 | The Lady Mother |  |
Act. i.
sc. i.
Enter Thorowgood Bonuill & Grimes.Bon:
What will it be a match man
shall I kneele to thee & aske thee blessing ha.
Tho
Pish I begin to feare her, shee does
dally with her affection, I admire itt.
Bon:
Shee and her daughters
created were for admiration [olny]/[only].
& did my Mr s and her sister not
obscure their mothers luster, fancy could not
admitt a fuller bewty.
Tho:
Tis easier to expresse
where nimble winds lodge or [OMITTED] investigate
an eagles passage through the agill ayre
then to invent a paraphrase to expresse
how much true [love] virtue is indebted to their
vnparaleld perfections.
Bon:
Nay but shall I not be acquainted
with yor designe, when we must marry,
faith to saue charges of two wedding dinners
lets cast so yt one day may yeild vs bridegroomes
I to the daughter, and thou to the Mother
Tho:
She falls off
with such a soddaine ambiguitie
from the strong heate, of her profesd loue
that I conceive, she intends a reguler proofe
of my vntainted ffaith.
Gri:
Soe I thinke too, when I was young, ye plaine downe
right way seru'd to woo & winn a wench, but no[OMITTED]
2
fashion, gallantts now court their Mr s wt h mumps &
& mows as Apes & monkes doe.
Bon:
But cannot all your fluent witt interprett
why she procrastinatts yor promisd match:
by this light her daughter would be married to morrow
if her mother & I had concluded on the Ioynture.
Tho:
[ffaith] the most euident reason she will giue me
of this vnwellcome protraccon is, she has
some new employmt to put on me
wc h performd, she has ingagd her selfe to certainty
of her designing me an answerare.
Ent Alexan wt h --- pen & Inke
Gri:
Here comes yor Rivall Mr Thorowgood Alexander ye great
her Ladiships louing Steward.
Bon:
But does he affect the lady, whats his character
Gri:
He was by trade a Taylor sir, & is the tenth part of the
3
his dealing consists not much in weight, but in the
weight of his pressing Iron vnder whose tyranny
you shall perceaue no small shrinking.
Tho:
Well said Grimes. On
Gri:
He has alterd him selfe out of his owne cutt since
he was steward, yet if you saw him in my ladyes
Chamber, you would take him for some vsher of
a dauncing Schoole, as being aptest in sight for a
crosse caper.
Tho:
Excellent Grimes still
Gri:
By his cloathes you might deeme him a kt., but yt, if you
vncase him you will find his sattin dublett naught
but fore sleaues & brest, the back part buckeram,
his cloke & cape of two sorts, his Roses & garters of my
ladyes old Cypres, to conclude sir he is an ambodexter
or a Iack of all sides & will needs mend yt wc h [god]/[he]/[Nature] made
he takes much vpon him since the old kt dyed
& does fully Intend to runn to hell for the lady,
he hates all wines & strong drinkes mary tis but in
publique, for in private he will be drunke Noe
Tinker like him.
Bon:
peace sirrah, obserue.
Lo:
So let me see the Sumā totlis of my sweet ladies
perfections.
Gri:
good he has her in [the] whole already.
Tho:
peace Grimes.
Lov:
Imprimis her faire haire, no silken Sleaue
(can be soe soft) the gentle worme does weaue.
It' noe Plush, or satten sleeke, I vow
4
It' her eyes two buttons made of Iett,
her lipps gumd taffety yt will not frett
her Cheeks are changeable as I suppose
Carnation & white, lyllie[s] & Rose
Gri:
I there it goes.
Bon:
I protest I comend him, he goes thorough stitch
With her, like the Mr of his trade.
Lo:
It' her brests two bottomes be of thred
by wc h loue to his laborinth is led
her Belly.
Gri:
I marry sir, now he comes to the purpose
Lo:
Her Belly a soft Cusshion where no sinner
but her true loue must dare [to] stick a pin in her
Gri:
That line has got the prick & prayse from all ye rest.
Lo:
Butt to that stuff of stuffs, yt without scoff
is Camills haire or elce stand further off.
