 | The Rare Triumphes of Loue and Fortune |  |
The thirde Acte.
Enter Bomelio solus like an Hermite.Bomelio.
He that hath lost his hope and yet desires to liue,
He that is ouerwhelmde with woe, and yet would counsell giue.
He that delightes to sigh to walke abroad alone,
to driue away the weary time with his lamenting mone.
He that in his distresse dispaireth of releefe,
Let him begin to tell his tale to rip vp all his greefe.
And if that wretched man can more then I recite,
Of fickle Fortunes froward checke and her continuall spite.
Of her vnconstant change, of her discurtesie,
I will be partner with that man to liue in miserie.
When first my flowring yeeres began to bud their prime,
Euen in the Aprill of mine age, and May month of my time
UUhen like the tender Kid new weaned from the teat:
In euery plesant springing Mead, I took my choice of meat.
UUhen simple youth deuis'd to lengthen his delight:
Euen then not dreaming I on her, she poured out her spite.
Euen then she tooke her Keye, and turned all her stringes,
to sing my woe, list Lordinges now my tragedie begins.
Beholde me wretched man that seru'd his Prince wt paine,
that in the honor of his praise esteemde my greatest gaine.
Beholde me wretched man that for his publike weale,
Refused not with thousand foes, in bloody warres to deale.
Beholde me wretched man, whose trauell paine and toyle:
was euer prest to saue my frends from force of forrain spoile.
And see my iust rewarde, looke on my recompence:
Beholde by this for labours past, what guerdon commeth thence.
Not by my fearcest foes in doubtfull fight with vs,
But by my fawning freendes, I was confounded thus.
One woord of his dispite in question calde my name,
two woordes of his vntrusty tung brought me to open shame
Then was I banished the Citie, Court and towne:
then euery hand that held me vp, began to pull me downe.
O that the righteous Gods should euer graunt the power,
that smoothest sandes and greenest bogs, should soonest me deuoure.
Yet that I might discry the better their deuise,
Heer haue I liu'd almost fiue yeeres disguisde in secret wise.
And now somewat it is but what I cannot tell,
prouokes me forward more thē wont to leaue my darksome sell.
And in my crooked age in steed of mirth and ioy,
with broken sighes in dolefull tunes to sing of mine annoy.
Song.
He that is ouerwhelmde with woe, and yet would counsell giue.
He that delightes to sigh to walke abroad alone,
to driue away the weary time with his lamenting mone.
He that in his distresse dispaireth of releefe,
Let him begin to tell his tale to rip vp all his greefe.
Of fickle Fortunes froward checke and her continuall spite.
Of her vnconstant change, of her discurtesie,
I will be partner with that man to liue in miserie.
When first my flowring yeeres began to bud their prime,
Euen in the Aprill of mine age, and May month of my time
UUhen like the tender Kid new weaned from the teat:
In euery plesant springing Mead, I took my choice of meat.
UUhen simple youth deuis'd to lengthen his delight:
Euen then not dreaming I on her, she poured out her spite.
Euen then she tooke her Keye, and turned all her stringes,
to sing my woe, list Lordinges now my tragedie begins.
Beholde me wretched man that seru'd his Prince wt paine,
that in the honor of his praise esteemde my greatest gaine.
Beholde me wretched man that for his publike weale,
Refused not with thousand foes, in bloody warres to deale.
Beholde me wretched man, whose trauell paine and toyle:
was euer prest to saue my frends from force of forrain spoile.
And see my iust rewarde, looke on my recompence:
Beholde by this for labours past, what guerdon commeth thence.
Not by my fearcest foes in doubtfull fight with vs,
But by my fawning freendes, I was confounded thus.
One woord of his dispite in question calde my name,
two woordes of his vntrusty tung brought me to open shame
Then was I banished the Citie, Court and towne:
then euery hand that held me vp, began to pull me downe.
O that the righteous Gods should euer graunt the power,
that smoothest sandes and greenest bogs, should soonest me deuoure.
Yet that I might discry the better their deuise,
Heer haue I liu'd almost fiue yeeres disguisde in secret wise.
And now somewat it is but what I cannot tell,
prouokes me forward more thē wont to leaue my darksome sell.
And in my crooked age in steed of mirth and ioy,
with broken sighes in dolefull tunes to sing of mine annoy.
