University of Virginia Library

Scena Tertia.

Enter Alonzo, Mariana, Gaspar.
Alo.
Come you egregious strumpet
(Drags her, his sword drawn)
Abstract of impudence! what has my patience
Made thee presume of my connivency:
So much vile, Mynion, that your wanton lust
Durst gallop like a posthorse: run at base
In sin, and fearless meet lasciviousness:
As if that Saints and men had been as deep
Involv'd in sleep, as you in sin: and now
To see your lust dance Anticks? must my house
Be made the stewes, the sinfull receptacle.
Of you and your Adulterers? you could laugh
At me, contemn my age; Alas! poor man!
The Gout doth hold him captive in his Couch,
We need not fear him: I did hear you Mistress,
And would have entred then, but that I thought
It more revenge, I held it greater Justice
To send thy soul (grown filthy) unto hell
Glutted with pleasures. Come, you'll tell me, Mistress,
Who 'twas, was with you.

Gas.
Thus outragious?
Fye! Patron! such a passion would befit
A husband better then a father: Age
Should furnish you with better temper, Cousin:
Sweet, wipe thy eyes: in troth 'tis but a trick
Common to such young folks, to have a servant,
A friend in privat to supply their wants:
Be not so passionate, you must forgive her.
Pardon, good Sir.

(Holds him)
Alo.
Stand by, or I shall turn
My rage on you! Insatiate Strumpet! was not
The man I destin'd for your husband, good:
(Too good for thee) but that thy wanton eyes
Must choose another? Must the Patrimony
I thought to leave thee, the estate I purchas'd
With such a care become a salary
To your hot sin: your Bastards shortly will
Call Grandfather, and look for portions
Out of my wealth, but I'll prevent it, Mynion:
Speak briefly!

(Mar. kneels down)
Ma.
What? that I have sinn'd? O Sir!
Remember I'm your daughter, let that name
Move you to pitty of my fact, which youth,
Unbridled youth occasion'd: though my crime
May challenge death, as it's desert: your hands
Ought not to be deaths messengers: 't suffices
That I have sinn'd, add not my delict
By making you a parricide: dear father,
Forgive me.

Alo.
No! Thou'st laid a stain upon
Our houses honour, which thy wanton blood,
Nought else can wash away.

Ma.
O! rob not Heav'ns
Of their prerogatives; let them revenge
Your quarrell, for my mothers sake, whom oft
You said my feature represented, spare me:
For her sake do it.

Alo.
Nay, for her sake rather
I must be mov'd to butcher thee, who fear'st not
So to profane her image, which remains
Better decipherd in thy perfect essence,
Then in her monument: Thoud'st better 'ye pull'd
Her sacred reliques from their Urne, defil'd them,
Cast out her ashes on a dunghill, then
Committed this, for which her glorious soul
(If Saints can weep) makes heav'n a sea: O Girle!
Shame! that thou art my issue: I conceited
If there had ought been good in Nature, then
Thou had'st been Mistress of it: now I see
(Grief to my age!) I was too fond: Affection
Made me adore an Idol: I was cozen'd:
There is no trust in mortals.

Gas.
Pray you, Sir!
You are too much distemper'd: faith! her fault
Is not worth half this anger: take her up,
Let not the earth pollute those limbs, the pride
Of Natures workmanship, you may behold
In those fair Orbs true penitence, those tears
Were of sufficient vertue to restore
A person damn'd to paradise: forgive her:
Or you're too cruel, Signior.

Alo.
Let her then
Reveal her Partner.

Gas.
That demand's unjust,
If she should do it, men should fear hereafter
To pleasure women, when they see that threats
Can force Discoveries: good Sir, ask it not,
'Tis too unreas'nable.

Ma.
What said my Father?

Alo.
Marry, ungratious minyon: I would know
Whom you have chosen for your stallion,
To glut your never-sated Orke withlust.

Ma.
Is't me you mean Sir? slack your passion, Sir.—

Gas.
Conceal him, if you do affect his life.

(Whispers to her)
Ma.
These lips yet tepid with his frequent kisses,
Before they utter ought to hurt him, shall
Be clos'd for ever, rather rot with Cankers.

Gas.
Noble Virago!

Alo.
Then resolve to die.

Ma.
I care not, here's my bosome, rip it up,
And steal an acute Eagles eye to pry
Into my hearts small caverns, and explore
His name, that writ there, yet it will remain
Hid in some little Concave, that your fury
Shall never know it: kill me, I shall smile
On ugly death: embrace her with a soul
Triumphant as a Martyrs, I will perish
A thousand times, e're once I wil disclose
That pretious secret.

Alo.
Do you brave me? do you?
(Gaspar holds him)
Let go my hands.

