has done us a
pleasure.
1. Tripan.
Pray thee, how Boy?
3. Tripan.
Ile tell thee, the short and long on't: Before,
if any of us had been so valiant, as few of us were, as to
borrow money on the High way, we were sometimes
forc'd to repay it at the Gibbet: but the world is turn'd
upside down; if we get it, we may keep it, and never answer
for it.
1. Tripan.
Hey Boy, art thou in that Lock?—But noble
Land prisado, let us have a Sea-Sonnet before we lanch
forth in our Adventure Frigot. They say the Syrens love
singing.
Captain.
Agreed Wags: but which shall we have?
1. Tripan.
That old Catch of Tunis and Argiers; good
Captain, it suits best with our voyage.
Captain.
To't then my Hectors; and keep your Close as
you do your march. The Syrens will not relish you if you
sing out a tune.
The Sea-Song.
Capt.
Great is our want, small be our joyes;
Let's then some voyage take in hand
Come follow me my Boyes, come follow me,
And if thou dye, I'le dye with thee.
And Children some as well as thou,
Yet who can see his Brats to starve
So long as he has strength to serve?
Come follow me my Cubbs, come follow me,
And if thou dye, I'le dye with thee.
Arabian Silks and Sables pure
Would make an Haggard stoop to th'lure.
Come follow me, &c.
Let's fight as if we feared nought,
If Bullets fly about our ears
Let's laugh at death and banish fears.
Come follow me, &c.
But thou must needs enjoy thy Wench,
If thou my Boy such pleasure crave
A dainty Doxie thou shalt have.
Come follow me, &c.
Let Sivil fame what we have done,
Wee'd better ten times fight a Foe
Then once for all to Tyburn go.
Come follow me, &c.
This Calm portends a prosperous day,
When we return it shall be said
That by our voyage we are made.
Come follow me, &c.
Inclose our ashes in an urn,
And with them spice a Wassal-Cup,
And to Good Fellows drink it up.
Come follow me, &c.
And stoutly set their foot unto't,
No doubt they shall enrolled be
Ith' Book of Fame as well as we.
Come follow me spruce Sprigs, come follow me,
And if thou fall I'le fall with thee.
An Health Cup in the Leaders hand.
Tar-paulin.
Where you as stoutly stood unto't,
Doubt not, you shall recorded be
Ith' Book of Fame as well as we.
March after me, &c.
Your Legs can stand upon no ground,
Fear not, Brave Blades, but you shall be
Sworn Brothers made as well as we.
March after me, &c,
Nor quaint Inscriptions on our Grave;
A simple Shroud's a Souldiers share,
Which if He want, he needs not care:
March after me, &c.
Which if we want, the Care is past.
This done, to think of us were just,
Who drink not, yet as dry as dust:
March after me, &c.
Discharge with Chalk the Hoastess Score,
And if the Hussy challenge more,
Charm th'maundring Gossip with your rore.
March after me, wee'l frolick be,
And if thou dye, Ile dye with thee.
Scen. 4.
Benhadad furiously accoasts them.Benhadad.
I proclaim you all Edomites; Dragooners
of Dagon; Ding-dongs of Dathan:—A generation of
Vipers.—
No, Father Berhadad, your gravity is mistaken
grosly, we are rather A generation of
Smoaking Tobacco.
Pipers.
2. Tripan.
Go to Holy Benhadad, stand you to your
Calling as we to our Arms. Thou art for converting the
Great Turk, and we for lining our Pockets with Tunis
gold. Where if we get our design, hold to thy Principles,
but no farther then thou canst maintain them; and we
shall create thee our Houshold Chaplain.
Enter Mariner.
To Sea, to Sea; the Winds are prosperous.
Captain.
And may we prosper with them.—So farewell
Sivil and her dainty Doxes,
All.
Ran tan; hey for Tunis and Argiers.
Exeunt, Colours displaid, with Fifes and Drums.
1. Cit.
Such was the Dukes care to remove these Weeds,
Whose fatal growth might choak maturer Seeds.
2. Cit.
Good Governors wise Gard'ners imitate,
These chear their Plants; those steer a planted State.
Exeunt.
Trillo
from the high Gallery.
I cannot, Gentlemen, contain my self;
—Timon thy Genius has surpast it self;
Thy Sceane is richly various:—preaze on still,
These Galleries applaud thy Comick skill.
He takes his Seat again.
Scen. 4.
Enter Constable and Watch in rug Gowns, Bills and Dark Lanthorns.Constable.
Come along with your horns, my Lads of
metal. It was the Dukes pleasure before his departure,
that we should be appointed the Sinks and Sentinels of
the City, and that none should have ingress, egress or regress
but by our especial authority and favour.—But
harm watch, harm catch; for my part since I crept into
this office, I am woven into such a knot of good fellowship,
as I can watch no more then a Dormouse: nay, I
am verily perswaded if I hold Constable long, the Deputy
let me advise you, my Birds of the Capital, that you walk
not after my Example: be it your care to watch while I
sleep. Many eyes are upon you; but my eyes grow heavy;
my dayes society bids me take a nap.