Gri:
How many shreads has he stoale here to patch vp
this lady.
Lo:
The totall som̄e of my blest deity
is the magazine of Natures treasury
Soe this made vp, will I take an occasion to dropp
where she may find it, but stay heres company
Bon:
Mr Lovell.
5
And see I shall divulge my selfe.
Gri:
A foole I doubt not.
Bon:
Is yor lady Stirring.
Lo:
She is rizen sir, & early occupied in her occasions
spirituall & domestike busines
Ent' Lady & Magdalen
6
Sweet Mr Bonuill the simple
entertainemt you receaue here I
feare will scare you from vs, you're soe early vp
you do not sleepe well.
Tho:
I cannot looke on her
but Ime as violent as a high wrought Sea
in my desires, a fury through my eyes
at every glance of hers invades my heart.
Lad:
What ayles you servant are you not well?
Bon:
Tis his humor Madam he is accustomd though it be in
company to hold a dialogue with his thoughts please you
lady to giue his feuer lib̄tie ye fitt will soone be ou' pasd,
Tho:
Shee beares her age well or she is not Sped
farr into th'vale of yeares, she has an eye
∥cing as is an Eglets when her damme
tracinng her out into the serene ayre,
teaches her face[s] the Sunbeames.
Bon:
Madam I feare my freind
has falne againe in loue, he practises
to himselfe new speeches, you and he
are not broke off I hope.
Lad:
O sir I value my servant at a higher rate
we two must not easily disagree.
Sr Alexander attend in Mr Bonull my daughters vp,
by this time, & I would haue him giue her the
first Salute, you had best be wary Mr Bonuill the
young Cittizen or the souldior will rob you of her.
Bon
O, we feare not them, shall we goe sir.
Lad:
Nay Ile detaine my servant.
Bon:
Hark you sir strike home, doe you heare
Ext Bonuill Grimes Lovell, & Mag.
7
Servant haue you leasure
to heare what I inoyne you.
Tho:
[Your good pleasure.]
Lad:
[What shall I doe, I can no longer beare]
[this flame, so mortall, I haue wearid heauen]
[with my entreaties, and shed teares enough]
[to extinguish Ætna, but like water cast]
[on coales they ad vnto my former heate]
[a more outragious feruor, I haue tried]
[all modest meanes to giue him notice of]
[my violent loue, but he more Dull then earth]
[either conceiues them not, or else possessd]
[with full affection of my daughter scornes me]
Tho:
Madam wilt please you, to deliuer your pleasure.
La:
O Thorougood
Not clouds of lightning, or the raging bolts
heauens anger darts at the offending world
can with such horrid rigor peirce the earth
as these sad words I must demonstrate to you
doe my afflicted brest; Ime lost, my tongue
when I would speake, like to an Isicle
disturbd by motion of vnruly winds
shakes to pronounc't, yet freezes to my roofe
faster by th'agitation.
Tho:
Your full Iudgmt.
could not haue found an apter instrumt
for the performance of what you designe
then I, experience how much any man
8
to the intent of woman, in my truth,
sett the obstrucest comment on my faith
Imagination can resolue, my study
shall makt as easie as the plainest lines
wc h hearty louers write.
Ent' Timothy
Tim:
Madam this letter, & his humblest vowes
from yor Deserving sonn.
La:
He writes me here, he will be here to morrow
where left you him.
Tim:
At your right worthy Cosens.
La
What manner of man is this Mr Thurston
he brings with him.
Tim:
A most accomplishd gentleman.
La:
Tis well Mr Thorogood weele walke into ye
Gallery, & there discourse the rest
Tho:
I long till I receiue the audience of it
Tim:
Your ladiship will vouchsafe to meete
the Gent' in yor Coach some two miles hence.
Lady
Ile thinke of it.
Ext. ōes
Enter [Suckett & Crackby] Sr Gefferie & Bunche
Suc:
[Come deport yor selfe, with a more elated countenance]
[a personage of yor rare endowmt s so deiected, tis fitt for groomes]
[not men magnanimous, to be so bashfull, speake boldly]
[to them, that like cannon shott yor breath may batter,]
[you would hardly dare to take in townes & expugne]
[fortresses, yt cannot demolish a paltery woman.]
