 | The Lady Mother |  |
Actus. 4:
Sce: i.
Enter Magdalen, Timothy & Alexander.Ma:
[Run good sweet Timothy search the barnes, the stab[OMITTED]]
[while I looke in the Chambers, should she be lost, o[OMITTED]]
[come to any harme my lady will hang vs all.]
[why dost not fly.]
Tim:
[Heyday, if her feet walke as fast as thy tongue, sh[OMITTED]]
[farr enough ere this time, wt a stirr you make, i[OMITTED]]
[were gon as shee is, with yor sweet heart, you would[OMITTED]]
[pursud would you, you would be hangd as soone, al[OMITTED]]
[good gentlewoman heauen speed her.]
Ma:
[You will not goe then.]
70
[No indeed will I not, her mother may be angry if she]
[please, the time has bin, she would as willingly at her]
[bin at the sport her selfe, as now her daughter, the Ge[OMITTED]]
[shees gon with is a man, and soe, theres no harme d[OMITTED]]
[I warrant you.]
Lov:
[Ha, ha, gramercy Timothy thou hitt'st it right, Maudlin]
[goe to, should tim here offer as much to you, ha, I]
[beleaue you would not lock yor selfe vp in my ladyes]
[clossett, goe to, and goe to;]
Ent' Lady.
Ma:
[Vdsme my lady.]
Lad:
Lost past redemption, I pursue a fier
wc h like the giddy Meteors, that seduce
with their false light benighted travellers,
allures me to distruction, to curse fate
were to allow I feard it, and admit
participation in me, of that spiritt
I most detest a womans.
Enter Ale[OMITTED]
Lo:
Please your good ladyship.
Lady
Yes that you depart
what can he see in her, more worthy loue
then is in me, shees but a picture drawne
by my dimensions, & men sooner fancy
the Substance then the Shaddow, oh but shee
is the true Image, not of what I am,
71
my virgin roses on my cheeks.
Lo:
Madam you seeme.
La:
Angry at yor impertinency, learne manners, leaue me.
Lo:
She has coniurd downe my spiritt, these are Immodest
deuills that make modest ladyes become strickers,
Ile out oth storme, take shelter in the celler, goe to,
and goe to, tis better venter quarriling mongst
those hogesheads.
Ext.
Enter: Maudlin
Ma:
Madam your daughter.
[OMITTED]nt' Lady:
where is shee, who Clariana.
Ma:
The faire Belisia.
[OMITTED]riana
Did you call me madam.
La:
Noe, were you soe neere, begon againe, yet stay Maudlin
auoid the Roome, & if you see Mr Thurston, entreat him hither,
Timothy find out my sonn and charge him to delay the
execution of my late comaund till I next speake wt h him.
Clariana you did what I comanded.
Ext Mag: & Tim:
Cla:
Yes on my Soule.
La:
But thou art ignorant
72
to leaue thy Thurstons loue.
Cla:
Were I not sure
theres nought in him yt can be titled ill
I should haue thought yor circumspectiue Iudgmt
had spide some error in him, & in care
of me your child, forbidden me his loue.
but what so er's the cause, though yor comaund
(was like perdition welcome) my obedience
fullfild it truly without questioning
the reason why, or the vnlimited power
of you my mother.
Lady
You did very well,
now thou shalt know ye reason, wc h before
I doe relate, afford me leaue to weepe
to saue thy teares wc h at the audience of it
will like the dew on lillies pearle thy cheekes:
I haue beheld thee with a Rivalls eye
in Thurstons loue, my penetrable heart
like a moist cloud has opened & receiud
loues firie bolt into it, now thou knowst it
methinks I see confusion in thy lookes
prepard to blast me.
Cla:
Heauen forbid it I
should ere conceiue the meanest thought of ill
of you my parent, since you loue him, here
to heauen & you, I giue my interest vp
& would I could as well commaund his heart
as he might myne beleive me he should then
affect you with as true & deare a zeale
as ever I did him, I should be happie
in making you soe.
