 | The Two Noble Ladies |  |
4
A Trage-comicall Historie often tymes acted wth approbation At the Red Bull in St: Johns Streete By the Company of ye Reuells
Act. i.
Sce. 1.
Alarm, then Flourish and [Sh] Shout within.Enter Iustina flying, Doron wounded meets her.
Iustina.
O spare my life, seeke not a virgins bloud.
Doron.
O fly faire Lady, [co]flie the respectlesse sword
of this blood-stayn'd Ægyptian.
Iustina.
If my life
must need be forfited, [t]yet make my death
lesse fearfull by the mercie of a stroke
that with a suddain speed may make me earth.
Doron.
Collect your selfe deare Lady: violent feare
does much abuse you, you mistake your sight.
Iustina speakes not to an Egyptian
proudly pursuing conquest and his pray.
But to a Syrian, and your countreyman
of Antioch; distressed Antioch
that now is nothing but a flaming fier.
One rage consumes my countrey and your court.
The king is slayne; and braue Lysymachus
his valiant brother, and your princely father
is fall'n with him: so are my nearest frends.
each crie wee heare sends eccho's to our eares
of kinsmens gastly groanes, about vs fier
consumes the ancient honours of our land.
Iustina.
I did mistake thee frend: but thy report
of my deare fathers [death] fall, has chang'd my minde
from wishing life, to welcom fatall death.
send me some fierce Egyptian thirsting bloud,
that he may send mee to my fathers rest:
that foe shall be my frend, and while I fall
Ile blesse the weapon that I die withall.
Doron.
How fruitfull is fowle Mischeife! one ill fate
begets another quickly. princely maide,
you are the all that's left [of] o th'royall race
5
her glimpse of glorie, many yeares agoe
you know the kings young sonne was made away,
and you are now next in succession.
liue then a while a sparke of princely fier
rak'd vp in embers and conceald from sight.
Time may from you draw forth a [y] princely race
that may restore the state of Antioch.
Iustina.
what hope of honour, or what ioy of life
[that] can frendlesse sorrows giue mee? no, let death
[shorten] prevent my future miseries.
Doron.
Alas,
the wretched call for death, but when he comes
the strongest sorrow cannot brooke his lookes.
Lady, I Doron am that serv'd the king,
and for his sake receiv'd these wounds in fight.
I know not why I should escape with life
vnlesse [it weare to rescue you from] to saue Iustina from foule death.
And sure 'tis heau'ns decree, then put not by
such mercie offer'd, lest you greiue the saints.
Iustina.
Indeed I am a Christian, and must learne
not to despaire. but where's the way of life?
6
[I the road hard by, there lies a gall]
Wee'l flie to Babilon, and there vnknown
liue [till our] in obscuritie till clearer starres
shine our fortunes.
Shout within
harcke I heare at hand
the bloody foe fiercely pursues his chace.
ty vp our tongus and let our feet finde wings.
Iustina.
O fickle change ally'd to mortal things!
Exeunt.
Sce. 2.
Alarm still.Crie within, Kill Kill Kill. Enter Barebones (a poore Scholler) running.
Barebones.
Alas, Alas; These Gypseys tell vs our fortune the worst way,
and threaten our throats cutting. All the Cittie of Antioch is
become a bonefire: theres nothing but cutting and killing, and
neuer a constable to part the fray. 'tis time for mee to runne
and I could tell whither: pray heau'n I haue not lost some of my
limbs in running away. Let mee see, how many wings has a goose?
I should haue so many armes if I durst stay to tell them; and my
leggs too:[,] I doubt for haste, I haue left one of them behinde me
at the cobblers pulling on a new soald shoo.
within, Kill Kill Kill.
What againe? good Gypseys, if there be any mercie in you, let
mee liue as I am, Bare-Bones. Much studdy (though to little
purpose) has stoll'n away so much of my flesh, that my bones
are not worth the picking.
Alas, more yet? Ile runne into my masters studdy, and hide mee
in his inckehorne. O Mr. Mr. Mr.
Ciprian discovered at his booke.
Cyprian.
How now? what's the buisnes?
«B»arebones.
O absurditie to a scholler! aske the buisnes when it beats his eares
into a fearfull deafnes! why the cittie is taken, houses fier'd,
folkes kill'd, men grouell on their bellys, while women are layd
on their backes; and I the poorest puppie that is left, liue but
to bawle out my owne feares sensibly, while you sit senslesse.
