 | The Lady Mother |  |
Act .3.
Scen: i.
Ent' Belisea, Clariana, & ThorougoodBe:
You may declare your will heere sr, here are noe eares
but those I will not banish were yor busines
more secret.
Tho:
Lady I come to free
my worthy freind & yor once Servant Bonuill
from an iniust suspition your conceite
retaines of him, your mother did employ me
in the vnlucky messuage yt pronouncd you
empty of honor.
Be:
Has yor worthles freind hir'd you to sweare this.
Tho:
I'me none yt liue by selling oathes.
Be:
Ile scarce beleive't he shall not
with all his cuning policie regaine
45
doe a more pleasing office then to leaue me
I do not loue to heare of him.
Tho:
Your pleasure rules me
Ext.
Cla:
Belisea you did ill
not to heare out the Gent'.
Be:
Prethey why
his owne confession does appeach him one
in the conspiracy against my honor
he sayes my mother was the Originall
of Bonuiles slaunder & how impious
'twere for a child to thinke So, filiall duty
instructs my knowlidge.
Ent' [Sucket &] [Crackby] Thurston
Cla:
Be not confident
your piety may misleade you, though [y]or mother
shees passion like to vs, we had it from her
Ile say no more the event will testifie
whoes in the fault heers mr Thurston.
Su:
[Be not abashd a litle impudence is requisite]
[observe me wt h wt a garbe and gesture]
[martiall, I will beseige their fortresses.]
46
[Who sent these fooles to trouble vs, gent' we haue some]
[conference will admit noe audience besides our selues]
[we must desire you to withdraw or giue vs leaue to do soe.]
Suc:
[Men of warr, are not soe easily put to a retreat it suites not wt h their repu[OMITTED]]
Cla:
[Heele fight with vs sister, weed best procure him bound]
[tot'h peace.]
Cra:
[Ladyes I must no more endure repulse I come to be]
[a Suiter.]
Stet
Bel:
[ffor what.]
Cra:
[Why that you would with Iudgmt over looke me]
[this lovely countenance.]
Cla:
[The hangman shall doe't sooner.]
Cra:
[If you knew how many bewtious gentlewomen haue sued]
[to haue my picture.]
Cla:
[To hang at their beds head for a Memento mori]
Cra:
[You would regard it with more curiosity]
[there was a merchants daughter the other day]
[runn mad at sight of itt]
Cla:
[It scard her from her witts she thought the Diuell]
[had haunted her.]
Stet
Suc:
[Valour deserues regard, myne shall propugne yor bew[OMITTED]]
[gainst all opposers.]
Bel:
[Alasse mine is So meane none will contend wt h it]
47
Cra:
[Contemne me not lady I am]
Cla:
[A most egregious asse.]
Cra:
[most nobly propagated, my father was a man well fu[OMITTED]]
[with white & yellow mettall.]
Cla:
[I lay my life a Tinker]
Cra:
[And in his parish of account.]
Cla:
[A Scavenger.]
Bel:
[Is it a badge of yor profession]
[to be vncivell.]
Stet.
Su:
[Vncivell noe, what is in other men]
[vncivill in vs is resolution, therefore yeild]
[I am invincible, flesh cannost stand be fore me.]
Bel:
[It must be drunke then.]
Cla:
[I am not ith humor now to laugh or else Ide not]
[dismisse him yet good Mr Crackby does your wisdome]
[thinke that I can loue you.]
Cra:
[My worth deserues it.]
Cla:
[Well said impudence, goe get you home to'th Cittie,]
[goe solicitt some neighbors daughter, match wt h Nan]
[yor Schoolefellow with whome you vsd to walkt to]
[pimblicoe to eate plumbe cakes & creame, one of]
[yor parish good what doe you lack.]
48
[This is offensiue to my reputation]
Cla:
[You shall heare more on't, when thou art married]
[if the kind charity of other men, permitt thee to geet thee]
[children, that call thy wife mother, bring them vp to]
Stet.