Goe walke the path of plaint, goe wander wretched now,
In vncoth waies, blind corners fit for such a wretch as thou.
there feede vpon thy woe, fresh thoughts shalbe thy fare,
Musing shalbe thy waiting maide, thy caruer shalbe care.
thy dainty dishe shalbe of fretting melancholie,
and broken sobs with hollow sighes thy sauery sauce shalbe.
But further ere I walke my seruant I will send,
Into the towne to buy such thinges as now he can intend.
UUhat Lentulo.
there feede vpon thy woe, fresh thoughts shalbe thy fare,
Musing shalbe thy waiting maide, thy caruer shalbe care.
thy dainty dishe shalbe of fretting melancholie,
and broken sobs with hollow sighes thy sauery sauce shalbe.
But further ere I walke my seruant I will send,
Into the towne to buy such thinges as now he can intend.
UUhat Lentulo.
Lentulo within.
Lentulo.
Anon forsooth.
Bomelio.
What Lentulo come foorth.
Lentulo.
Anon forsooth.
Bomelio.
Why when I say.
Lentulo.
Anon forsooth.
Bomelio.
You naughty loute, come out sir knaue, come away.
Lentulo.
Will you not giue one leaue to pull down his points, what and a should his breeches beray?
Bomelio.
Get you to the market and buy such thinges as needfull are for vs.
Lentulo.
Such things as needfull are for vs, & what are those I pray?
First there is needfull for vs a pot of porredg, for I had none this many a day:
And then there are needfull for vs a featherbed, for I lye on a bottle of haye.
And then there is most needfull for vs a prittie proper wench for and to laugh and play.
Bomelio.
Goe buy vs some victuailes and hye thee home.
Exit.
Lentulo.
Now farwell Maister mine good gentle master mome.
Haue you seene such a logger headded foole to say,
Goe goe, good Lentulo, to buy my victuailes so, and giue me monie no.
But for the names sake, swoundes I were as good serue a maister of clowtes:
Hee'le doo nothing all day long but sit on his arse, as my mother did when she made powtes.
By my troth I stand euen thus at him and laugh at his simplismitie.
Hath the best manners in the world to bid a man fall to his meat,
And then I say, I thank you forsooth maister and I could tell what to eate.
Wee two, looke you thats I and he, can lye a bed a whole night and a day:
And we eate and we had it, it vattons a man looke on my cheekes els, are they not falne away?
Well, I must iogge to the towne, and Ile tell you what shift I make there:
Mary ye shall promise me not to steale it away.
When I come to a rich mans gate, I make a low legge and then I knocke there.
And then I begin to crye in at the Keye hole, that I may be sure they shall heare.
God saue my good maister and my good mistresse, a poore boy a peece of bread and meate for Gods sake.
Enter Penulo.
Penulo.
Heigh merely tricke, am I not a knaue for the nonce,
That can dispatch two arrandes at once?
I haue both tolde her euen as I should doo,
And tolde my yong maister to meete with him too.
Now he like a Gentleman for the vallour of his minde,
Hath sworne by his honour not to stay long behinde.
The desire of reuenge pricketh him forward so,
That I am sure heele not let but to goe.
And that with all haste possible he may:
Then tantara tara we shall haue good play.
I like such a knaue so can tickle them all,
To set noble men at brabble and braule,
Lentulo.
Saue you sir yong maister and you be a gentleman,
Horeson pesant seest thou not what I am?
Lentulo.
Troth sir I see you haue a good dublet and a paire of hose
But now a dayes there is so many goes
So like Gentlemen, that such a poore fellow as I,
Know not how a Gentleman from a knaue to spye.
Penulo.
Thou maist perceiue I am no such companion,
I am a Gentleman, a Courtier, and a merry franke franion.
Lentulo.
Then thou merry companion, thou horson franke franion,
Why hast thou abused the law:
What goodman skipiack, in faith with thwick thwack your bones will I clawe.
Come about sir knaue.
Penulo.
Cots my passion what a merry mate haue we heere?
Lentulo.
Giue me your hand sir, faith I was bolde to brushe the dust out of your geere.
Pray sir tell me, they say in the Cuntry tis a common guise
That Gentlemen now a daies cannot see with both eyes.
Penulo.
Its a lye knaue, I knowe few Gentlemen blinde:
Lentulo.
No sir what will you lay and I can finde,
One with a wet finger that is starke blinde.
Penulo.
It may be so, but I thinke thou canst not,
Lentulo.
You will lay do wager on it.
Penulo.
What should I lay,
Thou hast no monye I am sure to pay.
