University of Virginia Library

Scena prima.

Enter Mistres Virginia, with Pamphila her maid.
Pamphila.
Mistresse I may, and will once more goe seek him if you please:
Although I feare his answere wil returne you little ease.
What though he loou'd you first? you see his sute falles to the ground,
And by this small pursute, thinkes you are as good lost as found.
Hee stoopeth to Victoriaes lure, but she hath cast him of,
Hee bowes, and creepes to her, she turnes his labour too a scoffe.

Virginia.
How canst thou tell?

Pamphila.
Euen yesterday I heard it of her maid:

Virginia.
If it bee so, then is hee iustly plagued from aboue,
And feeles that hell of minde, which all forsakē Ghostes doo prooue
Yet can I not beleeue it Pamphila, before I see,
And gather by his answere, that he hath forsaken mee.
Therefore goe seeke him out againe.

Ent. Fedele.
Pamphil
Mistresse it shall not neede,
Loe where he walkes as sad as though his heart within did bleede.

Virginia.
Steppe to him straighte.

Pamphila
Master Fedele, if you knew as well
To loue: and her that loues you, to releeue,
As you are skilfull in deceite to dwell.
And to torment whome you should neuer greeue.
Happie were she that beares you in her breste,
Happie were you of such a pearle posseste.

Fedele
What meaneth this?

Pamphila.
Talke with my mistresse Sir, and you shall knowe,

Fedele.
Then to thy mistresse Pamphila, I goe.
Mistresse Virginia, what's the cause I pray,
That you did sende of late to seeke me out?
If you haue any thing to me to say,
Speake, that I may resolue you of the doubt.

Pamphila.
Fedele, now beholde thy crueltie,
Her voyce is stopt, and doth for sorowe die.

Virginia.
I neuer thought Fedele to haue founde,
Your shewe of faith in promises forgot:
Your lyking dead, and buried in the grounde,
My selfe cast off as though you knew me not.
To loue in ieste and turne it to a scorne,
Is not the nature of a Gentle borne.

Fedele.
Mistresse, I loue you as I did before,
As dearely as the dearest friend you haue,
Or as a brother, would you any more?
Commande of me what curtesie may craue.
If Fancies lurking poyson you remoue,
And be not shipt in Seaes of raging loue.
Whose great companions are discorde and wrath,
Flattery, Deceit, Treason and Crueltie:
Heuinesse of minde, greef, penurie, and scathe:
Unrest, suspicion, feare, and Ielousie,
Consuming hunger, and an endlesse thirste,
A iuing death, life dying with the firste.

Virginia.
Ah Pamphila, I finde thy wordes are true,
The more in liking I did thinke him bound:
The looser he, and hunteth after newe,
His talke was nothing but an empty sound.
Those vertues nowe, I see he doth despise:
That once did painte my picture in his eyes.
If Iustice Pallace stande aboue the skyes,
And angrie gods doe looke into our life:
Some plague no doubt, for him they will deuise,
And scourge him with some storme of bitter strife.
Although he vaunt of conquest here a while,
T'is not praise worthy a woman to beguile.
Come Pamphila I'le learne to set him light,
That so dissembles with a double tongue,
Helpe to conueighe me streight out of his sight,
Whose wandring choyse hath done me double wrong.
Farewell Sir, as we met, we meane to parte.

Pamphila.
This greeting answeres vnto his desert.

Exeunt Verg. & Pam.
Fedele.
So quickly gone? farewell, all women for Victoriaes sake,
And on them all for her, reuenge I meane to take.
Busie they are with pen to write our vices in our face,
But negligent to knowe the blemish of their owne disgrace.
Gestures and lookes in readinesse, at their command they haue,
Mirth, sorrowe, feare, hope, and what other passion you can craue.
Hence riseth euery cloude in loue, this breedeth all the strife,
Snares to our feete, deuouring cankers, these are vnto life.