 | The Queen, or The Excellency of Her Sex |  |
Act V.
A ScaffoldEnter Velasco and Lodovico.
Velas.
This is not kindly done, nor
like a friend.
Lodov.
Keep your chamber then, what
should owles and barts do abroad by day
light? why, you are become so notoriously
ridiculous, that a Craven is reputed
of nobler spirit amongst birds, then
Velasco among men.
Velas.
Why Lodovico dost thou tempt my wrongs?
O friend, 'tis not an honor or a fame
Can be a gain to me, though I should dare
To entertain this Combatt, say my fate
Did crown mine arm with conquest of the King,
Put case the cause add glory to the justice
Of my prevaling sword? what can I win?
Saving a pair of lives I lose a soule,
My rich soule Lodovico, Does not yet
The heart even shrill within thee? All thy spirits
Melt into Passions, All thy manhood stagger
Like mine? Nay canst thou chuse but now confess
That this word Coward is a name of Dignity?
Lodov.
Faint hearts and strong toungs
are the tokens of many a tall prattling
Ghossipe. Yet the truth is you have halfe
convinced me, But to what end will you
be a looker on the Tragedy of this shee
Beast? it will but breed your greater
vexation.
Velas.
I hope not so, I looke for Comfort
in't.
Lodov.
Mass: that may be too, It cannot
but make your melancholy a little
merry, to see the woodcockes neck
caught in a worse noose, then shee had
set for you.
Velas.
That's but a poor revenge, I'de rather weep
On her behalfe, but that I hope her courage
Will triumph over Death.
Lodov.
My Lord they come.
Velas.
Let me stand back unseen, Good
Angells guard her.
Velasco Muffles himselfe.
Enter executioner before Salassa, her Hayre loose, after her, Almada, Collumello and officers.
Alm.
Tis a sad welcom.
To bid you welcome to the stroak of Death.
Yet you are come too't Lady.
Coll.
And a curse
Throughout the land will be your generall knell,
For having bin the wilfull overthrow,
First of your Countreys Champion, next your Queen,
Must act a part which you must act before,
but with less guilt.
Alm.
Use no long speeches lady,
The danger of the time, calls us away,
We cannot listen to your farewells now.
Sal.
I have few words to say, my heart is lodg'd
In yon same upper Parliament, yet now
If ere I part, and shall be seen no more,
Some man of mercy could but truly speake
One word of pardon from the Lord Velasco,
My peace were made in earth, and I should fly
With wings of speed to Heaven.
Alm.
Pish here's not any.
Salas.
Not any? on then, why should I prolong
A minute more of life, that live so late,
Where most I strive for love to purchace hate,
Beare witnes Lords I wish not to call back
My younger dayes in promise that I would
Redeem my fault and do Velasco right,
But could I but reverse the doom of time,
I would with humblest suit make prayers to heaven
For his long florishing welfare.
Col.
Dispatch, dispatch;
You should have thought on this before, pray now
For your own health, for you have need to pray.
Lodov.
Madam Salassa, I am bold to take
leave of ye before your long journey: All
the comfort that I can give you is, that
the weather is like to hold very fair,
you need not take much care for either
hood or cloke for the matter.
Salas.
Are you come? Worthy Sir, then I may hope
Your noble friend hath sent one gentle sigh
To grace my funeral: For vertues sake
Give me a life in death; tell me, O tell me,
If he but seal my pardon, all is well.
Lodov.
Say ye so? Why then in a
word, go merrily up the stayers; my
lord Velasco desires Heaven may as heartily
forgive him, as he does you.
Salas.
Enough, I thank his bounty, on I go
goes up the Scaffold.
To smile on horror: so, so, I'm up.
Great in my lowness, and to witness further
My humbleness, here let me kneel and breath
My penitence: O women in my fall,
Remember that your beauties, youth and pride
Are but gay tempters, 'less you wisely shun
The errors of your frailties: let me ever
Be an example to all fickle dames,
That folly is no shrine for vertuous names.