[people shopps & cheat for 18.d the pretious youth that]
[fathers them, walke walke you & yor Captaine Huff]
[to London & tell thy mother how thou hast sped ith Country]
[and let her moane thee.]
49
[Captaine we must giue place.]
[these girles are fire brands and we as straw]
[before them.]
Ent' Thurston
Suc:
[They may stand in neede of valor.]
Ext Suc: & Crac:
Cla:
[Haue you oreheard vs, these are the lads will do't]
[when 20 such as you will be cast off.]
Thu:
[Like a bobd Hawke, Mr s if I mistake not yor Mother]
does inquire for you.
Bel:
I will attend her pleasure.
Cla:
Doe not goe wench, we shall scarce be honest.
Thu:
Loue is it time after the services
I haue perform'd to haue some salary
noe laborer works without his hier, I would
be satisfied when you determaine we
shall end our hopes in marriage.
Cla:
I haue lookd
for this month in my Calender and find
that marriage is prohibited.
T:
It is not lent nor Aduent if it were
the Cort is not so strickt but 'twill dispense
with freinds and graunt a licence.
Cla:
Whole be bound with you
that thers no hindrance but we may be lawfully
espoused.
T:
I'me not so barren
of freinds but I shall find security
for what will nere be question'd.
50
It may be soe, but one who calculated
my birth did warne me to abstaine from marriage
till I was twenty.
T:
You're no Atlanta if you be Ile play
Hippomanes and over runn you
C:
Youd scarce catch me
though you had Venus apples to seduce
my covetous eyes, henceforth Ide haue you leaue
your loue to me.
T.
I must leaue to liue then, why doe you say soe
C.
Cause it is iust
you should mispend affection vppon her
who is in capeable of it.
T:
You'd faine wrest
a new expence of complemt from me
if you delight to heare yor praise Ile hire
some mercenary to comend
in lofty verse yor bewty.
C.
You are merry
my humor is not specious we must know
a farther distance.
T:
This language is not accostomd, pray tell me how
my presence is offensiue & Ile shun [thee] you
as I would doe my fate, you are not serious
my innocence assures me my deserts
can chalenge no such vsage.
51
Tis confest but we
are like thinne christall glasses yt will crack
by touching one another, I coniure thee
by all or past loue, from this parting minute
nere to behold me more I dare not venter
my frailty with thee.
T.
What immodesty
has my demeaner vttred you should doubt
ravishing from me.
C.
Thats not it but cause
I would not tempt my destinie thy sight
would inflame marble much more me whose heart
is prompt enough to fly into thy brest
and leaue mine empty, but 't must not remaine
in that loud habitation, least a curse
a fearefull one sease on mee.
T.
Can there be
curses more horrid incident to earth
for its past Sinns, then would depend on you
for such a bold presumption as yor breatch
of faith would be.
C.
Our tyrant fate has found
yet vninvented tormt s. to expresse
our loyall soules, O Thurston thou wert never
not when or mutuall freindships might haue taught
the constant turtles amity, more deare
to me then now, I could as well as then
peruse loues dictats in thy amorous cheeks
enioy [loues] ye pressure of thy modest lipp
but Ime enioynd by powerfull menaces
tinfring my wonted vse & to disclaime
52
T.
If this be possible
what will become of earth, men will no more
respect Society or striue to saue
humanity aliue, henceforth theyle seeke
for lost fidelity on Caues or topps
of vntrodd Rocks, & [b] plight their trothes to beasts
commix with them and generate a race
of creatures though lesse rationall yet more
indude with truth. O Clariana can
there be a motiue able to convert
this pretious Christall temple built for purity
& goodnes adoration, to a faine
for Idoll falshoods worship but I cannot
labour my wandring Iudgmt to beleife
thou speakst thy meaning, if I haue not loud
with that essentiall perfectnes thy worth
that man could doe in charity declare
my Ignorant defect & Ile amend it
with more then zealous industry.
C:
Tis vaine.
you may as easily penetrate the cloudes
wt h a soft whisper as my eares then which
53
I haue in the intemperate heate of blood
giuen vp my soule to a new choyce that breeds
this soddaine mutability, I will
preserue my affection as inuiolate to you
as Anchorites their vowes and in my graue
interr my virgin glory, teares will not
permitt more conference, fare you well Ile keepe
my passion vp till I haue none to weepe.