73
Charitable girle
forgiue thy cruell mother who must yet
impose a stronger penaunce on thy duty
thou must go to thy Thurston, & obtaine his loue.
74
A little labor will serve for that.
Lady
Not for thy selfe, but for thy haplesse mother
who am without it nothing, woe him for me
vse the inchanting musicke of thy voice
in my behalfe, who though thy Rivall yet
remember Ime thy mother, nor canst thou
consigne thy breath to a more holy vse
(though thou should spend it in religious prayers)
then to redeeme thy parent, weepe for me
and in requitall for each drop thou shedst
Ile pay to heauen a Hecatombe of teares
for thy successe, but take good heede deare chi[OMITTED]
while thou art weeping thou dost not Disclose
that face of thyne, for were he mine by vow
loues powerfull Retorich vttred by thyne eyes
would vinn from me.
Ent' Turston & Thorougood
Cla:
Here comes the Gentleman.
Lady
Be earnest Clariana I shall heare you.
Tho:
Sir you must iustifie this.
Thu:
ffeare it not yonder she goes Ile tell her of it
sheele not denie it.
Cla:
Mr Thurston whether do you walke soe fast
Thu:
O Clariana are you there.
Cla:
Nay stay I haue a suite to you.
Thu:
I would be loth to offend yor eyes, when we last me[OMITTED]
you chargd me never to behold you more.
75
I did indeed but on mature advice
I haue reclaimd that imposition
you shall behold me dayly, talke with me
doe all the Acts that loue with Innocence
can suffer, if youle but orerule your will
to graunt me one request.
Thu:
You wrong my faith
in questioning my graunt of any thing
you can desire wer't to vndoe my selfe
or combate miseries as yet vnheard of
you least breath may expose me to them.
Cla:
Nay in this theres no danger, if there be
a reall happines on earth this way
you shall arrive to it.
Tho:
He were vnwise would he not graunt it then.
Thu:
Please you declare it.
Cla
There is a lady
of such a perfect virtue grace & sweetnes
that Nature was to all our sex beside
a nigard, only bountifull to her
one whose harmonious bewtie may intitule
all hearts its Captiue, yet she doats on you
with such a masculine fancy, that to loue her
is duty in you.
Thu:
It is her selfe Ime sure.
Tho:
It surely is no other.
76
No tis one
so farr transcending me, yt 'twere a sinne
should I depriue you the most perfect man
of her the perfectst woman, she will weepe
77
ring her hands thus, demonstrate all the signes
of a destracted louer, that in pitty
though I did loue you well, I haue transferd
my right to her, and charge you by all ties
that you affect her, with the same true zeale
wc h you did me, and if't be possible purer & better.
Tho:
This is the strangest madnes I ere heard of.
Thu:
Is it you Clariana yt speake all this.
Cla:
You know and heare it is.
Thu:
But I doe scarce
credit my hearing, or conceiue I am
mortall for surely had I bin yor words
like the decree of heauen had struck me dead
what strong temptation lay you on my faith
O Clariana, let me but decline
passion, and tell you seriously that this
is cruel in you, first to scorne my loue
next to admitt a scruple of beleife
though you can be perfidious to your selfe
that I can be soe, Noe since you are lost
Ile like the Solitary turtle mourne
cause I must liue without you, but pray tell me
what is she you would haue me loue
Cla:
My Mother.
Thu:
Ha your Mother.
Tho:
Ist possible lady, you much doe wrong
your innocence in laboring to enforce
that vpon him, wc h is my interest, heauen
78
receivd our mutuall vowes, & though yor Mother
may in her passion seeme to haue forgott
her pretious faith, yet when I shall a wake
her sleeping reason with the memory
of that has past betwixt vs my strong hope
tells me I shall induce her to the spheare
wc h she has moud from.