Lentulo.
No faith sir, but Ile tell you what our wager shalbe,
Because I am not able to lay any monye.
Ile lay three round rappes on the ribbes with my cudgell heere
Penulo.
Soft, let me looke first if there be no blinde man neere.
Content I faith that bargaine shall stand:
Lentulo.
Then sir I must be so bolde as to search your purse out of hand.
Penulo.
My pursse sir wherfore?
Lentulo.
By my troth sir no more but to trie,
if you be not as blinde a Gentleman in the purse as I.
Penulo.
I vse not to carry my monye in a pursse,
All in a pocket, well neuer a whit the woorse.
Lentulo.
I must search your pocket.
UUhat if it be els where?
Lentulo.
UUhere soeuer it is I must seeke out this geere.
Ile not loose my wager that's certaine:
Uery well sir will you put me to paine.
Penulo.
Haue I neuer a weapon, Ile looke, I pray thee be content
Lentulo.
You shall haue your wager sir as it was ment.
Penulo.
Holde thy hands good fellow & I'le doo any thing for thee:
I perceiue a wise man of a foole ouertaken may be.
Lentulo.
Thou blinde Gentleman, vnlesse it be for my commodiositie,
Ile teach thee to be blinde and goe so brauely.
Penulo.
Ile doo any thing for thee if thou strike me no more,
Because I perceiue thou art almost as poore.
As my selfe am and yet there is somewhat in thee,
Ile preferre thee to a seruice in the Court presently.
Lentulo.
Ha wilt thou doo so?
Penulo.
That I will.
Lentulo.
Wilt thou doo so indeed,
Sweare to me by thy ten commaundements in thy Creed.
Penulo.
I doo so.
Lentulo.
Troth then we are freendes, say nothing I pray:
and you shall see me proue a rancke runaway.
UUhy when a man may be a Courtier and liue at ease,
Should a not leaue his olde maister to please.
Sirra blinde gentleman, we too blinde gentlemen, and doo as thou promiste heere,
Perchaunce I may be as good to thee as two pots of Beere,
Ile goe with thee I faith, gaw lets be gone,
Penulo.
Soft tarry a while I'le goe with thee anon.
Enter Armenio.
Armenio.
How thinkest thou Penulo, am I not prouided now?
Lentulo.
I warrant sir a shall haue a colde pull of you.
And a begin to make an other brall,
Armenio,
Farewell when thou wilt, I trust I shall
Meete with him: am I not almost at the tree,
That same is it sir.
Lentulo.
Sirra whats he?
Penulo.
UUhat carst thou, come gaw thou with me,
UUhy I shall haue but an ill fauoured Courtier of yee.
Lentulo.
Now for a runaway God send vs good chaunce,
Then maides at your mariage I meane me to daunce.
Exit.
Armenio.
Now serues the time to wreak me of my foe,
My dastard foe that to dishonour me:
in priuie corners seekes to shame me so,
that my discredit might his credit be.
And hath my father from thy tender youth,
Uouchsafe to bring thee vp? did I therfore
Beleeue so earnestly thy periurde trueth,
aduancing still thine honour euermore.
That not contented with a common wrack,
thou shouldst intend the ruine of vs all:
And when thou seem'st afraide to turne thy back,
to make a glory of our greater fall.
Before thou triumphe in thy trechery,
Before thou scape vntouched for thy sinne:
Let neuer fates nor Fortune fauour me,
But wretched let me liue and dye therin.
Fewe woordes shall serue, my deedes shall proue it now:
That ere I sleepe I meane to meete with you.
Enter Fidelia.
Fidelia.
Beholde the shiftes that faithfull loue can make,
See what I dare aduenture for thy sake:
In case extreame make vertue of a neede,
But hence the greefe which maketh my hart to bleede.
My loue and life where euer that thou be,
I am in dole constrainde to followe thee.
Hence sprung the hell of my tormented minde,
If thou escape the perrill of distresse,
My feare and care is twenty times more lesse.
No reason tis that I should liue in ioy,
When thou art wrapt in fetters of annoy.
Nor to that end I sware to be thy wife,
To liue in peace with thee and state of life.
But as to dwell at ease in pleasures lap,
Euen so to beare some parte of thy mishap.
And so to draw in equall portion still,
Of both our Fortunes either good or ill.
And sith the lots of our vnconstant fate,
Haue turnde our former blisse to wretched state,
I am content to tread the wofull daunce,
That soundes the measure of our haplesse chaunce.
