University of Virginia Library

Scæna Sexta.

Enter Gaspar, Mariana, Catalina.
Gasp.
Faith! you're a cunning Lover, I had thought
I had deserv'd more interest in your trust,
Then that you thus should steal your nuptials, and
Ne'r let me know on't, where's my gloves?

Mar.
Why Gaspar?
Why should'st thou think I should be married?

Gas.
Cause
I know 'tis truth; your Father has disclosed
The party to me.

Mar.
Party? prithee speak;
And do not rest; what's that thou prat'st of? husband?
And Hymenæan rites?

Gas.
As if you knew not!

Mar.
Not I truly.

Gas.
Nor shall you know it then for me, I might
Incurre much danger, should I be but seen
To kisse your hand thus, discourse with you, in brief
'Tis to the jealousest, most ignoble man
In all the City: so farewell, there's all
That I dare stay to tell you.

Cata.
Blesse you, Mistress.

Mar.
Cousin, good cousin, leave me not, before
You have explain'd this riddle, on my life
I'll not disclose you told me.

Gas.
May I trust you?
Mark then your fate, Your father hath decreed
You for Don Balthasar old Frederiques heire,
They are agreed.

Mar.
Save me Saints, I'd rather
Be wedded to a Leaper; one halfe bedrid,
Laden with gout, and all diseases, would not
Be halfe so odious to me: is't not he
That should have had Varina?

Gas.
Th'same.

Mar.
Sweet Gaspar,
Make some obstructions, and doe thou, sweet Jove,
Be an impediment to that decree.

Gas.
Cousin, alas! I have quite wearied him
With my petitions, but he's deafe as Nereus
Is to the shipwrackt Mariners, or rocks
Unto the bellowing surges of the Sea.

Mar.
Thou hast been always honest, Gaspar, and
A Friend, a Father to me: in this strait
I'll try thy love; advise which way I shall
Escape these nuptials; say, is't possible?

Gas.
I shall be proud to doe that office, Kings
Would glory in; to doe you service, Saints
Would sure desert their blisse: Do you but speak,
Breath but one accent from those lips, the winds
Will all contend, which shall be first made blest
With its conveyance; your sweet voyce can charm
The Syrens silent, force the Crocodile
To leave his feigned weeping; at your looks
Palms would renew their freshnesse; aged hearts
Grow young again, Scythians be mild; if ever
Rash Phaetons sisters had beheld those drops,
They never more would boast their Amber tears
To be more pretious.

Mar.
Push! you flatter me!
What means this ceremony?

Gas.
And had those creatures
Book-blinded men, that dream of other worlds,
Tell of Elysian blessings, known the joyes
Are in your love, they would have lost themselves,
As I have done, in contemplation
Of this surpassing happinesse, you blesse
With its enjoying.

Mar.
You are tedious, tell me
How to evade this mischiefe.

Gas.
Pradon me,
I'm in a labyrinth, subtler then the cave
That held the Cretan Minotaure; 'tis easier
To catch wild Boreas, make Neptune calm
When he most rageth, then to give your worth
Its just Encomiums. I'm so farre transported
With rumination on't beyond my selfe,
That I have quite forgot your first demand.

Mar.
Pray tell me Cousin, How may I delude
Balthasars nuptials?

Gas.
'Tis difficult,
There is but one way left, and that's to wed
Another, e're you come unto his bed.

Mar.
Faith! any body, honest Gaspar, bring
Some aged Lazar from the Hospitall,
Or towing Galliego, and I'll love
Him rather then the other, let me see
Whom thou wouldst wish me to.

Gas.
An honest man,
One I dare swear that loves you.

Mar.
Nominate him:
By all that's good, I'll love him.

Gas.
She's my own.
(aside.)
I'll take you at your word—
Behold the man, the true Idolater
Of thy perfections, one whose every thought
Is on thy vertues, how to give them reverence
Due to their merits.

Mar.
This is brave, proceed,
You're Courtly grown, what spirit has infus'd
This unaccustom'd phrase into you?

Gas.
Your
Love which hath power to give a dumb man utt'rance,
Make Ideots Orators to fill the world
With new inventions; consecrate this Age
Onely to Poets, whose immortall lines
May celebrate thy praises. Though thy Father
Could be so perjur'd after a thousand oaths,
To seek to rob me of my interest in thee,
Yet the known goodnesse of thy Nature tells me,
Thou'lt not be perjur'd too, I'm sure thou'lt love me.

Mar.
Reason good, base man!
Did all this painted processe tend to this?
Were Balthasar a man compos'd of vices,
Il'd sooner cast my self away on him,
Then on thy basenesse: Loving 'Coz. farewell!
You may go meditate to get a wife,
And ruminate on your most base desires
In the Grand-Placa. Walk, Sir.—

Exeunt Mar. and Cat.
Gas.
Is there no thunder left in heav'n? Has earth
Left all it's fear, it shakes not at the hearing
Of such inhuman perjuries, untill
It have a rupture vast enough to swallow
At once the world, that it may ne're produce
Again such treach'rous animals, as my fate,
My cursed fate torments me with: I am
A proper man, I've limbs enough because
I have a blemish in my blood, my Mistress
Rejects me; Thus should I in open Court
Sue for her as my wife: I have no means
To stand against her Father, and 'tis gold
That rules the Law now. Well! since all will be
Villains, why should I practise honesty?
I've brains as well as other men, my spirit
Tells me, there's means to right the wrong. Who's this?

Enter Roderiguez.
Rod.
Gaspar? the man I look't for.

Gas.
Don Roderiguez!
What drew you hither?

Rod.
Sir, my businesse is
Now with your selfe; Your Master has a daughter
I have a most deserving friend affects
Her dearly, wilt thou be a means to gain
Her favour for him?

Gas.
I did take you Sir,
T'have been a person of more reall worth
Then thus t'assay a servants loyalty;
Think you my Masters daughter shall become
A prostitute? If this be all your businesse,
I must not stay to hear it.

Rod.
Thou mistak'st,
I have no such intention, thou shalt raise
His daughter with a marriage to a man
Of noble Blood and Fortunes.

Gas.
But her Father,
Has promis'd her to one he will not break with.
You cannot have her.

Rod.
Hold! there's gold, thou shalt
(Gives him money.)
Perswade her love my friend, I know thou canst,
My honest Gaspar.—

Gas.
Sir,
I am a man whom stepdame Fortune made
To eat my bread in servitude, my Master
Is all the hopes I live by, and my trust
Hath gain'd me some respect above a servant;
Should I undoe his purpose, crosse this match,
For your sakes, I should win the execrations
Of all true servants; and perchance your selves
Seeing me false to him, would fear t'impose
Confidence in me: pray receive your gold,
I must not do it.

Rod.
Come! thou shalt, the man
Thou dost it for will raise thee farre beyond
Thy expectation, Gaspar.

Gas.
May I trust you?

Rod.
What needs these doubts?

Gas.
Then know my Mistress hates
The person whom her Father would bestow
Her on in marriage; would your friend, or you,
Or any one, there's in the Citie you may hire
To kill him, then admission will be easie.

Rod.
Most excellent! his name? he's seal'd for death.

Gas.
Balthazar, Frederiques heire, to morrow night
Your friend and you come to the window, and
Bring somthing that may please her, and ne're doubt
You shall have gentle audience.

Rod.
I'll about it.

Exit.
Gas.
Doe, on your shoulders I my selfe will rise
To quit my Masters monstrous perjuries.

Exit.