Gas.
I must not, will not let you
Draw mischief on your self: go in sweet Coz!
Let me alone with him.

Exit Mariana.
Alo.
Stand off: Let go,
And let me follow her.

Gas.
For what? your rage
Shall not have way to do an act: which done,
You'ld wail in tears for ever, should you kill her,
Think what a crime you onerate your soul with,
Next, what a scandall would ensue: a man
Of your known worth at this age to become
A Parricide on such a daughter, only
For keeping close her friend: Why should you be
Inquisitive to know him?

Alo.
T'have revenge.

Gas.
Why so I did imagin: banish rage,
And hear with reasons ears: be sure your daughter
Has plac'd her love on some base one, she dares not
Make privy to your ear, should she disclose him,
You would, she thinks, have vengeance for her fault:
Were he a person noble, she would haste
To tell his name, boast of her choice: how say you?
Is not this reason?

(Lets go his hands)
Alo.
Very true!

Gas.
He being
A man so worthless, 't would disgrace you more
In seeking vengeance, for the humourous world
Apt to suspect the worse, would judge the Cause
Of your revenge to be, as 'tis: and so
You lay your own dishonour, and your daughters,
Open, which else might sleep unmention'd, none
But you and I are privy to't, and e're
A syllable should pass in your disgrace
Out of my mouth, I vvould be dumb.

Alo.
But Gaspar!
What shall I do vvith her? For Balthasar
Will publish her disgrace, so all vvill shun
Her hated Nuptials: I'll go make her enter
'Mong barefoot Nuns into some Monastery,
Spend the long remnant of her blooming youth
In holy prayers and penitence: I'll make
The poor my heirs, found sacred Hospitals,
Build Colledges vvith my revenues.

Gas.
Madness!
Religious madness! that's the ready way
To sell her to damnation: will her spirit,
(Can you conceive) which now doth pass the limits
Of Liberty, endure a Cloister! Balthasar?
Fear not his clamours; wise men will impute
Them to his passion; 'cause h'as lost her, rather
Then to her merit: Patron, you may finde
Some younger Brother noble as her self
To be her husband; Gold will make her seem
A virgin, though a Mother.

Alo.
Honest Gaspar!
I know thou lov'st me.

Gas.
As I doe the bliss
I hope for.

Alo.
And, alas! ungratefull I
Have been too negligent of thy worth, but thou
Hast inurn'd all those acts.

Gas.
'Ts my Duty.

Alo.
Once
I promis'd thee her marriage, and in Justice
She is thy wife; and sure Astræa's angry
For th'injury I did thee, and imposeth
This heavy cross upon me; wilt thou now
Solemnize with her Hymens sacred rites?
Be not dismaid; although her hair-brain'd youth
To heat of blood, then her condition,
She may be honest.

Gas.
Honest! I dare swear
She will be truly vertuous, but the meanness
Of my poor fortunes makes me worthless, I
Have a spot in my blood, which would dishonour
Your family, reserve that, Sir, for one
Of noble and illustrious Parentage;
Whose worth and quality may add a title
Unto your houses fame; for my part, I
Nourish no such thoughts; all the height my poor
Ambition soars at, is to be esteem'd
Your humble slave still.

Alo.
Thou'rt too humble, Gaspar,
Erect thy Spirit, man, thou hadst a Father
Had fire in's veins; come, thou shalt marry her;
I doe command you.

Gas.
Your commands are laws,
As sacred to me as are Oracles,
I must not break them.

Alo.
Thou wilt wed her then?

Gas.
Since you command it.

Alo.
Now I see thou lov'st me.
Call me no more thy Patron, but thy Father.
I will acquaint my daughter with my will.

Exit.
Gas.
Have I not labour'd finely? has my brain
Not won the Laurell wreath? She is my own,
And what care I now what the envious world
Can say of me? They'l call me Cuckold, that's
In my esteem, as much as they should call
Me Signior: Let her take her pleasure, she,
Not I, doth sin: I'm sure she will afford me
My fill at night too. Happy Age! when all
Were common, when old Natures lawes were read
Without a Comment: every man was free
For every woman: then none fear'd the stab
For kissing.

Enter Picarro.
Pic.
Save you Gaspar.

Gas.
And you too:
Sir, what's your businesse?

Pic.
'Tis not, Sir, with you,
'Tis with your Master.

Exit.
Gas.
With your Master? Hem!
How scornfully this youth demeans himselfe?
E're long, when I am married, I shall be
Sir Don, or any thing.

Enter Alonzo and Picarro.
Pic.
Good Sir, my Father
Commends him to you, and intreats you would
For satisfaction of the debt he owes you,
Accept his land at Cordova in mortgage,
And pay old Frederiques debt.