7
Peace[,] fearfull coward; know'st thou [[illeg.]] not my arte
can tame the dreadfull'st danger, and surprize
the proud surprizer.
Barebones.
I know you can coniure; and you know that Gypseys can iuggle too.
Now if they should iuggle away your coniuring sticke, where are we
then? Therfore Ile hide mee ouer head and eares among your bookes
for there lies moste of your arte.
Alas, they come. sweet learning shelter mee now, and let vs die
frends that haue all our life been mortall enimies.
Hides him vnder the table.
Enter Lysander and Miranda with they swords drawne.
Lysander.
Come bould Miranda, wonder of thy sex;
Now w'haue got towring conquest by the wing
let's plucke her nak'd, and with her golden feathers
plume our victorious helmes.
Miranda.
Make Antioch
our despis'd slaue, while through her wayling streets
wee dragge her citizens. But what dull coward
is this, that while the cittie flames about him
sits poaring on a booke?
[OMITTED]
8
Well then, by vs is Nicomedia wonne,
High towr'd Damasco, and this Antioch;
and those that weare too proud to feare our furie
are humbled by our anger, and their liues
made yeild to death that scorn'd to yeild to vs.
Miranda.
May thy foes still be humbled to thy foote,
and the great Souldan to the bounds of Nile
bynde all the nations in a captive chayne,
till Rome that now rules vs give place [and] to you [command the world]
in the fift Monarchy to rule the world.
Souldan.
Miranda, thy celestiall lips haue spoke
a blessing on thy father, which I take
religiously, as from an oracle.
Princes and captaines, now to make it known
the Souldan more regards [the] a victors name
then spoyles of warre, we giue this citties spoile
amongst the souldiers, houlding it greater honour
t'inrich our subiects then to make them poore.
Who suckes the lab'rers sweat from his toyld bosom
draws with't the sickly milke of discontent,
which feebles those firme honours fortune sent.
Miranda.
But as the base of honour must be firm'd
in bounty to the lowest; so the pillars
on which the tow'r of greatnesse is borne vp
by the same right must haue fit guerdon left
t'encourage, and confirme their loyalties:
These peers deserve as well as private men
by whose com̄aund, and counsell you haue sack'd
Antioch the eie of Syria.
Souldan.
Glorious girle,
high honour of the greate Egyptian line,
Pallas in prowesse and true iudging counsell:
first I admire, then follow thy advice.
Lysander our Leiftenant generall
to thee wee giue the land of Antioch
9
Leiftenant of Damasco. But for thee
kingdomes are poore rewards; thou must haue better
for with thy sword the world will conquer'd bee;
and with thine eies the Conqueror of the world.
Lysander.
(asside.)
These are a louers, not a fathers words.
Miranda.
What meanes my father by these prayse-full tearmes.
Souldan.
When I my rare Miranda looke on thee,
Wonder of [Nature] beautie, wit, and haughty courage!
Mee thinckes, but wonder, nothing can reward thee.
Nature made thee so rich, fortune so greate
that but a greatnesse greater then them both
I may not offer thee, nor thou receive.
Miranda.
A fathers loue express'd to his owne childe
can beare no name of wonder, and that loue
is the full height of all my hope and merrit.
Souldan.
That Loue A[[illeg.]]pollo vnto Daphne bare
that loue the blushing Morne to Memnō faire
bequeath'd by earnest of her balmy kisse
that loue the Souldan will bestow on thee.
Kisses her.
10
That loue to Lord Lysander's only due
Lysander.
(asside.)
And who vsurps on that, loues not to liue.
Miranda.
Great sir, your words are wondrous as your power,
What issue has this vnaccustom'd courting?
Souldan.
This, that th'Egyptian Souldan (being too poore
by fortune to reward thy matchlesse merrit)
intends to honour thee my liues sole honour
wth hymens holy bands, make thee my Queen.
Lysander.
(asside.)
ffirst will I quench those marriage brands in bloud.
Miranda.
(asside ... )
Mightie amazement meets me, and but I know
my fathers disposition; I could hope [this we]
this weare not cerious ernest.— ( ... asside)
Mightie Sir.
Is this the wondrous wages of my merrit?
speakes highest honour in the tone of shame?
Souldan.
To bee the Queen of Egypt, is this shame?
Miranda.
To glorifie with incest, is this honour?
Souldan.
Thou shalt agree Miranda, we must wed.
Miranda.
Agree with death, not with a fathers bed.
