University of Virginia Library

Actus Tertius

Enter Gouianus with his Ladye. and a servaunt.
Gouia.
what is he?

Servant.
An owld lord come from the Courte

Goui
he should bee wise, by's yeares, he will not dare
to come about such busines, tis not mans worke,
ar't sure he desirde conferrence wt h thy ladie?

Ser.
sure sir

Gou.
faith thow'rt mistook, tis wt h me certaine
lets do the man no wrong, goe, know it trulie sir

Ser.
this' a straunge humour we must know thinges twice—

Exit
Gou.
ther's no man is so dull, but he will weigh
the worke he vndertakes, and sett about it
een in the best sobrietie of his Iudgemt
wt h all his scences watchfull, then his guilt
does equall his for whome tis vndertaken,—what saies he now?

Enter Servaunt.
Ser.
eene as he said at first sir
h'as busines to my ladie from the kinge

Gou.
still from the kinge, he will not come neer? will he?

Ser.
yes when he knowes he shall sir

Gou.
I cannot thinck it
let him be tride

Ser.
small triall will serue him, I warraunt you sir

Gou.
sure honesty has left man, has feare forsooke him?
yes faith, ther is no feare where ther's no grace.

Lad
what waie shall I devize to gi[ue hi]'m his answer
deniall is not stronge enoughe to serue sir

Go
no, t'must haue other helpes—I see he dares.
Enter Sophonirus
o Patience, I shall loose a frend [a frend] of thee

So:
I bringe thee pretious ladie this deere stone
and comendations from the kinge my master

Gou.
I set before thee panderous lord this steele
and much good doo't thy hart, fall to, and spare not,

Lady.
las what haue you donne my lord

Goui
why sent a Bawde [home]
home to his lodginge, nothing ells sweet hart,

Soph.
well you haue kild me sir, and ther's an end,
but you'le get nothing by the hand, my lord
when all yor cardes are counted, ther be Gamsters
not farr of, will set vpon the wynner
and make a poore lord on you, ere th'aue left you,
Ime fetcht in like a foole to paye the reckninge
yet y'oule saue nothinge by'te

Goui
what riddle's this

Soph.
ther she standes by thee now, who yet ere midnight
must lie by the kinges side

Gou.
who speakes that lye

Soph.
one howre will make it true, she cannot scape
no more then I from death, y'aue a great gaine on't
and you look well about you, thats my comfort,
the howse is rownd beset wt h Armed men
that knowe their tyme, when to break in, & ceaze [on] her

Lady.
my lord

Gou.
tis boldlie donne to troble me
when I'ue such busines to dispatch, wt hin there

Enter Servus.
my lord

Gou.
look out, and tell me what thow seest

Sopho
how quicklie now my death wilbe revengde
befor the kinges first sleep, I depart laughinge
to thinck vpon the deed

Goui
tis thy banquet
downe villaine to thy euerlasting weepinge
that canst reioice so in the rape of Vertue
and singe light tunes in Tempests, when neer shipwrackt,
Enter Seruant
and haue no planck to saue vs—now Sr—quicklie
wc h waye so ere I cast myne eye my lord
out of all partes o'th howse, I maie see fellowes
gatherd in Companies and all whisperinge
like men for trecherie busie;

Lady.
tis confirmd

Seru.
their eyes still fixt vpon the dores and windowes

Goui
I thinck thow'st neuer donne, thow lou'st to talke on't
tis fine discourse, pry thee finde other busines

Seru.
nay I am gon, Ime a man quicklie sneapt—

Exit
Goui.
has flatterd me wt h safetie for this howre,

Lady.
haue you leisure to stand idle why my lord,
it is for me they com̄e

Gou
for thee, my glorie
the ritches of my youth, it is for thee

Lady.
then is yor care so cold, will you be robde
and haue such warninge of the theeues? come on sir,
fall to yor busines, laie yor handes about you
do not thinck scorne to worke; a Resolut Captaine
will rather flinge the treasure of his barke
into Whales throates then Pirats should be gorgd wt h't,
Be not less man then he, thow art master yet
and alls at thy disposinge, take thy tyme
prevent myne enemye, awaie wt h me
let me no more be seene; I'me like that Treasure
daungerous to him that keepes it, rid thy handes on't,