Alo.
I grieve, Picarro,
That he should com to this; but 'tis his fate,
I'll doe him any courtesie, return
This as my answer.

Pic.
Honor'd Sir, I shall.

(is going out.)
Alo.
A handsome man, and an observant son.
Call back Picarro, Gaspar!

Gas.
Sir, Picarro.
My Father doth request you to return.

Alo.
Signior Picarro, I so much lament
Your noble Fathers case, that will you truly
Resolve me one thing, I will pay his debts
Without your mortgage.

Pic.
'Tshould be difficult
That I would not doe for his liberty.

Alo.
Are you in love

Pic.
Not to my knowledge.

Alo.
Could
You be content to have a Wife?

Gas.
Corinna
Were a fit match for him.

Pic.
Yes, of your choosing.

Alo.
You've seen my daughter Mariana, what
Say you to her?

Gas.
She is contracted, Sir,
Surely he will not break his promise with me.

Pic.
Your daughters worth's beyond my hopes.

Alo.
But say,
That you should have her, could you her affect?

Gas.
Sure! sure he jests.

Pic.
Nothing but heav'n and bliss,
I should desire more then her love.

Alo.
Picarro;
I doe so much commiserate thy Father,
And thy own sufferings, that I am resolv'd
To give her to thee; and thy land shall be
Her Joynture.

Gas.
Do I dream? Ha! ha! I hope
I shall not be deluded, Patron, Father,
What doe you mean?

Alo.
Peace! slave! I'll tell her of it.

Exit.
Gas.
But surely, Patron, you will not deale thus?
Heark, Sir, you mean to marry her?

Pic.
I doe.

Gas.
You see this sword?

Pic.
I, what of that?

Gas.
Nay nothing.
It is a pure Toledo blade, it cost
As it is really worth, twelve Duccats, Sir.
But if you marry her, you have a woman.

Pic.
I hope she's no Hermaphrodite.

Gas.
No, but
She's something else, a Whore.

Pic.
Out slave! thou'rt frantick.

Exit.
Gas.
O! that I were but valiant, had but heart
Great as my wrongs are, or but so much power
As would suffice to right them; I could pull
The Crystall Axell that supports the Spheares,
Down to the earth, that all the world might perish
Together with my selfe, since all have sworn
To be stark villains with me: I'm resolv'd
Flectere si nequeo Superos, Acheronta movere.
To Hell, I'll now address me.

Enter Balthazar.
Bal.
Thou art come
Now to thy period, Bastard! 'twas your plot
To bring me 'mong my enemies, on purpose
To have me slain, but I have scap't to be
Thy ruine. Say thy Prayers.—

(drawes his Sword)
Gasp,
What mean you, Sir?

Bal.
To kill thee, slave, and so set free the earth
From bearing such an execrable monster
Such an inhumane villain.

Gas.
As you're noble,
Lend me a little utterance, till I cloath
In vocall sounds, a businesse that concerns
Your honour neerly.

Bal.
But be brief, thy breath
Will blast me else.

Gas.
You come, you say, to kill me?
I'm glad that Nature has afforded life
To such a wretch as I am, till my blood
May doe a person of your worth a pleasure.

Bal.
And is this all?

Gas.
Forbeare a little, heare me;
You doe suppose it was my plot to bring
You to your death, I do confesse.

Bal.
What? Speak!

Gas.
That won with gifts, I did entice you thither
To your destruction: But, hear me, Sir,
There's none so vile, but may repent; and since
Your Fate afforded you a happier lot,
Then to be slain, forgive me: if the blood
Of such a miscreant, can ought avail you,
I'll give it you my selfe, you shall not stain
Your noble hands with my poore homicide.

Bal.
Rare! excellent villain: But methinks those tears
And looks, spring out of feigned penitence;
Disclose the man that hurt me, and I'll pardon
Thy horrid fact, and raise thee.

Gas.
Willingly:
'Twas he must be her husband.

Bal.
Who?

Gas.
Picarro.

Bal.
May I beleeve you? Is this truth?

Gas.
Else kill me.

Bal.
Farewell! there's gold.

Gas.
But stay, if one so vile
As I may give you counsell?

Bal.
Any thing
That tends to his destruction.

Gas.
Your hot breast
Thirsts for revenge; let it be noble, he
Off'red you publick wrong, let your revenge
Be publick too!

Bal.
As how?

Gasp.
As thus, to morrow
When he returns from's wisht-for Nuptials,
Meet him, and kill him, then escape into
The Church, 'twill be your Castle and Asylum;
'Tis brave and safe.

Bal.
Ingenious Gaspar, think
He's dead already.

Exit.
Gas.
This hits right, let all
Perish; I care not, if I rise, who fall.

Exit.