 | The Careles Shepherdess |  |
Act. IV.
Scen. 1.
Enter Bracheus.Brac.
How vaine unbridled youth is that's ore sway'd
By giddy passion resolutely hazard
For satisfaction of their triviall rage
Their soules eternitie? Castarina
Hath inform'd me that young Philaritus
And Lariscus doe intend to venter
Like Prodigal gamesters, at one cast, the stock
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Must be soone appli'd, or their too much heat
May prove their utter ruine; and though Cleobulus
Count me the object of his scorne, my care
shall give him notice of their wilde intents.
Enter Coridon.
Good day to you Sir, may I desire you would
Let your Master know I'de speak with wit him.
Corrid.
I shall.
Exit.
Brac.
Perhaps Cleobulus, whose scrupulous soule
Is apt to make a question of my faith
May judge this act a flattery, a pretence
Of seeming frendship that with more safety
Philaritus may obtaine his desire
Of Arismena, then to hazard
him to the danger of Lariscus spear.
But these are vaine surmises; my intents
Are plaine and verteous, and good actions ever
How ere miscontrived carries their reward
Still with themselves.
Scen. 2.
Enter Cleobulus.Cleob.
Would you with me?
Brac.
Yes.
Cleob.
Speak your intents.
Brac.
Philaritus—
Cleob.
Shall not injoy your daughter.
Brac.
'Tis not my suite.
Cleob.
Say y'so Sir, I shall with far more patience
hear you.
Brac.
Briefly thus
I am inform'd, and tis a serious truth
Your sonne Philaritus (whose noble soule
Cannot indure a Rivall in his Love)
Hath sent a Challenge to Lariscus
O Sir think what deserved pitty 'twill excite
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Should be cut off from earth ere their full growth
As by a violent Tempest, So, or one
Or both are like to perish, for this morne
They are resolv'd to try their skill at Armes.
Cleob.
Which you would have me to prevent?
Brac.
It is your part.
Cleob.
Ah, Ah, Ah;
You are mistaken then, for well I finde
Your aime, and see you do contrive this plot
To win me to consent Philaritus
Should marry Arismena; but you are too
Too young to cheat a Fox, and therefore
Ought to take more subtiler wayes then this
Why you contemn'd my Sonne but now, and if
That rage sprang from the heart, you would be glad
He should receive the danger you pretend.
Brac.
My rage was grounded here, and know right Sir
I cannot, neither will I now repent
What then my passion utter'd, I have more
Of man within me, yet see here's the Challenge
Sent from Castarina, which I will keepe
Though eminent mischiefe follow; Id little thought
This discovery of your Sons danger wo'd
Have merited this entertainment.
So your best fate protect you.
Exit.
Cleob.
May be
That Bracheus is noble in his thoughts
And truly doth intend the good of young
Philaritus: Why should he else affirme
Hee has the the challenge? and means nothing else
But friendship with Cleobulus? I was
Too hasty in my speech, and therefore will
Send for him back; within there tell Bracheus
I'd speak with him.
Enter Coridon.
Cor.
I shall Sir.
Exit.
Cleob.
If now
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Whether it be Philaritus his hand
Or no, and then I soon shall finde his plot.
Scen. 3.
Enter Bracheus.Brac.
Did you send for me?
Cleob.
I would
Acknowledge that I was too rash for to
Suspect your goodnesse ere I had a cause
Sufficient for my ground, and therefore would—
Brac.
Have me produce the reasons which occasion'd
My former speech to you.
Cleob.
Tis my ambition.
Brac.
Nay since you urge my anger, you shall know
I slight as much your fury as your love:
Nor shall you by entreaties win me to
Prevent the mention'd danger; He who can
Be so unjust as to misdoubt my truth,
Shall perish in his ignorance, before
A sillable I utter shall deliver
Him from his suddaine ruine.
Cleob.
I pray be'nt so resolute,
I shall be diligent unto your speech,
And weigh each word that issues from your tongue,
And study how to shew my selfe your friend.
Brac.
My rage is not malitious, like a spark
Of fire by steel inforc'd out of a flint,
It is no sooner kindled, but extinct.
This paper will inform you all.
He gives him a paper.
Cleob.
Tis so, my Son has challenged Lariscus
Into the field. O Fate!
Brac.
Fear not, If you
Have but a forward will to act what I
Shall counsell, doubt not, your affaires shall meet
A fortunate Issue.