Heaven pardon all my vanities, and free
The lord Velasco, what e're come of me.
Bless, bless, the lord Velasco.—Strike.
As he is about to strike, Velasco steps out.
Velas.
Villain, hold, hold! Or thou
dyest, Slave.
Alm.
What means that countermand?
Lodov.
Hey, do! More news yet, you
will not be valiant when 'tis too late, I
trust?
Velas.
Woman, come down: Who
lends me now a sword?
Lodov.
Marry, that do I, Sir, I am your
first man; Here, here, here, take heed
you do not hurt your fingers; 'twill
cut plaguely: and what will you do
with it?
Velas.
Base woman, take thy life, thy cursed life,
I set thee free, and for it pawn a soul:
But that I know heaven hath more store of mercy,
Then thou and all thy sex of sin and falsehood.
My Lords, I now stand Champion for the Queen:
Doth that discharge her?
Col.
Bravest man, it doth:
Lady, y'are safe; now, Officers away.
This is a blessed hour!
Ex. Officers.
You shall for ever
Bind us your servants.
Lodov.
Aha: Why then, however
things happen, let them fall, as they fall.
God a' mercy, my lord, at last.
Col.
Hark how the people ring apeal of joy,
Shout within.
For this good news. My lord, time steals away;
We may not linger now.
Salas.
You give me life;
Take it not, Sir, away again. I see
Upon your troubled eyes such discontent
As frights my trembling heart; Dear Sir—
Velas.
The Gold
You hazarded your life for, is your own,
You may receive it at your pleasure.
Alm.
Yes,
'Tis ready for you, lady.
Salas.
Gold? Let gold,
And all the treasures of the earth besides
Perish like trash; I value nothing, Sir,
But your assured love.
Velas.
My love! Vain woman,
Henceforth thus turn I from thee, never look
For Apish dotage, for a smile, a how d'ee,
A fare ye well, a thought from me: let Snakes
Live in my bosom, and with muderous stinges
Infect the vital warmth, that lends them life,
If ever I remember thee or thine.
If I prevail, my services shall crave
But one reward, which shall be, if that ever
Thou come but in my sight, the State wil please
To banish thee the land; or else I vow,
My self to leave it.
Salas.
My ill purchast life!
Velas.
Ill purchast life, indeed, whose ransom craves
A sadder price, then price of bloodshed saves.
Go, learn bad woman, what it is, how foul,
By gaining of a life, to lose a soul.
The price of one oul doth exceed as far
A life here, as the Sun in light a Star.
Here though we live some threescore years, or more,
Yet we must dye at last, and quit the score
We ow to nature. But the soul once dying,
Dyes ever, ever; no repurifying;
No earnest sighs or grones; no intercession;
No tears; no pennance; no too late confession
Can move the ear of justice, if it doom
A soul past cure to an infernal tomb.
Make use of this Salassa.
Lodov.
Think upon that now, and take heed, you look
My lord no more in the face.
Salas.
Goodness protect him! now my life so late
I strove to save, which being sav'd I hate.
Exeunt all.
Enter Alphonso armed all save the head, leading the Queen, a Herauld going before, Muretto, Herophil, a Guard.
Alph.
Are you resolv'd to dye?
Qu.
When life is irksom
Death is a happiness.
Alph.
Yes, if the cause
Make it not infamous: But when a beauty
So most incomparable as yours, is blemish'd
With the dishonorable stamp of whoredom:
When your black tainted name, which should have been
(Had you preserv'd it nobly) your best Chronicle,
Wherein you might have liv'd, when this is stain'd,
And justly too; then death doth but heap
Affliction on the dying. Yet you see
With what a sympathie of equal grief.
I mourn your ruine.
Qu.
Would you could as clearly
Perceive mine innocence, as I can clearly
Protest it.
Fy to justify a sin
Is worse then to commit it, now y'are faulty.
Muret.