Colactus.
Beware faire princesse to displease your father.
Miranda.
Beware great father to displease the gods.
Souldan.
[Beware] Hah!
Colactus.
See hee beares the gods vpon his brows.
All thing are lawfull that a prince allows.
Lysander.
ffalse flattrie makes a foule glosse on the text.
And though such purchase fauour from ill men,
the good gods store them vengeance.
Colactus.
Lysander, this is worse thē sacriledge.
Lysander.
Better Colactus then thy flatterie.
Souldan.
No more. Though we can pause ere wee take fire,
being kindled we consume. who dares oppose vs?
Miranda.
Our laws oppose you sir.
Souldan.
why what are laws?
Cyprian.
Laws, are the fruites of reason, and who giues
a penaltie for crimes, must feare to sinne:
11
Is there a law for him that ruleth law?
Colactus.
No, mighty Souldan there's no other law
then the decree of your imperiall will.
[Miranda]. [Souldan]
Tis true, the royall priviledge of Kings
ought [to not] not to be eclips'd by com̄on laws.
Therfore our will shall sway. and we com̄aund
on payne of death, let no man argue further;
but all submit to our determination.
Lysander.
(asside.)
my tongue shall keep his scabberd; but at need
[s] my sword shall speake such langage as shall speed.
Cyprian.
(asside.)
I am a [captive,] stranger, and must keep farr of
from taking notice of these tyrannies:
but ere Lysander shall so loose his loue,
my arte shall make the depths of hell to moue.
Souldan.
Thy modestie Myranda warrs against vs:
But thy consent in circle of thyne eie
appeares obedient. 'tis wee wills it so.
Thy [vestall vows chayn'd] loue to vs linckd in a Hymens knot
shall make thee nerer to vs. Lords march on
12
Wee'l try if Loues God like propitious bee.
Exeunt.
Sce. 4.
Enter [Eumenia] Iustina supporting Doron deadly wounded.Iustina.
Rest Doron, rest, and let mee binde thy wounds.
Th'assailants all are fled.
Doron.
ffled for supplys
to charge vs fiercer, not for feare of mee.
Iustina.
Alas what barbrous crueltie is this
to iniure strangers that for succour come!
Doron.
Your beauty is the sinne we both smart for,
your honour is the prey they hunt for; I
for rescuing that, am thus oppos'd with odds
vnanswerable: nerthelesse I vow
by my spents spirits and these crimson streames,
which hauing left theyr[e] ould veyns in my flesh
now seeke new channells in the thirsty earth.
while I haue life I will defend your honour.
Iustina.
O faithfull man! what hazards haste thou runne
for me, a great mans daughter, yet so poore
as cannot recompence thy loyaltie
with more then thanckfull loue. [Then] O Noble Doron,
come hide thee in this wood, where I will make
a bed of mosse to rest thy mangled [wounds] limbs
Ile seeke out plantain and hypericon
to heale thy hurts. Then faint not faithfull man.
why doest thou change and quake?
He falls to the ground.
Doron.
My masse of bloud
is banqu[e]rupt grown; this building is decay'[e]d.
My Soule the tenant is turn'd out of dore
because he now can pay his [rest] rent no more.
Crie within follow, follow this way.
O harcke our fierce pursuers are [at] at hand;
My sword falls from the weake gripe of myne arme[s],
Iustina fly and hide thee in the wood,
13
thy body proue a prey that that's worse.
Iustina.
I cannot leaue thee in this wretched plight, Ile take thy sword [and] and with my weake arme fight.
Enter 3. Souldiers.
1. Souldier.
[I] This way they went, I tracke him by his bloud.
2. Souldier.
This bloudy path shews he cannot flie farre.
3. Souldier.
See where he lies, vpon him all at once.
Iustina.
Hold cruell cowards, spoyle not a dying man.
1. Souldier.
what will you fight? wring from her tender fist
that vnfit engine.
Doron.
O I die, farewell.
heau'n send thee help.
Dies.
Iustina.
haue you dispatch'd his life?
[[illeg.]]let your relentlesse [del] swords enter this brest
and giue my life like happie libertie.
2. Souldier.
No pretty one, the weapon thou shalt feele
shall be of milder temper then rough steele.
Iustina.
Help ye chaste pow'rs, help heau'n, help Angells, help.
14
Miranda.
what mischeife moues this outcrie? barbarous slaues,
iniure a lady! quickely set her free;
or you shall dearely answer it to mee.