Watch.
But one word, good Master, before you drop
into your slumber: Report goes that there be Spirits that
petroul familiarly in this Century; what shall we say to
them, if they pass by?
Constable.
Bid them stand.
Watch.
But what if they either cannot or will not?
Constable.
Let them then take themselves to their heels:
and thank God you are so well rid of them.
Watch.
One word more good Constable, and then good
night.—Be these the Spirits that allure our Children with
spice and trinckets to their Skippers, and so convey them
to th'Barmoudes?
Constable.
In no wise Neighbours; these Spirits come
from the Low Countreys: and though at the first sight very
frightful, yet appearing unarm'd they become less
fearful.
1. Watch.
Nay, if these pretty Familiars come to our
Guard naked, we shall prove hard enough for them.
2. Watch.
Well, Neighbour Rugweed, let us not presume
too far on our strength: These Spirits be a dangerous
kinde of Whifflers: and like our Robin Good Fellows
will play their Legerdemain tricks, scudding here and
there in a trice: and nimbly snap you when least suspected.
Scen. 5.
Enter Gallerius Ghost.Leaving an Erra Pater in my Tomb,
To take a view which of my Fellows be
The thrivingst Artists in Astronomy.
Rank one by one in Astrologick row,
And dying see whom thou didst living know.
As thou deserv'st, the sole Prerogative:
For thy divining lines have purchas'd more
Then all our prime Professors got before.
Jason won much at Colchos, but thy gain
Has linkt thy shoulders in a Swedish Chain.
Rich Divination! But what's knowledge worth,
If People do not credit what's set forth?
This was Cassandra's loss: whom we allow
And hold a Prophetess as true as thou;
But not so well believ'd:—take heed my Blade,
Thy late Predictions cannot retrograde,
And give thine erring Notions such a check,
As they unlink that chain which decks thy neck.
Signs sometimes change their influence we see,
I wish the like Event befall not thee.
The Golden Number and Saturnian line
Have been propitious to thee all thy time:
Thy Sayes held Oracles: thy Observations
For Death, War, Weather held by forreign Nations
As positive Maximes: yet one Critical point
Will throw this artful Fabrick out a joynt.
Dog dayes each year affords, if thou finde none,
Thy Fortune's clearer far then any One.
Let me then caution thee divining Crinon,
Lest thy own Bosom prove thy treach'rous Sinon,
Let not opinion make thy judgement erre,
“The Ev'ning Conquest crowns the Conqueror:
Hope of reward or one victorious Field
Is no firm ground for any one to build:
“May ill success cloath him with discontent,
That ballanceth the cause by the event.
Richly imbellish'd with a loyal Heart
Will not permit thy thoughts to stoop so low
As to pretend more then thy Notions know,
Or can attain to: Thou hast ta'ne content
With as much freedom under strait restraint.
Inwardly cheer'd when outwardly distrest.
I have much mus'd while thou converst with us
Of the Gradations oth' Celestial House,
Yet hadst none of thine own to shelter thee,
This was an humour that transported me,
To see a minde so large, and to discourse
As if he had got Fortunatus purse.
This caus'd me think that we did greatly err
In holding thee a meer Astrologer,
Though't be a sacred-secret Speculation
And highly meriting our admiration:
But rather some rare Stoick, well content
With his estate how e're the World went.
Yet when I saw thine artificial Scheme
Exactly drawn, as none of more esteem,
I wondred much how such choice Art could want,
Unless the whole world were grown ignorant.
Thy farming life had drawn thee to a Team,
Preferring th'Culture of an Husbandman
Before a needful Astrologian,
Who in this thankless Age may pine and dye
Before he profit by Astronomy,
For though I must confess an Artist can
Contrive things better then another man,
Yet when the task is done, He findes his pains
Sought but to fill his belly with his brains.
Is this the guerdon due to Liberal Arts
T'admire the Head, and then to starve the Parts?
Timely prevention thou discreetly us'd
Before the fruits of Knowledge were abus'd.
“When Learning has incurr'd a fearful damp,
“To save our Oyl, 'tis good to quench our Lamp.
Rest then on thy injoyments, and receive
What may preserve a Life, reserve a Grave.
This with convenience may supply thy Store,
And logde thee with content; what wouldst thou more?
Pules like a Baby when he's forc'd to leave it.
For your improvement on your Table book;
Where you shall find how you bore once a Name
Both in the rank of Fortune and of Fame,
But others rising to an higher merit
Darkned that splendor which you did inherit,
Or those mistakes which caus'd you erre so far
As your late years have prov'd Canicular:
To waste more paper I would never have you,
For I'm resolv'd your Book will never save you,
Nor you from it receive a benefit,
Suppress then, Pray thee, thy leaf-falling Wit;
Merlins Collections will not serve thy turn,
Retire, retire, and slumber in mine Urn.