Ile waite thy comming, long thou wilt not stay,
Hye Ioue defend and keepe thee in the way.
Enter Bomelio.
Bomelio.
Now weary lay thee downe, thy fortune to fulfill,
Goe yeeld thee captiue to thy care to saue thy life or spill.
The pleasures of the feelde, the prospect of delight,
The blooming trees, the chirping birdes are greeuous to thy sight.
The hollow craggy rocke, the shriking Owle to see,
To heare the noyse of serpentes hisse that is thy hermony.
For as vnto the sicke all pleasure is in vaine,
So mirth vnto the wounded minde, encreaseth but his pain.
But heauens? what doo I see? thou Nymphe or Lady faire,
Or else thou goddes of the groue, what makst thee to repaire.
To this vnhaunted place thy presence heere vnfit,
Fidelia.
Ancient father let it not offend thee any whit.
To finde me heere alone I am no Goddesse I,
But a mortall maide subiect to miserie.
And better that I might lament my heauy mone,
Bomelio.
Take comfort daughter mine for thou hast found him thā
That is of others all that liue, the most accursedst man.
O, I haue heard it saide our sorrowes are the lesse,
If in our anguish we may finde a partner in distresse.
Fidelia.
O father but my greefe releeued cannot be,
My hope is fled, my help in vaine, my hurt my death must be
Yet not the common death of life that heere is led:
But such a death as euer killes, and yet is neuer dead.
Bomelio,
Faire maide, I haue been well acquainted with that fit,
Sometime iniured with the like, I learne to comfort it.
Come rest thee heere with me within this hollow caue,
There will I reckon vp at large the horrors that I haue.
Fidelia.
I thank you father but I must needs walk another way,
Bomelio.
Nay gentle damsell be content a while with me to stay.
Fidelia.
The longer that I stay with you, the greater is my greef.
Bomelio.
The longer that you stay with me, the sooner is releefe.
Fidelia.
I am prouided other waies, good father let me goe,
Bomelio.
To him that offreth thee no wrong, be not vncurteous so.
Fidelia.
Perhaps another time, ile come and visit thee,
Bomelio.
Both then & now if so you please you shall right welcome be.
Armenio.
Shall she be welcome vnto thee olde wretch indeed,
Ile welcome both of you come maid away with speed.
Fidelia.
O brother:
Armenio,
Brother peace.
Fidelia.
Good father helpe me now.
Bomelio.
Haue I no weapons wretch that I am? well youth, Ile meete with you.
Armenio.
Must you be gone? is this your meeting place?
Come get you home and pack you sir apace.
Weart not for reuerence of thine age I sweare,
Thou shouldst accursse the time I met thee heere.
But I faith sister my Father shall welcome you,
Bomelio.
Goe tell thine arrand if thou canst.
Fidelia.
Hermione adewe.
Ten times adewe, farwell for euer now.
I thanke thee Fortune that thou didst this deed allowe.
Exit.
Bomelio.
Thou Heauen and Earth, and ye eternall lampes,
That restles keepe his course in order due:
Thou Phœbo bright that scaterest the damps,
Of darksome night, I make my plaints to you.
And thou Alecto harken to my call,
Let fall a Serpent from thy Snakye haire:
Tisiphone, be swift to plague them all,
That make a pastime of my care and feare.
And thou O Ioue, that by thy great foresight,
Rulest the earth, and raignst aboue the Skies:
That wreakst the wronges of them that maister right,
Against the wretches that thy name despise.
And Rodomantes, thou Iudge of hatefull hell,
UUhere damned ghostes continuall moning make:
Send foorth a fury that may further well,
the iust reuenge that heere I vndertake.
Hence foorth accursed be thou euermore,
Accursed all thou tak'st in hand to doo:
The time, the day, accursed be the hower,
the earth, the ayre, and all that long theretoo.
Dole and dispaire hencefoorth be thy delight,
UUrapped now in present, and in woes to come:
To waile the day and weepe the weary night,
And from this time hencefoorth I strike thee dumme.
Think'st thou I knew thee not, yes well I wis,
And that thy sister daughter to my Prince:
Now brag abroad what thou hast got by this,
So liue thou dumme, that be thy recompence.
And when thy ghost forsakes thy body quite:
Uengeance I wishe vpon thy soule to light.
Enter Hermione.
Good euen good Father, pardon my rudenes heere:
Bomelio,
O ioy and greefe I will dissemble yet my cheare.