Cla:
would heauen you could, how coldly in this cause
doe I perswade, when I would speake, my heart
checks its bold orator my tongue, & tells it
tis traitorous to its Mr. Noble Sir Kneele
I doe conceite you infinitly good
So pittifull that mercy is in you
even naturally suparlatiue (forgiue me
if I offend) you doe in this transgresse
humanity to let a lady loue you
without requitall, but I must professe
to heauen and you yt here Ile fix to earth
weepe till I am a statua but Ile gaine
your pittie for her, pray consider ont.
Thu:
Consider ont wonder has soe engrossd
to its wild vse all corners of my heart
that there remaines scarce one poore concaue left
to hold consideration, I must either
loue her I hate, or see her whome I loue
willfully perish. See shee kneeles and weeps
79
earth ere comitted, one of those pure drops
(does as my liues blood in a soddaine trance)
surround my heart; you haue prevaild arise
at your request I will performe an act
(wc h may no story hold) least all who loue
hereafter curse the president, Ile loue her
that deathfull word comes from my torturd soule
as a consent does from a timorous maid
to an enforcing Ravisher.
Tho:
You are not mad sir what doe you meane.
Cla:
I thanke you
But loue her dearely Thurston, sheele deserv't.
I doe remember when my ffather liud
how he would praise her goodnes, thinke on me
as one that lovd you well but nere like her
& if you please bestow each day a kisse
vppon her in my memory, Soe farewell
Sorrows flow, high, one greife succeed another
I die in piety to redeeme my Mother
Ext
Tho:
But harke you sir doe you intend to loue her.
Thu:
Good sir torment me not.
Ent' Grimes
Gri:
By your leaue gentlemen, good Mr Thorougood
a word or two in private.
Thu:
Compeld to loue my enemy, what man
that had but so much spiritt as a mule
could suffer this, lay nice prescriptions
ambiguous bookemen, on submissiue slaues,
affright with terror of a willfull death
80
has liuing damn'd, Ime yet in my owne heart
white as a babe as Innocent as light
from any mortall guilt, & were my soule
drawne frō this mew of flesh, twould quickly streatch
like a swift ffalkon her aspiring wings
and soare at heauen, Nature instructs vs death
[deat] is due to all, how can't be then a Sinn
to die, or he more guilty of offense
that kills himselfe, or he who in his bed
some shiuoring ague murders Ime resold
Ile rather chuse to immolate my life
in Martirdome to virtue, then reseue't
till it be staind with mischeifes.
Ent' Lady
How doe you sir.
Thu:
Oh, oh, my head, my head
Stand further of good nightcrow, if thou comst
as a presaging harvinger of death
howlt in thy direfulst, & most horrid notes
& will be wellcome as choyse musick to me
and Ile adore thee fort, with teares of ioy
wash thy black feathers white.
Lady
Good sir mistake me not I am yor freind
Thur:
I cry you mercy lady you are shee
whome I had vowd to loue, a wild conceite
had seasd my fancy, pardon me I must
81
wc h I should Study to forget, you are
a Creature So suparlatiuely bad
(that were the earth as absolute from sinn
as in its first creation) youre sole crimes
would pull a curse vpon it, I should tell you
the specialties wherein you're foule, but dare not
breath in the same ayre with you, I begin
to feele infection fare you well
Exit.
Lad,
Contemnd againe depriue me of the name
& soule of woman, render me a scorne
to the most base of our revengefull sex
If I beare this, while there be kniues or swords
poyson or ought left to extinguish life
Ent' [OMITTED]ander
yt womans spleene can compasse, Alexander wt hin there
goe to my Sonn inioyne him by all rights
of naturall duty to accomplish that
which in youre hearing I comanded him
beare him this Iewell & this gold yt when
tis don, he may escape be carefull
as you expect my favour.
Alex:
I shall inculcate your desires vnto him,
her favour, goe to theres comfort.