Exit.
Thu:
Shees gon, what vapor wc h the flattring Sunn
exhales to heauen as to create a starr
yet throwst a fading meteor to the earth
has falne like me, Diuinity that tells
vs there are soules in women, Ile no more
credit thy dubious Theorems nor thinke
thy lawes astring vs to preserue our faith
let the nice Casuists that dispute each clause
belongs to conscience with aternate sense
dispence with breath of promise & prescribe
equivocacōns to evade all oathes
without offending or shees damnd
Ent' [OMITTED]vell.
heres one perchance will satisfie me
Sir yor habitt speaks yee vnderstanding
please you [resolember] resolue me one thing
wc h disturbes the quiet of my conscience.
Lo:
Revenge may slumber but can neu' sleepe
he yt letts slip an Iniury thats done
takes the next course to draw a greater on.
Thu:
You counsell well, I pray in all the volumnes
yor learning has perusd did you ere find any
conclusion that allowd it lawfull to breake an oath.
54
If she neglect & throng disgrace on thee
fly't thou as much, & be thy Scorne as free.
Th:
An Oracle speakes in him, but pray tell me
ist lawfull then, to breake an oath.
Lo
Though time prolongs, we cannot style it sloath
my vowes are firme, hees damd yt breaks an Oath.
Th:
Good good agen, but the oath I treat on is of
another kinde tis to a woman.
L:
It could not be her fault theres a mistake in't
T:
none o my life, theres none.
L:
Let me see, let me see, noe twas not hers, twas
Grimeses knauery.
T:
Ha, whether did wild fancie lead my apprehension
he minds me not, but is in disputation wt h
his owne thoughts.
L:
[If] when man gainst man conspire to doe evell
for what Society is a fitt—
Th:
The Devill.
Clap him on ye Shoulder
Lo:
Oh helpe helpe
Ext.
Ent' Lady
Th:
[And here she comes I feare me]
wilt thou pledge mee ij Cuppes why goe to & goe to then. ha to thee.
ha sirrah grimes, when man gainst man &ct
55
I hope sir noe occasion offerd in my house
breedes yor distast I should be sorry
if it be soe and conceald from me
Th:
Yor goodnes is to nice ore me I'me exceeding well
only some erring cogitations trouble my braine a little
La:
Tis much pitty, distraction should haue wome in you
I would not for the loue you beare my daughter
haue you be disconted here
Th:
And your daughter repayes me kindly fort
La:
Surely her breeding
affords her better manners then to iniure
a gent' of your deservings
Th:
Alas she has not, twas but an vnkindnes triviall
mong freinds not worth the nameing.
Lad:
It was to much, wert but an ill looke,
If I may so farr without immodesty
entreat the knowledge of what it was
Ile chide her soundly fort.
[Lo:
Well indeed la.]
Lady:
Pray sir, we women are bold Suitors, by yor looke
it is no meane perplexity her folly
has cast vpon yor temper, pray disclose it
and if't be any thing the obedience
she owes to me may countermand she shall
repent her error.
Th:
Your humanity
would wrest a secret from me, though my life
56
her protestations to me, murdred vowes
wc h like the blood of Innocents will pull
cloudes of black vengance on her for no cause
I can Imagine, but her humor banishd
me her society and sight for ever.
[Lo:
And verely she is much to blame in it]
La:
Tis aboue wonder, could I as well rule
her will, as her exterior actions,
she should not thus reiect you, but I cannot
limitt her mind, compell her to affect
against her liking, if perswations may
reduse her Ile endevour it.
Th:
Twilbe needles, I am resolud to meet her in reuolt
hug infidelity with as strong a faith
as she can possible, and if mans mallice
can passe a womans my dispight shall vinne
preheminence, I will inquire out one
by nature framd in scorne of bewty &
in yor perfidious daughters presence giue her
that heart wc h she reiected.