9
[Pox of this Country it has metamorphisd me, would]
[I were in my natiue Citty ayre agen, within the]
[wholesome smell of seacole the vapor rising from]
[the lands new dungd are more infectious to me]
[then the com̄on shore ith sicknes time, Ime certaine]
[of my selfe Ime impudent enough & can dissemble]
[as well as ere my ffather did to gett his wealth, but]
[this country has tane my edge of quite, but I begin]
[to sound the reason of it]
Suc:
[What may it be imagind.]
Cra:
[Why here are no Taverns where for my crowne I can]
[haue food provocatiue, besides the gaining of many]
[pretious phrase for divers gallants new ffrenchefied]
[heres nothing to excite desire but creame & eggs]
[and they are so com̄on every clowne devoures them,]
[were each egge at twelue pence, or as deare as lobsters]
[I could afford to eate them, but I hate all that is vulgar.]
[tis most base.]
Su:
[Pish tis deficience in yor resolution suppose yor Mr s were]
[an enemy you were to encounter in sterne Duell.]
Cr:
[Tis well my Enemie is a woman I should feare else]
[to suppose the meeting resolution, how can a man]
[haue resolution yt drinks nought but ale able to]
[kill a dutchman, Condict water is Nector to it.]
Suc
[Nay but I say suppose.]
Cr
[Suppose why here are no wenches halfe so amorous]
[as Citty tripennies those yt are bewtyfull the dew is]
[not so cold, I did but begg a curtesie of a chambermaide]
10
[certaine where for my angell, I can imbrace plush]
[if I stay here a little longer for want of exercise]
[I shall forgett, whether a woman be fish or flesh]
[I haue almost dont already.]
[coming his head] Suc:
[O heres yor vncle,]
[moue him, you conceive me.]
[he must disburse.]
Cra:
[And tis as hard to wrest a penny from him, as from a bawd.]
Ent'. [{S}r Geffery &] [Bunch]
Enter Suckett & Crackbie
Sr Geff:
Erect yt locke a little theres a hayre
wc h like a foreman of a shop does striue
to be aboue his fellowes, pish this glasse
is falsly silverd, maks me looke as gray
as if I were 4 score.
Ent'.
Bun:
What does he want of it.
Sr Geff:
Combe with more circumspection knaue, these perfumes
haue a dull odor, there is meale among them my Mr s
will not scent them.
Cra:
Vncle my freind my martiall fellow is deficient in this
vbiquitarie mettall silver you must impart
Sr Geff:
This garter is not well tide fellow where wert thou
brought vp thou knowst not to tie a rose yet knaue
a little straiter, So now tis indifferent who can say yt
I am old now.
Bun:
Marry that can I or any one wc h sees you.
Suc:
Death to my reputation
Sir we are gent' & deserue reguard will you not be
responsible.
Sr Geff:
Alas good Captaine I was meditating, how to salute
my lady this morning, you haue bin a traviler
had I best do it in the Italian Garbe, or with a
11
every vintners boy, has it as perfect, as his anon anon sir.
hum I must consider on it.
Cra:
Nay but vncle vncle, shall we haue aunsweare
concerning this mony vncle, you must disburse,
that is the Souldiers phrase, you see this man
regard him.
Suc:
Death of vallor I can hold no longer I shall rise in wroth agt him
Cra:
dee heare Vncle you must furnish him, he wilbe irefull
presently, & then a whole bagg will not satisfie him,
heele eate you gold in anger, & drinke silver in great
sack glasses.
Sr Geff
Pox o this Congee, tshalbe thus, no thus, yt writhing
of my body does become me infinitly, now, to begett an
actiue complement, yt like a mattins Sung by virgins
may enchant her amorous eare, the Spanish Basolas
manus, sounds methinks as harch as a Morisco
kettledrum, the french boniour is ordinary as their
disease, hees not a Gent' that cannot parlee.
I must invent some new & polite phrases
Cra:
Shall I haue answeare yet sir.