Cleob.
O how I pray!
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Your eare.
They whisper.
Cleob.
You councell well, you and my better Fate,
And by this means will cure their bloody hate.
Exeunt.
Scen. 4.
Enter Satyre Solus.Sat.
The paine of my late wound hath rob'd my spirits
Of strength and use: the blood that won't to dance
Through the concaves of my veines, now moves
With a dull beating in my quiet pulses,
And I begin to faint. Thou gentle earth
Allow me what sweet comfort rest affords,
And let thy verdant bosome be my bed.
He lyes down.
Scen. 5.
Enter Graculus.Grac.
I am a rogue and deserve hanging for betraying my
poor Mistresse: She's tossed and tumbled by this time: Let me
see.
Sat.
Oh!
Grac.
Thats not her voyce, ha! the Goats! the Satyrs!
Where's my Mistresse, he has not eaten her I hope.
Sat.
Help me I am wounded.
Grac.
And if I did think so, I would be more familiar.
Sat.
I cannot goe, help I shall bleed to death.
Grac.
He's almost kild. First my letcherous friend
Where 's my Mistresse?
Sat.
She was rescu'd by a man has almost slaine me.
Grac.
Now I have a great minde to kill him outright, however
I will dominere
Where's your hurt?
Sat.
Here, oh! thou dost paine me.
Grac.
Would you have a Surgeon; you shall be hang'd
first.
Sat.
Sweet friend assist me.
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Now I will make amends for all, and carry this Satyre
home to our house, where we will whip him twice a day; and after
the maides have gelded him, I will hang up in our chimney to
dry for bacon. Sirrah you are no rascall, you deserve not to be
firk'd and jerk'd and yerk'd: my dogg a mountaine, you are
wilde, I'le tame you now I think on't, what if I cut out his eyes
and then shew him upon market dayes to the Aradians where every
man and maide will give money to have a lash at him like a
blinde Beare. What doe you think of a wench you pestiferous
goat, you must be rutting, and no flesh serve you but my Mistriss,
come I'le bring you to them shall coole your liver.
Sat.
Gently, oh gently, gentle Shepheard oh I shall dye.
Grac.
Not till we'ave done, you must have your carnallity, I
was pincht and trod on, you dogs face, does your abominable
worship remember? and threatn'd on perill of my life to pimpe for
your bestiality, well there is no remedy you shall upon my back
to the house of correction.
Sat.
Deare friend use mercy, I repent.
Grac.
Friend and mercy, Yes I will be your friend to help you
to a dog whip, and mercy in abundance
As Graculus is taking him up, the Satyre takes him in his armes and carries him away.
Grac.
Oh Mr. Satyre
Gentile Mr. Goat, I did but jest.
Sat.
You shall be hang'd in earnest.
Grac.
Help, a Rape, Mudrer, Fellony, Oh! I am undone
I shall be eaten up alive.
Exit.
Scen. 6.
Enter Philaritus and Lariscus with speares.Phil.
I love thee yet Lariscus for thy boldnesse
To meet an enemy and could wish thy error
To 'ave bin unborn, but cannot bear an injury
So great as to corrival my affection
In beautious Arismena.
Lar.
Thy own tongue
Betrayes a cause that makes thee worth my killing
Thy guilt of flattering my Castarina.
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Not talke.
Phii.
Revenge hath wings, thou needs not call it
Upon thee with more hast.
They fight.
Scen. 7.
Enter Arismena and Castarina with Bowes and Arrowes.Aris.
Hold.
Cast.
Stay.
Aris.
An other duell must be fought, this place
Is ours.
Cast.
If Philaritus attempt
A wound upon Lariscus, here
I'le punish it with Arismena's death.
Aris.
And if Lariscus hurt Philaritus
Within the bosome of Castarina
I'le hide this killing Arrow: never look
With wonder at us, you kill one another
And send your foolish Ghosts to raile at us:
No, rather let us execute, and save
That cruelty upon our selves, you being
Men that are troublesome to the world and us.
Phil.
Oh here, make me happy Arismena
My breast will meet thy shaft.
Aris.
Stand faire.
Lar.
And mine
Shall glory to be pierc'st by Castarina.
Cast.
Have at you then
Make as though they would shoot, but fling away their Bowes & imbrace.
Aris.
Thus doe I shoot a kisse.
Cast.
And thus I aime at thee.
Aris.