Goui
I cannot loose thee so

Lady.
shall I be taken
and lost the crewellst waie, then wouldst thow curse
that loue, that sent forth pittie to my life,
too late thow wouldst,

Goui
oh this extremitie
hast thow no waye to scape em, but in sowle?
Must I meet peace in thy destruction
or will it nere come at me:
Tis a most miserable waye to get it,
I had rather be content to liue wt hout it
then paye so deer for't, and yet lose it too;

Lady.
Sir you do nothinge, thers no valour in you
y'are the worst frend to a ladie in affliction
that euer loue made his Companion;
for honor s sake dispatch me, thy owne thoughtes
should stirr thee to this act more then my weaknes
the Sufferer should not doo't, I speake thy parte
dull and forgetfull man, and all to help thee:
Is it thy mynde to haue me ceazd vpon
and borne wt h violence to the tyrants bedd
there forc'st vnto the lust of all his daies?

Goui
oh no, thow liu'st no longer now I thinck on't
I take thee at all hazard

Lady.
o Staye, hold sir

Goui
Ladie what had you made me donne now
you neuer cease, till you prepare me cruell gainst my heart
and then you turn't vpon my hand and mock me.

Lady.
Cowardlie flesh
thow showst thy faintnes still, I felt thee shake
eene when the storme cam neere thee, thow'rt the same,
but twas not for thy feare I put death bye,
I had forgott a chief and worthy busines
whose straung neglect would haue made me forgotten
wher I desire to be remembred most,
I wilbe readie straite Sr

Goui
o poore Ladie
why might not shee expire now in that prayer
since she must die, and neuer trie worse waies;
tis not so happie, for we often see
condempnd men sick to death, yet tis their fortune
to recouer to their execution
and rise againe in health, to set in shame?
what if I steale a death vnseene of her now
and close vp all my miseries, wt h myne eyes?—oh fye
and leaue her here alone, that were vnmanlie,

Lady.
My lord be now as sodaine as you please sir
I am ready to yor hand,

Goui
but thats not readie;
tis the hardest worke that euer man was put to,
I know not wc h waie to begin to come toot,
belieue me I shall neuer kill thee well
I shall but shame my self, it were but follie
deere sowle to boast of more then I can performe,
I shall not haue the power to doe thee right in't,
thow deseru'st death wt h speed, a quick dispatche
the paine but of a twincklinge, and so sleep,
If I doote I shall make thee liue to longe
and so spoile all that waye, I pry thee excuse me

Lady.
I should not be disturbd, and you did well sir,
I haue preparde my self for rest and silence
and tooke my leaue of wordes, I am like one
removing from her howse, that lockes vp all
and rather then she would displace her goodes
makes shifte wt h any thinge for the tyme shee staies,
then looke not for more speech, th'extremity speakes
Knock
ynoughe to serue vs both had we no tongues —hark—

With in
Lord Sophonirus?

Goui.
wc h hand shall I take?

Lady
art thow yet ignoraunt, ther is no waie
but throughe my bosome

Goui
must I loose thee then.

Lady
th'are but thine enem̄ies that tell thee so
his lust may part me from thee, but Death neuer
thow canst not loose me ther, for dyinge thine
Knock
thow doest enioye me still, kinges cannot rob thee

With in.
do you here my lord

Lady
is it yet tyme or no?
honor remember thee

Goui
I must, come prepare thy self.—

Runs at her and falles by the way in a Sound.
Lady
neuer more deerly wellcome
Alas sir
my lorde, my loue,—o thow poore spirited man
hees gon before me, did I trust to thee
and hast thow seru'd me so? left all the worke
vpon my hand, and stole awaie so smoothlie
ther was not equall suffering showne in this,
and yet I cannot blame thee, Euerie man
would seek his rest, eternall peace sleep wt h thee,
thow art my servaunt now, com̄e thow hast lost
a fearefull master, but art now preferd
vnto the service of a resolute ladie
one that knowes how to imploye thee, and scornes death
as much as SOME [great] men feare it, wher's hells ministers?
KNOCK
the Tyrants watche and guard? tis of much worthe
when wt h this key the prisoner can slip forthe—

Kills her self
Goui
how now? what noice is this? I heard dores beaten
A great knocking agen.
wher['s] are my servauntes? let men knock so lowde
their master cannot sleep