Sr Geff:
Pish you disturbe me, gratulate her rest
force an Encomium on her huswifry
for being vp so early, Bunch where is my Nephew
Cra:
[Sdeath] I haue bin here this halfe hower & could not
get answere.
Sr Geff:
To what good Nephewe I was meditating a little seriously
12
Concerning this white earth.
Sr Geff:
Youde know the nature of it, if it be marle, tis good
to manure land if clay to make tobaccopipes.
Cra:
I meane mony.
Sr Geff:
O mony Nephew, Ide thought youd learnd ith Citty
how to vse mony, here we do imploy it to purchase land
and other necessaries.
Suck
Infamy to fame, and noble reputation old man dost thou disdaine valour:
I tell thee Catterpiller I must haue mony
Sr Geff:
Tis reason good you should, it is fitting to cherish men of armes
there is a treasuror in the County, Captaine payes
souldiors pensions, if any be due to you Ile write my
letter. you shall receive it.
Bun:
ffaith there he mett with you.
Cra:
I see a storme a coming vncle I wilbe answerable
vpon account my souldier must haue mettall.
Sr Geff:
Iron & steele is most convenient, for Souldiers
but since you say it Nephew he shall haue it
how much must it be.
Suc:
A score of Angells shall satisfie for the confrontmt
you haue offred me in being Dilatory.
Sr Geff:
Bunch deliuer him 1Ol l, but dee heare Bunch, let
be in light gold twill serue his turne as well
as heavier: it may be he is one of those proiector s transports it beyond sea.
Ent' Magdalen
Mag:
Sir I come to giue you notice my ladyes walkd into
the garden,
Sr Geff:
Life is she vpp so early
Mag
An howre since beleeve it
Cra:
Is my Mr s stirring
13
In truth I know not.
Sr Geff:
Nephew demeane yorselfe will all respect toward the
gentlewoman you affect, you must learne witt
here since the citty could spare you none.
Ile to the lady.
Ext. Bunct. Sr Geff. & Mag
Cra:
Captaine shalls
intoth Cellor Captaine.
Suc:
I like the Motion
Cra:
Come away then, there is indifferent liquor in
this house but that ith towne is most abominable
weele drinke our owne healths Captaine.
Suc:
Well considered, 'tis for our reputation.
Ext ōes
Enter Bonuill, Clariana, Belizea. & Grimes.
Bon:
Come you are wontons both, if I were absent
you would with as much willingnes traduce
my manners to them, wt. Idiots are wee men
to tender or seruices to women
Who deride vs for or paines
Cla:
Why can you great wise men who esteeme vs women
but equall with or parrets, or at best but a degree
aboue them, prating creatures[,] deuoid of reason
thinke that when we see a man, whose teethe will
scarce permitt his tongue to say he is soe like Decembr
come a woing to the spring with all the Ensignes of youth
& brauery as if he meant to daire his land lord Death
14
as will engender a modest laughter at him.
Bel:
Nay thers his Nephew Crackby yor sweet Servant
Cla:
My Servant, I do admire that mans impudence
how he dare Speake to any woman
Bon:
Why is he not flesh and blood
Cla:
Yes but I question whether it be mans or no
they talke of changlings, if there be such things
I doubt not but hees one of them.
Be:
ffie Sister tis a prettye gent', I know you loue him
Cla:
You hitt it there, [I faith], you know the man
Bon:
Yes very well
Cla:
Haue you then ere seene such another monster
he was begott Surely in the wane of the moone
when Natures tooles were at laime Vulcans forge
a sharpning that she was forct to shake this
lumpe together.
Bon:
what man for heauens sake could your nicenes fancy
Cla:
Not you of all that ever I beheld
Be:
And why good wisdome
Cla:
Nay do not scratch me
because he is your choyse forsooth
Bel:
Well we shall see the goodly youth
yor curiositie has elected when my brother returnes
I hope.
Cla:
I hope soe too. I marvill where this Cub is
he is not Roaring here yet
Ent' Thorogood
Bon:
ffreind thou hast lost the
absolust charactors, deliverd by this lady
15
Tho:
Ladies I must desire yor ∥don for my freind
I haue some busines will a while depriue him
yor sweet Companies.