Pardon my dear Philaritus I have
With too much tryall of thy love offended
If not too late, here I resigne my heart
In satisfaction, and am thine, without
Affection to Lariscus, with whom I
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Upon thy courtship unto Castarina,
Who told me of your meeting, and contention
Which now must dye in your embracing us.
Phil.
I am extas'd with joy.
Cast.
And am I welcome?
Lar.
To my heart.
Cast.
If all seconds were so carefull to
Compound, there would not be so many slaine.
Aris.
Here we begin our joyes.
Phil.
May they last ever.
Scen. 8.
Enter Satyrs. Some seize upon the weapons, and others carry away Arismena and Castarina.Aris.
Help!
Cast.
Helpe!
Phil.
Villains! Devils!
Sat.
You come upon your death.
Exeunt Satyrs.
Lar.
They have our spears.
Phil.
That I could look 'em dead, the slaves out fly
The winde, they 're gone, they 're lost for ever,
Our heaven but now discover'd, we are thrown
To hell, and suffer torment above all
The wretched souls endured.
Lar.
There 's no persuing now,
Let us collect and muster strength to be
Reveng'd upon their goatish generation.
Phil.
Gods must persue the Ravishers, for mankinde
Wants force; where shall I hide my cursed head?
Lar.
You sha'not grieve, nor curse alone while I
Am partner in so great a miserie.
Exeunt.
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Scen. 9.
Enter foure Satyrs.1 Sat.
See those commands that I impos'd be strictly
Kept, and least so much as but a noyse of their
Complaint be heard, be sure you binde, and gagg
Them both; why stay you thus? be quick, and not
Lesse mercifull then poysoned Arrows from
A Tartars bow.
Omnes.
We suddenly obey.
Exeunt.
1 Sat.
Its fit. Now will I glut my selfe, and in
A full revenge tickle my spleen; O twill be
Brave sport to winde these aged sirs in such
A labyrinth, as their industrious care
Shall more infold them in, then set them free.
But see I talk, not execute; Delay
Brings danger with't, and oft designes betray.
Exit.
Scen. 10.
Enter Philaritus and Lariscus.Phil.
Tis strange these woods should be inhabited
With store of Satyrs, yet we finde none of
Their horrid Cells. There's no place that has scap't
Our narrow search, though the sulphurious earth
Hath breath'd forth all its ills, and hung its fogs
To dark the Ayre, yet have we venturd through
Their loathsome smells, to finde a Satyrs cave,
But they are hid; some intelligencing
Devil has told their sudden Fate, and help'd
Them to some ayerie wings.
Lar.
Curse light on them!
Had we bin of the femal sex, they wo'd
Have shew'd themselves.
Phil.
Right.
Lar.
But now they fly us.
Phil.
Yet the lightnesse of
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We fall like lightning on their heads, and scorne
To welcome rest, untill our spears have bath'd
Their steely poynts within their murderous souls.
Lar.
I like thy resolution well.
Phil.
Who's here?
Enter Coridon.
Coridon the newes with thee?
Cor.
This will declare my coming.
He gives him a letter.
Phil.
I wonder that my Father writes to me.
Lar.
Read and perhaps thou wilt not wonder.
Philaritus,
Since thou art charm'd with Arismena's beauty, and
accounts nothing cordiall but her love; I cannot choose
but praise thy constancy, and wish to see thee incircled in
Arismena's armes; Her Father hopes as much, who with
me expects your present coming to my house.
Your Father Cleobulus.
Phil.
This Phisick comes too late, this kindnesse should
Have blest your Sou before, read, read Lariscus
And tell me if my Fathers love be timely,
O my accursed Stars, by whose black influence
My Fate is poyson'd thus, that I could reach you
To be aveng'd upon your golden heads,
Which I would pluck from heaven, and bury in
The earth, never to shine againe.
Lar.
Let me perswade in this extream to go
And let me wait upon you to your Father,
He 's powerfull and may at his command
Raise men enough to ransack all the woods
And finde the caves where dwell these horrid Satyrs
Whom we will torture for the Rape committed,
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Rid of our punishment: we must be active,
And live to be reveng'd, not sigh away
Our spirits thus.
Phil.
Thou dost advise me well,
This may assist us to performe our duty
To our abused faire ones, and revenge
Their staine in part, but sure nothing can be
Enough to recompence their cruelty.
| The Careles Shepherdess | |