What a royall pair of excellent
creatures are heer both upon the
castaway. It were a saint like mercy in
you (my Lord) to remitt the memory of
a past errour. And in you Madam (if
you be guilty of the supposed crime) to
submitt your selfe to the King. I dare
promise, his love to you is so unfayned,
that it will relent in your humility. Pray
do, good Madam do.
Qu.
But how if I be free?
Muret.
By any means, for your honors
cause do not yeeld then one jot. Let
not the faint feare of Death deject you
before the royalty of an erected heart.
D'ee heare this my Lord, 'tis a doubtfull
case, almost impossible to be decided,
Look upon her well, as I hope to prosper,
shee hath a most vertuous, a most innocent
countenance. Never heed it. I
know my Lord your jealousy and your
affections wrestle together within you for
them astery. Mark her beauty throughly.
Now by all the power of Love, tis pitty
Shee should not be as fair within as without.
Alph.
Could that be prov'd, I'de give my kingdom straight
And live a slave to her, and her perfections.
Enter Almada, Columello, Attendants.
Lords welcome, see thus arm in arm we pace
To the wide theater of blood and shame
My Queen and I, my Queen? had shee bin still
As shee was, mine, we might have liv'd too happ'ly,
For eithers comfort. Heer on this sweet modell,
This plott of wonder, this fair face, stands fixt
My whole felicity on earth. In witnes
Whereof, behold (my Lords) those manly tears
Which her unkindnes and my cruell fate
Force from their quiet springs, They speak alowd
To all this open ayre, their publick eyes,
That whither I kill or dy in this attempt
I shall in both be vanquisht.
Alm.
'Tis strange my Lord
Your love should seem so mighty in your hatred.
Alph.
Muretto go, and guard Petruchy safe.
Exit Muretto.
We must be stout now, and give over whineing.
He shall confesse strange things (my Lords) I warrant ye,
Comes not a champion yet?
Qu.
None dares I hope.
Coll.
The Queen you know, hath bound us all by Oath,
We must not undertake to combat you
Although the cause should prove apparent for her.
Alph.
Must not? why then y'are cowards all, all base,
And fall off from your duties, but you know
Her follies are notorious, none dare's stand
To justify a sin, they see so playnely.
Coll.
You are too hard a censurer.
Alph.
Give me your hand, farewell, thus from my joy's
I part, I ever part, Yet good my Lords,
Place her on yonder throne, where shee may sit
Just in mine eye, that so if strength should fail,
I might fetch double strength from her sweet beauty.
I'le heare no answers.
Qu.
Heaven be always guard
To Noble actions
place the Queen.
Coll.
Heer's a medley love
That kills in Curtesie.
Alph.
Herauld sound a warning to all defendants—
trumpet sounds.
What comes no one forth:
How like you this my Lords?
Sirrah sound again.
Second sound.
A Trumpet within Enter herauld sounding, after him Velasco arm'd all save the head, Lodovico and attendants.
Velasco? ha? art thou the man? although
As that it is an injury to honour
To fight with one that hath been baffl'd scorn'd,
Yet I will bid thee welcom.
Velas.
Nobly spoken.
Past times can tell you sir, I was no coward,
And now the justice of a gallant quarrell
Shall new revive my dulnes, Yonder sits
A Queen as free from stain, of your disgrace,
As you are fowle in urging it.
Alph.
Thou talk'st couragiously, I love thee for it,
And, if thou canst make good what thou avouchest,
I'le kneel to thee, as to another nature
Velas.
We come not heer to chide, My sword shall thunder
The right for which I strike.
Qu.
Traytor to loyalty,
Rash and unknown fool, what desperate lunacy
Hath led thee on to draw thy treacherous sword
Against thy King, upon a ground so giddy
That thou art but a stranger in the cause
Thou wouldst defend, By all my royall blood
If thou prevailst, thy head shal answer it.
Coll.
Madam you wrong his truth, and
your own fame.
Alm.
You violate the liberty of armes.
Alph.
Pish, listen not to her, 'tis I'me
your man.
Qu.
Why foolish Lords, unsensible and false,
Can any drop of blood be drawn from him
My Lord, your King, which is not drawn from me?