Cla:
Take him away we are weary of him
Be:
Sister letts leaue the Gentlemen alone
and to our Chambers.
Ext Bel: & Cla:
Bon:
Grimes put to the Doore
& leaue vs; whats the matter.
Ext Grimes
Tho:
ffreind ere I begin, my story I would wish you
collect yourselfe, awake yor sleeping Spiritts
invoake yor patience, all thats man about you
to ayd yor resolution, for I feare
the newes I bring, will like a palsie shake
yor soules indifferenst temper.
Bon:
Prethee what ist, wc h on the Soddaine can
be thus disastrous tis beyond my thoughts.
Tho:
Nay slight it not the dismall ravens noate
or mandrakes screches; to a long sick man
is not so ominous, as the heareing of it
will be to you, twill like a frost congeale
yor liuely heate, yet it must out or freindship
for bids concealment.
Bon:
Do not torture me
Ime resolute to heare it.
Tho
Yor soe admired Mr s
who parted from you now Belisea.
16
You haue don well before
yor sad relation to repeat that Sound
yt holy name whose fervor does excite
a fire within mee, sacred as the flame
the vestalls offer, see how it ascends
as if it meant to combate with the Sunn
for heats priority Ime arm'd gainst death
could thy words blow it on me.
Tho:
Here me then
Yor Mr s is—
Bon:
The Epitome of virtue
who like the pretious reliques of a Saint
ought only to be seene not touchd
Tho:
Yet heare me
cease yor immoderate prayses I must tell you
you doe adore an Idoll, her black Soule
is tainted as an Apple wc h the Sunn
has kist to putrefaction, she is
(her proper appellation sounds soe foule
I quake to speake it) a corrupted peice
a most lacivious prostitute.
Bon:
Howes this.
Speake it agen, yt if the sacrilege
thoust made gainst vertue be but yet sufficient
to yeild thee dead, the Iteration of it
may damne thee past the reach of mearcy speake it
while thou hast vtterance left but I conceit
a lie soe monstrous cannot chuse but choake
thy vocall powers or like a Canker Rott
thy tung in the Delivery.
Tho:
Sir yor rage
cannot inforce a recantacon' from me
17
in wethred Autumne, shaken from the trees
by the rude winds, noe specld Serpent weares
more spotts then her pide honor.
Bon:
So no more
Thy former words incenst me but to rage
these to a fury, wc h noe sea of teares
though shed by queenes, or Orphants shall extinguish.
Nay should my mother rise from her cold vrne
& weepe her selfe to death againe to saue
thee from perdition 'tshould not, were there placd
twixt thee & mee an host of blasing Starrs
thus I would through them to thee.
Draw
Tho:
Had I knowne
your passion would haue vanquishd reason thus
you should haue met yor ruine vnadvisd
hugd yor destruction, taken what the lust
of other men had left you, but the name
& soule of freindship twixt vs, I had thought
would haue retaind this most vnmanly rage
gainst me, for declaration of a truth
by wc h you might be ransom'd from the armes
of her adulterate honor
Bon:
Yes kind foole
perswade an Indian who has newly diu'd.
18
to cast it back againe, labour 'tinduce
Turkes to contemne their Alcoron, ere you seriue
to make me creditt my Belissia false
[fforgiue me holy loue that I delay]
Kneele
[so long to scurge the more then heathnish wrongs]
[of this iniurious villaine, whome me thinks]
[blow him hence to hell]
[with his contagious Slander, yet before]
[thou doest fall by me as if heaven haue not]
[lost all its care of Innocence thou must doe]
tell me what Divell vrgd thee to detract
from virtue thus, for of thy selfe thou couldst not
(vnlesse with thee shee hath bin vicious) know it
without some information, whoe's the Author
of this prodigious calumnie.
Tho:
Her Mother.
Bon:
Ha her Mother
Tho:
Yes she that certaine Oracle of truth
that pretious mine of honor, wc h before
she would exhaust or yeild yor innocence
a spoyle to vice, chose rather to declare
her daughters folly, & with powerfull teares
besought mee by the loue I bore to goodnes
wc h in her estimation had a roome
higher then Nature to reveale [to] it to you
and disingage you from her.