Dotage has chill'd thy brain, in silence sleep,
“Hee's wise enough that can his Credit keep.
It is your fate to nestle in a Clime
Of disadvantage; wisdom bids you build
Where you may dwell; and sowe in such a field
Where you may reap the harvest you have sown,
“Arts unimprov'd are to no purpose shown.
Those onely may be truly said to know
Whose Knowledge payes their Countrey what they owe:
And with the Bee, from labour never cease
Till they have stor'd their Hives with sweet increase.
Which thriving industry infus'd by nature
In such a small Political a Creature,
Might by a Native Modul render thee
Conducts of Science in Astrology:
For the accounts it as a fruitless toil
To brouze on Suckets in a barren soil.
And to your scatter'd Nest some feathers bring:
Though popular esteem afford delight,
It cannot satisfie the appetite.
Nor sate the Stomack when it stands in need.
This was mine own condition;—while I liv'd
I to the highest pitch of Fame arriv'd;
All the Rialto founded with my praise,
Yet silence shrouded this within few dayes.
For after some few Funeral tears were shed,
My memory dy'd, before tears went to bed.
Yea, in my life time, when my state grew low,
My fame found none she would conduct me to:
And let this caution thee;-though thou swell great
In mens conceit this will not get thee melt:
“The onely means to raise friends, fame and store
“Is to make Industry thy Providore.
I would not touch them, lest I should too much
Impeach their branded fames: one word for all,
As their disgrace is great, their knowledge small:
Let these Dæmonicks practise less in Black
It will discolour all their Almanack.
How Ladies with their Husband suit Below!
Those frolick Girles I mean, and of none els,
Who were induc'd by mine and Crinons Spells
To chuse strange Bed-fellows:—Pray tell me how,
Meph.
All out of joynt: they've left their Husbands bed.
Gallerius.
By this it seems they were not rightly wed;
There was no Justice in't: for if there had,
Should they break loose, they would be judged mad.
—But now mine hour approacheth, I must pass
Down to that vault where late I lodged was.
Fix Mephistophilus this on that Gate,
That those who knew me may collect my Fate.
Mephistophilus having fixed this Inscription on the Portal of the Gate, they descend.
Enter Watch distraughtedly letting fall their Lanthorns.
Watch.
Spirits, Spirits, Spirits.
Enter Constable rubbing his eyes.
Constable.
Where, where, where?
Watch.
Here, there, and every where.
Now in the Porters Lodge, then in the Ayr.—
Constable.
A foutra for such ranging Mawkins.—I'le
tell you fellow Officers, for I have been since my weining
sufficiently school'd in the Office of a Constable; that we
have no Legislative power (do you mark me) to commit
any Person be he never so notorious a Delinquent, if he
fly, or as our Falconers say, mount up into th'Ayr; we are
not bound to follow him, neither to attach nor commit
him; and why sayes the Law? because it is not in our
power to catch him. But if he strut in the street, you may
command him to come before me the Constable, as I am
the Representave Body of the Duke; or before your
selves, being the Representave Body of your Constable:
and if the Person so taken remain under safe Custody, and
he fly, if you overtake him by speed of foot, or by help of
the Belmans Mungrel, you may by the Law of Arms lay
him by th'Heels.
And so dismiss the Watch.
Exeunt.
Scen. 6.
Enter Sir Amadin Puny, Sir Jasper Simpleton, Sir Arthur Heartless, Sir Gregory Shapeless, Sir Tristram Shorttool, Sir Reuben Scattergood.Sir Reub.
Doubt nothing, my fellow-Knights of Hornsey;
the Plot is so neatly and nimbly laid, as it cannot but
hold stitch.
All.
But be the Favourites Suits got, Sir Reuben?
Sir Reuben.
They are brought to our Lodgings already.
Pages our Coyes by the influence of a white Powder;
which has wrought so powerfully on their tender pulse,
as they have engaged themselves ours back and edge.
—Sunt muner a vincula servis.
Sir Tristram.
'Tis true; but how shall we pursue this
Project; that we may act to purpose, what your Ingenuity
has contriv'd?
Sir Reuben.
Leave that to me; be it your care to follow
my direction, and if I make not these Haxters as
hateful to our Hussies, as ever they were to us who were
their Husbands; set me up for a Jack-a-Lent, or a Shrove-Cock
for every Boy to throw at. The Net is spread, and
if they scape the nouze, they must have more eyes then
their own to discover it.
Sir Amadin.
Excellent, excellent; I long till I be at
work.
Sir Reuben.
It will admit no delay, Sir Amadin, I assure
you. We have not over-watcht this night to no purpose:
this very morning by times we must be fitted with our
Properties: and with a scornful neglect pass by that Rendezvouz,
where our gamesome Ladies expect their youthful
Platonicks.
Sir Gregory.
Revenge to me's far sweeter then to live.
All.
Too't, too't, for loves sake let us too't.
Sir Reuben.
The Plot is laid with such industrious skill,
If this take not, I do not know what will.
Exeunt.
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