Velasco by the duty that thou ow'st me
I charge thee to lay by thy armes.
Velas.
I must not,
Unles this man whom you call king, confess
That he hath wrong'd your honor.
Qu.
Wilt thou fight then
When I command the contrary?
Velas.
I will.
Qu.
Velasco. heare me once more, thou were wont
To be as pittifull as thou wert valiant,
I will entreat thee gentle kind Velasco,
A weeping Queen sues to thee, Doe not fight,
Velasco, every blow thou givest the King,
Wounds mee, didst ever love? Velasco hear me.
Alph.
Shee must not be endur'd.
Velas.
Nor can shee win me,
Blush you my Lord at this.
Qu.
O let me dy
Rather then see my Lord affronted thus
Queen falls into a sound.
Velas.
Hold up the Queen, she swouns.
Alm.
Madam Deare Madam.
Coll.
Can you see her and not be toucht my Lord?
Was ever woman false that lov'd so truly
Alph.
'Tis all dissimulation.
Velas.
You dishonour her,
To prove it I'le fight both quarrels now.
Enter a herauld sounding a trumpett, after him Petruchi arm'd head and all.
Lodov.
Heydo? here comes more work
for mettall men.
Alm.
Another who should he be?
Alph.
Speake what art thou?
Petr.
One that am summon'd from the power above
To guard the innocence of that fair Queen
Not more against the man that would accuse her
Then all the world besides.
Th' art welcome too.
Velas.
You come too late friend, I am he alone
Stand ready to defend that gracious beauty.
You may return.
Petr.
Ther's not a man alive
Hath interest in this quarrel but my selfe,
I out of mine own knowledg can avouch
Her accusation to be meerly false,
As hel it selfe.
What mortall man is he,
So wilfull in his confidence, can sweare
More then he knowes.
Petr.
I swear but what I know.
Alph.
Hast thou a name?
Petr.
Yes, helpe my beaver down,
D'ee know me now?
Lodovico discovers him
Alph.
Petruchi! death of manhood,
I am plainly bought & sold, why wher's Muretto?
Enter Muretto with a sword drawn.
Muret.
Here as ready to stand in defence
of that Miracle of chast women, as
any man in this presence.
Alph.
Are all conspir'd against me? what thou too?
Now by my fathers ashes, by my life
Thou art a villain, a grosse rank'rous villain,
Did'st not thou only first inforce my
thoughts to jealousy?
Muret.
'Tis true I did.
Alph.
Nay more,
Didst not thou feed those thoughts with fresh supplies
Nam'd every circumstance?
Muret.
All this I grant.
Alph.
Dost grant it, Dog, slave, Helhound?
Muret.
Will you hear me?
Coll.
Heare him good my Lord, let us
perswade ye,
Alph.
What canst thou say Impostor?
speake and choake.
Muret.
I have not deserv'd this my
Lord, and you shall find it, 'tis true, I
must confesse, that I was the only instrument
to incense you to this distemperature
and I am prowd to say it, and say
it again before this noble presence, that
I was my selfe the only man.
Alph.
Insufferable Devil!
Alm.
Pray my Lord.
Muret.
Wonder not my Lords, but
lend mee your attentions, I saw with
what violence he pursude his resolutions
not more in detestation of the Queen in
particular, then of all her sex in generall.
That I may not weary your patience:
I bent all my Studies to devise,
which way I might do service to my
country, by reclayming the distraction
of his discontents. And having felt his
disposition in every pulse, I found him
most addicted to this pestilence of jealosy
with a strong persuasion of which; I
from time to time, ever fed him by degrees,
till I brought the Queen and the
noble Petruchi into the dangers they
yet stand in. But with all (and herin I
appeale to your Majesties own approbation)
I season'd my words with such an
intermixing the praises of the Queens
bewty, that from jealosy I drew the King
into a serious examination of her perfections.
Alph.
Thus farr I must acknowledg,
he speaks truth.