Bon:
Soe rest there
put vp
ere thou beest drawne were the whole sex reduc'ed
to one, left only to preserve earths store
in the defence of woman, whom but that
the mothers virtues stands betweene heavens Iustice
19
be by some soddaine Iudgmt swepd from earth
as creatures too infectious, gentle freind
an humor heauy as my soule was steepd
in Lethe, seases on me and I feare
my passion will inforce me to transgresse
manhood I would not haue thee see me weepe
I prethee leaue me solitude will suite
best with my anguish.
Sitt downe.
Tho:
Your good Genius keepe you.
Ent' Belisea
Why haue you staid thus long, young Crackby & his freind
are newly vp, & haue bin with vs, my sister has had the
moddest bout with them tis such a wench, are you
a sleepe why doe you not looke vp, what muse you on.
Bon:
ffaith I was thinking where in the whole world
to find an honest woman.
Be:
An excellent meditation, what doe you take me for
my Mother & my Sister.
Bon:
You alway excepted, tis but melancholly
preethee bestow a kisse vpon me loue
perchance that will expell it.
Bel:
If your cure be wrought soe easily, pittie you should
perish for want of phisick.
Kiss him.
20
She kisses as shee'd wont, were she vnchast
surely her breath would like a stigian mist
or some contagious vapor blast me, but
tis sweet as Indian balme, & from her lips
distills a moisture pretious as the Dew
the amorous bounty of the wholesome morne
throwes on rose buds, her cheeks are fresh & pure
as the chast ayre yt circumscribes them, yet
theres yt within her renders her as foule
as the deformedst Ethiope.
Be:
Whats the matter, why do you staire so on me
Bon:
To admire that such a goodly bulding as this same
should haue such vild stuff in itt.
Be:
What meanes this language.
Bo:
Nothing but only to informe you what
you know to well alreadie. Belisia you are
I cannot call her whore, a periurd woman.
Be:
Defend me innocence I scarce remember
that ever I made oath and therfore wonder
how I should breake on.
Bo:
Haue you not with imprecations beg'd
heauens vengance if you ere lovd man but me.
Be:
And those same heauens are [witnes] vouchers
I'ue kept my vowes with yt strickt puritie
yt I haue don my honor
Bon:
I beleive thee, the divell some times speaks truth
intemperate woman
thoust made yt name a terme conuertible
21
how durst thou with this impudence abuse
my honest faith, did I appeare a guest
So infinitly worthles that you thought
the fragments of thy honor good enough
to sate my appetite, what other men
had with vnhollowd hands prophaind: O woman
once I had lockd in thy deceiving brest
a treasure wealthier then the Indias both
can in their glory boast, my faithfull heart
wc h I do Iustly ravish back from it
since thou art turnd a strumpet.
Be:
Doe you thinke I am what you haue term'd me.
Bo:
Doe I thinke
When I behold the wonton Sparrowes change
their chirps to billing they are chast or Soe
the Reeking Goate over the mountaine top
pursue his ffemale, yet conceit him free
from wild concupisence I prethee tell me
does not the genius of thy honor dead
haunt thee with apparitions like a goast
of one thou'dst murdrd do'st not often come
to thy bed side and like a fairy pinch
thy prostituted limbs then laughing tell thee
tis in revenge for myriads of black tortures
thy lust inflicted on it.
22
Haue you don, giue me a litle leaue then ere my greife
surround my reason (witnes gratious heauen
who were you not offended at some sinn
I haue vnwillingly comitted) would
send sacred innocence it selfe to pleade
how much tis iniurd, in me that wc h zeale
aboue the loue of mothers I haue tendred
this misinformd man, Ile not aske the authors
of this report I doe forgiue them, may
a happier fate, direct you to some other
may loue you better, and my fate conferr
on me with speede some hidden Sepulcher.
Ext.
Bon:
I shall grow childish too, my passions striue
for my dead loue to keepe my greife a liue.
Ext
| The Lady Mother | |