Exit
Tho:
Madam heres one brings a sad message to you
La:
ffrom whome I pray you.
Tho:
ffrom two freinds of yours, yor cruelty has murdred
La:
My cruelty never extended to that horrid height
not to my foes, who are they.
Tho:
Your daughter ye innocent Belisia & my freind
her worth Suiter Bonuill.
82
Your freind & my daughter dead & by my meanes
this cannot be, my daughters sure in ye house
good sir vnfould this ridle it begetts
wonder and terror in me.
Tho:
Madam you know wt h what a cruell messuage
you sent me to my freind, wc h proud as false
as your faire daughter virtuous why you did it
I will not question nor vpbraid you with
the violation of your faith.
La:
This story conduces nothing to the deaths
you talkd of
Tho:
Yes since then
a iust mistrust yt you would crosse their match
causd them last night, privatly to steale hence
with an intention, to haue reacht the house
where Bonuills mother liues, but see the fates
how they dispose of men crossing the River
that Runns beneath yor Orchard, & ith darke
their headstrong horses missing ye ford orethrew them
& wc h I cannot without true greife vtter
there drownd them both, was it not Soe Grimes.
Gri:
Tis too sad a truth, & I after all meanes to saue their
lifes was pas't, lookd to my owne, & got ye Shore their
bodies I feare the violence of ye tide has carried
into the Sea by this time.
83
Enough, good freind no more.
had a rude Scythian ignorant of teares
vnlesse the wind enforce them from his eyes,
heard this relation sure he would haue wepd,
and yet I cannot I haue lost all sense
of pitty, with my womanhood, and now
that once essentiall Mr s of my soule
warme charity, no more inflames my brest
then does the glowewormes vneffectuall fire
the had that touches it good sir desist
the agravation of yor sad report
Iue to much greife already
Weepe
Tho:
It becomes you, you do appeare more glorious in those t[OMITTED]
then the red morne, when she adornes her cheeks
with Nabathean pearle in such a posture
stand Phaetons sisters when they doe distill
their much prisd amber madam but resume
yor banishd reason to you, & consider
how many Iliads of preposterous mischeife
from yor intemperate breach of faith to me
fetch their loathed essence, thinke but on the loue
the holy loue I bore you, that we two
had you bin constant might haue tought ye wor[OMITTED]
affections primitiue purenes when from
yor abrogation of it Bonuills death
yor daughter losse haue luclessly insu'd
the streame yt like a Crocodile did weepe
ore them, whom with an over rauenous kisse
its moyst lips stifled, will record your fault
in watery characters as lastingly
as iff twere cut in marble, heauen forgiue you
Ile pray for you repent.
Gri:
O my deare Master.
Ext Thoro: & Grimes
84
Repent should I but spend
the weakest accent of my breath in sighes
or vaine compunction I should feare I sinnd
against my will then wc h I doe confes
noe other diety, passions doe surround
my intellectuall powers, only my heart
like to [the] a Rocky Island does advance
aboue the foming violence of the waves
its vnmoud head, bids me my fate out dare
Ills sure preuention is a swift despaire.
Exit.
Ent' Alexander & Yo: Marloue
Alex:
Thinke sir to whome ye Iniury was don, goto, yor [Lad]/[Moth [OMITTED]]
a vertuous lady I say & I sayt agen, a very vertuous
lady, had I but youth & strength as you haue, In what
cause should I sooner hazard both, then in this.
Y M:
Murder my freind
Al:
Noe tis doing sacrifice to slaunderd goodnes
Y:M:
Rob my beloved sister of a husband
Alex:
Yes to redeeme to yor mother her lost honor.
85
Art not a Divill
Al:
Ha.
Y:Ma:
Thy breath has blasted me
Alex:
I must confes indeed I haue eaten garlike.