Muret.
At length having found him
indeed surely affected, I perceav'd, that
nothing but the suppos'd blemish of her
dishonour, could work a second divorce
between them.
Alph.
True, truly fates own truth.
Muret.
Now my Lords, to cleer that
imputation, I knew how easie it would
be, by the apparent certainty it selfe, In
all which, if I have erred, it is the error
of a loyall service. Only I must ever acknowledg
how justly I have deserved
a punishment, in drawing so vertuous a
princesses honor into publick question;
and humbly referr my selfe to her gracious
clemency, and your noble constructions.
Alph.
But can, can this be so?
Muret.
Let me ever else, be the subject
of your rage, in the sufferance of any torture.
Alph.
And is shee chast Petruchi?
Petr.
Chast by vertue,
As is the new born virgin, for ought I
know.
Muret.
I ever whisperd so much in
your ears my Lord, and told you, that it
was impossible such singular endowments
by nature, should yeild to the
corruption so much, as of an unworthy
thought.
Did I not tell you so from time to time,
Lay by your arms, my lords, and joyn with me.
Let's kneel to this (what shall I call her?) Woman?
No, she's an Angel. Glory of Creation,
All kneel.
Can you forget my wickedness? Your Peers,
Your Senators, your bravest men, make
suit on my behalf. Why speak ye not, my lords?
I am I know too vile to be remitted,
But she is merciful.
All.
Great Soveraign Lady—
Qu.
Be not so low, my lord, in your own thoughts:
You are, as you were, Soveraign of my heart;
And I must kneel to you.
Alph.
But will you love me?
Qu.
'Tis my part to ask that: will you
love me?
Alph.
Ever, yours ever; let this kiss new marry us.
What say?
Qu.
It does; and heaven it self can tell
I never did, nor will wrong our first loves.
Alph.
Speak it no more. Let's rise, now I am King
Of two rich Kingdoms, as the world affords:
The Kingdom of thy beauty, and this land.
But what rests for Muretto?
Qu.
I account my worthiest thanks
his debt.
Alm.
And he deserves all honor, all
respect.
Col.
Thus my imbraces
Can witness how I truly am his friend.
Velas.
And I whilst I have life.
Lodov.
Nay when I am dead I, will
appear again, clap thee on the shoulder
and cry, God a' mercy old Suresby.
Petr.
I must ask pardon of him, still I thought
His plot had aim'd all at his own behoof,
But I am sorry for that misconceit.
Muret.
My lords, What I have been
heretofore, I cannot altogether excuse;
but I am sure my desires were alwaies
honest, however my low fortune kept
me down: But now I finde 'tis your honest
man is your honest man still, howere
the world go.
Alph.
Muretto, Whilst I live thou shalt be neer me,
As thou deservest: And noble Gentlemen
I am in all your debts: henceforth beleeve me,
I'll strive to be a servant to the State.
All.
Long live happy both.
Alph.
But where are now my brace of new-made Courtiers,
My Scholler and my Captain?
Lodov.
I cry guilty, there is a large
story depends upon their exploits, my
Lord; for both they thinking in such perilous
times to be shifting every man
for one, have took a passing provident
course to live without help hereafter.
The man in the moon, Signior Pynto,
for the raising of his fortune a Planet
higher, is by this time married to a
kinde of loose-bodied widow, called
by Sirname a Bawde; one that if he
follow wholesom instructions, will
maintain him, there's no question on't,
the captain for his part, is somwhat more
delicately resolv'd for as adventurous
(though not as frail) a piece of service.
For he in hope to marry this lady, attending
on the Queen, granted Petruchi
his liberty, and by this time hath received
a sufficient quietus est.
Alph.
Are these my trusty servants?
What a blindness was I led into!
Lodov.
If your Highnesses both will
in these daies of mirth crown the Comedy;
first let me from the Queens royal
gift be bold to receive Herophil for my
wife; She and I are resolv'd of the business
already.
Qu.
With all my heart, I think her well bestow'd,
If she her self consents.
