University of Virginia Library

Scena prima.

Placenta, Constantina as a Boy, Isabella in Constantina's clothes.
Pla.
Fortune as yet is kind, well done my boy,
Hold vp your head, a little higher, yet,
And can you weep?

Isa.
I can, & haue some cause,
O Lucius!

Pla.
And sigh?

Isab.
I would I could not.
Most wretched Isabella.

Pla.
Constantina.

She calls at the window.
Isa.
When shal mine eies feed on that blessed sight?
Or when wilt thou with one kinde looke dissolue
This cloud which now obscures me? and makes me seeme
Another from my selfe?

Pla.
Shee stirres not yet
Why Constantina.

Isab.
O my Lucius!
Might I but once more see thee, I could goe
Vnto the graue me thinks with such a looke
As should make death enamour'd on me.

Pla.
Ha?
Not yet? O what a sleepy girle is this?

Isab.
But in this house I'ue learn'd Pandora liues,
Who now does reape my harvest: here I hope
I may enjoy at least a sight of him,
And that is all that ever I must hope for.
Constan. appears at the window
But I shall be observ'd.

Pla.
O now she comes.

Const.
Placenta.

Pla.
Not so lowd (take heed) for feare
The Dragon should be waking; haue you yet
Got on your masculine habit?

Con.
Long agoe.

Pla.
Descend then, if your mind be still the same,
Before the Sun rise to betray your flight.

Const.
But haue you drest the Boy in my apparrell?

Pla.
Tis done, and not a creature but my selfe
And the dumbe night are guilty of it.

Const.
Well,
I come.

Pla.
Introth I doe confesse I wonder
What should induce this peevish girle to take
This strange disguised habit, and forsake
Her vncles house, but it is loue forsooth:
Well, be it what it will, I haue procur'd,
By her entreatie, and the gold she gaue mee,
A boy as neere her stature as I could,
Whom I haue cloathed in her owne apparell,
And valyed in her scarfe. Come on my boy.
You haue not yet forgot, I hope, th'instructions
I read to you within. Come, let me see
You vent a sigh now. Excellent: but be sure
You speake not very often.

Isab.
Doubt not that:
Th'are shallow griefs that make a noise.

Pla.
Well said.
But tell me you, sir boy, what wast that made
You leaue the London Players?

Isab.
Indeed forsooth
I was abused there; besides, that trade
Begins to fayle of late, most of your Gallants
Are growne so wise and frugall, that they chuse
Rather to spend their money on a whore
(Which they call necessarie) then on such toyes.

Pla.
Goe to, you are a wagg. See now she comes.
Enter Const.
But ô the Father! what pismire is this?
Ah, I shall swound to looke upon her leggs:
Surely one blast of wind will breake them quite.
Now out upon her! mine are mill-posts to them.

Const.
Placenta, you doe see how much I trust you,
That put mine honour thus into your hands.
Leade you this picture of mine into my chamber,
And there instruct him how he should behaue
Himselfe, that no suspition of my flight
Be nourisht by my Vncle, till I bee
Past his recalling. So farewell good midwife.

Pla.
How my left eye-brow beats? I do not like it,
It does presage no good. My Constantina,
Goe back againe I pray you, in good sooth
Tis very dangerous, thus discompanied
To undertake a journey.

Const.
All in vaine:
I am resolv'd either to find my Cleopes,
Or else to sleepe with death clos'd in mine armes.
Exit Constan.

Pla.
If it must needs be so, why then farewell.
I cannot chuse but weepe: sweet Constantina—
Well, twas the goodest Gentlewoman—but she's gone—
Many a deare morsell has shee helpt me to—
But we must all depart—I doe remember
When shee was but a little one, shee ever
Was fond of mee—but I must be content.
Come on my boy, let not your face so much
Be seene—when I haue shewne her lodging to you,
And left you there—I cannot yet forbeare,
It will not from my heart—I'le goe and visite
The faire Pandora, that kinde Gentlewoman,
And see if that her closet can afford
Any good thing to hold the heart. Come boy.

Exeunt.