Hermione,
Good sir me thought I heard you speak of one right now
Daughter vnto a Prince that made me bold to trouble you
Bomelio.
I spake of such a one in deed.
Hermione.
Why doo you knowe her name?
Bomelio.
Fidelia. Why doo you aske? what doo you know the same?
Hermione.
Yea father that I doo, I know, and knew her well,
But did you wish those plagues to light on her I pray you tell.
Bomelio.
On her the Gods forbid, but on that wretched wight,
Her brother that from hence right now perforce conuayde her quite.
Hermione.
Alas what doo I heare, good father tell me true.
Hath she beene heere?
Bomelio.
She was.
Hermione.
She was?
Where is she now?
Bomelio.
Gone back againe.
Hermione.
Gone back: with whome?
Bomelio.
Her brother.
Hermione.
Her brother: how?
Bomelio.
He secret watched heere, and when she should haue staide
A while with me, he rushed out, and her from hence conuaid.
Hermione.
Confounded in my greefe and can it suffred be?
And shall he make a brag at home of his dispite to me?
First let me dye a thousand deaths, draw, runne and meete with him,
Bomelio.
Tarry my Sonne it is in vaine they are not at home I win.
Let him alone, he wil not make great reckning of his gaine,
Hermione.
Wretch that thou art for lingering euerlasting shalbe thy paine.
Continuall thy complaint, ay during still thy woe:
Why madst thou not more haste to come and first of all to knowe.
Bomelio.
Content thy self my sonne, torment not so thy minde:
Asswage the sorrowes of thy hart in hope some help to finde.
Hermione.
Some helpe, O Father, no all helpe comes too late,
I see thy loyaltie, I see thy faithfull loue,
Els neuer durst thou this attempte aduentured to proue.
Bomelio.
Take comfort therby my sonne.
Hermione.
I am the man I say,
That loue and Fortune once aduaunst, but now haue cast away.
The ioy, the sweet delight, the rest I had before,
Fell to my lot, that now the losse, my plague might be the more.
O Fortune froward dame, wilt thou be neuer sure,
Most constant in vnconstancie, I see thou wilt indure.
Bomelio.
Accuse not Fortune sonne, but blame thy loue therfore,
For I perceiue thou art in loue, and thē thy trouble is more.
Hermione.
Father if this be loue to lead a life in thrall,
To think the rankest poyson sweet to feed on hunny gall.
To be at warre and peace, to be in ioy and greefe,
then farthest from the hope of helpe, where neerest is releefe,
To liue and dye, to freese and sweat, to melt & not to moue,
if it be this to liue in loue, father I am in loue.
Bomelio.
Why did you not possesse your Lady then at home,
Hermione.
At home, where is it sir? alas for I haue none.
Brought vp I know not how, and borne I know not where,
when I was in my childehood giuen vnto my Prince then heere.
Of whom I can not tell, wherfore I little know,
But now cast out to seeke my fate vnhappy where I goe.
There dare I not be seene, heere must I not abide.
Did euer more calameties vnto a man betide:
Bomelio.
My hart will burst if I forbeare amidst this misery,
Beholde thy father thou hast found my sonne Hermione.
Thy father thou hast found, thy father I am he,
Hermione.
But is it possible my father you should be.
Bomelio.
Euen from my first exile heere haue I liu'd forlorne,
And once I gaue thee to my prince, for thou was noble born.
And now he giues me thee, and welcome home againe,
Hermione.
This is my recompence for all my former paine.
Deere father glad I am to finde you heere aliue,
Bomelio.
Come sonne, content thee now, within a caue to dwell,
I will prouide for thy redresse, and all thinges shalbe well.
A darksome den must be thy lofty lodging now,
Hermione.
Father I am well content to take such parte as you.
Here is a breathing pit after hard mischance,
O gratious Uenus once vouchsafe thy seruants to aduance.
Strike vp a noise of Viols, Venus triumphe.
Venus.
Beholde what loue can woork for their delight,
That put affiance in her Deitie:
Though heauen and earth against them bend their might,
Yet in the end theirs is the victorie.
I will in them and they triumphe in me,
Let Fortune frowne I will vpholde their state,
Yea seeme they neuer so vnfortunate.
Fortune.
Brag not too much, what thinkst thou I haue doon?
Nay soft not yet, my sport is not begun.
Musicke. Musick.
| The Rare Triumphes of Loue and Fortune | |