1. Souldier.
Answer to you? by what authoritie?
Miranda.
By vertue of this warrant; this iust sword
pow'rfull to plague iniustice.
2. Souldier.
That weele trie.
They fight, while Iustina kneels by Doron and looks on him.
Enter Clitophon, hee parts them.
Clitophon.
with what advantage (villains) doe you fight?
you souldiers, and distayne your honour thus!
sease, and discourse the cause of this contention.
Iustina.
They need not tell thee. see 'tis grauen here
in bloody wounds: here lies true honour dead.
Clitophon.
But from that honours ashes in myne eie
rises a Phænix full of maiesty.
who slew this happlesse stranger?
1. Souldier.
Wee my lord.
As wee weare standing at the castle gate
this lady, and that gentleman came by.
wee seing such a faire and courtly maid
sought to surprize her: but by him repuls'd
we fought till he slew three, and wounded five
of our warders, but scaping not himselfe
there lies hee dead to satisfie their deaths.
Clitophon.
what brought you to this battaile, noble sir.
Miranda.
Pitty and honour; pitty drew myne eare
by her loud shreeks, and honour mou'd my hart
to draw my sword, and take the weake ones part.
Clitophon.
Iust was your cause and noble your attempt.
But of what countrey are you louely dame?
Iustina.
Of Antioch, whose desolation
made vs redeeme our liues by flying hither
but where wee [look'd] sought for succour, we found death,
and cruell [iniurie] violence.
15
hard was your happ.
Though my rough handed souldiers [iniurie] crueltie
haue frighted change of hew into [your] thy cheeks
dreyn'd from thyne eies those precious pearly drops;
Ore-swelld the pretty rubbys of thy lips,
and made the tender turrets of thy brests
expresse thy poore harts panting. yet let mee
be held a stranger to this iniurie
Thy greife and beauty both my hart doe moue:
the first to pitty, and the last to loue.
Let him that shews thee grace, thy fauour finde,
I am not cruell, bee not thou vnkinde.
Iustina.
what are you? or what loue do you professe
if from ignoble birth your selfe or loue
first tooke beginning, [then] I will sooner die
then [yeild to] to such [foule] motions yeild my virgin eare.
Clitophon.
[faire Maide] I am the Califfs sonne of Babilon,
royall my birth, loyall my loue to thee
and breeds no[t] thought to iniure chastitie.
16
But prince, I am a Christian; in that name
I know you cannot loue mee faithfully.
Clitophon.
Bee what thou wilt, such sweets sit in thy brow
that for thy sake I could turne Christian too.
Iustina.
To winne a soule to heau'n by yeilding loue
may moue [the chastest] a virgin hart that has not vow'd
secluded chastitie. therefore [I yeild to you I yeild] my life
Into your hands I yeild, and for my loue,
let me intreat (till time your faith haue try'd)
that may be yet deferr'd that's not deny'd.
Clitophon.
spoke fairely like thy selfe, and I accept it.
Miranda.
(asside.)
These warrs are like to end with wedding now.
Iustina.
But princely sir from these [reflex] full beames of grace
let mee intreat a kinde reflexion
on this dead man, he was of worthy birth
[int] burie him nobly then, [and] sir, for my sake.
Clitophon.
Thyne eies shall witnesse how that pow'rfull word,
for thy sake, can com̄aund with Clitophon.
Bring forth our royall ensigne from the castle,
in it fold vp the body of this knight;
and with the honours due vnto a prince
to Babilon conduct him to his graue.
whither for thy sake, faire one, we our selfe
will follow, as cheife mourner. worthy sir,
will you assist vs in these funeralls?
Miranda.
I shall attend you[, to]
Iustina.
To your noble valour
I'm much indebted sir.
Miranda.
I am your servant.
Clitophon.
Set on.
Iustina.
Thus when w'are most beset with feare
heau'n seems farre of, but is indeed moste neare.
Exeunt. man Miranda.
Miranda.
In this disguise Miranda hast thou scap'd
the worlds acquaintance, and thy fathers knowledge;
That lustfull knowledge, which his too foule heat
17
(I being manlike) chang'd mee thus to man,
my name [my] Miranda turn'd to Armidan.
And yet I blush to see my selfe thus chang'd:
But from Lysanders sight to be estrang'd
afflicts mee more. good Gods my fate so guide
that I this manhood soone may lay asside.
Exit.
| The Two Noble Ladies | |