Y:M:
All pious thoughts wc h lately fild this spheare
are scatterd with the winds yt Issud from thee
[wc h like the infectious yawning of a hill]
[belching forth death inevitable]
[has distroyd, freindship & nature in me]
[thou canst not poyson worse], I can feed now
feed & nere burst wt h mallice Sing Syren sing
& swell me with revenge sweet as the straines
falls from the Thrasian lyre, charme each sence
with musick of Revenge, let Innocence
In softest tunes like th'expiring Swann
dy sinishing her owne Epitaph.
Alex:
what meane you sir, are you mad, goe to, & goe to
you doe not vse me well I say & I say you do not,
haue I this for my loue to you & your good Mother,
why I might be yor ffather by my age, wc h is falne
on me in my old Mr s service, he would haue vsd
me better.
Y:M:
dost weepe old Crocadile looke dost see this sword
Alex:
Oh I beseech you sir, goe to, what meane you.
Y.Mar:
No harme to thee, this was my ffathers once
my honord ffathers, this did never view
the glaring Sunn but in a noble cause
& then returnd home blushing with Red spoyles
wc h sung his fame & conquest, goe intreat
86
my ffather got me, I am going say
most cherefully to finish her comaund.
[OMITTED]nt' Alex
Heauen prosper you, ha?
[OMITTED]urston
ffreind I was looking for you
Y:M:
And you haue found me, villaine.
Thu:
What meane you.
Y:M:
If thou darst follow me I will conduct thee
vnto the seate of death.
Thur.
Dare, Ile goe with thee hand in hand, goe on.
Ext ambo.
Alex:
Soe, goe to, & goe to, I say & I sait, here wilbe
some revendge, if the Gent' fall my lady has
promist me, a farme of iool l a yeare goe to then
now if her Sonn be slayne heres then this purse
of gold, & this rich Iewell wc h she sent to him
By this we see whoever has the worst, the fox
fares well, but better when hees curst.
goe to & goe to then.
Eeit
Enter Lady Marloue sola.
Lady
Twas here about; these are the poplars this
the yewe he namd, how prettily thees trees
bow as each meant to Consecrate a branch
to the drownd lovers, & me thinks the streame
87
Snatches the virgin lillies from [their] his bankes
to strow their watry sepulcher, who would
desire an easier wafting to their death
then through this River, what a pleasing sound
its liquid fingers harping on the Stones
yeilds to th'admiring eare.
Ent' Thorogood Clariana
Magdalen
This way she went Ime sure, she has deliu'd
So many strang distractions that I feare
sheele act some willfull violence on her selfe
if we prevent it not.
Cla:
Yonder is some body among the trees
hard by the River, alasse tis shee.
Tho:
Come, softly if she heare our footing her dispo[OMITTED]
anticipate our diligence.
Lady:
Tempt me not frailty, I disdaine revolt
from ought the awfull violence of my will
has me determind, dost thou trembe flesh
Ile cure thy ague instantly, I shall
like some in satiate drunkard of the age
but take a cup to much & next day sleepe
an hower more then ordinary.
Tho:
Heauen & good Angells guard you
Cla:
My deare Mother
Mag:
My gratious lady.
Lady:
What in humaine creatures
are you that Rob me of the priviledge
of wellcome death, wc h I will run to meet
spight of your malice.
88
Oh decline those thoughts
let not the lucid tapers of your soule
bright grace & reason fondly be extinct
essentiall virtue, whether art thou fled
to what vnknowne place, wert thou hid mongst ro[OMITTED]
or horid grots where comfortable light
hates to dispence its luster, yet my search
should find thee out, reduce thee to this brest
[Oh me] once thy loud Paradice, pray Madam pray
from those faire eyes one penetentiall teare
would force whole legions of heauens brightest Sain[OMITTED]
if they haue power to intercede for earth
to beg for mercy for you.