La:
Twere pitty yor passion should vndoe you, you may find
matches of noble quality, my daughter
in worth's inferior to you, yet I doubt not
57
forfeited affection.
Th:
Let her reserue it for them, who sue to inioy it
Ile conferr my fancy on a Negra new reclaim'd
from prostitucon', sacrifice my youth
tobed ridd age ere reinthrall my heart
to her insulting bewty.
La:
Twould be a maime to yor discretion
to abiure a certaine and a pleasing good
for an vncertaine harme you would impose
in malice on another, yo'are a man
in whome the glorious soule of goodnes moues
wt h such aspacious [soule] posture yt no woman
but such a squemish baby as my daughter
would be most fortunate to enrich their choyse
with one so much deserving.
Th:
Ile experience yor affirmation, could you loue me Madam
La:
What I spoake was a contingent supposicion
what others might doe, but no argumt
I meant to loue you.
Th:
But I know you will
I see a pleasing augury in yor looks
presages mercy and those eyes whose lustre
the light (yt scornes privation) cannot equall
darts beames of comfort on me.
La:
Twould be rare
could you perswade me to't, I can find
no such propension in my selfe beware
least in this wildnes you ingage yor heart
58
Th:
Pish Ime sure you will, humanity forbids
refusall of my affection which shall be
as constant as inseprable heate
to elementall fire I'me soddaine lady
in my resolue but firme as fate.
Lady
Surely you are not well.
Thu:
You are deceivd I am
exceeding well yell, all my faculties
retaine their wonted motion but Ime like
a new recoverd patient whose relapsse
admitts noe helpe of phisick in yor loue
consists my hope futurity of health
and you haue too much charity to suffer
perdition overwhelme me.
Lady.
Your confidence
workes much vppon my lenity but twould
occasion scandall every one would Iudge
I did supplant my daughter should I yeild
to your desines.
Th:
Let the Censorious world
fright those with harelipd Calumnie whose guilt
merritts detraction your pure innocence
no feind dares vitiatt
59
You haue prevaild
Th:
Ile take you at your word
a holy kisse shall seale the contract.
Kisse.
Auaunt stand of she has poysond me her lipps.
are sault as sulpher & her breath infects
noe scorpions like it.
Lady
What ayles you sir.
Thur
Ha, ha, ha, those whoe imagine such perdigious mischeifes
should be more cunning then to be ore reacht
by puisnie cosnage, had you no more Iudgmt
then to beleife I lovd you.
Lady
Doe you not loue me then.
Th:
Can a man
robd of a Iewell deare to him as breath
affect the theife (o murdresse) for yt title
best suites thy impious quality, since thy curse
thy cruell curse imposd vppon my loue
has massacred two of the faithfulst hearts
affection ere vnited, though yor lust
desir'd smooth youth to sate it, piety
might haue reclam'd you for attempting me,
your daughters interest Ile not rayle
cause tis vnmanly vntill you find
what tis to cause true lovers proue vnkind.
E[OMITTED]
Ent' Alexan:
La:
Was I a sleepe? what transitory dreame
deceiud my sence, did I not here my loue
protest affection, no it was some feind
vested in his mortallity, whome hell
sent to a buse my weaknes.
60
She has bin sure tormented with [some] that furie wc h cla{p}
me on my shoulder, She talkes of Hell, loue and
affection, ha, goe to, & goe toe, the old kt. my Mr s
Goast I hope does not haunt the house.
Lad:
Twas he Ime certaine on't I felt his lips
and they were flesh, they breathd on myne a warmth
temperate as westerne Kisses, wc h the morne
weaps liquid drops to purchase, this confirmes
it was no apparition that contemnd
my willingnes but he his reall selfe
mockd my integrity, he must not passe soe.
to blase a broad my infamy.
Lo:
Madam feare nothing, be not troubled
the Goast meant no harme to you vppon
my life he did not, goe to, & go to, I say & I sayt
he did not, he did appeare to me, your loue
yor husband, my old Mr, heere clapt me on
the shoulder, as his old Custome was still
when he vsd to talke with me familiarly.