Her.
My duty, Madam,
Shall ever speak my thankfulness, in this
I reckon all my services rewarded.
Much comfort to you friend.
All.
All joy and peace.
Lodov.
My duty to my Soveraigns, to
all therest at once, my heartiest heartiest
thanks. Now, lady, you are mine;
why so, here's short work to begin with.
If in the end we make long work, and
beget a race of mad-caps, we shall but
do as our fathers and mothers did,
and they must be cared for.
Enter Pynto, Bufo, Mopas with a tire upon his head, and Shaparoon:
Pyn.
Follow me not bawde; my lord the King;
My Jove, justice, justice.
Buf.
Justice to me, I was like to have
been married to these black muschatoes
insteed of that lady.
Pyn.
I to this ugly bawde.
Both.
Justice.
Alph.
Hence you ridiculous fools, I banish you
For ever from my presence: Sirrah, to thee
I give the charge, that they be forthwith stript,
And put into such rags they came to Court in;
And so turn'd off.
Pyn.
Dost hear me King?
Buf.
King hear me, I'me the wiser
man.
Alph.
No more I say.
Mop.
Come away, come away for
shame; you see what 'tis to be given to
the flesh: the itch of letchery must be
cured with the whip of correction.
Away, away.
Exeunt Bufo, Pynto, Mopas and Shaparoon.
Alph.
What else remains
But to conclude this day in Hymen's Feasts?
Enter Salassa her hair loose, a white rod in her hand, two or three with bags of money.
To whom; for what;
Your meaning, name, and errand?
Salas.
At those feet
Lay down those sums of gold, the price of guilt,
Of shame, of horror.
Qu.
What new riddle's this?
Muretto whispers the King, Collumello the Queen.
Muret.
My Gratious lord.
Col.
I shall inform your Highness.
Velas.
Woman of impudence.
Salas.
Your looks proclaim
My sentence banishment, or if you think
The word of banishment too hard to utter.
But turn away, my lord, and without accent
I'll understand my doom, I'll take my leave,
And like a penitentiary walk
Many miles hence to a religious shrine
Of some chast sainted Nun, and wash my fin off
In tears of penance, to my last of breath.
Velas.
You come to new torment me.
Salas.
I am gone, my lord; I go for
ever.
Going out.
Lodov.
Faith be merciful, the woman
will prove a wife worth the having, I'll
Pass my word.
Alph.
E'ne so; stay, lady, I command you, stay.
Velasco here's occasion proffer'd now
For me to purchase some deserving favour
From woman; honour me in my first suit;
Remit and love that lady.
Velas.
Good my lord.
Alph.
Nay, nay, I must not be deny'd, my Queen
Shall joyn with me to mediate for her.
Qu.
Yes, I dare undertake, she that presents
Her pennance in such sorrow, hearty sorrow,
Will know how to redeem the time with duty,
With love, obedience.
Lodov.
D'ee hear, my lord; all the ladies
in Arragon, and my wife among the
rest, will bait ye like so many wild cats,
creature, that does in a manner lye
down to ye of her own accord. Come,
I know you love her with all the very
vaines of your heart.
Muret.
There's more hope of one woman
reclaim'd (my lord) then of many
conceited of their own innocence,
which indeed they never have but in
conceit.
Velas.
To strive against the ordinance of fate,
I finde is all in vain: Lady, your hand,
I must confess I love you, and I hope
Our faults shall be redeem'd in being henceforth
True votaries to vertue, and the faith
Our mutual vows shal to each other ow.
Say, are you mine, resolv'd?
Lodov.
Why that's well said.
Salas.
Yours, as you please to have me.
Velas.
Here then ends
All memory of any former strife:
He hath enough who hath a vertuous wife.
All.
Long joy to both.
Alph.
The money we return
Where it is due; and for Velasco's merits
Will double it. Thus after storms a calm
Is ever welcomest: Now we have past
The worst, and all I hope is well at last
Exeunt.
| The Queen, or The Excellency of Her Sex | |