With in.
the tyme's expirde
and weele break in my lord,

Goui
ha whers my sword
I had forgot my busines —o tis donne
and neuer was beholding to my hand
was I so harde to thee so respectles of thee
to put all this to thee, why it was more
then I was able to performe my self
wt h all the courage that I could take to me,
it tirde me, I was faine to fall, and rest;
And hast thow valiaunt woman overcom̄e
thy honors enemies wt h thine owne white hand
wher Virgin-Victory sitts all, wt hout help,
eternall praise goe wt h thee;—Spare not now
make all the hast you can.—Ile plant this Bawde
against the dore, the fittest place for him
that when wt h vngouernd weapens they rush in
blinded wt h furie, they may take his death
into the purple nomber of their deedes
Knock wt hin
and wipe it of from myne;—how now forbeare
my lordes at hand

Within
my lord, and ten lordes more
I hope the kinges officers are aboue em all

Goui
life what do you doe, take heed—bless the old man—
Enter the Fellows well weopend.
my lord, All Ass my lord, hees gon

2
[heart,] farewell he then
we haue no eyes to pierce thoroughe inch bordes
twas his owne follie, the kinge must be serud
and shall, the best is we shall nere be hangd for't,
thers such a nomber guiltie

[Goui]
poor my lord

1
he went some twice Embassador, and behau'd him self
so wittilie in all his actions

2
my lord whats shee

Goui
let me see
what should she bee Now I remember her
o she was a worthy Creature
before distruction grew so inward wt h her

1
well for her worthines, that's no worke of ours
you haue a ladie sir, the kinge[s] comaundes her
to Court wt h speed, and we must force her thether

Goui
Alas sheel neuer striue wt h you, she was borne
een wt h the spirrit of meeknes,—ist for the kinge

1
for his owne royall and most gratious lust
or let me nere be trusted

Goui
take her then

2
Spoke like an honest subiect by my trothe
ide do the like my self to serue my prince
wher is shee sir

Gou
looke but vpon y'on face
then do but tell me wher you thinck she is

2.
[life] shees not here

Gou.
shees yonder

1
faith shees gon
wher we shall nere come at her, I see that

Goui
no nor thy master neither; now I praise
her resolucōn, tis a tryvmphe to me
when I see those about her.

2.
how came this sir
the kinge must knowe

Goui
from y'on old fellowes pratlinge
all your intents he reveald largelie to her
and she was trobled wt h a foolish pride
to stand vpon her honor, and so dyed,
[twas a straunge trick of her, few of yor ladies]
[in ordnary will beleiue it, they abhor it]
[theile sooner kill them selues wt h lust, then for it;]

1.
we haue donne the kinge good service to kill him
more then we were aware on, but this newes
will make a madd court, twill be a hard office
to be a fflatterer now, his grace will rvnne
into so many moodes th'erl be no finding on him
as good seeke a wild hare wt hout a hownd now,
a vengeance of yor babling, these old fellowes
will hearken after secrets as their liues
but keep em in, een as they keep their wiues

Exeunt Manet Gouianus
All.
we haue watcht fairlye.

Goui
what a comfort tis
to see em gon wt hout her, [faith she told me]
[her euerlasting sleep would bringe me ioye]
[yet I was still vnwilling to belieue her]
[her life was so sweet to me; like some man]
[in tyme of sicknes that would rather wish]
[(to please his fearefull flesh) his former health]
[restord to him then death, when after triall,]
[if it were possible ten thowsand worldes]
[could not entice him to returne agen]
[and walke vpon the earth from whence he flew;]
[So stood my wish, ioyde in her life and breath]
[now gon, ther is no heav'ne but after death ]
Come thow delitious treasure of mankinde
to him that knowes what vertuous woman is,
and can discreetlie loue her, the whole worlde
yeildes not a Iewell like her, Ransack rockes
and Caves beneath the deep,—o thow faire Springe
of honest and religious desyres,
fowntaine of weepinge honor, I will kisse thee
after deathes marble lip, thow'rt cold ynoughe
to lie entombd now by my fathers side
wt hout offence in kinred ther ile place thee
wt h one I lou'de the deerest next to thee,
help me to mourne all that loue Chastitie—

Exit.