Ent' Young: Mar:
Lady
But Sirrah what familiarity haue you with any
of my privasies. Sausie groome practise
yor antient Duty
Y: M:
What meanes this fury Madam.
Lady
O deare boy
61
of this sad mothers sorrowes, but I charge thee
as thou respects thy duty, not to question.
the cause of my distemper, my iust feares
prohibits thee the knowledge of it.
Lo:
why sir she has seene the Diuell.
Lady:
Ha.
Lo:
Nay Madam I haue don, they say the Divell
has no power ore a drunkard once more
Ile runn the hazard.
Y: M:
Whoe what is he speake
for heauens sake speake, were he defensd wt h clouds
or circled with vnsteadfast boggs my rage
should cutt a passage to him.
Lady
Thou strait will grow more passionate then I
goe to yor Chamber Ile but dispatch these Gent'
Ext Mar.
Ent' Sr Geffery Crackby [OMITTED]kett [OMITTED]nch
Sr G:
O here she is, lady I and my Nephew, being yor good
neighbors and of the worshipfull, I of the Country
he of the Cittie, haue long desird a match wt h yor
daughters, but they are coy, so childish so vnmannerly
I know not how to terme them, they dispise who
worship offers them, they haue hereafter doe worse
and haue worse madam.
Crac:
My vncle tells your ladiship the truth, we are noe
puisants or vnhonorable to be affronted wt h indignitys.
Su:
Here are men, that has seene service
Bu:
At a mustring or it'h Artillery garden
La:
T'was past my pleasure good Sir Geffery
62
henceforth Ile lay my charge vpon them, to be
more tractable Mr Alexander goe call my
daughters hither
Lo:
She turnes againe
I shall with all celerity wish them to approach
Ext.
Sr G:
Certainly Madam I can see no cause, wherefore
at first you might not, without putting my kthood
to this trouble haue matchd with me your selfe
it had ben somewhat fitter.
Ent' [OMITTED]lisea [OMITTED]riana
Be:
Are these fooles here
La:
Minions you might haue expresd more kindnes
in yor behaviour to these Gent', whome my strict caire
provided for yor husbands.
Be:
I hope they cannot blame vs, we haue vsd them
with yt respect or modesties allowd
La:
Your peevish nicenes, setle yor affections to a more
fayre demeaner towards their worth or you
shall seeke [a portion] a Mother and a portion.
Cra:
Nay if you take away their portions Ile medle
no farther with them.
Lady.
You both heare
my not to be revoakd intention
respect this kt & his Nephew in the way of marriage
or I shall take another order with you.
Ext
63
was it you good knight of the ill fauord Countenance
who procurd vs these loving admonitions.
Sr G:
Nay and you begin agen Ile call your Ladie Mother.
Suc:
I doe protest vnto you bewtious lady you do not cast a
favorable aspect
Be:
I am no Plannet.
Crack
Captaine you doe me palpable affront, she is the
election of my vnderstanding
Sr. G:
Retort not soe obstrusly will you disdaine the hood
of honor, condiscend to me & youthfull write me
lady in yor stile and to each thred of thy Sun daseling h[OMITTED]
Ile hang a pearle as Orient, as the gemmes
the Easterne Queene's doe boast of, when thou walk[OMITTED]
the Country lasses crownd with gorgeous flowers
shall fill each path and daune their rurall Iigs
in honor of this bewty.
Cla:
Hey day, where did you borrow this, Sir youle beg[OMITTED]
I feele the fitt a coming I shall rayle instantly
Cra:
Baffeld before my Mr s death to fame
Captaine good Captaine.
Su:
Pish I doe but drill her for you, freind you shall haue h[OMITTED]
say yor Captaine sayes it whose words doe ventilate
destruction to all that doe oppugne wt they designe
Sr G:
Come you shall loue me.
Cla:
I cannot choose, goe get you home antiquity, thinke [OMITTED]
heaven, say thy prayers often for thy old Sinns & let t[OMITTED]
64
least some cold appoplexis sease thee before
thou art prepard.