Lady
These are toyes
forg'd to delude mortality, let me die
and afterwards, my vncontroled Ghost
shall visitt you, I only goe & aske
how my Belisia does enioy her health
since she exchangd, her natiue ayre of earth
for those dull regions, if I find the clime
does to our constitutions promise life
Ile come to you & in those happy shades
will liue in peace eternally.
Cla:
[Alas I feare shees Irrecoverable]
[twas will ill don to affright her thus.]
Mag
[Expect the best the Gentleman will perswade her]
Tho
[O dispaire [OMITTED] dere Madam heare me.]
89
[those haplesse creatures in distracted Ills]
[ore home thou triumpst but Ile fright thee hence]
[noe feind shall add, a trophy to thy Acts]
[for victory over her,] deare madam heare me
you had a noble husband while he liud & I beleive,
that no perswasion cold haue forcd you yeild
to vitiation of his honord bed
not with a prince, & will you giue your soule
wc h heauen in its creation had designd
a bride to faire eternity of blisse
by vild procurement of hells bawd despaire
to prostitucon of vnnaturall death
& then of woes erelasting, wc h admit
noe diminution, can you heare this Madam
and does the flintie substance of your heart
not thaw, like to a hill of Russian Ice
when fires applid to't, yes yor eyes demonstrate
its melts already.
Cla:
Deare Mother please you walke
into yor Chamber, here the wind is cold
and may disease your weaknes.
Mag:
Here is your vayle and't please yor ladiship
Lady
Let me alone you trouble me, I feele
a soddaine change each organ of my soule
suffers a strang vicissitude, and though
I do detest a voluntary death
my Conscience tells me that it is most iust
that the cursed author of such impious ills
ought not to liue.
Thoro:
O thinke not soe those words
retaine affinitie with that passion
90
mercy will smile at when you doe implore
its vnconsuming grace, the dullest cloud
will when you pray, be cactiue as the ayre
in opening to receiue, yt breath to heauen
[that] yt s spent to purge yor ills, why you may liue
to make a faire lustration for your faults
and die a happie Convert.
[OMITTED]llow:
[OMITTED]Within
ffollow, follow, follow yt way he went.
Young M:
Hell I will flie no farther since my hand
is guilt in murder it shall sacrifice
some of my apprehenders.
Alexandr [OMITTED]ble & [OMITTED]rs
Tho:
Whats the matter deare Sir what ayles you.
Lady:
O my Sonn I feare.
Alex:
Stand back goe to, what meanes this rudenes
I say goe to, keepe back.
Con:
Sir we must enter, here he is I charge you
asist vs to lay hold on him.
Lady:
Why how now fellowes, what makes you presse
in here thus rudely whom do you follow.
91
Madam, Ime sorry my Authority
enforces me to doe it, your sonn iust now
has slaine one Mr Thurstone, & the law
commaunds vs apprehend him.
Y:Mar:
Here take my sword
when I but doe waigh the iustnes of the cause
for wc h I suffer, though I could escape
my Conscience would forbid me, come Ile goe
whither you please.
Lady.
Stay officers, all accessaries are
as liable to punishmt for murder
as those who Act it. I confesse twas I
enforc'd my sonn to slay that gentleman
your warrant extends to take me with him.
Tho:
Alas beleive her not, greife for her Sonne
has made her ffranticke.
Lady
By heauen tis trueth
if you refuse to execute yor office
I shall confesse my Act vnto the Iudg
and soe condemne you of partiality
my Sonn knowes this is truth.
Y:Ma:
I must acknowledge
Mr Alexander oft did instigate me
to kill him.
Con:
Sir you must clere yor selfe of this.
Alex:
Who I goe take the babe from its Mothers teat
and taxe him with this Cryme, I accessary
to a murder, goe to.
92
Why and goe to sir.
and avoide resistance you must goe, [yo]
will your ladiship walke with vs.
Lady:
Yes most willingly
I doe this most abhorrid life despise
since tis to iustice a iust sacrifice.
Exeunt oe[OMITTED]
| The Lady Mother | |