Sr G:
Madam, madam shees in her old fitt
Cla:
Call her I care not if she heard me, I councell better
then yor phisician. every night drinke a good cupp of
muscadine, you will not haue moysture left to ingender
spitle to clense thy mouth i'th morning, goe set thy feath[OMITTED]
right good moonecalfe you haue yor answeare
Sr. G.
Contemne an old man & his feather Bunch, Ile begon B[OMITTED]
Cla:
Will you goe sister I haue shakd mine off
what stayes this nifle for.
E[OMITTED]
Cra:
nay call me what you will she is my prise
& I will keepe her, Captaine to her Captaine
Su:
You must not part thus Mr s here are men has scapd
Cla:
The Gallowes.
Su:
Ile rigg you vp although you were a Carack
I shall find tackling for you
Be:
you are vncivill pray desist
Cra
Not kisse a gentleman, a pretty ring this same
I haue a mind to it & I must haue it
Be:
You will not robb me of it
Su:
I will intreate this gloue wc h shall adorne in fight my
burgonett
65
Some honest hostesse, ere this has made a chamber pot
of it
Cra:
It is some rivalls [loue] Ring & I will haue it to weare
in spight of him
Boll:
Helpe Sister helpe
Ent' Bonuill Grimes
66
She shall not neede, it[,] is my Ring the villaine
desires soe importunatly, what vntuterd slaue art thou
that darst inforce aught from this Gentlewoman.
Cra:
Whats that to you, you might haue come before me
Bel:
What would you haue don.
Crac.
Entreated you againe to haue come behind me.
Bel:
O my Bonuill So happy a benefitt no hand but thine
could haue administred thou sauest the Iewell I esteeme
next to my honor, the Ring thou gauest me.
Cra:
Nay if you haue more right to her then I tak't I pray you
would I were off with a faire broaken pate
Su:
Is your life hatefull to you.
Bon:
Why doe you inquire good puff past
Su:
My blade is of the Bilbo mettle, at its splendor
my foes does vanish.
Bon:
Ile try that presently, feare nothing ladyes.
Su:
Death now I thinke ont, I did breake my blade
this morning on foure that did way lay me,
Ile goe fetch another & then I am for you.
Cra:
Take myne Captaine.
Su:
Hold yor peace be wise that fellow in the blew garmt.
has a countenance presages losse of limne
if we incounter, Ile meet you presently.
67
It shall not serve yor turne yet Ile not blunt
my sword vpon such stockfish. Grimes bestow
thy timber on them.
Gri:
Come Sir.
beats them
Su:
Take me without a weapon, this Cudgell
sure is Crabbtree it tasts soe Sowrely
Ext.
Bel:
O my deere Bonuill
Bon.
Mistrisse I sent an advocate to plead
my guiltles cause, you two severe a Iudge
for bad him audience I am therefore come
once more to proue my innocense
Cla:
Come without Ceremony
forgiue you her and she shall pardon you
most willingly
Bo
Can you haue soe much mercy
You soe much goodnes.
Be:
Noe soule long tird with famine whom kind death
has new enfranchisd from the loathed flesh
with happier expedition enters heaven
then mine thy bosome Bonuill let or loues
like plants yt by their cutting downe shoot vp
straiter and taller flourish we are now
inseperable
Cla:
Your good fates
though I repine not at them.
makes my vnhappy fortune appeare farr more
disastrous.
68
Whats thy misfortune.
Bel:
Alas my mother
has crost her in her affection as she did vs
Bon:
She shall crosse ours no more Belisia
69
none but yor Sister shall be priuy to itt.
and sheele keepe Councell.
Bel:
Ile goe any whither
to enioy thy presence thers no heauen without it.
Bo:
You shalbe advertisd where she remanes
and certefie vs how yor mother takes it, when we
are married we shall liue to thanke you.
Cla:
Will you leaue me then.
Be:
Prethee poore heart lament not we shall meet
and all these stormes blowe over.
Cla:
Yor tempests past, mine now begins to rise
but Ile allay its violence with my eyes.
Ext oēs
| The Lady Mother | |